cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 5928: Suicide gene therapy of ovarian cancer

Purpose: The objective of this study was to develop a gene directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) method that can effectively kill both differentiating and cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) in ovarian cancer. Methods: Ovarian cancer cell lines including A2780, A2780-Cis, SKOV-3, OVCAR-3 and OVASC-1 (malignant cells from ascitic fluid of an ovarian cancer patient) were examined to identify the most drug resistant one. Various chemotherapeutic drugs which are used for suicide gene therapy were tested to identify one that is the most effective against ovarian cancer cells. These include 6-Methylpurine, 5-Fluorouracil, and SN-38. Cisplatin was used as a standard of care control. The anticancer activities of the drugs were studied by a cell toxicity assay and clonogenic assay. Flow cytometry was performed to study surface stem markers, such as CD133, CXCR4, HER2. ALDH1 activity in ovarian cancer cells was studied by ALDH assay kit. The ability of the most effective enzyme/prodrug system to kill drug resistant ovarian cancer cells was studied by a cell viability assay. Results: The results of in vitro dose-response experiments on various ovarian cancer cells showed that SN-38 was the most efficient drug with IC50 in a range of 10 -100 nM, in comparison to 10-500 μM range of all other selected active drugs. OVASC-1 and OVCAR-3 cell lines showed a higher resistance to drug therapy as compared with other cell lines. It was observed that these two cell lines have a higher number of drug resistant cancer cells in their populations. It was also observed that CSCs are strongly associated with resistance to chemotherapy. ALDH assay, clonogenic assay and sphere formation assay showed a direct correlation between the therapy resistance and the percentage of CSCs. OVASC-1 cells in comparison to the other cell lines were found to be a suitable model for therapy resistant studies. After treatment by 100 nM SN-38, no visible colonies of Ascites were observed. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) were genetically modified to express Carboxylesterase-2 (CE2) and thus could convert CPT-11 to its active form (SN-38). Using this enzyme/prodrug system an effective eradication of highly resistant OVASC-1 ovarian cancer cells was demonstrated. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that Carboxylesterase/CPT-11 enzyme/prodrug system is the most effective GDEPT method against highly drug resistant ovarian cancer cells. Citation Format: Obeid M. Malekshah, Siddik Sarkar, Arash Hatefi. Suicide gene therapy of ovarian cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5928.
Calculating Subgroups with GAP

We survey group-theoretic algorithms for finding (some or all) subgroups of a finite group and discuss the implementation of these algorithms in the computer algebra system GAP.
Toward an Integrated Multilevel Theory of Crime at Place: Routine Activities, Social Disorganization, and The Law of Crime Concentration

We propose and test a multilevel theoretical model of crime concentration by combining criminal opportunity and social disorganization into a single hierarchical model. Our theoretical model simultaneously answers calls to integrate routine activities theory and social disorganization theory and provides a logical framework for understanding the connections between neighborhood context and micro-spatial environmental conditions. To test our theory we used multilevel negative binomial regression with controls for spatial dependence to estimate street segment level crime counts. Findings showed the expected direct effects on street segment-level violent and property crime of both micro- and neighborhood-level characteristics. Our results for cross-level interaction effects provided evidence neighborhood context moderates the association between street segment-level variables and crime. Model comparisons using likelihood ratio tests revealed that including neighborhood-level characteristics improved explanatory power relative to single level models. This study lends support to a multilevel theory of the law of crime concentration that includes both neighborhood and street segment level conditions.
New Metrics and the Politics of Judicial Selection

Recent Supreme Court nomination hearings have become increasingly rancorous, revealing the in-creasing political importance of the judiciary in our system of government. We need to know more about those who are chosen to wield this power, but those being considered have strong incentives to obscure all but the most basic characteristics of integrity, decorum, intellect, and courtesy. One of the most important decisions in our democracy is therefore made with far less information than would be ideal. Only through development of new metrics and refinement of existing metrics can we begin to cut through obfuscation and identify the goals and methodologies of potential judges and justices. Multiple new metrics are discussed, particularly as they pertain to the confirmations of Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, as an example of what can be achieved if the importance of metrics in this area is recognized.
A 55-year-old man with innumerable gastric polyps and recent melena

Presentation of Case A 55-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of multiple gastric polyps and melena. He was well until seven years earlier, when occasional hematochezia prompted a sig...
A Comparison between Paα and Hα Emission: The Relation between Mean H II Region Reddening, Local Gas Density, and Metallicity

