cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
AAMC Data Shows Effect of Surgery Faculty Diversity on General Surgery Resident Attrition Rate at Programs Sponsored by LCME-Accredited Medical Schools.

Objective General surgery resident (GSR) 5-year attrition rates of 12% to 20% are currently reported. This study explores the impact of full-time surgery faculty (FSF) diversity on GSR attrition. Design Deidentified data were obtained from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) for FSF at US Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)-accredited medical schools and GSR at the affiliated general surgery residency programs (2001-2016). Data included annual GSR attrition rate and the number, gender, and race of FSF and GSR. Data were analyzed using linear and logarithmic regression. Setting The study was conducted at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine in Miami, Florida. Participants The data obtained included FSF from US LCME-accredited medical schools and GSR from those residency programs affiliated with US LCME-accredited medical schools. Data were included only if available for both FSF and GSR at a single institution. There were 107,300 annual FSF positions and 39,504 annual GSR positions from 61 U.S. LCME-accredited medical schools included in the analysis. Results Data included 107,300 FSF positions (26% non-white; 20% female) and 39,504 GSR positions (41% non-white; 33% female) summed across 1034 institution years. Increased female FSF is associated with decreased GSR attrition (R2 = 0.009, p = 0.002, Fig. 1 ). For every 1% increase in female FSF, GSR programs were 4% less likely to have an attrition rate in the top quartile (odds ratio 0.96, confidence interval 0.94-0.98). Conclusions Gender diversity of FSF has an impact on GSR attrition; more female FSF correlates with lower GSR attrition rates.
New SNAP Eligibility in California Associated With Improved Food Security and Health

INTRODUCTION In California, Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries were ineligible to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits until a June 2019 policy change. The objective of this study was to determine whether SNAP eligibility was associated with changes in food insecurity and health among older adults and adults with disabilities. METHODS We administered a survey to SSI recipients (N = 213) before (May-August 2019) and after (September 2019-January 2020) the policy change. We examined changes in food insecurity (primary outcome), health status, stress, medication adherence, and dietary intake from baseline to follow-up. Multivariable analyses adjusted for age, sex/gender, race/ethnicity, and education. RESULTS Of 213 participants at baseline, 56.8% were male, 43.7% were Black/African American, 88.7% had an annual income of less than $15,000, and 89.7% were currently housed. Of 157 participants at follow-up, 114 (72.6%) were newly enrolled in SNAP. At follow-up, compared with baseline, participants were less likely to report food insecurity (83.1% vs 67.5%, P < .001), required less additional money for food ($73.33 vs $47.72 weekly, P < .001), were more likely to report excellent/very good health (26.8% vs 27.6%, P < .001), and were less likely to report cost-related medication nonadherence (24.1% vs 17.7%, P < .001) or use free food programs (82.6% vs 74.5%, P < .001). We found no changes in dietary intake. CONCLUSION SNAP uptake rates were high after the policy change. Policies that support older adults and adults with disabilities to enroll in or maintain SNAP benefits may improve health outcomes.
Acceleration of small intestine development and remodeling of the microbiome following hyaluronan 35 kda treatment in neonatal mice

The beneficial effects of human milk suppressing the development of intestinal pathologies such as necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants are widely known. Human milk (HM) is rich in a multitude of bioactive factors that play major roles in promoting postnatal maturation, differentiation, and the development of the microbiome. Previous studies showed that HM is rich in hyaluronan (HA) especially in colostrum and early milk. This study aims to determine the role of HA 35 KDa, a HM HA mimic, on intestinal proliferation, differentiation, and the development of the intestinal microbiome. We show that oral HA 35 KDa supplementation for 7 days in mouse pups leads to increased villus length and crypt depth, and increased goblet and Paneth cells, compared to controls. We also show that HA 35 KDa leads to an increased predominance of Clostridiales Ruminococcaceae, Lactobacillales Lactobacillaceae, and Clostridiales Lachnospiraceae. In seeking the mechanisms involved in the changes, bulk RNA seq was performed on samples from the terminal ileum and identified upregulation in several genes essential for cellular growth, proliferation, and survival. Taken together, this study shows that HA 35 KDa supplemented to mouse pups promotes intestinal epithelial cell proliferation, as well as the development of Paneth cells and goblet cell subsets. HA 35 KDa also impacted the intestinal microbiota; the implications of these responses need to be determined.
Manipulability in school choice

Abstract We compare the manipulability of school choice mechanisms based on the occurrence of dominant strategies. We characterize dominant strategies in the constrained versions of the deferred acceptance (DA) and Boston (BOS) mechanisms. We leverage our characterizations to show that dominant strategies occur more often in constrained DA than in constrained BOS and that these differences can be quantitatively sizable. Dominant strategies also become more frequent in constrained DA as students are allowed to report more schools. Although our focus is on constrained mechanisms, we provide dominant strategies comparisons for other mechanisms as well, including application-rejection mechanisms and mechanisms that Pareto dominate DA.
Pubic root fractures are commonly misread as anterior column fractures by radiologists: Single-institution study from a level 1 trauma center.

