cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of IS1221 from Mycoplasma hyorhinis: expression of its putative transposase in Escherichia coli incorporates a ribosomal frameshift mechanism

Summary Seven complete and two partial copies of IS1221 variants from Mycoplasma hyorhinis and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae characterized to date have established a consensus IS1221 as a 1513 bp element with unique structural characteristics resembling the IS3 family of bacterial insertion sequences. Each IS1221 copy contains highly conserved 28 bp imperfect terminal inverted repeats and three distinctive internal inverted repeats (LIR, RIR and IIR). IIR is located within the coding region of the element and it is proposed that it plays a critical role in the regulation of putative transposase expression. Consensus IS1221 and one particular copy, G1135.2, contain a single long open reading frame (ORF). Two potential initiation codons are present at nucleotide 46 (AUG46) and nucleotide 397 (AUG397) and both are preceded by strong ribosome-binding sites. Both initiation codons can be used efficiently in an Escherichia coli T7 expression system. The LIR has a negative regulatory effect on translation initiation from AUG46. A -1 translational frameshift event is shown to be involved in expression of the IS1221 ORF and results in the production of 20kDa and 6kDa truncated proteins from the respective upstream initiation codons of the IS1221 ORF. Base substitution and deletion mutations in sequences resembling characterized motifs in documented examples of translational frameshifting resulted in a significant increase in the full-length products and a corresponding decrease in the truncated products from the IS1221 ORF. In contrast to the usual -1 frameshift regulatory event in the IS3 family, which produces a transframe fusion product as the active transposase, IS1221 may have evolved a high-frequency -1 frameshift mechanism that produces a truncated product from the upstream coding domain and thereby results in the regulated low-level production of the full-length presumptive transposase.
A software-reliability growth model for N-version programming systems

This paper presents a NHPP-based SRGM (software reliability growth model) for NVP (N-version programming) systems (NVP-SRGM) based on the NHPP (nonhomogeneous Poisson process). Although many papers have been devoted to modeling NVP-system reliability, most of them consider only the stable reliability, i.e., they do not consider the reliability growth in NVP systems due to continuous removal of faults from software versions. The model in this paper is the first reliability-growth model for NVP systems which considers the error-introduction rate and the error-removal efficiency. During testing and debugging, when a software fault is found, a debugging effort is devoted to remove this fault. Due to the high complexity of the software, this fault might not be successfully removed, and new faults might be introduced into the software. By applying a generalized NHPP model into the NVP system, a new NVP-SRGM is established, in which the multi-version coincident failures are well modeled. A simplified software control logic for a water-reservoir control system illustrates how to apply this new software reliability model. The s-confidence bounds are provided for system-reliability estimation. This software reliability model can be used to evaluate the reliability and to predict the performance of NVP systems. More application is needed to validate fully the proposed NVP-SRGM for quantifying the reliability of fault-tolerant software systems in a general industrial setting. As the first model of its kind in NVP reliability-growth modeling, the proposed NVP SRGM can be used to overcome the shortcomings of the independent reliability model. It predicts the system reliability more accurately than the independent model and can be used to help determine when to stop testing, which is a key question in the testing and debugging phase of the NVP system-development life cycle.
Clinical evaluation of metrizamide for neuroradiology in children

Metrizamide is a nonionic water-soluble contrast medium for neuroradiological studies that is less irritating to the nervous system than other water-soluble agents. Studies in adults have shown that metrizamide has advantages over currently available media, but experience with children has been limited. Sixty-two children have had myelography or ventriculography using metrizamide. The children ranged in age from 11 days to 22 years. Technically satisfactory studies were obtained in every patient. No major complications were encountered. Minor side-effects included headache in 11 children (18%), mild nausea or vomiting in 16 children (26%), and fever in 4 children (6%). Seizures did not occur. One infant in the study subsequently died of unrelated problems; there was no evidence of arachnoiditis at postmortem examination. Metrizamide is a safe, effective contrast medium for neuroradiological use in children.
Effect of dietary intake on immune function in athletes

