cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
RECA PROTEIN FILAMENTS : END-DEPENDENT DISSOCIATION FROM SSDNA AND STABILIZATION BY RECO AND RECR PROTEINS

RecA protein filaments formed on circular (ssDNA) in the presence of ssDNA binding protein (SSB) are generally stable as long as ATP is regenerated. On linear ssDNA, stable RecA filaments are believed to be formed by nucleation at random sites on the DNA followed by filament extension in the 5' to 3' direction. This view must now be enlarged as we demonstrate that RecA filaments formed on linear ssDNA are subject to a previously undetected end-dependent disassembly process. RecA protein slowly dissociates from one filament end and is replaced by SSB. The results are most consistent with disassembly from the filament end nearest the 5' end of the DNA. The bound SSB prevents re-formation of the RecA filaments, rendering the dissociation largely irreversible. The dissociation requires ATP hydrolysis. Disassembly is not observed when the pH is lowered to 6.3 or when dATP replaces ATP. Disassembly is not observed even with ATP when both the RecO and RecR proteins are present in the initial reaction mixture. When the RecO and RecR proteins are added after most of the RecA protein has already dissociated, RecA protein filaments re-form after a short lag. The newly formed filaments contain an amount of RecA protein and exhibit an ATP hydrolysis rate comparable to that observed when the RecO and RecR proteins are included in the initial reaction mixture. The RecO and RecR proteins thereby stabilize RecA filaments even at the 5' ends of ssDNA, a fact which should affect the recombination potential of 5' ends relative to 3' ends. The location and length of RecA filaments involved in recombinational DNA repair is dictated by both the assembly and disassembly processes, as well as by the presence or absence of a variety of other proteins that can modulate either process.
A Sampling Artifact in the Microdialysis Study of Changes in Extracellular [Mg2+] upon Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract Whether depletion of a substance from the extracellular fluid by removal through the dialysis probe can affect the measured efflux of that substance into the extracellular fluid upon injury is examined. When Mg2+-free artificial cerebrospinal fluid was used to perfuse the microdialysis fiber, a significant increase in collected Mg2+was observed immediately following injury. However, when [Mg2+] inside the fiber was equal to the basal concentration in the extracellular fluid, no increase in [Mg2+] was detected. The difference between the two sets of results is attributed to efflux down an increased intracellular/extracellular [Mg2+] gradient that occurs when the basal extracellular concentration is not balanced within the fiber, but not otherwise. This is a previously unreported problem with microdialysis.
Designer Lipids Advance Systemic siRNA Delivery

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) has generated enormous interest among both basic and clinical researchers despite the relatively young age of this technology. Theoretically any gene could serve as a target for RNA interference, not just the “druggable” targets against which small-molecule compounds are directed. To develop therapeutics based on siRNA, effective delivery to target tissues and cells is required. However, siRNA cannot cross the cell membrane easily owing to its relatively large size and high negative charge. In addition, systemically delivered siRNAs face a series of barriers in vivo: aggregation with serum proteins, uptake by the reticuloendothelial system, kidney filtration, and degradation by endogenous nucleases. Therefore, lack of an efficient delivery system is currently the primary bottleneck for clinical application of siRNA. Although siRNA has entered human clinical trials for the treatment of various diseases, most of these approaches have been limited to local delivery such as by direct injection into the eye or skin.1,2 Recently, two groups (Semple et al.3 and Love et al.4) independently reported promising results of delivery of siRNA to the liver using cationic lipids, bringing us one step closer to the goal of realizing systemic siRNA application to treat human disease.
Barr bodies in testis with Klinefelter syndrome

Barr bodies are described in the interstitial cells of testes of a chromatin-positive patient with Klinefelter syndrome. Ultrastructural studies confirm the origin of the Barr body from the nuclear chromatin. Ultrastructurally the interstitial cells showed diminished, smooth endoplasmic reticulum and lipid droplets probably indicating impaired function.
The Chronically Reserpinized Rat as an Animal Model for Cystic Fibrosis: I. Acute Effect of Isoproterenol and Pilocarpine upon Pulmonary Lavage Fluid

