cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enzymic properties of β-mannanase from Polyporus versicolor

Abstract Substrate specificities and the kinetic parameters, K m and V max , of the four multiple enzyme forms of extracellular β-mannanase activity purified from Polyporus versicolor were determined. Although K m values were significantly greater than those encountered in other β-mannanase systems V max values were equivalent or much greater, rendering the physiological efficiencies of the β-mannanase comparable to those of other β-mannanases. All enzymes preferred glucomannan as substrate, were highly refractory at low concentrations to n -octylglucopyranoside, sodium deoxylcholate, and sodium dodecylsulfate, and were largely insensitive to methanol, ethanol, acetonitrile, and dimethylsulfoxide.
Linear stability of compressible Taylor-Couette flow

A temporal stability analysis of compressible Taylor–Couette flow is presented. The viscous flow studied in this paper is contained between two concentric cylinders of infinite length, which are rotating with different angular velocities and are kept at different surface temperatures. The linear stability analysis based on the Chebyshev collocation spectral method can be used to determine both the mode of the disturbance to be first excited and the corresponding eigenfunctions. The effects of differential rotation and temperature difference on the stability of Taylor–Couette flow are contrasted for a range of Mach numbers ranging from incompressible to Mach 3.0. The relative motion of the cylinders dramatically affects the characteristics of the Couette flow at the onset of instability. It is found that, at subsonic speeds of the inner cylinder, the only unstable mode is the axisymmetric first mode. However, more than one unstable mode appear at supersonic cylinder speeds, with the dominant one remaining the first mode. The flow is stabilized or destabilized depending upon the temperature ratio and speeds of the two cylinders. Independent of Mach number and temperature ratio, increasing Reynolds number generally promotes a destabilizing effect, indicating its inviscid nature of the Taylor–Couette flow.
Striking contrasts in stereoselectivities of spiro-claisen rearrangements of pyranosides versus carbocycles.

Abstract Structurally equivalent derivatives of pyranosides and cyclohexanes undergo the spiro-Claisen rearrangement with different stereochemical results. A rationalization for the course observed with the pyranosides is suggested, which invokes interaction of the oxygen lone pair with a (developing) electron deficient centre at the spiro carbon.
THE MIDDLE WEST

ABSTRACT Most of the Middle West was settled before the passage of the Homestead Act in 1863 by people of northern and western European ancestry who relied heavily upon water transport. Their commercial agriculture was based upon a standard rotation of corn, small grains, and hay, and most of the crops were fed to hogs or cattle. A century of rural stability produced a pecuniary value system associated with the family farm ideology. Part-owner operation has facilitated recent increases in farm size. Manufacturing in the west remains agriculturally-oriented, but the automobile industry has become more important in the east. The metropolitan Democratic vote is balanced by a Republican tradition in rural areas. The traits of the Middle West have strongly influenced the geographic profession in the United States.
Intravenous Digital Subtraction Aortography in the Preoperative and Postoperative Evaluation of Marfan's Aortic Disease

Seventeen patients with the skeletal stigmata of Marfan's syndrome or the physical and radiographic findings of Marfans aortic disease (or both) were studied using intravenous digital subtraction aortography. Digital subtraction aortography revealed a dilated aortic root in 16 of the 17 patients. One of the 17 had mildly dilated aortic sinuses with a normal ascending aorta. All of the four children (≤16 years of age) had aortic diameters which were greater than the 95th percentile for their body surface area. The average aortic root diameter in the adult patients was 6.8 cm (range, 4–11 cm). Three of the 17 had aortic dissection, two of which were detected by digital subtraction aortography and two by aortic root injection. Four of 13 adults and three children had pulmonary arterial diameters which exceeded 4 cm. Six patients underwent ascending aorta and valvular replacement and were studied with digital subtraction aortography after surgery. All preoperative and postoperative studies were of adequate diagnostic quality. Aortic root diameters calculated from intravenous digital subtraction angiograms correlated well with those derived from echocardiography (r 2 =0.92). We conclude that intravenous digital subtraction aortography is effective in diagnosing and following Marfans aortic disease both before and after surgery.
Primum non nocere.

• The purpose of this paper is to classify that group of vaguely recognized psychiatric patients who have multiple "physical" symptoms for which they seek equally multiple investigative or therapeutic procedures, including multiple surgery, without ensuing relief. The outstanding clinical features are the complaints; on routine examination, physical signs are vague, if at all present. The results of all special examinations are never more than equivocal. And the thickness of the accumulated clinical chart of each patient is diagnostic of the syndrome. There is, however, one other pathognomonic sign. The patient's wallet or purse still contains most of the prescriptions which have heen written. \Vhere others have heen filled, the containers generally remain unopened. Because the complaints are so diffuse, the diagnostic conclusion of hysteria, conversion reaction, psychosomatic disorder, or psychophysiologic reaction is not accurately applicable. The name "hypochondriasis," so long applied to this dehilitating malady, no longer exists officially as a diagnostic category in the manual of Mental Disorders of the APA. The hypochondriacal complaints of discomforts and disabilities (which are not simulated) defy investigation. If they do respond to non-specific treatment, they are soon replaced by equally disturbing symptoms. Yet, no clear cut direction is availahle to show into which disease classification this clearly defined group of patients should be placed. Ging, Jones, and Manis, 1964,1 have described their attempt to classify such cases. Fifteen of nineteen psychiatric patients with multiple physical symptoms showed EEG records which are described as "abortively paroxysmal;" only seven of 19 psychiatric patients also with multiple physical symptoms
Identifying the Optimum Drilling Direction for Characterization of Discontinuous Rock

