cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulation of synaptic molecular architecture in a rat sympathetic ganglion and hippocampus

Extensive evidence suggests that the synapse, the communicative organelle between neurons, plays a pivotal role in learning and memory. To begin defining epigenetic factors that potentially regulate molecular structure of the synapse, we have been studying a relatively simple model system, the rat sympathetic, superior cervical ganglion. Initially, we focused on the postsynaptic density (PSD), a disc-shaped structure in the postsynaptic neuron (see cover illustration). Previously, we found that trans-synaptic impulse activity regulates the predominant PSD protein molecule (PSDp). We now examine two related questions. Do other factors influence c synaptic structure independent of presynaptic innervation? Conversely, does denervation alter synaptic molecular structure in the hippocampus, as in the ganglion? Our studies indicate that the trophic protein, nerve growth factor, that governs sympathetic development and mature function, regulates the PSDp in normal and denervated ganglia. Consequently, synaptic structure in the periphery is, indeed, regulated by multiple factors. In the brain, fimbria-fornix lesions, which partially denervate the hippocampus, significantly reduce the hippocampal PSDp. We conclude that presynaptic innervation regulates synaptic structure in the hippocampus, as well as the periphery. More generally, epigenetic factors apparently regulate synaptic structure, potentially providing a molecular mechanism for information storage at the synapse.
Mechanisms of improved outcomes for breast cancer between surgical oncologists and general surgeons.

Background Prior multi-institutional studies have reported a survival benefit of breast cancer treatment by surgical oncologists (SO) over general surgeons (GS).
Decay of cacti and carbon cycling

Cacti contain large quantities of Ca-oxalate biominerals, with C derived from atmospheric CO(2). Their death releases these biominerals into the environment, which subsequently transform to calcite via a monohydrocalcite intermediate. Here, the fate of Ca-oxalates released by plants in arid environments is investigated. This novel and widespread form of biomineralization has unexpected consequences on C cycling and calcite accumulation in areas with large numbers of cacti. The magnitude of this mineralization is revealed by studying the large columnar cactus Carnegiea gigantea (Engelm.) Britton and Rose in southwestern Arizona (locally called the saguaro). A large C. gigantea contains on the order of 1 x 10(5) g of the Ca-oxalate weddellite-CaC(2)O(4) x 2H(2)O. In areas with high C. gigantea density, there is an estimated 40 g C(atm) m(-2) sequestered in Ca-oxalates. Following the death of the plant, the weddellite transforms to calcite on the order to 10-20 years. In areas with high saguaro density, there is an estimated release of up to 2.4 g calcite m(-2) year(-1) onto the desert soil. Similar transformation mechanisms occur with the Ca-oxalates that are abundant in the majority of cacti. Thus, the total atmospheric C returned to the soil of areas with a high number density of cacti is large, suggesting that there may be a significant long-term accumulation of atmospheric C in these soils derived from Ca-oxalate biominerals. These findings demonstrate that plant decay in arid environments may have locally significant impacts on the Ca and inorganic C cycles.
A maize MuDR transposon promoter shows limited autoregulation

Transgenic maize expressing luciferase under the control of the mudrB terminal inverted repeat promoter (TIRB) of the MuDR transposon was assayed for transgene expression in active and inactive Mutator lines. We find that active MuDR elements increase TIRB-luciferase expression by 2- to 10-fold, relative to nonMuDR or silenced MuDR lines, in embryonic leaves in 75% of plants tested. However, this increase does not persist in juvenile and adult leaves. In pollen, TIRB-luciferase expression is up to 100-fold higher than in leaves but is unaffected by the presence or absence of active MuDR. Because the MURA transposase binds to a motif within TIRB, we hypothesize that MURA may act as a weak transcriptional activator of TIRB or may partly inhibit host-induced silencing of TIRB in active Mutator lines during the early stages of somatic growth. Our results contrast with those for the maize transposon Spm, in which the TNPA transposase acts as a repressor of the Spm promoter in active Spm lines.
Glucocorticoids Stimulate the Accumulation of Lipids in the Rat Corpus Luteum

We investigated the physiological basis for the trophic effect of glucocorticoids in rat corpora lutea in the absence of pituitary gonadotropins. Immature (Day 29) Sprague-Dawley rats were given eCG and hCG to induce the development of corpora lutea and were hypophysectomized on Day 32. Beginning on Day 40, rats received twice-daily s.c. injections of either dexamethasone (dex; 200 microg/rat/day) or vehicle (controls) and then were killed on Day 44. Plasma 20alpha-dihydroprogesterone, a major steroid produced by the corpora lutea, was higher (p 2-fold of plasma 20alpha-dihydroprogesterone concentration compared to controls. Glucocorticoid receptor protein (about 92 kDa) was detected in both luteal and nonluteal ovarian tissues in this animal model. These effects of glucocorticoids and the presence of the glucocorticoid receptor raise the possibility of a physiological role for glucocorticoids in the rat corpus luteum.
Commentary on ‘Neuraminidase inhibitors for preventing and treating influenza in children (published trials only)’

