cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sepsis and jaundice in early infancy.

In jaundice that developed in association with sepsis in early infancy, elevation of bilirubin levels in serum occurred in both the direct- and indirect-reacting fractions. The regurgitative nature of the jaundice, with retention of conjugated bilirubin, served to distinguish this condition from physiologic jaundice. Jaundice in the nine cases under study was most often associated with coliform sepsis, particularly in the presence of acute pyelonephritis, but other bacteria and other infectious processes were also implicated. The most consistent histopathologic observation in the liver was bile stasis, indicating an inability on the part of the cell to excrete conjugated bilirubin. This was accompanied by the intracellular accumulation of unconjugated bilirubin and by "toxic" cellular alterations, such as giant-cell transformation. These findings have been interpreted as evidence of primary hepatocellular damage.
America in the Forties. By Ronald Allen Goldberg. (Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2012. Pp. xiii, 213. $45.00.)

This concise survey is designed to acquaint undergraduates with key themes, individuals, and issues of the 1940s in a lively, narrative format. The author primarily cites key secondary sources rega...
Primary structure of the hip gene of Escherichia coli and of its product, the β subunit of integration host factor

We describe the isolation and sequencing of the hip gene of Escherichia coli and show that it encodes the beta subunit of integration host factor (IHF beta). In order to locate the coding region, we constructed a set of deletion mutants by exonucleolytic digestion of a fragment containing hip, determined which mutants were hip+ and which hip- by complementation, and then sequenced the ends of the critical deletions. The 5' end of the coding region was located precisely by comparing the deduced amino acid sequence to the actual N-terminal amino acid sequence of IHF. Our assignment of the coding region was further substantiated by the nucleotide sequences of a hip point mutant and of internal replacement mutations. We found a probable promoter for hip located about 85 base-pairs upstream from the initial AUG codon and about 75 base-pairs downstream from the 3' end of the neighboring gene, rpsA, and we constructed an IHF beta overproducer by fusing the coding sequences to the lambda pL promoter. A survey of known protein sequences revealed a close relationship between IHF beta and the type II prokaryotic DNA binding proteins (the "histone-like" proteins). This relationship is shared to a considerable extent by the other subunit of IHF, IHF alpha. A hip missense mutation that replaces a completely conserved glycine with aspartate has a null phenotype, suggesting that the conserved regions are functionally important.
Prognostic Significance of Delayed-Enhancement Magnetic Resonance Imaging Survival of 857 Patients With and Without Left Ventricular Dysfunction

Background— Left ventricular ejection fraction is a powerful independent predictor of survival in cardiac patients, especially those with coronary artery disease. Delayed-enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI) can accurately identify irreversible myocardial injury with high spatial and contrast resolution. To date, relatively limited data are available on the prognostic value of DE-MRI, so we sought to determine whether DE-MRI findings independently predict survival. Methods and Results— The medical records of 857 consecutive patients who had complete cine and DE-MRI evaluation at a tertiary care center were reviewed regardless of whether the patients had coronary artery disease. The presence and extent of myocardial scar were evaluated qualitatively by a single experienced observer. The primary, composite end point was all-cause mortality or cardiac transplantation. Survival data were obtained from the Social Security Death Index. The median follow-up was 4.4 years; 252 patients (29%) reached on...
Circadian Corticosteroid Periodicity: Critical Period for Abolition by Neonatal Injection of Corticosteroid

Circadian variation of corticosteroid concentrations in rat plasma is suppressed if corticosteroids are administered between days 2 to 4 of neonatal life, but not if they are given between days 12 to 14 of neonatal life. This indicates a critical period for the effect of corticosteroid administration on the central nervous system pathways regulating such periodicity. Circadian periodicity of corticosteroids is not affected by neonatal administration of testosterone or reserpine.
Structural and Functional Roles of Desmin in Mouse Skeletal Muscle during Passive Deformation

Mechanical interactions between desmin and Z-disks, costameres, and nuclei were measured during passive deformation of single muscle cells. Image processing and continuum kinematics were used to quantify the structural connectivity among these structures. Analysis of both wild-type and desmin-null fibers revealed that the costamere protein talin colocalized with the Z-disk protein α-actinin, even at very high strains and stresses. These data indicate that desmin is not essential for mechanical coupling of the costamere complex and the sarcomere lattice. Within the sarcomere lattice, significant differences in myofibrillar connectivity were revealed between passively deformed wild-type and desmin-null fibers. Connectivity in wild-type fibers was significantly greater compared to desmin-null fibers, demonstrating a significant functional connection between myofibrils that requires desmin. Passive mechanical analysis revealed that desmin may be partially responsible for regulating fiber volume, and consequently, fiber mechanical properties. Kinematic analysis of α-actinin strain fields revealed that knockout fibers transmitted less shear strain compared to wild-type fibers and experienced a slight increase in fiber volume. Finally, linkage of desmin intermediate filaments to muscle nuclei was strongly suggested based on extensive loss of nuclei positioning in the absence of desmin during passive fiber loading.
Far-infrared intense-field phenomena in active galactic nuclei

