cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An overview of FDA-approved biologics medicines

Recombinant DNA technologies revolutionized medicine. Herein, the approvals and mechanistic basis of biologics-based medicines are analyzed. The overall and relative rate of FDA approvals for recombinant proteins grew from the 1980s through the first half-decade of the new millennium. Over time, the number of biologics gaining approval for an orphan indication has climbed to more than 50% in the current decade. The field has been dynamic in terms of the types of biologics, indications targeted and the mechanistic basis of drug activity. Despite impressive increases in recombinant-protein-based medicine, the rate of new biologics approvals could have leveled out.
Risk model for estimating the 1-year risk of deferred lesion intervention following deferred revascularization after fractional flow reserve assessment.

Aims Although lesions deferred revascularization following fractional flow reserve (FFR) assessment have a low risk of adverse cardiac events, variability in risk for deferred lesion intervention (DLI) has not been previously evaluated. The aim of this study was to develop a prediction model to estimate 1-year risk of DLI for coronary lesions where revascularization was not performed following FFR assessment. Methods and results A prediction model for DLI was developed from a cohort of 721 patients with 882 coronary lesions where revascularization was deferred based on FFR between 10/2002 and 7/2010. Deferred lesion intervention was defined as any revascularization of a lesion previously deferred following FFR. The final DLI model was developed using stepwise Cox regression and validated using bootstrapping techniques. An algorithm was constructed to predict the 1-year risk of DLI. During a mean (±SD) follow-up period of 4.0 ± 2.3 years, 18% of lesions deferred after FFR underwent DLI; the 1-year incidence of DLI was 5.3%, while the predicted risk of DLI varied from 1 to 40%. The final Cox model included the FFR value, age, current or former smoking, history of coronary artery disease (CAD) or prior percutaneous coronary intervention, multi-vessel CAD, and serum creatinine. The c statistic for the DLI prediction model was 0.66 (95% confidence interval, CI: 0.61–0.70). Conclusion Patients deferred revascularization based on FFR have variation in their risk for DLI. A clinical prediction model consisting of five clinical variables and the FFR value can help predict the risk of DLI in the first year following FFR assessment.
The Individual-Level Effects of Presidential Conventions on Candidate Evaluations

Our understanding of the impact of party conventions on opinion regarding presidential candidates is based largely on aggregate-level analysis. Extant individual-level investigation has been limite...
Effect of Baking and Frying on Nutritive Value of Potatoes: Minerals

The effect of conventional baking and frying on the mineral content of Katahdin, Chipbelle and Rosa varieties of potatoes was investigated. The cortex and pith tissues of the tubers were used. Conventional baking reduced the cortical content of potassium, phosphorus, and iron by 10–13%, 4–21%, and 19–31% respectively. In all three varieties, movement of potassium, phosphorus, and iron toward the interior tissues was demonstiated during conventional baking although varieties varied widely in their mineral content. Conventional baking increased the pith content of potassium (14–23%), phosphorus (2–9%), and iron (2–8%). Frying decreased significantly all the minerals in both the cortical and pith areas with the major loss occurring in the cortical area (10–45%).
Consequential validity of the implicit association test: comment on Blanton and Jaccard (2006).

Numeric values of psychological measures often have an arbitrary character before research has grounded their meanings, thereby providing what S. J. Messick (1995) called consequential validity (part of which H. Blanton and J. Jaccard, 2006, this issue, now identify as metric meaningfulness). Some measures are predisposed by their design to acquire meanings easily, an example being the sensitivity measure of signal detection theory. Others are less well prepared, illustrated by most self-report measures of self-esteem. Counter to Blanton and Jaccard's characterization, the Implicit Association Test (IAT) has properties that predispose it to acquire consequential validity rapidly. With the IAT as the subject of over 250 publications since 1998, there is now much evidence for its consequential validity. The IAT has attracted more scholarly criticism than have other measures designed for similar purposes. The authors speculate as to why the IAT is an attractive target.
The effects of low doses of 14 MeV neutrons on the tensile properties of three binary copper alloys

Abstract Miniature tensile specimens of high purity copper and copper alloyed respectively with five atom percent of Al, Mn, and Ni were irradiated with D-T fusion neutrons in the RTNS-II to fluences up to 1.3 × 10 22 n / m 2 at 363 K. To compare fission and fusion neutron effects, some specimens were also irradiated at the same temperature to similar damage levels in the Omega West Reactor (OWR). Tensile tests were performed at room temperature, and the radiation-induced changes in tensile properties are compared as functions of displacements per atom (dpa). The irradiation-induced strengthening of Cu-5% Mn is greater than that of Cu-5% Al and Cu-5% Ni, which behave about the same. However, all the alloys sustain less irradiation-induced strengthening by 14 MeV neutrons than pure copper. The effects of fission and fusion neutrons on the yield stress of the copper alloys correlate well on the basis of dpa, in contrast to the behavior of pure copper.
When the music changes, so should the dance: cultural and spiritual considerations in paradigm ‘proliferation’