This is a commentary on a Cochrane review, published in this issue of EBCH, first published as: Wang K, Shun-Shin M, Gill P, Perera R, Harnden A. Neuraminidase inhibitors for preventing and treating influenza in children (published trials only). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2012, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD002744. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002744.pub4. Further information for this Cochrane review is available in this issue of EBCH in the accompanying Summary article. Copyright © 2012 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The Cochrane Collaboration
A Caveat during Adenosine Challenge

Abstract not available DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cardio.v5i2.14326 Cardiovasc. j. 2013; 5(2): 206-207
Efficient server replication and client redirection for multicast services

Server replication and multicasting are well-established techniques for increasing the capacity of a networked service and improving client performance. In this paper, we consider the combination of these two techniques. Specifically, we investigate the problem of selecting amongst rate-adaptive multicast servers, which adjust their sending rate based on network conditions and/or feedback from clients. Effective server rate adaptation can lead to efficient utilization of network resources and performance improvement perceived by clients. In this study of adaptive multicast server selection, we explore some fundamental issues and investigate the implications of different selection strategies on the performance perceived by clients. We first formulate several optimization problems based on different performance measures. We prove that the general problem is NP-hard and then present a special case with an optimal polynomial-time solution. We then design several heuristics for the general problem. We investigate the performance of the heuristics through simulation and show that our heuristics can improve the performance perceived by clients over other strategies.
Role of Mercosur in regional trade growth

Outlines the development of Mercosur (South American economic bloc) and considers the assertion that it protects inefficient Brazilian industries and has failed to create extra trade. Analyses selected 1990‐1997 data for Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay to show that trade and foreign investment have increased since its formation in 1991; and compares the impact on trading patterns and trade balances for all four countries. Admits that Mercosur has some way to go in establishing a common market and has not increased exports to the rest of the world to the extent expected, but regards it as a qualified success.
Education and Demonstration in American Forestry

The story of American forests is a cross section of American democracy in action. It exemplifies some of the worst as well as some of the best in our social, economic, and political life. It illustrates the long continued and ruthless exploitation of great natural resources as well as the belated and as yet only partially successful attempts to conserve them. Great emphasis has been placed on education and demonstration since the modem phase of the forest conservation movement began over 75 years ago, and particularly since the much more aggressive drive began about 1900. Without minimizing the need, too complete reliance on them has been challenged during recent years and more mandatory and highly controversial forms of public action have been proposed. The following discussion has been devoted largely to an analysis of the effectiveness of education and demonstration in promoting forest conservation on privately owned lands. The analysis also takes into account the impact on the forest resource and on the measures needed for its conservation of the great changes now taking place in our technological, social, and economic structure and of the recurring crises of a sorely troubled and revolutionary world. A glance at the way in which private lands fit into the broader forest picture may be of value as background. Exclusive of Alaska, about one-third of our total land area, or 624 million acres, is still classed as forest land. It falls into two broad classes, and superimposed on these is a complex pattern of public and private ownership. One class, called noncommercial because it cannot produce timber of commercial size or quantity or is not available for timber growing, accounts for 163 million acres. It is valuable for watershed protection, public parks, livestock grazing, and wildlife. It is about equally divided between public and private ownership. The second class, or commercial forest land, occupies three-fourths of the total forest area or 461 million acres. It is suitable and available for timber growing and renders other economic services such as watershed protection,
Electrical impedance myography as a biomarker for ALS

Turner and coauthors1 are to be congratulated on a thoughtful and comprehensive review of biomarkers for amytrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a complex subject that spans the realm of medicine, from molecular biology to MRI. I would, however, like to highlight one potentially important biomarker that was not discussed in the review: electrical impedance myography (EIM). Although EIM is new to the field of neurophysiology, the technique holds the promise of being an important biomarker for ALS that might be used in clinical trials. The basis for EIM is the surface application and measurement of a high-frequency electrical current to localised areas of muscle. Underlying EIM is the concept that ALS-associated changes in the structure and composition of muscle, including denervation, atrophy, and reinnervation, will affect the impedance of the tissue, resulting in changes in its electrical signature. Unlike standard neurophysiological techniques, EIM does not assess the inherent electrical activity of muscle, but rather the distortion of the applied current by the tissue. Early studies showed that EIM values are altered in many neuromuscular disorders and that these alterations can often be seen in the mild stages of the disease.2 Indeed, in the first patient with ALS we studied, we identified a decline in the phase angle—which is one of the main outcome measures of EIM—in the quadriceps, well before the onset of clinical weakness in that muscle.2 Following on from this work, in a study of 15 patients with ALS who were followed up for a maximum of 18 months, we compared EIM with other accepted outcome markers.3 We concluded that EIM could be a more powerful biomarker than standard indices, such as strength testing or the ALS functional rating scale. Our work on disease progression has mainly focused on the use of EIM at one frequency (50 kHz) of applied electrical current; however, the use of EIM at several frequencies potentially enables a much broader assessment.4 Moreover, the application of the current at several angles across a muscle and during active muscle contraction might eventually provide an even more complete picture of the condition of a muscle.5 Although our work has mainly focused on the application of EIM to study disease progression, EIM also has potential in the early diagnosis of ALS. Other advantages of EIM are: it is painless, it can be used at the bedside, and it is low cost. EIM also has limitations; for example, the changes it identifies might not be able to differentiate ALS from other neurogenic conditions. EIM has shown considerable promise during the early stages of its development. On the basis of this work, and with the support of the US ALS Assocation, we have launched a prospective multicentre study to assess the potential value of EIM as a biomarker for ALS.
The effects of intergenerational malnutrition on the mother—pup relationship in rats

