cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electron Transfer Coupled to Mn(II) Oxidation in Two Deep-Sea Pacific Ocean Isolates

The abilities of a number of different bacteria to couple the oxidation of manganous manganese to the generation of useful energy have been reviewed (Ehrlich, 1978). The oxidation of manganese is believed to occur via the action of a Mn(II)-oxidoreductase, which catalyzes the transfer of electrons from manganese to the electron transport system of the cell. The electron transport system involved in this transfer of electrons has not been thoroughly explained. However, in the case of the soil bacterium Leptothrix discophora, it was found that cell-free, manganese oxidizing particles contained both b-type and c-type cytochromes, as well as a cytochrome oxidase (Hogan, 1973). Manganese oxidation by these particles was completely inhibited by 10−5 M KCN and 10−4 M NaN3. The inhibition by CN− and N 3 − and the results of spectral studies indicated the involvement of a cytochrome oxidase in Mn(II) oxidation. The involvement of the b-type or c-type cytochromes was not shown.
Plasma hypertonicity: another marker of frailty?

Objectives: To determine whether plasma hypertonicity might be a marker of early frailty, this study tested the associations between plasma hypertonicity, incident disability, and mortality in nondisabled older adults. Design: Longitudinal, observational study. Setting: Community-based. Participants: Older adults (≥70), who reported no disability and gave blood in the 1992 Duke Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly survey (n=705), were re-interviewed in 1996 for functional status (n=561) and followed for all deaths up to January 1, 2000. Measurements: Plasma tonicity was estimated from plasma glucose, sodium, and potassium measures and used to classify subjects as normo- (285–294 mOsm/L) or hypertonic (≥300 mOsm/L). Disability was defined as any impairment on the Rosow-Breslau, activity of daily living (ADL), and instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) scales. The relative risk (RR) of any new disability and relative hazard of death associated with hypertonicity were estimated using logistic regression models and Cox proportional hazards models, respectively. All models were controlled for age, sex, race, weight status, current smoking, activity level, plasma blood urea nitrogen and creatinine, cognitive impairment, depression, and chronic disease status. To determine whether observed effects were attributable to plasma glucose alone, all models were repeated on a subsample of nondiabetic, normoglycemic subjects. Results: Plasma hypertonicity (observed in 15% of subjects) was associated with increased risk of new Rosow-Breslau (RR=2.1, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.2–3.6), IADL (RR=2.3, 95% CI=1.2–4.3), and ADL (RR=2.7 95% CI=1.3–5.6) disability by 1996 and mortality by 2000 (RR=1.4, 95% CI=1.0–1.9). Results were similar for the normoglycemic subgroup (ADL: RR=2.9, 95% CI=1.0–8.0; IADL: RR=2.5, 95% CI=1.0–6.3; Rosow-Breslau: RR=1.8, 95% CI=0.8–3.9; mortality: RR=1.5, 95% CI=0.9–2.3). Conclusion: Plasma hypertonicity may be a marker of early frailty. It was prevalent in this sample of nondisabled community-dwelling older adults and predicted incident disability and mortality. Further research to identify its determinants and consequences may help inform interventions against frailty.
Controversies About the Rise in American Inequality: A Survey

This paper provides a comprehensive survey of seven aspects of rising inequality that are usually discussed separately: changes in labor's share of income; inequality at the bottom of the income distribution, including labor mobility; skill-biased technical change; inequality among high incomes; consumption inequality; geographical inequality; and international differences in the income distribution, particularly at the top. We conclude that changes in labor's share play no role in rising inequality of labor income; by one measure labor's income share was almost the same in 2007 as in 1950. Within the bottom 90 percent as documented by CPS data, movements in the 50-10 ratio are consistent with a role of decreased union density for men and of a decrease in the real minimum wage for women, particularly in 1980-86. There is little evidence on the effects of imports, and an ambiguous literature on immigration which implies a small overall impact on the wages of the average native American, a significant downward effect on high-school dropouts, and potentially a large impact on previous immigrants working in occupations in which immigrants specialize. The literature on skill-biased technical change (SBTC) has been valuably enriched by a finer grid of skills, switching from a two-dimension to a three- or five-dimensional breakdown of skills. We endorse the three-way "polarization" hypothesis that seems a plausible way of explaining differentials in wage changes and also in outsourcing. To explain increased skewness at the top, we introduce a three-way distinction between market-driven superstars where audience magnification allows a performance to reach one or ten million people, a second market-driven segment consisting of occupations like lawyers and investment bankers, and a third segment consisting of top corporate officers. Our review of the CEO debate places equal emphasis on the market in showering capital gains through stock options and an arbitrary management power hypothesis based on numerous non-market aspects of executive pay. Data on consumption inequality are too fragile to reach firm conclusions. We introduce two new issues, disparities in the growth of price indexes and also of life expectancy between the rich and the poor. We conclude with a perspective on international differences that blends institutional and market-driven explanations.
Efficacy of prednisone for the treatment of ocular myasthenia (EPITOME): A randomized, controlled trial