This paper explores the subtle (and often not so subtle) cultural, social, political and spiritual meanings behind the very notion of paradigm ‘proliferation’ including the often exclusionary intentions and implications in how research is undertaken, represented and for what (and whose) purposes. Dealing with these contested meanings brings a particularized paradox for scholars of color as we seek to imagine, create, and embrace new and useful paradigms from and through which we engage in educational research. For Black feminist scholars in particular, there are deep and serious implications in choosing to embrace paradigms that resonate with our spirit as well as our intellect, regardless of issues of ‘proliferation.’ Towards this end, I put forth the notion of an endarkened feminist epistemology, as a way forward in this paradigm proliferation discussion.
Representing Africa: The Geography of Africa in World Trade, 1960-1992

Abstract One feature of the contemporary world situation about which there seems to be wide agreement is that “Africa” is in dire economic and political straits. There is disagreement only about why this is so. But many commentators agree, whatever their theoretical predelictions, that Africa's declining position within world trade is symptomatic of “the continent's problems.” This paper challenges this consensus by using a long time-series of data on Africa's trading patterns and questicning the geographical assumptions about Africa upon which the conventional wisdom is based.
Personal memories at different ages

Men and women aged between 25 and 75 were asked to associate personal experiences to a set of 50 randomly chosen common words. The dates of these experiences were reconstructed and plotted as frequ...
Epicuticular hydrocarbons of candelilla (Euphorbia antisiphylitica) from three different geographical areas

Abstract Air-dried candelilla ( Euphorbia antisiphylitica Zucc.) stems harvested in Texas, Chihuahua, and Durango (Mexico) and Tucson (AZ) were analyzed using GC-MS techniques for their saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons (alkanes and alkenes). Hydrocarbon composition ranged from C 14 to C 38 (values of C 14, 15, 16 were too small to be analyzed). The largest component was hentriacontane (C 31 ) at 76 to 80% of the total hydrocarbon fraction followed by tritriacontane (C 33 ) at 9–12% and nonacosene (C 29 ) at 4 to 5%. Hydrocarbons that varied between collection sites were C 26,27,28,29,31,32 and 33 . Small differences of hydrocarbon members due to plant-to-plant variation within population were also seen. Small hydrocarbon differences of stem to stem within a population were observed in C 26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34 and 35 . The variation of stem wax within a plant was less than the variation from plant to plant within a population. Small differences existed in C 25,32 and 35 in the basal, middle or apical portions of stems, as well as in C 32 and C 35 of living green versus dry, non-living stems. No branched hydrocarbons were detected.
Molecular dynamics simulations of Factor Xa: Insight into conformational transition of its binding subsites

Protein flexibility and conformational diversity is well known to be a key characteristic of the function of many proteins. Human blood coagulation proteins have multiple substrates, and various protein–protein interactions are required for the smooth functioning of the coagulation cascade to maintain blood hemostasis. To address how a protein may cope with multiple interactions with its structurally diverse substrates and the accompanied structural changes that may drive these changes, we studied human Factor X. We employed 20 ns of molecular dynamics (MD) and steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations on two different conformational forms of Factor X, open and closed, and observed an interchangeable conformational transition from one to another. This work also demonstrates the roles of various aromatic residues involved in aromatic–aromatic interactions, which make this dynamic transition possible. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 89: 1104–1113, 2008. This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com
Burning Velocities and Flammability Limits of Premixed Methane/Air/Diluent Flames in Microgravity

§Laminar burning velocities and flammability limits of premixed flames in the presence of various inert gases including helium, argon, nitrog en and carbon dioxide were investigated by combined use of microgravity experiments and computations. The experiments used a short-drop free-fall laboratory facility that can e liminate the effect of buoyancy on flames and therefore enable accurate measurements of burning velocities, especially the near-limit values. Burning velocities were measured for outwardly propagating spherical CH 4/air flames with varying concentrations of He, Ar, N 2 and CO 2. Flame behavior was also computed using the steady, one-dimensional laminar premixed flame code PREMIX. Results showed the capability of the diluents to re duce flame speed increases in the order He < Ar < N 2 < CO 2, due to their increased specific heat and decrease d transport rates. The measured burning velocities are generally in good a greement with computations. Flammability limits were determined experimentally by finding the limiting concentration of diluents for which combustion can be initiated and propagated throughout the combustion chamber. It was found the limiting concentration f or helium is lower than that for argon, indicating helium might be more effective near the limit. The Ar, N 2 and CO 2 mixtures at extinction correspond to low burning velocities, 2- 3 cm/s. The helium mixture at extinction, however, corresponds to large burning velocity, abo ut 18 cm/s. This behavior may be due to the high diffusivity of helium that causes rapid in crease of the minimum ignition energy.
Influence of temperature and electrolyte on the performance of activated-carbon supercapacitors