The mother—pup relationship was studied in animals with histories of intergenerational malnutrition. Malnourished females rearing pups with intergenerational malnutrition spent more time nursing, had contact with more pups, and spent more time in the nest than did well-nourished females rearing pups with intergenerational malnutrition. The pups reared by the malnourished females also weighed significantly less than those reared by the well-nourished females. Well-nourished females rearing pups with intergenerational malnutrition also spent less time nursing and had contact with fewer pups than did well-nourished females that reared well-nourished pups. Weight differences between the two groups of pups reared by well-nourished females were small but significant.
Simulation of tape edge wear of magnetic tapes

Wear of the tape edge of magnetic tape in sliding contact with a stationary guide pad is investigated numerically. The thickness profile of the tape is discretized and each node of the profile is considered to act as an independent spring compressed by the guide pad. Archard's wear equation is used to predict wear of each node as a function of nodal force and materials properties of the tape. The simulation results show the evolution of tape edge wear as a function of the number of repeated wear passes. Good qualitative agreement is found between numerical predictions and experimental measurements.
Model filled polymers. VII: Flow behavior of polymers containing monodisperse crosslinked polymeric beads

Steady shear viscosities and dynamic moduli of polymer composites, consisting of combinations of crosslinked beads and matrices of polystyrene (PS) and polymethacrylates (PMA), are measured in a cone and plate rheometer. Viscosities and moduli were very sensitive to chemical composition. Crosslinked beads of identical composition to the matrix exhibited the lowest viscosity enhancements at low shear rates and the lowest moduli in dynamic mechanical analysis. The effects of bead concentration on rheological behavior were compared for PS and PMMA beads in a PMMA matrix. PMMA beads produce small effects, whereas PS beads yield highly non-Newtonian systems in PMMA, showing a yield stress of 1100 Pa at 30 wt% filler loading and dynamic moduli independent of frequency. We suggest that rheological behavior reflects the state of dispersion of beads in the matrix. Beads identical in composition to the matrix yield uniform dispersions. We propose that uniform and stable bead dispersions exhibit the lowest viscosity and moduli. Beads that cluster in the matrix, such as PS beads in PMMA, exhibit highly non-Newtonian behavior.
Sample Size Calculation for Clustered Binary Data with Sign Tests Using Different Weighting Schemes.

We propose a sample size calculation approach for testing a proportion using the weighted sign test when binary observations are dependent within a cluster. Sample size formulas are derived with nonparametric methods using three weighting schemes: equal weights to observations, equal weights to clusters, and optimal weights that minimize the variance of the estimator. Sample size formulas are derived incorporating intracluster correlation and the variability in cluster sizes. Simulation studies are conducted to evaluate a finite sample performance of the proposed sample size formulas. Empirical powers are generally close to nominal levels. The number of clusters required increases as the imbalance in cluster size increases and the intracluster correlation increases. The estimator using optimal weights yields the smallest sample size estimate among three estimators. For small values of intracluster correlation the sample size estimates derived from the optimal weight estimator are close to that derived fro...
Thiobarbituric Acid Spray Reagent for Deoxy Sugars and Sialic Acids

RECENTLY, new sensitive assays have been reported for deoxy sugars1, 2-keto,3-deoxy sugar acids2–4, and sialic acids5,6. In these assays, the products of periodate oxidation, malonaldehyde from deoxy sugars and β-formylpyruvic acid from the latter two groups of compounds, are coupled with 2-thiobarbituric acid to produce a bright red chromophore. I wish to report an adaptation of these methods for spraying paper chromatograms.
CO2 exchange in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus (Rathbun)

This study represents a first attempt to describe the pattern of carbon dioxide excretion in the gills of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus. A computer simulation model was constructed, based on measurements of gill morphometry and blood carbon dioxide concentrations. Results of the simulation indicated that, although carbonic anhydrase is available in the gill epithelium for dehydration of HCO3−, it is probably not significantly involved in CO2 excretion. This conclusion was further supported by the observation that injection of a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor had no detectable effect on blood concentrations of CO2. Disequilibrium of the CO2-HCO3− system is proposed as a significant factor in accounting for CO2 excretion.
PKD is for dense granule secretion

