cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
OR52 Ides desensitization therapy: Breaking down antibody barriers to transplantation

Despite increased transplant rates for highly sensitized candidates, inequities for those with CPRA > 99.7% remain. This case highlights the efficacy of an endopeptidase (IdeS) to cleave IgG HLA-specific antibodies and complications for donor-specific HLA antibody (DSA) monitoring in the presence of therapeutic agents. DSA was evaluated using flow cytometric crossmatch tests (Flow-XM) and Luminex immunoassays (Lifecodes classes I and II single antigen; Immucor-Lifecodes, Stamford, CT and Single Antigen Beads; One Lambda, Canoga Park, CA). Sera were pretreated using Melon Columns™. A 43 year old male with a CPRA of 99.99% was entered into a clinical trial investigating the efficacy of IdeS to cleave IgG molecules and render them ineffective in eliciting complement activation or antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. A deceased donor was identified to whom the patient had HLA-DP DSA yielding a positive prospective Flow-XM. Within 2 h of IdeS administration, immunoassays and a Flow-XM revealed no detectable DSA. Due to concern for DSA rebound, alternate day DSA monitoring and intense post-transplant immunosuppression were employed. Two single antigen panels confirmed DSA reappearance on POD7 prior to high dose immunoglobulin (IVIG) dosing. Administration of IVIG produced an increase in the negative and positive control beads and reactivity with self HLA-antigens (3400 mean fluorescent intensity, MFI). Utilization of multiple bead assays, Flow-XM tests, and HLA pattern analysis rather than MFI was needed to monitor further increases in DSA that would prompt therapeutic plasmapheresis (TPE). Cumulative DSA test analysis revealed a stabilization of DSA accompanied by declining serum creatinine values with no initiation of TPE. New therapeutics hold promise for removing DSA barriers; however, post transplant monitoring can be challenging due to test interference that accompany these biologics. This case illustrates the use of multiple assays and HLA pattern analysis to guide post transplant care. Download : Download high-res image (270KB) Download : Download full-size image A.M. Jackson: 3. Speaker’s Bureau; Company/Organization; Thermo Fisher Scientific.
The 2014 Karl Meyer Award and Rosalind Kornfeld Award from the Society for Glycobiology

The Society for Glycobiology is pleased to announce that the recipient of the 2014 Karl Meyer Award is Ronald Schnaar and the 2014 Rosalind Kornfeld Award is Ten Feizi. The Karl Meyer Award was established in 1990 to honor the distinguished career of Karl Meyer and his outstanding contributions to the field of Glycobiology. This international award is presented to well-established scientists with currently active research programs who have made widely recognized major contributions to the field of Glycobiology. The Rosalind Kornfeld Award for Lifetime Achievement in Glycobiology was established in 2008 to honor the distinguished scientific career and service to the Society by Dr. Rosalind Kornfeld. The award is given by the Society to scientists who have, over their professional lifetimes, made significant contributions with important impact on the field. Dr. Ronald L. Schnaar (The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine) has been a pioneer in developing and applying chemical and biological approaches toward understanding the molecular and cellular basis for carbohydrate-based specificity in cell adhesion and recognition. Beginning with his graduate work under Y.C. Lee, Dr. Schnaar established methods for rigorously controlling one side of the interaction between cells and carbohydrate structures. By building wellcharacterized surfaces covalently derivatized with defined glycans, Dr. Schnaar and the colleagues that he recruited to his new laboratory at Johns Hopkins were able to probe the specificity and biochemical consequences of hepatocyte adhesion to carbohydrates, laying a foundation for appreciating that cell adhesion is a dynamic process in which initial attachment is frequently followed by subsequent biochemical and cellular responses.
Simulated niche partitioning by bacteria

A central problem in ecology concerns the number of species that inhabit a given environment. A myriad of factors are involved, including speciation and extinction rates, geographic factors, seasonal cycles, food web stability, and a significant amount of random chance. The reductionist approach, taken here, is to reduce the system to its bare essentials and to then pose the question: is the biological community predictable for a simple given physical environment?
Ba2An(S2)2S2 (An: U, Th): Syntheses, Structures, Optical and Electronic Properties.

The title compounds are synthesized by reactions of U or Th with BaS and S (1273 K for 4 h and 1223 K for 8 d; 20 wt.% yield for the U compound, 1173 K for 4 d, 50 wt.% yield for the Th compound).
Career and Non-Career Bridge Employment Intentions of Local Government Professionals

The purpose of this study was to explore possible predictors of career and non-career bridge employment intentions among local government employees. The effects of eight professional characteristics, life satisfaction, family-work balance, work philosophy, and perceived role support at work were assessed on bridge employment intentions. Two hundred and twenty-six professionals completed a survey and results indicated career bridge employment intentions were influenced by professionals’ age, life satisfaction, work-family balance, serious work philosophy, and work role support while non-career bridge employment was influenced by age, work-family balance, and serious work.
Current Imaging Approaches and Challenges in the Assessment of Peripheral Artery Disease