Athletes are exposed to acute and chronic stress that may lead to suppression of the immune system and increased oxidative species generation. In addition, the tendency to consume fewer calories than expended and to avoid fats may further compromise the immune system and antioxidant mechanisms. The exercise stress is proportional to the intensity and duration of the exercise, relative to the maximal capacity of the athlete. Muscle glycogen depletion compromises exercise performance and it also increases the stress. Glycogen stores can be protected by increased fat oxidation (glycogen sparing). The diets of athletes should be balanced so that total caloric intake equals expenditure, and so that the carbohydrates and fats utilised in exercise are replenished. Many athletes do not meet these criteria and have compromised glycogen or fat stores, have deficits in essential fats, and do not take in sufficient micronutrients to support exercise performance, immune competence and antioxidant defence. Either overtraining or under nutrition may lead to an increased risk of infections. Exercise stress leads to a proportional increase in stress hormone levels and concomitant changes in several aspects of immunity, including the following: high cortisol; neutrophilia; lymphopenia; decreases in granulocyte oxidative burst, nasal mucociliary clearance, natural killer cell activity, lymphocyte proliferation, the delayed-type sensitivity response, the production of cytokines in response to mitogens, and nasal and salivary immunoglobulin A levels; blunted major histocompatibility complex II expression in macrophages; and increases in blood granulocyte and monocyte phagocytosis, and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. In addition to providing fuel for exercise, glycolysis, glutaminlysis, fat oxidation and protein degradation participate in metabolism and synthesis of the immune components. Compromising, or overusing, any of these components may lead to immunosuppression. In some cases, supplementation with micronutrients may facilitate the immune system and compensate for deficits in essential nutrients. In summary, athletes should eat adequate calories and nutrients to balance expenditure of all nutrients. Dietary insufficiencies should be compensated for by supplementation with nutrients, with care not to over compensate. By following these rules, and regulating training to avoid overtraining, the immune system can be maintained to minimise the risk of upper respiratory tract infections.
Numerical Simulation of Engagement of a Wet Clutch With Skewed Surface Roughness

The engagement of a wet clutch with skewed surface roughness was investigated. A Weibull asperity height distribution rather than a Gaussian one was utilized in the asperity contact pressure model. The combined effects of surface roughness and skewness on the friction coefficient were studied for new, run-in and glazed wet friction materials. The results show that the engagement time predicted by the Weibull distribution is greater than that obtained using the Gaussian distribution. A torque spike at the beginning of engagement occurs using the Weibull distribution by taking the skewness into account. A positively sloped curve of friction coefficient versus velocity can reduce the torque increase near the end of the engagement. The strain value at the end of engagement obtained by including the skewness is lower than that predicted by excluding it. The surface topography and the friction characteristics change with the engagement wear and thermal glazing. The torque response and the phase plane are presented for the run-in and the glazed wet friction materials as a function of surface roughness, skewness, and friction characteristic.
Emotions and emotion regulation in developmental psychopathology

The understanding of emotions possesses important implications for elucidating normal as well as abnormal development. The contributions that the emotions have made for enhancing our understanding of psychopathology have been evident throughout history. In this article, an overview of the historical links between the emotions and psychopathology is presented. Despite its rich history, much contemporary theory and research on emotions has been conducted primarily within a nonpathology perspective. In recent decades, investigators have become more interested in examining the role and development of the emotions in atypical populations. It has been argued that the modularity of the emotions system requires a developmental model of emotion regulation.
Extended Lee model and three-particle equations

The extended Lee model describes the interaction of two fermions, V and N, with a scalar boson theta and its antiparticle theta-bar through the virtual processes Varrow-right-leftN+theta and Narrow-right-leftV+theta-bar. Here it is shown that the amplitudes for the physical processes V+theta..-->..V+theta and V+theta..-->..N+2theta can be obtained in a reasonable approximation from the solution of an Amado-Lovelace type of three-particle equation. The analysis presented gives some insight into the problem of extending a crossing symmetric, Chew-Low type of T matrix off the energy shell.
Many Ribosomal Protein Genes Are Cancer Genes in Zebrafish

We have generated several hundred lines of zebrafish (Danio rerio), each heterozygous for a recessive embryonic lethal mutation. Since many tumor suppressor genes are recessive lethals, we screened our colony for lines that display early mortality and/or gross evidence of tumors. We identified 12 lines with elevated cancer incidence. Fish from these lines develop malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, and in some cases also other tumor types, with moderate to very high frequencies. Surprisingly, 11 of the 12 lines were each heterozygous for a mutation in a different ribosomal protein (RP) gene, while one line was heterozygous for a mutation in a zebrafish paralog of the human and mouse tumor suppressor gene, neurofibromatosis type 2. Our findings suggest that many RP genes may act as haploinsufficient tumor suppressors in fish. Many RP genes might also be cancer genes in humans, where their role in tumorigenesis could easily have escaped detection up to now.
Photoacoustic microscopy of cerebral blood-oxygenation dynamics in mice

In this work, we exploit the high depth and temporal resolutions of PAM to noninvasively image the blood-oxygenation dynamics of multiple cortex vessels in the mouse brain simultaneously in response to controlled hypoxic and hyperoxic challenges. The dark-field photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) technique was enhanced to image the cortex vasculature of the mouse brain in vivo using endogenous hemoglobin contrast with one second temporal resolution. The maximum values of about 20% with standard deviation ± 1.2% were found to vary significantly among the cortex vessels studied. The hypoxic response time to rise from 10 % to 90 % of maximum was 63 ± 6 sec. The reverse response time for this event was 16 ± 2 sec.
Differences in clinical grading associated with instructor status