Abstract Background We sought to determine how frequently pubic root fracture is incorrectly identified as anterior column fracture by radiologists and describe differences in characteristics and outcomes between injury patterns. Methods We identified 155 patients who sustained pelvic or acetabular fractures at a single, level 1 trauma academic institution. Pelvis computed tomography (CT) scans were evaluated to determine whether patients sustained an anterior column fracture or pubic root fracture. Demographic and clinical factors such as mortality, ambulatory status, type of treatment (nonoperative/surgery), and mechanism of energy were assessed. Results There were a total of 83 patients in the anterior column group and 72 patients in the pubic root cohort. Eighty-five percent of pubic root fractures were read as anterior column fractures by radiologists. A total of 77.8% of pubic root fractures had posterior ring involvement. Patients with true anterior column acetabular fracture were more likely to need surgery (63.86% vs 41.70%, P = 0.01) and be discharged to skilled nursing or inpatient rehabilitation (59.04% vs 40.27%, P = 0.02) compared to patients with pubic root fracture. Conclusion Pubic root fractures are frequently misread as anterior column fractures in radiology reports. Correctly diagnosing pubic root fractures and differentiating them from anterior column acetabular fractures can have significant impact on patients. Level of Evidence III, Therapeutic.
Optimizing treatment goals for long-term health outcomes among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Introduction Considerable confusions on treatment target have resulted from recent changes in guidelines. Evidence in medical guidelines came from clinical trials with highly selected patients, whereas treatment goals may differ in some subgroups. This study aimed to assess optimal treatment goals (A1C, blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)) for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which lead to optimal health outcomes by different treatment strategies. Research design and methods A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted for veterans with T2DM by using US Veterans Affairs Administrative Database (2005−2015). Medical records were prepared for repeated evaluation performed at 6-month intervals and multivariate longitudinal regression was used to estimate the risk of microvascular and macrovascular complication events. Second-degree polynomial and splines were applied to identify the optimal goals in their associations with lowest risk of clinical outcomes, controlling for demographic characteristics, medical history, and medications. Results A total of 124 651 patients with T2DM were selected, with mean of 6.72 follow-up years. In the general population, to achieve the lowest risk of microvascular and macrovascular complication, the optimal goals were A1C=6.81%, LDL-C=109.10 mg/dL; and A1C=6.76%, LDL-C=111.65 mg/dL, systolic blood pressure (SBP)=130.60 mmHg, respectively. The optimal goals differed between age and racial subgroups. Lower SBP for younger patients and lower LDL-C for black patients were associated with better health outcomes. Conclusions Optimal treatment goals were identified and multi-faceted treatment strategies targeting hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia and hypertension may improve health outcome in veterans with T2DM. In addition to guidelines’ recommended goals, health systems may examine their own large diverse patients with T2DM for better quality of care.
Standing on the shoulders of pioneers in experimental criminology: the Cambridge-Somerville Youth Study at 85 years (1935–2020) and beyond: the 2021 Joan McCord Award Lecture

The article reflects on some pioneers in experimental criminology, including those who contributed to the development and longevity of the Cambridge-Somerville Youth Study (CSYS), and reports on a new program of research on the CSYS, extending the study to 85 years (1935–2020) and beyond. The key focal points are the CSYS, a randomized controlled trial of a delinquency prevention intervention, and the people who were central to its development, implementation, and follow-ups. A wide range of published sources and archival records are used. The idea of “standing on the shoulders of giants” or standing on the shoulders of pioneers in one field or another is a hallmark of science and scientific progress. This is at the heart of a new program of research on the CSYS, with four areas under investigation: (1) intervention effects over the full life-course; (2) development of criminal offending over the full life-course; (3) intergenerational effects (over three generations); and (4) historical understanding. Each area is discussed with reference to the wider context, new findings, and work underway or planned for the years ahead. Joan McCord is one of our giants in experimental criminology. She revived the CSYS, made it into the pioneering longitudinal-experimental study that we know today, and set the stage for a new program of research on the study.
A New Method for Calculation of Laser-Generated Ultrasound Pulses

The generation of acoustic pulses (in solids) by laser pulses has received considerable attention recently (an extensive review has been given by Hutchins[l]). Current applications are to nondestructive evaluation and materials characterization, where it is convenient to have a highly reproducible source requiring no contact with the sample [2–5]. The need to make these applications quantitative requires a theoretical model which:1) is based on fundamental principles; 2) allows the use of realistic sample and source properties; and 3) is readily usable by the research community without a major computational development effort. Doyle[6] and Schliechert et al.[7] have described approaches which meet the first two criteria, but which are very computation-intensive. We will describe and illustrate a new formulation[8] which meets all three criteria. Numerical calculations will be presented to illustrate the efficacy of this approach, with emphasis on the effects of finite source dimensions and sample surface modification. Comparison with previous point-source results will indicate when the latter may he used. Finally, we show that the small initial displacement “spike” observed in experiments with metal samples, is due to “mode conversion”(thermal-to-longitudinal) at the boundary, rather than to the finite size of the thermal source resulting from thermal diffusion. For the present we limit the discussion to the thermoelastic regime.
Scattering by Small Bodies