Discontinuities (joints, fractures, bedding planes, faults) are ubiquitous within rock masses. Understanding and characterizing the nature of the discontinuities is the fundamental requirement of rock engineering. With a few exceptions, the engineering properties of most rock masses are influenced by the nature of the structure as opposed to the intact rock. Discontinuities govern the mechanical and hydrological behavior of the rock mass. During site investigations, drilling and logging of boreholes is one of the most commonly used methods of investigation, because of its relatively low cost, because of the large volume of data it provides, and because boreholes can be drilled to the exact location where the rock mass needs to be characterized. Nevertheless, drilling still incurs significant costs, and in order to maximize efficiency, it is highly desirable to maximize the information content and the reliability of the borehole data. For the purposes of this article, the optimal drilling direction is defined as the direction along which the maximum number of discontinuities is intersected. Because the probability of intersecting a given discontinuity is greatest with a borehole perpendicular to that discontinuity, it follows that for every orientation of discontinuity there exists an optimum drilling direction. This article proposes a method that can find the optimum drilling direction based on the analysis of linear sampling bias, assuming that there is some a priori knowledge of the structure. This is quantified by a linear sampling bias index (LSBI), which is a function of the relative angle between the orientation of the borehole and the mean orientation of the normals of each of the discontinuity sets. The optimum drilling direction is the direction along which the LSBI is minimized.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Prochlorperazine Versus Metoclopramide for Treatment of Acute Migraine

Study objective We compare prochlorperazine 10 mg intravenously versus metoclopramide 20 mg intravenously for the emergency department (ED) treatment of acute migraine. Methods This was a randomized, double-blind, clinical trial comparing 2 parenteral dopamine antagonists. Both drugs were administered during 15 minutes with 25 mg intravenous diphenhydramine. Pain scores on a numeric rating scale were assessed at baseline, every 30 minutes for 2 hours, and by telephone 24 hours after discharge. The primary endpoint was the between-group difference in change in numeric rating scale from baseline to 1 hour postbaseline. Secondary endpoints included mean differences in change in numeric rating scale at 2 and 24 hours, headache relief, adverse effects, and desire to receive the same treatment for future migraines. Results Of 152 patients screened, 97 were eligible and 77 were randomized. The mean change in numeric rating scale scores at 1 hour was 5.5 and 5.2 in subjects receiving prochlorperazine and metoclopramide, respectively (difference=0.3; 95% confidence interval [CI] –1.0 to 1.6). Findings were similar at 2 hours and 24 hours. Forty-six percent (18/39) of prochlorperazine and 32% (12/38) of metoclopramide subjects reported adverse events (difference=15%; 95% CI –6% to 36%). Seventy-seven percent (26/34) of prochlorperazine and 73% (27/37) of metoclopramide subjects wanted to receive the same medication in future ED visits (difference=4%; 95% CI –16% to 24%). Conclusion Either prochlorperazine 10 mg intravenously or metoclopramide 20 mg intravenously, combined with diphenhydramine 25 mg intravenously, is an efficacious treatment for ED patients with acute migraine. Three quarters of subjects in both arms would want the same medication for their next migraine.
The use of monazites for age determination

Abstract The results of four new isotopically controlled age determinations on monazites are presented. Two of the samples exhibit gross discrepancies in their individual isotopic ages. Some acid-washing experiments have been made on the powdered samples which give correlations with the age patterns. Specifically, high U 238 /Pb 206 ages are accompanied by excessive solubilities of uranium relative to thorium and Pb 206 relative to Pb 208 in the acid washes. The problem of the cause of the discordant ages is discussed with the aid of these data.
Effect of annealing and lithium substitution on conductivity in nickel–cobalt oxide spinel films

Mixed transition-metal oxide spinels exhibit high electrical conductivity and enhanced infrared transmissivity resulting from the presence of small polarons in the NiCo2O4 lattice. Polarons are formed as a result of judicious choice of component metal cations and attendant resident cation charge states. Substitution of lithium for cobalt (Ni1+xCo2−x−zLizO4) while maintaining the spinel stoichiometry and controlled post-deposition annealing was found to influence measured conductivity in both solution- and sputter-deposited thin films. For lithium concentrations 0.3) revealed that lithium was concentrated near the film surface and the formation of carbonate was detected by XPS and Fourier transform infrared data. Results indicate that additions of lithium to transition-metal spinel oxides can lead to increased conductivity by increased polaron formation. However, in high concentration, lithium is an interstitial that diffuses to the surface to form compounds that degrade electrical conductivity. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
D1 dopamine receptor: a putative neurochemical and behavioral link to cocaine action.