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the clinical evaluation of pre-doctoral students is associated with instructor status. The hypothesis was that there would be no association between instructor status and clinical evaluation grades. Materials and methods: Retrospective analysis of pre-doctoral clinical evaluations for class II amalgams, class III composites, and periodontal scaling and root planing was performed. The grade averages were based on a rank scale. Descriptive statistics were computed to summarise the predictor and outcome variables. Bivariate statistics were computed to evaluate any associations between the predictors and outcomes. Multiple linear regression models were computed to evaluate the simultaneous effects of multiple predictors on clinical evaluations. Results: The study sample consisted of 238 class II amalgams, 246 class III composites, and 675 scaling and root planings which occurred between August 2003 and June 2005. The procedure averages for these procedures were 1.8 ± 0.67, 1.8 ± 0.66 and 2.1 ± 0.56 respectively. The management averages were 2.0 ± 0.63, 1.5 ± 0.58 and 1.4 ± 0.54 respectively. In bivariate analyses, faculty status was associated with treatment averages for all three procedures. Conclusions: Faculty status was associated with treatment score for all three procedures evaluated. Full-time faculty gave the best grades for restorative procedures. For periodontal procedures, part-time faculty gave the best grades. More studies are warranted to elucidate the nature behind these differences.
Polymers as an integral part of a materials science and engineering curriculum

This paper describes how the field of polymers has been integrated into the materials science and engineering curriculum. Some of the background to these fields is briefly reviewed. The role of advanced materials in future technological needs is indicated. Efforts to design an integrated Undergraduate Curriculum in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois are described. The possible role of research universities to fill the void between very near term focus of industrial research in materials and the very long range research typically pursued at universities is discussed.
A Review of Douglass C. North, John Joseph Wallis, and Barry R. Weingast's Violence and Social Orders: A Conceptual Framework for Interpreting Recorded Human History

Abstract In Violence and Social Orders: A Conceptual Framework for Interpreting Recorded Human History, Douglass C. North, John Joseph Wallis, and Barry R. Weingast probe the organizational foundations of development. Outlining the properties of the “natural” and “open entry” societies, they highlight as well the conditions under which societies can move from one to the other, thereby achieving political order and economic prosperity.
Twenty-nail dystrophy associated with hematologic abnormalities.

. This report describes a 15 1/2 year old white male with twenty-nail dystrophy who has had recurrent episodes of immune thrombocytopenic purpura, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and mild depression of immunoglobulin levels. The concurrence of these events suggests that each shares a common pathophysiologic mechanism, possibly an autoimmune process.
Both GABAA and GABAB receptors participate in suppression of [Ca2+]i pulsing in toad melanotrophs

The receptor mechanisms involved in the inhibitory effect of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in suppressing spontaneous [Ca2+]i pulsing in melanotrophs of Xenopus laevis were investigated. The selective GABAB receptor agonist, baclofen reversibly arrested [Ca2+]i pulsing. This inhibition was unaffected by the selective GABAA receptor antagonist, bicuculline methiodide, but was blocked by the selective GABAB receptor antagonist, CGP 35348 (3-aminopropyl diethyoxymethyl phosphinic acid). The selective GABAA receptor agonist, muscimol, also arrested [Ca2+]i pulsing after causing a transient rise in [Ca2+]i. This biphasic response to muscimol was unaffected by CGP 35348, but was blocked by bicuculline. The inhibitory effect of GABA was unaffected by either CGP 35348 or bicuculline when given alone, but was blocked by both antagonists given together. In cells pretreated with pertussis toxin, the response to baclofen was completely lost, whereas responses to GABA and muscimol persisted; the response to GABA was blocked by bicuculline alone. Thus, both GABAA and GABAB receptors are involved in the inhibitory effect of GABA in suppressing spontaneous [Ca2+]i pulsing in Xenopus melanotrophs.
Images Are Not the Evidence in Neuroimaging

AbstractfMRI promises to uncover the functional structure of the brain. I argue, however, that pictures of ‘brain activity' associated with fMRI experiments are poor evidence for functional claims....
Shock-proof fulgurating urethroscope

Abstract These instruments are the result of an effort to devise a simple shock-proof anterior urethroscope for fulguration with unipolar or bipolar current. Since the bakelite sheath itself acts as an insulator, it is safe to use a thin bare wire electrode which does not appreciably obstruct the urethroscopic view. This fact, in addition to the improvement in the light system, will, I trust, afford better visualization of the anterior urethra, as well as safety for fulguration. In closing, I wish to thank Mr. Frederick C. Wappler for his willing cooperation and for his assistance in the making of these instruments.
Hair removal with an 800-nm pulsed diode laser

Abstract Background and Objective: Laser hair removal is a relatively new procedure. Our purpose was to study the efficacy and safety of a high-power, pulsed diode laser array for removing unwanted hair. Methods: A total of 38 subjects were treated with a prototype of the 800-nm diode laser system. Fluences ranging from 10 to 40 J/cm 2 (mean, 33.4 J/cm 2 ) were used and 1 to 4 treatments (mean, 2.7) were performed. Evaluation of hair loss was performed at least 4 months after the last treatment (mean, 8.7 months) by a blinded assessment of clinical photographs. Results: A total of 59% of the subjects had only sparse hair regrowth at the final follow-up. Higher fluences and multiple treatments produced greater long-term efficacy. Transient pigmentary changes occurred in 29% of the subjects and were more common in darker skin types IV to VI ( P = .047). Conclusion: The 800-nm diode laser is an efficient and safe technique for hair reduction. Adverse pigmentary effects occur, but are transient. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2000;43:442–7.)
Crosstalk in phase-coded holographic memories using different orthogonal codes