If the body D is small in comparison with the wave length, i.e. ka ≪ 1, where a is the characteristic dimension of D and k is the wave number, then one does not have to solve integral equations in order to find the scattering amplitude. The basic idea in this chapter is as follows: for small bodies the scattering amplitude depends on some functionals of the field on capacitances or polarizability tensors as we will see shortly. If ka ≪ 1 then one can find linear algebraic equations for these quantities. Let us illustrate this by an example.
Understanding Variations Between Student and Teacher Application of Rubrics

Abstract While rubrics have their limitations, many studies show that they can clarify teacher expectations, and in comparison to a simple score or a letter grade, provide more information about the strengths and weaknesses of students’ writing. Few studies, however, have explored the variations between students’ and teachers’ readings of rubrics and how such differences affect student writing. This article describes the findings of a mixed-methods research study designed to identify discrepancies between students’ and teachers’ interpretation of rubrics and investigate how such mismatches influence the use of rubrics. For the study, students and instructors in a first-year writing program at a medium-sized state university were provided with a rubric created for end-of-course assessment and asked to share their understanding of the rubric and apply the rubric to a sample student paper previously normed by faculty. The researchers then explored discrepancies between the students’ and the instructors’ interpretation and application of the rubric in essay evaluation. Data analysis revealed significant differences between faculty and students. The article concludes with suggestions for how to address these differences in the writing classroom.
Entactin ultrastructural immunolocalization in the basal laminae of mouse seminiferous tubules and with only subtle changes following hypophysectomy.

: While entactin has been recently reported in the mouse seminiferous tubule lamina propria at the light microscope level, the purpose of this paper was twofold: 1) to determine the ultrastructural localization of entactin with the two basal laminae that form the lamina propria of the mouse, and 2) to determine if immunoreactive entactin changes following hypophysectomy. The localization of entactin was demonstrated by three different means: 1) immunofluorescent localization in semi-thin cryosections of the testis, 2) immunoperoxidase staining in a preparation of isolated lamina propria, and 3) immuno-gold staining in ultra-thin sections of testis. These techniques all demonstrated that immunoreactive entactin is present in both the inner and outer basal laminae of the mouse seminiferous tubules and is co-localized with laminin. These results are consistent with previous work that demonstrated entactin is synthesized and secreted by both Sertoli and peritubular myoid cells. Because both Sertoli cells and peritubular myoid cells are androgen-responsive cells, we wanted to determine if hypophysectomy alters the testicular distribution of entactin. Changes in immunoreactive entactin and laminin in the basal laminae were observed in semi-thin cryosections of the testes from hypophysectomized mice up to 6 weeks after surgery. The results demonstrated that during this time period, while most of the spermatogenic cells degenerated, the intensity of immunoreactive entactin and laminin remained nearly unchanged, as the seminiferous tubule basal laminae took on an increasingly wavy apparence. This suggests that the relative concentration of entactin and laminin in the basal lamina is stable, and not dependant on the presence of normal spermatogenesis and pituitary hormones.
Overview of the Advanced Qualification Program

The Advanced Qualification Program (AQP) is a voluntary alternative to the traditional regulatory requirements under CFR 14, Parts 121 and 135 for pilot training and checking. Under the AQP the FAA is authorized to approve significant departures from traditional requirements, subject to justification of an equivalent or better level of safety. The program entails a systematic front-end analysis of training requirements from which explicit proficiency objectives for all facets of pilot training are derived. It seeks to integrate the training and evaluation of cognitive skills at each stage of a curriculum. For pass/fail purposes, pilots must demonstrate proficiency in scenarios that test both technical and crew resource management skills together. Air carriers participating in the AQP must design and implement data collection strategies which are diagnostic of cognitive and technical skills. In addition, they must implement procedures for refining curricula content based on quality control data. This paper...
The (Mis) Preparation of Teachers in the Proposition 227 Era: Humanizing Teacher Roles and Their Practice

Basic to the struggle for educational equity and academic achievement is the role of the teacher. Central to how a teacher's role is enacted is the preparation a teacher receives, largely defined by teacher certification standards and impacted by legislation such as Proposition 227. In California, where one of four students enrolling in school is an English language learner, and 90% of the teachers are monolingual English speakers, the preparation prospective teachers receive becomes glaringly critical. This article examines how the anti-immigrant legislation affects teacher (mis)preparation by forcing teachers to regress to passive roles emphasizing standards-driven, technical, one-size-fits-all approaches in addressing the complex educational needs of English language learners. A bilingual teacher educator shares her attempts to humanize the teacher's role by engaging her students in critical examinations of schooling and their role as teachers.
Environment characterization for non-recontaminating frontier-based robotic exploration

