cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SAT0584 POORER OUTCOMES AND HIGHER HEALTHCARE UTILIZATION AFTER TOTAL HIP ARTHROPLASTY IN PATIENTS WITH LUPUS

Background: Hip osteonecrosis and hip osteoarthritis are common causes of severe hip disease in lupus (1), both treated successfully with a total hip arthroplasty (THA). A recent systematic review of arthroplasty outcomes reported that the risk of overall complications post-THA was higher than in patients with lupus compared to those without lupus (2). However, no analyses were provided for specific outcomes such as infection, revision or associated health care utilization. Objectives: To assess the risk of specific post-THA outcomes, i.e., infection, transfusion, revision and mortality and associated health care utilization, associated with lupus. Methods: We used the 1998-2014 U.S. National Inpatient Sample data. Multivariable-adjusted separate Cox proportional hazard regression models assessed the association of lupus with post-operative complications (infection, transfusion, THA revision and mortality) and health care utilization outcomes (total hospital charges, discharge to inpatient facility, length of hospital stay) post-THA, adjusting for demographics, underlying diagnosis, comorbidity, insurance payer, and hospital characteristics, using hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Among 4,116,485 primary THA hospitalizations, 22,557 (0.5%) were in lupus patients. Patients with lupus were younger, more likely to be female, African-American or Hispanic and, have higher comorbidity, Medicaid insurance payer, lower income, or living in the South. In multivariable-adjusted analyses, lupus was associated with a significantly higher risk of infection, transfusion, hospital charges above the median ($37,658) and discharge to inpatient facility, with respective HRs of 1.95 (95% CI, 1.28, 2.97), 1.34 (95% CI, 1.25, 1.43), 1.21 (95% CI, 1.01, 1.44) and 1.38 (95% CI, 1.30, 1.47). Lupus was not significantly associated with the risk of revision, mortality or hospital stay above the median (>3 days), the HRs were 1.10 (95% CI, 0.68, 1.78) and 0.95 (95% CI, 0.61, 1.47) and 1.06 (95% CI, 0.99, 1.13). Conclusion: Lupus was associated with a higher risk of infection and transfusion and higher hospital charges post-primary THA. Insight into modifiable factors associated with these outcomes may improve outcomes in lupus patients undergoing THA. References [1] Mertelsmann-Voss C, Lyman S, Pan TJ, Goodman S, Figgie MP, Mandl LA. Arthroplasty rates are increased among US patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: 1991-2005. J Rheumatol2014;41:867-74. [2] Kennedy JW, Khan W. Total Hip Arthroplasty in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Systematic Review. Int J Rheumatol2015;2015:475489. Acknowledgement: None Disclosure of Interests: jasvinder singh Shareholder of: Amarin pharmaceuticals and Viking therapeutics, Consultant for: Crealta/Horizon, Fidia, UBM LLC, Medscape, WebMD, the National Institutes of Health and the American College of Rheumatology, John Cleveland: None declared
Too Busy to Mind the Business? Monitoring by Directors with Multiple Board Appointments

We examine the number of external appointments held by corporate directors. Directors who serve larger firms and sit on larger boards are more likely to attract directorships. Consistent with Fama and Jensen (1983), we find that firm performance has a positive effect on the number of appointments held by a director. We find no evidence that multiple directors shirk their responsibilities to serve on board committees. We do not find that multiple directors are associated with a greater likelihood of securities fraud litigation. We conclude that the evidence does not support calls for limits on directorships held by an individual. INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDER ACTIVISTS criticize firms for appointing directors who hold directorships in multiple companies, contending that such directors are incapable of effectively monitoring the management of so many firms. Informed observers such as ChancellorWilliam Allen (1992) of the Delaware Court of Chancery argue that "effective monitoring requires a commitment of time and resources ... The demands of the position, if properly understood, are inconsistent in my opinion, with service on an impressively long list of boards (p. 457)" Corporate governance activists echo these criticisms and propose specific limits to deal with the perceived problem. The Council of Institutional Investors (1998) argues that in the absence of unusual and highly specific circumstances, directors with full-time jobs should not serve on more than two other boards. The National Association of Corporate Directors (1996) is more lenient, suggesting that directors with full-time positions should not serve on more than three or four other boards. The Business Roundtable (1997), by contrast, believes that limits on the number of directorships are ill advised. Directors themselves disagree over the issue of multiple directorships. The most commonly shared complaint among directors, according to Lipton and
EQ Questionnaire for Children 2-7

According to evidence, developing an appropriate tool for measuring and evaluating human traits has always occupied human mind. Also, regarding the importance of childhood and its impact on emotional growth, a more precise look at the early growth period is required. Evidences show, this is not possible unless the accessibility to reliable and valid tools, capable of measuring and evaluating these traits, is provided. Considering the time-consuming process of measuring children's emotional skills by available tools, and verbal-design of some of them that requires more active involvement from the examiner, this study intended to build a shorter fully-pictorial questionnaire to evaluate children in a more real and appropriate situation to make a more reliable assessment.
Financial Hardship and Psychological Resilience during COVID-19: Differences by Race/Ethnicity.