The crosstalk noise between volume holograms multiplexed with various orthogonal phase codes is analyzed. The methods for the generation of Hadamard codes of different orders are also briefly described. Compared with a common Hadamard matrix of order of a power of 2, a Hadamard matrix whose order is not a power of 2 generally does not have a single bad code. To achieve the maximum possible storage capacity of a phase-code multiplexed holographic memory, the orthogonal phase codes need to be carefully selected by considering both the available pixel numbers of spatial light modulators and the crosstalk effect between stored holograms.
Calculation of the energy and migration characteristics of carbon in martensite

Abstract A model previously used for the calculation of the energy and migration characteristics of carbon in α-iron has been extended to simulate martensite. Iron atoms near a carbon interstitial are treated as individual particles interacting with a nearest and next-nearest neighbor two-body central force, and the remainder of the lattice is treated as an elastic continuum. A two-body central force is also used for the carbon-iron interaction. Computer experiments are performed by inserting a carbon atom into a perfect body-centered tetragonal lattice of iron atoms with the lattice parameters adjusted for a given carbon concentration. The carbon migration energy was found to increase with carbon concentration, e.g. from 0.86 eV in α-iron to 1.00 eV for motion in the plane perpendicular to c axis and 1.09 eV for motion parallel to the c axis for 1 wt. % carbon in martensite. The di-carbon binding energy shows a little change and the carbon-vacancy binding energy decreases with increasing carbon concentration, and no carbon reorientation internal friction peak is predicted by this model for martensite.
Racial differences in the impact of social support on nocturnal blood pressure.

Objective To investigate whether black and white adults benefit similarly from perceived social support in relation to blood pressure (BP) dipping during sleep.
The detection limit of the in-situ radiotracer technique for the adsorption at the solid-solution interface

L'adsorption d'ions sulfate sur une electrode de platine dans une solution d'acide perchlorique est examinee grâce a un marquage isotopique du sulfate de sodium par du soufre 35
Genetic and nutritional effects on male traits and reproductive performance in Tribolium flour beetles.

In Tribolium flour beetles and other organisms, individuals migrate between heterogeneous environments where they often encounter markedly different nutritional conditions. Under these circumstances, theory suggests that genotype-by-environment interactions (GEI) may be important in facilitating adaptation to new environments and maintaining genetic variation for male traits subject to directional selection. Here, we used a nested half-sib breeding design with Tribolium castaneum to partition the separate and joint effects of male genotype and nutritional environment on phenotypic variation in a comprehensive suite of life-history traits, reproductive performance measures across three sequential sexual selection episodes, and fitness. When male genotypes were tested across three nutritional environments, considerable phenotypic plasticity was found for male mating and insemination success, longevity and traits related to larval development. Our results also revealed significant additive genetic variation for male mating rate, sperm offence ability (P2), longevity and total fitness and for several traits reflecting both larval and adult resource use. In addition, we found evidence supporting GEI for sperm defence ability (P1), adult longevity and larval development; thus, no single male genotype outperforms others in every nutritional environment. These results provide insight into the potential roles of phenotypic plasticity and GEI in facilitating Tribolium adaptation to new environments in ecological and evolutionary time.
Opportunistic urine ligase chain reaction screening for sexually transmitted diseases in adolescents seeking care in an urban emergency department

Abstract Study Objective: Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis are the most common bacterial sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in sexually active youth and many infections are asymptomatic or unrecognized. This study used ligase chain reaction assays for determination of prevalence of gonococcal and chlamydial infections in adolescents seeking care at an urban emergency department. Methods: An unlinked prevalence study was performed with ligase chain reaction tests on voided urine specimens from a convenience sample of adolescents 14 years or older who sought care at the Children's Hospital of Alabama ED. Demographic data and data on care provided in the ED were determined from retrospective chart review of those patients whose urine specimens were tested. Results: Of 282 urine specimens screened, 13.5% (38) yielded positive findings on ligase chain reaction testing for either or both pathogens (20 [7%] positive for N gonorrhoeae, 23 [8%] positive for C trachomatis). In the context of acute care, gonorrhea or chlamydial infection was diagnosed in 5 (1.8%). STD prevalence did not vary significantly by age. Only 39% (15/38) of patients with infections detected by ligase chain reaction testing received potentially effective antibiotics as a result of their urgent care evaluation. Conclusion: Many adolescents use the ED for nonurgent care and unsuspected STDs are often missed. Urine ligase chain reaction testing is a sensitive, noninvasive means of detecting STDs by which unsuspected adolescent STD cases can be detected in an ED setting. [Embling ML, Monroe KW, Oh MK, Hook EW III. Opportunistic urine ligase chain reaction screening for sexually transmitted diseases in adolescents seeking care in an urban emergency department. Ann Emerg Med. July 2000;36:28-32.]
Protein Kinases and Phosphatases in the Drosophila Genome