Abstract For hybrid electric vehicle traction applications, energy storage devices with high power density and energy efficiency are required. A primary attribute of supercapacitors is that they retain their high power density and energy efficiency even at −30 °C, the lowest temperature at which unassisted starting must be provided to customers. More abuse-tolerant electrolytes are preferred to the high-conductivity acetonitrile-based systems commonly employed. Propylene carbonate based electrolytes are a promising alternative. In this work, we compare the electrochemical performance of two high-power density electrical double layer supercapacitors employing acetonitrile and propylene carbonate as solvents. From this study, we are able to elucidate phenomena that control the resistance of supercapacitor at lower temperatures, and quantify the difference in performance associated with the two electrolytes.
Spanish Texas, 1519-1821

., ." the book on early Texas.... [It] is without peer." -- David J. Weber, Robert and Nancy Dedman Professor of History, Southern Methodist University Modern Texas, like Mexico to the south, traces its beginning to sixteenth-century encounters between Spaniards, Native American peoples, and a vast land unexplored by Europeans. Unlike Mexico, however, Texas eventually received the stamp of Anglo-American culture, so that Spanish contributions to present-day Texas tend to be obscured or even unknown. In this pathfinding study, Donald E. Chipman draws on archival and secondary sources to write the story of Spain's three-hundred-year presence and continuing influence in the land that has become Texas. Chipman begins with the first European sighting of Texas shores in 1519. He goes on to chronicle the exploits of Cabeza de Vaca, Francisco Va zquez de Coronado, Luis Moscoso and other sixteenth-century explorers, before devoting extensive attention to the eighteenth century, a time of active Spanish colonization. Although Mexican independence ended the Spanish era in 1821, Chipman finds that Spain has left a substantial legacy in modern Texas. Spanish precedents have shaped modern Texas law in the areas of judicial procedure, land and water law, and family law. Spanish influences abound in Texas art, architecture, music, and theater, not to mention the widely spoken Spanish language. And the Roman Catholic religion introduced by the Spaniards continues to have many adherents in Texas. In short, the rich history of Spain in Texas deserves to be widely known by "Texana buffs" and professional historians alike, and Spanish Texas, 1519-1821 is the one-volume source toconsult.
Atomistic simulations of void migration under thermal gradient in UO2

Abstract It is well known that within a few hours after startup of a nuclear reactor, the temperature gradient within a fuel element causes migration of voids/bubbles radially inwards to form a central hole. To understand the atomic processes that control this migration of voids, we performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on single crystal UO 2 with voids of diameter 2.2 nm. An external temperature gradient was applied across the simulation cell. At the end of the simulation run, it was observed that the voids had moved towards the hot end of the simulation cell. The void migration velocity obtained from the simulations was compared with the available phenomenological equations for void migration due to different transport mechanisms. Surface diffusion of the slowest moving specie, i.e. uranium, was found to be the dominant mechanism for void migration. The contribution from lattice diffusion and the thermal stress gradient to the void migration was analyzed and found to be negligible. By extrapolation, a crossover from the surface-diffusion-controlled mechanism to the lattice-diffusion-controlled mechanism was found to occur for voids with sizes in the μm range.
The Impact of an Immersive Elective on Learners’ Understanding of Lifestyle Medicine and Its Role in Patients’ Lives

Objective. To design an immersive, active learning, lifestyle medicine (LM) elective and evaluate its impact on a pharmacy learners’ ability to understand the challenges of implementing lifestyle changes.Design. A 3-credit elective was developed that incorporated goal setting and immersion into the realm of LM as experienced by both the patient and the practitioner. Learners were assessed via a survey instrument, formal assignments, reflections, and the Presidential Fitness Challenge.Assessment. Learners reported that their ability to initiate LM as a primary intervention within a care plan significantly increased after taking this course. They also improved their overall health.Conclusion. By identifying and implementing self-identified lifestyle modifications, learners increased confidence in their abilities to produce evidence-based outcomes for patients. Learners were able to understand the challenges of trying to change their daily habits as they undertook their own personal goals.
Synthesis of separation sequences by ordered branch search

An efficient and algorithmic procedure is developed for the synthesis of multicomponent separation sequences. The procedure involves list processing of the prossible separation subproblems followed by an ordered branch search to find the optimal sequence with respect to system structure. The technique is conveniently represented by an and/or directed graph. The distribution of sequence costs for a separation problem is considered. When a wide distribution exists, only a minimum of separators need be analyzed to find the optimal sequence. Even when a narrow distribution of sequence costs exists, not all sequences must be developed. The importance of near optimal sequences is examined, and the search procedure is extended to find those sequences whose costs are within a specified factor of the cost of the optimal sequence.
The sound of silence: models for an urban musicology

This discussion seeks to provide a context for the emergence of so-called ‘urban musicology’, both within nineteenth-century antiquarian endeavour and in response to scholarly trends in the 1970s and 1980s. The strengths, weaknesses and possible future directions of ‘urban musicology’ are also identified.
Sustainability schizophrenia or “actually existing sustainabilities?” toward a broader understanding of the politics and promise of local sustainability in the US