Summary: Lung lavage samples from rats treated in a chronic fashion with reserpine had mean increases of 133, 170, and 120% in the total protein, lipid, and carbohydrate contents, respectively, when compared with those of untreated control animals, when these values were expressed in terms of body weight. An acute single ip injection of the β-adrenergic agent isoproterenol (10 mg) increased the glycoprotein content of pulmonary lavage fluid from control rats approximately 15–19%, but only 9–10% in those from reserpine treated rats. By contrast, pilocarpine (10 mg), administered in the same manner, caused a 15% increase in the total protein, carbohydrate, and lipid content of lavage samples from control rats and increased these same constituents in the lavage samples of reserpine treated rats 98, 102, and 80%, respectively. The increased total carbohydrate content in the lavage samples of the treated animals was not associated with changes in the percent distribution of neutral sugars, amino sugars, or sialic acid. The ratio of these various sugar components did not change in the lavage samples of control or reserpine treated rats upon stimulation with either pilocarpine or isoproterenol. The increased total lipid content fround in the lavage samples from the treated rats probably results from an increase in phospholipids. A decrease in phospholipid content occurred in the lavage samples of reserpine treated rats upon stimulation, while the opposite was observed in those of control animals. Chronic treatment of rats with reserpine, thus, appears to induce an enhanced production of glycoproteins in the airways and to interfere with phospholipid metabolism in the lung. In addition, the drug treatment enhances the secretory response to pilocarpine in comparison with the responses of control animals. The enhanced response or hypersecretion of glycoproteins is a quantitative one and does not seem to involve alterations in the ratios or distribution of the various sugar components. This disturbance in the secretory function of the respiratory tract, a target organ which is prominently involved in cystic fibrosis (CF) together with alterations in other exocrine glands which resemble those of CF patients, makes the reserpine treated rat a useful model for the further study of possible pathogenetic mechanisms in CF.
Perceptions of trekking tourism and social and environmental change in Nepal's Himalayas

The Himalayas are among the world's youngest mountain ranges. In addition to the geologic processes of mountain building and erosion, they are also highly vulnerable to human influenced change, occurring at local, national, regional, and international scales. A photo-elicitation methodology is employed to show how residents perceive those changes from historical perspectives, as well as their current conditions and impacts on their daily lives. Nepal's Khumbu region has undergone major social and environmental transformations since the 1960s when international trekking first began to influence the area's economy. The current perceptions of Khumbu residents of these changes are assessed through photo-elicitation interviews. Their responses are placed in the historical context of: (1) institutional and political changes, most of which have been driven by national government policies; (2) social and economic changes, for which the tourism economy has been central; and (3) environmental changes, reflecting th...
Mechanisms of chemotherapeutic-induced hearing loss and otoprotection

Cisplatin (CDDP) and carboplatin are highly effective chemotherapeutic agents with ototoxic side effects that limit their efficacy. Formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in CDDP-exposed cochlear tissues is involved in ototoxic action of the CDDP on hair cells. Downstream targets of ROS are cell death mediator molecules, for example, p53 and activated caspases. The efficacy of several otoprotective compounds is discussed in relationship to their impact on protection of hearing and potential for interfering with the chemotherapeutic treatment of cancer.
Numerical simulations of plastic deformation and fracture effects in two phase γ-TiAl + α2-Ti3Al lamellar microstructures

Abstract Deformation characteristics of fully lamellar (FL) and nearly lamellar (NL) morphologies in two phase γ-TiAl(L10) + α2-Ti3Al(D019) polycrystalline aggregates are simulated by finite element methods. Polycrystalline stress-strain response is accurately predicted using, as input parameters, the range of soft (τhard crss) and hard (τsoft crss) mode critical resolved shear stresses obtained from single poly-synthetically twinned lamellar crystals, for shear parallel and perpendicular to the lamella. The deformation is severely inhomogeneous, due in part to the large difference in (τsoft crss) and (τhard crss), with the largest strain accumulations being encountered at grain boundaries, particularly at triple points. Such deformation incompatibilities between adjacent crystals create large hydrostatic stress concentrations at grain boundaries, which are likely nucleation sites for fracture, as experimentally verified for both tension and compression loading. Incorporating small volume fractions of γ-T...
An Integrative Perspective on the Diagnosis of Learning Disorders

This paper is intended to emphasize the efficacy of an intensive and unbiased evaluation of children who present learning disorders or school problems of any kind. The major premise is that assessment encompassing and integrating psychodynamic and neuropsychological perspectives is imperative. Failure to pursue this line of inquiry can lead to important oversights and/or inaccuracies in evaluation of the patient's clinical needs. One body of contributions, the psychoanalytic literature on learning disordered children, is reviewed from this perspective. Several cases published therein are re-examined and an additional case presented in light of the broad evaluative scope recommended.
Development of a DNA-based genotyping method for the Diego blood group system.

BACKGROUND : The paucity of appropriate reagents for serologic typing of the Diego blood group has hindered the identification of the rare Di(b–) blood donors needed to transfuse a Di b antigen-negative patient who presented with anti-Di b . Development of an alternative Di typing approach as a supplement to the current serologic typing method is an important and necessary goal. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS : DI1 and DI2 alleles result from a single C to T substitution at nucleotide 2561 in exon 19 of the human anion exchanger gene causing a proline ( DI1 ) to leucine ( DI2 ) change at amino acid position 854. Allele-specific primers were designed to specifically amplify the DI1 and DI2 alleles using a PCR-based assay system. RESULTS : A PCR sequence-specific primer (SSP) method for Di genotyping was developed, and the specificity and reproducibility of the method were assessed in a blind control study using serologic tests, family segregation, and DNA sequencing analyses. A total of 1766 DNA samples from unrelated blood donors were typed for DI1 and DI2 alleles and a single Di(b–) donor was identified. The frequency of DI1 and DI2 alleles among Chinese blood donors was 0.0357 and 0.9643, respectively. CONCLUSION : A simple, accurate, and inexpensive DNA-based PCR-SSP method was established for Di genotyping. The typing results can be visualized on a single photograph within 3 hours, making this reliable method suitable for large-scale typing of potential blood donors without serologic backup.
A Simple Dynamical Model with Features of Convective Momentum Transport