The reversible phosphorylation of proteins on serine, threonine, and tyrosine residues represents a fundamental strategy used by eukaryotic organisms to regulate a host of biological functions, including DNA replication, cell cycle progression, energy metabolism, and cell growth and differentiation
Current concepts in cancer. Solid tumors in children

DURING the past two decades substantial progress has been made in the treatment of pediatric solid tumors. Improved survival is accounted for by a better understanding of the natural history of the various tumors, improved histologic classifications, new technics to define extent of disease accurately, effective chemotherapy and improved radiation, surgical and supportive therapies. The purpose of this report is to review some of the common childhood tumors, emphasizing current management and investigations. Wilms' Tumor Wilms' tumor is the most common intra-abdominal tumor of childhood. The median age at diagnosis is approximately 3 1/2 years. Approximately 95 per cent of . . .
Use of a Visual Aid to Improve Counseling at the Threshold of Viability

OBJECTIVES: To pilot-test a visual aid developed to help counsel pregnant women. METHODS: After agreeing to participate, pregnant women at >28 weeks of gestation were assigned randomly to counseling with or without a visual aid. The visual aid contained pictures, graphics, and short messages about delivery room resuscitation, chances of survival, anticipated neonatal course, and long-term neurodevelopmental disabilities. A neonatal fellow performed counseling with a standardized script for an anticipated delivery at 23 weeks of gestation. In precounseling and postcounseling sessions, women were given a structured interview to assess their knowledge of chances of survival and disability and attitudes toward resuscitation. RESULTS: Of the 89 women who participated, 76% were black and 59% read below a 9th-grade level. Compared with the no–visual aid group, women in the visual aid group recalled more disabilities and predicted longer neonatal stays ( P = .01). For both groups, mothers' perceptions of the chances of survival were lower after counseling; the decrease was greater in the visual aid group ( P = .03). The majority of women in each group opted for resuscitation, which was not affected by counseling. In multivariate analyses, use of the visual aid was a significant independent factor in explaining before/after differences in survival chances and recall of a long NICU stay and number of disabilities; higher literacy levels also were significant for recalling the number of disabilities. CONCLUSIONS: Use of a visual aid improved mothers' knowledge and showed promise as a decision aid for counseling at the threshold of viability.
Association of shoulder pain with the use of mobility devices in persons with chronic spinal cord injury.

Objective To assess the prevalence of shoulder pain and its association with the use of assistive devices for mobility in persons with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). Design Cross-sectional analysis conducted within a cohort study. Setting SCI service in a hospital and the community. Participants Between August 2005 and January 2008, 93 participants with chronic SCI completed a standardized health questionnaire and pain questionnaire. Main Outcome Measures Shoulder pain in last 6 months elicited by use of the McGill Pain Questionnaire pain diagram. Results Of the 93 participants, 65 (69.9%) reported pain at any site in the 6 months before testing. Shoulder pain, reported by 39.8% of participants, was the third most common site of pain after the legs and back. When stratified by the use of assistive mobility devices, shoulder pain was reported by 46.7% of motorized wheelchair users, 35.4% of manual wheelchair users, 47.6% of participants using aids such as crutch(es) or canes, and 33.3% of participants walking without assistance ( P = .7 for comparison of 4 groups). Conclusions Shoulder pain is highly prevalent in SCI. The authors of previous studies have largely attributed shoulder pain in SCI to manual wheelchair use. However, our results provide evidence for similarly elevated prevalence of shoulder pain among motorized wheelchair users and those patients using crutches or canes. This finding suggests that in addition to overuse injury from cyclic wheelchair propulsion, the assessment of other mechanical and nonmechanical factors that lead to shoulder pain in SCI is an unmet research need that may have treatment implications.
Functional bracing for comminuted extra-articular fractures of the distal third of the humerus

From 1982 to 1987 we treated 85 extra-articular comminuted distal third humeral fractures in adults with prefabricated plastic braces. Of these, 15% were open fractures and 18% had initial peripheral nerve injury. On average, the sleeve was applied 12 days after injury and used for 10 weeks. There was 96% union, with no infections. All nerve injuries resolved or were improving at the latest examination. At union there was varus deformity averaging 9 degrees in 81% of patients, but loss of range of movement was minimal and functional results were good.
Impact of the Poll Tax on Voter Participation: The Houston Metropolitan Area in 1966

Tn February 1966, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld rulings of lower I federal courts that state election codes making payment of a poll tax a prerequisite to voting contravened the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.1 That decision brought an end to one of the most widely discussed, frequently criticized, and solidly established institutions in American politics. Although the poll tax as a prerequisite to voting was initially regarded as a device for liberalizing the franchise,2 the abandonment of more restrictive measures in time converted it into an instrument for limiting suffrage. It came to be especially utilized for this purpose in the South around the turn of the century, and by 1908 it was a prerequisite to voting in all 11 states of the old Confederacy. Beginning with North Carolina in 1920, seven states eventually repealed the poll tax by their own processes, but the final judicial
Responses of the human airway epithelium transcriptome to in vivo injury.

