cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association Between Prolactinoma and Body Mass Index

Abstract Objective Obesity is increasing worldwide, and certain endocrine disorders may contribute to weight gain. While several studies have examined the association between weight gain and prolactinomas, the results are conflicting. Therefore, this study aimed to determine if body mass index (BMI) is higher among those with prolactinomas than those without. Methods We identified patients ≥18 years of age referred to an endocrine clinic between 2008 and 2018 with newly diagnosed prolactinomas. We extracted the relevant information, and comparative data was obtained from the 2015-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results In total, 34 cases met the inclusion criteria. One third of the patients described weight gain at presentation. Those with prolactinomas had a significantly higher BMI than the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey population (median BMI, 29.8 kg/m2 vs 28.3 kg/m2, P = .0048). When stratified by sex, only men with prolactinomas had an increased BMI compared with the controls. Moreover, those with prolactinomas had a higher prevalence of class II obesity (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2) than the survey population (35% vs 18%, P = .01). Among the prolactinoma patients, a correlation was observed between BMI and log-transformed prolactin levels (R2 = 0.4, P = .0002). Conclusion Weight gain can be a presenting symptom for patients with newly diagnosed prolactinomas. Those with prolactinomas have a higher BMI and an increased prevalence of class II obesity. These findings suggest that patients should be counseled regarding weight issues related to prolactinomas at presentation and should be a consideration in the investigative and treatment algorithm of prolactinomas.
ConCerv: a prospective trial of conservative surgery for low-risk early stage cervical cancer, by Schmeler et al

I would like to congratulate Dr Schmeler and colleagues on completing an important, well-designed, and well-monitored study evaluating the feasibility and oncologic outcomes of conization alone or simple hysterectomy (conservative surgery for fertility preservation) in stage IA2-IB1 cervical cancers
Age Set vs. Kin: Culture and Financial Ties in East Africa

We study how social organization shapes patterns of economic interaction and the distributional consequences of public policy, focusing on the distinction between age-based and kin-based social structure in sub-Saharan Africa. In age-based ethnicities, known as ``age set societies,'' individuals are organized into social groups based on age cohort that take priority over kinship ties. Motivated by ethnographic accounts that suggest that these differences are important for financial transfers, we analyze an unconditional cash transfer program in Kenya and document that in age set societies there are large consumption spillovers within the age cohort, but not the extended family, while in kin-based societies we find the opposite pattern. Next, we document that local variation in social structure shapes the impact of national policy. Exploiting the staggered roll-out of Uganda's social pension program, we find that household exposure to the program has large, positive effects on child nutrition and educational investment in kin-based societies, but no impact on children in age set societies, where intergenerational ties are weak.
Band Structure Engineering Based on InGaN/ZnGeN2 Heterostructure Quantum Wells for Visible Light Emitters

Band structure engineering based on InGaN/ZnGeN2 heterostructure quantum wells (QWs) is proposed to address the long-standing charge separation challenge in visible light emitters using polar InGaN...
Field Experience with the Energy Absorbing Steering Column

GENERAL MOTORS INTRODUCED IN ITS 1967 PASSENGER CARS A NEW INNOVATION IN THE CONCEPT OF VEHICLE SAFETY. THIS INNOVATION, CALLED THE "ENERGY ABSORBING STEERING COLUMN", WAS EVALUATED IN THE LABORATORY AND IN PROTOTYPE VEHICLES BEFORE ITS INTRODUCTION TO THE PUBLIC. A STATISTICAL STUDY OF STEERING CONTROL SYSTEM PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN CONDUCTED ON 3,000 1968 GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES WHICH WERE INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS. THIS FIELD ACCIDENT STUDY IS THEN COMPARED WITH RAW ACCIDENT DATA OBTAINED FROM ACIR. VARIOUS OTHER ASPECTS OF THE PERFORMANCE OF THE ENERGY ABSORBING STEERING COLUMN ARE INVESTIGATED IN THIS SUMMARY OF FIELD ACCIDENT EXPERIENCE.
CLARKS FORK YELLOWSTONE RIVER REMOTE SENSING STUDY

The Clarks Fork Yellowstone River of Montana and Wyoming, known for its historical sediment and siltation problems, is investigated to locate points at which sediment loads enter the river and to estimate the relative magnitude of sediment concentrations in the tributary flows as compared to the river. Remote sensing techniques were selected for the study to provide adequate coverage of a large portion of the river and to evaluate its use in monitoring and studying sediment movements in a river system. The basic procedure for the investigation involved three phases of operation: (1) the ground-truth data program to collect physical information from the study area; (2) aerial flights to obtain the necessary color infrared photographs and thermal imagery; and (3) the interpretation and analysis of results from these data collection programs. Results of the study indicate that aerial color infrared photography and thermal infrared imagery are efficient and practical tools for locating and identifying inflow of sediment-laden water to a river system.
The Theories and Myths That Have Guided Development