Platelet secretion of dense granule contents is important for human hemostasis, as is evident from the mucocutaneous bleeding associated with disorders of dense granule biogenesis and secretion.1 Dense granule secretion is also important for growth and stability of platelet thrombi in experimental models of thrombosis.2 Although patients with primary defects in platelet secretion make up a large proportion of those with hereditary platelet function disorders, the underlying molecular cause is rarely identified.3 Thus, understanding molecular mechanisms regulating platelet secretory function continues to be an important area of research.
Managing Functional Biases in Organizational Forecasts: A Case Study of Consensus Forecasting in Supply Chain Planning

To date, little research has been done on managing the organizational and political dimensions of generating and improving forecasts in corporate settings. We examine the implementation of a supply chain planning process at a consumer electronics company, concentrating on the forecasting approach around which the process revolves. Our analysis focuses on the forecasting process and how it mediates and accommodates the functional biases that can impair the forecast accuracy. We categorize the sources of functional bias into intentional, driven by misalignment of incentives and the disposition of power within the organization, and unintentional, resulting from informational and procedural blind spots. We show that the forecasting process, together with the supporting mechanisms of information exchange and elicitation of assumptions, is capable of managing the potential political conflict and the informational and procedural shortcomings. We also show that the creation of an independent group responsible for managing the forecasting process, an approach that we distinguish from generating forecasts directly, can stabilize the political dimension sufficiently to enable process improvement to be steered. Finally, we find that while a coordination system—the relevant processes, roles and responsibilities, and structure—can be designed to address existing individual and functional biases in the organization, the new coordination system will in turn generate new individual and functional biases. The introduced framework of functional biases (whether those biases are intentional or not), the analysis of the political dimension of the forecasting process, and the idea of a coordination system are new constructs to better understand the interface between operations management and other functions.
THE INFLUENCE OF CHEMICAL FORM AND CONCENTRATION OF ARSENIC ON RICE GROWTH AND TISSUE ARSENIC CONCENTRATION

Arsenic absorption by rice (Oryza sativa, L.) in relation to the chemical form and concentration of arsenic added in nutrient solution was examined. A 4 × 3 × 2 factorial experiment was conducted with treatments consisting of four arsenic chemical forms [arsenite, As(III); arsenate, As(V); monomethyl arsenic acid, MMAA; and dimethyl arsenic acid, DMAA], three arsenic concentrations [0.05, 0.2, and 0.8 mg As L-1], and two cultivars [Lemont and Mercury] with a different degree of susceptibility to straighthead, a physiological disease attributed to arsenic toxicity. Two controls, one for each cultivar, were also included. Arsenic phytoavailability and phytotoxicity are determined primarily by the arsenic chemical form present. Application of DMAA increased total dry matter production. While application of As(V) did not affect plant growth, both As(III) and MMAA were phytotoxic to rice. Availability of arsenic to rice followed the trend: DMAA<As(V)<MMAA<As(III). Upon absorption, DMAA was readily translocated to the shoot. Arsenic(III), As(V), and MMAA accumulated in the roots. With increased arsenic application rates the arsenic shoot/root concentration decreased for the As(III) and As(V) treatments. Monomethyl arsenic acid (MMAA), however, was translocated to the shoot upon increased application. The observed differential absorption and translocation of arsenic chemical forms by rice is possibly responsible for the straighthead disorder attributed to arsenic.
Characterization of a yeast d-mannan with an α-d-glucosyl phosphate residue as an important immunochemical determinant

Abstract Rabbit antiserum against whole heat-killed cells of the yeast Hansenula polymorpha gives with the isolated cell-wall d -mannan a precipitin reaction that shows a 50-percent inhibition by α- d -glucosyl phosphate. The antiserum does not cross-react with Streptococcus faecalis glycan phosphate, which contains a glucosyl phosphate antigenic determinant, indicating an α- d anomeric configuration for the determinant in the H. polymorpha mannan and β- d for that of the S. faecalis determinant. The homologous H. polymorpha immune reaction is also partly inhibited by large fragments, obtained from the mannan by partial acetolysis, a reaction that cleaves preferentially (1→6) linkages to yield oligosaccharides of mannose up to the pentasaccharide that contain mostly α- d -(1→2) linkages. Digestion of the intact mannan with a bacterial exo-α-mannanase releases 40 percent of the d -mannose, but the acetolysis pattern of the resulting enzyme-resistant fragment is not significantly altered from that of the undigested mannan, thus showing that the structure is different from that of the mannan of Saccharomyces cerevisiae , which has an α- d -(1→6)-linked backbone with α-(1→2)- and α-(1→3)-linked side chains. The H. polymorpha mannan appears to have a modified block-type structure in which the acetolysis-stable oligosaccharides are connected by (1→6) linkages, some of the (1→2)-linked units forming a part of the backbone. Methylation analysis showed that most of the (1→6)-linked d -mannose residues are otherwise unsubstituted, but the presence of a small amount of 3,4-di- O -methyl- d -mannose showed that the branch-points in the mannan involve positions 2 and 6 with an average chain-length of 8 mannose units. P.m.r. of the d -mannan with intact phosphate diester linkages showed the expected signal for the anomeric proton of an α- d -glucosyl phosphate group; the signal disappeared after cleavage of the d -glucosyl phosphate diester bond in acid.
Meta-analysis of whole-genome linkage scans of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia

Badner and Gershon (2001) presented a technique of meta-analysis of linkage data that could be applied to published genome scans. It combines the reported P-values of individual studies, after correcting each value for the size of the region containing a minimum P-value. Simulations demonstrated that the type I error rate was at least as low as that for a single genome scan and thus genome-wide significance criteria may be applied. Power to detect linkage was at least as high as the power of pooling the data from all the studies. We applied this method to all the published genome scans for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. We found the strongest evidence for susceptibility loci on 13q (P < 6 x 10(-6)) and 22q (P < 1 x 10(-5)) for bipolar disorder, and on 8p (P < 2 x 10(-4)), 13q (P < 7 x 10(-5)), and 22q (P < 9 x 10(-5)) for schizophrenia.
Effect of pneumatic power tool use on nerve conduction velocity across the wrist

The purpose of this study was to determine if the use of pneumatic power tools altered electrophysiologic properties of the median and ulnar nerves at the wrist during the work shift. Sensory nerve conduction velocities were measured in hands of workers before work and then at 2-hour intervals during the workday. Ten workers exposed to pneumatic power tool use and 10 workers not exposed to intensive hand activity were evaluated. The conduction velocities slowed significantly across the wrist in the median and ulnar nerves among workers using pneumatic tools but not among control workers. This investigation demonstrated that short-term exposure to highly intensive hand tasks causes significant slowing in nerve conduction velocity across the wrist. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Hum Factors Man 15: 339–352, 2005.
Evaluation of MRI artifacts at 3 Tesla for 38 commonly used cosmetics

Abstract Purpose To evaluate MRI artifacts at 3-Tesla for 38 commonly used cosmetics. Materials and Methods Thirty-eight cosmetics (16, nail polishes; 5, eyeliners; 3, mascaras; 10, eye shadows; 1, lip gloss; 1, body lotion; 1, body glitter, and 1, hair loss concealer) underwent evaluation for MRI artifacts at 3-Tesla. The cosmetics were applied a copper-sulfate-filled, phantom and initially assessed using a “screening” gradient echo (GRE) pulse sequence. Of the 38 different cosmetics, 14 (37%) exhibited artifacts. For these 14 cosmetics, additional characterization of artifacts was performed using a GRE pulse sequence. A qualitative scale was applied to characterize the artifact size. Results Artifacts were observed, as follows: 2, nail polishes; 5, eyeliners; 3, mascaras; 3, eye shadows; 1, hair loss concealer. Artifact size ranged from small (eye shadow) to very large (hair loss concealer) and tended to be associated with the presence of iron oxide or other metal-based ingredient. Conclusions Commonly used cosmetics caused artifacts that may create issues if the area of interest is the same as where the cosmetic was applied or if its presence was unknown, thus, potentially causing it to be construed as pathology. Therefore, these findings have important implications for patients referred for MRI examinations.
Hypertext as an expression of the rhizomatic self

Developments in the philosophical and social science literature around narrative and identity are seeing the emergence of an understanding of the Self as rhizomatic. Rhizomatics in narrative form can be conceptualized as hypertext. In this position paper, we aim, from a social work perspective, to lay out some of the strengths of conceptualizing the self through a rhizomatic hypertextual narrative, helping to resolve the agency/structure problems we find in the literature on the dialogical self by accounting for context, accounting for multiplicity, providing a metaphor for distant and proximal memory, and allowing for shared nodes where individual lines of flight cross.
Disengaging from a distributed research project: Refining a model of group departures

Understanding how groups end and how group members depart helps us understand how these ending and departure processes affect group outcomes, individuals' willingness and ability to work in subsequent groups together or with others, and the maintenance of group-generated knowledge over time. In this article, a distributed, grant-funded research project group provides the setting for an analysis of the process that members went through as they disengaged from and dismantled their group when the funding period ended and the project was winding down. Qualitative interviews with group members were analyzed using a model of disengaging that was developed in an earlier study. The model comprises 12 interwoven parts of a disengaging process that begins well before the group ends and extends beyond the official termination of the group. The model frames the analysis and is revised as a result of the research findings. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Course Module on Precision Control of Piezoelectric Actuators