Cocaine is one of the most abused psychostimulants known to man and as such, researchers have been steadfast in their attempts to understand the neurobiological mechanisms responsible for its abuse. Cocaine undoubtedly wreaks havoc on a number of mammalian neuronal neurotransmitter systems, and it is maintained that this dysregulatory effect supports cocaine abuse. Cocaine's mechanism of action has been well described. Cocaine binds differentially to the dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine transport proteins and directly prevents the re-uptake of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine into pre-synaptic neurons (Heikkila et al., 1975, Biochem Pharmacol 24(8):847–852; Reith et al., 1986, Biochem Pharmacol 35(7):1123–1129; Ritz et al., 1987, Science 237:1219–1223). Inhibition of re-uptake subsequently elevates the synaptic concentrations of each of these neurotransmitters. In addition to this direct effect, cocaine also produces a number of indirect actions, which alter other neuromodulatory systems (i.e., opioidergic, glutamatergic, and GABAergic systems). Many of these effects are just beginning to be elucidated, but nonetheless contribute to this agent's diverse pharmacological profile. Interestingly, it is the indirect actions of this mellifluous molecule, which mediate most of its sought and unsought effects. The intricacy with which cocaine produces neuronal alterations beyond its direct effects on neurotransmitter re-uptake appear to be most relevant to cocaine abuse, and hence the phenomenon of addiction. In light of cocaine's multifarious effects on numerous neuronal systems, its effect on dopaminergic neurotransmission has attracted the most attention, particularly because of the implicated role of dopamine in brain reward. Pharmacologically, the psychostimulant effects of cocaine appear to be mediated by its ability to enhance dopaminergic activity within the mesocorticolimbic circuit (Roberts et al., 1977, Pharmacol Biochem Behav 6(6):615–620). Additionally, it is the intensity with which cocaine produces alterations in dopaminergic circuitry that have enabled this drug to prevail as one of the most addictive substances known to man. This review will summarize findings relevant to cocaine-induced alterations in dopamine-mediated signal transduction. Specifically, it will concentrate on the D1 dopamine receptor and intracellular signaling mediated by this receptor subtype. It will describe cocaine-induced cellular and behavioral alterations relevant to this pathway and how these changes potentially effect gene transcription and protein expression. This article too will review a common behavioral manifestation associated with repeated cocaine exposure, sensitization, and why the D1 dopamine receptor and its associated signaling pathway have been implicated in this phenomenon. Lastly, this article will discuss how targeting the D1 dopamine receptor and its signaling pathway may offer some insight into understanding cocaine addiction, a somewhat elusive brain disease. J. Cell. Physiol. 191: 17–27, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Studies on the Mechanism of Action of Somatostatin on the Endocrine Pancreas. I. Interaction with a-Adrenergic Receptors

To determine whether inhibition of insulin release by somatostatin (SRIF) might be mediated through aadrenergic receptors, the interaction of the competitive a-adrenergic antagonist phentolamine with SRIF on arginine-stimulated insulin release from rat pancreases perfused in vitro was examined. Phentolamine, at a concentration (5 μM) which completely reversed inhibition of insulin release by 0.05 /IM epinephrine, had no effect on inhibition of insulin release due to 0.05 /xM SRIF; insulin release at comparable periods of arginine stimulation averaged 366 ± 48 ng in control studies, 420 ± 81 ng during infusion of epinephrine plus phentolamine, and 72 ± 12 ng during infusion of SRIF plus phentolamine (P < 0.001). Phentolamine (50 μM) increased insulin release during infusion of SRIF (0.05 JLIM) to values (339 ± 66 ng) not significantly different from those observed in control studies. However, this concentration of phentolamine was found to augment insulin release (600 ± 75 vs. 366 ± 48 ng in control studie...
Chemical Preservation of Volatile Organic Compounds in Soil

Laboratory protocols are necessary for assessing the concentration stability of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in site-specific soil matrices, because refrigeration (4 °C) alone does not prevent microbiological degradation. An experimental approach was developed using hermetically sealed vials for storage and in-vial analysis. This technique avoids volatilization losses while assessing the apparent rate of microbiological degradation and enables an assessment of the effectiveness of chemical preservation. Using this approach, concentrations of most of the chlorinated compounds tested were unaffected by storage temperature and/or chemical preservation over a 28-day holding period. Aromatic compounds, however, were rapidly degraded (>95% loss) when stored at 22 °C over this same period and often showed a substantial reduction (30% or greater loss) when stored at 4 °C. Chemical preservation with either sodium chloride (NaCl) or sodium bisulfate (NaHSO4) sup pressed the microbiological degradation of these...
Speaker-independent phone recognition using hidden Markov models