Publisher Summary The central issues facing most of the world today are associated with economic development. Another question that follows logically concerns the degree to which this development should occur unconstrained by any government regulation, that is, in response to “market forces” and “free enterprise,” or the extent to which those market forces should be regulated by government. The most obvious aspect of life in Costa Rica in recent years has been development and its associated changes. A component of development is that it is encouraged, guided, and often sanctioned by economic analysis, and this economic analysis tends to be based on a particular approach to economics known as neoclassical economics. The principal economic question faced by Costa Rica is whether it has the biophysical resource base to support more than three and a half million people at a modern, moderate Western standard of living. The general approach to improving the economic conditions of Costa Ricans in the past has been based in large part on “development.” A summary of previous large-scale development projects undertaken in Costa Rica is presented. Case studies in developing countries reveal additional economic failures resulting from international economic development policies. Thus, neoclassical economics often contributes to the destruction of real economic wealth while not accounting for that destruction, meanwhile encouraging the generation of other, often less important, wealth that happens to enter markets.
SU-E-T-148: Benchmarks and Pre-Treatment Reviews: A Study of Quality Assurance Effectiveness

Purpose: To determine the impact benchmarks and pre-treatment reviews have on improving the quality of submitted clinical trial data. Methods: Benchmarks are used to evaluate a site’s ability to develop a treatment that meets a specific protocol’s treatment guidelines prior to placing their first patient on the protocol. A pre-treatment review is an actual patient placed on the protocol in which the dosimetry and contour volumes are evaluated to be per protocol guidelines prior to allowing the beginning of the treatment. A key component of these QA mechanisms is that sites are provided timely feedback to educate them on how to plan per the protocol and prevent protocol deviations on patients accrued to a protocol. For both benchmarks and pre-treatment reviews a dose volume analysis (DVA) was performed using MIM softwareTM. For pre-treatment reviews a volume contour evaluation was also performed. Results: IROC Houston performed a QA effectiveness analysis of a protocol which required both benchmarks and pre-treatment reviews. In 70 percent of the patient cases submitted, the benchmark played an effective role in assuring that the pre-treatment review of the cases met protocol requirements. The 35 percent of sites failing the benchmark subsequently modified there planning technique to pass the benchmark before being allowed to submit a patient for pre-treatment review. However, in 30 percent of the submitted cases the pre-treatment review failed where the majority (71 percent) failed the DVA. 20 percent of sites submitting patients failed to correct their dose volume discrepancies indicated by the benchmark case. Conclusion: Benchmark cases and pre-treatment reviews can be an effective QA tool to educate sites on protocol guidelines and to minimize deviations. Without the benchmark cases it is possible that 65 percent of the cases undergoing a pre-treatment review would have failed to meet the protocols requirements.Support: U24-CA-180803
Aneuploidy and chromosome breakage in swim-up versus unprocessed semen from twenty healthy men.

Toxicological and epidemiological studies have investigated several factors that are believed to induce cytogenetic damage in human sperm cells in an effort to estimate heritable risk to future generations. Most of these studies have not differentiated damage based on cell fertility or motility. In the clinical setting, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) bypasses the natural process of sperm selection. Although practitioners attempt to select motile sperm for ICSI, the sperm may not always demonstrate motility, maturity, or even viability. Knowing whether cytogenetic damage differs in motile versus unselected sperm would improve our ability to estimate heritable risk and lead to improved ICSI procedures, and would expand the body of toxicology and epidemiology research. We divided semen samples from 20 healthy donors and compared aneuploidy and chromosome breakage in sperm cells gathered directly from the ejaculate (unprocessed semen) with cells enriched for motility using the swim-up assay. Sperm fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to detect aneuploidy for chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X, and Y. Tandem labeling probes were used to detect breakage in the 1cen-1q12 region of chromosome 1. The occurrence of disomy 18-18 and XY18 was significantly lower in specimens enriched for motility (P = .004 and P = .001, respectively). Sperm that carried duplication errors and diploid sperm were also seen less frequently in semen analyzed by the swim-up assay (P < .008). Chromosome 1 breakage did not differ between swim up-assayed and unprocessed specimens. Findings suggest that unprocessed semen may overestimate heritable aneuploidy risk in sperm biomarker studies, and may be biologically relevant to ICSI in disomy categories 18-18 and XY18, demonstrating 1.4-fold to 1.8-fold differences.
Detection of colonic antigen(s) in tissues from ulcerative colitis using purified colitis colon tissue-bound IgG (CCA-IgG).