OBJECTIVES: Research on the impact of COVID-19 among older adults has primarily focused on relatively acute virus outcomes, but it is likely financial hardships during this time have eroded the adaptive capacity of older adults. It is also possible these impacts vary by race and ethnicity. We examine changes in psychological resilience (PR) among older adults before and during the pandemic to determine whether financial hardships and other stressors have altered this resource for White, Black, and Hispanic older adults. METHOD: Using the COVID module released by the HRS (n=735), we examined changes in PR between 2016 and 2020 related to financial hardships during COVID. We tested interactions to determine whether the effects were patterned by race and ethnicity. RESULTS: Consistent with previous literature, resilience was relatively stable during this time on average. Financial hardship during COVID-19 diminished resilience, but this effect was concentrated primarily among White Americans. DISCUSSION: The results suggest that PR is a relatively stable resource in later life, even during the pandemic. However, this resource may be impacted in the face of specific challenges in later life. Policies related to financial hardship during the pandemic should be seen as supporting the capacity for older adults to adapt to current as well as future challenges.
Delay discounting and health risk behaviors: the potential role of stress

This article explores recent research in delay discounting, stress and the relationship of these constructs with health risk behaviors. Recent findings have confirmed that both delay discounting and stress are important correlates of risky health behaviors and have advanced our understanding of the relationship between discounting and stress and their role as processes related to the initiation and maintenance of risky health behaviors. An integration of the available research literature suggests that when individuals are under stress, they shift to a more immediate-oriented mindset (as reflected by more impulsive delay discounting), the immediate motivation being to relieve stress, and so individuals engage in maladaptive coping mechanisms, such as engaging in risky health behaviors. Establishing linkages between stress, delay discounting, and risky health behaviors could provide a more specific mechanism (i.e., delay discounting) on which to focus prevention and intervention strategies.
The relationship of medical specialization (obstetricians and general practitioners) to complications in pregnancy and delivery, birth injury, and malformation

Abstract In this paper, census data were used to assess the effectiveness in birth delivery of obstetricians and general practitioners. Although the data reported require some qualification and additional research, preliminary results indicate that general practitioners report approximately three times more birth injuries and/or malformations (than do obstetricians) at birth. Both groups (obstetricians and general practitioners) report approximately the same number of complications in pregnancy and delivery. It was tentatively concluded that the similarity in diagnosed complications was probably due to diagnostic error. This error, in combination with sample differences and differing delivery techniques, resulted in the consequent differences in rates of birth injury and malformation.
Desired competencies and job duties of non‐profit CEOs in relation to the current challenges: Through the lens of CEOs' job advertisements

Purpose – Aims to focus on non‐profit leadership and use information from advertised job announcements, in the USA, of non‐profit CEO positions to identify required competencies and job duties. The objective is to assess their relevancy and adequacy in dealing with the current challenges of the sector.Design/methodology/approach – Uses content analysis to analyze CEO job advertisements that were posted in The Nonprofit Times during the 1999‐2004‐time period.Findings – Among those who list educational requirement, a predominant majority requires degree in academic areas related to the non‐profit sector. The bias to emulate the private sector's competencies, a source of the identity crisis of this sector, is not found in the educational requirement. Fundraising experience is the most common area of requirement under experiences. Fundraising is also listed as the major job duty.Research limitations/implications – The sizes and life cycle stages of the non‐profit agencies are not incorporated. Future research...
HOW THE MISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE WAS REORIENTED TOWARD RESEARCH-CIRCA 1968-1975*

When I joined the Political Science faculty at the University of Oklahoma in the Fall of 1968, I became a minor participant in a broad process of social change that was to alter the face of American higher education over the next two or more decades. An important example of successful bureaucratic mission change is the one that occurred during the decades of the 1960s, the 1970s, and the 1980s on the campuses of most state universities. At different times, administrators and some faculty began to attempt to move their institutions' missions from emphasizing undergraduate teaching to emphasizing research and its associated enterprises of graduate teaching and grant getting.
Response properties of the glossopharyngeal taste system of the mud puppy (Necturus maculosus)

The general properties of the glossopharyngeal taste system of the mud puppy,Necturus maculosus, were determined using standard electrophysiological recording techniques. Electrical activity from the whole nerve was quantified by an electronic integrator. The tongue was stimulated with diverse stimuli over an extended range of concentrations: the electrolytes, NaCl, KCl, CaCl2, CsCl, LiCl, and NH4C1; the amino acids, L-alanine, DL-alanine, and glycine; and stimuli representing the four basic taste qualities in humans, HCl (sour), quinine hydrochloride (bitter), sucrose (sweet), and NaCl (salty). The response pattern to all stimuli was identical: a phasic increase in activity which adapted nearly to baseline within 10 s (Fig. 4A), a response which was directly related to stimulus concentration (Fig. 4B). HCl was the most effective stimulus tested, whereas CsCl and sucrose were the least (Figs. 4, 6), However, the stimulus-response (SR) function for L-alanine suggested that saturation was reached and that threshold was far below 0.001 mol/l, the lowest concentration tested (Fig. 5B).
Evaluation of a recombinant human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) p21E antibody detection enzyme immunoassay as a supplementary test in HTLV-I/II antibody testing algorithms