Hidden Markov modeling is extended to speaker-independent phone recognition. Using multiple codebooks of various linear-predictive-coding (LPC) parameters and discrete hidden Markov models (HMMs) the authors obtain a speaker-independent phone recognition accuracy of 58.8-73.8% on the TIMIT database, depending on the type of acoustic and language models used. In comparison, the performance of expert spectrogram readers is only 69% without use of higher level knowledge. The authors introduce the co-occurrence smoothing algorithm, which enables accurate recognition even with very limited training data. Since the results were evaluated on a standard database, they can be used as benchmarks to evaluate future systems. >
Dose-related synergism of cytosine arabinoside and methotrexate against murine leukemia l1210.

Abstract When administered in rapid succession, cytosine arabinoside and methotrexate acted synergistically in prolonging the lives of BDF 1 mice inoculated with L 1210 ascites tumor cells. The magnitude of this synergism increased as the dosage of either or both drugs was increased. At maximum dosage ( 12 mg methotrexate per kg plus 1200 mg of cytosine arabinoside per kg), the drug combination completely eradicated tumor cells in 11 of 40 mice and extended the mean survival of the remaining 29 animals by 23·64 days ( 332% ) beyond control survival. In contrast, neither drug given singly on the same schedule cured leukemic mice nor extended their mean survival beyond controls by more than 10·18 days ( 143% ). Statistically significant contributions to survival were made by three experimental variables: (i) methotrexate dosage, (ii) cytosine arabinoside dosage, and (iii) dosage interaction between the two drugs.
Evidence that the Pgp-1 glycoprotein is expressed on thymus-homing progenitor cells of the thymus

The Pgp-1 glycoprotein is found on the bone marrow prothymocyte; however, only a few percent of cells within the normal thymus express significant quantities of Pgp-1 glycoprotein. One hypothesis is that some or all of these Pgp-1+ thymocytes represent thymocyte progenitors or the immediate descendents of the bone marrow-derived prothymocyte. A cell present in the thymus which is able to home back to the thymus and to transiently repopulate it represents one class of thymocyte progenitor. Thymocyte populations enriched in this thymus-homing progenitor are enriched in Pgp-1+ cells. Treatment of these enriched populations with anti-Pgp-1 antibody inhibits activity of the thymus-homing progenitor. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the thymus-homing progenitor bears Pgp-1 on its surface.
Herbivory on freshwater macrophytes

Abstract Conventional wisdom holds that live macrophytes are rarely consumed and are functionally unimportant in aquatic food webs. With a review of the literature, I first demonstrate that macrophyte biomass, productivity, and species composition is often influenced by a variety of vertebrate and invertebrate grazers. Many grazers destroy much more macrophyte tissue than they eat. Contrary to conventional wisdom, live macrophytes are engaged in aquatic food webs, but the functional importance of grazing remains largely untested. Second, I evaluate the hypothesis that macrophytes are a poor quality food (low in protein). Nitrogen content (as a percentage of dry weight), as summarized from published literature, differs little among algae, emergent macrophytes, floating macrophytes, submersed macrophytes, trees, terrestrial forbs, and terrestrial grasses. Thus, nitrogen content could not be a reason to expect low herbivory on macrophytes. Third, I present previously unpublished data on the selectivity of crayfish grazing. A correlational analysis of the grazing hierarchy of crayfish and published hierarchies of other grazers (moose, carp, snails, and crayfish) suggest that herbivores have apparently similar selectivities among macrophyte species. Previously unpublished (for crayfish) and published proximate and mineral analyses of macrophytes eaten by grazers suggest no basis for selectivity by crayfish and other grazers, with the exception of a preference by moose for high sodium and protein. However, a correlational analysis of independently published grazer preferences and plant tissue phenolic and alkaloid concentrations suggests that phenolic, but not alkaloid, content is negatively related to grazing preference. Finally, I point out the need for unifying approaches in the study of freshwater herbivory. To understand the influence of herbivory (relative to other biotic and abiotic factors) on macrophyte populations and assemblages, extensive comparisons of grazing damage across environmental gradients and across macrophyte and grazer species must be made. Susceptibility to grazers must be evaluated in light of the contrasting life history strategies evident in different macrophytes. Reasonable starting points for general approaches to macrophyte-herbivore interactions may include the apparency and resource availability models developed for terrestrial plant-herbivore interactions. Given the apparently negative relationship between grazing preference and phenolic content of macrophytes, more investigation of the role of secondary compounds is necessary.
Integrating maps of chromosome 16

The recently published, detailed cytogenetic-based physical map of chromosome 16 has the highest resolution of any autosomal cytogenetic map thus far constructed. The genetic map has been integrated with the cytogenetic map to facilitate the regional localization of disease genes by linkage. Disease genes for tuberous sclerosis, familial Mediterranean fever, Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome and Morquio A syndrome have now been assigned to chromosome 16. The search for the adult polycystic kidney disease gene has recently been narrowed to the analysis of candidate loci on chromosome 16, and localization of the gene determining juvenile Batten disease has been further refined by disequilibrium mapping.
Is p53 a breast cancer gene