This paper addresses the problem of obtaining a concise description of a physical environment for robotic exploration. We aim to determine the number of robots required to clear an environment using non-recontaminating exploration. We introduce the medial axis as a configuration space and derive a mathematical representation of a continuous environment that captures its underlying topology and geometry. We show that this representation provides a concise description of arbitrary environments, and that reasoning about points in this representation is equivalent to reasoning about robots in physical space. We leverage this to derive a lower bound on the number of required pursuers. We provide a transformation from this continuous representation into a symbolic representation. Finally, we present a generalized pursuit-evasion algorithm. Given an environment we can compute how many pursuers we need, and generate an optimal pursuit strategy that will guarantee the evaders are detected with the minimum number of pursuers.
New Directions in Oral Theory: Essays on Ancient and Medieval Literatures

Reviewed Medium: book Year: 2005 Pages: 361 Publisher: Arizona State Univ., Arizona Ctr. for Medieval and Renaissance Studies ISBN: 0-86698-330-9 (hard cover). Prices: N/A(hard cover).
Newly symptomatic central diabetes insipidus in ESRD with adult polycystic kidney disease following intracranial hemorrhage: the first reported case.

Background Adult polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), an autosomal dominantly inherited cause of ESRD, is often characterized by a relative renal tubular unresponsiveness to ADH. Polyuria, renal concentrating defects and generally elevated ADH levels, a form of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) is often implicated. Thus, even late in stages of CKD, ADPKD patients often produce significant amounts of urine. Conversely, central diabetes insipidus (CDI), a clinical syndrome secondary to deficiency of ADH, also leads to production of large volumes of dilute urine, i.e. polyuria. It is widely believed that clinical CDI is masked in ESRD patients on dialysis, due to apparently obvious reasons. However, there have been published a few reports of the unmasking of polyuria secondary to previously existing CDI in ESRD patients, after kidney transplantation. Case report We report, to our knowledge, the first case of new-onset symptomatic CDI causing nocturnal polyuria in an ADPKD patient with ESRD, before now on hemodialysis. CDI symptoms were noted, months after an intracranial aneurysm clipping procedure that was complicated by intra-cranial hemorrhage. The 59-year old Caucasian woman responded moderately to desmopressin replacement therapy. Conclusions Several interesting pathobiologic implications of this case report are entertained.
Free and conjugated catecholamines and serotonin in canine thoracic duct lymph: effects of feeding

The source and fate of sulfoconjugated catecholamines present in plasma are not known. Sulfated norepinephrine has been shown to overflow together with free norepinephrine from a typical peripheral neuroeffector junction. Some released free norepinephrine is removed via the lymphatic system, but it is not known whether sulfated catecholamines are removed similarly. Serotonin, another biogenic amine, is released from the enterochromaffin cells into portal blood. The aims of the present study were to determine whether conjugated catecholamines and serotonin could be detected in thoracic duct lymph of dogs and to compare concentrations in lymph with those in samples of portal blood collected before and after the dogs were fed. A method is described for the extraction and purification of free and conjugated catecholamines and serotonin from lymph. In lymph and in plasma, there were similar concentrations of free (0.2-0.4 ng/ml) and conjugated (0.1-0.2 ng/ml) norepinephrine and of conjugated dopamine (0.2-1.0 ng/ml). The concentrations of free serotonin were much lower in lymph (0.1-0.2 ng/ml) than in portal blood (100-200 ng/ml). Small amounts of conjugated serotonin (0.1-0.4 ng/ml) were detected in lymph but were not detected in plasma. Feeding caused increases in concentration of conjugated dopamine in lymph and in plasma and small increases in the output of free norepinephrine and free and conjugated serotonin in lymph.
Extra Renal Synthesis of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and its Health Implications

Although the kidney was initially thought to be the sole organ responsible for the production of 1,25(OH)2D3 via its enzyme CYP27b1, it is now appreciated that the expression of CYP27b1 in tissues other than the kidney is wide spread. However, the kidney is the major source for circulating 1,25(OH)2D3. Therefore the existence of the capacity for extra renal 1,25(OH)2D3 production begs the question why, and in particular whether the extra renal production of 1,25(OH)2D3 has physiologic importance. In this chapter this question will be discussed. First a compilation of the extra renal sites for CYP27b1 expression is provided. This is followed by a discussion of the regulation of CYP27b1 expression and activity in extra renal tissues, pointing out that such regulation is tissue specific and different from that of CYP27b1 in the kidney. Finally the physiologic significance of extra renal 1,25(OH)2D3 production is examined, with special focus on the role of CYP27b1 in regulation of cellular proliferation and differentiation, hormone secretion, and immune function. At this point the data do not clearly demonstrate an essential role for CYP27b1 expression in any tissue outside the kidney, but several examples pointing in this direction are provided. With the availability of the mouse enabling tissue-specific deletion of CYP27b1, the role of extra renal CYP27b1 expression can now be addressed definitively.
Adenosine Deaminase in Nucleoside Synthesis. A Review