Abstract A major feature of many active galactic nuclei is that the bulk of their luminosity occurs in the FIR. This fact, combined with the small size of the objects, means that nonperturbative intense-field behavior is likely to exist at long wavelengths, even though visible and UV behavior is perturbative. The FIR can then cause unusual spectral phenomena. One example is a significant broadening of spectral lines in quasars, and another is the absence of line spectra in BL Lac objects.
The thermal ionization cavity (TIC) source: elucidation of possible mechanisms for enhanced ionization efficiency

We discuss the ionization efficiency performance of a thermal ionization cavity source which has been adapted for use in an orthogonal acceleration linear thermal ionization cavity time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TIC-TOFMS). Our results indicate that the maximum ionization efficiency of thorium, a notoriously difficult element to ionize thermally, in the present TIC-TOFMS system is about 1–3%. This represents a 10–30× enhancement of the typical Th sample utilization for conventional, Re filament-based, thermal ionization mass spectrometry sources. Thorium samples were small (0.075–25 ng), therefore, analytical blanks for Th in the tungsten TIC were also measured and subtracted from the total Th ion signal arriving at the detector. Prominent peaks that correspond to multiply-charged (2 + and 3 + ) tungsten ions are always evident in high-temperature (>2400 ◦ C) spectra. Furthermore, TIC-TOFMS spectra also contained peaks corresponding to elements with ionization potentials in excess of 8 eV, such as beryllium. The presence of multiply-charged tungsten peaks, and beryllium peaks, are indicative of significant ionization via non-thermal processes, such as electron impact, in or near the TIC. (Int J Mass Spectrom 216 (2002) 41–57) © 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.
Investigation of laser generation of Lamb waves in copy paper

Abstract Experiments have been conducted to study the generation of ultrasonic Lamb waves in copy paper using a pulsed Nd : YAG laser. The signals were detected with an out-of-plane heterodyne Ar+ laser interferometer. The effect of the generation laser spot size, energy density, and total energy on the transfer of energy from the generation laser to the two lowest Lamb wave modes, a0 and s0, was investigated. As with metals excited in the linear thermoelastic regime, the signal energy increases as the square of the input laser energy. However, unlike in metals, significant statistical variations of the waveforms (peak amplitudes, arrival time) were observed and quantified by means of cross-correlation techniques. Also unlike in metals, it appears that there is an optimum spot radius of about 90 ± 20 μm (i.e. an energy density of about 22.4 J/cm2) for efficient generation of both a0 and s0 mode in the copy paper we studied. The shift in frequency content of the Lamb waves was examined as a function of the generation spot size. Damage at the generation spot was assessed by photographic microscopy.
Localization of insulinomas to regions of the pancreas by intraarterial calcium stimulation: the NIH experience.

Context: Selective intraarterial calcium injection of the major pancreatic arteries with hepatic venous sampling [calcium arterial stimulation (CaStim)] has been used as a localizing tool for insulinomas at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since 1989. The accuracy of this technique for localizing insulinomas was reported for all cases until 1996. Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the accuracy and track record of the CaStim over time and in the context of evolving technology and to review issues related to result interpretation and procedure complications. CaStim was the only invasive preoperative localization modality used at our center. Endoscopic ultrasound (US) was not studied. Design and Setting: We conducted a retrospective case review at a referral center. Patients: Twenty-nine women and 16 men (mean age, 47 yr; range, 13–78) were diagnosed with an insulinoma from 1996–2008. Intervention: A supervised fast was conducted to confirm the diagnosis of insulinoma. US, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and CaStim were used as preoperative localization studies. Localization predicted by each preoperative test was compared to surgical localization for accuracy. Main Outcome: We measured the accuracy of US, CT, MRI, and CaStim for localization of insulinomas preoperatively. Results: All 45 patients had surgically proven insulinomas. Thirty-eight of 45 (84%) localized to the correct anatomical region by CaStim. In five of 45 (11%) patients, the CaStim was falsely negative. Two of 45 (4%) had false-positive localizations. Conclusion: The CaStim has remained vastly superior to abdominal US, CT, or MRI over time as a preoperative localizing tool for insulinomas. The utility of the CaStim for this purpose and in this setting is thus validated.
A Model for Ligand Binding to Hexacoordinate Hemoglobins

Hexacoordinate hemoglobins are heme proteins capable of reversible intramolecular coordination of the ligand binding site by an amino acid side chain from within the heme pocket. Examples of these ...
Differential contributions of blinks and vertical eye movements as artifacts in EEG recording.

