cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the effects of red cell separation and ultrafiltration on heparin concentration during pediatric cardiac surgery

Abstract Objective: To determine the effects of red cell separation and ultrafiltration on heparin concentration. Design: Prospective study. Setting: University-affiliated, pediatric medical center. Participants: Thirty-one children undergoing cardiac surgery. Interventions: Blood sampled for heparin concentration and coagulation tests. Measurements and Main Results: Thirteen infants underwent modified veno-venous ultrafiltration (UF) after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). In addition, residual blood in the CPB circuit was hemoconcentrated by UF and reinfused (UF group). Heparin concentration increased from 2.0 ± 0.6 to 2.5 ± 0.8 U/mL, following modified UF; while activated coagulation time (ACT) decreased from 701 ± 177 to 627 ± 107 seconds. Heparin concentration of CPB circuit residual increased from 1.9 ± 0.7 to 3.1 ± 1.0 U/mL. In 18 children (older than 1 year old), the residual blood in the CPB circuit was hemoconcentrated by cell separation (CS) and reinfused (CS group). Heparin concentration of CPB circuit residual decreased from 2.6 ± 0.6 to 0.3 ± 0.2 U/mL. After reinfusion, patient heparin concentration remained unchanged at Conclusions: The plasma concentration of heparin increased after veno-venous modified UF of the patient. Heparin concentration also increased after UF of residual CPB circuit blood. In contrast, circuit blood hemoconcentrated by CS contained minimal heparin, and, when infused, did not increase patient's heparin concentration. ACT and thrombin time did not correlate with heparin concentration.
The effect of intravenous vasopressin on gastric myoelectrical activity in human subjects.

UNLABELLED Vasopressin's role in the sensation of nausea is incompletely understood. In this study, our goals were to investigate whether high intravenous vasopressin levels in normal subjects would induce nausea and vomiting and to determine the electrogastrographic (EGG) pattern which would develop at these concentrations. METHODS EGG recordings were made on five fasting healthy subjects (three females, mean age: 27 years). Vasopressin was infused (0.15 or 0.3 U kg-1 h-1) for 1 h after a 30-min baseline recording. Serum vasopressin levels were measured every 15 min. Symptoms of nausea, cramping, retching, vomiting and bloating were graded from 0 to 5 (0 = none, 5 = most severe). Normal saline at the same rate was then infused for 1 h, with recording of symptoms and measuring blood levels of vasopressin as done previously. RESULTS EGG data showed a 43% reduction in the percentage of normal slow waves (96-53%) at a vasopressin rate of 0.3 U kg-1 h-1. A 29% reduction (88-59%) occurred at 0.15 U kg-1 h-1. The EGG dominant frequency decreased by 0.8 cpm (3.07-2.25) for the high dose, while only 0.2 cpm reduction (2.9-2.7) occurred at the lower dose. Bradygastria ( 3.7 cpm) was the predominant abnormality with the high dose. Symptoms of nausea correlated with the infusion of vasopressin and significantly increased with the higher dose. CONCLUSIONS (i) At supraphysiological vasopressin levels, nausea was present in 80% of subjects but there was no retching or vomiting, (ii) bradygastria was the predominant dysrhythmia at these high vasopressin concentrations, (iii) increasing vasopressin levels correlated symptomatically with increases in nausea.
Racial differences in serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) doubling time, histopathological variables and long-term PSA recurrence between African-American and white American men undergoing radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer.

In a multi-institutional study authors from the USA and Austria attempt to determine if there are differences in several indices between African-American and white men undergoing radical prostatectomy. They did not find race to be an independent risk factor for PSA recurrence, but found that other variables commonly associated with PSA recurrence are also important in African-Americans. Using data extracted from the Hospital Episodes database, authors from England describe national trends in radical nephrectomy between 1995 and 2002. They found a considerable increase in the annual number of radical nephrectomies, with an expected increase in the number of laparoscopic procedures. They also found a decrease in emergency admissions and length of hospital stay.
Vaccination against Ich

appears to be stable and hardly influenced by management factors, such as types of fish stocked, total stocking rate (until a certain threshold is reached), proportion of different fish or type of manure used.” Given this consistency, we might expect that the variance about the mean of his replicates (not published) was small. In that case, our results, which were quite variable, but which included yields significantly higher than his published mean, as well as an analysis of causes of the variation, would be of interest. From such variation and analysis come the potential of increased yield, the subject of our paper and reflected in the title. We do concede that our data were from tanks, not ponds, and were for 2-month, rather than 6-month trials. The scope of the study was explained clearly in the paper. Incidentally, the 2 tank results in question were from whole experiments, not from selected portions. The fastest 2-week interval of growth from any tank was 8.8 g/m’/d.
Implanon: The Subdermal Contraceptive Implant

