cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Practical and reliable synthesis of 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-2-O-trifluoromethanesulfonyl-beta-D-mannopyranose, a precursor of 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG)

Purpose To develop a practical and reliable synthesis of 1,3,4,6-tetra- O -acetyl-2- O -trifluoromethanesulfonyl-β-D-mannopyranose (mannose triflate), a precursor of 2-deoxy-2-[ 18 F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG). Procedures The key intermediate in the preparation of the triflate precursor, 1,3,4,6-tetra- O -acetyl-β-D-mannopyranose, was synthesized starting from D-mannose via the following four steps:(1) per- O -acetylation with Ac 2 O–I 2 ,(2) formation of acetobromomannose with 30% HBr in AcOH,(3) 1,2-orthoester formation with EtOH–2,4,6-collidine and (4) hydrolysis of the 1,2-orthoester with 1M aqueous HCl. Triflation of this key intermediate with Tf 2 O–pyridine then completed the synthesis of the mannose triflate. Results Starting from 200 g of D-mannose, the triflate precursor was synthesized with an overall yield of 65g to 85g (12% to 16%) in approximately seven days. The inherent low efficiency of the orthoester hydrolysis was compensated by the quantitative recovery and subsequent recycling of penta- O -acetyl-D-mannopyranose. Conclusion A large-scale preparation of mannose triflate is now routinely carried out to satisfy the growing needs for FDG in both research centers and hospitals.
LIPOPROTEIN (a) DOES NOT PREDICT FAMILY HISTORY OF EARLY HEART DISEASE IN HYPERLIPIDEMIC CHILDREN. † 117

LIPOPROTEIN (a) DOES NOT PREDICT FAMILY HISTORY OF EARLY HEART DISEASE IN HYPERLIPIDEMIC CHILDREN. † 117
Assessing prevention research impact: a bibliometric analysis.

Background This study was undertaken to explore a bibliometric approach to assessing the impact of selected prevention research center (PRC) peer-reviewed publications. Methods The 25 eligible PRCs were asked to submit 15 papers that they considered the most important to be published in the decade 1994-2004. Journal articles ( n =227) were verified in 2004 and categorized: 73% were research reports, 10% discussion articles, 9% dissemination articles, and 7% review articles. Results Only 189 articles (83%) were searchable via the Institute of Scientific Information (ISI) Web of Science databases for citation tracking in 2004. These 189 articles were published in 76 distinct journals and subsequently cited 4628 times (range 0 to 1523) in 1013 journals. Articles published before 2001 were cited a median of 14 times each. Publishing journals had a median ISI impact factor of 2.6, and ISI half-life of 7.2. No suitable benchmarks were available for comparison. The PRC influence factor (number of PRCs that considered a journal highly influential) was only weakly correlated with the ISI impact factor and was not correlated with half-life. Conclusions Conventional bibliometric analysis to assess the scientific impact of public health prevention research is feasible, but of limited utility because of omissions from ISI's databases, and because citation benchmarks for prevention research have not been established: these problems can and should be addressed. Assessment of impact on public health practice, policy, or on the health of populations, will require more than a bibliometric approach.
Two physiological substrate‐specific casein kinases are present in the bovine mammary gland

Two species of casein kinase from lactating bovine mammary gland have been identified; a Ca2+- and CM-independent casein kinase and a Ca2+- and CM-dependent casein kinase. The Ca2+- and CM-independent casein kinase phosphorylates previously dephosphorylated alpha s1-, beta- or kappa-casein while the Ca2+- and CM-dependent casein kinase prefers previously dephosphorylated beta- or kappa-casein as substrates. Two activities are indicated by their substrate specificity, sensitivity to Ca2+ and CM, pH maxima, and differential solubilization by anionic detergents. The presence of a regulated casein kinase in the lactating mammary gland suggests that casein phosphorylation may be a regulator of micelle formation or secretion.
A common library interface to shared-memory multiprocessors

In writing a highly-portable parallel program, we developed a library of parallel primitives to shield our application code from the various multiprocessors. Rather than adapt the different multiprocessors to a program-specific library via extensive implementation, we chose to first find a common 'intersection' of the virtual machine models provided by each vendor, define a common interface to that model, and then develop our application based on that model. This paper describes the resulting common virtual machine model and a library interface to that model. We have implementations for that model on seven different shared-memory multiprocessors, and two different uniprocessors. Each implementation averages less than 100 lines of code. The common virtual machine model requires more programming effort than any one vendor's library, but the resulting program executes reasonably efficiently on all machines. >
Impact of molecular biology studies on the understanding of brain tumors in childhood