Blinks and vertical eye movements were studied as artifacts of EEG recording. The electro-oculogram (EOG) and vertex vs joined mastoids EEG were recorded in 13 college-aged subjects. Subjects were asked to blink “normally, without excessive effort,” and move their eyes through vertical visual arcs of 5°, 10°, 20°, 30°, and 60°. The ratio EEG/EOG, the fraction of the EOG potential transmitting to the scalp EEG electrode as artifact, was calculated for potentials generated during both blinks and eye movement. Vertical eye movement scalp EEG artifact was a constant percentage of the vertical eye movement EOG across visual arcs of 10° to 60°. Mean percentage eye blink EEG artifact (9.3%) was significantly (p < .001) less than the mean percentage vertical eye movement artifact (13.9%). Thus, blink and vertical eye movement artifact fields are quantitatively different in terms of their transmission to the scalp (Cz) EEG electrode. Subtraction of a single subject specific percentage of the EOG from the EEG would correct for either artifact source, but different subtraction percentages must be used for each.
Molecular and functional expression of cation-chloride cotransporters in dorsal root ganglion neurons during postnatal maturation

GABA depolarizes and excites central neurons during early development, becoming inhibitory and hyperpolarizing with maturation. This “developmental shift” occurs abruptly, reflecting a decrease in ...
Epidemiology of Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug–Associated Gastrointestinal Injury

Nonaspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most frequently used drugs in many countries. Use of the majority of NSAIDs increases with age, primarily for symptoms associated with osteoarthritis and other chronic musculoskeletal conditions. Population-based studies have shown that, on any given day, 10-20% of elderly people (> or = 65 years old) have a current or recent NSAID prescription. Over a 6-month period in Alberta, Canada, 27% of elderly people were prescribed NSAIDs. Furthermore, in Tennessee (USA), 40% of elderly people received at least one NSAID prescription annually, and 6% had NSAID prescriptions for > 75% of the year. NSAIDs cause a wide variety of side-effects. The most clinically important side-effects are upper gastrointestinal tract dyspepsia, peptic ulceration, hemorrhage, and perforation, leading to death in some patients. Gastrointestinal side-effects are common; the most common NSAID-associated side-effect is epigastric pain/indigestion. Gastrointestinal side-effects are also a frequent reason both for withdrawal of NSAIDs and for co-treatment with another drug. Indeed, in two population-based studies of people aged > or = 65 years, the use of agents to prevent peptic ulcers or relieve dyspepsia was nearly twice as common in regular NSAID users (20-26%) than in non-NSAID users (11%). In Alberta, Canada, it has been estimated that NSAID use accounts for 28% of all prescriptions for anti-ulcer drugs in people aged at least 65 years. Many studies have now shown that NSAIDs increase the risk of peptic ulcer complications by 3-5-fold, and in several different populations it has been estimated that 15-35% of all peptic ulcer complications are due to NSAIDs. In the United States alone, there are an estimated 41,000 hospitalizations and 3,300 deaths each year among the elderly that are associated with NSAIDs. Factors that increase the risk of serious peptic ulcer disease include older age, history of peptic ulcer disease, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, dyspepsia, and/or previous NSAID intolerance, as well as several measures of poor health.
Subnanosecond luminescence spectroscopy of Cd1−xMnxSe under high intensity optical excitation

Abstract Transient photoluminescence of Cd 1−x Mn x Se has been investigated for compositions x = 0, .05 and .10, in zero magnetic field, under high excitation intensity. The spectra yield information about the temporal evolution of inelastic scattering processes in a dense exciton gas, with a likely contribution by an electron-hole plasma. The short carrier lifetimes measured, less than 100 psec for x = .10, and a possible plasma expansion, might inhibit the generation of carrier densities sufficient for suggested exchange induced magnetic ordering.
Near-field to near-field transformation for use with FDTD method and its application to pulsed antenna problems

A time-domain, near-field to near-field transformation for use with the FDTD method is given and its accuracy is verified with experimental measurements made on a metallic bow-tie antenna.
Comparison of journal impact rankings in the SCImago Journal & Country Rank and the Journal Citation Reports databases

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to compare the journal impact rankings of the open access SCImago Journal & Country Rank (SJR) database and the subscription‐based Journal Citation Reports (JCR).Design/methodology/approach – The paper looks at the SJR database which offers essential scientometric information for more than 17,000 scholarly and professional journals based on data licensed from Elsevier's Scopus database and compares this with the JCR database.Findings – The open access SJR database offers very informative new insights to complement those that have been provided by the JCR for more than three decades by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) and its successor, the Thomson (later Thomson‐Reuters) company. Especially valuable are its features of weighting the citations received based on the prestige of the citing journals, the (partial) exclusion of journal self‐citations, and the broader base of source journals. They provide new opportunities to analyse and understand their effe...
Graphic Registration of Cardiac Thrills in Acquired and Congenital Heart Disease

A method is described for the graphic registration of cardiac thrills. A thrill is defined as a chest wall vibration of sufficient intensity to be recognized by tactile sensation.
Temporary Citizens: U.S. Immigration Law and Liberian Refugees