This article focuses on Implanon the subdermal contraceptive implant. It describes Implanon and how it works in addition to providing information on: the appropriate timing of insertion side effects and acceptability discontinuation of Implanon Implanon and lactation metabolic effects bone mineral density (BMD) effects Implanon use in obese patients contraindications return to fertility and counseling patients.
A generalization of the Seifert-Threlfall proof for the Lusternik-Schnirelman category inequality

holds under assumptions specified in Theorem 4.1 of that paper. The proof was based on results of F. Browder in [l]. It was pointed out in the introduction to [8] that under additional assumptions a more constructive proof for (1.1) could be given in which r closed sets of category 1 covering V are exhibited. It is the purpose of the present paper to carry out such a proof based on a generalization of a method used by Seifert and Threlfall [9, p. 911 in the case of a finite dimensional manifold without boundary. (For notations and concepts not explained in the present paper the reader is referred to [S]). Since (1.1) is trivial if Y = cc we assume that I is finite. Moreover the assumptions of Theorem 4.1 of [8] are supposed to be satisfied. In the present paper we make the following additional assumption: if xi , x2 ,..., X, are the stationary points off then X, is nondegenerate of some (finite) order p, > 2, i.e., all differentials off of order p, 1 vanish at X, while the differential of order p, is a nondegenerate homogeneous form of order p, in the “increments.” (The exact definition of this kind of nondegeneracy is recalled in Section 3.) The proof of (1.1) . b is ase on the notion of a “cylindrical neighborhood” d of a critical point introduced by Seifert and Threlfall in the finite dimensional case in [9; Section 91. In Section 2 the definition for the Hilbert space case
The Development and Validation of a Simulated Oral Proficiency Interview.

nation of the Proficiency Guidelines of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) (1; 2), proficiency instruction and testing have become household words in foreign language education. The Guidelines, originally developed in 1982, were the subject of over 400 articles in professional journals by 1988 (8; 18) and represent the efforts of ACTFL, with assistance from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and Federal Interagency Language Roundtable (FILR) (9). As a method of assessing global speaking proficiency, the oral proficiency interview (OPI) has also been widely disseminated. During the 1980s, ACTFL trained approximately 2000 oral proficiency interviewers and raters in Spanish, French, German, and Russian. This article reports on an alternative method to the face-to-face procedure employed by the OPI for eliciting speech samples that may be rated according to the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines. While many professionals in the commonly taught languages were being trained in the OPI procedures, it became clear to staff at the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) that in the less commonly taught languages problems of manpower and economics would limit the accessibility of the benefits of comprehensive oral proficiency testing offered by the OPI. Thus CAL sought to explore the use of a tapemediated procedure for assessing oral proficiency. At the same time, CAL was anxious to ensure that the ACTFLIFILR Proficiency Guidelines would be used as the scoring scale for the new procedure. In other words, the new tapemediated procedure would have to collect examinee speech samples containing the necessary breadth to be rated on the ACTFL scale. Through its research and development projects, CAL has developed what has come to be called the simulated oral proficiency interview (SOPI) to achieve these ends (13). The SOPI is distinguished from earlier tapemediated assessments of speaking ability, such as the Recorded Oral Proficiency Exam (ROPE) (10) or the Test of Spoken English (TSE) (6), by its combination of each of these three characteristics: 1) in format it is similar to the OPI, beginning with a warm-up and using a variety of speaking tasks at different levels on the ACTFL scale to probe speaking proficiency; 2) it uses both aural and visual stimuli to elicit the
The Kroc Foundation Conference on Functional Adaptation in Bone Tissue

The purpose of this contribution is to serve as an introduction to the papers presented at the Kroc Foundation Conference on Functional Adaptation in Bone Tissue, to outline the objective of the conference, and to summarize the discussion.
Single particle reconstructions of the transferrin-transferrin receptor complex obtained with different specimen preparation techniques.

The outcome of three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions in single particle electron microscopy (EM) depends on a number of parameters. We have used the well-characterized structure of the transferrin (Tf)–transferrin receptor (TfR) complex to study how specimen preparation techniques influence the outcome of single particle EM reconstructions. The Tf–TfR complex is small (290 kDa) and of low symmetry (2-fold). Angular reconstitution from images of vitrified specimens does not reliably converge on the correct structure. Random conical tilt reconstructions from negatively stained specimens are reliable, but show variable degrees of artifacts depending on the negative staining protocol. Alignment of class averages from vitrified specimens to a 3D negative stain reference model using FREALIGN largely eliminated artifacts in the resulting 3D maps, but not completely. Our results stress the need for critical evaluation of structures determined by single particle EM.
Basic fibroblast growth factor downregulates Bcl-2 and promotes apoptosis in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.

