cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
House call practices: a comparison by specialty.

Background There has been no national survey of physician house calls since 1980, and in particular, no survey of pediatric house calls in 30 years. This national study was undertaken to compare physician house call practices among family physicians, general internists, and general pediatricians. Methods A mail survey was conducted of 1500 primary care physicians who were randomly selected from the American Medical Association Physician Master File. Five hundred physicians were selected from each of three specialties: family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics. Results Nine hundred six questionnaires were returned for a response rate of 59%. The percentage of family physicians making house calls was significantly greater than that of internists or pediatricians (63%, 47%, and 15%, respectively). Factors associated with making house calls were: house calls being a common practice in the community, solo practice, specialty (family practice), sex (male), and practice location in the northeast. Physicians who agreed with the following attitudes were more likely to make house calls: (1) making house calls leads to high patient satisfaction; (2) house calls are important for good comprehensive patient care; and (3) house calls are satisfying for physicians. Physicians who agreed that making house calls exposes them to a significant malpractice risk were half as likely to make house calls. Conclusions Family physicians made significantly more house calls than internists or pediatricians.
The Unique Haemoglobin System of Migratory Pleuragramma antarctica : Correlation of Haematological and Biochemical Adaptations with Mode of Life

In the Southern Ocean the suborder Notothenioidei is dominant. Most notothenioids are benthic and sedentary; we have studied haemoglobin structure/function in search of correlations with mode of life and evolution.
Hierarchical assembly of a self-replicating spacecraft

Extraterrestrial fabrication of spacecraft by current best-practice manufacturing methods is complicated by the need to integrate thousands of unique parts, each made using a diversity of processes and raw materials. Reducing this complexity could enable exponential space exploration via self-replicating spacecraft (known as Von Neumann probes). We propose a hierarchical model for machine design, based on 13 reversibly-assembled part types, reducing the complexity of machine self-replication and bridging prior work in the areas of in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) and modular robotics. Analogous to amino acids in biological systems, these parts form a basis set for the electronic and mechanical subsystems of an exploratory spacecraft. In simulation we validate representative subsystem designs and develop a hierarchical architecture for the design of mechanisms, actuation, and electronics. By standardizing and modularizing the parts, we drastically reduce the diversity of the required supply chain as well as the minimum viable payload mass. We estimate that a seed launch could contain approximately 105 parts, fit within the envelope of a 3U cubesat, and enable the assembly of over one hundred self-replicating assemblers.
Astronomy: Ring detected around a dwarf planet.

Observations of the distant dwarf planet Haumea constrain its size, shape and density, and reveal an encircling planetary ring. The discovery suggests that rings are not as rare in the Solar System as previously thought. See Letter p.219 Haumea is a dwarf planet beyond the orbit of Neptune. It is rapidly rotating and very elongated, unlike the other three known trans-Neptunian dwarf planets. Jose Ortiz and collaborators obtained observations from multiple Earth-based telescopes as Haumea passed in front of a background star. This occultation enabled the team to constrain the density of Haumea to an upper limit of about 1,885 kilograms per cubic metre. They also constrained its ellipsoid shape and albedo (0.51). They did not detect an atmosphere around the planet, but found a ring circling it. They determined that the ring is 70 kilometres wide, has a radius of about 2,287 kilometres and lies in the same orbital plane as Haumea's equator and largest moon. It has an orbital period that is three times the spin period of Haumea. The ring absorbed roughly half of the star light coming through, giving it an opacity of 0.5.
Capacity of Byzantine Agreement: Tight Bound for the Four Node Network

Abstract : In this report, we consider the problem of maximizing the throughput of Byzantine agreement. Byzantine agreement is a classical problem in distributed computing, with initial solutions presented in the seminal work of Pease, Shostak and Lamport. There has also been more recent work on designing multicast algorithms that can survive Byzantine attacks. Many variations on the Byzantine agreement problem have been introduced in the past, with some of the variations also called consensus. We will use the original definition of Byzantine agreement in our discussion. In particular, we consider a network with one node designated as the sender or source, and other nodes designated as the peers. The goal here is for all the fault-free nodes to agree on the value being sent by the sender.
Dielectronic satellite contributions to Ne VIII and Ne IX K -shell spectra

K{alpha} spectra of heliumlike neon and associated lithiumlike, berylliumlike, and boronlike satellite line emission have been observed with a high-resolution crystal spectrometer on the Lawrence Livermore Electron Beam Ion Trap. The KLL dielectronic recombination satellites were resolved from their He-like parent lines in electron energy space, and their wavelengths and resonance strengths measured. The wavelength measurements achieved a typical accuracy of a few mAa, with two measurements accurate to better than one part in 10000. By normalizing to the He-like resonance line, w, we measure Li-like satellite resonance strengths that are 10% to 46% lower than predicted by theoretical models. The wavelengths and relative strengths of Be-like KLL satellites were also measured, and absolute strengths were obtained by normalizing to the collisionally excited Li-like qr satellite blend.
Theoretical Basis for Semiempirical Theories