No Abstract AvailableCommentary to: Title: Mutations in the p53 Tumor Suppressor Gene and Early Onset Breast CancerAuthors: Hong Lai, Lin Lin, Mehrdad Nadji, Shenghan Lai, Edward Trapido and Lou MengPage Numbers: 31-36
Human T-lymphotropic type 1 virus p30 inhibits homologous recombination and favors unfaithful DNA repair

Whereas oncogenic retroviruses are common in animals, human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) is the only transmissible retrovirus associated with cancer in humans and is etiologically linked to adult T-cell leukemia. The leukemogenesis process is still largely unknown, but relies on extended survival and clonal expansion of infected cells, which in turn accumulate genetic defects. A common feature of human tumor viruses is their ability to stimulate proliferation and survival of infected pretumoral cells and then hide by establishing latency in cells that have acquired a transformed phenotype. Whereas disruption of the DNA repair is one of the major processes responsible for the accumulation of genomic abnormalities and carcinogenesis, the absence of DNA repair also poses the threat of cell-cycle arrest or apoptosis of virus-infected cells. This study describes how the HTLV-1 p30 viral protein inhibits conservative homologous recombination (HR) DNA repair by targeting the MRE11/RAD50/NBS1 complex and favors the error-prone nonhomologous-end–joining (NHEJ) DNA-repair pathway instead. As a result, HTLV-1 p30 may facilitate the accumulation of mutations in the host genome and the cumulative risk of transformation. Our results provide new insights into how human tumor viruses may manipulate cellular DNA-damage responses to promote cancer.
Enteral feeding in neonates with prostaglandin-dependent congenital cardiac disease: international survey on current trends and variations in practice.

BackgroundThe benefits of early enteral feeding in neonates are well known and yet the optimal pre-operative nutrition of prostaglandin-dependent infants with congenital cardiac disease remains ill-defined. This survey delineates international nutritional practices and trends with this population.Materials and methodsPaediatric practitioners responded to an Internet-based survey that explored assessment of feeding practices, criteria for feeding readiness, medication dosing, concurrent feeding with umbilical catheters, and the observed incidence of feeding intolerance. Documented nutritional strategies were not correlated with patient outcomes.ResultsA total of 200 caregivers responded to the survey. Fewer United States caregivers (56%) reported routine pre-operative enteral feeding in prostaglandin-dependent infants when compared with caregivers outside the United States of America (93%). Of those respondents willing to feed, approximately two-thirds did not base their decision on the ductal flow direction. Numerous and heterogeneous parameters were reported to assess feeding readiness. Many caregivers report scepticism with regard to enteral feeding safety in neonates with an umbilical artery catheter, and to a lesser extent in the presence of an umbilical venous catheter. In summary, there is a prevailing lack of consensus regarding pre-operative enteral nutrition to prostaglandin-dependent neonates.ConclusionsThis survey demonstrates noticeable variations in pre-operative nutritional practices between providers from around the world. Arguments that support or refute this practice have little support in the medical literature. Future studies should aim to demonstrate the safety of such practice and compare the outcomes of prostaglandin-dependent neonates who were pre-operatively enterally fed with those who were not.
Clinical experience with the OPERAStarSL using saline irrigation fluid for OPERA

Abstract Objective: To present clinical results using a new hysteroscopic resectoscope, the OPERAStarSL with PEARL technology, which cuts and coagulates uterine tissue in a physiologic, conductive fluid environment in order to perform OPERA, Out-Patient Endometrial Resection/Ablation. Use of physiologic normal saline in resectoscopy has not previously been feasible. Use of normal saline prevents complications such as hyponatremia and cerebral edema due to excessive absorption of traditional nonphysiologic fluids. Methods: Patients suffering from abnormal uterine bleeding with or without submucosal fibroids who were scheduled for surgical intervention underwent OPERA for treatment of their condition. The OPERAStarSL resectoscope with PEARL technology was used with a 0.9% saline distention medium. The PEARL technology insulates the active electrode so that a noninsulating fluid, such as 0.9% saline or lactated ringers, can be used while maintaining the ability to cut and coagulate tissue using a standard monopolar electrosurgery unit. Operative data recorded include uterine size, presence and size of fibroids, pretreatment with endometrial thinning agents, operative time, cutting/coagulating power levels, estimated blood loss, and calculated fluid deficit. Additional data include the ability to cut and coagulate tissue as compared to standard resectoscopes used in the physician’s clinical practice. Results: A total of 22 patients underwent operative hysteroscopy with the described resectoscope. Average age of all patients was 45 years (range 30–70), and average weight was 158 pounds (range 106–258). Eighteen (82%) patients underwent OPERA while the remaining 4 (18%) patients underwent fibroid resections. The average uterine size was 7 weeks (range 4–14). Average operative time was 26 minutes, and all procedures were successfully completed without complications. Fluid deficit averaged 480 mL (range 0.0–1.54 L) as reported by the Flo-Stat Fluid Management System. A Likert scale was used to rate the device’s ability to cut and coagulate tissue with results indicating the OPERAStarSL accomplishes the same clinical results to standard resectoscopic devices used in the physician’s clinical practice. Conclusion: Complete uterine tissue resection and ablation can now be accomplished in a saline environment. The unique PEARL technology with the OPERAStarSL resectoscope is effective in cutting and coagulating uterine tissue. Operating in a saline environment eliminates the most prevalent potential complication of operative hysteroscopy when using nonphysiologic irrigation solutions, dilutional hyponatremia, and secondary cerebral edema.
Book Reviews : Fourth Generation Evaluation by Egon Guba and Yvonne Lincoln. Newburg Park, CA: Sage, 1989, 294 pp