In current practice, vessel wall disease in the peripheral arteries is evaluated primarily by imaging the vessel lumen, rather than by imaging the vessel walls themselves, or by imaging the perfusion of the adjacent soft tissues. Bedside diagnostic methods include ankle-brachial index and Doppler ultrasound; however, these are usually considered insufficient for interventional planning. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) remains the gold standard for evaluating peripheral arterial vessel wall disease because of its high resolution and because it provides the option to intervene at the time of diagnosis; however, even diagnostic-only DSA poses the risks inherent in any invasive procedure and in the uses of ionizing radiation and iodinated contrast. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is sufficiently sensitive for diagnosis of stenoses requiring intervention and for interventional planning but also risks renal injury due to iodinated contrast and contributes to the stoichiometric risks of ionizing radiation. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) without and with contrast is usually at least as sensitive to stenosis as is CTA, without the risks of ionizing radiation or of iodinated contrast. Currently commercially available gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) pose essentially zero risk. Only one possible case of nephrogenic sclerosing fibrosis (NSF) has been reported since 2008. Gadolinium deposition does occur, but there are no known associated symptoms or long-term sequelae. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging can show vessel wall disease, such as cystic adventitial disease (CAD), vessel wall edema in the vasculitides, and soft tissue edema adjacent to the vessels. Non-contrast-enhanced MRA (NE MRA) is currently a challenge due to the commercial nonavailability of the sequences that are most sensitive and with the shortest table time. Also, tortuous, in-plane vessels may not be visualized. Techniques for evaluating microvasculature that are not currently in wide clinical application and are therefore not discussed in detail in this chapter include contrast-enhanced ultrasound, contrast-enhanced MRI perfusion imaging, non-contrast-enhanced blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) and arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy with 31-phosphorus.
Inborn errors of metabolism.

Recent dramatic advances in genetics at the laboratory and clinical levels explore opportunities for understanding and promoting health and decreasing the morbidity and mortality associated with metabolic disorders. The treatment of inborn errors of metabolism is, in fact, fairly new to medicine and nutrition. Although inborn errors of metabolism are individually rare, as a group they have a significant impact on the health care system. The backbone of an effective management program for inborn errors of metabolism is an effective newborn screening program. The most frequently identified disorders are those in which the absent or defective protein serves an enzymatic function. This diverse group of disorders responds to nutritional therapy intervention and is discussed in this chapter. Progress in the diagnosis and treatment of genetic diseases is fast paced. The goal for treatment of all disorders is to provide normal biochemical plasma concentrations. There is hope that further progress in the understanding of genetic disorders can promote earlier and more effective treatment and prevent the symptomatic sequelae of metabolic disorders.
Emergent Concepts of Inclusion in the Context of Committed School Leadership

Inclusion of students with disabilities within general education settings is increasingly accepted as the desirable response of school systems to student learning differences. It has triggered dist...
A New Species of Eimeria (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from Eastern Woodrat, Neotoma floridana (Rodentia: Cricetidae), from Arkansas, USA, and a Summation of Eimerians from North American Woodrats

North American woodrats or packrats (genus Neotoma) are excellent hosts of coccidians and several species remain to be reported as hosts. Eleven species of Eimeria have been previously described from Neotoma spp. However, it has been nearly 35 years, since the last eimerian (E. ladronensis Reduker and Duszynski, 1985) was described from any woodrat species. Six adult eastern woodrats, Neotoma floridana (Ord, 1818) were collected with Sherman live traps from Blue Haze Vista, Polk County, Arkansas, USA. Fecal specimens or rectal contents were examined for coccidia. Measurements were taken on 30 sporulated oocysts and photographs were taken using brightfield optics. One (17%) eastern woodrat was found to be passing oocysts of Eimeria machardyi n. sp. as well as three (50%) with Eimeria albigulae Levine, Ivens, and Kruidenier, 1957, and two (33%) with Eimeria glauceae Wheat and Ernst, 1974. We provide a description of a new species of Eimeria from eastern woodrats, Neotoma floridana, the first photomicrograph of E. glauceae, and additional information on E. albigulae. A summation of the eimerians of North American woodrats is also provided. Nine of 13 (69%) species of packrats north of Mexico have now been reported to harbor 12 species of eimerians. Additional surveys of Neotoma spp. which have not yet been reported as hosts, particularly those from Mexico and Central America, should yield more eimerians and distributional records as well as the possibility of discovery of new species.
Is necrotizing enterocolitis the same disease in term and preterm infants

Abstract Introduction Necrotizing enterocolitis predominantly affects preterm (PT) infants. The paucity of data regarding the clinical course in term infants makes it difficult to predict outcomes and counsel families. To identify predisposing factors and gain a better understanding of the clinical course of NEC in term infants, we reviewed our experience with term infants and compared it to outcomes in PT infants. Methods We performed a 10 year retrospective review of all infants admitted to our NICU with Bell stage 2 NEC or greater. Infants Results Fifteen (12%) of 125 infants were term. Compared to PT infants, term infants were more likely to have congenital heart disease (33% term vs. 10% PT, p = 0.02) and develop NEC sooner (4 days in term vs. 17 days in PT, p Conclusions NEC in term infants has unique clinical features that distinguishes it from NEC in PT infants.
New Underlying Trends in China’s Cross-Border Investments