Abstract In our report of a disease-specific colonic tissue-bound antibody (CCA) from patients with ulcerative colitis (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1978;75:4528), crude CCA was largely fragmented, and the yield was small. We have modified the extraction procedure to increase the yield of intact IgG present in CCA by sequential elution, storage of tissues in presence of a protease inhibitor, 2 mM Phenylmethylsulfonyl Fluoride, and use of Phenylmethylsulfonyl Fluoride in extraction buffers. Intact CCA-IgG was purified using protein A-Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography. 125 I-CCA-IgG formed immune complexes in vitro with the aqueous extracts of colonic mucosa from 5 patients with ulcerative colitis but not from 6 patients with Crohn's disease and 6 normal colons from patients with carcinoma (p
Shock to the System: Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV and Child Mortality

This paper examines the effect of introducing a new HIV/AIDS service, prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT), on overall quality of prenatal and postnatal care. My results suggest that local PMTCT introduction in Zambia may have actually increased all cause child mortality in the short term. There is some evidence that vaccinations may have declined in the short term in association with local PMTCT introduction, suggesting that the new service may have partly crowded out existing pediatric health services.
A compact ultra-wideband antenna for time- and frequency-domain applications

A new type of single-element wideband antenna is proposed that can provide wide bandwidth and consistent polarization over the frequency range for which the antenna is impedance matched. The antenna is composed of two parallel sectorial loop antennas (SLAs) that are connected along an axis of symmetry. The novel ultra-wideband coupled sectorial loop antenna has an 8.5:1 impedance bandwidth. The antenna has consistent radiation parameters over a 4:1 frequency range with excellent polarization purity over the entire 8.5:1 frequency range. Modified versions of this UWB antenna, with reduced metallic surfaces and similar radiation parameters, were also designed, fabricated, and measured. Measurement results indicate that these modifications do not adversely affect the UWB behavior of the antenna.
Integrating Local Affine into Global Projective Images in the Joint Image Space

The fundamental matrix defines a nonlinear 3D variety in the joint image space of multiple projective (or "uncalibrated perspective") images. We show that, in the case of two images, this variety is a 4D cone whose vertex is the joint epipole (namely the 4D point obtained by stacking the two epipoles in the two images). Affine (or "para-perspective") projection approximates this nonlinear variety with a linear subspace, both in two views and in multiple views. We also show that the tangent to the projective joint image at any point on that image is obtained by using local affine projection approximations around the corresponding 3D point. We use these observations to develop a new approach for recovering multiview geometry by integrating multiple local affine joint images into the global projective joint image. Given multiple projective images, the tangents to the projective joint image are computed using local affine approximations for multiple image patches. The affine parameters from different patches are combined to obtain the epipolar geometry of pairs of projective images. We describe two algorithms for this purpose, including one that directly recovers the image epipoles without recovering the fundamental matrix as an intermediate step.
Reading Risk and Intervention for Young English Learners: Evidence from Longitudinal Intervention Research. Introduction to Special Series

Ever since the Diana v. California State Board of Education decision in 1970, American special educators have been wary of misidentifying as disabled students who are learning English as their second language. Nevertheless, according to the 24th Annual Report to Congress on IDEA (Office of Special Education Programs, 2002), although they account for about 12–13 percent of the population, more than 17 percent of students identified as learning disabled are Hispanic. By comparison, white students, who comprise 75 percent of the population, account for only 61 percent of students identified as having a learning disability. The Civil Rights Project at Harvard also has produced data to suggest that ethnic minorities still tend to be both overrepresented in some categories of disability and underrepresented in others (Losen & Orfield, 2002). Unfortunately, ethnic identification doesn’t reveal the degree to which these or other students are proficient in English. Despite the apparent disproportionality in the percentage of Hispanic students identified as learning disabled, for example, it may also be the case that students who are not proficient in English are underidentified if schools incorrectly attribute early learning difficulties to second-language learning or economic status. The truth regarding the incidence of learning disabilities, particularly reading disabilities, among English learners (ELs) remains obscure. In its 2002 report, Minority Students in Special and Gifted Education, the National Research Council noted that what research exists on ELs has been mainly directed toward debate over language of instruction while “rigorous research on instructional interventions for English language learners has
Aggregate Investment and its Consequences

I use financial statement information to examine intertemporal investment decisions by publicly traded firms at the aggregate level. I find that aggregate corporate investment negatively predicts aggregate returns in the US and abroad. Corporations invest more when investor sentiment is higher, the yield curve is flatter, and analysts are more optimistic. Higher aggregate investment forecasts lower aggregate profitability, lower earnings announcement returns, a widening of the ‘value premium’, lower returns on growth stocks and lower macroeconomic growth. My findings are consistent with the long-held conjecture that aggregate investment is inefficient, with consequences for prices and fundamentals at the aggregate level.
An analysis of the morphology and cytology of HRP labeled Purkinje cells.