Quantum mechanics provides the possibility for the complete description of the electronic properties of molecular systems, their structure, reactivities, etc. However, the computational difficulties encountered in the general case, as well as the magnitude of extraneous information generated by many-electron wave functions, necessitate the development of entire conceptual frameworks in order to apply the quantum theory to chemical systems in a chemically or physically meaningful manner. Thus, far from being a sterile exeicise in applied mathematics, the development of quantum theories of molecular electronic structure has required a great deal of chemical insight and imagination(1–6)
Institutionally Determined Parameters in Economic Equations

The idea that economic events are shaped by economic, political, social, and other institutions is rather old. In modern times, one of its more common appearances is in statements of the form, “Parameters δ, ρ, and λ in the equations under consideration are institutionally determined.” Thus, for example, the speed of adjustment in market stability analyses is said to emerge from the particular market institutions present in the economy and, in macroeconomic studies, the rate of change in the money supply is alleged to depend on the institutional arrangements between central banks and commercial banks. But in practice, the way in which the relevant institutions actually produce these parameters is usually not considered. Most often the assertion that a parameter is institutionally determined seems to be a short way of saying that the parameter, although capable of change by human action as opposed to nature, is exogenous to the system under consideration. In this manner the parameter can be disposed of without having to deal explicitly with it. Thus, in such situations, authors are content merely with the vague assertion that institutional changes cause shifts in parameter values and to leave matters at that.2 The precise modification that occur and the exact manner in which these modification influence the numerical sizes of the parameters is left up in the air. The purpose of the present paper is to explore what it might mean to say that a parameter in an equation is institutionally determined.
Radiation Assurance of CubeSat Payloads Using Bayesian Networks and Fault Models

Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) electronics are used in satellites that span the size, cost, and acceptable risk spectrum. At one extreme the CubeSat, a platform originally created for university-based spacecraft design, is often constructed only from COTS electronics. At the other extreme, even high-budget NASA spacecraft use COTS electronics in non-mission critical circuits, especially when no radiation-hardened alternatives exist or the radiation-hardened parts do not meet the system requirements. There is significant uncertainty in the radiation test results of COTS electronics; hence additional means of assessing risk and radiation hardness are needed. In this work we construct a fault-propagation model of a CubeSat payload in a SysML platform, and then develop a Bayesian network from the fault model of the system. The sensitivity of the system to variations in component radiation response can be evaluated quantitatively, within the limits of the assumptions and available data. This sensitivity study then informs the structure and content of the overall radiation-reliability assurance case.
Behaviorally stable vehicle platooning for energy savings

Abstract A cooperative vehicle platoon is a set of vehicles driving together with low headway enabled by the connected and automated vehicle technology. One of the major benefits of vehicle platooning is energy savings. However, as vehicles at different positions in a platoon save differently from the platooning, some drivers or owners of vehicles may not be willing to join or stay in the platoon even if they are advised to do so, yielding a behaviorally unstable platoon. This study investigates optimal platoon formation to maximize the platooning benefit and then determines a mechanism to redistribute the benefit to incentivize vehicles to form and maintain the desired platoon formation.
Joint Evolution of Asexuality and Queen Number in an Ant.

Summary Ants exhibit a striking diversity of reproductive systems, varying in traits such as the number of reproductives per colony [ 1 ], the mode of daughter production (sexual or asexual) [ 2 ], and the mode of caste determination (genetic or environmental) [ 3 ]. Species employing mixed reproductive systems present a unique opportunity to explore the causes and consequences of alternative breeding strategies. Mixed reproductive systems in ants include social polymorphism in colony queen number, whereby single-queen (monogyne) and multiple-queen (polygyne) colonies co-occur within species [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ], and facultative asexuality, in which female offspring may be produced sexually or asexually within colonies [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Here, we document a remarkable confluence of multiple mixed reproductive systems in the tropical fire ant, Solenopsis geminata, in a population with three important features: (1) polygyne colonies produce workers sexually but queens asexually, whereas monogyne colonies produce both castes sexually; (2) polygyne queens mate with monogyne males to produce workers, but monogyne queens do not mate with polygyne males; and (3) different asexual/polygyne lineages evidently were founded separately by genetically distinct founder queens, which appear to have originated from the same neighboring monogyne population. Multiple asexual/polygyne genomes are transmitted undiluted in this system, but sterile workers produced with sperm from a sexually-reproducing/monogyne population are necessary for the persistence of these lineages. The intersection of social polymorphism, facultative asexuality, and genetic caste determination marks this population of S. geminata as an embodiment of the diversity of ant reproductive systems and suggests previously unknown connections between these phenomena.
In high-risk type 1 diabetes, insulin pumps with suspend-before-low technology reduced hypoglycemic events.