Introduction: In this study we evaluated the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of prednisone in patients with ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG) concurrently treated with pyridostigmine. Methods: This investigation was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Participants whose symptoms failed to remit on pyridostigmine were randomized to receive placebo or prednisone, initiated at 10 mg every other day, and titrated to a maximum of 40 mg/day over 16 weeks. The primary outcome measure was treatment failure. Results: Fewer subjects were randomized than the 88 planned. Of the 11 randomized, 9 completed 16 weeks of double-blind therapy. Treatment failure incidence was 100% (95% CI 48%–100%) in the placebo group (n = 5) vs. 17% (95% CI 0%–64%) in the prednisone group, P = 0.02 (n = 6). Median time to sustained minimal manifestation status (MMS) was 14 weeks, requiring an average prednisone dose of 15 mg/day. Adverse events were infrequent and generally mild in both groups. Conclusions: A strategy of low-dose prednisone with gradual escalation appears to be safe, well-tolerated, and effective in treating OMG. Muscle Nerve 53: 363–369, 2016
Finding a walrasian equilibrium is easy for a fixed number of agents

In this work, we study the complexity of finding a Walrasian equilibrium. Our main result gives an algorithm which can compute an approximate Walrasian equilibrium in an exchange economy with general, but well-behaved, utility functions in time that is polynomial in the number of goods when the number of agents is held constant. This result has applications to macroeconomics and finance, where applications of Walrasian equilibrium theory tend to deal with many goods but a fixed number of agents.
Cyclostephanos species newly reported from North America: C. tholiformis sp. nov. and C. costatilimbus comb. nov.

A new species, Cyclostephanos tholiformis Stoermer, Hakansson & Theriot, and a new combination Cyclostephanos costatilimbus (Kobayasi & Kobayashi) Stoermer, Hakansson & Theriot are proposed. These species are abundant in a eutrophic, hardwater, habitat in central North America. They resemble other small species of Stephanodiscus and Cyclostephanos commonly found in such habitats, and can be distinguished from them with certainty only on the basis of characters visible with electron microscopy.
Circular Dichroism and Magnetic Circular Dichroism Spectroscopic Studies of the Non-Heme Ferrous Active Site in Clavaminate Synthase and Its Interaction with α-Ketoglutarate Cosubstrate

Clavaminate synthase (CS) is one member of a large class of non-heme iron enzymes that require α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) as a cosubstrate. While the majority of this class catalyzes the hydroxylation of unactivated C−H bonds, CS is unusual in that in addition to performing hydroxylation chemistry, it also catalyzes the key oxidative ring closure and desaturation steps in the biosynthetic pathway to the potent β-lactamase inhibitor clavulanic acid. A single non-heme Fe2+ site is responsible for all three of these reactions (hydroxylation, oxidative ring closure, and desaturation), during which 1 equiv of α-KG per reaction is decarboxylated into succinate and CO2. We have applied circular dichroism (CD), magnetic circular dichroism (MCD), and variable-temperature, variable-field (VTVH) MCD spectroscopies to probe the geometric and electronic structure of the ferrous active site in the isozyme CS2 and its interaction with α-KG. CD titration experiments show stoichiometric binding of Fe2+ to the apoenzyme, eithe...
Wegener autoantigen and myeloblastin are encoded by a single mRNA.

Abstract Myeloblastin is a serine protease that has been identified in the human leukemia cell line HL-60. Down-regulation of this protease can inhibit proliferation and induce differentiation of promyelocyte-like human leukemic cells. Proteinase 3, a serine protease of human neutrophils, has been identified as the Wegener autoantigen. A high level of homology between myeloblastin and proteinase 3 has suggested that they may be a single serine protease. We have recently completed the 5'-terminal nucleotide sequence of proteinase 3 and shown that its mRNA was also expressed in HL-60 cells and in cells from patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Here we demonstrate that myeloblastin and proteinase 3 are encoded by a single mRNA.
Dynamic self-organization in Cu alloys under ion irradiation

Phase separation in dilute Cu(1–x)Mx films under irradiation with 1.8 MeV Kr+ ions at elevated temperatures has been studied for 0.10 < x < 0.15 and M = Ag, Co, Fe, Mo and Nb. In all systems compositional patterning was observed on a mesoscopic length scale within a fixed temperature interval. At lower temperatures most of the alloys formed nearly homogeneous solid solutions, while at higher temperatures these same alloys underwent macroscopic phase separation. The upper temperature limit for patterning increased with decreasing solute diffusivity in the Cu matrix, reported in the absence of irradiation. The heat of mixing of the alloy, however, also played a role in the patterning behavior. For Cu90Mo10, which has a high positive heat of mixing, no upper or lower temperature limits for patterning were observed. Molecular dynamics computer simulations reported here explain why Cu90Mo10 behaves differently from the other alloys.
Evaluating software development by error analysis: The data from the Architecture Research Facility