We measure reddenings to H II regions in NGC 1512, 2903, 4449, and 6946, and M51 from Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Paα and Hα images. Extinctions range from AV ~ 5 to 0 depending upon the galaxy. For the galaxies with HST images in both lines, NGC 1512, NGC 2903, and M51, the Paα and Hα emission are almost identical in morphology, which implies that little emission from bright H II regions is hidden from view by regions of comparatively high extinction. The scatter in the measured extinctions in each galaxy is only ±0.5 mag. We compare the reddenings we measure in five galaxies using the Paα-to-Hα ratios to those measured previously from the Balmer decrement in the Large Megallanic Cloud and as a function of radius in M101 and M51. We find that luminosity-weighted mean extinctions of these ensembles of H II regions are correlated with gas surface density and metallicity. The correlation is consistent with the mean extinction depending on dust density, where the dust-to-gas mass ratio scales with the metallicity. This trend is expected if H II regions tend to be located near the midplane of a gas disk and emerge from their parent molecular clouds soon after birth. In environments with gas densities below a few hundred solar masses per square parsec, star formation rates estimated from integrated line fluxes and mean extinctions are likely to be fairly accurate.
Assessing Depression Following Injury or Illness: Preliminary Validation of the Neuropsychology.Org Measures of Anxiety and Depression (NOMAD) Scale

INTRODUCTION Evaluation is an important aspect of any evidence-based rehabilitation program, as it helps to determine the course and scope of the prescribed therapy. Several brief, empirically validated measures of depression are available, yet these measures lack a few innovative features that are useful when evaluating rehabilitation and other medical populations. Such features include a retrospective self-report of premorbid psychological status, embedded symptom validity measures, and means of quickly accounting for physiological symptoms directly resulting from injury or illness that may not indicate psychological distress. OBJECTIVE This was a preliminary study investigating the utility and psychometric properties, including normative data, of the Neuropsychology.Org Measures of Anxiety and Depression (NOMAD) Depression scale. This brief screening measure for rehabilitation and other medical patients provides ratings of current and preinjury/illness depression levels, and a screening for symptom magnification and minimization. DESIGN Clinical and control participants completed the NOMAD Depression scale. Clinical participants also completed some or all of the following criterion standard measures: Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition (BDI-II), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). SETTING University hospital-based rehabilitation psychology and neuropsychology clinic and a private neuropsychology and pain psychology practice. PARTICIPANTS Convenience sample of 575 adults referred for neuropsychological or psychological evaluation, along with 85 undergraduate control subjects. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS NOMAD Depression scale results were correlated with criterion standards. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were calculated. RESULTS The NOMAD Depression scale demonstrated moderate convergent validity with other brief mood measures: correlation coefficients (r = .76 to .87, P < .001). Adequate diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were found (area under the curve [AUC] = .81). Suggested cut-off scores for severity ranges are presented for the NOMAD Depression scale Total score and separately for the Cognitive-Affective subscale. CONCLUSIONS These preliminary results suggest that the NOMAD Depression scale may be clinically useful for quick assessment of mood and mood change following injury/illness in rehabilitation and other health care contexts.
What does the language of foods say about us

In this work we investigate the signal contained in the language of food on social media. We experiment with a dataset of 24 million food-related tweets, and make several observations. First,thelanguageoffoodhaspredictive power. We are able to predict if states in the United States (US) are above the medianratesfortype2diabetesmellitus(T2DM), income, poverty, and education – outperforming previous work by 4–18%. Second, we investigate the effect of socioeconomic factors (income, poverty, and education) on predicting state-level T2DM rates. Socioeconomic factors do improve T2DM prediction, with the greatestimprovementcomingfrompovertyinformation(6%),but,importantly,thelanguage of food adds distinct information that is not captured by socioeconomics. Third, we analyze how the language of food has changed over a five-year period (2013 – 2017), which is indicative of the shift in eating habits in the US during that period. We find several food trends, and that the language of food is used differently by different groups such as differentgenders. Last,weprovideanonlinevisualization tool for real-time queries and semantic analysis.
Journal impact factor is associated with PRISMA endorsement, but not with the methodological quality of low back pain systematic reviews: a methodological review.

To analyze the association of impact factor of the journals publishing low back pain systematic reviews with whether these journals endorsed the PRISMA recommendations and the reviews methodological quality. We searched the Physiotherapy Evidence Database on January 2018 for all low back pain systematic reviews, published between 2015 and 2017. Our primary outcomes were PRISMA recommendations endorsement by the journal and 2017 journal impact factor. We assessed systematic review methodological quality using the AMSTAR-2 (A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews) and reported descriptive statistics. A multivariate linear regression model was built. We assessed 66 systematic reviews published in 42 journals. Thirty-seven journals had an impact factor (mean 4.0, SD 4.8). 55% journals endorsed the PRISMA recommendations. The methodological quality of 75.8% systematic reviews was critically low. Journals with higher impact factor were associated with journals endorsing the PRISMA recommendations (s 3.7; 95% CI 1.2, 6.3), but were not associated with the reviews’ methodological quality (s − 0.3; 95% CI − 4.8, 4.3). Our findings may not be generalized to other study populations and interventions such as medical devices, surgery and medication. Three out of every four published low back pain systematic reviews had critically low methodological quality. Journals with higher impact factor were associated with journals endorsing the PRISMA recommendations. Clinicians must know how to critically appraise reviews. Journals’ editorial policies should include the assessment of study methodological quality and reporting in the review process of an article. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.
Tuning Supramolecular Selectivity for Hydrosulfide: Linear Free Energy Relationships Reveal Preferential C-H Hydrogen Bond Interactions.