Source Citation Bosi E, Choudhary P, de Valk HW, et al; SMILE Study Group. Efficacy and safety of suspend-before-low insulin pump technology in hypoglycaemia-prone adults with type 1 diabetes (SMIL...
Expectancy confirmation effects: Accumulation and moderation by social interaction

iii Chapter I: The Confirmation of Expectancies 1 Chapter II: The Power of Expectancy Confirmation Processes 6 Chapter III: Conceptual Overview and Hypotheses 13 Chapter IV: Methods 17 Chapter V: Results 26 Chapter VI: Discussion 34 References 41 Appendices 47
Chronic Carotid Occlusion

Chronic carotid occlusion is a poorly explored subject, deserving clarity regarding its definition, risks, and management. In this chapter we explore the etiologies of chronic carotid occlusion and the multitude of terminologies that have been used to describe it. We review its potential clinical manifestations, including the risk of stroke, which has varied widely in the existing body of literature. We describe diagnostic techniques to distinguish chronic carotid occlusion from acute occlusion or high-grade stenosis. Finally, we discuss management and review prior and ongoing studies which attempt to lower risk by a medical, surgical, or endovascular approach.
Oxidized Lipids and Lipoprotein Dysfunction in Psoriasis

Background:Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease associated with increased development of metabolic abnormalities including obesity and dyslipidemia, as well as increased...
Analyzing the predictors of health care utilization in the agricultural worker population using decision tree analysis: Does language matter?

Objectives To analyze the predictors of health care utilization among respondents to the National Agricultural Worker Survey. Specifically, we hypothesized that English proficiency would predict utilization of health care services within the last 2 years. Methods Using the 2015-2016 National Agricultural Worker Survey, we performed a secondary data analysis to analyze the predictors of health care utilization within the last 2 years in the United States' agricultural worker population. Data were cleaned and analyzed using decision tree analysis, which produced a classification tree model that was trained on 90% of the data and validated on 10%. Results Exposure to English was not a predictor of health care utilization in our classification tree. The first major partition that predicted utilization was insurance status. Additional partitions were on age, gender, hypertension diagnosis, and public aid. Conclusions By partitioning on insurance status and use of public aid, the decision tree provided evidence that systemic factors are key determinants of health care utilization in the agricultural worker community. This highlights the importance of agencies that connect agricultural workers with resources that provide insurance and improve access to health care. This is especially important given that agricultural workers are one of the highest risk groups for occupational injury or death in the United States.
Robotic transabdominal preperitoneal repair of complex inguinal hernias

BACKGROUND: Complex inguinal hernia repairs (IHR) have been defined based on previous relative contraindications for their minimally invasive repair. In this study, we aim to describe outcomes after complex robotic IHR (rIHR) and the associated challenges. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of patients who underwent complex rIHR in an elective setting between 2013 and 2020. Patients included into the study were those with a recurrence after posterior IHR, history of prostatectomy, large scrotal hernia, or irreducible hernia after anesthesia induction (incarcerated). Any patients with concomitant procedures or emergent repairs were excluded. Complications were assessed with the Clavien-Dindo (CD) and Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI®) scoring systems. RESULTS: A total of 88 patients were identified. Accounting for bilateral IHRs, the total number of complex rIHRs was 110. Although there were no conversions to an open approach, one patient required a hybrid procedure. The average length of stay (LOS) and follow-up period were 0.2 days and 33 months, respectively. A total of four major complications (CD-Grade III/IV) were observed. These included three seromas requiring drainage, one of which necessitated readmission, and 1 postoperative intensive care unit admission. No chronic pain or recurrence was observed. The CCI® scores were ranged between 0 and 42.4. In a univariate analysis, no statistically significant variable was found between patients with and without postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: Complex rIHR may be performed with minimal LOS, complications, and adverse long-term sequelae. A patient-tailored approach and adequate surgical training and knowledge are essential to attempt these procedures.
Evaluation of liver kinase B1 downstream signaling expression in various breast cancers and relapse free survival after systemic chemotherapy treatment

LKB1-signaling has prominent roles in cancer development and metastasis. This report evaluates LKB1-signaling pathway gene expression associations with patient survival in overall breast cancer, specific subtypes, as well as pre- and post-chemotherapy. Subtypes analyzed were based on intrinsic molecular subtyping and traditional biomarker classifications. Intrinsic molecular subtypes included were Luminal-A, Luminal-B, HER2-enriched, and Basal-like. The biomarker subtypes assessed were Estrogen-Receptor Positive (ER+) and Negative (ER-), Wild-Type TP53 (WT-TP53) & Mutant-TP53, and Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC). Additionally, comparisons were made between these subtypes and breast cancer overall, and analyses between LKB1 signaling to patient survival before and after chemotherapy were made. We used the Kaplan-Meier Online Tool (KM Plotter) to correlate the relationship between mRNA expression of known LKB1 scaffolding proteins (CAB39 and LYK5), and downstream signaling targets (AMPK, MARK1, MARK2, MARK3, MARK4, NUAK1, NUAK2, PAK1, SIK1, SIK2, BRSK1, BRSK2, SNRK, and QSK), and patient survival across each subtype and treatment group. Our findings provide evidence that LKB1-signaling is associated with improved survival in overall breast cancer. Stratification into breast cancer subtypes show a more complicated relationship; NUAK2, for example, is correlated with improved survival in ER- but is worse in ER+ breast cancer. In evaluating the association of LKB1-signaling pathway expression with relapse free survival of varying breast cancer tumors exposed to chemotherapy or treatment-naive tumors, our data provides baseline knowledge for understanding the pathway dynamics that affect survival and therefore are linked to pathology. This establishes a foundation for studying LKB1 targets with the goal of identifying druggable targets.
Hearing before the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States