Pediatric brain tumors are the second most common form of childhood malignancy. Brain tumors are a very heterogenous group of tumors and the pathogenesis of many of these tumors is yet to be clearly elucidated. Current diagnostic tools include histopathology and immunohistochemistry, but classification based on these means has significant limitations. As our understanding of the molecular biology of individual tumors continues to increase it has led to the identification of reliable and increasingly available molecular biomarkers. Molecular techniques are likely to complement current standard means of investigation and help not only overcome diagnostic challenges but may also result in better disease classification and risk stratification, leading to more personalized therapeutic approaches.
A single π-bond captures 3, 4 and 5 atoms

Abstract Could more than two atoms be bound in such a way that a π-bond is the major bonding force without involving σ-bond at all? To answer this question, we have shown that 3, 4 or 5 metal atoms can be held together by a single π-bond in the Mg 3 − , NaMg 3 − and Na 2 Mg 3 species. In both the NaMg 3 − and Na 2 Mg 3 species, the basic structural unit is an unusual Mg 3 2− trigonal planar cluster, which exhibits properties of aromaticity, because it satisfies the 4 n + 2 rule for π-electrons and it is an equilateral triangle. Natural population analysis shows that the Na atomic orbitals contribute to formation of the π-bonding MO and thus all four in NaMg 3 − or all five in Na 2 Mg 3 atoms are involved in chemical bonding. In these clusters, π-aromaticity occurs without initial formation of the σ-framework.
GENERATING CHINESE RESPONSES IN A MEDICAL QUESTION-ANSWERING SYSTEM

We are building a question-answering system to assist physicians obtaining information from a patient knowledge base. We were motivated to build this system by evidence that physicians are much more willing to use systems that provide interactive responses. Sager’s Linguistic String Parser is being used to generate responses from information formats. These responses combine information retrieved from the knowledge base with inferences made from that information.
Limit theory and bootstrap for explosive and partially explosive autoregression

Abstract Consistency of the least squares estimator \ gb of the autoregressive parameter vector is established in a pth order autoregression model Yt = β1 Yt−1 + … + βpYt−p + et, when all the roots of the characteristic polynomial Φ(ξ) = ξp − β1ξp−1 − … − βp lie outside the unit circle and {et} is an arbitrary collection of independent random variables satisfying a uniform integrability of log+ (|et|) and a condition in terms of the concentration functions. For i.i.d. errors, a limiting distribution result for \ gb is obtained under the finiteness of Elog+ (|et|). The asymptotics for bootstrapping the sampling distribution of \ gb is also considered under the same moment condition and is shown to match (in probability) the limiting distribution of \ gb. Thus, for the explosive case, the bootstrap principle works with the usual choice of the resample size even if the error distribution is heavy tailed. Furthermore, we show that the error in the bootstrap approximation (as measured by the Kolmogorov distance) goes to zero, almost surely, if E|et| Partially explosive models, where the characteristic polynomial Φ has some roots inside and some roots outside the unit circle are also considered. For such models, the Kolmogorov distance between the true sampling distribution of \ gb and its bootstrap approximation is shown to converge to zero when Ee2t
Signa Tutor: results and future directions

The authors report on the Signa Tutor, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) simulator. Their goal was to cost-effectively teach MRI scanning techniques to technologists and physicians using the simulator, off-line from the General Electric (GE) Signa scanner. They implemented the scanner's user-interface for image acquisition, using HyperCard together with an Oracle database to maintain images and scan-parameters. The software operates on a standard Apple Macintosh-II computer. Two aspects of the project are reported in this paper. First, enhancements to the Signa Tutor, including Signa 4.0 pulse sequences and new images, are presented. Second, a time and motion study that compares image acquisition learning time using Signa Tutor verses traditional technologist training on the GE-Signa console is described. In this study, an expediency test was performed which compares the speed at which an operator performs a single scan sequence on both devices.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Self‐Administered Alcoholism Screening Test: A Comparision of Conventional Versus Computer‐Administered Formats

The equivalence of paper-and-pencil-administered and computer-administered versions of the Self-Administered Alcoholism Screening Test (SAAST) was investigated with alcoholic inpatients and nonalcoholic psychiatric outpatients. When the two formats were administered in counterbalanced order, total score mean differences were nonsignificant. In addition, mean differences on a short-form version were also nonsignificant. Equivalence was also determined by comparing the two formats in terms of classification agreement (i.e., classification of subjects into alcoholic and nonalcoholic categories). Agreement between the two formats was 95% in both the total score and short-form versions. Implications of these results as well as the advantages and disadvantages of using computer-administered alcoholism screening tests are discussed.
Temperature dependence of the lifetime spectrum of rubber-carbon black composites

Abstract We report preliminary results of the temperature dependence of the lifetime spectra of natural rubber (NR) and NR loaded with 50 phr of carbon black (CB) from room temperature to below the glass transition temperature ( T g ). Additional polymers to be studied include Sn-SSBR, Duradene 706, 709 and 711 and butyl rubber: both unloaded and loaded with CB N115 or N762. Different types of CB have very different structure and are expected to have different effects on the behavior of the lifetime near T g .
Optimal grid-free path planning across arbitrarily contoured terrain with anisotropic friction and gravity effects