Supramolecular anion receptors can be used to study the molecular recognition properties of the reactive yet biologically critical hydrochalcogenide anions (HCh–). Achieving selectivity for HCh– ov...
Expect the Unexpected: A Rare Case of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Endocarditis.

Abstract Infective endocarditis (IE) caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is extremely uncommon. Reported cases have usually been associated with intravenous drug use, prosthetic heart valves, and/or implanted cardiac devices. Traditionally, successful treatment has necessitated a combination of antimicrobial(s) and valve replacement. Yet, P. aeruginosa IE remains difficult to manage, especially in cases where valve replacement may not be an immediate option. We present such a case of P. aeruginosa IE, highlighting that medical management with 2 antipseudomonal synergistic agents may be an alternative to surgery in particularly complicated cases.
A bird’s eye view: fruit grower interest in adoption of raptor nest boxes

Bird damage is a serious problem for many fruit growers. Utilizing nest boxes to attract natural predators of fruit-eating birds is frequently effective in lowering bird damage, as well as increasi...
80. X+Y SCHEDULING IMPROVES SEVERAL ASPECTS OF RESIDENT EDUCATION YEAR 1 RESULTS FROM THE PEDIATRIC X+Y SCHEDULING COLLABORATIVE

Background Traditional half-day per week continuity clinic experiences can lead to fragmented education in both the inpatient and outpatient arenas. Five pediatric residency programs were granted the ability from the ACGME in 2018 to create true X+Y scheduling models where residents see continuity clinic patients in “blocks” rather than half-day per week experiences. Objective Assess the impact X+Y scheduling has on pediatric resident perceptions of patient care and other educational experiences. Methods Surveys were sent via REDCap to pediatric residents of the five participating X+Y pilot programs both prior to and 12 months after implementing an X+Y scheduling model. Survey questions measured resident perception of outpatient continuity, clinic schedule satisfaction, and the impact continuity clinic schedules had on inpatient and subspecialty rotation experiences using a 5-point Likert scale. Data were analyzed using z-tests for proportion differences for those answering Agree or Strongly Agree between baseline and post-implementation respondents. Results 126 out of 183 residents responded to the pre survey and 122 out of 259 residents responded to the post-implementation survey. Each outcome measure evaluated showed significant difference (p Conclusions Residents perceive improved patient continuity and better quality of inpatient handoffs along with enhanced educational opportunities in X+Y scheduling compared to traditional half-day per week continuity clinic scheduling.
The Argument that Cries Wolfish

Mass pretrial incarceration can be understood via the following proposition: The presumption of innocence is dead and the Argument that Cries Wolfish helped kill it. This Essay explains that proposition using original empirical data and back-to-basics doctrinal analysis. Every day in the United States, hundreds of thousands legal innocent defendants are locked behind bars. Though formally cloaked in the presumption of innocence (POI), this much-lauded principle fails, in pretrial hearing after pretrial hearing, to prevent unconvicted persons from suffering imprisonment. The result is a crisis of mass pretrial incarceration. The injustice is profound. Original empirical data show how every year thousands of accused persons are routinely jailed for extended periods only to be released after all the charges against them are dropped. Pretrial detention on unprosecuted charges devastates lives and is ultimately unjustified. This Essay’s analysis suggests that such unjustified pretrial incarceration is all too common even though the theoretical presumption that criminal defendants will not be proven guilty appears to be empirically warranted. In sum, the POI is dead when it should be alive. Doctrinal blame for the POI’s current demise lies with “the argument that cries Wolfish.” This position, most prominently advanced in dicta by Justice Rehnquist in Bell v. Wolfish, maintains that the POI merely restates of the prosecution’s burden of proof at trial and therefore has no relevance to pretrial matters. Though widely accepted, the argument that cries Wolfish is every bit as misguided and dangerous as the fabled boy who cried wolf. To confront the alarming reality of mass pretrial incarceration, the notion that the POI does not apply pretrial must be rejected.
The typecasting of active galactic nuclei: Mrk 590 no longer fits the role

We present multiwavelength observations that trace more than 40 yr in the life of the active galactic nucleus (AGN) in Mrk 590, traditionally known as a classic Seyfert 1 galaxy. From spectra recently obtained from Hubble Space Telescope, Chandra, and the Large Binocular Telescope, we find that the activity in the nucleus of Mrk 590 has diminished so significantly that the continuum luminosity is a factor of 100 lower than the peak luminosity probed by our long-baseline observations. Furthermore, the broad emission lines, once prominent in the UV/optical spectrum, have all but disappeared. Since AGN type is defined by the presence of broad emission lines in the optical spectrum, our observations demonstrate that Mrk 590 has now become a 'changing-look' AGN. If classified by recent optical spectra, Mrk 590 would be a Seyfert ∼1.9–2, where the only broad emission line still visible in the optical spectrum is a weak component of Hα. As an additional consequence of this change, we have definitively detected UV narrow-line components in a Type 1 AGN, allowing an analysis of these emission-line components with high-resolution COS spectra. These observations challenge the historical paradigm that AGN type is only a consequence of the line-of-sight viewing anglemore » toward the nucleus in the presence of a geometrically flattened, obscuring medium (i.e., the torus). Our data instead suggest that the current state of Mrk 590 is a consequence of the change in luminosity, which implies the black hole accretion rate has significantly decreased.« less
Case studies in neuroscience: cortical contributions to the frequency-following response depend on subcortical synchrony.