Abstract Convective momentum transport (CMT) plays a central role in interactions across multiple space and time scales. However, because of the multiscale nature of CMT, quantifying and parameterizing its effects is often a challenge. Here a simple dynamic model with features of CMT is systematically derived and studied. The model includes interactions between a large-scale zonal mean flow and convectively coupled gravity waves, and convection is parameterized using a multicloud model. The moist convective wave–mean flow interactions shown here have several interesting features that distinguish them from other classical wave–mean flow settings. First an intraseasonal oscillation of the mean flow and convectively coupled waves (CCWs) is described. The mean flow oscillates due to both upscale and downscale CMT, and the CCWs weaken, change their propagation direction, and strengthen as the mean flow oscillates. The basic mechanisms of this oscillation are corroborated by linear stability theory with differe...
The cost of plant defense: an experimental analysis with inducible proteinase inhibitors in tomato

The cost of producing inducible proteinase inhibitors was investigated by manipulating their production with chitin injections in genetically homogeneous tomato plants grown at different nitrogen levels. Proteinase inhibitor production had no detectable effect on fitness-related characters, probably because it represented only a small portion of the nitrogen budget. Nitrogen availability did not influence inhibitor production or its impact on plant fitness.
Selective Metallization of CVD Diamond Films

A process has been developed for the deposition of patterned adherent metal on diamond substrates using low temperature processing conditions. CVD diamond films on Si wafers were oxidized with an RFO2 plasma and subsequently functionalized by attachment of self-assembled ultrathin films (UTFs) to the oxidized diamond surface. The UTFs were exposed to patterned deep UV radiation, and selectively metallized by electroless (EL) deposition. EL Ni and Co patterns, with feature sizes to 20 μm linewidth have been produced. Oxidized and UTF-modified surfaces were characterized by surface spectroscopie and wettability techniques. The EL metal deposits on the diamond substrate passed the Scotch tape adhesion peel test.
Visualization of structured nonuniform grids

Operational forecasters and weather researchers need accurate visualization of atmospheric data from both computational models and observed data. Although these two applications share some requirements, they have different needs and goals. We've developed a visualization tool for atmospheric science researchers and research weather forecasters that allows the 3D visualization of measured radar data and rendered numerical model data to show the 3D structures as well as how the weather event would look when observed in the field. Our system lets us load the original data directly onto the graphics hardware, with the grid mapping from the rendering space to the grid space programmed on the GPU. This method is flexible enough to handle the grids important in meteorological research and enables the application of advanced visualization methods available in texture-based slicing systems. The visually accurate rendering of weather data can be useful for training weather spotters, evaluating forecasting models, training forecasters to interpret radar data, and comparing sensor data to observed weather events.
Synthesis, structural, optical and mechanical characterization of SrB2O4 nanorods

Single crystalline strontium borate (SrB2O4) nanorods were synthesized for the first time via a facile sol–gel route at low temperature. The SrB2O4 nanorods have a good crystalline nature with the growth direction along the [511] orientation and they are transparent from the ultraviolet to the visible regimes. Nanoscale three-point bending tests were performed directly on individual nanorods to probe their mechanical properties using an atomic force microscope. The elastic modulus of SrB2O4 nanorods was measured to be 158.2 ± 2.8 GPa, exhibiting a significant increase compared with other borate nanostructures and bulk borates.
Reduction and nonlinear controllability of symmetric distributed robotic systems with drift

This paper considers the "reduction" problem for distributed robotic systems. In particular, the controllability of systems containing multiple instances of identical robotic systems or components where the overall system is invariant with respect to interchanging these identical robots or components is considered. The main result is a proposition which shows that for an equivalence class of symmetric systems of this type, the controllability of the entire class of systems can be determined by analyzing the smallest member of the equivalence class.
`These Crowded Circumstances' When Pack Journalists Bash Pack Journalism

Nobody likes pack journalism - not the reporters who are members of the pack, not the objects of the pack's attention and not the readers who deplore the pack's intrusiveness and obtrusiveness even...
SALT II and the strategic balance

Because arms control negotiations and agreements may serve many ends, not all of which will be fully supportive one of another, the assessment of their value and implications must be inconclusive. For so long as a broad commitment to detente policies remains the general line of foreign policy, then for so long is a SALT II treaty close to inevitable. In terms of the identifiable political, strategic and economic benefits of the SALT exercise thus far – six years on – it is debatable whether or not SALT has any justification beyond the fact of its existence. Even unproductive institutions can be costly to dismantle. Before exploring the possible strengths and weaknesses of a putative SALT II regime, it is worth recalling the ends that SALT,could serve.
Enhanced Gradation Guidelines to Improve Asphalt Mixture Performance