Conventional mechanical actuation mechanisms, which have been used to drive nanoscale devices, have the drawback of requiring high power for operation. However, the piezoelectric actuation mechanism offers the advantages of extremely low power consumption. As piezoelectric materials change the practice of engineering and technology, providing undergraduate students with experiences with these materials has become necessary. This paper presents the design of a course module on precision control of piezoelectric actuators for undergraduate students. The course module incorporates lecture, experiment, and problem-based learning as pedagogical tools. Students are given opportunities to work directly with piezoelectric actuators to gain hands-on experience. Students can learn about actuation advantages of the piezoelectric materials along with their control problems. This course module can improve the knowledge of the students on how to design and analyze piezoelectric devices.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Purification of nucleosidyl peptides by chromatography on dihydroxyboryl-substituted polyacrylamide and cellulose

Abstract A new column chromatographic method is presented for the purification of peptides which are covalently bound to nucleoside analogs (nucleosidyl peptides). The procedure involves complex formation between the cis -diol moiety of the nucleosidyl peptide and the dihydroxyborylphenyl group which is linked either to polyacrylamide or to cellulose as a support; thus, the nucleosidyl peptides can be reversibly bound to the column while all other peptides are eluted in the void volume. This approach is exemplified by the purification of two peptides of rabbit muscle pyruvate kinase labeled with 5′- p -fluorosulfonylbenzoyl adenosine and one peptide of bovine liver glutamate dehydrogenase modified with 5′- p -fluorosulfonylbenzoyl guanosine. The method may be generally applicable to the purification of peptides resulting from the affinity labeling of nucleotide sites in proteins.
Sofia kovalevskaia and the mathematical community

Many mathematicians know at least a little bit about Sofia Kovalevskaia. She was, after all, a glamorous figure, and had a life packed full of exciting events. But those mathematicians tend to think of her as somewhat divorced from the mathematical wor ld of her time. They see her as a talented amateur, as a "weakness" of Karl Weierstrass, or as the flighty, slightly hysterical personal i ty that comes across in the accounts of Eric Temple Bell, Anna Carlotta Leffler (G6sta Mittag-Leffier's sister), and others. These impressions are misleading. Kovalevskaia was a dedicated professional. She was one of the most active of the early editors of Acta Mathematica, and with Mittag-Leffier took responsibility for propagandizing the journal in Europe. She was on cordial terms with the best mathematicians in the world (indeed, in her time, she was considered one of them), and was included in their discussions of academic politics, promotions, appointments, and so on. Kovalevskaia numbered Charles Hermite, Emile Picard, P. L. Chebyshev, Carl Runge, Weierstrass, and Mittag-Leffler among her frequent correspondents. These people were particularly assiduous in their praise of one another 's achievements. The eminent astronomer Hugo Gyld6n referred ironically to the pentad of Hermite, Weierstrass, Picard, Koval-
Arthur Stanley Nowick, an Intellectual Appreciation

We present Nowick’s scientific background, professional development, principal achievements, and an assessment of his career.
The Impending Demise of "Designer Diagnoses": Implications for the Use of Concepts in Practice

This article suggests that the increasing attention to the inadequacies of popular language and labeling, called designer diagnoses by the authors, in describing people's psychological traits and emotional distress is good news for clinicians who strive to incorporate critical thinking skills into theirday-to-day assessment decisions about clients. Specifically, the article discusses three errors in reasoning that may have led to the demise (or impending demise) of such terms as codependent, dysfunctional families, and even the broad use of the term borderline. Produc tive modes of thinking needed to avoid similar conceptual hazards that are certain to appear in the field in the future are also discussed.
The Rôle of Gelatin in Ice Cream

Summary 1. Gelatin seems to be the most important ingredient in obtaining viscosity as determined by the MacMichael. 2. Two types of viscosities are present in an ice cream mix which may be denned as real and apparent. The latter is very unstable under certain conditions. 3. The quality of gelatin is largely responsible for the amount of viscosity that may develop during aging. 4. The color of the gelatin and water solution does not necessarily indicate the quality of the gelatin. 5. The gel strength of the gelatin is influenced markedly by the pH. 6. Regardless of the initial pH of the gelatin, it assumes the pH of the ice cream mix probably due to the reservoir of salts and the small quantity of gelatin added (0.3 if 0.5 of 1 per cent).
Assessment of pain management skills in emergency medicine residents: the role of a pain education program.