Abstract Purkinje (Pk) cells in the cat cerebellum were intracellularly labeled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Both light and electron microscopy were used to determine (1) the degree to which the morphological detail of a neuron is revealed and (2) whether HRP labeled neurons maintain normal morphological and cytological characteristics. The morphological detail obtained with intracellular labeling was comparable to that found in Golgi impregnated material. The reaction product was found in the soma, dendrites, dendritic spines and in the axon including the fine axonal collaterals. Neurons which appeared normal under the light microscope were analyzed with the electron microscope. The ultrastructural characteristics of these Pk cells were similar to those observed in previous transmission electron microscopic studies. In many cases, however, there were obvious alterations in the morphology of the somata, dendrites and axonal collaterals of the injected neurons. These alterations included beading or clumping of the secondary and tertiary dendrites, an absence of labeled spines and axonal collaterals, and distortions of the soma membrane. Post injection survival time, injection charge and amplitude of the climbing fiber response recorded pre-injection were analyzed in order to determine if they could be correlated with the morphological integrity of the neuron. Our data did not reveal an association between these and the morphological condition of the Pk cell. Possible reasons for this lack of association are discussed.
Agribusiness Management Education: Opportunities for the Future

The papers just presented are fascinating reading! What should be the objective? How do we get there? Let's start by drawing some of the mutual conclusions and points of contrast together. Each paper echoed the common theme of the need for significant change in teaching and research. Reasons cited included declining farmrelated job opportunities for graduates and declining enrollment in traditional "ag" economics and farm management classes. Another common theme discussed in the papers was the breadth of the core. The common belief seems
Motion artifact removal in FNIR spectroscopy for real-world applications

Near infrared spectroscopy as a neuroimaging modality is a recent development. Near infrared neuroimagers are typically safe, portable, relatively affordable and non-invasive. The ease of sensor setup and non-intrusiveness make functional near infrared (fNIR) imaging an ideal candidate for monitoring human cortical function in a wide range of real world situations. However optical signals are susceptible to motion-artifacts, hindering the application of fNIR in studies where subject mobility cannot be controlled. In this paper, we present a filtering framework for motion-artifact cancellation to facilitate the deployment of fNIR imaging in real-world scenarios. We simulate a generic field environment by having subjects walk on a treadmill while performing a cognitive task and demonstrate that measurements can be effectively cleaned of motion-artifacts.
Illumina-based analysis of microbial community diversity

Microbes commonly exist in milieus of varying complexity and diversity. Although cultivation-based techniques have been unable to accurately capture the true diversity within microbial communities, these deficiencies have been overcome by applying molecular approaches that target the universally conserved 16S ribosomal RNA gene. The recent application of 454 pyrosequencing to simultaneously sequence thousands of 16S rDNA sequences (pyrotags) has revolutionized the characterization of complex microbial communities. To date, studies based on 454 pyrotags have dominated the field, but sequencing platforms that generate many more sequence reads at much lower costs have been developed. Here, we use the Illumina sequencing platform to design a strategy for 16S amplicon analysis (iTags), and assess its generality, practicality and potential complications. We fabricated and sequenced paired-end libraries of amplified hyper-variable 16S rDNA fragments from sets of samples that varied in their contents, ranging from a single bacterium to highly complex communities. We adopted an approach that allowed us to evaluate several potential sources of errors, including sequencing artifacts, amplification biases, non-corresponding paired-end reads and mistakes in taxonomic classification. By considering each source of error, we delineate ways to make biologically relevant and robust conclusions from the millions of sequencing reads that can be readily generated by this technology.
Heritability of substance dependence in a native American population

Objectives To estimate the heritability of substance dependence and associated symptoms in a sample of Southwest California (Mission) Indians. Methods Families from eight contiguous Indian reservations were recruited in order to ascertain information on substance dependence symptoms and diagnoses using a semi-structured diagnostic interview. Dependence diagnoses for alcohol, marijuana, stimulants and a measure of regular tobacco usage, any drug dependence or tobacco usage were obtained. Composite measures of alcohol dependence symptoms for withdrawal, drinking severity, antisocial problems and interpersonal problems were constructed from the nine groups of symptoms summarized in the diagnostic interview. Heritability estimates were calculated using variance component methods, as implemented in SOLAR. Results In this population, marijuana dependence (0.38) and regular tobacco use (0.43), alcohol dependence (DSM-III-R 0.19; ICD-10, 0.29) and stimulant dependence (0.25) showed evidence for moderate genetic influences as determined by heritability estimates. Four phenotypes constructed using the composite symptoms of alcohol dependence revealed that withdrawal had the highest heritability estimate (0.71), followed by antisocial problems (0.36) and drinking severity (0.34). Symptom clusters reflecting interpersonal problems did not appear to be highly heritable (0.19). Conclusion Marijuana dependence, regular tobacco usage and composite phenotypes constructed from alcohol dependence symptoms for antisocial problems, drinking severity and withdrawal generally have patterns of familial aggregation, suggesting that they can be successfully used for linkage analysis in this Southwest California Indian sample.
Relationship among alcohol intake, body fat, and physical activity: a population-based study.