To evaluate the usefulness of a human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) recombinant p21E immunoassay as a supplementary test in HTLV-I/II serologic testing algorithms, we used this assay to test 378 serum samples previously categorized as positive, indeterminant, or negative for HTLV-I/II antibody, as defined by U.S. Public Health Service guidelines. We found this test to be highly sensitive for detecting antibody to HTLV-I/II env (99.4%) but slightly less specific (96.0%), particularly among samples from intravenous drug users. Our data suggest that this test is most appropriately used to confirm the absence of env antibody in samples which are repeatably reactive in an HTLV-I/II screening assay and gag reactive only by immunoblotting. Because of the high sensitivity of this recombinant p21E test, a negative result in this context could preclude radioimmunoprecipitation testing. However, pending further evaluation of the specificity of this assay, samples testing positive for p21 env antibody may require confirmation by radioimmunoprecipitation, particularly in situations in which the results will be used for diagnostic purposes or blood donor counseling.
A Method for Making Elastic Metal Interconnects

Stretchable, elastic metal interconnects are a key to the fabrication of 3-D conformal circuits and electrotextiles. The basic concept for reversibly stretchable, elastic metallization is a corrugated stripe of thin-film metal that is expanded by stretching. The maximum elongation is reached when the stripe is stretched flat. We prepared wavy metal stripes by evaporating gold onto pre-stretched strips of the elastomer, poly-dimethyl siloxane (PDMS). We experimented with gold metal line width and thickness and substrate elongation. We measured the film structure, amplitude, and wavelength, as well as electrical resistance in relaxed and various stretched states. So far we have reached elastic strains of 15% while maintaining the initial resistance and 80% with a rise in the resistance. We discovered a rich macroscopic and microscopic film morphology. Presented are the fabrication, electro-mechanical performance, and data on the film structure of these wavy metal interconnects.
Novel approaches to imaging basal cell carcinoma

The gold standard of diagnosis for nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancer has been skin biopsy with routine paraffin embedded hematoxylin and eosin histopathology. This practice is frequently carried out on suspicious lesions to rule out a malignant process. Therefore, as a result, many biopsies are done on benign lesions. Unlike other fields of medicine that rely on noninvasive imaging modalities, the use of imaging devices in dermatology has not been as robust. This has been mainly due to the limited resolution offered by imaging devices that is needed to detect malignant changes in the cutaneous layers. However, the demand for more efficient in vivo and ex vivo imaging tools to reduce the amount of biopsies have led to new areas of investigation using noninvasive modalities to augment the clinical diagnosis of skin cancer. The use of noninvasive imaging both in vivo and ex vivo has the potential to increase efficiency of diagnosis and management, decrease healthcare cost, improve clinical care and enhance patient satisfaction.
Nano-grained Net-Shaped Fabrication of Re Components by EB-PVD

Abstract Cost-effective net-shaped forming components have brought considerable interest into the Department of Defense, the National Aeronautics & Space Administration, and the Department of Energy. Electron beam–physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD) offers flexibility in forming net-shaped components with tailored microstructure and chemistry. High-purity rhenium components, including rhenium-coated graphite balls and rhenium plates and tubes, have been successfully manufactured by EB-PVD. EB-PVD rhenium components exhibited submicron and nano-size microstructure with high hardness and strength as compared with chemical vapor deposition (CVD). It is estimated that the cost of rhenium components manufactured by EB-PVD would be less than the current CVD and powder-high-temperature isostatic pressure technologies.
Studies on the kinetics of carbon tetrachloride chlorination of tantalum pentoxide

Studies on the kinetics of chlorination of tantalum pentoxide powder by carbon tetrachloride vapor in dilution with nitrogen have been carried out by weight-loss measurements in two temperature ranges, i.e., 698 to 773 K and 793 to 853 K. The effect of time, temperature, and partial pressure of CCl4\((P_{CCl_4 } )\) on the kinetics of chlorination of the powder Ta2O5, (−105+74 µm) has been investigated. In both the temperature ranges, the chlorination results have been found to fit the following relationship during the “initial periods:” $$ - \ln (1 - \alpha ) = k_1 t$$ where α is the fraction of the oxide reacted in time t and k1 is the rate constant. In the low- and high-temperature ranges, the activation-energy (E) values have been calculated and were found to be 145 and 71 kJ/mole, respectively. The k1 value was found to be proportional to PCCl41.5 in the lower-temperature range, while in the higher-temperature range, it was found to be proportional to PCCl40.9.
Centriole ciliation and cell cycle variability during G1 phase of BALB/c 3T3 Cells