Abstract A prospective study of Emergency Medicine (EM) residents was conducted over two consecutive 1-month periods at a rural tertiary-care teaching hospital with a residency in EM to evaluate the effect of a 4-h pain management education program on the assessment and management of acute pain in the emergency department (ED). All patients presenting to the ED with an acute, painful condition were eligible to participate in the survey. Patients were excluded if they had taken any pain medication within 4 h of presenting to the ED, or had any condition requiring immediate resuscitation, suspected cardiac pain, or pain from a potential surgical abdomen. Baseline and 30-min pain scores were evaluated using a 100-mm, unnumbered visual analog scale (VAS). A 4-h pain management educational program (EP) aimed toward the EM residents was conducted. Comparisons were made with respect to the overall treatment of pain as evaluated by the change in VAS score between baseline and 30 min as well as the global assessment of treatment. A total of 126 surveys were completed, 54 before (Group 1) and 72 after (Group 2) the EP. The mean ΔVAS score for patients in Group 2 was significantly better than the ΔVAS score for patients in Group 1. Only 65% of the patients studied before the EP had significant reduction in their pain scores after 30 min in the ED; after institution of the EP, 92% had a significant reduction in their pain scores at 30 min. Similarly, a significant improvement was seen in the patients’ global evaluation of treatment after the educational program was instituted. It appears that the use of a 4-h educational program on pain assessment and management directed toward EM residents in their training can improve their skills at recognizing and treating painful conditions.
A reliable algorithm for solving boundary value problems for higher-order integro-differential equations

The aim of this paper is to present an efficient analytical and numerical procedure for solving boundary value problems for higher-order integro-differential equations. The modified form of Adomian decomposition method is found to be fast and accurate. The analysis is accompanied by numerical examples. The results demonstrate reliability and efficiency of the proposed algorithm.
An Analysis of the Structure of Local Wind Systems in a Broad Mountain Basin

Abstract In the traditional model of ridge-valley winds, there are typically two wind regimes on a dry day: a downslope, drainage wind at night due to cooling at the surface along the slopes, and an upslope wind during the day due to solar heating of the slopes. This study presents observations from South Park, a broad, flat basin in the Colorado Rockies. The observations consist of time sequences of surface observations, surface mesonet analyses, and vertical atmospheric soundings using a tethered balloon system. On a typical dry day in South Park, three wind regimes were observed: the downslope regime, the upslope regime, and a late morning or afternoon wind which corresponded in direction to the winds above the ridgetops. Because the gradient and ridgetop winds were most frequently from the west, we have called these winds the “afternoon westerues.” The afternoon westerlies occur in conjunction with a deep (2–3 km or more) afternoon convective boundary layer in which momentum (and other properties) are...
HDAC4 promotes Pax7‐dependent satellite cell activation and muscle regeneration

During muscle regeneration, the transcription factor Pax7 stimulates the differentiation of satellite cells (SCs) toward the muscle lineage but restricts adipogenesis. Here, we identify HDAC4 as a regulator of Pax7-dependent muscle regeneration. In HDAC4-deficient SCs, the expression of Pax7 and its target genes is reduced. We identify HDAC4-regulated Lix1 as a Pax7 target gene required for SC proliferation. HDAC4 inactivation leads to defective SC proliferation, muscle regeneration, and aberrant lipid accumulation. Further, expression of the brown adipose master regulator Prdm16 and its inhibitory microRNA-133 are also deregulated. Thus, HDAC4 is a novel regulator of Pax7-dependent SC proliferation and potentially fate determination in regenerating muscle.
Determination of copper in environmental matrices following vapor generation.

Copper was determined in environmental matrices following generation, separation, and atomization of a volatile species formed by the merging of an acidified sample solution with an aqueous sodium tetrahydroborate solution at room temperature. The copper species, as yet unidentified, was phase separated in a conventional gas−liquid separator and directed via a stream of Ar carrier gas to an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission detection system. Optimum conditions for generation were investigated. The efficiency of generation/transfer was estimated to be 50%, and no interference from the presence of 1000 mg/L concentration of As, Cd, Co, Ni, Fe, Cr, Mn, Pb, Se, and Zn concomitants was evident. Simple aqueous standards were used for calibration purposes, and good agreement was obtained with certified values in the analysis of National Research Council of Canada marine sediment BCSS-1 and lobster hepatopancreas tissue TORT-1.
Does administering iodine in radiological procedures increase patient doses

Purpose: The authors investigated the changes in the pattern of energy deposition in tissue equivalent phantoms following the introduction of iodinated contrast media. Methods: The phantom consisted of a small “contrast sphere,” filled with water or iodinated contrast, located at the center of a 28 cm diameter water sphere. Monte Carlo simulations were performed using MCNP5 codes, validated by simulating irradiations with analytical solutions. Monoenergetic x-rays ranging from 35 to 150 keV were used to simulate exposures to spheres containing contrast agent with iodine concentrations ranging from 1 to 100 mg/ml. Relative values of energy imparted to the contrast sphere, as well as to the whole phantom, were calculated. Changes in patterns of energy deposition around the contrast sphere were also investigated. Results: Small contrast spheres can increase local absorbed dose by a factor of 13, but the corresponding increase in total energy absorbed was negligible (<1%). The highest localized dose increases were found to occur at incident photon energies of about 60 keV. For a concentration of about 10 mg/ml, typical of clinical practice, localized absorbed doses were generally increased by about a factor of two. At this concentration of 10 mg/ml, the maximum increase in total energy deposition in the phantom was only 6%. These simulations demonstrated that increases in contrast sphere doses were offset by corresponding dose reductions at distal and posterior locations. Conclusions: Adding iodine can result in values of localized absorbed dose increasing by more than an order of magnitude, but the total energy deposition is generally very modest (i.e., <10%). Their data show that adding iodine primarily changes the pattern of energy deposition in the irradiated region, rather than increasing patient doses per se.
Spontaneous echo contrast videodensity isflow-related and is dependent on the relative concentrations of fibrinogen and red blood cells