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is an enzyme in the purine salvage pathway that catalyzes the deamination of adenosine and deoxyadenosine to inosine and deoxyinosine, respectively. This deamination is an important factor in limiting the usefulness of adenosine analogues in chemotherapy. However, the biocatalysis by ADA is also a useful transformation in enzymatic synthesis. In this review, examples from both the principal investigator's laboratory and from the literature, which depict the synthetic usefulness of this enzyme in deamination, dehalogenation, demethoxylation reactions and in diastereoisomeric resolution, are presented. It is not the intent of this review to comprehensively list all of the biotransformations induced by adenosine deaminase, but rather to present representative examples to highlight the powerful synthetic utility of this enzyme. A review with 72 references.
A thermodynamic study of the crosslinking of methyl silicone rubber

Abstract The crosslinking reaction in a two component methyl silicone rubber has been studied by thermomechanical analysis (TMA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The rubber was formed from two methyl silicone prepolymers; one containing reactive hydrogens every 50 to 100 groups and the other polymer containing pendant vinyl groups at the same frequency. In the presence of a platinum catalyst above 60°C crosslinking proceeds without a loss or gain in weight. The heat of reaction, energy of activation (calculated by two methods) crosslink density and elastic modulus (Young's) were studied as a function of prepolymer concentration, dilution and swelling. A preliminary value for the heat of reaction per mole of SiH and SiCHCH 2 has been calculated. From crosslink density measurements both by hexane swelling and TMA and DSC heats of reaction a qualitative picture has been obtained of the role of entangled chains in producing effective crosslinks.
Neurite-promoting factors and extracellular matrix components accumulating in vivo within nerve regeneration chambers.

Abstract The outgrowth of neurites from cultured neurons can be induced by the extracellular matrix glycoproteins, fibronectin and laminin, and by polyornithine-binding neurite-promoting factors (NPFs) derived from culture media conditioned by Schwann, or other cultured cells. We have examined the occurrence of fibronectin, laminin and NPFs during peripheral nerve regeneration in vivo. A previously established model of peripheral nerve regeneration was used in which a transected rat sciatic nerve regenerates through a silicone chamber bridging a 10 mm interstump gap. The distribution of fibronectin and laminin during regeneration was assessed by indirect immunofluorescence. Seven days after nerve transection the regenerating structure within the chamber consisted primarily of a fibrous matrix which stained with anti-fibronectin but not anti-laminin. At 14 days, cellular outgrowths from the proximal and distal stumps (along which neurites grow) had entered the fibronectin-containing matrix, consistent with a role of fibronectin in promoting cell migration. Within these outgrowths non-vascular as well as vascular cell stained with anti-fibronectin and anti-laminin. Wihtin the degenerated distal nerve segment, cells characteristics of Bungner bands (rows of Schwann cells along which regenerating neurites extend) stained with anti-fibronectin and laminin. The fluid surrounding the regenerating nerve was found to contain NPF activity for cultured ciliary ganglia neurons which markedly increased during the period of neurite growth into the chamber. In previous studies using this particular neurite-promoting assay, laminin but to a much lesser extent fibronectin also promoted neurite outgrowth. Affinity-purified anti-laminin antibody failed to block chamber fluid NPF activity while completely blocking the neurite-promoting activity of laminin. These two results suggested that chamber fluid NPF activity did not consist of individual molecules of either fibronectin or laminin. The spatial and temporal distribution of insoluble fibronectin and laminin and the temporal correlation between chamber fluid NPF accumulation and neurite outgrowth support the possibility that these agents influence regenerative events including axonal elongation in vivo.
Photoelectron Spectroscopy of the Outer Shells

In this chapter we shall be concerned with the valence shell or outer shell of the molecule. To give a precise, unambiguous definition of the outer shell is a difficult task. In atoms, the outer shell contains those electrons that make up the highest occupied principal shell. In molecules, the outer shell is made up of those orbitals that are derived from atomic outer shell orbitals. Electrons in the outer shell are characterized by large radii and low binding energies. The outer d orbitals of transition metals and the outer d and f orbitals of the rare earths and actinides are examples of the difficulty of unambiguously characterizing the outer shell, since electrons in these orbitals have low binding energies and are often involved in chemical bonding; yet these orbitals are not part of the outermost principal shell and have radii that are considerably smaller than electrons in this shell. Nevertheless, dividing electron orbitals into inner or outer shells is, for the most part, a useful concept. It is the outer shell which includes those electrons that are involved in chemical bonding, and our interest here lies in the intrinsic nature of the molecular orbitals. These orbitals, unlike core levels, are not characteristic solely of a particular atom but of the overall molecule. Essentially, we desire the complete energy level scheme of the molecule. In principle, one ought to examine all the electrons in a molecule, including even the inner shell or core electrons. The inner shell electrons, however, behave primarily like electrons in a free atom, feeling the chemical environment as a perturbation. Thus, the behavior of the inner shell electrons is more profitably discussed from an entirely different viewpoint, and will be treated in a separate chapter (Chapter 5).
Comparative metabolism of phenanthrene and benzo[f]quinoline by rat liver microsomes