Objectives Aside from fat, ethanol is the macronutrient with the greatest energy density. Whether the energy derived from ethanol affects body composition and fat mass is debatable. We investigated the relationship of alcohol intake, body composition, and physical activity in the U.S. population by using data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). Methods A total of 10,550 subjects met eligibility criteria and constituted our study cohort. Estimated percent body fat and resting metabolic rate were calculated on the basis of the sum of the skinfolds. Multivariate regression analyses were performed accounting for the study sampling weight. Results In both sexes, moderate and hazardous alcohol drinkers were younger ( p p p Conclusions Our results showed that alcoholics are habitually less active and that alcohol drinking is an independent predictor of lower percent body fat, especially in male alcoholics.
A report of the Curriculum Task Force of the ISCB Education Committee.

The International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB) Education Committee (EduComm) promotes worldwide education and training in computational biology and bioinformatics and serves as a resource and advisor to organizations interested in developing educational programs. The topic of curricula for bioinformatics programs has long been of interest to ISCB and EduComm. Dr. Russ Altman, a founding board member and past president of ISCB, has been associated with one of the first bioinformatics degree programs (at Stanford University) and wrote an article on this topic [1]. Dr. Shoba Ranganathan, as chair of EduComm a decade ago, began organizing a yearly Workshop on Education in Bioinformatics (WEB) at Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology (ISMB) meetings that generated exchange of information and many productive discussions. Curriculum development was one aspect of bioinformatics education covered in these sessions [2]. The field of bioinformatics has grown in the past decade. There are many such degree granting programs around the world at the bachelor's, master's, and PhD levels. This article provides a status report of the EduComm's ongoing endeavor to identify a set of core curricular guidelines for bioinformatics education at all levels. As a pilot project, the Curriculum Task Force of the EduComm conducted a survey in the spring of 2011. This initial survey was sent to members of the EduComm, consisting of 50 individuals from various regions of the world, and to the EMBnet community, representing 79 people from more than 30 countries. The response rate was 33%, with 41 individuals completing the survey. Analysis of the survey produced an initial set of recommendations to be used as a discussion point from which to launch a larger effort to develop a working bioinformatics curriculum. With increased input from the larger community, the EduComm will continue to refine its results. Individuals who are interested in contributing to this initiative are encouraged to contact the Chairs of the ISCB EduComm. The purposes of this article are to further disseminate the survey results and to solicit participation in the initiative. The initial survey results are summarized, the preliminary working curriculum is defined, and the next steps of the EduComm Curriculum Task Force are outlined.
Implantable pumps for drug delivery to the brain

This article reviews the role of implantable pumps in the treatment of CNS tumors. Systemic administration of chemotherapeutic agents has been associated with various problems, including adverse systemic effects and decreased concentration of the drug at the target site. Continuous infusion of chemotherapeutic agents with implantble pumps have been used in an attempt to overcome these problems. Various different chemo-therapeutic agents have been used for this purpose, and catheters have been placed in the intraspinal, intraventricular and intratumoral locations.
The Effect of Pollinators, Predators, and Energy Constraints on the Floral Ecology and Evolution of Trillium erectum

The reproductive success and energy budgets of single and multiflowered plants of Trillium erectum L. (Liliaceae) were assessed over a period of 4 years. Plants with more than one flower were found to attract more pollinators, to be less vulnerble to predation by Tortricid moths, and to produce more seeds than single flowered plants. Despite the reproductive superiority exhibited by multiflowered plants, most plants (85%) in the population studied were single flowered. It is shown that even though the insect interactions make it advantageous to produce more than one flower, most plants lack the energy to do so. The optimality approach which has guided previous studies of this kind is criticzied.
The effect of reactive element additions on the selective oxidation, growth and adhesion of chromia scales

Abstract The addition of minor amounts of reactive elements to Cr 2 O 3 or Al 2 O 3 forming alloys has been known to produce a number of beneficial effects in improving their oxidation resistance. The mechanism by which these elements influence oxidation is, however unclear. In this paper, the effect of reactive element addition, whether as surface or alloying additives, on the development, growth and adhesion of Cr 2 O 3 scales is discussed. It is pointed out that the development of a continuous external Cr 2 O 3 layer and the elimination of base metal oxidation are not coupled processes; reactive element additions can eliminate the latter, but not always affect the former. The incorporation of a reactive element in oxide scales is essential for modifying scale growth. However, a slower oxidation rate or a change in the overall oxide growth direction are not critical factors in improving scale adhesion. In light of these and other experimental results, current theories concerning the reactive element effect are critically evaluated.
Chondrocyte apoptosis following intraarticular fracture in humans.