Abstract As an approach to development, many see capitalism as reaching across an enormous range of scholarly domains and political interests. For some time geographers and others have begun to conceptualize capitalism as less of a system of intrinsic economic logic and more a collection of social and discursive relationships. By bringing capitalism into the “discursive world” these commentators and others have provided the theoretical ground for an exploration of alternative economic forms, especially those that are more socially and ecologically just. This paper makes an argument for putting sustainable development through the same theoretical scrutiny. Drawing on examples from the US we recruit the concept of “actually existing sustainabilities” from Altvater’s concept “actually existing socialisms” as an entry point to this conversation. Our purpose is to show that the potential for sustainability in the US exists in current local policies and practices if we rethink how we frame it.
Plasticity of pre- and postsynaptic GABAB receptor function in the paraventricular nucleus in spontaneously hypertensive rats

GABAB receptor function is upregulated in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), but it is unclear whether this upregulation occurs pre- or ...
How the Accelerated Reader Program Can Become Counterproductive for High School Students

Two pressing education reforms entail improving students' reading skills and improving high schools in the United States. In this article, the authors focus on both of these issues by adding the voices of students in an underperforming high school to the discussion about reading reform. We present the results of a larger study pertaining specifically to the views of students who participated in eight focus groups, in which students questioned the implementation of the Accelerated Reader (AR) program. There were five reasons that students did not like the program's implementation and claimed that it did not increase their motivation to read, making AR counterproductive. The results suggest that reading reform strategies that may work at the elementary level may not be as effective for adolescents, and that in order for true high school and reading reform to occur, the views and unique needs of older students must be examined and taken more seriously.
Footed tones and tonal feet: rhythmic constituency in a pitch- accent language

While prosodic systems are typically either tonal or metrical, composite systems including both tone and metrical structure present yet another, albeit less frequent, possibility (Prince 1983, Hayes 1995). The focus of this paper is a prosodic system of the latter, more complex variety, evidenced in the Neo-stokavian dialect of Serbian or Croatian (henceforth NS; see Ivic 1958, 1985, Zec 1993). Although previously analysed as a pitch-accent system with no role allotted to the rhythmic structure (Browne & McCawley 1965, Ivic 1965, 1976, Halle 1971, Kenstowicz 1974, Lehiste & Ivic 1986, Inkelas & Zec 1988), on closer inspection NS discloses important resemblances with stress systems. Metrical structure is an independent agent in NS, as will be demonstrated here, and the entire prosodic system is characterised by a rich interplay between the tonal and metrical components.Co-presence of tone and foot structure may in principle result in several types of interfaces between these two components. Cases documented in the literature are of two types: those in which the distribution of tone is constrained by metrical constituency, and those in which constraints operate in the opposite direction. third type of case has also been documented. In Japanese, as analysed in Poser (1984, 1990), the accentual system is tonal in nature while various templatic phenomena call for an inventory of iambic feet, yet the two systems are independent of each other and do not interact. The former type is exemplified by a number of languages extensively discussed in the literature: Creek (Haas 1977, Halle & Vergnaud 1987), Kirundi (Goldsmith 1987, Goldsmith & Sabimana 1989, Hayes 1995), Seneca (Prince 1983: 82–86), Winnebago (Susman 1943, Miner 1979, 1981, 1989, Halle & Vergnaud 1987, Hayes 1995 and the references therein) and Ancient Greek (Golston 1989, Sauzet 1989). The other type of unilateral interactions, with the rhythmic structure dependent upon the distribution of tone, is instantiated, for example, by Golin (Bunn & Bunn 1970, Hayes 1995).In contrast, NS presents a case of bilateral interaction between tone and foot structure: tone exerts influence on the repertory of feet, and foot structure, in turn, constrains the distribution of tone. Although previously analysed as an instantiation of unilateral interaction, on a par with Golin (Inkelas & Zec 1988, Hayes 1995), new evidence to be presented here clearly disputes this position. This case is of immediate theoretical relevance for establishing the range of possible foot inventories. The resulting inventory is richer than in cases generally reported in the theoretical literature (Prince 1990, Mester 1994, Hayes 1995), and as such suggests a possible direction in which foot inventories may expand.
BEYOND BEAN COUNTING AND WHALE TALES

Three developments have implications for the future study of marine mammal behavior: 1) The number and affiliation of researchers have increased from a few individuals representing the interests of government or industry to many people conducting studies from a variety of points of view; 2) The interpretation of natural selection's operation on social behavior and life history patterns has shifted from emphasizing group to individual benefits; and 3) The passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act has committed the United States to manage, research and protect marine mammal populations. Despite negative aspects of each development, the overall effect on marine mammal research will be positive. The combination of these changes and the interaction and collaboration of researchers with diverse orientations will spur new and varied research efforts and lead to a deeper understanding of marine mammals.
Social reproduction in non-formal adult education: the case of rural Mozambique