This statement addresses the topic of case selection and review at the Supreme Court. It considers the decline in cases on the Court's regular docket, and how that is related to views of precedent. It also considers the increase in high-profile cases on the Court's "shadow docket," and analogizes the shadow docket to the preliminary injunction.
A novel mGluR5 antagonist, MFZ 10‐7, inhibits cocaine‐taking and cocaine‐seeking behavior in rats

Preclinical studies suggest that negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) of the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5), including MPEP (2-methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)pyridine), MTEP (3-((2-methyl-1,3-thiazol-4-yl)ethynyl)pyridine) and fenobam, are highly effective in attenuating drug-taking and drug-seeking behaviors. However, both MPEP and MTEP have no translational potential for use in humans due to their off-target effects and short half-lives. Here, we report that MFZ 10-7 (3-fluoro-5-((6-methylpyridin-2-yl)ethynyl)benzonitrile), a novel mGluR5 NAM, is more potent and selective than MPEP, MTEP and fenobam in both in vitro binding and functional assays. Similar to MTEP, intraperitoneal administration of MFZ 10-7 inhibited intravenous cocaine self-administration, cocaine-induced reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior and cocaine-associated cue-induced cocaine-seeking behavior in rats. Although MFZ 10-7 and MTEP lowered the rate of oral sucrose self-administration, they did not alter total sucrose intake. Further, MFZ 10-7 appeared to be more potent than MTEP in inducing downward shifts in the cocaine dose-response curve, but less effective than MTEP in attenuating sucrose-induced reinstatement of sucrose-seeking behavior. MFZ 10-7 and MTEP had no effect on basal locomotor behavior. These findings not only provide additional evidence supporting an important role for mGluR5 in cocaine reward and addiction, but also introduce a new tool for both in vitro and in vivo investigations with which to further characterize this role.
Differential Privacy for Statistics: What we Know and What we Want to Learn

We motivate and review the definition of differential privacy, survey some results on differentially private statistical estimators, and outline a research agenda. This survey is based on two presentations given by the authors at an NCHS/CDC sponsored workshop on data privacy in May 2008.
Hierarchical fiber clustering based on multi-scale neuroanatomical features

DTI fiber tractography inspires unprecedented understanding of brain neural connectivity by allowing in vivo probing of the brain white-matter microstructures. However, tractography algorithms often output hundreds of thousands of fibers and thus render the fiber analysis a challenging task. By partitioning a huge number of fibers into dozens of bundles, fiber clustering algorithms make the task of analyzing fiber pathways relatively much easier. However, most contemporary fiber clustering methods rely on fiber geometrical information only, ignoring the more important anatomical aspects of fibers. We propose in this paper a hierarchical atlas-based fiber clustering method which utilizes multi-scale fiber neuroanatomical features to guide the clustering. In particular, for each level of the hierarchical clustering, specific scaled ROIs at the atlas are first diffused along the fiber directions, with the spatial confidence of diffused ROIs gradually decreasing from 1 to 0. For each fiber, a fuzzy associativity vector is defined to keep track of the maximal spatial confidences that the fiber can have over all diffused ROIs, thus giving the anatomical signature of the fiber. Based on the associativity vectors and the ROI covariance matrix, the Mahalanobis distance between two fibers is then calculated for fiber clustering using spectral graph theory. The same procedure is iterated over coarse-tofine ROI scales, leading to a hierarchical clustering of the fibers. Experimental results indicate that reasonable fiber clustering results can be achieved by the proposed method.
Production Economic Analysis of Black Sea Bass Juveniles to Support Finfish Mariculture Growout Industry Development in the Southeastern United States

A pilot-scale finfish mariculture hatchery was established at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. In 2011, research-based hatchery protocols were scaled up to produce 37,000 advanced (1–5 g) black sea bass fingerlings. Based on engineering, biological, and cost data from operating the pilot hatchery, an economic analysis of a hypothetical commercial scale black sea bass hatchery operation was conducted. The financial performance of two alternative facilities that produce 97,200 5-g and 388,800 1-g fingerlings per year over a 30-year project life showed cumulative net present value (NPV) of $445,000, and $3,168,000, modified internal rates of return (MIRR) of 6.52% and 10.52%, and per unit breakeven prices of $1.67 and $0.47, respectively. Sensitivity analyses showed that final stocking density was critical to financial performance. Fingerlings were supplied to startup growers in NC and in VA, and market-size fish from these growout facilities were distributed (live or whole on ice) to premium-val...
Delivery-contingent Contracts for Research