In 2010 a theoretical approach to the evaluation and specification of aggregate gradations to resist rutting was evaluated by the Florida Department of Transportation by accelerated pavement testing. This approach, known as the dominant aggregate size range (DASR) gradation model, provides a framework to ensure that the coarse aggregate of the resulting mixture has sufficient aggregate interlock to resist permanent deformation. Further research by the University of Florida and the Department of Transportation found that the properties of the interstitial components (ICs) within the DASR voids were strongly related to the durability and fracture resistance of asphalt mixtures. Parameters that made up the combined DASR-IC model included the DASR porosity, disruption factor (DF), effective film thickness (EFT), and fine aggregate ratio (FAR). The original evaluation of the DASR model was recently extended to include DASR gradations that might have had marginal aggregate interlock (i.e., marginal DASR porosit...
New component of the vacuolar class C-Vps complex couples nucleotide exchange on the Ypt7 GTPase to SNARE-dependent docking and fusion.

The class C subset of vacuolar protein sorting (Vps) proteins (Vps11, Vps18, Vps16 and Vps33) assembles into a vacuole/prevacuole-associated complex. Here we demonstrate that the class C-Vps complex contains two additional proteins, Vps39 and Vps41. The COOH-terminal 148 amino acids of Vps39 direct its association with the class C-Vps complex by binding to Vps11. A previous study has shown that a large protein complex containing Vps39 and Vps41 functions as a downstream effector of the active, GTP-bound form of Ypt7, a rab GTPase required for the fusion of vesicular intermediates with the vacuole (Price, A., D. Seals, W. Wickner, and C. Ungermann. 2000. J. Cell Biol. 148:1231–1238). Here we present data that indicate that this complex also functions to stimulate nucleotide exchange on Ypt7. We show that Vps39 directly binds the GDP-bound and nucleotide-free forms of Ypt7 and that purified Vps39 stimulates nucleotide exchange on Ypt7. We propose that the class C-Vps complex both promotes Vps39-dependent nucleotide exchange on Ypt7 and, based on the work of Price et al., acts as a Ypt7 effector that tethers transport vesicles to the vacuole. Thus, the class C-Vps complex directs multiple reactions during the docking and fusion of vesicles with the vacuole, each of which contributes to the overall specificity and efficiency of this transport process.
Aperture efficiency enhancement of dielectric loaded hybrid mode horns with reduced sidelobes and cross polarization

A dielectric-loaded multiflare conical horn is presented that exhibits many of the desirable features of the corrugated and dielectric core horns, but with the additional advantage of relatively increased gain. Aperture efficiencies on the order of 94-9% can be obtained easily and inexpensively at low cross-polarization levels over the Ku frequency band. When the aperture diameter is large, almost 100% aperture efficiency can be obtained at vanishing (negligible) cross polarization within a certain frequency range. In the development of this horn the technique of multimode operation for tapered aperture E-field distribution to result in low cross-polarization and sidelobe levels is combined with the technique of dielectric loading for aperture efficiency enhancement. The horn is ideal for communication applications where the cross polarization and sidelobe levels are to be low. >
Why American Sociology Needs Biographical Sociology—European Style

Life story methods in Europe commonly belong to the field of biographical sociology. This paper points out that biographical sociology is missing from American sociology and describes in-depth two well-known methods in this field in Europe, the narrative interview and objective hermeneutics. The absence of biographical sociology from U.S. sociology should be remedied, it is argued, for the following reasons: First, an analysis of biographical patterns could counteract the heavy emphasis on social structure in American sociology and enrich certain subfields within it. For example, some of the concepts used in European biographical sociology, such as the concept of the “trajectory” can be related to conceptions of agency set forth by American and British sociologists and thus enrich sociology overall. Second, biographical sociology can help counteract the heavy orientation towards quantitative research in American sociology without falling into the pitfalls of purely interpretive methodologies. And third, biographical sociology can significantly enrich the still missing link between culture and cognition.
Effects of weekly administration of pegylated recombinant human OB protein on appetite profile and energy metabolism in obese men