Although variability in the duration of the cell cycle is thought to reflect growth-regulatory processes that control cell cycle progression, the precise timing of the variable period within the G1 phase of the cell cycle has not been defined. In particular, the timing of cell cycle variability in relation to the cell's commitment (R point) to the initiation of DNA synthesis remains controversial. In order to investigate cell cycle variability, indirect immunofluorescence was used to measure the formation of the primary cilium as a possible marker of G1 events in both stimulated quiescent and exponentially growing cells. The primary cilium, an internal "9 + 0" nonmotile structure formed by one of the interphase centrioles, was first detected in postmitotic BALB/c 3T3 cells 5 hr before the initiation of DNA synthesis, an interval similar to that for the reassembly of the primary cilium in serum-stimulated quiescent fibroblasts. This similarity in the timing of ciliation suggests that serum-stimulated quiescent cells reenter the cell cycle in early G1 and recapitulate much of G1. Moreover, the rate of cilia formation in both postmitotic and serum-stimulated quiescent cells was identical to the rate of DNA synthesis initiation. Thus, cell cycle variability occurs before ciliation in both stimulated quiescent and exponentially growing cells. Furthermore, since ciliation also precedes the R point, variability in the centriole cycle occurs before the R point and thus may reflect processes controlling the cell's commitment to the initiation of DNA synthesis.
A novel approach for approximate aggregations over arrays

Approximate aggregation has been a popular approach for interactive data analysis and decision making, especially on large-scale datasets. While there is clearly a need to apply this approach for scientific datasets comprising massive arrays, existing algorithms have largely been developed for relational data, and cannot handle both dimension-based and value-based predicates efficiently while maintaining accuracy. In this paper, we present a novel approach for approximate aggregations over array data, using bitmap indices or bitvectors as the summary structure, as they preserve both spatial and value distribution of the data. We develop approximate aggregation algorithms using only the bitvectors and certain additional pre-aggregation statistics (equivalent to a 1-dimensional histogram) that we require. Another key development is choosing a binning strategy that can improve aggregation accuracy -- we introduce a v-optimized binning strategy and its weighted extension, and present a bitmap construction algorithm with such binning. We compare our method with other existing methods including sampling and multi-dimensional histograms, as well as the use of other binning strategies with bitmaps. We demonstrate both high accuracy and efficiency of our approach. Specifically, we show that in most cases, our method is more accurate than other methods by at least one order of magnitude. Despite achieving much higher accuracy, our method can require significantly less storage than multi-dimensional histograms.
Managing a large lighting retrofit project

ABSTRACT The Berkeley Campus of the University of California has more than 100 buildings of varying age and function, comprising nearly 9 million square feet. The campus electrical bill has been continually climbing and is approximately $1 million/month. In 1986 funding was obtained from a State of California bond issue to embark upon a 6-year program to improve the energy efficiency of the lighting in around 60 state-supported buildings. We completed the $6 million project using a novel project management system, which has resulted in the successful installation of over 87,000 high-frequency ballasts, 16,000 optical reflectors in delamped luminaires, and many other energy-saving devices. This has resulted in a 25 percent to 40 percent decrease in lighting energy use. In order to maximize lighting energy efficiency, survey results must be used to individually analyze spaces and specify retrofits tailored to the requirements of the different spaces. This article describes our approach and methods.
Variation in protein and nitrate content of vegetative growth of winged beans.

Abstract The 68 winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) accessions evaluated showed considerable variability In protein and nitrate % and vigor of second year vegetative growth. Protein content of vegetative growth ranged from 11 to 32% with a mean of 22%. Nitrate content ranged from 0.01 to 1.02%. The 3 Psophocarpus scandens accessions evaluated tended to have about the same protein %, lower nitrate % and greater vegetative growth than P. tetragonolobus.
Calculation of electrostatic potentials in an enzyme active site

To be able to calculate the contributions of individual amino acids to the electrostatic field of a protein would be of considerable value in designing proteins of enhanced or altered function and stability. Recent studies on the serine protease subtilisin provide direct measurements of the electrostatic potential in the active site of the enzyme produced by two charged amino acids. We have used these results to test a recently developed method for the calculation of electrostatic interactions between two specific sites on a protein. The extent of agreement between the theoretical and experimental results suggests that the continuum solvent model used in the calculations reproduces the essential features of the interaction.
Treatment of ocular fungal infections with oral fluconazole.