Abstract Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a mitogen and a survival factor in fibroblasts and endothelial cells. It acts as an angiogenesis factor in breast cancer, but paradoxically inhibits proliferation in several breast cancer cell lines. In this study, we investigated the effects of bFGF on the survival of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in order to determine if these effects were also opposite to those in fibroblasts. Incubation of NIH 3T3 cells with bFGF for 24 h caused an approximately 30% increase in day 12 ± 2 adherent colonies while causing an approximately 50% decrease in MCF-7 colony formation. Incubation of NIH 3T3 cells with bFGF prior to etoposide or 5-fluorouracil treatment caused a proportionally smaller decrease in colony forming efficiency as a result of drug treatment, while preincubation of MCF-7 cells with bFGF caused a similar but opposite additive increase in drug-induced diminution of colony forming efficiency. These effects on MCF-7 cells were observed at variable times of incubation and doses of etoposide to 1 μM and 5-fluorouracil to 200 μM and at variable times of incubation and concentrations of bFGF to 1 ng/ml. Incubating with bFGF after drug exposure had similar effects on the reduction of cloning efficiency. The effects of bFGF were similar on programmed cell death, as determined by morphologic characteristics of apoptosis on 400 cell counts and FITC-dUTP 3′-OH DNA end labeling. Basic FGF promoted apoptosis and increased the rate of drug-induced cell death with both etoposide and 5-fluorouracil. While recombinant bFGF affected Bcl-2 protein and mRNA levels in NIH 3T3 cells only marginally and variably and had no discernible effects on Bax protein levels, it markedly downregulated Bcl-2 mRNA and protein levels in MCF-7 cells and caused an increase in Bax protein levels. These changes resulted in a decreased association of Bcl-2 with immunoprecipitable Bax and an increased association of Bax with immunoprecipitable Bcl-2 in MCF-7 cells treated with bFGF. These data suggest that bFGF may cause different phenotypic responses in breast cancer cells from those in surrounding cells and offer one possible mechanism through opposite regulation of Bcl-2 and Bax. Inhibition of colony formation by bFGF was observed in several breast cancer cells lines, demonstrating that this effect demonstrated in MCF-7 cells was more universal.
A comparative evaluation of a new generation jail

This study reports findings from an evaluation of a new generation jail in a large southwestern state. The jail is one component of a complex containing a traditional jail, an indirect supervision facility (barracks), and the new generation jail. Using survey and operational data, we compare the new generation jail to the other two facilities. The findings provide generally positive support for the effectiveness of the new generation jail. Inmates and staff were much more satisfied with the physical facilities. Staff perceived it as more secure, though they reported only limited advantages in safety and security. Violence and disciplinary problems were substantially lower. However, no savings in staffing levels were noted, nor were there differences in job satisfaction for staff in the new generation jail. We discuss the implications of the findings and suggest additional directions for jail evaluations.
Finitely Generated Modules over Pullback Rings

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to outline a new approach to the classification of finitely generated indecomposable modules over certain kinds of pullback rings. If R is the pullback of two hereditary noetherian homogeneously serial rings, finitely generated over their centers, over a common semi-simple artinian ring, then this classification can be divided into the classification of indecomposable artinian modules and those modules over the coordinate rings with no non-trivial artinian submodules. The classification of the artinian modules can be reduced to the case of a finite dimensional algebra over a semi-simple ring. This approach is then used as the key step in the case where the coordinate rings are hereditary noetherian serial rings over a common quotient which is a matrix ring over a field, resulting in a complete module classification.
Highly diverse variable number tandem repeat loci in the E. coli O157:H7 and O55:H7 genomes for high-resolution molecular typing.

C. KEYS, S. KEMPER AND P. KEIM. 2005. Aim: Evaluation of the Escherichia coli genome for variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) loci in order to provide a subtyping tool with greater discrimination and more efficient capacity. Methods and Results: Twenty-nine putative VNTR loci were identified from the E. coli genomic sequence. Their variability was validated by characterizing the number of repeats at each locus in a set of 56 E. coli O157:H7/ HN and O55:H7 isolates. An optimized multiplex assay system was developed to facility high capacity analysis. Locus diversity values ranged from 0AE23 to 0AE95 while the number of alleles ranged from two to 29. This multiplelocus VNTR analysis (MLVA) data was used to describe genetic relationships among these isolates and was compared with PFGE (pulse field gel electrophoresis) data from a subset of the same strains. Genetic similarity values were highly correlated between the two approaches, through MLVA was capable of discrimination amongst closely related isolates when PFGE similar values were equal to 1AE0. Conclusions: Highly variable VNTR loci exist in the E. coli O157:H7 genome and are excellent estimators of genetic relationships, in particular for closely related isolates. Significance and Impact of the Study: Escherichia coli O157:H7 MLVA offers a complimentary analysis to the more traditional PFGE approach. Application of MLVA to an outbreak cluster could generate superior molecular epidemiology and result in a more effective public health response.
Molecular Cloning, Sequence, and Expression of Mouse Flavin-Containing Monooxygenases 1 and 5 (FMO1 and FMO5)