As global macroeconomic uncertainties grow, there are notable shifts and oscillations in Chinese outbound investment and cross-border investment flows. This study shows China’s key investment characteristics including geographical preferences, investment compositions, and structural changes in industrial and foreign policies, such as Made in China 2025, financial liberalization, and OBOR. While these trends seem contradictory at times, opportunities are available for nimble and creative players who could capitalize on China’s increasing demand in the new economy (“xin jing ji”), with adequate consideration of regulatory scrutinies.
No prominent toxicity of polyethylene microplastics observed in neonatal mice following intratracheal instillation to dams during gestational and neonatal period

Microplastics (MPs) have been recently recognized as a global environmental threat and its exposure as a risk factor to human health. Health effects through MPs exposure have been recently reported, especially through oral route of exposure. Since MPs could be exposed to humans through routes other than oral, this study was designed to evaluate whether MPs exposed through the inhalation route could be delivered to fetal mice and exhibit systemic toxicity. Polyethylene (PE) with 10–45 µm diameter were administered at 0 (distilled water, vehicle control), 6 (low administration), and 60 (high administration) µg/mouse/day to 3 pregnant dams per group from gestational day 9 to postnatal day (PND) 7 through intratracheal instillation. Dams and neonates were sacrificed at PND 7 and blood was collected. Various neonatal organs including brain, lung, heart, stomach, intestine, kidneys, and ovaries were collected for histopathological observation and weight measurement. No influence of PE-MPs administration was observed on the number of offsprings born, but the body and organs’ weight were heavier overall in the high administration group of dams and neonates than the other groups with statistical significance achieved in the heart and spleen weight. Level of serum acetylcholinesterase and glutathione peroxidase activity was decreased in the high administration group of dams and neonates compared with the other groups. Lung was the organ with highest number of PE-MPs present in the both administration groups of dams, and PE-MPs were also detected in liver and intestine of the high administration dams. Whereas, PND7 neonates showed accountable numbers of PE-MPs only in kidneys of the high administration group. Overall, the present study indicates that PE-MPs instilled intratracheally could be delivered to neonates from dams. Even though adverse effects from PE-MPs exposure during pregnant and lactational period are less prominent on both dam and neonate, potential of second-generation toxicity could be considered for further investigation.
Architecture of Real-Time Rendering Engine

This paper describes some key problems in real-time rendering engines. These problems are related to graphics application programming interface (API), handling effects, spatial partitioning, scene graph, and particle system. Taking into account these requirements and the designs of some mainstream rendering engines, we provide a reference model for a real-time rendering engine. The model guarantees cross-platform rendering and provides and easily customizable and extendable framework that can help write and reuse visual effects.
A Quality Improvement Initiative Addressing Provider Prescription of Weight Management Follow-up in Primary Care.

Introduction Few providers routinely comply with the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations to prescribe weight management follow-up in-between well-child checks for children with obesity/overweight. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to increase the percentage of patients prescribed weight management follow-up within three months of their well-child check. Methods The project took place in 1 outpatient primary care clinic at a large, free-standing children's hospital from May 2018 to April 2019. We grouped interventions in 4 Plan-Do-Study-Act ramps with the following themes: (1) provider education; (2) electronic health record note changes; (3) discharge order modifications; and (4) provider feedback. The primary outcome was the percent of patients ages 2-18 years with body mass index ≥ 85% that had an order placed to schedule a follow-up weight management appointment in primary care. We monitored attendance rates for scheduled follow-up visits as a balancing measure. Results Mean prescription rates increased from 32% at baseline to 58%, with special cause analysis demonstrating improvement. Of patients prescribed follow-up, 40% returned for a weight management visit, compared to 13% before the QI initiative. The no-show rate was 35%. Conclusions The utilization of QI methodology led to an increase in the percentage of patients appropriately prescribed weight management follow-up and a resultant increase in the number of patients seen for follow-up. The next steps include a re-examination of process failures to improve patient buy-in in follow-up prescriptions.
Echoes of Scientific Truth in the Halls of Justice: The Standards of Review Applied by the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Patent-Related Matters

Introduction 1235 I. The Patent (Technology) Court Misnomer 1239 A. Schendel v. Curtis 1242 B. In re Soni 1245 C. Vitronics Corp. v. Conceptronic Inc. 1247 D. Hilton Davis Chemical Co. v. Warner-Jenkinson Co. 1249 E. Pfaff v. Wells Electronics Inc 1253 II. Determining the Appropriate Standard of Review 1256 A. Markman v. Westview Instruments, Inc. 1257 B. Dickinson v. Zurko 1262 III. Applicable Federal Circuit Standards of Review 1271 A. General Standards 1271 B. Federal Circuit Statutory Interpretation 1273 1. Choice of law 1273 2. Lower tribunals 1274 a. United States International Trade Commission . 1274 b. USPTO Board of Patent Appeals and
Minimal Graphs and Graphical Mean Curvature Flow in $$M^n\times \mathbb {R}$$Mn×R