Abstract The metabolism of benzo[f]quinoline (BfQ) and its carbon analog phenanthrene has been compared in incubations with liver microsomes from control, 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC)- and phenobarbital (PB)-pretreated rats. The rates of phenanthrene metabolism by the three types of microsomes were 0.7, 4.1 and 1.5 nmol/mg protein per min, respectively; the values for BfQ were 0.5, 3.7 and 2.5, respectively. Besides N-oxidation, the metabolism of BfQ by all the above microsomes was almost exclusively at the benzo-ring (49–69%) while that of phenanthrene was predominantly at the K-region (50–71%). Phenanthrene-1,2-dihydrodiol, a precursor of the bay-region diol epoxide of phenanthrene, was produced many times more than phenanthrene-3,4-dihydrodiol by both 3-MC- and PB-induced microsomes. While BfQ-7,8-dihydrodiol, the precursor of the bay-region diol epoxide of BfQ, was the predominant metabolite with 3-MC-induced microsomes, it was a minor metabolite with PB-induced microsomes. The benzo-ring oxidation of BfQ, but not of phenanthrene, was position-specific, i.e. predominantly 7,8-oxidation by 3-MC-induced microsomes and 9,10-oxidation by PB-induced microsomes, and implies that azasubstitution results in a site-specific attack by different cytochromes P-450.
Consistent-histories and dipolar-basis representation of nonlinear response functions

By expanding optical response functions in the eigenstates of the dipole operator (rather than of the Hamiltonian), we obtain a path-integral representation that lends itself more readily to classical simulations. Connection is made to stochastic (consistent-histories) theories of quantum dynamics of single quantum systems by computing the entire probability distribution of the observed polarization (rather than merely its expectation value). The weight of each Liouville space path contributing to the optical response is complex, and cannot be recast using the joint probabilities used in the consistent-histories approach.
B cell differentiation antigens as probes for functional b cell subsets.

In this review I have discussed the serological, biochemical and functional characterization of two differentiation antigens, Lyb3 and Ia. W39, which have the same time distribution; namely, they are selectively expressed on a late maturing subset of B cells (Lyb3 and Ia. W39) and antigen presenting macrophages (Ia. W39, Lyb3?) Antisera against both determinants were raised in xid defective F1 male mice, which were immunized with spleen cells from the normal parent. Lyb3 is an isogenic specificity expressed without allelic forms in all mouse strains, whereas Ia.W39 is a private specificity, encoded by a gene(s) within the I-Ab subregion of the H-2 complex. Interestingly, the xid gene does not control the synthesis of these differentiation antigens, but affects their membrane expression (shown for Ia. W39.) Lyb3 is a polypeptide of 68,000d MW which has a similar IE point in all mouse strains. The molecule bearing Ia. W39 has an identical 2-chain structure (a and beta) and 2-D gel profile as the molecule expressing all the conventional Ia specificities encoded by the I-Ab subregion. However, from the difference in the ontological appearance and the turnover rate and from sequential immunoprecipitation studies we concluded that there are two kinds of glycoproteins containing Aa and Abeta chains; both would express the conventional specificities, and one would, in addition, bear Ia. W39. Functionally, we have defined Lyb3 as a receptor for triggering signals and Ia. W39 as a specific Ir gene epitope.
What Characteristics of Underwriters Influence Underpricing

In this article, we investigate how underpricing is affected by lead underwriters. Most research articles have focused on one primary control for underwriters, the Carter and Manaster [1990] ranking, when controlling for the influence underwriters have on underpricing. We propose some new controls to better explain how underwriters influence underpricing, supplementing underwriter ranking with a deal flow measure and previous underwriter underpricing. These new measures are not only statistically significant but also increase the explanatory ability of the model in explaining underpricing. Our results support Lowry and Schwert9s [2004] notion that IPO pricing does not fully incorporating all public information available.
Complement deposition on immune complexes reduces the frequencies of metabolic, proteolytic, and superoxide oscillations of migrating neutrophils.

Neutrophils exhibit intrinsic sinusoidal metabolite concentration oscillations of 3 min in resting cells and an additional approximately 10- or 20-s oscillation in migrating/adhering cells. To better understand immune complex (IC)-mediated leukocyte activation, we have studied neutrophil metabolic oscillations in the presence of ICs either with or without fixed complement. Using a microscope photometer we quantitated NAD(P)H autofluorescence oscillations. Cells exposed to ICs exhibited metabolic oscillation periods of approximately 12 s in the absence of complement and approximately 22 s in the presence of complement opsonization. To determine if the effects could be associated with C3 deposition, we used ICs opsonized with only C3 or only C1 and C4. Untreated ICs, heat-inactivated complement-treated ICs, and C1,C4-treated ICs trigger rapid metabolic oscillations, as do fMLP and yeast; in contrast, ICs treated with full complement or C3 alone did not affect NAD(P)H oscillations in comparison to controls. The induction of higher frequency (approximately 10 s) NAD(P)H oscillations by ICs could be blocked by addition of anti-FcgammaRII, but not FcgammaRIII mAb fragments, suggesting the participation of FcgammaRII in cellular metabolic responses to ICs. Parallel changes in the frequencies of oxidant release and pericellular proteolysis were found for all of these stimuli. Thus, immune complex composition affects both intracellular metabolic signals and extracellular functional oscillations. We suggest that complement attenuates the phlogistic potential of ICs by reducing the frequency of cytoplasmic NAD(P)H oscillations.
Five-Year Outcomes of a Cohort of HIV-Infected Injection Drug Users in a Primary Care Practice