In software engineering, it is easy to propose techniques for improving software development but difficult to test the claims made for such techniques. This paper suggests an error analysis technique for use in gathering data concerning the effectiveness of different software development methodologies. The principal features of the error analysis technique described are the formulation of questions of interest and a data classification scheme before data collection begins, and interviews of system developers concomitant with the development process to verify the accuracy of the data. The data obtained by using this technique during the development of a medium-size software development project is presented. This project was known as the Architecture Research Facility (ARF) and took about 10 months and 192 man-weeks of effort to develop. The ARF designers used the information hiding principle to modularize the system, and interface specifications and high-level language coding specifications to express the design. Several error detection aids were designed into the system to help detect run-time errors. In addition, quality control rules were established that required review of specifications before coding, and review of code after compilation but prior to testing. A total of 143 errors was reported. Analysis of these errors showed that there were few problems caused by intermodule interfaces, that error corrections rarely required knowledge of more than one module, that most errors took less than a few hours to fix, and that the error detection aids detected more than half of the errors that were potentially detectable by them.
Pre-Service Teachers' Empathy and Cognitions: Statistical Analysis of Text Data by Graphical Models

Abstract This research examines empathic dispositions of 178 pre-service teachers. We analyzed open ended responses to animated narrative vignette simulations (ANVs), which served as stimulated experimental situations depicting students in victim and perpetrator scenarios. Empathy was examined by addressing the following questions: (1) Do participants’ responses differ over vignettes? (2) What is the dimensionality of the empathy construct? (3) Is word count an indicator of empathy? (4) Is there a dispositional effect? (5) To what extent do pre-service teachers express empathy? After the text responses of pre-service teachers were coded, log-linear and log-multiplicative association models, which have graphical representations, were used to analyze the data and to develop a context dependent measure of empathy. The results suggest that a single latent variable underlies the responses, and from our measurement model, very few teachers expressed empathy toward the victim in the ANVs.
Cost of infection after surgery for intracapsular fracture of the femoral neck.

INTRODUCTION We investigated the financial and human costs of postoperative infection for intracapsular fracture of the femoral neck at a district general hospital in the UK. METHODS Data on postoperative infections after surgical treatment for intracapsular fracture of the femoral neck were collected prospectively from June 2005 to April 2009. Infected patients were pairwise-matched (1:2 ratio) with a non-infected group of patients from a database on hip fractures. Costs of additional surgery, duration of hospital stay, and opportunity costs were calculated using Primary Care Trust (PCT) tariffs and PCT-specific data. RESULTS A total of 525 patients were treated with total hip replacement (n=110) or hip hemiarthroplasty (n=415). Seventeen patients (3.2%) were identified as having a surgical-site infection. Eight (1.5%) deep infections and nine (1.7%) superficial infections were documented. Compared with the non-infected group, duration of hospital stay and the prevalence of mortality doubled. Repeat surgery and the costs associated with hospital admission were increased significantly in the infected group. Mean financial loss associated with an infected patient was £7,726, whereas an uninfected patient brought £153 of profit to the hospital. When opportunity costs were considered, an infected patient represented £24,397 of lost income. CONCLUSIONS Postoperative infection after surgical treatment for intracapsular fracture of the femoral neck has a significant negative impact on duration of hospital stay and financial costs, and demonstrates a trend towards an increase in the prevalence of mortality.
The Anti-Satellite (ASAT) Weapon Problem And Congress

An amendment to the 1984 Defense Authorization Act prevents testing against objects in space of an American F-15 launched anti-satellite weapon until the President certifies that the testing is necessary to prevent harm to the national security, and that he is willing to negotiate an ASAT treaty with the Soviet Union. This extraordinary action by the Congress was taken because many members of Congress feared that the weapon was being developed without due consideration for its impact on arms control, that temporary technical superiority was being given greater importance than the long-term security of the nation. This increased Congressional scrutiny could have an impact on future weapons development programs. "Now a crucial moment is really coming: Either the interested parties will sit down at the negotiating table without delay to begin drawing up a treaty prohibiting the placement in space of weapons of any kind, or the arms race will spill over into space." YURI ANDROPOV, April 28, 1983, in response to petition from American Scientists.
p47phox-deficient immune microenvironment signals dysregulate naive T-cell apoptosis.

The phagocyte NADPH oxidase is a multicomponent enzyme complex mediating microbial killing. We find that NADPH oxidase p47phox-deficient (p47phox−/−) chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) mice develop lymph node hyperplasia even without obvious infection, where increased number of T and B lymphocytes is associated with increased percent of naive cells and a lower T : B cell ratio than wild type. Paradoxically, despite lymphoid hyperplasia in vivo, when lymphocytes are placed in culture, p47phox−/− CD8+ lymphocytes progress more rapidly to apoptosis than wild type. This is associated in cultured p47phox−/− CD8+ lymphocytes with the induction of proapoptotic Bim and Puma expression, increased mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization and depressed Bcl-2 expression. Addition of IL-7 to the culture partially corrects Bcl-2 levels in cultured p47phox−/− CD8+ lymphocytes and improves the survival. Adding glucose oxidase to the culture to generate hydrogen peroxide along with IL-7 further improves p47phox−/− CD8+ lymphocyte survival, but only to 30% of wild type. We conclude that p47phox−/− CD8+ lymphocytes have an intrinsic survival defect likely in part related to the oxidase deficiency, but in vivo in lymph nodes of CGD mice, there are microenvironmental factors yet to be delineated that suppress the progression of apoptosis and allow the accumulation of lymphocytes leading to lymphoid hyperplasia.
Studies on the microtubules in heliozoa. V. Factors controlling the organization of microtubules in the Axonemal pattern in Echinosphaerium (Actinosphaerium) nucleofilum.