In this paper, we investigate the problem of finding minimal graphs in $$M^n\times \mathbb {R}$$ with general boundary conditions using a variational approach. Following Giusti (Minimal Surfaces and Functions of Bounded Variation. Monographs in Mathematics, vol. 80. Birkhauser Verlag, Basel, 1984), we study the so-called generalized solutions that minimize the adapted area functional (AAF) (1.2). We also show that when the boundary data $$\varphi $$ satisfy certain conditions, the generalized solution is actually the classical solution. This generalizes the results in Schulz–Williams (Analysis 7(3–4):359–374, 1987) to $$M^n\times \mathbb {R}.$$ Finally, following the idea of Oliker–Ural’tseva (Commun Pure Appl Math 46(1):97–135, 1993 and Topol Methods Nonlinear Anal 9(1):17–28, 1997), we consider the long time existence and convergence of the graphical mean curvature flow (1.3). We show that as $$t\rightarrow \infty ,$$$$u(\cdot , t)\rightarrow \bar{u},$$ where $$\bar{u}$$ is a generalized solution to the associated Dirichlet problem.
Operon coordination in different bacterial hosts.

Coordination of gene expression in the lac operon was compared in Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium as an approach to detecting possible differences in protein synthesis or membrane structure between organisms. Either a wild-type F′ lac proAB episome or the same episome with a polar mutation in one of the lac genes was introduced into pro− derivatives of the two strains of bacteria. Activity assays showed that the β-galactosidase levels were only slightly lower in the S. typhimurium cells than in E. coli cells, whereas the transacetylase levels were significantly higher in S. typhimurium for all of the lac markers tested. Galactoside transport activities were always comparable in the two strains of bacteria; this latter result indicates that the cell envelopes of E. coli and S. typhimurium do not differ sufficiently to affect the membrane-associated lac transport system. It was found, however, that the specific transport activity is very sensitive to culture age in both bacteria, and decreases rapidly in cultures past the mid-exponential phase of growth.
Mammals of South America

The vast terrain between Panama and Tierra del Fuego contains some of the world's richest mammalian fauna, but until now it has lacked a comprehensive systematic reference to the identification, distribution, and taxonomy of its mammals. The first such book of its kind and the inaugural volume in a three-part series, "Mammals of South America" both summarizes existing information and encourages further research of the mammals indigenous to the region. Containing identification keys and brief descriptions of each order, family, and genus, the first volume of "Mammals of South America" covers marsupials, shrews, armadillos, sloths, anteaters, and bats. Species accounts include taxonomic descriptions, synonymies, keys to identification, distributions with maps and a gazetteer of marginal localities, lists of recognized subspecies, brief summaries of natural history information, and discussions of issues related to taxonomic interpretations. Highly anticipated and much needed, this book will be a landmark contribution to mammalogy, zoology, tropical biology, and conservation biology.
An Issue of Occupational (In)justice: A Case Study

Work as in paid employment is a social expectation and brings the benefits of social inclusion, acceptance, and identity. For individuals with disabilities procuring and retaining paid employment is challenging despite progressive legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This case study describes the experiences of a person who acquired a disability and its impact on her sense of self, and her place in her social environment. Her experiences are framed using a bio-psychosocial paradigm, and analyzed using the conceptual lens of occupational justice. The centrality of work to one's identity is discussed in the light of challenges to the implementation of the ADA and employers' attitudes to legislation and individuals with disabilities. A human rights approach to work is needed to identity individual, interpersonal, and organizational strategies to better integrate individuals with disabilities in workplaces. Key Words : Occupational justice; identity; marginalization; attitudinal barriers
Do Acquirer CEO Incentives Impact Mergers

This paper examines the mechanisms by which acquirer CEOs are incentivized and their impact on merger decisions. We argue that the pre-merger structure of CEO wealth impacts a CEO’s risk tolerance and ultimately her willingness to undertake a merger as well as the framework of the deal. As the riskiness of CEO wealth increases (as measured by excess vega or cumulative option-based wealth), firms are more likely to become an acquirer, pay higher premiums, and experience lower post-merger performance. These results hold controlling for CEO overconfidence and cannot be attributed to firms altering incentives to induce CEOs to partake in mergers. Post financial crisis, we find both a shift in the composition of CEO pay and its relation to mergers. Overall, these results have important policy implications in the debate over optimal CEO pay as the structure by which CEOs are compensated appears to impact firm choices.
Judicial Power & Civil Rights Reconsidered

Michael Klarman's From Jim Crow to Civil Rights: The Supreme Court and the Struggle for Racial Equality is an important contribution to the scholarly literature on both the history of the civil rights struggle and judicial power more generally. Klarman argues that for much of the twentieth century, the Supreme Court was very reluctant to rule in favor of African American civil rights claimants, and had little impact when it did.Klarman is right to reject traditional accounts that greatly exaggerated the Supreme Court's willingness and ability to protect minorities. However, he overstates his case. The Court's views on the proper scope of African Americans' rights periodically diverged from that of the political branches of government. The Justices' relative insulation from political pressure; their membership in a different generational cohort than the median voter; the idiosyncrasies of presidential selection of Justices; and the Justices' nationalist inclinations all help explain this result.Moreover, in at least three types of situations, judicial invalidation of Jim Crow legislation significantly aided African Americans: (1) when such legislation had solved collective action problems among racist whites; (2) when legislation had enabled white actors to externalize the costs of Jim Crow onto society as a whole; and (3) when laws lowered the overall costs of maintaining Jim Crow.This Review supports these conclusions by closely examining relevant Supreme Court decisions in their historical context, especially Progressive Era cases and Brown v. Board of Education.
PRODUCTION TESTING ISSUES FOR ASICS FOR HIGH ENERGY PHYSICS