Abstract Objective The primary objective of the present study was to establish the degree to which chondrocyte apoptosis occurs in vivo following intraarticular fractures in humans. Design Fracture cartilage specimens were obtained from patients undergoing surgical intervention for fractures of the articular surface of the proximal tibia. Normal proximal tibia cartilage specimens served as controls. Apoptotic chondrocytes were identified and quantified using TUNEL analysis. Results The percentage of TUNEL positive chondrocytes in the fractured articular cartilage specimens (mean 18.5%, range 1–44%) was found to be an order of magnitude higher than the percentage observed in control specimens (mean 1.9%, range 0–4%). Conclusions The percentage of TUNEL positive chondrocytes following intraarticular fracture is much higher than that reported for chronic degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. These data provide strong evidence that chondrocyte apoptosis is a consequence of intraarticular fracture and suggest that chondrocyte apoptosis may play a particularly significant role in the subsequent development of post-traumatic arthritis. Copyright 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of OsteoArthritis Research Society International
Multiplex PCR for the identification of Arcobacter and differentiation of Arcobacter butzleri from other arcobacters

Abstract A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to identify Arcobacter isolates and to distinguish A. butzleri from other arcobacters is described. The test uses two primer sets. Set I targets a section of the 16S rRNA genes of Arcobacter spp. Set II amplifies a portion of the 23S rRNA genes unique to A. butzleri . Specificity of the primer sets was evaluated using ATCC reference strains of A. butzleri, A. cryaerophilus, A. skirrowii, Bacteroides spp., Campylobacter spp., Helicobacter spp. and Wolinella succinogenes . Upon PCR amplification, all of the Arcobacter isolates yielded a 1223 bp product, wherease A. butzleri ATCC 49616 exhibited both a 1223 bp and a 686 bp product. No PCR product was observed for other closely related ATCC strains ( n = 37). We next analyzed by multiplex PCR field strains of Arcobacter spp. ( n = 108) which had been previously characterized to the species level by either DNA-DNA hybridization, dot blot hybridization, ribotyping or by serology. The 1223 bp multiplex PCR product identified all of the isolates as Arcobacter . The presence of both the 1223 and 686 bp amplicons identified 66 strains as A. butzleri . Speciation by multiplex PCR agreed with results obtained by the other methods. The multiplex PCR assay is specific, rapid and easy to interpret and, thus, will aid in elucidating the prevalence, epidemiology and zoonotic potential of Arcobacter .
Post-liver Transplant Biliary Complications.

Biliary tract complications remain a common source of morbidity and mortality in liver transplant (LT) recipients with an estimated incidence of 5–30% after orthotopic LT and a mortality rate of up to 10%. Biliary complications after LT may be related to various factors including hepatic artery thrombosis or stenosis, ischemia reperfusion injury, immunologic injury, infections, donor pool, and technical issues which include imperfect anastomosis and T-tube-related complications. Management of the detected biliary complications includes nonsurgical and surgical methods. A majority of these post transplant biliary complications can be treated with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography. If unsuccessful, a percutaneous intervention or surgery may be required. In this article, we review the incidence, clinical presentation, and management of the main types of biliary complications.
Arabidopsis expresses two genes that encode polypeptides similar to the yeast RNA polymerase I and III AC40 subunit.

Abstract A 40-kDa subunit in eukaryotic RNA polymerases (Pol) I and III (e.g., yeast yAC40) is related in a part of its aa sequence to the α subunit of prokaryotic Pol and to a 35–44-kDa subunit in Pol II (e.g., yeast yB44). We have cloned two cDNAs, At RPAC42 and At RPAC43, from an Arabidopsis thaliana ( At ) (ecotype Columbia) λYes expression library that encode Pol I and III subunits related to yAC40. The aa sequences derived from the cDNA clones were found to be 72% identical to each other and 40% identical to yeast Pol I and III subunits yAC40, but only 30% identical to yeast Pol II subunit yB44. While most other nuclear Pol genes identified to date are single-copy genes, two genes encode 42 and 43-kDa subunits of At Pol I and/or III. A 42-kDa subunit with identical mobility in SDS-PAGE to the aAC42 in vitro translated subunit is found in Pol III purified from At suspension culture cells.
Outcome after combined carotid endarterectomy and coronary artery bypass is related to patient selection.

Abstract Objective: The optimal management of patients with significant coronary and carotid artery disease remains controversial. Since reporting on a series of 100 patients undergoing combined carotid endarterectomy and coronary artery bypass (CEA/CAB) 4 years ago, we have liberalized our selection criteria for combined operation. We sought to compare outcomes of the recent cohort of 74 patients and the previous group. Methods: All patients who underwent CEA/CAB since 1984 have been tracked in a database containing identifying information, demographic factors, anatomic information, details of surgery, and short- and long-term follow-up data. We compared the 74 patients (Group 2) undergoing CEA/CAB since 1994 with the previously reported group of 100 patients (Group 1) who underwent CEA/CAB between 1984 and 1994. We examined demographic and comorbidity factors, presence of cerebrovascular symptoms, degree of contralateral carotid stenosis, and perioperative stroke and death. Statistical comparisons were made with the χ 2 test. Results: The groups had similar age and sex distributions and similar incidences of hypertension, diabetes, congestive heart failure, prior myocardial infarction, and hypercholesterolemia. More patients in Group 1 had preoperative transient cerebral ischemia or monocular blindness (55% vs 31%, P P P P Conclusion: We have liberalized our criteria for performing combined CEA/CAB, such that more than 50% of our recent patients have asymptomatic unilateral carotid stenosis. This practice is associated with a lower incidence of all perioperative strokes and a trend toward lower ipsilateral stroke and death. These observations suggest that perioperative stroke after CEA/CAB is related to patient selection and that low-risk patients can undergo CEA/CAB with the benefits of low morbidity, patient convenience, and cost savings from avoiding a second hospitalization and operation. (J Vasc Surg 2001;33:1179-84.)
Treatment of extensive urethral hemangioma with KTP/532 laser