Abstract Overall mortality related to HIV infection has declined with the advent of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). The purpose of this study was to examine the five-year outcomes of a cohort of 175 consecutive patients with HIV infection and injection drug use followed at a primary care practice. Patients were seen for their first visit between June 1994 and May 1998. At five years from their initial visit, 53 patients (30.3%) had died, while 47 (26.9%) were still active patients in our primary care practice. Of those who died, HIV was the cause of death in a little over half of patients (55%) followed by liver disease (15%) and drug overdose (11%). Only 80 patients ever received highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) and 52 (65%) of these achieved an undetectable viral load. Patients who never received HAART had a five-year mortality of 34.8%, compared to 25.0% in patients who ever received HAART, p < .001. Our data underscore the high burden of morbidity and mortality associated w...
Interpersonal and achievement concerns and the depressive vulnerability and symptom specificity hypotheses: A prospective study

Some studies suggest that excessive interpersonal and achievement concerns (1) create vulnerability to depression in response to specifically congruent negative stressors, and (2) are related to specific constellations of symptoms among subjects who are depressed. We tested both hypotheses together in one prospective study of students, using Beck's Sociotropy and Autonomy scales, a measure of life events, and self-reported depressive symptoms. Both sociotropy and autonomy were associated with stronger relations between events and depression, but evidence for domain-specific congruence was weak. The specific symptoms hypothesis was supported for both sociotropy and autonomy. We also used Blatt's Dependency and Self-Criticism scales in testing this hypothesis. Dependency showed specificity, but self-criticism was associated with both predicted and nonpredicted depressive symptoms. The findings are discussed in the context of measurement issues and research directions in interpersonal and achievement concerns and psychopathology.
Vorticity gradient in 2D turbulence of ideal fluid

Abstract The statistical description of vorticity gradient in 2D turbulence of ideal fluid is considered. Using the connection between Lagrangian and Eulerian ensemble of averages, inequalities are found that impose certain conditions on the statistical measure for singularities and zeros of vorticity gradient in homogeneous turbulence. An infinitely divisible distribution for the logarithm of vorticity gradient is suggested.
ELECTRON MICROSCOPE OBSERVATION OF ETCHED TRACKS FROM SPALLATION RECOILS IN MICA

Tracks in mica, resulting from recoil nuclei produced in spallation reactions of 3.0-Bev protons, were observed using an electron microscope. Decay events may be observed on a shorter time scale, and observation of fossil'' cosmic-ray events may become possible. A chemical etching treatment providing a demonstration of localized radiatton-induced corrosion was used. (L.N.N.)
A conceptual design of the international thermonuclear experimental reactor central solenoid

One of the central solenoid (CS) designs for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) superconducting magnet system is presented. The CS part of this magnet system will be a vertical stack of eight modules, approximately 16 m high, each having approximate dimensions of 4.1-m o.d., 2.8-m i.d., and 1.9-m h. The peak field at the bore is approximately 13.5 T. A cable-in-conduit conductor with Nb/sub 3/Sn composite wire will be used to wind the coils. The overall coil fabrication will use the insulate-wind-react-impregnate method. Coil modules will be fabricated using double-pancake coils with all splice joints located in the low-field region on the outside of the coil. All coils will be structurally graded with high-strength steel reinforcement which is cowound with the conductor. Further details of the CS coil design and analysis are described.
Supravalvular stenosing ring of the left atrium.

Abstract One autopsied case and two probable clinical cases of supravalvular stenosing ring of the left atrium have been added to the five cases previously reported in the literature. Detailed examination of the records of these patients and a review of the literature has brought to light only one possible diagnostic clue, namely, delayed emptying of the left atrium on angiocardiographic study. It is hoped that this paper will encourage surgeons to look for possible left atrial obstruction at the time of repairing other congenital cardiac lesions. Although these rings are undoubtedly uncommon, the possibility for surgical repair warrants a careful examination of the left atrium at the time of surgery.
Depressive reactions in hypertensive patients; a comparison of those treated with Rauwolfia and those receiving no specific antihypertensive treatment.