The authors address anisotropic friction and gravity effects as well as ranges of impermissible-traversal headings due to overturn danger or power limitations. The method does not require imposition of a uniform grid, nor does it average effects in different directions, but reasons about a polyhedral approximation of terrain. It reduces the problem to a finite but provably optimal set of possibilities and then uses A* search to find the cost-optimal path. However, the possibilities are not physical locations but path subspaces. The method also exploits the insight that there are only four ways to optimally traverse an anisotropic homogeneous region: (1) straight across without braking, which is the standard isotropic-weighted-region traversal; (2) straight across without braking but as close as possible to a desired impermissible heading; (3) making impermissibility-avoiding switchbacks on the path across a region; and (4) straight across with braking. The authors prove specific optimality criteria for transitions on the boundaries of regions for each combination of traversal types. >
The role of initial modality in treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue

This is a retrospective study in 279 patients, who were treated for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, to evaluate the role of initial modality on survival and recurrence pattern and the salvage rate of the second modality (surgery or radiation therapy) when the first one had failed.
One-hour proteome analysis in yeast

Recent advances in chromatography and mass spectrometry (MS) have made rapid and deep proteomic profiling possible. To maximize the performance of the recently produced Orbitrap hybrid mass spectrometer, we have developed a protocol that combines improved sample preparation (including optimized cellular lysis by extensive bead beating) and chromatographic conditions (specifically, 30-cm capillary columns packed with 1.7-μm bridged ethylene hybrid material) and the manufacture of a column heater (to accommodate flow rates of 350-375 nl/min) that increases the number of proteins identified across a single liquid chromatography-tandem MS (LC-MS/MS) separation, thereby reducing the need for extensive sample fractionation. This strategy allowed the identification of up to 4,002 proteins (at a 1% false discovery rate (FDR)) in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain BY4741) over 70 min of LC-MS/MS analysis. Quintuplicate analysis of technical replicates reveals 83% overlap at the protein level, thus demonstrating the reproducibility of this procedure. This protocol, which includes cell lysis, overnight tryptic digestion, sample analysis and database searching, takes ∼24 h to complete. Aspects of this protocol, including chromatographic separation and instrument parameters, can be adapted for the optimal analysis of other organisms.
MO‐A‐342‐01: Activity Quantitation and Dose Estimation From Nuclear Medicine Imaging

Because of resistance to chemotherapy and multiple sites of disease, internal emitters are being more frequently used in treating advanced cancer patients. This radiotherapy is predicated upon injection of beta‐ or alpha‐labeled antibodies and other agents that target tumor markers. Most clinical success has occurred in the case of B‐cell lymphoma and hepatic lesions. For associated treatment planning, estimate of radiationdose (D) to tumors and normal tissues requires application of the equality D = S * A where S is a rectangular matrix and A is a set of total decays for each source tissue. While S may be determined via Monte Carlo(MC) methods, A requires that the observer integrate time‐activity curves for each source. Quantitation of activity at depth in patients has been a continuing problem in nuclear medicine. Multiple methods have been developed ranging from direct counting (surface lesions), through geometric mean estimates (GM) to hybrid techniques (SPECT/CT) involving nuclear and CT scans. In the last strategy, attenuation may be taken directly from the CT data set. Quantitative SPECT (QSPECT) studies typically involve such hybrid imaging techniques and correct for attenuation, scatter, collimator geometry and partial volume effects. Accuracy of these methods, as measured by phantom studies, varies from +/−; 30% (GM) to as little as +/− 5% for QSPECT. While PET/CT may also be considered, the limited number of positron emitters causes this application to be more problematic. Time considerations make extensive use of QSPECT difficult. Standard clinical procedure follows Koral et al (Cancer Biother Radiopharm. 2000; 15; 347–355) in combining GM at the requisite multiple time points with an overlap of QSPECT at one time point. The latter study is then used to normalize the geometric mean values and improve quantitation of activity. Finally, we must note that two types of dose estimate are being done: phantom (Type I) and patient‐specific (Type II). In the former case, a standard geometry is applied assuming; e.g., the OLINDA program. Here, the patient or volunteer activity integral must be corrected for relative mass differences between phantom and patient. With Type II, the patient's own organ geometry is used to generate an S matrix. This may be done directly with MC techniques or a phantom value may be corrected by the target organ mass differences between the phantom and patient. If these corrections are not made, errors in S may be on the order of several‐fold. Uncertainty in resultant D values is estimated by combining errors in S and A. Educational Objectives: 1. Know how to estimate internal emitter doses via D = S * A . 2. Understand various methods to quantify activity at depth in patients. 3. Realize that both phantom and patient dose estimates are needed. 4. Understand the size of errors involved in dose estimation.
Reputation acquisition of underwriter analysts – Theory and evidence