Background and Objective : Urethral hemangiomas are rare. They vary in size from pinpoint masses to extensive honeycomb-shape deformities leading to significant hematuria. For extensive lesions, therapeutic options have included extensive surgical resection and reconstruction or multistaged neodymium :yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd :YAG) laser photocoagulation. We report our experience with the use of potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP/532) laser for treatment of the extensive form. Study Design/Materials and Methods : A 7-year-old boy presented with a 2-week history of urethral bleeding. He had extensive hemangiomas of the genital and perineal regions. Cystourethroscopy disclosed diffusely scattered honeycomb-shape hemangiomatous malformation of the anterior urethra. KTP/532 laser energy was delivered transurethrally to the hemangiomatous areas until they blanched. Results : The Foley catheter was removed 24 hours postoperatively, and the patient voided clear urine without difficulty. He has remained trouble-free for more than 2 years. Conclusion : Judicious endoscopic single-stage therapy with KTP/532 laser may obviate open surgical intervention in most cases of extensive and symptomatic urethral hemangiomas. In view of our observation and the literature, KTP/532 laser therapy should be considered the first line of treatment.
An evaluation of frontal EMG as an index of general arousal

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the sensitivity of frontal EMG to increased arousal. In Experiment 1 subjects who were aroused by a physical threat (electric shock) showed changes in skin temperature and self-report of arousal, but did not show changes in frontal EMG. In Experiment 2 subjects who were aroused by an evaluative threat (poor performance on an important intelligence test) showed changes in skin temperature, pulse rate, finger pulse volume, and self-report of arousal, but again failed to show changes in frontal EMG. The finding that frontal EMG was not sensitive to increases in arousal is inconsistent with what has generally been assumed and suggests that frontal EMG biofeedback training may not be effective for teaching persons to reduce high levels of arousal.
Kinetic studies on drug-resistant variants of Escherichia coli thymidylate synthase: functional effects of amino acid substitutions at residue 4.

Abstract A naturally occurring mutant of human thymidylate synthase (hTS) that contains a Tyr to His mutation at residue 33 was found to confer 4-fold resistance to 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine (FdUrd), a prodrug of 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine 5′-monophosphate (FdUMP). The crystal structure of hTS implicated this Tyr residue in a drug resistance mechanistic role that may include both substrate binding and catalysis (Schiffer et al., Biochemistry, 34, 16279–16287, 1995). Because of the existence of a defined kinetic scheme and the development of a bacterial expression vector for the overproduction of Escherichia coli TS (ecTS), we chose to initially study the corresponding residue in the bacterial enzyme, Tyr 4 of ecTS. Nine mutant ecTS enzymes that differed in sequence at position 4 were generated. Mutants with a charged or polar side chain (Ser, Cys, Asp, and Arg) and Gly precipitated in the cell paste, resulting in no catalytic activity in cell-free extracts. Although most of the His 4 mutant precipitated, sufficient amounts remained in the cell-free extract to permit isolation to near homogeneity. Wild-type ecTS and mutants with a hydrophobic side chain (Phe, Ile, and Val) were expressed at nearly 30% of the total cellular protein. The k cat values for the isolatable mutants were 2- to 10-fold lower than that of the wild-type enzyme, while the K m values for 2′-deoxyuridylate (dUMP) and 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate (CH 2 H 4 folate) were similar for all the mutants. Dissociation constants for binary complex formation determined by stopped-flow spectroscopy were similar for the wild-type and mutant enzymes for both dUMP and 2′-deoxythymidylate, indicating that this mutation does not significantly alter the binding of the natural nucleotide ligands. However, each mutant enzyme had three- to 5-fold lower affinity for FdUMP in the binary complex compared with the wild-type enzyme, and only His 4 showed a lower affinity for FdUMP in the ternary complex. Analysis of k burst showed that the initial binding of CH 2 H 4 folate is weaker for each mutant compared to the wild-type enzyme and that lower k cat values were due to compromised rates that govern the chemical transformation of bound substrates to bound products.
Blue-light-induced cortical fiber reticulation concomitant with chloroplast aggregation in the alga Vaucheria sessilis.