Section 244 of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act provides temporary legal residency to nationals of designated countries residing in the United States who cannot return to their home country due to armed conflict, natural disaster, or other temporary devastating conditions. In most cases Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is temporary, lasting no more than 2 years. In other cases, particularly for Liberia, TPS status has lasted almost 20 years. This article will examine the consequences of protracted TPS status for Liberians in the United States, as well as place the issue within emerging theoretical frameworks of globalizing citizenship.
Labor market coordination and monetary equilibrium: W H. Hutt’s place in “Pre-Keynesian” macro

As the search for microfoundations of macroeconomics has intensified over the last 25 years or so, macroeconomists have paid increasing attention to the economics of the labor market. Hutt’s work on the labor market could provide the microfoundations of a macroeconomics which emphasizes a process perspective and the importance of psychological, institutional, and political rigidities in how that process plays out. The work of the Austrians and the monetary disequilibrium theorists has articulated a consistent vision of how disequilibria in the money market spill over into nonmoney markets and cause real disturbances therein. Along with Hayek’s more general work on the informational properties of prices, Hutt’s work on the price coordination pro-cess in labor markets, can provide a more complete theory of the pricing process which implicitly and explicitly underlies the macroeconomics of those two schools of thought. Aside from his contributions to labor economics per se, Hutt’s work has implications for many fundamental questions in macroeconomics, as his life-long critique of Keynes illustrates. As modern macroeconomics continues its frustrating slide into complex, yet unrealistic, technique, perhaps Hutt’s work will finally begin to get its due when more macroeconomists begin to look for a more institutionally rich and realistic theory of the labor market to serve as their microfoundations.
Governing the restoration of civil rights for ex-felons: an evaluation of the Executive Clemency Board in Florida

In Florida, when someone is adjudicated guilty of a felony crime, they lose the right to vote. The only way to regain these rights is to go through the process of rights restoration. The civil rights restoration hearings in Florida have the potential to serve as a formal ceremony in which individuals are acknowledged for their recovery from crime and readmitted into the political community. Data from the Governor’s office, observations of the Executive Clemency Board, and interviews with ex-offenders who have experience with the restoration process, were evaluated to determine the impact these hearings have for ex-offenders’ reintegration. Results suggest that the low success rate, cumbersome process, and lengthy amount of time required may all serve to further alienate the many applicants who are rejected, impeding their reintegration into the community. Recommendations to either simplify the process of rights restoration or to remove ex-felon disenfranchisement policies are given.
Inclusion of Solvation and Entropy in the Knowledge-Based Scoring Function for Protein-Ligand Interactions

The effects of solvation and entropy play a critical role in determining the binding free energy in protein-ligand interactions. Despite the good balance between speed and accuracy, no current knowledge-based scoring functions account for the effects of solvation and configurational entropy explicitly due to the difficulty in deriving the corresponding pair potentials and the resulting double counting problem. In the present work, we have included the solvation effect and configurational entropy in the knowledge-based scoring function by an iterative method. The newly developed scoring function has yielded a success rate of 91% in identifying near-native binding modes with Wang et al.'s benchmark of 100 diverse protein-ligand complexes. The results have been compared with the results of 15 other scoring functions for validation purpose. In binding affinity prediction, our scoring function has yielded a correlation of R(2) = 0.76 between the predicted binding scores and the experimentally measured binding affinities on the PMF validation sets of 77 diverse complexes. The results have been compared with R(2) of four other well-known knowledge-based scoring functions. Finally, our scoring function was also validated on the large PDBbind database of 1299 protein-ligand complexes and yielded a correlation coefficient of 0.474. The present computational model can be applied to other scoring functions to account for solvation and entropic effects.
Abstract PR16: Spatio-temporal heterogeneity in the tumor microenvironment influences the evolutionary dynamics of drug resistance

Tumor growth is a complex evolutionary process driven by dynamic feedback between a heterogeneous cell population and selection pressures from the tumor microenvironment. Spatio-temporal heterogeneity in the microenvironment can create physical niches that facilitate cellular adaptation as seen in regions of hypoxia and acidosis where cells may up-regulate glycolysis and become resistant to acid-meditated toxicity in order to survive. In recent studies, using clinically prevalent subtypes of EGFR-related non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we observe that nutrient and drug gradients resulting from a cells9 proximity to vasculature, can produce selective pressures driving tumor evolution. We provide a detailed examination of the microenvironmental impact (i.e. oxygen, glucose, and drug) on growth rates of NSCLC cell lines that are either sensitive or resistant to the EGFR TKI, erlotinib. Often we consider drug resistance to be associated with a fitness cost to the cell in the absence of drug. However, here we demonstrate that the situation is more complex, with the local tumor microenvironment influencing the magnitude and the directionality of the selective effect. In fact, the resistant cells actually gain a selective advantage in nutrient-stressed environments compared to the sensitive cells. The resulting growth dynamics were used to inform a stochastic compartment-based tumor model of pre-existing drug resistance where each compartment represents a specific tumor environmental niche. This integrative modeling framework was then used to predict rebound growth kinetics and tumor composition (i.e. % resistance) and in particular, provide insight into the magnitude by which the microenvironment influences these results. These investigations strongly suggest that ignoring the microenvironment or using laboratory environmental conditions to inform tumor dynamics can lead to inaccurate conclusions. Therefore, knowledge of the selective advantage/disadvantage of different cell populations within different regions of the tumor will better guide model predictions, influence overall tumor dynamics, and impact treatment strategies. This abstract is also presented as Poster A80. Citation Format: Shannon Mumenthaler, Jasmine Foo, Nathan Choi, William Pao, David Agus, Franziska Michor, Parag Mallick. Spatio-temporal heterogeneity in the tumor microenvironment influences the evolutionary dynamics of drug resistance. [abstract]. In: Abstracts: AACR Special Conference on Cellular Heterogeneity in the Tumor Microenvironment; 2014 Feb 26-Mar 1; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(1 Suppl):Abstract nr PR16. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.CHTME14-PR16
765-2 Dietary L-Arginine Attenuates Macrophage Infiltration and Intimal Hyperplasia After Balloon Injury