Am J Clin Nutr 2001 Oct;74(4):426-34 Related Articles, Books, LinkOut Effects of weekly administration of pegylated recombinant human OB protein on appetite profile and energy metabolism in obese men. Westerterp-Plantenga MS, Saris WH, Hukshorn CJ, Campfield LA. Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands. m.westerterp@hb.unimaas.nl BACKGROUND: Results of leptin administration in mice, rats, and humans provide a rationale for therapeutic augmentation of circulating leptin (OB protein) concentrations in obese humans; this may reduce food intake, increase metabolic rate, and lower body mass. OBJECTIVE: We assessed the effects of weekly subcutaneous pegylated polyethylene glycol (PEG)-OB protein administration on appetite and energy metabolism in obese men. DESIGN: We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 30 obese men [body mass index (in kg/m(2)): 34.2 +/- 3.6; age: 44.7 +/- 7 y]. Subjects received 20 mg PEG-OB protein/wk for 12 wk while limiting their energy intake to 2.1 MJ/d. RESULTS: During treatment, appetite and hunger before breakfast decreased and remained lower in the PEG-OB-protein group, whereas they increased and remained higher in the placebo group (P < 0.0001). During treatment, hunger decreased in the PEG-OB-protein group (P < 0.05) and cognitive restraint increased in the placebo group (P < 0.0001). Neither appetite nor food intake changed significantly during the ad libitum evening meal. Under energy balance conditions in the respiration chamber, appetite at the end of treatment was not significantly different from baseline despite similar, significant reductions in 24-h energy intake, energy expenditure, sleeping metabolic rate, body mass, fat mass, and fat-free mass (P < 0.01 for all) in both groups. CONCLUSION: Treatment with PEG-OB protein modified subjective appetite at a dosage that produced no changes in body composition, energy expenditure, or body mass loss relative to placebo treatment, suggesting that PEG-OB protein has central rather than peripheral biological activity in obese men.
Reciprocal interactions between mitral valve endothelial and interstitial cells reduce endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition and myofibroblastic activation

Thickening of mitral leaflets, endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT), and activated myofibroblast-like interstitial cells have been observed in ischemic mitral valve regurgitation. We set out to determine if interactions between mitral valve endothelial cells (VECs) and interstitial cells (VICs) might affect these alterations. We used in vitro co-culture in Transwell™ inserts to test the hypothesis that VICs secrete factors that inhibit EndMT and conversely, that VECs secrete factors that mitigate the activation of VICs to a myofibroblast-like, activated phenotype. Primary cultures and clonal populations of ovine mitral VICs and VECs were used. Western blot, quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qPCR) and functional assays were used to assess changes in cell phenotype and behavior. VICs or conditioned media from VICs inhibited transforming growth factor β (TGFβ)-induced EndMT in VECs, as indicated by reduced expression of EndMT markers α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), Slug, Snai1 and MMP-2 and maintained the ability of VECs to mediate leukocyte adhesion, an important endothelial function. VECs or conditioned media from VECs reversed the spontaneous cell culture-induced change in VICs to an activated phenotype, as indicated by reduced expression of α-SMA and type I collagen, increased expression chondromodulin-1 (Chm1), and reduced contractile activity. These results demonstrate that mitral VECs and VICs secrete soluble factors that can reduce VIC activation and inhibit TGFβ-driven EndMT, respectively. These findings suggest that the endothelium of the mitral valve is critical for the maintenance of a quiescent VIC phenotype and that, in turn, VICs prevent EndMT. We speculate that the disturbance of the ongoing reciprocal interactions between VECs and VICs in vivo may contribute to the thickened and fibrotic leaflets observed in ischemic mitral regurgitation, and in other types of valve disease.
Assessment of regional myocardial strain using cardiac elastography: distinguishing infarcted from non-infarcted myocardium

Estimation of the regional mechanical properties of the cardiac muscle has been shown to play a crucial role in the detection of cardiovascular disease. Current echocardiography-based cardiac motion estimation techniques, such as Doppler Myocardial Imaging (DMI), are limited due to angle dependence. By contrast, elastography, a method designed and used for the detection of tumors, measures displacement and strain by comparing echoes before and after (not during) a deformation and thus is not angle-dependent. Therefore, the feasibility of cardiac elastography to provide reliable and reproducible displacement and strain estimates from multiple sonographic views was recently demonstrated utilizing RF data from a normal human heart in vivo. In this paper, we demonstrate this technique utilizing 2D B-scan data in a patient with a known myocardial infarction. Envelope-detected sonographic data was used to estimate regional wall motion and deformation. Displacement and strain estimates were obtained in both non-infarcted, normally contracting and infarcted regions. By obtaining cine-loop and M-Mode elastograms from both regions, the ischemic regions could be identified. In conclusion, elastography may be a clinically viable method for detection of abnormalities of regional wall motion throughout the cardiac cycle.
Rapid changes in gait, musculoskeletal pain, and quality of life after bariatric surgery.

Abstract Background Joint pain is a common musculoskeletal complaint of morbidly obese patients that can result in gait abnormalities, perceived mobility limitations, and declining quality of life (QOL). It is not yet known whether weight loss 3 months after bariatric surgery can induce favorable changes in joint pain, gait, perceived mobility, and QOL. Our objectives were to examine whether participants who had undergone bariatric surgery (n = 25; laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding) demonstrate improvements in joint pain, gait (speed, stride/step length, width of base of support, toe angles, single/double support, swing and stance time, functional ambulatory profile), mobility, and QOL by 3 months compared with nonsurgical controls (n = 20). The setting was an orthopedics laboratory at a university hospital in the United States. Methods The present study was a prospective, comparative study. Numeric pain scales (indicating the presence and severity of pain), mobility-related surveys, and the Medical Outcomes Study short-form 36-item questionnaire (SF-36) were completed, and gait and walking speed were assessed at baseline and at month 3. Results The bariatric group lost an average of 21.6 ± 7.7 kg. Significant differences existed between the 2 groups at month 3 in step length, heel to heel base of support, and the percentage of time spent in single and double support during the gait cycle (all P P = .05). The walking speed increased by 15% in the bariatric group (108–123 cm/s; P P P Conclusions Improvements in some, but not all, gait parameters, walking speed, and QOL and of perceived functional limitations occur by 3 months after a bariatric procedure.
Case Report: Hemolytic Anemia Following Deceased Donor Renal Transplantation Associated With Tranexamic Acid Administration for Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation.