Using fieldnotes from the non-formal adult education classes run by a non-profit international education with ground operations in rural Mozambique, this article documents how the comments made by class facilitators and class participants in those classes reflect inherent power inequalities between non-profit staff and local participants. These findings are framed within Bourdieu's theory of social reproduction.
Characteristics of degenerative amplifiers having a base-emitter shunt impedance

In amplifiers having emitter degeneration, an impedance is sometimes used between base and emitter. A common case occurs when several emitter followers are used in cascade. The resistors become necessary in order to provide some measure of stability. In an audio amplifier of similar design it became necessary to know what effect this shunt resistor would have upon the input impedance of the stage. As a result, the analysis given in this paper was performed. Experimental measurements which support the resulting equation are given. This analysis and these measurements led to the discovery of a circuit which would exhibit a high ac input impedance, yet the resistors in the dc base circuit could be kept low to provide good stability. Although it can be shown that circuit power gain is the same regardless of whether a resistor is used in series with the emitter or the base to obtain a high input impedance, considerations of dc stability and distortion demand a more thorough investigation of this problem. Design principles are outlined for this high input impedance stage and an example is worked out in detail. Supporting measurements are given.
A multivariate analysis of measurements recorded in early and more modern crania from East Asia and Southeast Asia

Stepwise discriminant function analysis and Mahalanobis’ generalized distance are applied to 28 landmark measurements recorded in 38 prehistoric and modern cranial series from Eastern Asia for interpreting biological relationships and population history. The cranial series are from Japan, China, Northern Asia, mainland Southeast Asia, and island Southeast Asia. The results of this analysis indicate a marked separation of East/North Asian and Southeast Asian cranial series, a finding that supports hypotheses of long-term continuity in northern and southern regions of Eastern Asia rather than models that suggest intrusion and replacement. The results also support a common recent origin of the Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans in Northeast Asia. A major intrusion of people into the Japanese archipelago beginning in the Yayoi Period is further supported by these results. The relationships of Ainu, Jomon, Ryukyu Islanders, and Taiwan Aboriginals are discussed.
Beowulf and the Teaching of Leadership

Although it depicts a Germanic warrior culture of nearly 1,500 years ago, the Old English epic poem Beowulf contains timely insights into leadership and motivation, trust, respect, loyalty, and sacrifice that could inform current leadership practice and teaching. To help reveal some of these insights, this study has three main purposes: (a) examine the character of Beowulf as a leader of his warrior band and nation; (b) explain the ways in which the hero Beowulf fits into the Conger-Kanungo model of charismatic leadership; and, (c) explore how the epic poem dramatizes risks of an overreliance upon a charismatic leader. The results of this investigation attempt to provide meaningful insights for practitioners of management, researchers, and instructors of leadership with a special emphasis on the pedagogical value of artifacts of popular culture.
Time delays in iterative learning control schemes

Repeated accurate path tracking has many control applications. CNC machines in manufacturing or actuators in testing are examples. Repeated operations permits adjustments of control signals between cycles using trajectory error information. Learning control systems are well suited for this situation. Time delays in the plant or elsewhere can markedly affect control system stability even in repetitions. Calculation time by digital systems or by sampling techniques can cause delays. Sensor dynamics or sensor location can also cause delays. This paper proposes a stability condition for learning control where the plant exhibits a time delay.
DNA Double-Strand Breaks and Telomeres Play Important Roles in Trypanosoma brucei Antigenic Variation

Human-infecting microbial pathogens all face a serious problem of elimination by the host immune response. Antigenic variation is an effective immune evasion mechanism where the pathogen regularly switches its major surface antigen. In many cases, the major surface antigen is encoded by genes from the same gene family, and its expression is strictly monoallelic. Among pathogens that undergo antigenic variation, Trypanosoma brucei (a kinetoplastid), which causes human African trypanosomiasis, Plasmodium falciparum (an apicomplexan), which causes malaria, Pneumocystis jirovecii (a fungus), which causes pneumonia, and Borrelia burgdorferi (a bacterium), which causes Lyme disease, also express their major surface antigens from loci next to the telomere. Except for Plasmodium, DNA recombination-mediated gene conversion is a major pathway for surface antigen switching in these pathogens. In the last decade, more sophisticated molecular and genetic tools have been developed in T. brucei, and our knowledge of functions of DNA recombination in antigenic variation has been greatly advanced. VSG is the major surface antigen in T. brucei. In subtelomeric VSG expression sites (ESs), VSG genes invariably are flanked by a long stretch of upstream 70-bp repeats. Recent studies have shown that DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), particularly those in 70-bp repeats in the active ES, are a natural potent trigger for antigenic variation in T. brucei. In addition, telomere proteins can influence VSG switching by reducing the DSB amount at subtelomeric regions. These findings will be summarized and their implications will be discussed in this review.
Doxycycline counteracts bone morphogenic protein 2-induced osteogenic mediators.