I examine the role of reputation in a multi-stage strategic information transmission game between an analyst and an investor. While reputation mitigates the conflict of interest in a repeated game, it may induce the biased analyst to elevate potential underperformers to the highest rating category, thus undermining the information quality of the highest message. Uncertainty about firm value helps the unbiased analyst to communicate better information in a single stage game. However, in a multi-stage game, uncertainty increases misrepresentation by the biased analyst. Empirical implications are tested. I document that 1) affiliated and unafflliated analysts recommendations differ only in the “Strong Buy” category; 2) the underperformance of underwriter analysts' recommendations increases with the underlying uncertainty. JEL classification codes : G83, D24
Pharmacological properties of hypobranchial gland of thais haemastoma (clench)

The aqueous extract of the hypobranchial glands of Thais haemastoma, administered intravenously to anesthetized cats at doses equivalent to 60–90 mg. of fresh gland/kg. body weight, produced an increase in the blood pressure accompanied by tachycardia. These effects were partially blocked by hexamethonium bromide but were not modified by atropine or adrenergic blockade. In the isolated rabbit heart preparation, the extract caused an increase in the heart rate, coronary outflow, and amplitude of cardiac contractions. The extract produced marked contractions in the guinea pig ileum, rabbit duodenum, and rat uterus, which were blocked by atropine and hexamethonium bromide, and induced contractions in the frog rectus abdominis muscle, which were abolished by d-tubocurarine. It also blocked the conductions in the frog nerve–muscle preparations. It appeared that two active components were present in the hypobranchial gland extract; one produced a direct stimulatory effect on the blood pressure and heart actions and the other acted as a neuromuscular blocking agent of depolarizing type. The LD50 in mice was found to be 215 mg./kg.
Children’s Attributional Style From Middle Childhood to Early Adolescence: Further Validation of the Paper-and-Pencil Versions of the Children’s Attributional Style Interview

The psychometric properties of two paper-and-pencil versions of the Children’s Attributional Style Interview (i.e., CASI-I and CASI-II) were evaluated in a sample of 166 third and fourth graders and a sample of 245 sixth and seventh graders. The results demonstrated strong internal consistency reliability, convergent validity, and a factor structure that was consistent with theory in both samples. Furthermore, analyses demonstrated adequate evidence of the reliability and validity of several dimensional subscale scores and the composite measures of attributional style for both positive and negative events. These results suggest the utility of the CASI in research testing specific attributional predictions of cognitive theories of depression with the dimensional subscale scores. They further add to the literature by demonstrating item-level factor analytic support for a children’s attributional style measure and the feasibility of administration sizes larger than previously tested, which add to the utility...
Temperature distribution in tissues from a regular array of hot source implants: an analytical approximation

An approximate analytical model based on the bioheat transfer equation is derived and used to calculate temperature within a perfused region implanted regularly with dielectrically coated hot source implants. The effect of a regular array of mutually parallel heat sources of cylindrical shape is approximated by idealizing one of the boundary conditions. The solution is in terms of modified Bessel functions. In calculating the temperature of each thermoregulating source in the array, the steady state power balance is enforced. The important feature of the model is that the finite size of implant diameter and its dielectric coating can be incorporated. The effect of thickness and thermal conductivity of the coating on the source and tissue temperatures along with various other interesting features are deduced from this model. The analytically calculated implant and tissue temperatures are compared with those of a numerical 3-D finite difference model. The analytical model also is used to define a range of parameters such that minimal therapeutic temperatures will be achieved in the implanted volume without exceeding prescribed maximum temperatures. >
The 1984 H. Tropper Memorial Lecture Electronic Ppocesses in Dielectric Liquids Under Incipient Breakdown Stress

The fundamental processes of charge carrier generation and motion in pure hydrocarbon liquids under high electrical stress are reviewed in the light of present knowledge of amorphous phase electronics and of the electrochemistry of electrode-dielectric interfaces. existence of quasi-free electron and equally mobile positive hole states in a liquid such as nhexane makes it possible to develop plausible models for the extremely fast cathode and anode-initiated incipient breakdown discharge processes which have been observed.
Improved rates for three-body recombination at low temperature

Abstract The three-body recombination (TBR) process is important in modelling plasmas for wide range of temperature T and densities N . At low T , the conventional form of the TBR rates exhibits the disastrous T −9/2 dependence, but has been remedied recently by introducing a simple N dependent cutoff. In this report, we consider further the second major adjustment that involves the final captured state degeneracy, which is dictated by the dynamics of recombination. Thus, the two gross adjustments made should for the first time put the TBR rates at low temperature to within an order of magnitude accuracy.
Serial determination of marker substances in ovarian cancer