Full-length cDNA clones encoding FMO1 and FMO5 have been isolated from a library constructed with mRNA from the liver of a female CD-1 mouse. The derived sequence of FMO1 contains 2310 bases: 1596 in the coding region, 301 in the 5'-flanking region, and 413 in the 3'-flanking region. The sequence for FMO5 consists of 3168 bases; 1599 in the coding region, 812 in the 5'-flanking region, and 757 in the 3'-flanking region. The sequence of FMO1 encodes a protein of 532 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 59.9 kDa and shows 83.3% identity to human FMO1 and 83-94% identity to other FMO1 homologs. FMO5 encodes a protein of 533 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 60.0 kDa and 84.1% identity to human FMO5 and 83-84% identity to other FMO5 orthologs. Two GxGxxG putative pyrophosphate binding domains exist beginning at positions 9 and 191 for FMO1, and 10 and 192 for FMO5. Mouse FMO1 and FMO5 were expressed in E. coli and show similar mobility to the native proteins as determined by SDS-PAGE. The expressed FMO1 protein showed activity toward methimazole, and FMO5 was active toward noctylamine. In addition, FMO1 was shown to metabolize radiolabeled phorate, whereas FMO5 showed no activity toward phorate.
HOUSEHOLD AGGREGATION OF HYPERTENSION: REPORT OF A PRELIMINARY STUDY.

Abstract 1. 1. Blood pressure levels recorded in subjects living in the households of hypertensives and of controls were compared with the levels in the households of their first-degree relatives. 2. 2. Subjects in the households of the hypertensive propositi, first-degree relatives and other unrelated persons had higher blood pressure than comparable controls. First-degree relatives of hypertensive propositi living outside the households of the propositi also had higher pressures than controls but the unrelated persons living in their households did not have elevated pressures. 3. 3. These findings were interpreted as indications of the need for further study of the household aggregation of blood pressure.
Statistical mechanical refinement of protein structure prediction schemes: Cumulant expansion approach

We discuss how protein structure prediction schemes may be refined via a cumulant expansion approach using optimization criteria motivated by energy landscape ideas. The approach is advantageously combined with a free energy profile analysis based on multiple histogram sampling methods, which enables a quantitative assessment of the effects of refinement on the energy landscape to be made. The approach is widely applicable, but is illustrated here for a previously described prediction scheme intended for use in the absence of any known homology information. The relationship to previous optimization schemes is discussed.
Preference changes of adult outpatients for giving saliva, urine and blood for clinical testing after actual sample collection.

Abstract Purpose Patients' preferences of the type of sample collections for clinical testing are currently unknown. The aims of this study were: (1) to assess patients' preferences of three types of samples for clinical testing (saliva, urine and blood) both before and after collection and (2) to assess whether prior experiences with collection of saliva impacted patients responses. Methods Adult outpatients underwent collection of one sample each of saliva, urine and blood. Patients' perceptions of comfort, convenience and easiness were assessed in pre-collection and post-collection questionnaires. Results Post-collection, patients' endorsement of saliva as being the "most comfortable" and "most convenient" significantly declined (pre vs. post, 61.5% vs. 37.5% and 73.1% vs. 42.3%). However, saliva was still endorsed as the "most convenient" post-collection (compared to urine 33.7% and blood 24.0%). Although not statistically significant, the proportion of patients who changed their response in terms of what sample was "easiest to collect at home" was considerably higher in the group with vs. without prior experience giving saliva (54.6% vs. 32.6%, p =0.19 Fisher's exact test). Conclusions Overall, saliva remained as the most highly preferred sample to donate despite a decline in patients' preferences of saliva donation after sample collection. The results of the study are promising for future widespread patient acceptance of saliva as a diagnostic fluid.
Polymorphonuclear leukocyte motility in vitro: IV. Colchicine inhibition of chemotactic activity formation after phagocytosis of urate crystals.

Phagocytosis of urate crystals by polymorphynuclear leukocytes has previously been reported to be associated with the generation of a substance chemotactic for distant polymorphonuclear leukocytes. In the present studies, the chemotactic substance was not dialyzable and was not found after freeze-thawing normal cells. It was detectable approximately 11 min after crystals were added to polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and the amount generated was proportional to the phagocytosis of crystals. Colchicine suppressed the generation of this chemotactic substance.
NEUROFIBROMATOSIS II (ACOUSTIC NEUROMA-MENINGIOMA)

Neurofibromatosis (NF) has been categorized as type I (von Recklinghausen) or type II (formerly “Central NF”), and other categories have been proposed (III-VII). Our investigations concern a large kindred with NF II that spans 7 generations and includes over 300 members. Affected individuals do not fulfill the diagnostic criteria of NF I. Their symptoms and signs are direct byproducts of the emergence of nervous system neoplasia. Clinical and histologic data from 28 patients (14 males, 14 females) indicate that the most prevalent neoplasms are acoustic neuromas (AN) (15 cases) followed by meningiomas (MEN) (8 cases) and ependymomas (2 cases). MEN, if present, are diagnosed during puberty or shortly after (earliest onset 16 years) and tend to be multiple. Individuals developing symptoms later (latest onset 6th decade) tend to be free of MEN, and instead develop AN which most often are bilateral. None of the affected developed optic glioma or pheochromocytoma. Molecular studies of MEN and AN tissue were indicative of a loss of genes on chromosome 22 (Seizinger et al, 1986), a strong clue to the chromosomal location of the defect. Molecular studies of this kindred by the same investigators are in process to determine whether the NP II gene is on chromosome 22.
Understanding design skills of the Generation Y: An exploration through the VR-KiDS project