Abstract Objectives The purposes of the present study were to: 1) determine whether fibrinogen (Fg) is the plasma protein responsible for spontaneous echo contrast (SEC), and 2) investigate modulators of SEC. Background Spontaneous echo contrast has been linked to the development of thromboemboli. The blood products and their interaction responsible for SEC formation have not been fully elucidated. Methods Blood echogenicity was examined with the use of quantitative videodensitometry over a controlled range of flow velocities in an in vitro model. Human blood samples were analyzed in a manner to methodically eliminate individual blood components from whole blood to determine which components are responsible for the formation of SEC. Results The videodensity (VD) of whole blood was found to be flow-dependent, with higher VD at lower flow rates, and correlated with visually dense SEC. The following blood products produced faint VD values: washed red blood cells (wRBCs), platelet-depleted plasma, Fg, defibrinated plasma, wRBCs plus defibrinated plasma, and physiologic saline. The VD of wRBCs increased incrementally as increasing concentrations of Fg were added. At each hematocrit (Hct) range, as Fg concentration increased, the SEC became denser, and the VD level also increased until a plateau level was reached that was distinct for each Hct. The addition of sialic acid, which inhibits RBC-RBC aggregation, decreased the amount of SEC, even in the presence of Fg. Conclusions These results demonstrated that Fg-mediated RBC aggregation may be responsible for SEC generation. Furthermore, a unique stoichiometric relationship exists between Fg and RBC concentrations that is necessary for blood echogenicity.
Taking care of the caregivers

Purpose of review Comprehensive treatment for people with chronic illnesses or disabilities should include interventions for their family caregivers. In order for such interventions to achieve widespread implementation, they must first be proven efficacious in randomized controlled trials. The present review briefly summarizes the recent literature on the results of randomized controlled trials and pilot studies of psychosocial interventions for caregivers. Recent findings Many of the recent studies of psychosocial interventions for caregivers have resulted in significant outcomes, regardless of the chronic illness of the relative or friend for whom care is being provided. While didactic interventions can provide knowledge, supportive interventions generally have more impact on caregiver and patient emotional and psychological well-being. Pilot studies suggest that new modes of intervention, such as telephone-based and web-based counseling and support, show promise and appear to be feasible. Psychosocial interventions for caregivers that are individualized and flexible, and provide long-term support appear to be the most efficacious. Summary The literature on caregiver intervention studies, conducted in research centers, suggests that treating the caregiver may be an important component of a comprehensive treatment for chronic diseases and disabilities. Interventions with demonstrated efficacy should now be tested more widely in community settings in multiple geographic settings, ethnic groups, disease entities and caregiver types, to more fully evaluate their generalizability and effectiveness.
The differential contribution of capsaicin-sensitive afferents to behavioral and cardiovascular measures of brief and persistent nociception and to Fos expression in the formalin test.

Abstract Intraplantar injection of dilute formalin evokes brief (Phase 1) and persistent (Phase 2) increases in primary afferent activity, pain behavior, and cardiovascular responses, and induces spinal cord Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos-LI). Although previous studies demonstrated that the destruction of small diameter primary afferents with neonatal capsaicin treatment decrease formalin-evoked nociception, these studies only evaluated behavioral responses, and did not distinguish between Phase 1 and 2. To address these questions, we simultaneously evaluated formalin-evoked pain behavior (flinching of the afflicted paw), cardiovascular responses (heart rate and mean arterial pressure), and lumbar spinal cord Fos expression in control rats and in rats treated with capsaicin (100 mg/kg) one day postpartum. We found that neonatal capsaicin-treated rats, compared to controls, exhibited similar cardiovascular res and slightly less flinching behavior during Phase 1. During Phase 2, however, capsaicin-treated rats exhibited 59% less flinching and 45% smaller heart rate responses. Also, in capsaicin-treated rats, we counted 59% fewer Fos-labeled neurons in the spinal cord. These results indicate that capsaicin-sensitive afferents contribute to formalin-evoked behavioral and cardiovascular responses and to spinal cord neuronal responses. The differential effect of neonatal capsaicin on nociception during Phase 1 and Phase 2 suggests that sensitization mechanisms during Phase 1 do not contribute to the magnitude of nociceptive responses during Phase 2.
Three new species from the Great Basin

Allium passeyi from Blue Creek Valley of northern Utah,Geranium toquimense from the Toquima Range of central Nevada, andPrimula capillaris from the Ruby Mountains of northeastern Nevada are described, illustrated, and compared with their relatives. The three species are narrow endemics.