Abstract Background Long-term outcomes of kidney transplantation with organs from donors with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) are comparable with those from other deceased donors. The use of tranexamic acid to impair fibrinolysis in the treatment of DIC is becoming increasingly frequent, particularly in the trauma setting. However, the effects of tranexamic acid on a transplanted kidney allograft are unknown. Results We report 2 cases of kidney transplantation following administration of tranexamic acid to the donor prior to organ donation. Microthrombi were present in the renal allografts. Both recipients experienced clinically significant hemolytic anemia, which typically occurs at a very low frequency. Conclusions These cases illustrate a potential concern for the use of tranexamic acid in deceased kidney donors with DIC.
Gibberellin Deficiency and Response Mutations Suppress the Stem Elongation Phenotype of Phytochrome-Deficient Mutants of Arabidopsis

Plant growth and development are regulated by numerous internal and external factors. Among these, gibberellin (GA) (an endogenous plant growth regulator) and phytochrome (a photoreceptor) often influence the same processes. For example, in plants grown in the light Arabidopsis thaliana hypocotyl elongation is reduced by GA deficiency and increased by phytochrome deficiency. Here we describe experiments in which the phenotypes of Arabidopsis plants doubly homozygous for GA-related and phytochrome-related mutations were examined. The double mutants were studied at various stages in the plant life cycle, including the seed germination, young seedling, adult, and reproductive phases of development. The results of these experiments are complex, but indicate that a fully functional GA system is necessary for full expression of the elongated phenotypes conferred by phytochrome deficiency.
Perioperative care of infants with pyloric stenosis

Pyloric stenosis (PS) is one of the most common surgical conditions affecting neonates and young infants. The definitive treatment for PS is surgical pyloromyotomy, either open or laparoscopic. However, surgical intervention should never be considered urgent or emergent. More importantly, emergent medical intervention may be required to correct intravascular volume depletion and electrolyte disturbances. Given advancements in surgical and perioperative care, morbidity and mortality from PS should be limited. However, either may occur related to poor preoperative resuscitation, anesthetic management difficulties, or postoperative complications. The following manuscript reviews the current evidence-based medicine regarding the perioperative care of infants with PS with focus on the preoperative assessment and correction of metabolic abnormalities, intraoperative care including airway management (particularly debate related to rapid sequence intubation), maintenance anesthetic techniques, and techniques for postoperative pain management. Additionally, reports of applications of regional anesthesia for either postoperative pain control or as an alternative to general anesthesia are discussed. Management recommendations are provided whenever possible.
The hazards of one's faith: hazard perceptions of South Carolina Christian clergy

Abstract Hazards take place in multiple contexts, contributing to the decisions we make in the face of a threat. Religious belief is considered an important contextual factor in how people understand and respond to environmental hazards. The objective of this paper is to examine one aspect of religious affiliation, biblical orientation, for its influence on the perception of hazard events. Using a survey of individual Christian clergy in South Carolina, the variation in hazard perception and anticipated mitigation responses among the clergy are explored. Geographic location and past hazard experience were found to be strong indicators of hazard concern, while an adherence to a particular theological doctrine was much less conclusive. The hazard mitigation choices voiced by the clergy were also consistent with little variation across the denominations investigated. While considerable differences were noted between the clergy regarding their view of hazard frequency, hazards and the second coming, and biblical orientation, few connections were established between these variables, hazard perception, and future mitigation behavior. Although past research has established that religious orientation influences one's view of their environment, this study demonstrates that this viewpoint is not necessarily extended to environmental extremes. Future opportunities to investigate the complexity of the religion-hazard nexus, such as whether the same results would have occurred in a different geographic region or if these results of individual clergy perceptions can shed light on larger religious attitudes toward hazards, are also discussed.
Effects of temperature and light on germination and early seedling development of the pine pink orchid (Bletia purpurea)