To identify genes participating in human airway epithelial repair, we used bronchoscopy and brushing to denude the airway epithelium of healthy individuals, sequentially sampled the same region 7 a...
WITHIN- AND AMONG-YEAR EFFECTS OF COLD FRONTS ON MIGRATING RAPTORS AT HAWK MOUNTAIN, PENNSYLVANIA, 1934-1991

ABsTRAcr.--Cold-front passage has long been associated with south-bound raptor migration in northeastern North America. We used Hawk Mountain Sanctuary's 55-year database to calculate abundance indices of 14 raptor species at the site. These indices, together with data taken from coincidental U.S. Department of Commerce daily weather maps, were used to investigate the extent to which raptor migration at Hawk Mountain is associated with the passage of cold fronts. Daily abundance indices for 12 of 14 raptor species exhibited significant increases during one or more of the three days following frontal passage. Three basic patterns emerged, which differed in the number of days after frontal passage on which peak migration occurred. The patterns fit the flight behavior of the species involved. We failed to detect a long-term linear trend in numbers of fall-season cold fronts at the site. Stepwise multipleregression analyses revealed that annual-abundance indices were not influenced by annual variation in the numbers of cold fronts passing the Sanctuary at the time of fall migration. Overall, our analyses confirm the results of earlier, short-term studies demonstrating withinyear effects of frontal passage on raptor migration. Our failure to detect among-year effects of frontal passage rates on annual counts of raptors migrating past the site supports the notion that cold fronts enhance fall migration rather than simply making the birds more visible to observers at such times by forcing them closer to the watch site. Received 6 December 1994, accepted 25 April 1995.
Bidirectional closure of the rostral neuropore in the human embryo.

The length of each neuropore was measured in 23 human embryos of stages 10–12 (about 22–26 days), and the closure of the lips of the rostral neuropore was studied in 24 embryos of stage 11 (about 24 days), with particular reference to the terminal lip. Graphic reconstructions were prepared from two particularly suitable examples, and mitotic figures were plotted for one of these. The lengths of the rostral and caudal neuropores are basically similar, but the rostral opening closes 1 day earlier and more abruptly (within a few hours) than the caudal (which takes a day). Closure of the rostral neuropore in the human embryo is bidirectional, proceeding simultaneously from (1) midbrain and diencephalon 2 and (2) the telencephalic region adjacent to the chiasmatic plate. Species differences are emphasized. Closure at the terminal lip of the neuropore is by fusion of right and left neural folds, as occurs elsewhere during primary neurulation. The rostral end of the neural plate in the median plane is, in the human embryo, at the rostral limit of the chiasmatic plate. Histological differences, however, exist between closure at the terminal lip and that at the dorsal lip: the surface epithelium plays a more significant role at the terminal lip, and the seam is more visible and presumably stronger. In future anencephaly it has been found that fusion at the terminal lip may occur, although that at the dorsal lip is deficient.
Endoscopic Resection of Sessile Colon Polyps

Endoscopic resection of colonic polyps prevents death from colorectal cancer.1 Improvements in endoscopic technique and instrumentation now allow complete resection of large colon polyps with favorable safety and oncologic outcomes.2 Herein is a brief evidence-based video review of the endoscopic technique for submucosal lift-assisted polypectomy and clip closure of sessile colonic adenomas.
OPTIMAL GROWTH IN A TWO‐SECTOR RSS MODEL WITHOUT DISCOUNTING: A GEOMETRIC INVESTIGATION*

This essay reports results on optimal growth in a two-sector model with fixed coefficients, irreversible investment and no discounting. Under normalization, the model can be represented by two real numbers, but despite its deceptive simplicity, it admits rich transition dynamics and apparent pathologies that seem to have been missed in earlier work. From a methodological point of view, and in the light of recent work of Nishimura and Yano, this essay can also be seen as a further rehabilitation of geometric methods as an engine of analysis.
Mancur Olson and the tragedy of the unbalanced commons

Mancur Olson offered us big thoughts on big subjects. Today, he might well attack the problem of climate change and the current failure of nations to act effectively. Olson would note the incentives of nations to ride free or cheaply. He would observe that climate change is an alliance problem, one where some nations have much more at stake than others. With climate change, the alliance problem is redoubled, since the asymmetries among nations fall along multiple dimensions, including those of vulnerability to climate change, history of greenhouse emissions, emissions per dollar of GNP, level of economic development, and cultural environmental concerns. Each nation, valuing primarily its own concerns, advances principles favoring itself in the apportionment of painful cuts. Not surprisingly, the cuts that nations have agreed upon for the heralded 2015 Paris Accords will be woefully insuffi cient to avoid exacerbating climate change. Thus, despite much international discussion and many platitudinous agreements, concerns about the distribution of painful cuts will continue to prevent the nations of the world from even approaching an effi cient agreement. Our threatened planet needs a more sophisticated approach to this and other collective action problems, a fi eld pioneered by Mancur Olson.
Income Averaging: Significant Planning Options for Eligible Taxpayers