Abstract Serial radioimmunoassays measuring placental lactogen, carcinoembryonic antigen, specific chorionic gonadotropin, and α-fetoprotein were performed on sera from 58 patients with advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Consistent, positive correlations between disease status and marker substance levels were not observed. This study clearly demonstrates that the above-mentioned marker substances are not of clinical value in the follow-up of patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma. The quest to find useful marker substances must continue.
Sensitive periods of amygdala development: the role of maltreatment in preadolescence

The amygdala is vulnerable to stress-dependent disruptions in neural development. Animal models have shown that stress increases dendritic arborization leading to larger amygdala volumes. Human studies of early stress and amygdala volume, however, remain inconclusive. This study compared amygdala volume in adults with childhood maltreatment to that in healthy controls. Eighteen participants from a longitudinal cohort and 33 cross-sectional controls (17 M/34 F, 25.5±3.1 years) completed a structural magnetic resonance imagining scan and the Maltreatment and Abuse Chronology of Exposure scale. Random forest regression with conditional trees was used to assess relative importance of exposure to adversity at each age on amygdala, thalamic or caudate volume. Severity of exposure to adversity across age accounted for 27% of the variance in right amygdala volume. Peak sensitivity occurred at 10-11 years of age, and importance of exposure at this time was highly significant based on permutation tests (p=0.003). The regression model showed that exposure during this sensitive period resulted in steep dose-response function with maximal response to even modest levels of exposure. Subjects in the highest exposure quartile (MACE-11, range=11-54) had a 9.1% greater right amygdala volume than subjects in the lowest exposure quartile (MACE-11, ≤3.5). No associations emerged between age of exposure and volume of the left amygdala or bilateral caudate or thalamus. Severity of adversity experienced at age 10-11 contributed to larger right but not left amygdala volume in adulthood. Results provide preliminary evidence that the amygdala may have a developmental sensitive period in preadolescence.
High-Resolution Methods for Characterizing Mesoscale Dislocation Structures

It has become apparent through experimentation at the micro- and nanolevels that the crystalline defects known as dislocations have significant effects on a material's properties. Accordingly, a complete material state description must include the characterization of the dislocated state. However, this characterization presents a twofold problem: resolution and representation. In general, high-resolution microscopy techniques are only useful for considering a few dislocations at a time, but automated high-speed methods are only capable of resolving dislocation densities well above the average density in a typical annealed metal. The second challenge is developing a method of representation for the dislocated state. Unlike most state quantities, dislocation lengths are not conserved and complete representation would require tracking of position, momentum, and interactions, as well as the creation and annihilation of dislocations. Such a scheme becomes unwieldy when considering the large numbers of dislocations involved in common crystal plasticity. In 1970, Kroner ("Initial Studies of a Plasticity Theory Based Upon Statistical Mechanics," Inelastic Behaviors of Solids (Materials Sciences and Engineering), M. F. Kanninen et al., eds., McGraw-Hill, New York, pp. 137-147), a pioneer in the continuum representation of dislocations, proposed a statistical method using n-point correlations to classify the dislocated state in a compact form. In addition to providing a convenient form, the correlations naturally identify dipoles, multipoles, and other higher order structures, such as cells, networks, and braids. As formulated, Kroner's method would require high-resolution microscopy techniques, which limits its utility for experimental measurements. The current work presents a modification to Kroner's method that would allow it to be used within the currently available resolution limits of bulk microscopy. Furthermore, in this work, newly developed microscopy techniques are employed to refine those resolution limits to more significant levels. The high-resolution bulk dislocation characterization is applied to a well-annealed nickel specimen and the results including visualizations of mesoscale structures are presented.
Arene C-H amination at nickel in terphenyl-diphosphine complexes with labile metal-arene interactions.

The meta-terphenyl diphosphine, m-P_2, 1, was utilized to support Ni centers in the oxidation states 0, I, and II. A series of complexes bearing different substituents or ligands at Ni was prepared to investigate the dependence of metal–arene interactions on oxidation state and substitution at the metal center. Complex (m-P_2)Ni (2) shows strong Ni^0–arene interactions involving the central arene ring of the terphenyl ligand both in solution and the solid state. These interactions are significantly less pronounced in Ni^0 complexes bearing L-type ligands (2-L: L=CH_3CN, CO, Ph_2CN_2), Ni^IX complexes (3-X: X=Cl, BF_4, N_3, N_3B(C_6F_5)_3), and [(m-P_2)Ni^(II)Cl_2] (4). Complex 2 reacts with substrates, such as diphenyldiazoalkane, sulfur ylides (Ph_2=CH_2), organoazides (RN_3: R=para-C_6H_4OMe, para-C_6H_4CF_3, 1-adamantyl), and N_2O with the locus of observed reactivity dependent on the nature of the substrate. These reactions led to isolation of an η^1-diphenyldiazoalkane adduct (2-Ph_2CN_2), methylidene insertion into a Ni-P bond followed by rearrangement of a nickel-bound phosphorus ylide (5) to a benzylphosphine (6), Staudinger oxidation of the phosphine arms, and metal-mediated nitrene insertion into an arene C-H bond of 1, all derived from the same compound (2). Hydrogen-atom abstraction from a Ni^I–amide (9) and the resulting nitrene transfer supports the viability of Ni–imide intermediates in the reaction of 1 with 1-azido-arenes.
Reaction centers from three herbicide resistant mutants of Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1: Kinetics of electron transfer reactions