Abstract Many high-energy physics experiments require a large number of channels in a small volume. The use of custom or Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) in the front ends is very popular and in many cases an absolute necessity. The tools to design ASICs are readily available and wafers can be processed at moderate costs. However, very few, if any, vendors will provide tested die or chips at a reasonable cost in the low quantities (few thousand to few tens of thousands) that most experiments require. This talk will discuss the cost of testing vs. not testing of ASICs as well as ASIC testing strategies and solutions for relatively small quantities of ASICs. Specifics of the solution used by the KTeV experiment at Fermilab and the low-cost test system developed for this need will be discussed.
GLAND DISTRIBUTION AND CANNABINOID CONTENT IN CLONES OF CANNABIS SATIVA L.

A B S T R A C T The relationship between glandular trichomes and cannabinoid content in Cannabis sativa L. was investigated. Three strains of Cannabis, which are annuals, were selected for either a drug, a non-drug, or a fiber trait and then cloned to provide genetically uniform material for analyses over several years. The distribution of the number and type of glands was determined for several organs of different ages including the bract and its subtending monoleaflet leaf and the compound leaf on pistillate plants. Quantitation of glands on these structures was integrated with gas chromatographic analyses of organ cannabinoid profiles. A negative correlation was found between cannabinoid content and gland number for each of the three clones. Isolated heads of the capitate-stalked glands also were analyzed for cannabinoid content and found to vary in relation to clone and gland age. These studies indicate that cannabinoids may occur in plant cells other than glandular trichomes. The results of these studies emphasize the need for stringent sampling procedures in micromorphological studies on trichome distribution and analytical determinations of cannabinoid content in Cannabis.
The Decline of Scientific Research Among Surgeons: A Plea to Swim Against the Tide

During my training, a professor advised that a surgeon needs three things:'good hands, a strong back and a mind uncluttered by unnecessary medical details.' in reality, modern surgery is a highly intellectual craft populated by bright and creative people. At least, they start out that way.
Climatic regions as an indicator of forest coarse and fine woody debris carbon stocks in the United States

Coarse and fine woody debris are substantial forest ecosystem carbon stocks; however, there is a lack of understanding how these detrital carbon stocks vary across forested landscapes. Because forest woody detritus production and decay rates may partially depend on climatic conditions, the accumulation of coarse and fine woody debris carbon stocks in forests may be correlated with climate. This study used a nationwide inventory of coarse and fine woody debris in the United States to examine how these carbon stocks vary by climatic regions and variables. Mean coarse and fine woody debris forest carbon stocks vary by Koppen's climatic regions across the United States. The highest carbon stocks were found in regions with cool summers while the lowest carbon stocks were found in arid desert/steppes or temperate humid regions. Coarse and fine woody debris carbon stocks were found to be positively correlated with available moisture and negatively correlated with maximum temperature. It was concluded with only medium confidence that coarse and fine woody debris carbon stocks may be at risk of becoming net emitter of carbon under a global climate warming scenario as increases in coarse or fine woody debris production (sinks) may be more than offset by increases in forest woody detritus decay rates (emission). Given the preliminary results of this study and the rather tenuous status of coarse and fine woody debris carbon stocks as either a source or sink of CO2, further research is suggested in the areas of forest detritus decay and production.
Plasmonic nanoparticle networks formed using iron porphyrin molecular bridges

The adsorption orientation of the iron(III) tetrakis(1-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphine (FeTMPyP) μ-oxo-bridged dimer species located in the inter-particle gap of solid gold nanosphere (SGN) and hollow gold nanosphere (HGN) networks was studied using a combination of linear extinction and surface-enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) measurements. Nanoparticle aggregation was accomplished by μM additions of iron porphyrin to the colloidal SGN and HGN solutions. Aggregation was monitored by measuring the UV-Visible-NIR extinction spectra of the nanoparticle systems; a broadened and red-shifted localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), relative to the LSPR of the isolated nanoparticles, indicated aggregate formation. In conjunction with the LSPR extinction measurements, wavelength-dependent SERS measurements were used to determine the orientation of the FeTMPyP with respect to the SGN and HGN surfaces.
Levels of root resorption associated with continuous arch and sectional arch mechanics

The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in the extent of root resorption between continuous arch and sectional mechanics. Fifty-six persons with similar malocclusions requiring the extraction of four premolars were divided into two equal groups and treated with the two different techniques. Once the canines were retracted with sliding mechanics (continuous arch wire group) or with force driven retraction loops (sectional mechanics group), the anterior teeth were then retracted with 300 gm Sentalloy coil springs (GAC international, Central Islip, N.Y.). The extent of root resorption of the anterior teeth was evaluated radiographically. Both treatment groups exhibited the same levels of resorption indicating that the side effect of treatment may be due to individual variation and not to the "round tripping" of teeth so often assumed.
Pattern Recognition and Scaling Studies of Copper Electrodeposition on Cu(100) in the Presence of Additives