The effectiveness of contracts in the provision of research is undermined by the highly uncertain nature of the research enterprise, the imperfect character of knowledge about a given project, and the thin market for specialized research services.... Finally, the difficulty of specifying all contingencies and the uncertainty associated with complex research projects will reduce firms' reliance on external providers for such research.
Activation of CPT-11 in Mice: Identification and Analysis of a Highly Effective Plasma Esterase

The camptothecin prodrug CPT-11 (irinotecan, 7-ethyl-10-[4-(1-piperidino)-1-piperidino]carbonyloxycamptothecin) is converted by esterases to yield the potent topoisomerase I poison SN-38 (7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin). Recently, a mouse strain (Es1e) has been identified that demonstrates reduced plasma esterase activity, and we have monitored the ability of plasma from these mice to metabolize CPT-11. Total plasma esterase activity was reduced 3-fold in Es1emice in comparison to control mice, and this resulted in a 200-fold reduction in SN-38 production after incubation with CPT-11 in vitro. In addition, pharmacokinetic studies of CPT-11 and SN-38 in these animals demonstrated approximately 5-fold less conversion to SN-38. However, extracts derived from tissues from Es1e animals revealed total esterase activities similar to those of control mice, and these extracts metabolized CPT-11 with equal efficiency. Northern analysis of RNA isolated from organs indicated that the liver was the primary source of Es-1 gene expression and that very low levels of Es-1 RNA were present in Es1e mice. These results suggest that the reduced levels of Es-1 esterase present in Es1e mice are due to down-regulation of gene transcription, and that this plasma esterase is responsible for the majority of CPT-11 metabolism in mice.
Pile Fence to Reduce Wave Overtopping and Overwash of Dune

AbstractAn experiment was performed to examine the utility of a pile fence in reducing dune erosion and overwash during a storm. Six tests consisting of 58 runs of 400 s each were conducted to compare the effectiveness of six different pile fences arranged in a single row and staggered double rows. The preliminary experiment suggests that the pile fence with a porosity of about 0.5 should be placed near the toe of the dune foreslope with a sufficient burial depth to avoid toppling. A cross-shore numerical model is adjusted to simulate the drag force acting on the pile fence. The adjusted model is compared with the beach and dune profile evolution and the wave overtopping and sand overwash rates measured in the six tests. The model is expanded to predict the extreme (5, 1, and 0.013% exceedance probabilities) of the free-surface elevation and onshore velocity for the future design of the pile fence against the wave forces. The proposed pile fence appears promising but will need to be tested at a field site.
Kell sensitization can cause fetal anemia, too

Immunological reactions to the Kell antigen can cause as much damage to the unborn as Rh disease.
Layout optimization for a wireless sensor network using a multi-objective genetic algorithm

This paper examines the optimization of wireless sensor network layouts. To transmit their data to the base, all the sensors are required to be connected to a high-energy communication node, which serves as a relay from the ground to a satellite or to a high-altitude aircraft. The sensors are assumed to have a fixed communication and a fixed sensing range, which can significantly vary depending on the type of sensing performed. This simple framework serves to benchmark a multi objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) for the sensor placement, where the two competing objectives considered are the total sensor coverage and the lifetime of the network. The MOGA is then used to show that, for different relative sensing ranges, two fundamentally different types of layouts are obtained: one with the sensors closely packed together, the other with the sensors organized in a hub-and-spoke manner. The ratio of sensing to communication range is shown to be the discriminating factor.
rhomboid and Star interact synergistically to promote EGFR/MAPK signaling during Drosophila wing vein development

Genes of the ventrolateral group in Drosophila are dedicated to developmental regulation of Egfr signaling in multiple processes including wing vein development. Among these genes, Egfr encodes the Drosophila EGF-Receptor, spitz (spi) and vein (vn) encode EGF-related ligands, and rhomboid (rho) and Star (S) encode membrane proteins. In this study, we show that rho-mediated hyperactivation of the EGFR/MAPK pathway is required for vein formation throughout late larval and early pupal development. Consistent with this observation, rho activity is necessary and sufficient to activate MAPK in vein primordium during late larval and early pupal stages. Epistasis studies using a dominant negative version of Egfr and a ligand-independent activated form of Egfr suggest that rho acts upstream of the receptor. We show that rho and S function in a common aspect of vein development since loss-of-function clones of rho or S result in nearly identical non-autonomous loss-of-vein phenotypes. Furthermore, mis-expression of rho and S in wild-type and mutant backgrounds reveals that these genes function in a synergistic and co-dependent manner. In contrast, spi does not play an essential role in the wing. These data indicate that rho and S act in concert, but independently of spi, to promote vein development through the EGFR/MAPK signaling pathway.
Determination of ldh isoenzymes in serum: A urea inhibition method compared with an electrophoretic method