Orchid seed physiology is a poorly understood phenomenon owing to an emphasis on production and the challenges associated with propagating orchids from minute seed. We investigated the role of simulated south Florida temperatures and illumination (dark and 12 h photoperiod) in regulating germination and seedling development using asymbiotic seed germination assays of Bletia purpurea. Our objectives were to determine whether in situ germination is limited by seasonal temperatures and to determine whether temperature alters responses to illumination. Bletia purpurea seeds were able to germinate to > 90% under all treatments. The greatest germination after 3 weeks was observed at 29/19°C under continual darkness and at 25°C under dark and illuminated conditions. The slowest germination was observed at simulated winter temperatures (22/11°C). Illumination initially inhibited germination and development, but resulted in equal or greater development by week six. Germination under 22/11°C was strongly inhibited by illumination, indicating an interaction between temperature and light sensing systems.
An introduction to the structure and function of inflammatory mediators for clinicians

In this article the authors provide a "low key" introduction to the classes of mediators discussed in the balance of this issue. The most important goal is to provide an orientation for clinicians and to make the transition from the basic science to the clinical information a smooth one. The emphasis is on the clinical information and on attempts to provide answers as to why this type of research is relevant to the day-to-day care of patients.
Unusual Complication of Snake Bite: Hypopituitarism after Viper Bites

A total of 600 cases of snake bite were treated in the Little Flower Hospital, Angamally during a period from June 1966, to July, 1974. Three of these people were seen later with manifestations of panhypopituitarism. This occurrence as a complication of snake bite is being reported, perhaps for the first time.
Nucleophilic Capture of Unsymmetrical Oxyallyl Cations with Indoles under Mild Brønsted Acid Catalysis

We recently reported a new synthetic method in our laboratory concerning the control of regioselectivity in the addition of nucleophiles, such as indoles, to unsymmetrical oxyallyl cations. These reactive intermediates were readily generated upon ionization of the corresponding α-hydroxy enol ether precursors under catalytic, mild Bronsted acid. Results from our expansive scope of substrate studies revealed that regioselectivity in this reaction could be regulated upon protection of the oxygen atom in the oxyallyl cation moiety as well as modulation of the stereoelectronic effects in the participating α vs. α′ substituents.
Tolerance and cross-tolerance to the antisecretory effects of enkephalins on the guinea-pig ileal mucosa.

The antisecretory properties of opiates in the guinea-pig ileum have been shown previously to be mediated through interactions with delta-like opiate receptors present in the intestinal mucosa. The present investigation examined the development of tolerance to opioid-induced alterations in intestinal ion transport processes. Osmotic minipumps continuously delivering the prototypic delta-opioid agonist [D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin (DADLE) (5 micrograms/hr) or the potent mu-opiate agonist fentanyl (10 micrograms/hr) over a 5-day period were implanted s.c. into guinea pigs; control animals did not receive chronic drug infusions. DADLE, DADLE ethylamide and [D-Ala2,D-Met5]enkephalin dose-dependently decreased base-line transepithelial potential difference and short-circuit current in isolated segments of ileal mucosa from untreated control animals, with an order of potency of DADLE greater than [D-Ala2, D-Met5 enkephalin greater than DADLE ethylamide. In tissues from DADLE-infused animals, the antisecretory dose-effect curves of the three enkephalin analogs displayed downward shifts to the right compared to control conditions. In contrast, the potency of DADLE was significantly increased in tissues from animals chronically infused with and rendered physically dependent upon fentanyl. The administration of the opioid antagonists naloxone, diprenorphine or the selective delta-opioid antagonist M 154, 129 produced no significant changes in short-circuit current of mucosal segments from either DADLE- or fentanyl-infused animals. Chronic administration of either DADLE or fentanyl did not significantly alter the effects of nonopioids, bombesin, somatostatin or epinephrine, on ion transport; however, the efficacy but not the potency of neurotensin in increasing short-circuit current was attenuated after chronic DADLE infusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Conditionally-Linear Optimal Filtering with Application to Jump-Linear Systems ⁄

In the flrst part of this work a general discrete-time dynamical not necessarily linear system with additive not necessarily Gaussian noises is considered and the problem of estimating the unknown states using the past history of the known states is addressed. The proposed approach is based on the concept of conditionally-orthogonal projection, where the conditional expectation operator given the known states’ history, rather than the unconditional expectation, is used to deflne orthogonality. This approach, called conditionallylinear approach, is a direct extension of the standard linear flltering approach, but is more adequate than the latter for on-line implementation since it allows for the fllter gains to be function of the incoming observations. In the case of an underlying discretization of a continuous-time system with Gaussian additive measurement noises, the proposed discretetime algorithm is formally shown to be asymptotically equivalent to the continuous-time optimal non-linear fllter, when the discretization step is very small. For conditionallyGaussian systems, this fllter coincides with the standard conditionally-Gaussian fllter. Moreover, its application to conditionally-linear non-Gaussian systems is straightforward. The latter result is the basis for the second part of the work where the mode estimation problem for a special class of jump-linear systems is addressed. It is shown that the statespace equations of the mode can be developed as a conditionally-linear non-Gaussian model given the continuous states. Assuming the continuous states to be known, a suboptimal mode-estimator is developed by applying the general conditionally-linear fllter to the mode equations. One highlight of the estimator is that it only requires the flrst two moments of the mode-measurement noise. On the other hand, the optimal non-linear fllter (Wonham fllter) requires a complete knowledge of the probability distribution of that noise. Both fllters are compared on a simple numerical example via Monte-Carlo simulations, which conflrm the asymptotic optimal behavior of the proposed fllter in the Gaussian case. The case of partial information in the continuous states, which can not be handled with the Wonham fllter, is also considered. Using the state augmentation technique, the model equations are recast in a form that flts the full information case, and an approximated Conditionally-Linear fllter is applied for estimating the mode. As an numerical aerospace example, the problem of gyro failure detection from accurate spacecraft attitude measurements is considered and the fllter performance are illustrated via extensive Monte-Carlo simulations.
Function of Pituitary Grafts in Mice.