Background: Microbial colonization during wound healing may exaggerate the inflammatory response and could adversely affect the outcome of periodontal regeneration. Bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs) directly augment bone regeneration. Interestingly, inhibitors of tissue collagenases, such as sub-antimicrobial–dose doxycycline, also indirectly promote hard-tissue regeneration. In this study, it is hypothesized that BMP2-mediated bone regeneration would be positively affected by simultaneous treatment of sub-antimicrobial–dose doxycycline.Methods: Human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells were stimulated with: 1) 10 ng/mL BMP2; 2) 1 μg/mL doxycycline; or 3) a combination of the two. The expressions of alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, osteonectin, and osteopontin were analyzed along with in vitro mineralized nodule formation and calcium accumulation.Results: BMP2 was a potent inducer of osteocalcin/osteopontin (statistically significant at P <0.01) and osteonectin in PDL cells relative to stimulation with doxy...
Seismotectonics of the Arthur's Pass region, South Island, New Zealand

The spatial distribution of the seismicity of the Arthur's Pass region in South Island, New Zealand, shows that earthquakes occur within the crust in definite subparallel zones, each with an east-northeast trend. Composite focal mechanism solutions indicate that the compressive axis is oriented approximately west-northwest, with an average slip direction of N72°E. Comparisons between the 1973 study described here and one conducted in 1972 reveal no differences in the spatial and temporal distributions of the seismicity. Tectonically, the region can be considered as one in which transference of motion between the Alpine fault and the Hikurangi Trench is occurring. This tectonic situation, coupled with the shoaling of the Benioff zone associated with a southward migration of the Hikurangi Trench, suggests that the deformation in the Arthur's Pass region has occurred within the past 2 m.y. This region has marked similarities with the Transverse Ranges area of the San Andreas fault zone in southern California. Both regions are located where two different tectonic and seismic “styles” merge – namely, where a master fault, with its associated seismic activity consisting of infrequent great earthquakes separated by long periods of quiescence, branches into a system of splay faults having a moderate to high level of continuous activity, with the occurrence of large earthquakes. The regions do differ, however, in that the long quiet zone on the Alpine fault is oblique to the slip vector between plates, whereas similar zones of the San Andreas fault are both parallel and nonparallel to the slip vector. This suggests that long quiet zones of strike-slip faults are not a consequence solely of the orientation of a fault with respect to the direction of relative motion between plates.
MOLECULAR BASIS FOR MEMBRANE PHOSPHOLIPID DIVERSITY: Why Are There So Many Lipids?

Phospholipids play multiple roles in cells by establishing the permeability barrier for cells and cell organelles, by providing the matrix for the assembly and function of a wide variety of catalytic processes, by acting as donors in the synthesis of macromolecules, and by actively influencing the functional properties of membrane-associated processes. The function, at the molecular level, of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, and cardiolipin in specific cellular processes is reviewed, with a focus on the results of combined molecular genetic and biochemical studies in Escherichia coli. These results are compared with primarily biochemical data supporting similar functions for these phospholipids in eukaryotic organisms. The wide range of processes in which specific involvement of phospholipids has been documented explains the need for diversity in phospholipid structure and why there are so many membrane lipids.
Author response: oral contraceptives and Crohn’s disease

We appreciate the suggestion by Dr Rhodes to further evaluate the link between oral contraceptive (OC) use and risk of Crohn's disease according to the anatomical location of disease involvement.1 We agree that a plausible mechanism for the link between OC use and risk of Crohn's disease may be through the effect of oestrogen on subacute thrombosis, leading to the development of multifocal ischaemia and …
Treatment of Ruptured Intracranial Aneurysms With the Pipeline Embolization Device (P3.108)

Objective: To assess the safety and efficacy of the PED in ruptured intracranial aneurysms. Background: The Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) has been used for treatment of unruptured aneurysms. Little is known about the use of the PED in ruptured aneurysms. Methods: This is a case series with prospective data collection on 20 patients with freshly ruptured aneurysms who were treated with PED (with or without adjunctive coiling) at our cerebrovascular center. Patients were loaded with aspirin and clopidogrel or received an infusion of tirofiban intraoperatively. Results: Hunt and Hess grades were I in 7 patients (35[percnt]), II in 9 (45[percnt]), and III in 4 (20[percnt]). The median duration from hemorrhage to PED placement was 2 days. A single device was used in all but 1 patient (95[percnt]). The procedure was staged in 20[percnt]. There was only 1 complication (5[percnt]); this was a fatal intraoperative aneurysm dome rupture that occurred during adjunctive coil deployment. No infarcts or rehemorrhages occurred. No patient required an invasive procedure after PED placement. Follow-up angiography (mean, 5±4.5 months, range 2-12 months) showed 100[percnt] occlusion in 12 (92[percnt]) and incomplete occlusion in 1 patient (8[percnt]). At the latest follow-up, 19 patients achieved a favorable outcome (mRS 0-2). Conclusion: In our preliminary experience, treatment of ruptured aneurysms with the PED was associated with low complication rates, high occlusion rates, and favorable outcomes. These findings suggest that PED may be a safe and effective option for patients with favorable Hunt and Hess grades and aneurysms difficult-to-treat with conventional methods. Disclosure: Dr. Ajiboye has nothing to disclose.
Variable Horizon in a Peridynamic Medium