As university instructors prepare to teach the current generation (Generation Y), a dire need exists to continue learning and acquiring effective tools in teaching design to reach a different generation, since most instructors grew up in the Baby Boomer Generation and the Generation X cultures. The Virtual Reality for Kids interested in Design Studies (VR-KiDS) project is an exploratory study to understand design skills of Generation Y within a digital environment, specifically virtual reality. Using the Second Life interface and the multiple intelligence frame work students between the ages of 11 and 16 participated in the design of a virtual zoo. The project outlines the conception, application and evaluation of design skills within this interface.
Applying philosophical inquiry: Bringing future engineering education researchers into the Philosophy of Engineering Education

An ability to apply philosophical inquiry to both create and critique arguments about the current and future state of engineering education is a critical capability for future engineering educators to develop. However, there are few, if any, examples of how to do this. In this paper we describe a course that we have been offering for four years at Purdue University, History and Philosophy of Engineering Education, as an example of how to address this gap. We describe the learning objectives, conceptual frameworks used, learning and assessment activities, and examples of course assessments that illustrate learning outcomes.
Experimental methanol toxicity in the primate: Analysis of metabolic acidosis

Abstract Methanol was administered to rats, rhesus monkeys ( Macaca mulatta ), and pigtail monkeys ( Macaca nemestrina ). Of these animals, only the pigtail monkey reliably developed a severe metabolic organic acidosis resembling that observed in humans. Blood and urine specimens drawn from methanol-treated pigtail monkeys were analyzed for organic acid content by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy and specific assays were performed for formate. The anion gap resulting during methanol acidosis was accounted for in full by increased blood concentrations of formate. Systemic formate concentrations remained low in rats and monkeys which failed to become acidotic following methanol administration.
The Barbary macaque in North Africa.

Destruction of the native forests is the chief reason for the decline of the Barbary macaque Macaca sylvanus in Morocco and Algeria, its last wild refuges. (This is the monkey that occurs in a semi-wild state on Gibraltar.) The wild populations now are mostly small and widely separated, and the few that are in protected areas are unfortunately not the most viable. The author spent 15 months on a behavioral study of the macaque in Morocco in 1973–74, and three months on a survey in both countries, partly aided by an FPS Oryx 100% Fund grant. After his report, which underlines the urgency of protecting some of the Middle Atlas cedar forests, was presented the Moroccan Government inivited him to advise them on wildlife management and conservation programmes, including the development of national parks.
Lymph node status in inflammatory breast cancer

Positive lymph node status in breast cancer is known to be an adverse prognostic factor, but the effect of lymph node (LN) status in inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) has not been evaluated. This study was designed to investigate the association between lymph node status and overall survival (OS) in individuals with IBC. Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 18 registry, we collected data on 761 patients diagnosed with non-metastatic IBC from 2004 to 2008. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan–Meier method. Cox proportional hazard regression was performed to evaluate univariate and multivariate associations between estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER/PR) status, treatment, and OS. Positive nodal status was associated with a significant decrease in OS (p < 0.001). Five-year survival for LN-positive and LN-negative patients was 49 and 66 %, respectively. In node-positive patients, ER or PR positivity was associated with improved OS, (p = 0.025, p = 0.007). In node-positive patients, the combination of surgery and radiation therapy improved OS when compared with surgery alone (p = 0.002). Nearly 80 % of the patients in this study had nodal metastasis. Positive nodal status was found to be an adverse prognostic factor. ER/PR positivity and treatment with surgery and radiation in node-positive patients was found to improve outcomes. Further studies are required to characterize the biology of IBC and guide the optimal treatment of this disease.
Low-Cost One-Port Approach for Testing Integrated RF Substrates

Low-cost testing of integrated RF substrates is necessary to reduce their production cost. In this paper a new low-cost test approach is proposed for testing an integrated RF substrate with embedded RF passive filters. As compared to a conventional test method the proposed test method reduces the test-setup cost by around 40%. The proposed method enables testing of embedded RF filters by one-port measurement. Also, this method does not require a vector network analyzer and allows testing of these embedded RF circuits without any external test stimulus. Hence, this method brings about a significant reduction in the test cost. The proposed method uses a shift in the oscillation frequency of the test setup for testing embedded filters, but it does not require reconfiguration or conversion of filters into an oscillator as it is done in conventional oscillation-based test methods. The core principle of the method is to include embedded passive filters through one-port substrate surface probe into an external RF oscillator, located on the probe card. Such one-port probing causes a shift in the oscillation frequency of the oscillator because of the loading from the RF filter. The failures in the RF filter are detected by monitoring the shift in the oscillation frequency of the RF oscillator. The test method is demonstrated with both simulations and measurements. Also, wafer-level testing of an integrated RF substrate is illustrated.
Evidence for the production of compound nuclei with atomic number 110