Books applicable to the broadfield of program evaluation are reviewed. Books may be reviewed singly or in groups to illuminate similarities and differences in intent, philosophy, and usefulness. Persons with suggestions of books to be reviewed or those who wish to submit a review should contact Dr. Byron R. Burnham, Evaluation Specialist (Cooperative Extension Service, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322- 4900 ; phone: 801-750-1637) for specific instructions. In general, a review of an individual book should not exceed four double-spaced typewritten pages; groups of books may require additional length.
Asymmetrical hypertrophy of the heart in childhood

Three children under 6 years of age with the diagnosis of asymmetrical hypertrophy of the heart are described. In 2 patients the diagnosis was confirmed at autopsy, and available clinical data for the third patient indicate this diagnosis. Dysfunction of the myocardium has been the predominant feature. The experience with these cases suggests that the diagnosis may be established clinically with the aid of specific electrocardiographic, angiocardiographic, and radiographic findings.
Bioenergetic approaches for neuroprotection in Parkinson's disease

There is considerable evidence suggesting that mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage may play a role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). This possibility has been strengthened by recent studies in animal models, which have shown that a selective inhibitor of complex I of the electron transport gene can produce an animal model that closely mimics both the biochemical and histopathological findings of PD. Several agents are available that can modulate cellular energy metabolism and that may exert antioxidative effects. There is substantial evidence that mitochondria are a major source of free radicals within the cell. These appear to be produced at both the iron-sulfur clusters of complex I as well as the ubiquinone site. Agents that have shown to be beneficial in animal models of PD include creatine, coenzyme Q(10), Ginkgo biloba, nicotinamide, and acetyl-L-carnitine. Creatine has been shown to be effective in several animal models of neurodegenerative diseases and currently is being evaluated in early stage trials in PD. Similarly, coenzyme Q(10) is also effective in animal models and has shown promising effects both in clinical trials of PD as well as in clinical trials in Huntington's disease and Friedreich's ataxia. Many other agents show good human tolerability. These agents therefore are promising candidates for further study as neuroprotective agents in PD.
The cycloheximide-induced amnesia gradient of a passive avoidance task

Mice were injected with cycloheximide (cyc) or saline 45 min before passive avoidance training. They were tested 1, 1.5, 3, 5, 7, 24, or 72 h after training. A significant drop in the performance of the eye animals was observed between the 3- and 5-h test intervals, a result similar to that found in maze studies. However, contrary to the results of maze studies, amnesia was evident as early as 1.5 h after training. Several possible explanations for this early appearance of amnesia are discussed, and it is suggested that the retraining procedure used in maze studies may have masked the early stages of amnesia.
Precarious Changes: Gender and Generational Politics in Contemporary Italy:

The issue of a generational exchange in Italian feminism has been crucial over the last decade. Current struggles over precariousness have revived issues previously raised by feminists of the 1970s, recalling how old forms of instability and precarious employment are still present in Italy. This essay starts from the assumption that precariousness is a constitutive aspect of many young Italian women's lives. Young Italian feminist scholars have been discussing the effects of such precarity on their generation. This article analyses the literature produced by political groups of young scholars interested in gender and feminism connected to debates on labour and power in contemporary Italy. One of the most successful strategies that younger feminists have used to gain visibility has involved entering current debates on precariousness, thus forcing a connection with the larger Italian labour movement. In doing so, this new wave of feminism has destabilized the universalism assumed by the 1970s generation. By pointing to a necessary generational change, younger feminists have been able to mark their own specificity and point to exploitative power dynamics within feminist groups, as well as in the family and in the workplace without being dismissed. In such a layered context, many young feminists argue that precariousness is a life condition, not just the effect of job market flexibility and not solely negative. The literature produced by young feminists addresses the current strategies engineered to make ‘their’ precarious life more sustainable. This essay analyses such strategies in the light of contemporary Italian politics. The main conclusion is that younger Italian women's experience requires new strategies and tools for struggle, considering that the visibility of women as political subjects is still quite minimal. Female precariousness can be seen as a fruitful starting point for a dialogue across differences, addressing gender and reproduction, immigration, work and social welfare at the same time.
From Compensatory Education to Adult Education: the New York City Evening Schools, 1825-1935:

Public evening schools in the United States have always had a triple purpose: to teach vocational skills, to compensate for lack of previous education and to Americanize the immigrant. In New York, the evening schools performed all three functions, but be cause the city was home to millions of immigrants it was especially concerned with the need to reach the foreign born. Like evening schools everywhere, the New York City system was troubled by poor attendance, unsuitable curriculum and inadequate teachers. In some respects, however, particularly through a lecture program known as the "Peoples University," it had an important influence on the adult education movement. The effort to Americanize the immigrant during and after World War I increased the importance of all evening schools and other developments in the Twenties and Thirties led them to assume a different role. By 1935 the New York evening schools were no longer merely an agency for com pensatory education; they were now a full-fledged institutio...
Endothelial nitric oxide: protector of a healthy mind

Endothelial nitric oxide (NO) is generated by constitutively active endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), an essential enzyme responsible for cardiovascular homeostasis. Historically, endothelial NO was first recognized as a major vasodilator involved in control of vasomotor function and local blood flow. In this review, our attention is focused on the emerging role of endothelial NO in linking cerebrovascular function with cognition. We will discuss the recognized ability of endothelial NO to modulate processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP), influence functional status of microglia, and affect cognitive function. Existing evidence suggests that the loss of NO in cultured human cerebrovascular endothelium causes increased expression of APP and β-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) thereby resulting in increased secretion of amyloid β peptides (Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42). Furthermore, increased expression of APP and BACE1 as well as increased production of Aβ peptides was detected in the cerebral microvasculature and brain tissue of eNOS-deficient mice. Since Aβ peptides are considered major cytotoxic molecules responsible for the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, these observations support the concept that a loss of endothelial NO might significantly contribute to the initiation and progression of cognitive decline. In addition, genetic inactivation of eNOS causes activation of microglia and promotes a pro-inflammatory phenotype in the brain. Behavioural analysis revealed that eNOS-deficient mice exhibit impaired cognitive performance thereby indicating that selective loss of endothelial NO has a detrimental effect on the function of neuronal cells. Together with findings from prior studies demonstrating the ability of endothelial NO to affect synaptic plasticity, mitochondrial biogenesis, and function of neuronal progenitor cells, it is becoming apparent that the role of endothelial NO in the control of central nervous system function is very complex. We propose that endothelial NO represents the key molecule linking cerebrovascular and neuronal function.
Impact of Indochina Deforestation on the East Asian Summer Monsoon

This paper describes a study that investigates the local and remote effects of Indochina deforestation on the east Asian summer monsoon. During the summer months, the peninsula is subject to strong monsoonal flow whose downstream rainfall is of vital importance for China, where a significant fraction of the world’s population lives. It is, therefore, extremely important to investigate how the landscape change affects this monsoonal flow, and whether this effect is strong enough to cause notable changes in the regional rainfall. For this reason, a modeling experiment with the International Pacific Research Center regional climate model was carried out. Ensemble simulations with the current vegetation cover in the peninsula and its reforested scenario were performed for the period from 20 April to 31 August 1998. The results of the experiment indicate that deforestation in the peninsula has not only local, but also far-reaching effects on the east Asian summer monsoon. Locally, the effect could be described as increases in wind speed and temperature, and as a decrease in water vapor mixing ratio from the surface up to about 850 mb. Furthermore, the deforestation tends to enhance the rising motions, and, hence, tends to reduce surface pressure and geopotential height up to about 850 mb over the deforested area. The local landscape changes tend to increase rainfall on the downwind side and decrease it on the upwind side. Far-reaching effects in summer include a weakening of the monsoonal flow over east China, near the Tibetan Plateau, and a strengthening over the neighboring seas to the east. These changes yield sandwichtype drier and wetter bands that are elongated along the main flow path of the east Asian summer monsoon. A comparison of the modeled changes with the observed rainfall trends suggests that the deforestation in the Indochina Peninsula could be one of the major factors causing changes in the climate of the region.
Oops, I did it again: mitigating repeated access control errors on facebook

We performed a study of Facebook users to examine how they coped with limitations of the Facebook privacy settings interface. Students graduating and joining the workforce create significant problems for all but the most basic privacy settings on social networking websites. We therefore created realistic scenarios exploiting work/play boundaries that required users to specify access control policies that were impossible due to various limitations. We examined whether users were aware of these problems without being prompted, and once given feedback, what their coping strategies were. Overall, we found that simply alerting participants to potential errors was ineffective, but when choices were also presented, participants introduced significantly fewer errors. Based on our findings, we designed a privacy settings interface based on Venn diagrams, which we validated with a usability study. We conclude that this interface may be more effective than the current privacy settings interface.
Overlapping coverage with reuse partitioning in cellular communication systems