Balloon injury in arteries of hypercholesterolemic animals creates a myointimal lesion that is comprised of macrophages as well as vascular smooth muscle cells. We have shown that chronic administration of L-arginine (Arg) enhances endothelial NO production and inhibits both monocyte-vessel wall interaction and plaque formation. Accordingly, we hypothesized that dietary Arg would reduce lesion formation and macrophage infiltration in hypercholesterolemic animals following balloon injury. NZW rabbits were divided into 3 groups: Normal chow (N), 0.5% cholesterol (Chol), or 0.5% Chol + 2.25% Arg supplementation. Treatment was initiated 6 weeks prior to balloon injury of the left iliac artery. Four weeks after injury, the iliacs were harvested for: assessment of endothelium-dependent relaxation by vasodilation to acetylcholine; histology; and immunohistochemistry to assess macrophage infiltration. Endothelium-dependent relaxation was impaired following injury in the Chol and Arg groups (32 v 4 v 2%, N v Chol v Arg). In the contralateral non-injured arteries, Arg treatment restored endotheliumdependent relaxation (79 v 44 v 64%, N v Chol v Arg). The Chol group showed a 2.5-fold increase in intimal area following injury compared with N, while Arg attenuated lesion formation (0.28 v 0.69 v 0.34 mm2, N v Chol v Arg, p l 0.01). Area involved by macrophage increased in the Chol iliacs compared with N, while Arg significantly attenuated macrophage infiltration (2 v 28 v 5%, N v Arg v Chol, p l 0.001). Conclusion Chronic arginine supplementation reduces intimal proliferation and attenuates macrophage infiltration following balloon injury in hypercholesterolemic animals, and is associated with restored NO-dependent vasodilation.
Unitary Multiperipheral Model with Diffractive Production

A unitary model of multiparticle amplitudes with multiperipheral and diffractive production mechanisms is presented. The model has a bootstrap solution for the elastic amplitude of the form ${{(J\ensuremath{-}1)+{[{(J\ensuremath{-}1)}^{2}\ensuremath{-}{R}_{0}t]}^{\frac{1}{2}}}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, leading to constant total cross sections at high energies. Inelastic cross sections and multiplicity distributions may be predicted in qualitative agreement with experiment.
DEFECTIVE IMMUNOREGULATORY FUNCTION OF LYMPHOCYTES FROM PATIENTS WITH THE CHEDIAK-HIGASHI SYNDROME

Lymphocytes (PBL) from 2 Chediak-Higashi (CH) syndrome patients were examined for natural killer (NK) activity, antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), target binding capacity (TBC), lectin dependent cellular cytotoxicity (LDCC), Con A induced suppressor cells, soluble suppressor factor (SSF), and responsiveness to interferon (IF) and interleukin-2 (IL-2). PBL from CH patients showed little NK or ADCC activity at various effector to target cell ratios. However, the TBC of patients' PBL was comparable with controls, indicating that the defect in cytotoxicity was not due to lack of target recognition. PBL from CH patients cultured with and without Con A failed to suppress the NK activity of fresh allogeneic effector cells in contrast to normal PBL, suggesting that defects in immunoregulatory lymphocytes may coexist with abnormal effector functions in CH patients. Although residual cytotoxicity of CH lymphocytes could be considerably enhanced with PHA in the LDCC system, enhancement was markedly less than that of normal control cells. Preincubating CH lymphocytes for 24 hr produced a slight increase in NK activity when IF was added to the cultures, whereas IL-2 did not enhance cytotoxicity in contrast when normal PBL were precultured with IF and IL-2. SSF from CH patients significantly inhibited the NK activity of normal PBL. The diminished cytotoxicity, defective immunoregulatory functions and reduced responsiveness to IF, IL-2 and LDCC of PBL from CH patients may contribute to their increased risk of infection and malignancies.
Clonal hierarchy and allelic mutation segregation in a myelofibrosis patient with two distinct LNK mutations.