A listener with auditory neuropathy, an absence of subcortical neural synchrony, did not have electrophysiological frequency-following responses synchronized to an octave of musical notes, with fun...
Protocol for Local On-Site Dialysate Production for Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract AKI frequently occurs in patients with COVID-19, and kidney injury severe enough to require RRT is a common complication among patients who are critically ill. During the surge of the pandemic, there was a high demand for dialysate for continuous RRT, and this increase in demand, coupled with vulnerabilities in the supply chain, necessitated alternative approaches, including internal production of dialysate. Using a standard hemodialysis machine and off-the-shelf supplies, as per Food and Drug Administration guidelines, we developed a method for on-site dialysate production that is adaptable and can be used to fill multiple bags at once. The use of a central reverse osmosis unit, dedicated hemodialysis machine, sterile bags with separate ports for fill and use, and frequent testing will ensure stability, sterility, and—therefore—safety of the produced dialysate. The dialysate made in house was tested and it showed both stability and sterility for at least 30 hours. This detailed description of our process for generating dialysate can serve as a guide for other programs experiencing similar vulnerabilities in the demand versus supply of dialysate.
Tissue-specific smooth muscle cell subtypes identified by transcriptional profiling.

Abstract Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are specialized cells present in many organs where they serve diverse tissue-specific functions. Using the Tabula Muris compendium of single-cell RNA sequencing data, we extracted individual SMC transcriptomes from eight mouse tissues to investigate the transcriptomic landscape of tissue-specific SMCs. We identified marker genes, signaling pathways, and biological processes enriched in tissue-specific SMCs, and inferred potential ligand-receptor interaction between SMC and other cell types. Our analysis also identified sex differences in SMC gene expression in different tissues. Lastly, we used unsupervised clustering to identify novel SMC subtypes based on their downstream targets of transcription factors. Our results highlight the variable SMC phenotypes and underscore this cell’s remarkable adaptability to contribute to diverse tissue function.
Three-State Model for Fusion Reactor Plant Availability Analysis

An availability simulation methodology and a computer program (PROPA) have been developed for systems subject to three states: normal, degraded, and failed. The program is used to analyze the STARFIRE tokamak fusion reactor plant. The new program extends our modeling capability for complex systems; while it is found that significant improvements are needed in the areas of reliability data, understanding of system behavior, and the computing speed.
The development of aerobic capacity: a comparison of continuous and interval training.

Abstract Untrained college males were randomly assigned to one of two experimental groups or a control group. There were five, seven, and nine subjects in the control, interval, and continuous groups, respectively. Training consisted of jogging or running on a quarter-mile track for a distance of 2 miles, 5 days a week for 6 weeks. The continuous group trained at an intensity of 162 beats per minute (bpm), while the interval group trained at 174 bpm. A minimum of three 4-minute work intervals and a work/rest ratio of 1:1 were utilized by the interval group. Significant (p < .01) within-group (pre- versus posttraining) differences were found in the experimental groups for oxygen uptake (ml/kg·minute) at 180 bpm and Balke treadmill performance. Analysis of covariance demonstrated significant (p < .05) differences in aerobic capacity and treadmill performance among groups. Post hoc comparisons revealed significant (p < .05) differences between the control group and each experimental group. No significant dif...
Low-power-low-cost undersea telemetry system

As scientists strive to gain better measurement resolution of undersea phenomena one primary method for success is to increase the sensor field gain. Often this option is discarded simply because of the power or cost constraints associated with upgrading an installed infrastructure. General Dynamics has addressed this subset of "limiters" by developing an enabling technology that provides, in many cases, an order of magnitude reduction in both cost and telemetry power while retaining the inherent reliability, thereby ensuring the best return on investment for large-scale research programs. This enabling technology is a new telemetry engine, designed to multiplex a substantial number of sensor outputs onto a four-wire local bus without the need for an "A/D, digital transmission and timing" subsystem at each sensor location. Instead, this novel approach deploys a simple device at each sensor location to modulate the line impedance to produce a varying, and accurately measurable impedance reflection that is proportional to a sensor (acoustic, nonacoustic etc.) output Sensor multiplexing is achieved through embedded pulsing of a synchronization and strobing signal that also serves as the power supply for the sensor telemetry. With the fundamental telemetry engine requiring a nominal 3 milliwatts per channel, the ability to deploy this local telemetry system to support sensor field expansions becomes much more feasible. Large systems are constructed by aggregating the recovered time-domain local sensor data into digital frames, achieved via low-power termination electronics that are compatible with any standard transmission format such as ethernet or synchronous optical network/asynchronous transfer mode (SONET/ATM).
Raman Spectroscopy of Shocked Water