In cellular communication systems overlapping coverage areas of nearby base stations provide some users with access to more than one base. This can be used to improve teletraffic performance. Mobile users who are distant from base stations are helped most by this because they are more likely to be in communication range of other nearby bases. Reuse partitioning, on the other hand, tends to be most helpful to users that are close to base stations, because they can use channels from more partitions. This paper considers the combined use of overlapping coverage and reuse partitioning so that all users gain some advantage. We develop an analytical model for such systems. Theoretical traffic performance characteristics are obtained and compared with those for fixed channel assignment schemes. Priority for handoff calls is considered. Simulation results validate the analysis.
Multiple jobholder mortality patterns in Kentucky: an examination of occupational fatalities.

Background The percentage of multiple jobholders was elevated in Kentucky compared to the US from 2002 to 2010. Methods Kentucky Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) multiple jobholder fatality data were analyzed to identify contributing injury factors from 2002 to 2010. Results Kentucky's total occupational fatality rates were higher than US rates for all years (2002–2010). Kentucky multiple jobholder fatalities averaged 8.4 deaths per 100,000 employees compared to the total average occupational fatality rate of 6.5. Almost half of multiple jobholder fatalities (47%) occurred in the agricultural industry and management occupation as the primary industry and occupation; 67% were tractor-related. The most prevalent secondary industry and occupation were the construction industry and management occupation. Conclusions Increased surveillance of multiple jobholder injuries is needed to improve safety and health on the job. Future investigations should include the relationship between multiple jobholding and agricultural employment as farm owners. Am. J. Ind. Med. 56:881–888, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Predicting functional regulatory polymorphisms

Motivation: Limited availability of data has hindered the development of algorithms that can identify functionally meaningful regulatory single nucleotide polymorphisms (rSNPs). Given the large number of common polymorphisms known to reside in the human genome, the identification of functional rSNPs via laboratory assays will be costly and time-consuming. Therefore appropriate bioinformatics strategies for predicting functional rSNPs are necessary. Recent data from the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) Project has significantly expanded the amount of available functional information relevant to non-coding regions of the genome, and, importantly, led to the conclusion that many functional elements in the human genome are not conserved. Results: In this article we describe how ENCODE data can be leveraged to probabilistically determine the functional and phenotypic significance of non-coding SNPs (ncSNPs). The method achieves excellent sensitivity (~80%) and speci.city (~99%) based on a set of known phenotypically relevant and non-functional SNPs. In addition, we show that our method is not overtrained through the use of cross-validation analyses. Availability: The software platforms used in our analyses are freely available ( http://www.cs.waikato.ac.nz/ml/weka/). In addition, we provide the training dataset (Supplementary Table 3), and our predictions (Supplementary Table 6), in the Supplementary Material. Contact:nschork@scripps.edu. Supplementary information:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Achieving a system operational availability requirement (ASOAR) model

The achieving a system operational availability requirement (ASOAR) model is a macroanalysis analytic tool that estimates optimal end item operational availabilities from the system requirement. A system operational availability (Ao) requirement is a quantitative expression of user need. Ao represents the probability that an item will be in an operable or committable condition at any random point in calendar time. Information about model outputs and inputs, equipment configuration and support concepts handled by ASOAR, and potential applications for the ASOAR model are presented. Also, two different system supportability application examples are discussed, one in communications availability and the other in operational availability. Attention is also given to model verification and documentation.
Effect of Dietary Linoleic to Linolenic Acid Ratio and Vitamin E Supplementation on Vitamin E Status of Poults

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of dietary linoleic to linolenic acid (LO:LN) ratio and dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (TA) supplementation on selected characteristics of the liver and cerebellum and on vitamin E status of turkey poults from hatch through 22 d of age. In Experiment 1, 1-d-old poults were fed diets containing no supplemental TA (0E) or 150 IU TA/kg diet (150E). Poults fed the 150E diet had greater (P < 0.001) concentrations of alpha-tocopherol (TOC) in the liver and plasma than those fed the 0E diet from 7 to 22 d of age. The 150E diet, however, did not completely overcome the decrease in liver and plasma TOC concentrations observed at these ages. The 150E diet had no effect on poult BW, feed efficiency, or on the weight, protein, lipid, or fatty acid concentrations of the liver. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay of liver and hemolysis assay of red blood cells (RBC) showed that the 150E diet decreased the susceptibility of liver and RBC to in vitro peroxidation at 13 and 22 d of age. In Experiment 2, 1-d-old poults were fed the 0E and 150E diets in a complete factorial arrangement with decreasing ratios of LO:LN (10, 5, and 1). Dietary LO:LN ratio had no effect on RBC hemolysis or cerebellum TOC concentration. As the ratio of LO:LN decreased, the arachidonic acid content of liver and cerebellum lipids decreased. Ratios of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids in liver and cerebellum were directly related to dietary LO:LN at 13 and 22 d of age.