It is only very recently that anterior pituitary tissue has been successfully grafted. Hohlweg and Junkmann,1 Gardner and Hill,2 and Haterius, Schweizer, and Charipper3 have all obtained viable grafts with varying success. May4 cited a slight increase in body size and a repair of the testes as evidence of function in 2 hypophysectomized rats bearing intraocular pituitary implants obtained from new-born rats.In the mouse a genetical uniformity of host and donor is necessary for successful intra-testicular grafts of pituitary tissue (Strong5). Will the anterior lobe become functional when implanted in the testis where pressure is slight and vascularization of the graft normal? A large amount of data has been collected which very definitely establishes function of such grafts.Brief notes on only 2 representative cases are here presented. Intra-testicular grafts become well established and vascularized within 3 weeks. Grafts which have been in the host animal for shorter periods have not been examined. Mouse ...
A Take on Arbitrary Transient Electric Field Reconstruction Using Wavelet Decomposition Theory Coupled With Particle Swarm Optimization

Destructive and constructive interference of multiple time-shifted and amplitude-adjusted higher frequency signals (wavelet signals) is exploited in order to reproduce a desired signal at a given point in the far-field regime of radiating antennas. The number of individual wavelets is intentionally kept small in keeping with a realistic antenna array size, where each antenna would emit wavelets at conceivably very high power levels. Wavelet decomposition theory is coupled with particle swarm optimization to determine the necessary time shifts and amplitude adjustments of the wavelet signals. In this application, the reconstructed signal can be specified by a desired frequency or arbitrary shape. A pyramidal horn antenna array is used in the analysis of the far-field propagation of the wavelet signals due to its relatively large bandwidth and known analytical electric field solutions. It is found that when the wavelet signals are appropriately superpositioned and added in the far field, the desired signal may be reconstructed with the quality of reconstruction mostly governed by the intentionally low number of wavelets. The reconstructed signal is solely found on the centerline while the signal drastically changes off the centerline or at distances too close or too far from the antenna array.
Discussion on the application of information resources planning to raise the level of drug emergency guarantee in our country

In order to provide good references for establishing the drug emergency management by all levels of government and raising the level of drug emergency guarantee in our country.From the perspective of strengthening our country's drug information resources planning,the drug information resources planning based on our country's drug emergency guarantee was analyzed,and the thinking of construction of our country's drug information resources was discussed through putting the perfect drug emergency guarantee system as a result-orientation.Strengthening our country's drug information resources planning plays an important and foundamental role to raise the level of drug emergency guarantee in our country.
Surgery for Epilepsy: Special Pediatric Considerations

Children with epilepsy require special consideration because the nature of their seizures is different from those in adults, the effects of intractable epilepsy may be more serious in children, and younger children may have greater potential for recovery than adults. This article reviews the unique problems and approaches to resective surgery for pediatric epilepsy.
The Role of the Protein in Modulating Cofactor Electrochemistry in Proteins: The Calculation of Electrostatic Forces

Living organisms store information in a compact and flexible manner in nucleic acids and use proteins to create both structural and catalytic molecules. A wealth of information about the atomic 3-dimensional structure of many proteins and some nucleic acids is available and stored in a readily accessible form in the Brookhaven Data Bank [1]. The challenge is to understand how the structure of these biomolecules enables them to carry out their function. Each molecule of protein is a linear polymer with identical backbone units. The same is true for the nucleic acids DNA and RNA. It is the specific sequence of amino acid side chains in a protein or bases in a nucleic acid that makes each unique. Thus, it is non-bonded interactions between the side chains that influence the backbone geometry, defining regions of α-helix or β-sheet as well as the overall fold in proteins, the propensity for A, B, Z DNA, or the structure of an RNA molecule. In addition, it is the non-bonded interactions that enable proteins and nucleic acids to bind reaction partners and participate in the appropriate reactions.
A Clinically “Silent” Pheochromocytoma with Spontaneous Hemorrhage

AbstractWe report a case of an abdominal mass that had hemorrhaged spontaneously into the retroperitoneal space and presented as an acute abdominal catastrophe. The pathological diagnosis was pheochromocytoma, although the patient had no suggestive symptoms preoperatively. The management of this silent pheochromocytoma and its atypical presentation are discussed.