On the assumption that the double-coiled pattern of microtubules in the axoneme of Echinosphaerium might be due to links of two sizes between adjacent microtubules, we disassembled microtubules with low temperature and then carefully analyzed the patterns of microtubules that formed upon the addition of heat (22°C) or heat and D2O. Although most of the initial clusters of microtubules that formed could not be interpreted as part of an axoneme, the spacings between these microtubules were the same as that in the axoneme, 70 and 300 A. By model building we were able to show that all clusters that form, including stages in the formation of the axoneme and its 12-fold symmetry, could be explained by links of two sizes (70 and 300 A) and the substructure of the microtubule. We could demonstrate these links with improved staining methods. We suggest that nonaxonemal assemblies of microtubules may be eliminated by the natural selection of the most energetically stable configuration of microtubules, all others undergoing disassembly under equilibrium conditions. Model building further supports this suggestion since the model axoneme possesses more links per tubule than any other cluster found.
Application development for desktop and PDA-style devices: issues and lessons learned

Software development for mobile devices is relative new and has its own challenges, especially when developing a single application that will run on either a PDA or a notebook PC. This work describes the development of a sales system for use by a salesperson in the field. Windows-based devices and Microsoft development tools were used to implement the application for the .NET Framework for the notebook PC and the .NET Compact Framework for the PDA. (One might run into a totally different set of issues attempting to do this with Java and J2ME). Developing a common code base for classes was relative easy, but was difficult for the user interface. Issues faced and lessons learned during the application development are outlined in this work. The application software architecture, hardware, database, and connectivity are also described.
Survey of opinions on the primacy of g and social consequences of ability testing: A comparison of expert and non-expert views ☆

Abstract The current study examines the views of experts in the science of mental abilities about the primacy and uniqueness of g and the social implications of ability testing, and compares their responses to the views of a group of non-expert psychologists. Results indicate expert consensus that g is an important, non-trivial determinant (or at least predictor) of important real world outcomes for which there is no substitute, and that tests of g are valid and generally free from racial bias. Experts did not reach consensus on issues such as the degree to which specific abilities or combinations of non-cognitive traits can yield predictive validities comparable to that of g alone, the predictive validity of g for non-technical work outcomes (e.g., contextual performance), and the nature and implications of race differences in intelligence. Second, a comparison of responses from experts and a group of applied psychologists reveals several discrepant beliefs between these groups, primarily dealing with the primacy of g, susceptibility of ability tests to racial bias, and the potential value of ability testing. Results are discussed in terms of directions for future research and shared responsibility for various groups of researchers to enhance dissemination of research to relevant audiences.
Novel ionic liquid electrolyte for electrochemical double layer capacitors

A novel oxygen containing spiro ammonium salt, oxazolidine-3-spiro-1’-pyrrolidinium tetrafluoroborate (OPBF4) was synthesized using an innovative technique for use as electrolyte in electrochemical double layer capacitors (EDLC). Comparison of OPBF4 with commercially available, tetraethyl ammonium tetrafluoroborate (TEABF4) showed higher voltage window and higher capacitance for the OPBF4 compound. Moreover, molarity of 3 M was produced with OPBF4 as compared to a maximum of 1.5 M for TEABF4 in acetonitrile (AN). This is especially important to enable the fabrication of higher energy density EDLC. This is the first report of testing OPBF4 compound in an EDLC device, and it qualifies as a reasonable alternative to TEABF4 for high performance ultracapacitors.
Cosmopolitan Islanders?: Britain and Europe in the Long Eighteenth Century

The historical development of England is based on the fact that her frontiers against Europe are drawn by Nature, and cannot be the subject of dispute; that she is a unit sufficiently small for coherent government to have been established and maintained even under very primitive conditions; that since 1066 she has never suffered serious invasion; that no big modern armies have succeeded her feudal levies; and that her senior service is the navy, with which foreign trade is closely connected. In short, a great deal of what is peculiar in English history is due to the obvious fact that Great Britain is an island.1
Prolonged Use of Cyclosporine (CsA) Produces Reversible Hemodynamic and Absorptive Alterations in the Transplanted Rat Small Intestine