Abstract Using a two-dimensional pulse-height analyzer in conjunction with a coincidence technique, we have measured angular correlation functions for coincident fragment pairs, the fission excitation function, and the most probable kinetic energy release for binary fission in the bombardment of 238 U with 40 Ar from the Berkeley HILAC. Evidence is presented that compound nuclei of Z = 110 are produced in these reactions.
Determining the effectiveness of the pentavalent rotavirus vaccine against rotavirus hospitalizations and emergency department visits using two study designs

The objective of this study is to determine the vaccine effectiveness (VE) of the pentavalent rotavirus vaccine (RV5) for preventing rotavirus-related hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits during the 2006–07 and 2007–08 rotavirus seasons using two study designs. Active, prospective population-based surveillance was conducted to identify cases of laboratory-confirmed rotavirus-related hospitalizations and ED visits to be used in case-cohort and case-control designs. VE was calculated using one comparison group for the case-cohort method and two comparison groups for the case-control method. The VE estimates produced by the three analyses were similar. Three doses of RV5 were effective for preventing rotavirus-related hospitalizations and ED visits in each analysis, with VE estimated as 92% in all three analyses. Two doses of RV5 were also effective, with VE ranging from 79% to 83%. A single dose was effective in the case-cohort analysis, but was not significant in either of the case-control analyses. The case-cohort and the case-control study designs produced the same VE point estimates for completion of the three dose series. Two and three doses of RV5 were effective in preventing rotavirus-related hospitalizations and ED visits.
Functional Consequences of the Oligomeric Assembly of Proteorhodopsin

The plasma membrane is the crucial interface between the cell and its exterior, packed with embedded proteins experiencing simultaneous protein-protein and protein-membrane interactions. A prominent example of cell membrane complexity is the assembly of transmembrane proteins into oligomeric structures, with potential functional consequences that are not well understood. From the study of proteorhodopsin (PR), a prototypical seven-transmembrane light-driven bacterial proton pump, we find evidence that the inter-protein interaction modulated by self-association yields functional changes observable from the protein interior. We also demonstrate that the oligomer is likely a physiologically relevant form of PR, as crosslinking of recombinantly expressed PR reveals an oligomeric population within the Escherichia coli membrane (putatively hexameric). Upon chromatographic isolation of oligomeric and monomeric PR in surfactant micelles, the oligomer exhibits distinctly different optical absorption properties from monomeric PR, as reflected in a prominent decrease in the pKa of the primary proton acceptor residue (D97) and slowing of the light-driven conformational change. These functional effects are predominantly determined by specific PR-PR contacts over nonspecific surfactant interactions. Interestingly, varying the surfactant type alters the population of oligomeric states and the proximity of proteins within an oligomer, as determined by sparse electron paramagnetic resonance distance measurements. Nevertheless, the dynamic surfactant environment retains the key function-tuning property exerted by oligomeric contacts. A potentially general design principle for transmembrane protein function emerges from this work, one that hinges on specific oligomeric contacts that can be modulated by protein expression or membrane composition.
Upper and lower bounds for solutions to the transport equation

The collocation method and a maximum principle are used to generate pointwise, improvable upper and lower bounds for solutions of the transport equation. This new method of analysis is applicable to the unsteady state transport equation with a specified velocity field as well as to other problems which have a maximum principle. An application to unsteady state transfer to a fluid in ideal stagnation flow illustrates the method.
Struggles With Clinical Translation of Immune Intervention Trials

Immune intervention trials in type 1 diabetes have shown very mixed, and often surprising, results. Despite suggestions of benefit from GAD-Alum vaccine in a phase 2 study (1), further studies, including two large phase 3 trials, showed no effect (2–4). Phase 3 trials with Anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies failed to achieve their primary outcome (5–7), despite very promising results from multiple phase 2 trials (8–13). The conflicting Anti-CD3 data may be explained by unfortunate changes in design (5) or dose (6,7) in phase 3 (14). Many immunologic strategies have been tested in phase 2 trials, some with signs of benefit, such as rituximab (15) and abatacept (16); others without benefit, such as mycophenolate mofetil with or without daclizumab (17) or anti-interleukin 1 blockade with either canakinumab or anakinra (18); and others with ambiguous effects, such as thymoglobulin (19) or alefacept (20). In this issue, there are two articles describing results from the phase 3 Efficacy Study of DiaPep277 in Newly Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes Patients (DIA-AID 1) trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of a 24 amino acid peptide derived from heat shock protein 60, called DiaPep277 (21,22). According to Raz et al. (21) and Pozzilli et al. (22), it appears as if the study demonstrated a beneficial effect, and if so, that would be a very exciting finding. Yet, as outlined below, there are several aspects of the study that make that conclusion less certain. This commentary examines the studies and explores some clinically relevant issues readers may want to consider when interpreting the data from the trial. The principal measure of efficacy in immune intervention trials in type 1 diabetes is preservation of C-peptide as an index of β-cell …
What Do Young Children Know about Objects