We describe a new technique for recording spontaneous Raman spectra from molecules during the passage of strong shock waves. We have used this technique to study the OH-stretch band of liquid H2O shocked to pressures up to 26 GPa and 1700 K. The shape of the band changes over the range 7.5–26 GPa, and is described well by a two-component mixture model, implying changes in the intermolecular coupling of shock compressed water molecules. We discuss the implications of the spectra on the mechanism responsible for the electrical conductivity of shocked H2O.
On the Regularity of Solutions to Fully Nonlinear Elliptic Equations via the Liouville Property

We show that any C 1,1 solution to the uniformly elliptic equation F(D 2 u) = 0 must belong to C 2,α , if the equation has the Liouville property.
Cathepsin Protease Inhibition Reduces Endometriosis Lesion Establishment

Endometriosis is a gynecologic disease characterized by the ectopic presence of endometrial tissue on organs within the peritoneal cavity, causing debilitating abdominal pain and infertility. Current treatments alleviate moderate pain symptoms associated with the disorder but exhibit limited ability to prevent new or recurring lesion establishment and growth. Retrograde menstruation has been implicated for introducing endometrial tissue into the peritoneal cavity, but molecular mechanisms underlying attachment and invasion are not fully understood. We hypothesize that cysteine cathepsins, a group of powerful extracellular matrix proteases, facilitate endometrial tissue invasion and endometriosis lesion establishment in the peritoneal wall and inhibiting this activity would decrease endometriosis lesion implantation. To test this, we used an immunocompetent endometriosis mouse model and found that endometriotic lesions exhibited a greater than 5-fold increase in active cathepsins compared to tissue from peritoneal wall or eutopic endometrium, with cathepsins L and K specifically implicated. Human endometriosis lesions also exhibited greater cathepsin activity than adjacent peritoneum tissue, supporting the mouse results. Finally, we tested the hypothesis that inhibiting cathepsin activity could block endometriosis lesion attachment and implantation in vivo. Intraperitoneal injection of the broad cysteine cathepsin inhibitor, E-64, significantly reduced the number of attached endometriosis lesions in our murine model compared to vehicle-treated controls demonstrating that cathepsin proteases contribute to endometriosis lesion establishment, and their inhibition may provide a novel, nonhormonal therapy for endometriosis.
Multi-chip receive module for a wide-band X-band dual-beam phased array communication antenna

A wide-bandwidth X-band receive module has been developed to support a phased array communication antenna with dual-beam operation. The module utilizes four GaAs MMICs, a single low-temperature-cofired-ceramic (LTCC) substrate, blind-mate connectors, and a custom miniature DC/control 8-pin connector to address the electrical and packaging requirements. A typical module exhibited 3.5 dB noise figure, 23 dB of gain, 0.5 dB RMS amplitude error, and 7/spl deg/ RMS phase error from 7.0-10.0 GHz.
Cation/proton antiport systems in escherichia coli: properties of the sodium/proton antiporter.

Abstract The sodium/proton antiport system of Escherichia coli has been characterized by the effect of Na+ on the pH gradient established by respiration in everted membrane vesicles. The system has equal affinity for Na+ and Li+. Between pH 7 and 9 dissipation of Δψ, membrane potential, has no effect on the affinity for Na+ but decreases the V of the antiport reaction. Uptake of 22Na+ by everted membrane vesicles was observed using flow dialysis.
Antibiotic and Vitamin B12 Supplements as Related to the Crude Protein Level of Bobwhite Quail Diets

Abstract THE beneficial effects of antibiotics and vitamin B12 supplements in all-vegetable starting rations for chickens are well known. Berry et al. (1945) and Mishler et al. (1948) demonstrated the supplementary action of condensed fish solubles in soybean oil meal rations for chickens and attributed the effects to unidentified factors. One of these factors has been shown to be vitamin B12 by Ott et al. (1948) and Nichol et al. (1949) in their reports that crystalline vitamin B12 would replace the animal protein factor activity of crude sources of vitamin B12, one of which is condensed fish solubles. Factors other than vitamin B12 were soon recognized as being present in these crude sources of vitamin B12 (Carlson et al. 1949; and Stokstad et al. 1949). These included, among others, antibiotics and an unknown growth factor believed to be present in condensed fish solubles. That vitamin B12 bears some relation to protein …
Conformational studies of trans-cycloheptene, trans-cycloheptene oxide, and trans-bicyclo [5.1.0] octane by ab initio calculations