Electron transfer rates were measured in RCs from three herbicide-resistant mutants with known amino acid changes to elucidate the structural requirements for last electron transfer. The three herbicide resistant mutants were IM(L229) (Ile-L229↦ Met), SP(L223) (Ser-L223↦ Pro) and YG(L222) (Tyr-L222↦ Gly). The electron transfer rate D(+)QA (-)QB↦D(+)QAQB (k AB) is slowed ∼3 fold in the IM(L229) and YG(L222) RCs (pH 8). The stabilization of D(+)QAQB (-) with respect to D(+)QAQB (-) (pH 8) was found to be eliminated in the IM(L229) mutant RCs (ΔG(0) ∼ 0 meV), was partially reduced in the SP(L223) mutant RCs (ΔG(0)=-30 meV), and was unaltered in the YG(L222) mutant RCs (ΔG(0)=-60 meV), compared to that observed in the native RCs (ΔG(0)=-60 meV). The pH dependences of the charge recombination rate D(+)QAQB (-)↦DQAQB (k BD) and the electron transfer from QA (-) (k QA (-)↦QA) suggest that the mutations do not affect the protonation state of Glu-L212 nor the electrostatic interactions of QB and QB (-) with Glu-L212. The binding affinities of UQ10 for the QB site were found in order of decreasing values to be native ≥IM(L229) > YG(L222)≥ SP(L223). The altered properties of the mutant RCs are used to deduce possible structural changes caused by the mutations and are dicscussed in terms of photosynthetic efficiency of the herbicide resistant strains.
Meckel's diverticulum on small-bowel follow-through series and computerized tomography scan in a 7-year-old boy with anemia.

© 2007 by the AGA Institute 1542-3565/07/$32.00 7-year-old boy presented with fatigue and intermittent abdominal pain. Physical examination was remarkable or pallor. He was found to have iron-deficiency anemia hemoglobin level, 7.1 g/dL; iron level, 8 g/dL; range, 40 – 59 g/dL) and guaiac-positive stools. Esophagogastroduoenoscopy and colonoscopy were unrevealing. Single-conrast small-bowel follow-through series showed a single ilated segment of small bowel in continuity with identifible normal loops of proximal and distal ileum (Figures A nd B, arrow pointing to diverticulum). The cecum and erminal ileum were seen superior and lateral to this lesion not shown). Computerized tomography of the abdomen and elvis also showed a contrast-filled dilated loop of bowel in ontinuity with the distal ileum (Figure C, arrow pointing to iverticulum). A technetium pertechnetate (Meckel’s) scan as negative. Diagnostic laparoscopy revealed a saccular eckel’s diverticulum located approximately 2 feet proximal doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2007.07.022
Step-edge barriers on Pt(111) : An atomistic view

The escape of platinum from Pt(111) islands has been examined in the field ion microscope to obtain a direct view of atomic events. No effective barrier to the escape of platinum clusters larger than dimers is found at step edges, but incorporation of individual adatoms is nevertheless more effective at low temperatures. From the temperature dependence of the rate of atom disappearance from Pt(111) islands, the additional step-edge barrier is found as 0.06{plus_minus}0.01 eV , quite small compared with the diffusion barrier of 0.26thinspthinspeV, and in sharp contrast with deductions from growth experiments. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society }
International human resource management: diversity, issues and challenges

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to introduce the special issue which considers the impact that the global world has had on the profession of HRM.Design/methodology/approach – In June 2009, the International Human Resource Management Conference was held in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA. Various IHRM papers were presented, and of these, many were subjected to a second round of reviews for this special issue. This special issue is made up of the best papers.Findings – The article highlights that as IHRM has emerged as an academic discipline, a variety of debates and issues have come to dominate the literature. For practitioners, a long‐standing issue has been the delineation of specific practices to be used in the management of people within international organizations. Over time, practices have emerged, and texts today can readily be found that represent such practices for those working in MNCs as HR managers.Originality/value – A number of concerns about HRM are raised in this issue, most of which are...
Screening for Subclinical Thyroid Dysfunction in Nonpregnant Adults: A Summary of the Evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

This systematic review provides the evidence to support the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force's position on screening adults for thyroid disease.
Reducing diarrhoeal diseases: lessons on sanitation from Ethiopia and Haiti