Abstract Babson's method for measuring the ratio of LDH1 to LDH5 (isoenzyme index) which uses l M lactate to inhibit the heart enzyme and 0.01 M lactate-1 M urea to inhibit the liver enzyme, was compared with the isoenzyme pattern obtained by agar gel electrophoresis. Agreement between the two tests was obtained in 119 out of 155 cases (76.7%). Contradictory information was given by the two tests in 22 cases (9.1%); the remaining tests were considered to be doubtful. Disagreement occurred principally when both LDH1 and LDH5 were elevated, particularly in patients with hepatitis. The isoenzyme index is concluded to be a useful test in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction, although not as informative as the electrophoretic isoenzyme pattern.
Dideoxy polymorphism scanning, a gene-based method for marker development for genetic linkage mapping

One of the fastest growing areas of biotechnology research today is marker-assisted breeding of crops. As a prerequisite to marker assisted breeding, genetic linkage maps are currently being developed for many species. For many purposes gene-based markers are the marker type of choice. The biggest problem in genetic linkage mapping using gene-based markers is the identification of polymorphisms between the parents of the population. To improve the efficiency of marker generation, we have developed a simple, and reasonable-cost method of polymorphism detection termed dideoxy polymorphism scanning. Since most of the time required to develop a gene-based linkage map is spent in identification of useful polymorphisms, this method will significantly shorten the time required for map generation and therefore reduce the overall cost.
Adrenergic Modulation of Growth Hormone Secretion in Acromegaly: Alpha- and Beta-Adrenergic Blockade Produce Qualitatively Normal Responses but No Effect on L-Dopa Suppression

The serum GH response to oral L-Dopa during the separate infusions of saline, phentolamine and propranolol was examined in 12 acromegalic patients. In six L-Dopa responsive patients, serum GH concentrations rose during propranolol infusions (and fell during phentolamine infusions as previously reported). There was no effect of propranolol or phentolamine on the fall in serum GH following oral L-Dopa in this group of patients. Thus,β-adrenergic, as well as α-adrenergic, mechanisms are involved in the regulation of GH secretion in a qualitatively normal fashion in some acromegalic patients. However, the qualitatively abnormal suppressive effect of L-Dopa on GH secretion seen in some acromegalic patients does not appear to be mediated through either α-adrenergic or β-adrenergic mechanisms.
Immunohistochemical study of glial fibrillary acidic protein in avian sarcoma virus-induced gliomas in dogs.

Anaplastic astrocytomas, gliosarcomas and sarcomas were induced in 33 neonatal dogs by intracerebral injection of purified Schmidt-Ruppin strain of avian sarcoma virus (ASV). A total of 11 anaplastic gliomas, 7 gliosaromas and 18 sarcomas were induced. Ten of the 11 anaplastic astrocytomas and all 7 gliosarcomas were positive for GFAP using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method on formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue. None of the sarcomas were positive for GFAP. One anaplastic astrocytoma was analyzed by gel electrophoresis and immunoblot and the amount of GFAP in the tumor was compared with comparable samples from normal white and gray matter. Densimetric analysis of the GFAP stained gels showed that 12–13% of tumor protein was GFAP compared with 2–3% for the non-neoplastic white and gray matter. The results of this study add further evidence to the astrocytic origin of many of the induced anaplastic primary brain tumors by ASV.
Where have all the cardiothoracic surgery residents gone? Placement of graduating residents by United States thoracic surgery training programs, 1998 to 2002.

OBJECTIVE We studied the evolving job placement trends of graduating cardiothoracic surgery residents over a 5-year period from the perspective of the program director. METHODS Graduate placement questionnaires were sent to program directors of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited United States thoracic surgery residency programs (n = 92). Program directors were asked to categorize the type of job that each resident chose upon graduation (1998-2002). RESULTS Of the program directors surveyed, 71.7% (66/92) responded, representing 76.4% (545/714) of the total graduating resident population during the study period. Three-year training programs constituted 24.2% (16/66) of the respondents and accounted for 20.2% (110/545) of the graduates. Annually, graduates most commonly chose private practice jobs. Between 2001 and 2002, the percentage of graduates entering fellowships increased (11.8% [13/110] versus 19.1% [21/110], P = .008) as the percentage of graduates choosing private practice positions decreased (56.4% [62/110] versus 45.5% [50/110], P = .15). In total, 12.8% (70/545) of the graduates pursued fellowships, with associated specialty choices being: 38.6% (27/70) adult cardiac, 37.1% (26/70) congenital, 15.7% (11/70) transplantation, and 8.6% (6/70) thoracic. There were no significant differences between 2-year and 3-year training program graduates in choice of private practice versus academic jobs. CONCLUSIONS In 2002, a greater percentage of graduates chose to pursue fellowship training at the expense of private practice employment. This difference may in part result from fewer employment opportunities rather than graduate choice. Ongoing studies are needed to follow this trend. Annual analysis of the placement of all graduating residents would help to identify changes in employment.
Positive effects of methylphenidate on inattention and hyperactivity in pervasive developmental disorders: an analysis of secondary measures.