A notion of material homogeneity is proposed for peridynamic bodies with vari- able horizon but constant bulk properties. A relation is derived that scales the force state according to the position-dependent horizon while keeping the bulk properties un- changed. Using this scaling relation, if the horizon depends on position, artifacts called ghost forces may arise in a body under homogeneous deformation. These artifacts de- pend on the second derivative of horizon and can be reduced by use of a modified equilibrium equation using a new quantity called the partial stress . Bodies with piece- wise constant horizon can be modeled without ghost forces by using a technique called a splice between the regions. As a limiting case of zero horizon, both partial stress and splice techniques can be used to achieve local-nonlocal coupling. Computational examples, including dynamic fracture in a one-dimensional model with local-nonlocal coupling, illustrate the methods.
Cytomegalovirus transmission in pediatric renal transplant recipients during the window period

We report two CMV naive children who received deceased donor renal transplants from a CMV IgG-negative single donor. CMV IgG in both recipients and the donor were negative immediately prior to transplant. Both recipients had early recurrences of their original disease in their transplants, requiring multiple sessions of plasmapheresis. All blood products used were leukoreduced or CMV seronegative. A few days post-transplant, both recipients developed significant positive CMV viremia. Both required initiation of oral valganciclovir. Case 1 responded to oral valganciclovir only while the case 2 had a delayed response to it and hence required intravenous ganciclovir with good response. When checked retrospectively, CMV IgM in the donor was positive along with positive CMV DNA PCR from the white cells. Here we describe a very unusual scenario of CMV transmission in two pediatric renal transplant recipients from a single donor during the CMV window period.
Enhancing the Quality of Communication and Collaboration between Yoga Practitioners and Clinical Scientists

One of the most exciting social movements of our time is the surging interest in Yoga practice and research. It is important that bridges between Yoga practitioners and academic scientists be forged in order to produce high-quality, reliable research. Such bridges often arise from formal and informal discussions at conferences, local Yoga studios, and centers for mind-body practice or research. One important upcoming event that will connect the Yoga community and the scientific community is the inaugural Symposium on Yoga Therapy and Research (SYTAR) to be held in Los Angeles in January 2007.
The 500th Anniversary of the Sharing Problem (The Oldest Problem in the Theory of Probability)

(1994). The 500th Anniversary of the Sharing Problem (The Oldest Problem in the Theory of Probability) The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 101, No. 9, pp. 833-847.
Nucleation Time Effects on Intrinsic Gettering

In this study, nucleation time has been found to play an important role in the three-step (Hi-Lo-Hi) intrinsic gettering process. The longer the nucleation time, the higher the density of oxygen precipitates and oxidation induced stacking faults. The size of oxidation induced stacking faults, however, shrinks as the nucleation time increases. The reduction of junction leakage current indicates that gettering efficiency improves with increasing nucleation time. Oxidation induced stacking faults appear to be the dominant gettering sites.
A REEVALUATION OF CHROMOSOMAL VARIATION IN POPULATIONS OF PEROMYSCUS MANICULATUS ALONG AN ELEVATIONAL GRADIENT.

In a recent report, Macey and Dixon (1987) presented data suggesting a relationship between chromosomal variation and environmental differences. Individuals representing three subspecies of the deer mouse Peromyscus maniculatus were collected along a latitudinal transect which comprised an elevational gradient ranging from 1,070 m to 4,110 m. Karyotypic analysis revealed an apparent positive correlation between increasing altitude and decreasing proportion of animals homozygous for the acrocentric form of chromosome 6. The occurrence of individuals heterozygous at chromosome 6 (acrocentric/submetacentric) was interpreted as evidence of gene flow between the subspecies sampled. Although the data in Macey and Dixon (1987) do seem to show a general correlation between the relative number of acrocentric-6 homozygotes and elevation, the conclusions made by these authors on the basis of chromosome 6 in P. maniculatus are in need of reevaluation. First, these authors focused their attention on an autosome that is highly polymorphic for pericentric inversions within deer mouse populations, and yet they assumed a "hybrid" origin for chromosomally heterozygous individuals. Additionally, the different inversion morphs of chromosome 6 occur in a wide variety of habitats throughout North America. These authors concentrated only on the pattern along their transect and ignored evidence from other studies that contradicts their conclusions on the relationship between chromosomal morphology and environmental conditions. Finally, and most importantly, Macey and Dixon (1987) observed an apparent correlation between altitude and chromosomal phenotype and assumed a cause-and-effect relationship; it is invalid to make such assumptions from circumstantial evidence. Chromosomal banding data reveal extensive pericentric-inversion polymorphism within P. maniculatus and two closely related species P. sitkensis and P. oreas (Greenbaum et al., 1978; Dixon et al., 1980; Clark, 1983; Pengilly et al., 1983; Greenbaum and Reed, 1984; Van Fleet, 1985; Gunn, 1986, 1988; Gunn and Greenbaum, 1986; Hale, 1986; Macey and Dixon, 1987; Hale and Greenbaum, 1988). The considerable chromosomal variability observed both among and within populations of P. maniculatus is largely attributable to pericentric-inversion polymorphisms identified in chromosomes 6, 7, 10, 14, 15, and 19. Karyotypic data from various subspecies across the continental United States indicate that populations are frequently polymorphic for pericentric inversions of chromosome 6
Approach-avoidance reactions by repressors and sensitizers to ambiguity in a structured free-association task.