Because of reports that derivatives of Rauwolfia serpentina may cause severe mental depression when used in the treatment of hypertension, the depressive reactions and possible contributing factors were studied in a group of 387 hypertensive patients. Some of the patients received no specific antihypertensive medication; some were treated with Rauwolfia derivatives alone and some with Rauwolfia and other antihypertensive drugs. Of the patients receiving Rauwolfia, alone or with other drugs, 26 per cent experienced depressive reactions whereas only 5 per cent of the others had them.
A case study in establishing a positive service culture: Attachment and involvement in the workplace

The purpose of this research is to determine the range of workplace factors that influence employee perceptions of their work environment as what is casually referred to as a ‘fun’ place to work. The assumption is that a collection of workplace factors (ie, attractors) lead to overall positive benefits for hospitality operators with the foremost being the establishment of a strong service culture. This study begins with a review of emotional contagion, emotional labour, service culture, social bonding theory and from the practitioner ‘trade literature’ literature, fun in the workplace. In this study, the principal component factor analysis was applied to 572 questionnaires on this compiled scale of reported workplace attractors. The factor analysis procedure indicated that two components were derived that fit well within two aspects of social bonding theory; that of attachment and involvement.
The effects of ACE inhibition on ischemic cardiac events: Pump failure, reinfarction, hospitalization for angina, and ventricular tachyarrhythmias

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have been shown to reduce the incidence of mortality following myocardial infarction (MI) and to have beneficial effects on the consequences of MI. Various studies, including several large-scale trials such as ISIS-4, GISSI-3, SAVE, AIRE, and SOLVD, have demonstrated the beneficial effects of ACE inhibitors on mortality and morbidity after both early (up to 48 h post-MI) and late (weeks to months post-MI) intervention. Morbidity benefits include reduced incidences of heart failure, unstable angina, and reinfarction, although the latter two effects may not become evident until 9 and 18 months, respectively, after treatment initiation. These effects are independent of dose used, and a class effect of ACE inhibitors seems likely. Finally, a primary advantage of using ACE inhibitors in patients with cardiac disease is shown by the substantial savings which can be achieved, particularly in terms of reduced need for hospitalization for reinfarction, unstable angina and heart failure. In addition to their proven mortality benefits in acute MI, ACE inhibitors reduce heart failure and/or left ventricular dysfunction. Benefit accrues whether treatment is initiated early or late.
Regularization of the image division approach to blind deconvolution.

A problem of blind deconvolution arises when one attempts to restore a short-exposure image that has been degraded by random atmospheric turbulence. We attack the problem by using two short-exposure images as data inputs. The Fourier transform of each is taken, and the two are divided. The result is the quotient of the two unknown transfer functions. The latter are expressed, by means of the sampling theorem, as Fourier series in corresponding point-spread functions, the unknowns of the problem. Cross multiplying the division equation gives an equation that is linear in the unknowns. However, the problem has, initially, a multiplicity of solutions. This deficiency is overcome by use of the prior knowledge that the object and the point-spread functions have finite (albeit unknown) support extensions and also are positive. The result is a fixed-length, linear algorithm that is regularized to the presence of 4–15% additive noise of detection.
Gravitation and space science

Abstract : The relations between relativity and gravitation are developed. It is shown how space science may someday improve knowledge of gravitation. Important relativistic questions are shown to be involved in considerations of cosmology and radio galaxies.
Lime requirements of Boston ferns: II. Foliar and medium analysis

Abstract Growth response and nutrient levels in the foliage and growth medium were compared using Nephrolepsis exaltata (L.) Schott ‘Com‐pacta’ ferns grown in a peat‐perlite medium with 4 rates of dolo‐mitic limestone (0.0, 1.2, 2.4, and 6.0 kg/m3) and 2 rates of gypsum (0.0 and 1.2 kg/m3). Incorporation of dolomitic limestone and gypsum resulted in greater growth compared to treatments without dolomitic limestone and gypsum, but dolomitic limestone rates of 1.2, 2.4, or 6.0 kg/m3 resulted in no difference in fern dry weight. Addition of gypsum resulted in higher foliar S levels. Suppressed fern growth was associated with lower foliar Ca and S levels. When 6.0 kg/m3 of dolomitic limestone was added to the medium, foliar N was lower and nitrates in the medium were higher compared to ferns grown with no dolomitic limestone. Addition of gypsum and dolomitic limestone to the medium increased soluble salt levels.
Separation of Silymarins from Milk Thistle (Silybum Marianum L.) Extracted with Pressurized Hot Water using Fast Centrifugal Partition Chromatography

Abstract Fast centrifugal partition chromatography was used to separate a class of flavonolignans called silymarins from both a purchased silymarin powder and a crude pressurized hot water extract of milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.). Initially, a purchased power of a mixture of the six silymarin compounds was separated with a two-phase solvent system consisting of heptane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (1:4:3:4 v/v/v/v) in order to verify elution times of the compounds by fast centrifugal partition chromatography. Next, a crude pressurized hot water extract from 10 g of ground seeds of Silybum marianum was separated with the same solvent system. The separation from the hot water extract gave yields of silychristin at 70.2% purity, silydianin at 93.7% purity, and a mixture of silybinin and isosilybinin at 96.1% purity.