Copper deposition on Cu(100) in acid-sulfate plating solution containing chloride and additives benzotriazole (BTA) and 3-mercaptopropane sulfonic acid (MPSA) was studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM images were analyzed by pattern recognition and scaling procedures. In the absence of additives, square-pyramidal mounds emerge and increase in height without reaching a steady-state shape. In the presence of MPSA, the fourfold symmetry is visible in the main features. However, pyramidal mounds do not develop. In the presence of BTA, the principal surface features are hemispheroids without distinct fourfold symmetry. Comparison of the scaling and pattern-recognition results for BTA shows that the local and general growth exponents can be identified with the shape and size evolution of characteristic surface features, respectively.
Binge eating, problem drinking, and pathological gambling: Linking behavior to shared traits and social learning

Varied definitions of the construct impulsivity may account for inconsistencies in studies that examine its relationship to bulimic symptoms, pathological gambling, and alcohol abuse. We examined the influence of urgency, sensation seeking, lack of planning, and lack of persistence on these three addictive behavior patterns in 246 college students. In structural equation modeling analyses that included all four constructs, only urgency, defined as the tendency to act rashly when distressed, explained significant variance in symptom level for each of the three addictive behaviors. Sensation seeking related to frequency of gambling and drinking, but not to symptoms of abuse. Additionally, behavior specific expectancies moderated the effect of urgency on gambling for men and binge eating for women. Urgency may influence vulnerability to many types of addictive behaviors. However, whether or not individuals engage in drinking, gambling, or binge eating may be influenced by behavior specific expectancies.
Turing patterns in CNNs. III. Computer simulation results

For part II, see ibid., vol. 42, no. 10, pp. 612-26 (Oct. 1995). In this paper, various patterns obtained through computer simulations are presented. It is shown through simple examples that the four inequalities known as the Turing instability conditions are only necessary but not sufficient conditions for Turing patterns to exist. The influence of various parameters, initial conditions as well as sidewall forcing on the final patterns and the possibilities of eliminating defects are studied by means of computer simulations. The possibility of generating perfectly regular patterns or patterns with few defects through the application of small and short controlling signals at one boundary suggests the intriguing possibility of producing high-purity high-tech materials, such as crystals, which was not possible with current technology. In addition, novel applications in image processing, pattern recognition, and other areas can be expected. >
Stimulated human neutrophils damage cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum function by generation of oxidants

An important aspect of myocardial injury is the role of neutrophils in post-ischemic damage to the heart. Stimulated neutrophils initiate a series of reactions that produce toxic oxidizing agents. Superoxide rapidly dismutases to H2O2 and neutrophils contain myeloperoxidase which catalyzes the oxidation of Cl- by H2O2 to yield hypochlorous acid (HOCl). The highly reactive HOCl combines non-enzymatically with nitrogenous compounds to generate long-lived, non-radical oxidants, monochloramine and taurine N-monochloramine. We investigated the role of oxygen radicals and long-lived oxidants on cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum function, which plays a major role in the regulation of intracellular Ca2+ and thereby in the generation of force. Incubation of sarcoplasmic reticulum with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-stimulated neutrophils (4 x 10(6) cells/ml) significantly decreased calcium uptake rate (0.85 +/- 0.11 to 0.11 +/- 0.06 mumol/min per mg) and Ca2+-ATPase activity (1.67 +/- 0.08 to 0.46 +/- 0.10 mumol/min per mg). Inclusion of myeloperoxidase inhibitors (cyanide, sodium azide and 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole), catalase, superoxide dismutase plus catalase, and alpha-tocopherol significantly protected (P less than 0.01) calcium uptake rates and Ca2+-ATPase activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum. Superoxide dismutase (10 microgram/ml) alone or deferoxamine (1 mM) had no protective effect in this system. The maximum inhibition of sarcoplasmic reticulum function was observed with (3-4) x 10(6) cells/ml in 4-6 min. HOCl and NH2Cl inhibited calcium uptake rate and Ca2+-ATPase activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum in a dose-dependent manner (2-20 microM), whereas H2O2 damaged sarcoplasmic reticulum at concentrations ranging from 5 to 25 mM. HOCl (20 microM) inhibited 80-90% of Ca2+-uptake rate and Ca2+-ATPase activity and L-methionine (0.1-1 mM) provided complete protection. We conclude that stimulated neutrophils damage cardiac sarcoplasmic function by generation of myeloperoxidase-catalyzed oxidants.
A STD/HIV prevention trial among adolescents in managed care