8 repressors and 8 sensitizers were administered a free-association task consisting of ambiguous stimulus sentences with positive and negative response alternatives. Sensitizers chose significantly more negative associations than repressors. Ambiguous sentences were associated with differential group responding.
Utilization of the Internet by EU and US Service Providers to Facilitate Cross-Border Business

SUMMARY E-commerce is a potent and growing force worldwide, though little attention has been addressed to conducting such business across borders. This paper reports research on the internationalization of websites to accommodate and encourage cross-border sales. Content analysis of 100 websites was conducted to determine utilization of five website traits that facilitate cross-border purchases. A comparison between European Union and United States service providers' websites indicates Europeans offer more of these features. In addition, differences are found among the industries examined and among the specific features utilized.
A novel MSCRAMM subfamily in coagulase negative staphylococcal species

Coagulase negative staphylococci are important opportunistic pathogens. Staphylococcus epidermidis, a coagulase negative staphylococcus, is the third leading cause of nosocomial infections in the US. Surface proteins like Microbial Surface Components Recognizing Adhesive Matrix Molecules (MSCRAMMs) are major virulence factors of pathogenic gram positive bacteria. Here, we identified a new chimeric protein; SesJ in S. epidermidis, which represents a prototype of a new subfamily of MSCRAMMs. Structural predictions show that SesJ has structural features characteristic of a MSCRAMM along with a N-Terminal repeat region and an Aspartic acid containing repeat region, features that have not been previously observed in staphylococcal MSCRAMMs but have been found in other surface proteins from gram positive bacteria. We identified and analyzed structural homologs of SesJ in three other coagulase negative staphylococci. These homologs of SesJ have an identical structural organization but varying sequence identities within the domains. Using flow cytometry, we also show that SesJ is expressed constitutively on the surface of a representative S. epidermidis strain, from early exponential to stationary growth phase. Thus SesJ is positioned to interact with protein targets in the environment and play a role in S. epidermidis virulence.
Screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences in a Family Medicine Setting: A Feasibility Study

INTRODUCTION: The role of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in predicting later adverse adult health outcomes is being widely recognized by makers of public policy. ACE questionnaires have the potential to identify in clinical practice unaddressed key social issues that can influence current health risks, morbidity, and early mortality. This study seeks to explore the feasibility of implementing the ACE screening of adults during routine family medicine office visits. METHODS: At 3 rural clinical practices, the 10-question ACE screen was used before visits with 111 consecutive patients of 7 clinicians. Clinician surveys about the use of the results and the effect on the visits were completed immediately after the visits. The presence of any ACE risk and "high-risk" ACE scores (≥4) were compared with clinician survey responses. RESULTS: A risk of ACEs was present in 62% of patients; 22% had scores ≥4. Clinicians were more likely to have discussed ACE issues for high-risk patients (score 0-3, 36.8%; score ≥4, 83.3%; P =. 00). Clinicians also perceived that they gained new information (score 0-3, 35.6%; score ≥4, 83.3%; P =.00). Clinical care changed for a small proportion of high-risk patients, with no change in immediate referrals or plan for follow-up. In 91% of visits where a risk of ACEs was present, visit length increased by ≤5 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Incorporation of ACE screening during routine care is feasible and merits further study. ACE screening offers clinicians a more complete picture of important social determinants of health. Primary care-specific interventions that incorporate treatment of early life trauma are needed.© Copyright 2016 by the American Board of Family Medicine. Language: en
Introduction: ‘Am I that name’?

I am NOT a whore, as it should be needless to say, being that, like many of my readers, I earn my living as a university professor, specialized in Shakespeare studies, not as a professional sex worker. Yet that fact has not prevented several men from calling me a whore at various points in my life. The lady doth protest too much, you think? Well, I introduce my experience as it iterates the comparable cases of Shakespearean women like unmarried virgin Hero in the comedy Much Ado About Nothing, newlywed Desdemona in the tragedy Othello, and wife and mother Hermione in the romance The Winter’s Tale — as well as the cases of countless other actual women, whatever their sexual and social status, similarly slandered with that or other sexually insulting names for centuries before and after Shakespeare wrote, including these current days of the twenty-first century.