Abstract The conformations of trans-cycloheptene (1), trans-cycloheptene oxide (2), and trans-bicyclo [5.1.0] octane (3), were studied by ab initio calculations. At the MP2/6-31G* level, a global minimum of C1 symmetry was found for each of the three compounds. In addition, a local minimum of high energy and C2 symmetry was found in each case at this level, with free energies at +25 °C relative to the global minimum of 11.1, 9.6, and 8.7 kcal/mol for 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The extent of twisting (29.0°) and bending (33.7°) about the double bond in 1 are compared with the literature values for this alkene and for trans-cyclooctene. The geometry for 1 obtained in the present calculations is compared with the MM3 geometry calculated by Saunders and Jimenez–Vazquez, and the MM3 and MP2/6-31G* geometries for 2 obtained in this work are compared. Topomerization of the global minimum conformation of 1 could take place by a pseudorotation process or by conversion to the C2 local minimum, followed by conversion to the topomer. Free-energy barriers of 10.979 and 12.016 kcal/mol, respectively, were found for the two processes, indicating that topomerization occurs mainly by pseudorotation.
Autosomal dominant hemorrhagic macular dystrophy not associated with the TIMP3 gene.

Objective To describe the ophthalmic and genetic findings of a large kindred (UM:h389) with autosomal dominant hemorrhagic macular dystrophy. Methods The disease state of family members was documented by dilated fundus examination, electroretinography, color vision tests, fluorescein angiography, measurement of visual fields, biomicroscopy, gonioscopy, and intraocular pressure measurement. Linkage and haplotype analyses were carried out with markers flanking the Sorsby fundus dystrophy TIMP3 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3) gene locus, and mutation analysis was carried out by screening exon 5 of the TIMP3 gene. Results This 4-generation pedigree with autosomal dominant hemorrhagic macular degeneration has visual symptoms beginning in the sixth decade of life. Several family members developed choroidal neovascular membrane formation in the macula of both eyes. The phenotype overlaps that of Sorsby fundus dystrophy. Some of the affected members have unusual zonularlike radial striations on the anterior lens capsule surface, and glaucoma or ocular hypertension has developed in 2 of them. Involvement of the TIMP3 gene was excluded by linkage, haplotype, and mutation analyses. Conclusions The phenotype of this family with autosomal dominant macular dystrophy overlaps that of Sorsby fundus dystrophy. Exclusion of the TIMP3 gene in this family indicates genetic heterogeneity for hemorrhagic macular dystrophy. Anterior segment anomalies may occur with this condition, but cosegregation has not yet been established. Clinical Relevance This study broadens the spectrum of hemorrhagic macular dystrophy by identifying a family in which the TIMP3 gene is not involved. Once the gene is cloned, we are eager to learn whether this gene may be involved in age-related macular degeneration.
31P spectroscopic zeugmatography of phosphorus metabolites

Abstract A two-dimensional mapping of the 31P spin densities of inorganic phosphate, adenosine triphosphate, and creatine phosphate in a test object has been obtained, using the method of reconstruction from projections. The experiments were carried out on a slightly modified commercial spectrometer. The method for obtaining separate zeugmatographic images of different chemically shifted compounds, and the necessary instrument modifications, are presented and the possibility of determining the distribution of phosphorus metabolites in living organs and organisms is discussed.
Affective Issues in Mathematical Problem Solving: Some Theoretical Considerations.

Mathematics students often report feelings of frustration or satisfaction when they work on nonroutine problems. These affective responses are an important factor in problem solving and deserve increased attention in research. Mandler's theory of emotion is suggested as a framework for investigating affective issues in problem solving. Several dimensions of the emotional states of problem solvers are specified, including the magnitude and direction of the emotions, their duration, and the students' level of awareness and level of control of the emotions. The implications of this framework for research on affective issues in problem solving are also discussed.
Entry of neutralizing antibody to measles into brain and cerebrospinal fluid of immunized monkeys after osmotic opening of the blood-brain barrier

Abstract The blood-brain barrier was osmotically opened to circulating neutralizing antibody to measles in immunized rhesus monkeys. Hypertonic solutions of lactamide or arabinose were perfused into the left hemisphere via the left lingual artery, after the external and common carotid arteries were clamped temporarily. Opening was graded by the amount of brain staining produced by intravascular Evans blue-albumin. Elevated brain antibody concentrations were produced in five of seven animals with grade 2+ barrier opening in the absence of neurological sequelae, suggesting that tight junctions between cerebrovascular endothelia were widened to molecules with a molecular weight of at least 180,000. Tenfold higher antibody concentrations were produced by grade 3+ barrier opening but were accompanied by evidence of brain damage. Brain antibody remained elevated for at least 4 days following osmotic opening, and cerebrospinal fluid concentrations also were tenfold higher during this period, both for grade 2+ and 3+ openings.
BoP at ten: evolution and a new lens

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to synthesize the first ten years of research on the Bottom (or Base) of the Pyramid (BoP) strategy of providing products and services to billions of the world's poor. Conceptions of BoP have shifted significantly, but the nature and implications of these shifts have not been adequately explored. The paper asks: What is the present conception of BoP, how and why has it evolved since 2002, and what are differences and concordances between first‐ and second‐generation understandings? What would an integrative perspective on BoP include, and how can it be applied?Design/methodology/approach – The paper takes the form of a literature review of peer‐reviewed journal articles and books on BoP.Findings – It is found that ten years of research have rapidly advanced the definition of BoP, from a way for multinational corporations to profit by selling to the poor to how collaborative networks – including local firms and NGOs – engage with the poor to design, produce, distribut...
The longitudinal association of lead with blood pressure.