Abstract Young children's knowledge of the practical use of objects was used to investigate whether children's actions indicate their understanding of the functional use of objects independent of their ability to verbally describe the appearance, reality, or function of the objects. Thirty-six children (12 two-year-olds, 12 three-year-olds, and 12 four-year-olds) were presented with six object pairs, each pair containing objects similar in appearance but different in identity and function. Object pairs included illusory objects, toys, and pictures. Children were asked to describe the appearance, the real identity, and the function of each object, as well as show, using additional props, how the objects could be used. Four-year-olds were better at reporting the identity and describing the function of the objects than the 2- and 3-year-olds, but all the children performed similarly and significantly better when asked to describe the appearance and display the function of the objects. Analysis of error patterns on the appearance-reality questions (considered together) regarding the deceptive items in the object pairs showed that with age children made fewer phenomenism errors. However, the majority of children of all three ages who made phenomenism errors were nevertheless able to show the function of the same objects. The findings are discussed in relation to research on the development of object knowledge and children's ability to distinguish appearance and reality.
Galvanic deposition of Pt clusters on silicon: effect of HF concentration and application as catalyst for silicon nanowire growth.

We report on the galvanic deposition of Pt on Si from solutions containing PtCl2 and different concentrations of HF. The results show that for low [HF]/[Pt] ratios (≤26), only a thin layer of PtSi is formed. The deposition rate of Pt increases with [HF] in the plating solution, up to [HF]/[Pt] ∼ 530; after this ratio, the morphology of the Pt film changes: larger clusters are formed, which cover the Si substrate less densely. Detailed atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses show that the deposited Pt layers do not completely cover the Si substrate. The Pt and PtSi films formed are able to catalyze the formation of Si nanowires (Si NWs) arrays formed via vapor−liquid−solid (VLS) process. By changing the immersion time in the Pt plating solution, Si NWs arrays with different density, diameter, and orientation are obtained.
Uptake of peptides containing Tyr-Pro by human and mouse erythrocytes

Red blood cells (RBCs) harvested from mice were used to investigate the possible existence of an uptake system for peptides in these cells. The radioactively iodinated tetrapeptide Tyr-MIF-1 (Tyr-Pro-Leu-Gly-amide) was incubated with RBCs for varying lengths of time with or without inhibitors. The RBCs showed saturable uptake that could be inhibited by Tyr-Pro containing peptides. Uptake was also found in human RBCs, but was more robust in the mouse. Uptake by mouse RBCs was temperature dependent and magnesium sensitive but did not require sodium, potassium, or glucose. With the exception of some enkephalin- and dynorphin-related peptides that partially inhibited uptake, most substances tested were without effect. The results of HPLC showed internalization of the N-Tyr-Pro containing peptides, with accumulation of degradation products over time. The degradation products, however, did not inhibit transport, suggesting that peptides were transported intact into the RBCs with degradation occurring after internalization. This suggestion was strengthened by the finding that only the cytosol of the RBC, not its membranes, rapidly degraded Tyr-MIF-1 to free iodine and iodotyrosine. Nevertheless, the cytosol contained a large amount of immunoreactive material that eluted at the position of intact Tyr-MIF-1 on HPLC. These findings show that RBCs can take up, store, and degrade Tyr-Pro containing peptides.
Effects of short-day photoperiods and of N-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)-5-methoxytryptamine, a putative melatonin antagonist, on melatonin synthesis in the Harderian gland of the Syrian hamster, Mesocricetus auratus.

The Harderian glands of Syrian hamsters contain melatonin and the enzymes N-acetyltransferase (NAT) and hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT) which synthesize melatonin from serotonin. Because the Harderian glands share this metabolic pathway with the pineal gland, we examined the effects of short-day photoperiods, which stimulate pineal-mediated gonadal regression, and N-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)-5-methoxytryptamine (ML-23), which has been described as a melatonin antagonist, on melatonin synthesis in the Harderian glands of the hamster. Harderian glands of male hamsters kept in short days had reduced NAT activity and melatonin concentration, but HIOMT activity was unchanged from that of longday controls. In males kept in short days, ML-23 restored melatonin concentrations to levels seen in long days but did not affect the short-day induced reduction in NAT activity. ML-23 had no effect upon NAT or HIOMT activity or melatonin concentration in male hamsters kept on long days. Harderian glands of female hamsters kept on short days had reduced melatonin concentrations, but NAT and HIOMT activities similar to those of long-day controls. ML-23 had no effect on Harderian NAT or HIOMT activities or melatonin concentration in females kept in short days. However, in females kept in long days, ML-23 treatment led to increased NAT activity and decreased melatonin concentrations. We conclude from these results that short-day photoperiods alter some aspects of melatonin synthesis in hamster Harderian glands and that these effects differ in males and females. ML-23 does not usually prevent the effects of short days on Harderian melatonin synthesis, suggesting that it is not a melatonin antagonist in the Syrian hamster.
Generational Replacement and Value Change in Eight West European Societies