WAKE M.M. & TOLESSA C. (2011) Reducing diarrhoeal diseases: lessons on sanitation from Ethiopia and Haiti. International Nursing Review59, 34–39 Background: Lack of basic sanitation is the root cause of the high incidence of diarrhoea and child mortality in developing countries. Nurses have unique opportunities to reduce the mortality associated with diarrhoeal diseases by going beyond treatment to primary prevention. Aim: This article applies current literature on sanitation and examples from two countries to enable nurses to participate in or lead sanitation improvement and diarrhoea reduction. Methods: Major reports on sanitation and websites for various governmental and non-governmental organizations were reviewed for problems and strategies amenable to nursing action. Databases were searched for articles on the nursing role in sanitation using the keywords hygiene, sanitation, toilets, diarrhoea, hand washing and nurse. Concepts from the literature were integrated with experiences of nurses in two countries. Findings: Several publications on sanitation improvement provided sufficient detail for nurses to utilize. No articles were found on the comprehensive role of nurses in sanitation. Community behaviour change in sanitation improvement was identified as critical in the literature and in the field. Conclusion: While sanitation engineers and others may act to improve sanitation in a nation, they do not provide the ongoing health education needed for community behaviour change. Lessons from Ethiopia and Haiti show the value of community participation in sanitation planning, as well as the need for ongoing reinforcement. Nurses can save many lives by incorporating hygiene and sanitation strategies into their practice to reinforce efforts of others or to take leadership roles.
Self-Reported Hearing Difficulty Versus Audiometric Screening in Younger and Older Smokers and Nonsmokers

Background : The high incidence of age-related hearing loss demands accessible, low cost hearing screenings for prevention and hearing health promotion. This study assessed performance of self report (SR) against audiometry, and prevalence of hearing difficulty when screening hearing in middle-aged and younger adults, including smokers and nonsmokers. Methods : Prospective participants (N = 219) completed a questionnaire providing biographical, health, and smoking information. Their Yes/No responses about hearing or communication difficulty provided data for self-reported hearing loss. Eligible (N = 170) participants received a hearing test including immittance, pure-tone, and speech audiometry. The binaural pure-tone average (PTA) hearing threshold was determined; PTA decibel (dB) level indicated degree (e.g., mild) of hearing loss. All hearing screening data were coded and initially analyzed in an Access database. Statistical analyses based on conditional probability included measures of prevalence, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of the SR versus audiometric measures. Participants provided a urine sample for biochemical analysis to confirm smoker/nonsmoker status. Results : Among all participants (N = 170), overall prevalence of self-reported hearing difficulty (15.9%) was in excellent agreement with measured, mild hearing loss (16.5%). However, factoring in age and smoking revealed that SR was incongruent with audiometry because hearing loss was overestimated by smokers and younger participants and underestimated by middle-aged individuals. The SR question yielded high specificity (80-90%) overall. Specificity was highest in nonsmokers (89-94%) and younger (90-91%) individuals with lower performance in smokers and middle-aged participants. SR sensitivity was high (86-100%) only when the hearing impairment cutoff was > 40 dB (moderate loss) and > 60 dB (severe loss). Sensitivity was highest in smokers (100%), supporting SR for screenings. High negative and low positive predictive value (PPV) occurred in smokers, younger, and middle-aged persons. This study reports new sensitivity and specificity data on self-reported hearing difficulty in smokers (N = 98), younger (N = 80), and middle-aged (N = 90) adults, indicating efficacy of SR as an adult hearing screening measure. Conclusions : SR was effective as few normal-hearing persons were labeled “hearing-impaired”. However, audiometry should supplement SR to optimize detection of mild hearing loss for at-risk adults. Results may guide community health initiatives for hearing screenings, prevention, and health promotion. doi:10.4021/jocmr 61 1w
Probability distributions in library and information science: a historical and practitioner viewpoint

This paper has a dual character dictated by its twofold purpose. First, it is a speculative historiographic essay containing an attempt to fix the present position of library and information science within the context of the probabilistic revolution that has been encompassing all of science. Second, it comprises a guide to practitioners engaged in statistical research in library and information science. There are pointed out the problems of utilizing statistical methods in library and information science because of the highly and positively skewed distributions that dominate this discipline. Biostatistics are indicated as the source of solutions for these problems, and the solutions are then traced back to the British biometric revolution of 1865‐1950, during the course of which modern inferential statistics were created. The thesis is presented that science has been undergoing a probabilistic revolution for over 200 years, and it is stated that this revolution is now coming to library and information science, as general stochastic models replace specific, empirical informetric laws. An account is given of the historical development of the counting distributions and laws of error applicable in statistical research in library and information science, and it is stressed that these distributions and laws are not specific to library and information science but are inherent in all biological and social phenomena. Urquhart’s Law is used to give a practical demonstration of the distributions. The difficulties of precisely fitting data to theoretical probability models in library and information science because of the inherent fuzziness of the sets are discussed, and the paper concludes with the description of a simple technique for identifying and dealing with the skewed distributions in library and information science. Throughout the paper, emphasis is placed on the relevance of research in library and information science to social problems, both past and present.
A case of severe hidradenitis suppurativa contributing to a death and a review of the literature.