Cyclosporine (CsA)-induced alterations in organ blood flow (BF) and function have been studied in kidney and pancreatic transplants. In this study, we assessed the effect of prolonged CsA administration on graft tissue BF and absorption from transplanted rat small intestine (SI). Isogeneic SI transplantation was performed in Lewis rats. Animals were grouped based upon the following treatment schedules: no treatment for 1 week in group 1; 0.15 ml/kg/day im olive oil for 1 week in group 2; 0.15 ml/kg/day olive oil for 1 week and then 0.1 ml/kg/day for 5 weeks in group 3; 15 mg/kg/day im CsA for 1 week in group 4; and 15 mg/kg/day CsA for 1 week and then 10 mg/kg/day for 5 weeks in group 5. Group 6 was the same as group 5 but CsA was withdrawn for 1 week prior to assessment. Maltose absorption was measured to evaluate graft absorptive function. BF and its intramural distribution to mucosal and serosal/muscularis layers were determined using the radioactive microsphere technique. Perfusion pressure was measured to calculate vascular resistance (VR). One week of CsA of administration in group 4 resulted in a significant increase in mucosal VR (68.4 ± 15.5 versus 46.9 ± 8.7 U/g, P < 0.01) and significant decreases in mucosal BF (1.21 ± 0.25 versus 1.80 ± 0.38 ml/g/min, P < 0.01) and maltose absorption 30 min after loading (168.9 ± 21.1 versus 214.4 ± 28.4 glucose mg/dl, P < 0.01). Prolonged CsA treatment up to 6 weeks in group 5 resulted in further increases in whole intestinal VR (88.6 ± 19.1 versus 70.1 ± 12.4 U/g, P < 0.05) and decreases in whole intestinal BF (0.93 ± 0.18 versus 1.16 ± 0.18 ml/g/min, P < 0.05) and maltose absorption 39 min after loading (137.4 ± 21.3 versus 168.9 ± 21.1 glucose mg/dl) when compared with 1 week of CsA treatment in group 4. Withdrawal of CsA for 1 week after prolonged CsA treatment in group 6 resulted in restorations of VR in both mucosal and serosal/muscularis layers, BF in serosal/muscularis layer, and absorptive function to the normal ranges as shown in group 3 (P = NS). We concluded that CsA administration causes hemodynamic alterations in the intestinal vascular system and dose-dependent functional impairment which are reversible when CsA is discontinued.
Perceived Impact of the Disclosure of a Schizophrenia Diagnosis

Stigma against those with schizophrenia has demonstrated deleterious effects. However, less is known about the experience of individuals who disclose this diagnosis and how such disclosures differ by social situations. This study examines diagnosis disclosure in different contexts. A convenience sample of 258 adults with schizophrenia recruited via the internet and e-mail lists completed an online survey. Subjects were more open about their diagnosis with doctors, parents and friends than with employers or police. Those who report very good current mental health or who had fewer types of relationships were more open overall. Although reactions to disclosure varied, many report worse treatment by police and better treatment by parents after disclosure. Many also experienced worse treatment for medical problems after disclosing their schizophrenia diagnosis. These results support targeted anti-stigma interventions. It also suggests that stigma must be understood through individual experience in specific contexts rather than as a unitary experience.
Genetic disorders of keratins and their associated proteins

It has recently been demonstrated that genetic defects in keratin genes cause a number of different skin disorders, including epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS), epidermolytic hyperkeratosis (EH), the EH form of epidermal nevi, epidermolytic and non-epidermolytic forms of palmoplantar keratoderma (EPPK and PPK) and pachyonychia congenita (PC). In this review, I describe the research that led to this discovery.
Spinach RNA aptamer detects lead (II) with high selectivity

Spinach RNA aptamer contains a G-quadruplex motif that serves as a platform for binding and fluorescence activation of a GFP-like fluorophore. Here we show that Pb(2+) induces formation of Spinach's G-quadruplex and activates fluorescence with high selectivity and sensitivity. This device establishes the first example of an RNA-based sensor that provides a simple and inexpensive tool for Pb(2+) detection.
Dinosaurian growth patterns and rapid avian growth rates

Did dinosaurs grow in a manner similar to extant reptiles, mammals or birds, or were they unique? Are rapid avian growth rates an innovation unique to birds, or were they inherited from dinosaurian precursors? We quantified growth rates for a group of dinosaurs spanning the phylogenetic and size diversity for the clade and used regression analysis to characterize the results. Here we show that dinosaurs exhibited sigmoidal growth curves similar to those of other vertebrates, but had unique growth rates with respect to body mass. All dinosaurs grew at accelerated rates relative to the primitive condition seen in extant reptiles. Small dinosaurs grew at moderately rapid rates, similar to those of marsupials, but large species attained rates comparable to those of eutherian mammals and precocial birds. Growth in giant sauropods was similar to that of whales of comparable size. Non-avian dinosaurs did not attain rates like those of altricial birds. Avian growth rates were attained in a stepwise fashion after birds diverged from theropod ancestors in the Jurassic period.
Two unusual variants of internal carotid artery aneurysms due to fibromuscular dysplasia