Background.Several investigators have reported an association of blood lead or bone lead with increased blood pressure and hypertension, but questions remain concerning whether these effects are acute or chronic in nature.Methods.In this longitudinal study, we evaluated the relation of lead, measure
Mathematical analysis applied to school attendance areas

Abstract The objective of this paper is to develop a generalized mathematical model of pupil assignment within school districts. This model can then be used to examine various policies of student integration. Proposed bussing schemes, school location policies, educational parks, attendance boundaries, etc., can be tested for cost, travel time or other measures of efficiency. Extension to other areas of educational planning is feasible. Mathematical programming techniques are used to assign resources (say school children) to facilities (say schools) subject to restrictions on facilities (say capacity limits) and resources (say a maximum travel time or a desirable range of school “mixtures”) so that a measure of performance, the “objective function” (say total cost or total time of travel) is optimized. The model is intended to allow examination of a wide range of objective functions and system constraints.
The rotarod test: an evaluation of its effectiveness in assessing motor deficits following traumatic brain injury.

ABSTRACT The purpose of the present experiment was to examine the effectiveness of a modified rotarod test in detecting motor deficits following mild and moderate central fluid percussion brain injury. In addition, this investigation compared the performance of the rotarod task with two other commonly used measures of motor function after brain injury (beam-balance and beam-walking latencies). Rats were either injured with a mild (n = 14) or moderate (n = 8) level of fluid percussion injury or were surgically prepared but not injured (n = 8). All rats were assessed on all tasks for 5 days following their respective treatments. Results revealed that both the mild and moderate injury levels produced significant deficits in the ability of the animals to perform the rotarod task. Performance on the beam-balance and beam-walking tasks were not significantly impaired at the mild injury level. It was only at the moderate injury level that the beam-balance and beam-walking tasks detected deficits in motor perform...
Engineering the tissue which encapsulates subcutaneous implants. I. Diffusion properties

This report uses normal rat subcutis as a reference point to provide a quantitative analysis of small analyte transport through the tissue which encapsulates implants. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with 60- and 350-micron mean pore size (PVA-60, PVA-350), nonporous PVA (PVA-skin), and stainless-steel cage (SS) specimens were implanted in the subcutis of Sprague-Dawley rats for 4 weeks to elicit a range of capsular wound-healing tissues. Histologic examination showed that the capsular tissue which formed around PVA-skin and SS specimens was densely fibrous and avascular. That forming around PVA-60 and PVA-350 was less densely fibrous and more vascular. The fibrous content of capsular tissue and subcutis was determined from eosin-stained histologic sections. Dual-chamber diffusion measurements of sodium fluorescein (Mw 376 g/mol) through capsular tissue and normal rat subcutis were used to quantitatively compare the effective diffusion coefficients of small analytes on the order of glucose. The two most fibrous capsular tissues exhibited diffusion coefficients that were statistically (p < 0.05) less than that determined for rat subcutis by 50 and 25% for PVA-skin and SS, respectively. The diffusion coefficients of the less dense capsular tissue which formed around the porous implants were not statistically different from subcutis. The experimentally measured diffusion coefficients of the two most fibrous capsular tissues were closely predicted by a simple two-component diffusion model consisting of an aqueous interstitium with an array of impenetrable bodies equal in volume fraction to the fibrous content of the tissue. This model overestimates the diffusion coefficients measured for the least fibrous tissues. Using the diffusion coefficient measured for the PVA-skin capsular tissue, a finite difference model predicts that a 200-microns-thick capsular layer would increase from 5 to 20 min the time required for subcutaneously implanted sensor to detect 95% of the blood analyte concentration. This study suggests that the fibrous capsule forming around a subcutaneously implanted smooth-surface sensor imposes a significant diffusion barrier to small analytes such as glucose, thus increasing the lag time of the sensor by as much as threefold. A corollary observation is that a sensor with a porous surface which allows tissue ingrowth may be more responsive to blood analyte fluctuations as a result of its a more vascular and less fibrous encapsulation tissue.
Consumer e-shopping acceptance: Antecedents in a technology acceptance model

Abstract This study integrates e-shopping quality, enjoyment, and trust into a technology acceptance model (TAM) to understand consumer acceptance of e-shopping. Online surveys with college students (n = 298) were conducted. E-shopping quality for apparel products consists of four dimensions: web site design, customer service, privacy/security, and atmospheric/experiential. A structural equation model reveals that e-shopping quality determines perceptions of usefulness, trust, and enjoyment, which in turn influence consumers' attitudes toward e-shopping. Consumer perceptions of usefulness and attitude toward e-shopping influence intention to shop online, while perceived ease of use does not influence attitude toward e-shopping. Shopping enjoyment and trust play significant roles in consumers' adoption of e-shopping. This study provides important implications for e-tailers whose web site developers must keep in mind that customers are not only web users with trust/safety and information needs, but also shoppers with service and experiential needs.
Lessons learned from airway pressure release ventilation.