Purpose We treated five patients who had ocular fungal infections with oral fluconazole to determine its safety and effectiveness. Methods We reviewed the case histories of the five patients. One patient had coccidioidomycosis and four had endogenous Candida endophthalmitis. Results The intraocular fungal infection resolved in all patients. Conclusion Fluconazole appears to be a safe and effective antifungal agent that can be administered orally and may be a useful agent for treating some intraocular fungal infections.
Protein targets of reactive electrophiles in human liver microsomes

Liver microsomes are widely used to study xenobiotic metabolism in vitro, and covalent binding to microsomal proteins serves as a surrogate marker for toxicity mediated by reactive metabolites. We have applied liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) to identify protein targets of the biotin-tagged model electrophiles 1-biotinamido-4-(4'-[maleimidoethylcyclohexane]-carboxamido)butane (BMCC) and N-iodoacetyl-N-biotinylhexylenediamine (IAB) in human liver microsomes. The biotin-tagged peptides resulting from in-gel tryptic digestion were enriched by biotin-avidin chromatography and LC-MS-MS was used to identify 376 microsomal cysteine thiol targets of BMCC and IAB in 263 proteins. Protein adduction was selective and reproducible, and only 90 specific cysteine sites in 70 proteins (approximately 25% of the total) were adducted by both electrophiles. Differences in adduction selectivity correlated with different biological effects of the compounds, as IAB- but not BMCC-induced ER stress in HEK293 cells. Targeted LC-MS-MS analysis of microsomal glutathione-S-transferase cysteine 50, a target of both IAB and BMCC, detected time-dependent adduction by the reactive acetaminophen metabolite N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine during microsomal incubations. The results indicate that electrophiles selectively adduct microsomal proteins, but display differing target selectivities that correlate with differences in toxicity. Analysis of selected microsomal protein adduction reactions thus could provide a more specific indication of potential toxicity than bulk covalent binding of radiolabeled compounds.
Observations on prismatic and grown-in dislocations in zone-melted molybdenum

Abstract Dislocation configurations in undeformed electron beam zone-melted single crystal molybdenum have been examined by thin-film electron transmission microscopy. In addition to a relatively uniform distribution of dislocations of density ∼5 × 106 cm−2, certain of the foils are characterized by (i) long grown-in dislocations stabilized by precipitates, (ii) rows of prismatic dislocation loops parallel to emanating from inclusions in the matrix. The loops are believed to be interstitial in nature, with a spacing consistent with the theory of Bullough and Newman (1960) and a critical resolved shear stress to move a loop ∼ 10−4 μ. Since the critical resolved shear stress of molybdenum at room temperature is 9 × 10−4 μ, it is concluded that the loops form, during cooling, at temperatures > 900°c. Observations made on crystals deformed in the temperature range 4•2—300°k show that the inclusions and immobile grown-in dislocation networks act as barriers to dislocation motion, and are the sites at whi...
Sampling of tissue volume by frequency-domain photon migration

Frequency-domain Monte Carlo simulations are performed to study how amplitude and phase measurements, at various frequencies and source-detector separations, can sample different tissue volumes. Homogeneous and heterogeneous tissues are investigated.
Comparative Safety and Tolerability of Anti-VEGF Therapy in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NVAMD) is one of the leading causes of blindness. Over the last decade, the treatment of NVAMD has been revolutionized by the development of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapies. Several anti-VEGF medications are used for the treatment of NVAMD. The safety and tolerability of these medications deserve review given the high prevalence of NVAMD and the significant utilization of these medications. Numerous large randomized clinical trials have not shown any definitive differential safety relative to ocular or systemic safety of these medications. Intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy does appear to impact systemic VEGF levels, but the implications of these changes remain unclear. One unique safety concern relates drug compounding and the potential risks of contamination, specifically for bevacizumab. Continued surveillance for systemic safety concerns, particularly for rare events, is merited. Overall, these medications are well tolerated and effective in the treatment of NVAMD.
Structural and dynamic characteristics of a partially folded state of ubiquitin revealed by hydrogen exchange mass spectrometry

Structural and dynamic properties of a partially folded conformation (A-state) of ubiquitin are studied using amide hydrogen exchange in solution (HDX) and mass spectrometric detection. A clear distinction between the native state of the protein and the A-state can be made when HDX is carried out in a semicorrelated regime. Convoluted exchange patterns are interpreted with the aid of HDX simulations in a three-state system (highly structured, partially unstructured, and fully unstructured states). The data clearly indicate a highly dynamic character of the non-native state. Furthermore, combination of HDX and protein ion fragmentation in the gas phase [by means of collision-induced dissociation (CAD)] is used to evaluate the conformational stability of various protein segments specifically in the molten globular state. Chain flexibility appears to be distributed very unevenly in this non-native conformation. The highest degree of structural disorder is displayed by the C-terminal segment (Gly53−Gly76), wh...
Quantum nondemolition measurements of single donor spins in semiconductors

We propose a technique for measuring the state of a single donor-electron spin using a field-effect transistor induced two-dimensional electron gas and electrically detected magnetic-resonance techniques. The scheme is facilitated by hyperfine coupling to the donor nucleus. We analyze the potential sensitivity and outline experimental requirements. Our measurement provides a single-shot, projective, and quantum nondemolition measurement of an electron-encoded qubit state.
Mutations in the SLURP-1 gene underlie Mal de Meleda in three Pakistani families.