Taxpayers with variable incomes potentially face disadvantages in their computation of annual tax liability as compared with counterparts having more stable incomes over time. Graduated tax rates, combined with phase-outs of certain tax benefits, effectively increase tax liability during high income years. Conversely, deductions and credits may provide only limited benefits during low income years. Although this problem is shared by many taxpayers, Congress has provided relief in I.R.C. § 1301 for taxpayers engaged in a farming or fishing business. This article discusses eligibility for relief and the mechanics of application for I.R.C. § 1301.
SP0059 The Role of Nutrition Upon Osteoarthritis and Inflammation

This session will discuss the role that nutrition has in osteoarthritis. The speaker will cover 4 aspects of the links between nutrition and OA, specifically: 1: to describe latest advances in the understanding of nutrition upon OA 2: to present evidence on the relationship between nutrition and pre- and post-OA onset, specifically with insights on patient characteristics 3: to discuss how nutrition may interact with joint pain, inflammation and limitations in OA 4: to critique the use of patient-oriented nutritional assessment and OA in clinical practice The key message of this session is that nutritional intakes influence OA and play a role in the management of the disease, patient decisions about inclusion or exclusion of specific foods, and influences the major components of OA, namely pain, inflammation, physical activity and physical limitations and possibly bony growths. Disclosure of Interest None Declared
Finding the American West in Twenty-First-Century Italy

Beginning in 1890, Americans exported specific ideas and images of the American West to Italy. Transnational exchanges of ideas, people, and culture help explain how Italians have adapted western mythology to accommodate their cultural, political, and economic circumstances, keeping the American West relevant to them in the twenty-first century.
Effect observation of omeprazole in the treatment of pediatric peptic ulcer

Objective To explore clinical effect of omeprazole in the treatment of pediatric peptic ulcer. Methods 100 cases with peptic ulcer were selected as research subjects,and the patients were randomly divided into research group and control group,50 cases in each group.All these participants were treated with amoxicillin and clarithromycin,on this basis,the research group was treated with omeprazole,and the control group was treated with cimetidine,the treatment effect of two groups was compared respectively. Results The treatment effect in the research group is better than that in control group,with statistical significance(P0.05),Hp eradication effect in research group is obviously better than that in control group,with statistical significance(P0.05).There was no statistical significance in complications or adverse situation between two groups(P0.05). Conclusion Omeprazole in the treatment of pediatric peptic ulcer has significant efficacy and superior safety,and it is worthy of clinical promotion and application.
Management of Benign Aphthous Ulcers

Aphthous ulcers are a common and painful problem. Benign aphthae tend to be small (less than 1 cm in diameter) and shallow. Aphthous ulcers that occur in conjunction with symptoms of uveitis, genital ulcerations, conjunctivitis, arthritis, fever or adenopathy should prompt a search for a serious etiology. The lack of clarity regarding the etiology of aphthous ulcers has resulted in treatments that are largely empiric. These treatments include antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, immune modulators, anesthetics and alternative (herbal) remedies.
Ruminative response style.

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the evidence that a ruminative response style increases risk for depression, describes the proposed mechanisms by which rumination increases this risk, and discusses possible treatment implications. Increased risk is not specific to depression but generalizes to other forms of psychopathology. Rumination is a mode of responding to distress by passively focusing on the possible causes and consequences of one's distress without moving into active problem-solving. Ruminative response style is correlated with depressive symptoms and predicts the development of future depressive episodes. Gender is also related to rumination, with more women than men reporting a tendency to ruminate in response to distress. The theory was proposed in part to explain the greater prevalence of depression in women than in men, and the gender difference in rumination has been shown to mediate the gender difference in depression. A ruminative response style is thought to increase risk for depression through a variety of mechanisms.
Hip joint center location by fitting conchoid shape to the acetabular rim region of MR images

This paper proposes a hip joint center (HJC) location method based on the approximating of the acetabulum with a conchoid shape to acetabular rim in MR images. As the human hip joint is not a perfect sphere but it is close to a conchoid shape, the accurate location of the HJC cannot be computed as the center of a sphere. By approximating the acetabulum with a conchoid shape, it is possible to compensate a possible hip joint center location error due to the inaccuracy of 3D surface models for using functional method to calculate HJC location. For the hip joint surgery planning, it is necessary to assess patients' hip range of motions based on the HJC, thus the accurate HJC location is important.
The Effect of Oxygen Binding Energy on the Selective Oxidation of Butane Over V/γ-AL2O3