Clonal hierarchy and allelic mutation segregation in a myelofibrosis patient with two distinct LNK mutations
Coexpression of the adenovirus 12 E1B 55 kDa oncoprotein and cellular tumor suppressor p53 is sufficient to induce metaphase fragility of the human RNU2 locus.

Abstract Adenovirus 12 (Ad12), but not adenovirus 2 or 5, induces metaphase chromosome fragility at four specific loci in humans: RNU1, RNU2, PSU1, and RN5S. As each of these sites corresponds to a tandemly repeated multigene family encoding a small, abundant structural RNA, we proposed that Ad12 hinders metaphase chromatin condensation, interfering either directly or indirectly with transcriptional regulation or chromatin packing of these small RNA genes. We and others subsequently found that Ad12-induced fragility of the RNU2 locus requires U2 promoter elements, viral early functions, and p53. We now show that RNU2 fragility can be induced by transfection with an expression vector encoding Ad12 E1B 55 kDa alone but not by an E1 vector encoding all E1 products (3 E1A proteins, as well as the E1B 19 kDa and 55 kDa proteins). Although Ad12 E1B 55 kDa efficiently induced fragility in transfected cells, Ad2 E1B 55 kDa did not. By swapping domains between the Ad12 and Ad2 E1B, we found that the aminoterminus of Ad12 E1B is required for induction of fragility and that the ability of the hybrid E1B proteins to induce fragility appears to correlate with nuclear localization. Furthermore, in Saos-2 cells lacking p53 function, RNU2 fragility could be induced by cotransfection with vectors encoding Ad12 E1B 55 kDa and either wild-type p53 or the R273H mutant with impaired DNA binding activity. We conclude that a functional (and probably physical) interaction between Ad12 E1B 55 kDa and p53 within the nucleus is sufficient to induce metaphase fragility of the RNU2 locus.
Development of an internet-based obesity prevention program for children.

Background: Childhood obesity is a growing problem, particularly in rural, Louisiana school children. Traditionally, schoolbased obesity prevention programs have used a primary prevention approach. Finding methods to deliver secondary prevention programs to large numbers of students without singling out overweight students has been a challenge. An innovative approach to achieving this goal is through use of an Internet intervention targeted toward a student’s weight status. This article describes the Louisiana (LA) Health Internet intervention, including the student Web site, the Internet counselor Web site, and the Internet counseling process. Method: The LA Health Internet intervention had separate interfaces for students and Internet counselors. The main features of the student site were behavioral weight loss lessons, lesson activities, chat with an Internet counselor, and email. The Internet counselor site contained these same features, plus a student directory and various means of obtaining student information to guide counseling. Based on their baseline weight status, students received lessons and counseling that promoted either weight loss or weight maintenance. Intervention was delivered during class time, and teachers scheduled Internet counseling sessions with intervention personnel. Results:
Grain boundary segregation of antimony and nickel in iron

Abstract This paper reports a study of grain boundary segregation of antimony and nickel in iron. These results show that nickel additions to the matrix increase antimony segregation. This observation is in agreement with previously reported work. Antimony additions to the matrix or segregation to the grain boundary have no measurable effect on nickel segregation. Decarburization increases segregation of both antimony and nickel.
Moving Into the Paravisceral Aorta Using Fenestrated and Branched Endografts

When one compares the potential advantages of endovascular aortic repair with respect to traditional open repair, it would seem logical that extension into the paravisceral aorta would be easily justified, given the complexity of open aortic repair and its associated complications. Eight years have transpired between trial initiation and Food and Drug Administration approval of the first fenestrated device in the United States for the treatment of juxtarenal aneurysms. While there are only a few centers in the United States with substantial experience performing fenestrated and branched endovascular aortic repair, there is a diverse experience outside the United States that has been gained over the past decade. It is through the experience of these centers that the technical and procedural complexities of complex endovascular aortic repair has been solved and provide the foundation that has allowed aortic specialists to move endovascular therapy into the paravisceral aorta with fenestrated and branched endovascular aortic repairs.
Planning for Transformation in the New Market.

Planning can play a critical role in the transformation processes colleges are attempting to undergo as they respond to external conditions. In our strategic planning work with community colleges across the country, we have had the opportunity to observe college planning processes that succeeded and those that did not achieve significant results. It is possible to differentiate activity planning—planning that meets a college's obligations but fails to produce demonstrable outcomes—from impact planning—planning that is catalytic and dynamic and that ultimately produces positive outcomes for the college. This article presents significant differences along four critical dimensions: objectives, design, processes, and outcomes. A series of important questions and considerations for each are provided that will enable colleges to structure their planning initiatives in ways that will more likely result in positive impact.
Advances in Cardiovascular Molecular Imaging for Tracking Stem Cell Therapy