Abstract Background Mal de Meleda (MDM) (MIM #248300) is an autosomal recessive palmoplantar keratoderma (PPK). It is characterized clinically by erythematous hyperkeratotic plaques over palms and soles that start early in life and progress later in life in a transgradiens form associated with pain, macerations, foul odor, pseudoainhum, brachydactyly, onychodystrophy and perioral erythema. Objective To look for SLURP-1 gene mutations in patients with MDM. Methods We collected peripheral blood samples from Pakistani family members affected with MDM and 100 population-matched unrelated healthy control individuals in EDTA-containing tubes. All exons of the SLURP-1 gene with adjacent sequences at exon–intron borders were amplified. The amplified PCR products were directly sequenced in an ABI Prism 310 Automated Sequencer. Screening assay, using the restriction enzyme HphI was performed. Results We determined three mutations in the SLURP-1 gene: one novel mutation, c.Ivs1 + 1G > A, and two recurrent mutations, p.R96X and p.G86R. Screening assays for the novel mutation excluded the possibility of polymorphism. In vivo transcription assays showed that the mutation c.Ivs1 + 1G > A leads to aberrant splicing events. Conclusion Our results expand the spectrum of mutations in SLURP-1 gene.
The mechanical properties of ternary composites of polypropylene with inorganic fillers and elastomer inclusions

The effect of elastomer volume fraction and phase morphology on the elastic modulus of ternary composites polypropylene (PP)/ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR)/inorganic filler containing 30 vol % of either spherical or lamellar filler has been investigated. Phase morphology was controlled using maleated polypropylene (MPP) and/or maleated ethylene-propylene elastomer (MEPR). As revealed by SEM observations, composites of MPP/EPR/filler exhibit separation of the filler and elastomer and good adhesion between MPP and the filler, whereas composites of PP/MEPR/filler exhibit encapsulation of the filler by MEPR. Composite models were utilized to estimate upper and lower bounds for the elastic modulus of these materials, which is strongly dependent on the morphology of the ternary composite. A model based on the Kerner equation for perfect separation of the soft inclusions and rigid fillers gives a good prediction of the upper limit for relative elastic modulus as a function of filler and elastomer volume fractions. The lower limit, achieved in the case of perfect encapsulation, depends significantly on the particle shape. Good agreement was found between experimental data and lower limits predicted using the Halpin-Tsai equation for lamellar filler and the Kerner-Nielsen equation for spherical filler. In order to calculate reinforcing efficiency of the core-shell inclusions, the finite element method (ANSYS 4.4A, GT STRUDL) has been used.
Coexistence diagrams of mixtures by molecular simulation

Abstract We present extensions of the Gibbs—Duhem integration technique that permit its application to mixtures. The Gibbs—Duhem integration method provides a means to evaluate the equilibrium properties of coexisting phases efficiently and reliably by molecular simulation. In particular, the method prescribes how a sequence of simulations can be performed at state conditions that lie on the coexistence surface, thus it is particularly well suited for the mapping of complete phase diagrams. When applied to pure substances, the Clapeyron equation guides the choice of state conditions as the series proceeds. We present two extensions, based respectively on “semigrand” and “osmotic” forms of a generalized Clapeyron equation that we also present. Both methods require sampling of compositions during the simulation, but they differ in how this is accomplished. Simulations based on the semigrand method have steps in which molecules attempt to change their species identity, keeping the total number of molecules fixed; the osmotic simulations have moves in which insertions or deletions are attempted for one of the species, while the number of molecules of the other species remains always fixed. Each approach is seen to have certain advantages that depend on the nature of the mixture being studied. Both methods are demonstrated with application to three prototype binaries, and extension to multicomponent mixtures is discussed.
Role of Drosophila retinoblastoma protein instability element in cell growth and proliferation

The RB tumor suppressor, a regulator of the cell cycle, apoptosis, senescence, and differentiation, is frequently mutated in human cancers. We recently described an evolutionarily conserved C-terminal "instability element" (IE) of the Drosophila Rbf1 retinoblastoma protein that regulates its turnover. Misexpression of wild-type or non-phosphorylatable forms of the Rbf1 protein leads to repression of cell cycle genes. In contrast, overexpression of a defective form of Rbf1 lacking the IE (ΔIE), a stabilized but transcriptionally less active form of the protein, induced ectopic S phase in cell culture. To determine how mutations in the Rbf1 IE may induce dominant effects in a developmental context, we assessed the impact of in vivo expression of mutant Rbf1 proteins on wing development. ΔIE expression resulted in overgrowth of larval wing imaginal discs and larger adult wings containing larger cells. In contrast, a point mutation in a conserved lysine of the IE (K774A) generated severely disrupted, reduced wings. These contrasting effects appear to correlate with control of apoptosis; expression of the pro-apoptotic reaper gene and DNA fragmentation measured by acridine orange stain increased in flies expressing the K774A isoform and was suppressed by expression of Rbf1ΔIE. Intriguingly, cancer associated mutations affecting RB homologs p130 and p107 may similarly induce dominant phenotypes.
EFFECTS OF FLOW UPDATE STRATEGIES ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FRANK-WOLFE ALGORITHM FOR THE TRAFFIC ASSIGNMENT PROBLEM