Abstract The oxidation of butane was studied over two V/γ-Al 2 O 3 catalysts with loadings of 2.9 and 8.2 V/nm 2 using both pulse reaction and steady state measurements. The activity per V ion was about ten times higher on the higher loading sample. In the pulse reaction, the selectivity for oxidative dehydrogenation increased with increasing extent of reduction of the vanadia phase, ϕ, on both catalysts. Small amounts of oxygenates were observed on the lower loading sample. The change in selectivity with ϕ correlated well with changes in the heat of reoxidation of the reduced catalysts, which were determined calorimetrically and were indicative of the binding strength of lattice oxygen in the sample. The difference in dehydrogenation selectivity was also observed in the steady state experiments. These data indicated that the rate limiting and selectivity determining steps were different on these catalysts, and the selectivity for dehydrogenation was strongly affected by the binding energy of lattice oxygen.
Bloch–Siegert B1-Mapping Improves Accuracy and Precision of Longitudinal Relaxation Measurements in the Breast at 3 T

Variable flip angle (VFA) sequences are a popular method of calculating T1 values, which are required in a quantitative analysis of dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). B1 inhomogeneities are substantial in the breast at 3 T, and these errors negatively impact the accuracy of the VFA approach, thus leading to large errors in the DCE-MRI parameters that could limit clinical adoption of the technique. This study evaluated the ability of Bloch-Siegert B1 mapping to improve the accuracy and precision of VFA-derived T1 measurements in the breast. Test-retest MRI sessions were performed on 16 women with no history of breast disease. T1 was calculated using the VFA sequence, and B1 field variations were measured using the Bloch-Siegert methodology. As a gold standard, inversion recovery (IR) measurements of T1 were performed. Fibroglandular tissue and adipose tissue from each breast were segmented using the IR images, and the mean T1 was calculated for each tissue. Accuracy was evaluated by percent error (%err). Reproducibility was assessed via the 95% confidence interval (CI) of the mean difference and repeatability coefficient (r). After B1 correction, %err significantly (P < .001) decreased from 17% to 8.6%, and the 95% CI and r decreased from ±94 to ±38 milliseconds and from 276 to 111 milliseconds, respectively. Similar accuracy and reproducibility results were observed in the adipose tissue of the right breast and in both tissues of the left breast. Our data show that Bloch-Siegert B1 mapping improves accuracy and precision of VFA-derived T1 measurements in the breast.
Comparison of antimicrobial activity between ceftolozane-tazobactam and ceftazidime-avibactam against multidrug-resistant isolates of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Abstract Objective This study compared the activity of ceftolozane–tazobactam and ceftazidime–avibactam against 120 bacterial strains, including extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producers, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa , isolated from patients admitted to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Methods In vitro susceptibility was tested using the Etest strip minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method, and PCR was used to characterize the carbapenemase enzymes produced by CRE strains. Results All 29 ESBL isolates were susceptible to ceftazidime–avibactam (MIC 50 0.125μg/ml), whereas all but one were susceptible to ceftolozane–tazobactam (MIC 50 0.38μg/ml). Twenty-seven (45%) CRE isolates were susceptible to ceftazidime–avibactam (MIC 50 ≥256μg/ml), whereas only six (10%) isolates were susceptible to ceftolozane–tazobactam (MIC 50 ≥256μg/ml). Very few NDM-1 isolates were susceptible to ceftazidime–avibactam, whereas the majority of OXA-48 isolates were susceptible. Twenty-nine (94%) P. aeruginosa isolates were susceptible to ceftazidime–avibactam (MIC 50 1.5μg/ml), whereas 30 (97%) isolates were susceptible to ceftolozane–tazobactam (MIC 50 0.75μg/ml). Conclusions Ceftolozane–tazobactam and ceftazidime–avibactam showed comparable activity against ESBL and P. aeruginosa , with ceftazidime–avibactam having lower MICs against ESBL isolates and ceftolozane–tazobactam having lower MICs against P. aeruginosa. Ceftazidime–avibactam showed better activity against all CRE isolates except for those carrying the NDM-1 enzyme.
Thermophilic Ferritin 24mer Assembly and Nanoparticle Encapsulation Modulated by Interdimer Electrostatic Repulsion.

Protein cage self-assembly enables encapsulation and sequestration of small molecules, macromolecules, and nanomaterials for many applications in bionanotechnology. Notably, wild-type thermophilic ferritin from Archaeoglobus fulgidus (AfFtn) exists as a stable dimer of four-helix bundle proteins at a low ionic strength, and the protein forms a hollow assembly of 24 protomers at a high ionic strength (∼800 mM NaCl). This assembly process can also be initiated by highly charged gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in solution, leading to encapsulation. These data suggest that salt solutions or charged AuNPs can shield unfavorable electrostatic interactions at AfFtn dimer–dimer interfaces, but specific “hot-spot” residues controlling assembly have not been identified. To investigate this further, we computationally designed three AfFtn mutants (E65R, D138K, and A127R) that introduce a single positive charge at sites along the dimer–dimer interface. These proteins exhibited different assembly kinetics and thermodynamic...
Urine Ammonium and Preclinical Acidosis in CKD.

The kidney maintains the serum [HCO3−] at a normal value of 25 mEq/L by two distinct and highly regulated processes: ( 1 ) reabsorption of the filtered load of HCO3− and ( 2 ) production and excretion of ammonium (NH4+). Production of NH4+ is primarily a function of the proximal tubule, and