Background Methylphenidate has been shown elsewhere to improve hyperactivity in about half of treated children who have pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) and significant hyperactive-inattentive symptoms. We present secondary analyses to better define the scope of effects of methylphenidate on symptoms that define attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), as well as the core autistic symptom domain of repetitive behavior. Methods Sixty-six children (mean age 7.5 y) with autistic disorder, Asperger's disorder, and PDD not otherwise specified, were randomized to varying sequences of placebo and three different doses of methylphenidate during a 4-week blinded, crossover study. Methylphenidate doses used approximated .125, .25, and .5 mg/kg per dose, twice daily, with an additional half-dose in the late afternoon. Outcome measures included the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham Questionnaire revised for DSM-IV (ADHD and ODD scales) and the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scales for PDD. Results Methylphenidate was associated with significant improvement that was most evident at the .25- and .5-mg/kg doses. Hyperactivity and impulsivity improved more than inattention. There were not significant effects on ODD or stereotyped and repetitive behavior. Conclusions Convergent evidence from different assessments and raters confirms methylphenidate's efficacy in relieving ADHD symptoms in some children with PDD. Optimal dose analyses suggested significant interindividual variability in dose response.
Production of ribosome-released nascent proteins with optimal physical properties.

The growing interest in protein folding under physiologically relevant conditions has prompted investigations requiring direct comparisons between ribosome-bound and ribosome-released nascent proteins. Such studies, involving the ad hoc release of newly synthesized proteins from stalled ribosomes, demand a release agent able to produce nonaggregated native proteins and preserve the overall nature of the medium. Here, we explore hydroxylamine, a reactant rarely used to release nascent chains, and compare it to other ribosome-release agents: puromycin, RNase A/EDTA, and sodium hydroxide. Ribosome-bound nascent chains corresponding to the sequence of apoHmpH, the Escherichia coli N-terminal domain of Hmp, were used as a model system. Fluorescence anisotropy decays were employed to probe the self-association and overall physical properties of nascent proteins. Gel electrophoresis and RNA chip microfluidic capillary electrophoresis yielded information on the integrity of nascent peptidyl-tRNAs and ribosomes, r...
Endovenous Laser Ablation of the Great Saphenous Vein with a 980-nm Diode Laser in Continuous Mode: Early Treatment Failures and Successful Repeat Treatments

PURPOSE To investigate the efficacy of lower-energy endovenous laser treatment for great saphenous vein (GSV) incompetence and treatment parameters associated with early treatment failure. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixty consecutive endovenous laser treatments (32 left, 28 right; 57 initial treatments, three repeat treatments) in 48 patients (13 men, 35 women; mean age, 55.2 ± 12.9 years), with bilateral treatments in nine patients, were studied. Preprocedural clinical signs, etiology, anatomy, and physiologic classifications demonstrated class 2 limbs in 11.7% of cases, class 3 limbs in 25.0%, class 4 limbs in 48.3%, and class 5 limbs in 15.0%. All initial and repeat treatments were performed with lower-energy with use of a 980-nm diode endovenous laser at 11 W in continuous mode. Patients wore class II compression stockings for 2 weeks and were followed up at 1, 3, and 6 months with clinical and duplex ultrasound examinations. Treatment failures were diagnosed at 3 months on the basis of GSV patency or lack of clinical improvement. Diameter and length of GSV treated, treatment energy parameters, and clinical outcomes were prospectively measured and compared between successful and failed treatments. RESULTS The initial treatment success rate was 94.7% (54 of 57). The mean maximum diameter of successfully treated GSVs was 1.12 ± 0.52 cm, and the mean maximum diameter of GSVs in which treatment failure occurred was 2.05 ± 0.23 cm ( P = .008). Mean total energy applied for successful treatments was 1,131.3 ± 248.1 J, and mean total energy applied for failed treatments was 1,439.6 ± 425.0 J ( P = 0.053). Mean unit energy applied for successful treatments was 32.7 ± 7.5 J/cm, and that for failed treatments was 32.8 ± 4.9 J/cm ( P = .986). All patients in whom treatment failed were successfully treated again with a mean total energy of 1,393.0 ± 81.0 J and a mean unit energy of 29.4 ± 4.9 J/cm. There were no significant differences in mean total energy or unit energy applied among successful, failed, and repeat treatments ( P > .05). Mean follow-up duration was 6.8 months. CONCLUSIONS Endovenous laser treatment with lower energy appears to be safe and effective. Larger GSV diameter is associated with early treatment failures.
From insiders' perspectives: adjusting to caregiving for patients with left ventricular assist devices.