The high mortality rate associated with cardiovascular disease is partially due to the lack of proliferative cells in the heart. Without adequate repair following myocardial infarction, progressive dilation can lead to heart failure. Stem cell therapies present one promising option for treating cardiovascular disease, though the specific mechanisms by which they benefit the heart remain unclear. Before stem cell therapies can be used safely in human populations, their biology must be investigated using innovative technologies such as multi-modality molecular imaging. The present review will discuss the basic principles, labelling techniques, clinical applications, and drawbacks associated with four major modalities: radionuclide imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, bioluminescence imaging, and fluorescence imaging.
Structure of DNA-Cationic Liposome Complexes: DNA Intercalation in Multilamellar Membranes in Distinct Interhelical Packing Regimes

Cationic liposomes complexed with DNA (CL-DNA) are promising synthetically based nonviral carriers of DNA vectors for gene therapy. The solution structure of CL-DNA complexes was probed on length scales from subnanometer to micrometer by synchrotron x-ray diffraction and optical microscopy. The addition of either linear lambda-phage or plasmid DNA to CLs resulted in an unexpected topological transition from liposomes to optically birefringent liquid-crystalline condensed globules. X-ray diffraction of the globules revealed a novel multilamellar structure with alternating lipid bilayer and DNA monolayers. The lambda-DNA chains form a one-dimensional lattice with distinct interhelical packing regimes. Remarkably, in the isoelectric point regime, the lambda-DNA interaxial spacing expands between 24.5 and 57.1 angstroms upon lipid dilution and is indicative of a long-range electrostatic-induced repulsion that is possibly enhanced by chain undulations.
A comparison of angled sagittal MRI and conventional MRI in the diagnosis of herniated disc and stenosis in the cervical foramen

The object of this study is to demonstrate that angled sagittal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enables the precise diagnosis of herniated disc and stenosis in the cervical foramen, which is not available with conventional MRI. Due to both the anatomic features of the cervical foramen and the limitations of conventional MR techniques, it has been difficult to identify disease in the lateral aspects of the spinal canal and foramen using only conventional MRI. Angled sagittal MRI oriented perpendicular to the true course of the foramina facilitates the identification of the lateral disease. A review of 43 patients, who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and interbody fusion, is presented with a herniated disc and/or stenosis in the cervical foramen. They all had undergone conventional MRI and angled sagittal MRI. Fifty levels were surgically explored for evidence of foraminal herniated disc and stenosis. The results of each test were correlated with what was found at each explored surgical level. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of both examinations for making the diagnosis of foraminal herniated disc and stenosis were compared. During the diagnosis of foraminal herniated disc, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of angled sagittal MRI were 96.7, 95.0, and 96.0%, respectively, compared with 56.7, 85.0, and 68.0% for conventional MRI. In making the diagnosis of foraminal stenosis, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of angled sagittal MRI were 96.3, 95.7, and 96.0%, respectively, compared with 40.7, 91.3, and 66.0% for conventional MRI. In the above groups, the difference between the tests for making the diagnosis of both foraminal herniated disc and stenosis was found to be statistically significant in sensitivity and accuracy. Angled sagittal MRI was a more accurate test compared to conventional MRI for making the diagnosis of herniated disc and stenosis in the cervical foramen. It can be utilized for the precise diagnosis of foraminal herniated disc and stenosis difficult or ambiguous in conventional MRI.
The Nature and Meaning of Social Integration for Young Children With Mild Developmental Delays in Inclusive Settings

This paper examines fundamental conceptual, methodological, and outcome issues with respect to the social integration of preschool-age children with mild developmental delays in inclusive early childhood settings. Cast within a developmental-ecological framework, social integration is evaluated in terms of three constructs: (1) the connectedness of peer interactions; (2) the quality of interpersonal relationships; and (3) the nature of adjustments that occur during social exchanges. A general model of factors that influence social integration and their interrelationships is presented as a means of organizing future intervention activities to promote social integration.
Hypothalamic Phosphatidylinositol 3‐Kinase‐Phosphodiesterase 3B‐Cyclic AMP Pathway of Leptin Signalling is Impaired Following Chronic Central Leptin Infusion

Leptin signalling in the hypothalamus is critical for the maintenance of normal body weight. Although hyperleptinaemia in obese people suggests a state of leptin resistance, and diet-induced obesity in rodents is associated with central leptin resistance, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Recent evidence suggests that, in addition to the signal transducer and activator of the transcription-3 (STAT3) pathway, leptin action is critical for energy homeostasis through an insulin-like signalling pathway involving an increase in phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and phosphodiesterase 3B (PDE3B) activities and reduction in cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels in the hypothalamus. Here, we show that chronic central leptin (160 ng/h) infusion, which resulted in the development of resistance to the satiety action of leptin, impaired the PI3K-PDE3B-cAMP pathway of leptin signalling in the hypothalamus in that PI3K and PDE3B activities were increased and cAMP levels were decreased in the hypothalamus on day 2 of leptin infusion but remained unchanged on day 16. Additionally, induction of tyrosyl phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 observed on day 2 was not evident on day 16 of leptin infusion. By contrast, signalling through the STAT3-pathway remained activated in the hypothalamus throughout 16 days of leptin infusion. These findings show a differential response in PI3K-PDE3B-cAMP (impaired) and STAT3 (up-regulated) pathways to chronic central leptin infusion, and suggest a selective resistance in the PI3K-PDE3B-cAMP pathway of leptin signalling following a chronic increase in hypothalamic leptin tone attained by central infusion of this peptide hormone.
Strengthening mechanisms in an Al–Mg alloy