j Abstract: Objective. Our aim was to report a fatal complication of hidradenitis suppurativa and a review of the literature. Materials and Methods. A case of severe hidradenitis suppurativa obscuring the diagnosis and precluding the treatment of a ruptured sigmoid diverticulum is presented. Results. We describe a 48-year-old woman who had a long history of untreated hidradenitis suppurativa with extensive vulvar involvement and poor nutritional status. The advanced state of her disease on initial presentation led directly to her death. Conclusion . Although it is a treatable disease, hidradenitis suppurativa can lead to systemic sequelae severe enough to contribute directly to death. j
Novel and Known Microsatellite Markers Within the β-Globin Cluster to Support Robust Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis of β-Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Syndromes

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for β hemoglobinopathies has become the most common application among monogenic disorders. We present the identification of microsatellite markers [short tandem repeats (STRs)] closely linked to the β-globin gene for incorporation within PGD protocols, with the aim of increasing the number of transferable embryos. Nine candidate STRs were identified in-silico, of which three were selected based on rate-of-heterozygosity, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) efficiency and size. The multiplex reaction (β-globin gene and selected STRs, all within <0.4 Mb from the β gene) was optimized in single lymphocytes, and subsequently applied in 38 PGD cycles in couples at-risk for transmitting β hemoglobinopathies. In conclusion, incorporation of closely linked polymorphic microsatellite markers <0.4 Mb from the β-globin gene, facilitates robust assignment of β hemoglobinopathy genotypes, increasing the number of transferrable embryos otherwise rejected due to allele-drop-out (ADO),...
The Role of Heat Shock Proteins in Antigen Cross Presentation

Heat shock proteins (HSP) are molecular chaperones that can bind tumor antigens (Ag) and mediate their uptake into antigen presenting cells (APC). HSP-antigen complexes are then directed towards the MHC class I pathway through antigen cross presentation as well as to the conventional class II pathway. Mechanisms involved in the uptake of HSP-chaperoned Ag and sorting between these pathways are currently under investigation. The pathways of internalization of HSP-Ag complexes are somewhat different from the mechanisms of uptake previously determined for (unchaperoned) particulate and free soluble antigens. A number of studies show that HSP-facilitated Ag cross-presentation requires uptake of the complexes by scavenger receptors followed by Ag processing in the endosome and loading onto MHC class I molecules in the same compartment. In this review we have examined the roles of HSPs and scavenger receptor SRECI in antigen uptake, sorting, processing and activation of CTL.
113 Years of Physical Review: Using Flow Maps to Show Temporal and Topical Citation Patterns

We visualize 113 years of bibliographic data from the American Physical Society. The 389,899 documents are laid out in a two dimensional time-topic reference system. The citations from 2005 papers are over laid as flow maps from each topic to the papers referenced by papers in the topic making intercitation patterns between topic areas visible. Paper locations of Nobel Prize predictions and winners are marked. Finally, though not possible to reproduce here, the visualization was rendered to, and is best viewed on, a 24" times 30" canvas at 300 dots per inch (DPI).
Influence of infused hypertonic saline on the response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia in man.

We studied the influence of a hypertonic saline infusion on the counterregulatory response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia in nine normal men. When given hypertonic saline, the men had less hypoglycemia in response to insulin, both acutely and in the recovery phase (P < 0.01), and released 34% more glucagon (P < 0.05) than when they were water loaded. The total integrated ACTH, cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and GH responses to hypoglycemia were similar after saline and water loading. After the saline load, the mean plasma vasopressin level rose from 11.0 ± 2.2 (±sem) to 20.9 ± 2.9 pg/mL in response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia. In contrast, after the water load, vasopressin levels were undetectable (<2 pg/mL) and they increased only to 2.6 ± 0.4 pg/mL with hypoglycemia. There was a significant positive correlation between basal plasma vasopressin and nadir glucose concentrations and a significant negative correlation between basal plasma vasopressin and the integrated fall in glucose after ins...
Optimization modeling of analyte adhesion over an inclined microcantilever-based biosensor

The effect of the microcantilever inclination on analyte adhesion is numerically analyzed in this work. A generalized model for the analyte adhesion is considered based on wall shear stress (WSS) at the microcantilever surface. Several analytical solutions for special cases are obtained. It is found numerically that the total mass transfer is enhanced by increasing the adhesion rate, the Peclet number and the use of converging flows over the microcantilever. Further, it is found that there exists a critical Peclet number that can maximize the total mass transfer when WSS slows down the adhesion process. The critical Peclet number increases as adhesion rate increases while it decreases as the flow becomes more convergent. Correlations are established on the basis of the numerical simulations for predicting flow operating conditions inside fluidic cells under maximized mass transfer rate conditions. Finally, this work paves the way for future experimental work in this area.