The Frank-Wolfe (FW) algorithm is the predominant algorithm used to solve traffic assignment problems in transportation planning studies. Despite its slow convergence, it remains the most popular choice among practitioners and researchers. One reason for its popularity is that it requires very modest memory storage, which allows planners to solve networks of realistic sizes. Computer random-access memory storage has become extremely cheap, and it is possible to store more information in the FW algorithm to improve the speed of convergence. This information may be required anyway in certain applications, such as optimal routing in route guidance systems, analysis of environmental impact, nonadditive traffic equilibrium problems, and origin-destination matrix estimation. Different flow update strategies are used to examine how to effectively utilize the additional information to improve the performance of the FW algorithm. Implementation of three flow update strategies in the FW algorithm is discussed. Numerical experiments are performed on four test networks of various sizes.
Physiologic characteristics of growth of the human brain.

R s s Ja A a c ~ in cerebral physiology has revealed that the brain has a number of unique circulatory and metabolic characteristics. Among these are a requirement for a continuous, relatively large supply of oxygen, an almost complete dependence on glucose as the food stuff requisite for function, and a circulation profoundly influenced and perhaps controlled by alterations in oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions. Clinical and laboratory observations have shown that the immature brain differs quantitatively from the mature organ with respect to the above and to such an extent that, considered in toto, there is indeed a qualitative difference between the two states of development. I t is the purpose of this paper to outline briefly the pattern of morphologic change in the human brain, to comment on the functional changes paralleling this, and then to review in greater detail the physiologic characteristics of the maturational process. In the light of the vast literature on this subject and the all-encompassing nature of the term
Electroless Deposition of Cu on Glass and Patterning with Microcontact Printing

Electroless-depositing a metal from solution to a substrate and patterning it using microcontact printing is an alternative to the conventional patterning of vacuum-deposited metals using photolithography. Here, we pattern Cu onto 15 × 15 sq-inch glass substrates by (i) self-assembly of a thin layer of amino-derivatized silanes to the glass, (ii) binding Pd/Sn catalytic particles to the silanes, (iii) electroless deposition of ∼120 nm of Cu on the catalytic surface, (iv) microcontact printing hexadecanethiol on the Cu film using an accurate printing tool, and (v) selectively etching the printed Cu using hexadecanethiol as a resist. This method is particularly attractive for the fabrication of metallic gates for thin-film transistor liquid-crystal displays.
A 10-bit 20MHz 38mW 950MHz CT ΣΔ ADC with a 5-bit noise-shaping VCO-based quantizer and DEM circuit in 0.13u cmos

A combined 5-bit, 1st order noise-shaped quantizer and DEM circuit running at 950MHz based on a multi-phase VCO is presented. This quantizer structure is the key element in a 3rd order noise shaped ADC with 2nd order loop dynamics and a single opamp. Measured performance is 60dB SNR at 20MHz bandwidth in 0.13u CMOS while consuming 32mA from a 1.2V supply.
Nutrition and Age-Associated Inflammation: Implications for Disease Prevention

Accumulating evidence suggests that aging is associated with dysregulated immune and inflammatory responses. Investigation into the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon suggests that an up-regulated cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression, and resulting increase in production of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), is a critical factor. Macrophages from old mice have significantly higher levels of PGE(2) production compared with those from young mice, a result of increased COX-2 expression and protein levels leading to increased COX enzyme activity. Furthermore, studies suggest that the age-associated increase in macrophage PGE(2) production is due to ceramide-induced up-regulation of nuclear factor-kappa B activation. Such processes may also occur in cell types other than macrophages, lending further insight into potential mechanisms of age-related diseases. Moreover, the excess PGE(2) induces harmful effects in other cell types such as T cells and adipocytes through the negative crosstalk between macrophages with other cells, resulting in further increased susceptibility to diseases. Nutrient/dietary medications, such as antioxidants and certain lipids have suggested a promising route to reduce the age-related increase in COX activity and PGE(2) production that is associated with several disease states.
Coordinated regulation by iron of the synthesis of two transformation-sensitive membrane proteins in NRK cells

Studies were designed to characterize the plasma membrane polypeptide composition of normal rat kidney (NRK) and virus-transformed NRK cells as a function of time following iron deprivation. Using this approach we found that rapid depletion of iron from the cells increases the amounts of two membrane-associated glycoproteins of apparent MW 160,000 (160 K) and 130,000 (130 K) in NRK cells. In contrast, virus-transformed NRK cells subjected to iron deprivation showed an altered induction phenomenon manifested by reduced levels of both 160 K and 130 K and altered time-sequence of the induction. Possible relationship of the 160 K and 130 K membrane-associated glycoproteins described in this study to growth control and viral transformation are discussed.
Evaluation of developmental toxicity of coniine to rats and rabbits.