Abstract Recent improvements in strength and ductility of 5083 aluminum alloys have been obtained through the development of complex microstructures containing either reduced grain sizes (ultra-fine and nano-grained materials), grain size distributions (bimodal microstructures), particle reinforcements, or combinations of the above. Optimization of such microstructures requires an understanding of the conventional, coarse-grained basis alloy. We present here a complete experimental data set for conventional Al-5083 H-131, with primary alloying element Mg (4.77 wt%) and secondary element Mn (0.68 wt%) in compression over a range of strain rates (10−4–6000 s−1) at room temperature. The various strengthening mechanisms in Al-5083 are explored, including solute strengthening, precipitate hardening, strain hardening, strain rate hardening, and strengthening due to dislocation sub-structures. Previous experiments found in the literature on Al–Mg binary alloys allow us to calculate the solute strengthening due to Mg in solid solution, and TEM analysis provides information about precipitate hardening and dislocation cell structures. A basic strength model including these strengthening mechanisms is suggested.
Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in cooked beef by low-temperature molecular luminescence spectrometry using a moving sample cooling belt

Four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are identified in broiled hamburger at the part per billion level by low-temperature molecular luminescence spectrometry (LT-MLS). Hamburger extracts in a Shpol'skii solvent are injected onto a moving sample cooling device maintained at 15 K in a vacuum. Results obtained by the present system are compared with those obtained by constant energy synchronous luminescence spectrometry (CESLS) at 77 K and by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with multiwavelength detection.
Sexuality at Work: Where Do We Go from Here?

Abstract This article presents a review of the published theoretical and empirical literature on sexuality in organizations, with the objective of evaluating whether sexuality should or can be eradicated from the workplace as an effective antidote to sexual harassment. A variety of perspectives, such as the bureaucratic model, radical feminist and anthropological accounts, sociodemographic trends, and contemporary organizational research, generate contrasting arguments. In evaluating these arguments, the author proposes that rather than eradicate sexuality from the workplace, organizational scholars need to explore alternative, positive forms of relationship between men and women at work, with sexuality as a likely component. To achieve this aim, future research will need to focus on defining appropriate sexuality at work and on setting fair standards for identifying situations of conflict of interest between interpersonal and organizational aims.
Organizational Structures in Gerontology Education: A Comparison Based on Institutional Types.

The present study involved on‐site •interview visits to 17 gerontology education programs (units) located in six types of institutions of post‐secondary education across the nation. Of primary interest was the description of alternative organizational structures for gerontology education for different forms of programs in the six institutional types. The institutions were classified as national private universities, private universities, public “multiversities,” regional state universities, undergraduate colleges, and junior‐community colleges. Three alternative models for organizational structures in gerontology education are presented: the traditional academic unit model, the administrative model, and the academic subunits model. The paper concludes that despite a lack of evidence to promote gerontology as a professional field or discipline, the need for academic legitimacy in higher education will have created a profession that in practice does not exist.
Purified streptococcal cell wall (PG-APS) causes experimental otitis media.

Abstract Purified peptidoglycan-polysaccharide from Group A Streptococcus pyogenes cell wall (PG-APS) was prepared under sterile, pyrogen-free conditions and injected percutaneously into the middle ear cavities (MEC) of groups of gerbils. Each group was observed otoscopically at 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 12 and 14 days. Histologic specimens were obtained from each group at 2, 5, 7, 9 and 14 days. Histologically, PG-APS produced mild, acute inflammation during the first 3 days and mild to moderate inflammation with features of both acute and chronic pathology from days 5 through 9. An early response by plasma cells and macrophages was seen. Most animals had recovered with minor sequelae by day 14. Challenge intraperitoneally with 20 μ g of PG-APS at 14 days following MEC injection of PG-APS did not exacerbate the middle ear inflammation. Five chinchillas, tested for comparison, responded similarly to PG-APS.
Evaluating the benefits of uncertainty reduction in environmental health risk management.

Cost-benefit analysis provides a methodology for choosing the "optimal" control decision in environmental health risk management cases. It does not, however, offer guidance on how to minimize the chance that because of uncertainty regarding risks or costs, the choice made will turn out to be inferior to other feasible choices. Statistical decision theory provides one approach for addressing issues of uncertainty in environmental decision making. This paper illustrates the development and application of a computer program that uses decision theory and numerical methods to evaluate alternative strategies for making research and control decisions under uncertainty. Based on user-supplied descriptions of the cost and efficiency of control options and probabilistic estimates of population exposure and toxicity, the program determines the largest amount of money that should be spent to improve estimates of exposure and of risk and indicates the relative efficiency of concentrating research efforts on resolving ...