Surveys sponsored by the Commission of the European Communities are employed to study value change in West Germany, Britain, the Netherlands, France, Belgium and Italy between 1970–71 and 1990 and in Denmark and Ireland between 1973 and 1990. During these years generational replacement had a major impact on value trends in all eight societies. In Germany, Britain, the Netherlands and Denmark generational replacement contributed to the growth of Postmaterialism, and in France, Italy and Ireland replacement was the major force creating the trend towards Postmaterialism. Even in Belgium, where there was only a slight move towards Postmaterialism, replacement may have prevented a movement towards Materialism. For the European public as a whole, replacement contributed to the growth of Postmaterialism. However, the impact of replacement is likely to be smaller in the coming two decades because relatively low birth rates during the late 1970s and the 1980s will contribute to lower rates of generational replacement.
Comparison of Student Performance in Cooperative Learning and Traditional Lecture-Based Biochemistry Classes.

Student performance in two different introductory biochemistry curricula are compared based on standardized testing of student content knowledge, problem-solving skills, and student opinions about the courses. One curriculum was used in four traditional, lecture-based classes (n = 381 students), whereas the second curriculum was used in two cooperative learning classes (n = 39 students). Students in the cooperative learning classes not only performed at a level above their peers in standardized testing of content knowledge and in critical thinking and problem-solving tasks (p < 0.05), but they also were more positive about their learning experience. The testing data are in contrast to much of the medical school literature on the performance of students in problem-based learning (PBL) curricula, which shows little effect of the curricular format on student exam scores. The reason for the improvement is undoubtedly multifactorial. We argue that the enhancement of student performance in this study is related to: 1) the use of peer educational assistants, 2) an authentic PBL format, and 3) the application of a multicontextual learning environment in the curricular design. Though educationally successful, the cooperative learning classes as described in this study were too resource intensive to continue; however, we are exploring incorporation of some of the "high context" aspects of the small-group interactions into our current lecture-based course with the addition of on-line PBL cases.
Improving the management of patients after myocardial infarction, from admission to discharge.

Abstract Background: Recent developments in pharmacologic and device therapy, as well as initiatives to increase the use of standard orders and promote inhospital communication, have improved the care of patients with myocardial infarction (MI). The increased presence of hospitalists, physicians who provide in-hospital care as a specialty, promises to provide further improvements. Objective: This article reviews current information on evidence-based care of the hospitalized MI patient, with a particular emphasis on identifying left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) and appropriate treatments. Methods: MEDLINE was searched for all largescale clinical trials providing information on the care of post-MI patients with or without LVD and/or heart failure (HF), with no limit on time period. The search terms were post-myocardial infarction, large-scale, randomized, clinical trial, left ventricular dysfunction, and/or heart failure . All trials investigating therapies currently recommended in the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association ST elevation MI (ACC/AHA STEMI) guidelines and including post-MI patients with or without LVD and/or HF, as indicated by signs and symptoms of HF or Killip class, were included. Results: In the acute setting, the ACC/AHA STEMI guidelines recommend the use of aspirin, clopidogrel, β-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, heparin (low molecular weight or unfractionated), and glycoprotein IIb1IIIa inhibitors (if the patient is undergoing a percutaneous coronary intervention). The guidelines recommend use of aldosterone antagonists and statins at discharge, in addition to continuation of all acute therapies. The ACC/AHA guidelines apply to all patients after MI and do not specify whether the recommended therapies are effective in post-MI patients with LVD or HE Reviewing the trials that included post-MI patients with LVD and/or HF, it appears that in some cases, only certain agents within a class have been evaluated (eg, post-MI β-blocker trials often excluded patients with LVD, and the efficacy of atenolol has not been evaluated in post-MI patients with LVD or HF), and some agents have not shown as much efficacy as others in this high-risk patient population (eg, metoprolol appeared to be associated with poorer outcomes in this population than carvedilol). Rather than recommending an entire class, hospital care maps and critical-care pathway tools should incorporate the use of evidence-based agents. Conclusions: The use of evidence-based care in the hospital has the potential to substantially reduce morbidity and mortality in post-MI patients with LVD and/or HE The hospitalist can facilitate the best practices and best care of the post-MI patient through the use of in-hospital critical-care pathway tools.