BACKGROUND:The aim of this article is to review a single institution's experience with airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) with respect to safety, complications, and efficacy at correcting hypercarbia and hypoxemia.METHODS:Patients transitioned from either volume- or pressure-targeted ventila
Perceptions of healthy eating: A qualitative study of school-going children in South India:

Objective To document children's views on healthy eating, perceptions of healthy and unhealthy foods and health consequences of consuming unhealthy foods.Design Baseline data from a three-year longitudinal study.Setting A purposive sample of 307 school children aged 7 to 15 years were recruited from three schools representing various socio-economic status (SES).Method An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information from children on their general dietary habits, perceptions on meaning of healthy eating, healthy and unhealthy foods and perceived health consequences of consuming unhealthy foods. Content analysis of the data was performed.Results Children's views on the meaning of healthy eating centred around seven concepts. In older children, those with mothers with higher educational levels and normal/underweight children, perception of meaning of healthy eating was largely based on diet composition. Listings of healthy foods varied based on age group, gender and mother's education...
Pyrolysis and combustion of cellulose. VIII. Thermally initiated reactions of phosphonomethyl amide flame retardants

Several N-(phosphonomethyl) amides have previously been reported to act as particularly effective flame retardants for cellulose. It has also been demonstrated previously that the efficiency of a flame retardant on cellulose frequently parallels its ability to phosphorylate cellulosic hydroxyls at elevated temperatures. This study of the hydrolysis and alcoholysis reactions of N-(phosphonomethyl) amides establishes their unique reactivity. An explanation for this high reactivity is proposed on the basis of intramolecular assistance of the attack of water or alcohols at phosphorus by the carbonyl oxygen of the amide moiety.
A LOGISTICS STRATEGY TAXONOMY

Beginning with Bowersox and Daugherty's (1987) influential work describing three unique logistics organizational forms, researchers have generally taken a theoretical typology approach to classifying logistics strategies, and attempts to validate the numerous proposed typologies have produced inconsistent and somewhat conflicting results. In an attempt to add clarity to this stream of research, the current article partially replicates and extends the previous studies using a more rigorous and data-driven methodology, by developing an empirical taxonomy with firmlevel logistics activities used as clustering criteria. The results identify two primary logistics strategy types used by contemporary firms. The revealed strategies are somewhat parallel to two of the three strategic orientations proposed within the original Bowersox and Daugherty (1987) typology, but also elements suggested by other researchers, as well as new concepts introduced since the original work was published. Based on the results, implications of the revealed logistics strategy taxonomy are provided for managers, and foundations are laid for researchers seeking to undertake further inquiry in the area.
Detection of Elevated β-Hydroxybutyrate in the Plasma of Fasted and Alloxan-Treated Hamsters by H NMR

The application of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to the analysis of tissue samples is often complicated by the presence of interfering signals. A plasma metabolite of considerable biological significance is β-hydroxy-butyrate (βHB), which can reflect altered lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. Direct measurement of βHB in plasma via NMR is nullified by the presence of predominating lipid signals. The present study reports the successful application of a spectral editing sequence to measure elevated plasma βHB levels in fasted and alloxan-treated hamsters.
Effects of cadmium exposure on zinc and copper distribution in neonatal rats.

Tissue zinc and copper concentrations undergo marked changes in the neonatal rat during the first several weeks of life and it was of considerable interest to study the effect of cadmium exposure on these ontogenic changes. Long evans rats received either 2 or 10 μmol cadmium chloride per kg SC at 9 days of age and were sacrificed at 20 or 36 days of age. Tissue copper and zinc concentrations in cadmium-treated rats were compared to those of age-matched controls for statistically significant changes. The tissue affected, the element altered and the direction of change in concentration, increased (+) or decreased (-), are summarized for the two dosing groups (age at dosing, age at sacrifice in days): 2 μmol/kg (9, 20): kidney Zn (+), blood Zn (-), cerebral Cu (-), cerebellar Cu (+); 2 μmol/kg (9, 36): blood Zn (-); 10 μmol/kg (9, 20); liver, kidney, cerebral and cerebellar and blood Zn (-), cerebellar Cu (+); 10 μmol/kg (9, 36]: liver and heart Zn (+), blood Zn (-); liver and heart Zn (+), blood Zn (-); kidney, cerebral, cerebellar and heart Cu (+). Changes in tissue zinc or copper concentrations produced by cadmium treatment could not be accounted for by the direct replacement of these elements by cadmium and may be due to alterations in transport of these elements. These results indicate that early life exposure to low levels of camium can have large and persistent effects on the distribution of the essential metals, copper and zinc.