Objective. To determine if sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, risk assessment, and education tools provided as part of office-based primary care reduce adolescent risky sexual behaviors. Design. A randomized intervention trial with 3- and 9-month follow-up. Setting. Five staff-model managed care sites in Washington, DC (n = 19 pediatricians). Patients. Consecutive 12- to 15-year-olds receiving a general health examination; 81% minority. Participation rate = 215/432 (50%). Nine-month follow-up rate = 197/215 (92%). Intervention. Audiotaped STD risk assessment and education about staying safe (safer = condoms, safest = abstinence). Main Outcome Measures. Adolescent-reported sexual intercourse and condom use. Results. More intervention adolescents reported pediatrician discussion on 11/13 sexual topics. Although more vaginal intercourse (odds ratio [OR] = 2.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04–5.84) was reported in the intervention group at 3 months, this was not true of overall sexual intercourse (OR = 1.55, 95% CI = .73–3.32). More sexually active adolescents reported condom use in the intervention group at 3 months (OR = 18.05, 95% CI = 1.27–256.03). At 9 months, there were no group differences in sexual behaviors; however, more signs of STD were reported by the control (7/103) than the intervention group (0/94). Conclusions. STD risk assessment and education tools administered in a single office visit facilitated STD/HIV prevention education. Any impact on sexual activity and condom use was short-lived. Further research is needed to develop brief, office-based sexual risk reduction for young adolescents.
ADAMTS-like 2 (ADAMTSL2) is a secreted glycoprotein that is widely expressed during mouse embryogenesis and is regulated during skeletal myogenesis.

Abstract ADAMTS-like 2 (ADAMTSL2), is a secreted protein resembling the ancillary domains of the ADAMTS proteases, but with distinct structural features. It has 7 thrombospondin type-1 repeats (TSRs), but an unusually long spacer module, which in both humans and mice, contains a novel insertion bearing six N-glycosylation sites. The ADAMTSL2 protein expressed in HEK293F and COS-1 cells, is a cell-surface and extracellular matrix binding glycoprotein, with N-linked carbohydrate constituting ∼ 20% by mass. The 4.0 kb Adamtsl2 mRNA is found most abundantly in adult mouse liver, lung and spleen by northern blotting. During mouse embryogenesis, Adamtsl2 was expressed most strongly in the third week of gestation. Adamtsl2 mRNA was detected by in situ hybridization in developing skeletal muscle, liver, bronchial and arterial smooth muscle, skin, intervertebral disc, perichondrium, pancreas and spinal cord. Immunohistochemical localization of ADAMTSL2 protein was similar to mRNA expression. Detection of Adamtsl2 mRNA and protein in developing skeletal myotubes, but not undifferentiated myogenic precursors led us to investigate its regulation during in vitro myogenic differentiation. In C2C12 and 23A2 myogenic cells, but not in 23A2 cells rendered non-myogenic by expression of G12V:H-Ras (9A2 cells), differentiation induced by serum starvation triggered expression of Adamtsl2 mRNA, coordinately with Myog, a marker of muscle differentiation. Furthermore, activation of the key myogenic determinant MyoD in 10T1/2 fibroblasts also triggered expression of Adamtsl2 mRNA. Collectively, the data suggest that induction of Adamtsl2 mRNA is an integral feature of myogenesis.
Association of simian virus 40 with a central nervous system lesion distinct from progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in macaques with AIDS.

The primate polyomavirus SV40 is known to cause interstitial nephritis in primary infections and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) upon reactivation of a latent infection in SIV-infected macaques. We now describe a second central nervous system manifestation of SV40: a meningoencephalitis affecting cerebral gray matter, without demyelination, distinct from PML. Meningoencephalitis appears also to be a primary manifestation of SV40 infection and can be seen in conjunction with SV40-induced interstitial nephritis and pneumonitis. The difference in the lesions of meningoencephalitis and PML does not appear to be due to cellular tropism, as both oligodendrocytes and astrocytes are infected in PML and meningoencephalitis, as determined by in situ hybridization or immunohistochemistry for SV40 coupled with immunohistochemistry for cellular determinants. This is further supported by examination of SV40 nucleic acid sequences from the ori-enhancer and large-T-antigen regions, which reveals no tissue- or lesion-specific variation in SV40 sequences.
Leptin Activates a Novel CNS Mechanism for Insulin-Independent Normalization of Severe Diabetic Hyperglycemia

Leptin action in the brain normalizes diabetic hyperglycemia by suppressing hepatic glucose production while increasing tissue glucose uptake despite severe insulin deficiency.
Stable splittings derived from the Steinberg module

inaccessible. Examples include Mahowald’s maps ~,[5] based on Snaith’s splittings and, more recently, certain maps used in Kuhn’s proof of the Whitehead conjecture[6, 71. These latter maps are based on our splitting of B(Z/2)k. Our main result shows that the suspension spectrum of a product of lens spaces B(E/P)~ can be split using the Steinberg idempotent of F,,[GL,(ff,,)]. Let Sp”(S”) denote the n-fold symmetric product of the sphere spectrum. We recall Sp”(S”) = K(Z) by the Dold-Thorn theorem. Let D(k) be the cofiber of the diagonal map d: SpP”-‘(S’)+SpJ’“(S”). Then D(co) = K(Z/p). Let M(k) = X-‘-o(k)/D(k 1). In mod-p cohomology H*(M(k)) has a basis consisting of admissible Steenrod operations of length exactly k.
Power allocation in parallel relay channels using a near-potential game theoretical approach