Conium maculatum (poison hemlock, CM) is teratogenic in several domestic species, presumably due to its piperidine alkaloids, including coniine, which has been verified to be teratogenic in cattle. Coniine/CM teratogenicity culminates in production of arthrogryposis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate coniine-induced teratogenicity in two laboratory animal species, Sprague-Dawley rats and New Zealand white rabbits. Pregnant rats were given coniine (25 mg/kg body weight) by oral gavage at 8-hour intervals on gestation days 16–18. Pregnant rabbits were given coniine (40 mg/kg body weight) by oral gavage at 8-hour intervals on gestation days 20–24. Rats were killed on day 19 and rabbits on day 29. Fetuses were immediately removed, weighed, and examined for external abnormalities. Alternate fetuses were either stained for skeletal examinations with alizarin red-S or fixed in Bouin's solution for visceral examination. Symptoms of maternal intoxication due to coniine administration were observed in both the rat and the rabbit, and higher doses were uniformly lethal. Rabbits treated with coniine appeared to lose more weight and eat less than controls, but there was no statistically significant difference between groups. Fetal weights were significantly lower in coniine-exposed rat and rabbit fetuses indicating fetotoxicity. The only statistically significant treatment-related visceral or skeletal malformation was a reduction of cranial ossification of rabbit fetuses, probably related to maternal toxicity. Coniine-exposed rabbit litters tended to be affected by arthrogryposis (no bony deformities noted on skeletal exam) more than controls (2/6 vs. 0/9). The lesion was characterized as hyperflexion of the antebrachial-carpal joint with supination. Although this was not statistically significant, the incidence rate was significantly (p < 0.01) increased when compared to historical controls. This study indicates coniine is not teratogenic to rats and weakly teratogenic to rabbits. The reason for the lack of sensitivity to teratogenicity in these laboratory animal species as compared to domestic species is currently unknown. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Laboratory evaluation of the LISST in a stratified fluid

A laboratory study to evaluate the performance of a Laser In Situ Scattering and Transmissometry (LISST) in a stratified environment is presented. Light passing through a stratified turbulent fluid is scattered due to changes in the index of refraction. In natural water bodies, density stratification due to surface heating and fresh water/salt water mixing is widespread. Therefore, in situ instruments designed to measure particle size based on the principle of laser diffraction such as the LISST are likely to encounter operational limits under stratified conditions. Results from a laboratory study show that salinity fluctuations cause small angle forward scattering patterns that are indistinguishable from particle scattering. For a type-C LISST, which measures particles in the 2.5 to 500 μm range, the scattering is confined primarily to the inner 9 rings under salinity stratification ranging from 2 to 10 ppt. Experiments conducted with stratification and particles reveal that the type-C LISST can distinguish particle size distributions so long as the median particle size is smaller than about 128 μm.
SCET approach to top quark decay

Abstract In this work we study the QCD corrections to the top quark doubly decay rate with a detected B hadron containing a b quark. We focus on the regime among which the emitted W boson nearly carries its maximum energy. The tool that we use here is the soft-collinear effective theory (SCET). The factorization theorem based on SCET indicates a novel fragmenting jet function. We calculate this function to next-to-leading order in α s . Large logarithms due to several well separated scales are summed up using the renormalization group equation (RGE). Finally we reach an analytic formula for the distribution which could easily be generalized to other heavy hadron decays.
The relationship of dental hypoplasia to epilepsy in adults

Abstract From the results obtained in this study, it appears that no significant difference in dental hypoplasia existed between the epileptic and nonepileptic members of the Domiciliary. The hypothesized relationship, therefore, could not be substantiated in the adult resident population of the Domiciliary.
Respiration of heart muscle slices from rats in the terminal stage of hemorrhagic shock.

SummaryThe rate of oxygen uptake of heart muscle slices from rats in the terminal stages of prolonged severe hemorrhagic shock is significantly less than normal in the absence of substrate. In the presence of pyruvate (0.02 M) the rate of oxygen uptake is increased, but is still less than the normal rate. There is, therefore, no conclusive evidence of impaired ability of the heart muscle to oxidize pyruvate in these circumstances.
Spectropotentiometric analysis of metal binding to structural zinc-binding sites: accounting quantitatively for pH and metal ion buffering effects.

Abstract Studies of the metal-binding affinity of protein sites are ubiquitous in bioinorganic chemistry and are valuable for the information that they can provide about metal speciation and exchange in biological systems. The potential for error in these studies is high, however, since many competing equilibria are present in solution and must be taken into consideration. Here, we report a new spectropotentiometric titration apparatus that allows pH and UV-vis absorption to be monitored simultaneously on small samples under inert atmosphere. In addition, we explain how data obtained from the complex equilibria can be combined with tabulated information about the protonation and metal-binding constants for common buffers to provide detailed, quantitative information about metal–protein interactions. Application of this approach to the investigation of metal binding to structural zinc-binding domains and common pitfalls encountered when performing these experiments are also discussed. We have used this approach to reevaluate the metal-binding constants of the N-terminal zinc-binding peptide from the HIV-1 nucleocapsid protein ( 10 −8 M ⩽K d Co ⩽10 −7 M ; 10 −11 M ⩽K d Zn ⩽10 −10 M ).