Point illumination with low-intensity blue light induces the chloroplasts and other organelles, which normally stream in the cytoplasm of Vaucheria sessilis (Vauch.) D.C. (Xanthophyceae), to aggregate in the illuminated region of the cell. Aggregation is passive and results from the “trapping” of the organelles as they stream into the blue light. Prior to illumination, longitudinal fibers along which the organelles appear to move, can readily be seen through a light microscope fitted with differential interference contrast optics. Upon actinic irradiation, these fibers appear to become destabilized, branching and forming a cortical fiber reticulum in the light. The reticulation process always precedes chloroplast aggregation. Aggregation itself occurs after a lag period which is inversely related to fluence rate. The lag period at high fluence rates (>400 mW m-2) may be as short as 20 s. Studies of wavelength dependence show that wavelengths near 480 nm are maximally effective while those longer than 530 nm are inactive.
Geomagnetic polarity epochs: A new polarity event and the age of the Brunhes-Matuyama boundary

Recent paleomagnetic-radiometric data from six rhyolite domes in the Valles Caldera, New Mexico, indicate that the last change in polarity of the earth's magnetic field from reversed to normal (the Brunhes-Matuyama boundary) occurred at about 0.7 million years ago. A previously undiscovered geomagnetic polarity event, herein named the "Jaramillo normal event," occurred about 0.9 million years ago.
Density Slicing With A Real-Time Tunable Spatial Carrier

The fringes produced by a wedge with partially reflecting faces placed in the input plane of a coherent processor are shown to provide a conveniently tunable spatial carrier. This carrier is tunable in frequency and orientation and has a controllable fringe profile. This encoding scheme is ideal for a number of optical processing techniques. Its use for density slicing, an example of a nonlinear operation, is demonstrated.
Communicating results of diagnostic mammography: What do patients think?*

Rationale and Objectives. The purpose of this study was to investigate women's preferences for who (radiologist or referring physician) should communicate the results of diagnostic mammography. Materials and Methods. Data from 153 women presenting to two sites for diagnostic mammography between February and June 1995 were collected with a 24-item, self-administered, closed-ended survey. For both normal and abnormal hypothetical results, contingency tables with x 2 tests and multiple logistic regression were used to determine the association, if any, between women's characteristics and their preferences. Results. Women undergoing diagnostic mammography preferred that their radiologists disclose their normal (90%) and abnormal (88%) mammogram results to them immediately after their examination, rather than have their referring physicians disclose results at a later time. In the case of normal findings, women whose regular physicians were specialists were less likely to want to hear first from their radiologists (odds ratio [OR] = 0.06; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.01, 0.77; P =.03), but women who were nervous about learning their results were more likely to want to hear first from their radiologists (OR = 4.5; 95% CI = 1.2, 17.3; P = .03). Conclusion. Radiologists may want to consider assessing women's preferences for who communicates their mammogram results, as most women in this study preferred to hear these results from their radiologists rather than waiting to hear from their referring physicians.
Electrochemical behavior of pentacyanocobaltate(II) and substituted pentacyanocobaltate(III) complexes at mercury electrodes

Summary Unusually large and sharp “adsorption waves” appear in cyclic voltammograms of Co(CN)53− and several cobalt(III) pentacyano complexes at stationary mercury electrodes. The nature of the adsorbed species and the reasons for the absence of the adsorption waves in polarograms taken with a DME have been examined. The data are compatible with the adsorption, in all cases, of a coordinatively unsaturated cobalt(II) complex, Co(CN)42−, by means of a cobalt-mercury bond. When the resulting adsorbed complex is reduced, a series of subsequent chemical and electrode reactions is initiated in which three faradays of charge are consumed for each mole of adsorbed complex. The adsorption of the anionic complex strongly retards the reduction of other negatively charged complexes.
Asymmetric sigmoid non-linearity in the rat olfactory system.

Abstract The statistical relationship between multi-unit spike activity and simultaneously recorded local dendritic field potentials in the olfactory system of the waking rat was studied with chronically placed electrodes. The relationship had the form of a sigmoid increase in axonal firing probability conditional on the amplitude of dendritic potentials. These data were fitted with an asymmetric sigmoid curve previously derived from the Hodgkin-Huxlwy equations. The curve was fitted using non-linear regression to optimize its parameter: the maximal firing rate. The maximal rate also gave the steepness of the slope of the sigmoid. Pulse trains were recorded from excitatory and inhibitory neurons in the olfactory cortex (including the anterior olfactory nucleus, the prepyriform cortex and the lateral entorhinal area) as identified by the phase relations of the pulse probability and the dendritic potentials, and from the excitatory neurons in the bulb (the inhibitory granule cells do not give extracellularly detectable action potentials). All these neurons are known to interact in disynaptic negative feedback loops giving rise to oscillations. The same sigmoid function fit the data from both types of neurons in all locations. The curves for neurons in all parts of the olfactory cortex had a 3-fold higher slope and maximal value than the curves from bulbar neurons. The significances of this differences and of the asymmetric sigmoid are discussed in terms of models for olfactory oscillatory dynamics and pattern recognition.