Aneurysms of the internal carotid artery (ICA) secondary to fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) are extremely rare. We report two unique variants of extracranial ICA aneurysms due to FMD. The first patient was a hypertensive 51-year-old woman who was found to have a nontraumatic, nonmycotic saccular pseudoaneurysm of the right ICA. The second patient was a 46-year-old woman who presented with 90% stenosis and a focal dissecting aneurysm of the right ICA. Both underwent successful aneurysm resection with interposition saphenous vein grafting after anterior subluxation of the mandible. A review of the literature revealed only 21 other reported cases of aneurysms of the extracranial ICA due to FMD; all were managed successfully with surgical repair. Surgery can be performed with minimal or no morbidity, even in the distal ICA, if the exposure is adequate.
Spin-Lattice Relaxation in Periodically Perturbed Systems

Spin-lattice relaxation theory is examined, in the perturbation-theory regime, for nuclear spin systems which experience time-dependent forces not only from fluctuating spin-lattice interactions but also from externally produced periodic disturbances. These include strong steady rf fields (spin-locking and the Lee-Goldburg experiments), amplitude and phase-modulated rf fields (pulsed narrowing experiments), and modulation of the secular dipolar fields through rotation of the sample. It is shown for relatively slow molecular motions (${T}_{2}g\ensuremath{\tau}\ensuremath{\gg}{{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{0}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, where ${T}_{2}$ is the relaxation time, $\ensuremath{\tau}$ the correlation time, and ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{0}$ the rf frequency) that uncoupled Bloch equations can be obtained for suitably defined components of the magnetization. The spin-lattice relaxation times, which limit the degree of narrowing that can be obtained, depend in every case on Fourier components of the thermal motion in the neighborhood of the frequency of the periodic disturbance, and are of the same order of magnitude for all the experiments. Various narrowing experiments on substances having molecular motion are discussed.
Imidization reaction parameters in inert molten polymers for micromixing tracer studies

Abstract A competitive-consecutive reaction involving a two-step imidization reaction in an inert molten polymer is proposed as a reaction tracer for studying micromixing in highly viscous liquids in polymer processing geometries. In the proposed tracer system, phthalic anhydride reacts with p-phenylene diamine in molten polyethylene at dilute concentrations and elevated temperatures where the reactants and intermediates are soluble in the molten polymer. Rate constants were measured using a reactive film procedure and are reported in this paper over a range of temperatures. The rate constant for the first step was found to be an order-of-magnitude larger than the second step, and both steps were shown to be essentially irreversible. These conditions are used to show that the proposed reaction is mixing-sensitive and can be used to measure micromixing through measurements of selectivity.
Does Assessing Suicidality Frequently and Repeatedly Cause Harm? A Randomized Control Study

Assessing suicidality is common in mental health practice and is fundamental to suicide research. Although necessary, there is significant concern that such assessments have unintended harmful consequences. Using a longitudinal randomized control design, the authors evaluated whether repeated and frequent assessments of suicide-related thoughts and behaviors negatively affected individuals, including those at-risk for suicide-related outcomes. Adults (N = 282), including many diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD), were recruited through psychiatric outpatient clinics and from the community at large, and were randomly assigned to assessment groups. A control assessment group responded to questions regarding negative psychological experiences several times each day during a 2-week main observation phase. During the same observation period, an intensive suicide assessment group responded to the same questions, along with questions regarding suicidal behavior and ideation. Negative psychological outcomes were measured during the main observation phase (for BPD symptoms unrelated to suicide and for BPD-relevant emotions) and/or at the end of each week during the main observation phase and monthly for 6 months thereafter (for all outcomes, including suicidal ideation and behavior). Results revealed little evidence that intensive suicide assessment triggered negative outcomes, including suicidal ideation or behavior, even among people with BPD. A handful of effects did reach or approach significance, though these were temporary and nonrobust. However, given the seriousness of some outcomes, the authors recommend that researchers or clinicians who implement experience sampling methods including suicide-related items carefully consider the benefits of asking about suicide and to inform participants about possible risks.
The technique of estimating the instantaneous aortic blood velocity in man from the pressure gradient

mhe time relationships between pres1 sure and blood velocity in the asdending aorta can be used to define the mechanical function of the heart. To the extent that the mechanical function is altered early in disease, evaluation of these pressure-velocity relationships has important clinical as well as biophysical implications. It is possible to estimate both the aortic pressure and the instantaneous blood velocity by the use of a catheter method.’ This method requires accurate measurement of the instantaneous lateral pressures at two relatively close points along the axis of the aorta. The difference between these pressures is an approximate measure of the instantaneous pressure gradient from which the blood velocity may be computed by means of simple analog computer methods. The computation of the aortic blood velocity from the spatial pressure gradient requires extremely accurate measurement of the pressure and meticulous attention to a number of experimental details. A number of problems are raised by these requirements in the application of this technique to studies in human subjects. It is the purpose of this report to present certain approaches to many of these problems and to make available the details necessary to apply this method successfully in the clinical physiology laboratory. Examples are also given which illustrate the pressure-velocity relationships as measured in patients with nonvalvular myocardial disease and after the administration of certain pharmacologic agents. The discussion of the application of the computed pressure gradient technique may be divided into five general areas: catheter, gauges, electrical circuits and amplifiers, calibration, and evaluation of the total system response. Catheter. The catheter, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1, is of a special double-lumen design,? with two lateral pressure taps at the end of each lumen. The entry to each lumen is separated by a distance of 5 cm. The No. 69; French catheter will pass through a short beveled modification of a No. 12 gauge Robb needle. The stopcocks connecting the catheter to the gauges must be made to fine tolerance.1
The Adverse Effect of IFN Gamma on Stratum Corneum Structure and Function in Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis

There is a marked increase in cytokines, including interferon gamma, in cutaneous diseases such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. In this issue of the Journal, Tawada and colleagues demonstrate that the quantity of ultra long–chain ceramides in the stratum corneum, which play a key role in maintaining the permeability barrier, is reduced in atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Further, they demonstrate that interferon gamma decreases the expression of the enzymes required for the synthesis of these ultra long–chain ceramides (ELOVLs and ceramide synthase 3). These results suggest that an increase in interferon gamma by decreasing the key enzymes required for the synthesis of ultra long–chain ceramides could further impair permeability barrier function, thereby exacerbating the pathological changes.
Sarcasm as Sociation: The Rhetoric of Interaction*

S'inspirant de Simmel, l'auteur voit dans le sarcasme l'une des formes de la sociabilite-un type de processus social-que I'on peut soumettre a l'analyse sociologique. Sa discussion preliminaire traite de la forme systematique, cette geometrie simmelienne du monde social, de la fonction et des correlatifs structuraux de l'activite sociale. Le sarcasme se manifeste surtout dans les relations directes; il resulte plutot de la definition sociale d'une situation que de l'existence d'un type singulier de communication dont il constituerait une qualite inherente. Du point de vue formel, le sarcasme est pergu comme une relation tripartite comprenant la personne qui l'emploie, l'objet de la raillerie et l'auditoire. Dans la pratique, l'objet du sarcasme est souvent l'auditoire et moins souvent l'initiateur lui-meme, ce qui reduit a deux les parties. Le sarcasme a la fonction d'un mecanisme de controle, d'un echange qui maintient les distances et sauvegarde les llgnes de demarcation, d'un emploi strategique de la communication et d'une facon de maitriser et de reduire les tensions. Le statut des participants et 1'intimite du groupe sont les correlatifs structuraux de l'usage du sarcasme. L'auteur suggere de plus qu'une theorie du sarcasme s'allie intimement au scheme conceptuel de Scheler sur le sentiment.
The relationship standards and assumptions of violent versus nonviolent husbands

The present study was designed to compare the relationship standards and assumptions of violent and nonviolent husbands, using theRelationship Beliefs Inventory (Epstein & Eidelson, 1981) and theInventory of Specific Relationship standards (Epstein, Baucom, Rankin, & Burnett, 1991). Two groups of maritally violent and distressed men were recruited: 16 men arrested for violence and court-ordered to domestic violent treatment programs and 19 men from the community. Two noviolent comparison groups were recruited: 20 martially distressed men and 20 nondistressed men. A series of apriori contrasts revealed no significant differences between the violent/distressed and nonviolent/distressed groups. All demonstrated significant differences were between the distressed and nondistressed groups. Relative to nondistressed men, unhappily married men endorsed more dysfunctional standards and assumptions; they also reported being less satisfied with how their standards were being met by their partners and being more upset when their relationship standards were not met. The theoretical and clinical implications of the findings are discusse.
Aerosol filtration by a cocurrent moving granular bed: Penetration mechanisms

Abstract An experimental apparatus has been constructed to investigate aerosol filtration by a cocurrent moving granular bed filter (CMGBF). In a CMGBF, aerosol passes downward through a descending bed of dirty granules while clean granules are added continously at the bed top. The effect of an intergranular dust deposit on penetration in a CMGBF was investigated in a 24 factorial experiment in which the control variables were superficial gas velocity (100 and 250 mm/s), bed depth (130 and 230 mm), granule size (2.1 and 2.7 mm), and the intergranular dust deposit expressed as percent by weight of collected dust in the bed (1% and 5%). All tests were conducted at ambient temperature and pressure using resuspended utility boiler fly ash as the test aerosol. Mass penetration data identified two major penetration mechanisms: (1) straight through penetration and (2) reentrainment due to granular motion. A static, intergranular dust deposit produced high filtration efficiency (>99%) at the low superficial velocity. When the bed was moving, reentrainment of collected dust was significant and accounted for about three-quarters of the penetrating dust. Particle size analyses reveal that the two penetration mechanisms are size dependent. Most particles larger than about one micrometer in diameter that penetrate the CMGBF do so by reentrainment after being collected initially. Virtually no particles smaller than about 0.3 μm in diameter penetrate by reentrainment; when these small particles penetrate, they pass straight through without being collected.
Fatty-acid binding protein 4 gene polymorphisms and plasma levels in children with obstructive sleep apnea.