In this paper 1, the problem of distributed power allocation in a two-hop relay network is solved using a game theoretical approach. We consider a scenario, where each source node sends its packets to its corresponding destination via a preassigned relay node using half-duplex Amplify-and-Forward (AF) relaying method. Each source-relay-destination triplet is considered a player in the proposed game that attempts to maximize the end-to-end transmission rate of a source-destination link by allocating the available power to the source and its designated relay. A relay network with an arbitrary number of parallel links is considered. To maximize the link throughput, a near-potential game model for distributed power allocation over the communications link is proposed. Utilizing the near-potential game approach not only reduces the complex joint optimization problem to a single multi-variable function-maximization problem, but also enables us to prove the existence and uniqueness of the equilibrium result for the general case of N parallel links. The numerical analysis demonstrates the performance of this method that approaches the cooperative solution benchmark.
The decay of 146Eu

Abstract The decay of 146 Eu, in equilibrium with 146 Gd, to excited states in 146 Sm has been studied with a Ge(Li) detector and a scintillation detector in singles and in coincidence. Gamma-ray energies and relative intensities were obtained from the analysis of Ge(Li) singles spectra. The spectra of gamma rays in coincidence with the 633–634 keV composite transition and the 747.1 keV transition were obtained. Internal conversion coefficients were obtained by comparing the gamma-ray intensities with available internal conversion electron intensities. In addition to the well-known states at 747.1 keV (2 + ), 1380.5 keV (3 − ) and 1381.3 keV (4 + ), levels for which tentative spin and parity assignments may be made are those at (energies in keV) 1648.3 (2 + ), 1811.6 (2 through 6 + , 1 through 5 − , 2046 (2, 3, 4 − ), 2083.1 (2, 3, 4 + ), 2103.5 (1, 2 + ), 2155.9 (2 + ), 2192.7 (2, 3 + ), 2269.9 (3, 4 + ), 2280.9 (2, 3 + ), 2438.9 (2, 3, 4 + ), 2497.6 (2 + ), 2513.5 (2, 3 − ), 2532.0 (3, 4, 5 + ) and 2678.3 (4, 5 + ). A number of additional levels up to 3546 keV are included in a proposed level scheme.
Melanocortins and their implication in melanoma

The melanocortins (MCs), that is, the melanocyte-stimulating hormones (MSHs) and ACTH, are a group of related peptides containing the typical melanotropin core sequence, His-Phe-Arg-Trp, and are derived from a common precursor, pro-opiomelanocortin. They are pleiotropic molecules that occur in the pituitary, some brain regions, and also in several peripheral tissues, and they exert a variety of physiologic functions. Their effect on melanogenesis in the skin is well established, but their role in melanocyte and melanoma cell proliferation and metastasis is less clear. The recent cloning of five types of MC receptors (MC1-5), new studies on the regulation of these receptors, the discovery of a naturally occurring MSH antagonist, the agouti protein, and the finding that melanocytes and melanoma cells exclusively express MC1 receptors have laid the basis for the future development of specific MC ligands, which may become useful for melanoma diagnosis and eventually therapy.
Elastic stresses in anisotropic bicrystals

Abstract The stress fields close to a grain boundary of two incompatible bicrystals subjected to axial tension were determined by finite element method (FEM). One of the bicrystals had an asymmetrical [110] tilt boundary and the other was an isoaxial [ 1 49] bicrystal with a twist boundary. The boundaries were perpendicular to the tensile axis. The effects of size, type of incompatibility and boundary conditions were studied and the results were compared with FEM calculations for different geometries and an analytical model. It was found that the stresses arising at the boundary have a constant value in the center of the cross section and high gradients close to the surface. Furthermore, the average value of the stresses calculated was in agreement with the values predicted by an analytical model. The differences between the model and the FEM results depended on the type of incompatibility, the geometry and the boundary conditions.
Effect of lithotriptor treatment on the fracture toughness of acrylic bone cement.

Abstract Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) has now been established as an efficacious non-invasive modality for the management of renal calculi and has shown promise for management of other types of stone, as well. Following on from these successes, ESWL has recently been proposed for use in the preliminary stages of revision of cemented total hip joint replacements as a means of breaking up the cement mantle. It is useful, therefore, to examine the effect of shock waves on pertinent mechanical properties of the cement. This study utilizes the chevron-notch short-rod specimen and a commercially available test system to obtain the values of one such property, namely fracture toughness, of Palacos Radiopaque® bone cement before and after treatment with shock waves delivered from a lithotriptor. The fracture toughness drops by about 14% following the shock wave treatment, thus confirming the possibility that ESWL can be used, as indicated earlier, in revision arthroplasty.
Detection of hydrogen bonding in solution: a 2H nuclear magnetic resonance method based on rotational motion of a donor/acceptor complex.

The effect of hydrogen bonding on the rotational correlation time of an H-bond acceptor, pyridine N-oxide-d5, in various solvents was investigated using the 2H spin–lattice relaxation time (T1). The results demonstrate a linear relationship between viscosity and measured rotational correlation times, an example of Stokes–Einstein–Debye behavior. The results also clearly demonstrate reduced rotational rates for the probe in hydrogen bonding solvents in comparison to solvents incapable of forming hydrogen bonds with the probe. The utility of this observation was exploited to estimate the association constant (Ka) through an NMR titration procedure. These results are presented as a new technique that can be applied to the characterization of hydrogen bonding in similar systems.