Context—Caregivers for patients with a long-term implantable left ventricular assist device have a very important role in helping patients maintain their health and well-being and attain an improved quality of life. Although the caregiving tasks, burdens, and challenges of family caregivers have been described in the literature, we know little about how caregivers adjust to or accommodate the new role in their lives.Objective—To explore and describe the lifestyle adjustments of caregivers for adults living with a left ventricular assist device as a bridge to heart transplant or destination therapy.Design—A hermeneutic phenomenology was used as a guide for interviews and analysis of the data.Participants—A purposive convenience sample of 5 women, aged 39 to 71 years, who had served as caregivers of a left ventricular assist device patient for at least 3 months.Setting—Recruitment and data collection (interviews) were conducted in an outpatient clinic for the mechanical circulatory support program of a larg...
The origin of acquired immune deficiency syndrome: Darwinian or Lamarckian?

The subtypes of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV–1) group M exhibit a remarkable similarity in their between–subtype distances, which we refer to as high synchrony. The shape of the phylogenetic tree of these subtypes is referred to as a sunburst to distinguish it from a simple star phylogeny. Neither a sunburst pattern nor a comparable degree of symmetry is seen in a natural process such as in feline immunodeficiency virus evolution. We therefore have undertaken forward–process simulation studies employing coalescent theory to investigate whether such highly synchronized subtypes could be readily produced by natural Darwinian evolution. The forward model includes both classical (macro) and molecular (micro) epidemiological components. HIV–1 group M subtype synchrony is quantified using the standard deviation of the between–subtype distances and the average of the within–subtype distances. Highly synchronized subtypes and a sunburst phylogeny are not observed in our simulated data, leading to the conclusion that a quasi–Lamarckian, punctuated event occurred. The natural transfer theory for the origin of human acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) cannot easily be reconciled with these findings and it is as if a recent non–Darwinian process took place coincident with the rise of AIDS in Africa.
The indefinite Z-transform technique and application to analysis of difference equations

The indefinite Z-transform technique is proposed. The method for solving linear difference equations using indefinite Z-transforms is compared with the methods employing the infinite one-sided Z-transforms and the finite Z-transforms. The distinct advantage of the method presented in this paper is that the desired solutions are obtained without employing standard inverse Z-transform techniques, such as the convolution theorem, or extensive Z-transform tables. All that is needed here for the derivations of the desired solutions is the application of Cramer's rule for the solution of simultaneous algebraic equations using the characteristic values. Therefore, this technique could be also readily used by those who have not studied the familiar Z-transform technique.
Numerical technique for the inverse resonance problem

Motivated by the work of Regge (Nuovo Cimento 8 (1958) 671; 9 (1958) 491) we are interested in the problem of recovering a radial potential in R3 from its resonance parameters, which are zeros of the appropriately defined Jost function. For a potential of compact support these may in turn be identified as the complex eigenvalues of a nonselfadjoint Sturm-Liouville problem with an eigenparameter dependent boundary condition. In this paper we propose and study a particular computational technique for this problem, based on a moment problem for a function g(t) which is related to the boundary values of the corresponding Gelfand-Levitan kernel.
Repeated text in unrelated passages: Repetition versus meaning selection effects

Despite previous findings, Klin, Ralano, and Weingartner (2007) found transfer benefits across unrelated passages. After processing an ambiguous phrase in Story A that was biased toward its sarcastic meaning, readers were more likely to interpret the identical phrase in Story B as sarcastic, even though it contained no disambiguating information. In the present experiments, we found both repetition effects (a benefit for the lexical items) and meaning selection effects (a benefit for the selected meaning of the phrase) with short delays between Stories A and B; with longer delays, only repetition effects were found. Whereas decreasing the elaboration of the phrase eliminated both effects, moving the disambiguating context from before to after the phrase eliminated meaning selection effects only. We conclude that meaning selection effects, which are based on conceptual overlap, are more sensitive to context changes and less robust than repetition effects, which are based on both perceptual and conceptual overlap.
Cholelithiasis and cholecystitis in children.

With advances in medical technology, including intensive care, new medications, alterations in the composition of parenteral nutrition, and the institution of minimally invasive surgery, our understanding of the spectrum of diseases of the gallbladder resulting in stone formation or inflammation, and the management of these disorders has changed over the past few decades. The discussion herein focuses on our thinking about the current diagnosis and treatment for these disorders.
Nuclear localization and hepatic zonation of rat "spot 14" protein: immunohistochemical investigation employing anti-fusion protein antibodies.

S14 protein and mRNA levels are rapidly regulated by hormones and diet. We have purified a 45-Kd fusion protein from lysates of transformed E. coli that includes the entire S14 polypeptide. Affinity-purified rabbit anti-fusion protein antibodies were used in immunohistochemistry to determine the distribution of S14 protein across the hepatic lobule, and to reassess its intracellular location. In hyperthyroid liver, S14 protein clustered near the central venous zone, and was not detectable in the periportal area of the acinus. The signal in perivenous hepatocytes was primarily nuclear in location, in stark contrast to previous subcellular fractionation studies. Visualization of identical hepatic distribution and subcellular localization employing anti-synthetic peptide antiserum provided evidence for the specificity of the immunostaining, as did attenuation of the signal by preincubation of the antibody with its antigen. No staining was observed in sections of heart or hypothyroid liver, as expected from t...