Introduction Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with increased risk for metabolic syndrome in both adults and children. In adults with OSA, serum levels of fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) are elevated and associated with the degree of metabolic insulin resistance, independent of obesity. Therefore, we assessed plasma FABP4 levels and FABP4 allelic variants in obese and non-obese children with and without OSA.
Liquefaction Susceptibility Criteria for Silts and Clays

New liquefaction susceptibility criteria for saturated silts and clays are presented that are based on the mechanics of their stress-strain behavior and which provide improved guidance for selecting engineering procedures for estimating potential strains and strength loss during seismic loading. Monotonic and cyclic undrained loading test data for silts and clays show that they transition, over a fairly narrow range of plasticity indices (PI), from soils that behave more fundamentally like sands (sand-like behavior) to soils that behave more fundamentally like clays (clay-like behavior), with the distinction having a direct correspondence to the type of engineering procedures that are best suited to evaluating their seismic behavior. It is recommended that the term liquefaction be reserved for describing the development of significant strains or strength loss in fine-grained soils exhibiting sand-like behavior, whereas the term cyclic softening failure be used to describe similar phenomena in fine-grained soils exhibiting clay-like behavior. For practical purposes, clay-like behavior can be expected for fine-grained soils that have PI ≥7, although a slightly lower transition point for soils with a CL-ML classification (perhaps PI ≥ 5 or 6) would be equally consistent with the available data. Issues related to the practical application of these criteria are discussed.
Telephone medical care administered by internal medicine residents: Concerns of program directors and implications for residency training

The objective of this study was to determine the need for telephone medicine curricula and to help define important content for internal medicine residencies using scales that measure program director attitudes toward telephone medicine. Data were collected by surveying all 416 program directors of accredited internal medicine residencies in the United States. We applied factor analysis to develop reliable attitudinal scales and employed regression models to identify predictors of these attitudes. Response rate was 60%. Formal training for telephone medicine was available in only 6% of programs. The factor analysis showed three attitudinal concepts; all described marked program director discomfort with aspects of resident telephone prescription. Predictors of improved program director comfort included more frequent documentation of resident telephone calls, chart availability, and clear definition of resident roles pertaining to telephone interactions with patients (P < 0.02 for all predictor variables). These results identify a need for telephone curricula and suggest components that might alleviate program director discomfort with resident telephone practices.
Production of Pleospora papaveracea biomass in liquid culture and its infectivity on opium poppy (Papaver somniferum)

Abstract The fungus Pleospora papaveracea is a potential biocontrol agent for opium poppy. The objective of this study was to characterize the growth and production of propagules of P. papaveracea on various substrates and determine their infectivity on opium poppy. Pleospora papaveracea was grown on agar media containing wheat bran, corn cobs, soy fiber, cottonseed meal, rice flour, cornstarch, pectin, dextrin, or molasses, all with the addition of brewer's yeast (BY). Maximum radial growth of P. papaveracea occurred on molasses, soy fiber, and wheat bran media. Pleospora papaveracea produced chlamydospores on dextrin–BY and cornstarch–BY only. Pleospora papaveracea growth in liquid media with 1% (wt/v) dextrin, cornstarch, soy fiber, or wheat bran resulted in the production of greater than 106 colony-forming units (cfu) ml−1 within 3 to 5 d of incubation. Pleospora papaveracea produced less than 105 chlamydospores ml−1 after 10 d of incubation in wheat bran–BY and soy fiber–BY liquid media compared with...
Fas-induced proteolytic activation and intracellular redistribution of the stress-signaling kinase MEKK1

The stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK, alternatively JNK) is activated rapidly by cell stress stimuli such as inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress, and more slowly by the initiation of the apoptotic cell death response by events such as ligation of the Fas protein. Mitogen-activated protein kinase/Erk kinase kinase-1 (MEKK1) is an activator of SAPK, serving as a SAPK-kinase-kinase through intermediate phosphorylation of the SAPK kinase SEK1. By sequencing proteolytic cleavage products of MEKK1, we found that the proapoptotic protease caspase 3 (CPP32) cleaves MEKK1 after residue D68 both in vivo and in vitro. Cleavage of MEKK1 after D68 is blocked by viral and chemical protease inhibitors. Cleavage of MEKK1 at D68 changes the intracellular distribution of the protein from a Triton-insoluble compartment to a Triton-soluble compartment, reflected in a redistribution from a particulate to a diffuse cytoplasmic staining seen by immunofluorescence. Activation of both SAPK and MEKK1 after Fas ligation is prevented by both viral and chemical caspase 3 inhibitors, which in contrast fail to block activation of SAPK by rapidly acting cell stresses. Stress factor-induced SAPK signaling is not dependent on caspase 3 function. We propose that two mechanisms of stress signaling through MEKK1 exist. One is rapid, independent of proteases, and occurs in the particulate Triton-insoluble compartment. The other is more slowly activated and involves liberation of particulate MEKK1 by proteolytic cleavage and activation by caspase 3.
Triplet Exciton Dissociation in Singlet Exciton Fission Photovoltaics

Triplet exciton dissociation in singlet exciton fission devices with three classes of acceptors are characterized: fullerenes, perylene diimides, and PbS and PbSe colloidal nanocrystals. Using photocurrent spectroscopy and a magnetic field probe it is found that colloidal PbSe nanocrystals are the most promising acceptors, capable of efficient triplet exciton dissociation and long wavelength absorption.