cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Correlates of mothers who prefer control over their hospitalized children's care

The purpose of this study was to profile mothers who prefer control over their hospitalized children's care. The subjects were 100 mothers in a private community hospital pediatric unit and 284 mothers in a children's hospital. The findings showed significant correlations in both groups between the desire for control and four of the six variables studied: age of the mother, age of the child, number of children in the family, and amount of time the mother spent in the hospital. The other two variables, ethnic background and prior experience with a hospitalized child, were each significant in only one of the two samples. The study provided guidelines for the pediatric nurse to use in assessing mothers' preferences for control over their hospitalized children's care.
International Management: Strategic Opportunities and Cultural Challenges

Preface Part I: On a Global Stage: The Context of International Management 1. On a Global Stage: The World of International Management 2. Legal and Political Foundations of International Management 3. Doing Things Right: International Ethics and Social Responsibility. Integrative Case: Culture Clash in the Boardroom Part II: Interacting Effectively in an International Environment 4. Making Distinctions across Cultures: Implications for International Management 5. Perception, Interpretation, and Attitudes Across Cultures 6. Communicating Effectively Across Cultures. Integrative Case: Chiba International, Inc Part III: Capitalizing on International Opportunities 7. Managing Conflict & Conducting Effective Negotiations 8. Taking Stock: Developing International Strategy 9. Jumping In: Foreign Market Entry and Ownership Options. Integrative Case: Go Global - or No? Part IV: Managing People in the International Arena 10. Motivating and Leading Across Cultures 11. Building an Effective International Workforce 12. Evaluating and Rewarding Employees Worldwide 13. Managing Cultural Groups: From Small Work. Integrative Case: The Case of the Floundering Expatriate
Processors and memory: the drivers of embedded systems toward the networked world

The exploding demand for embedded chips is being fueled by a need for versatile system-on-a-chip solutions that provide a high-performance processor core with memory and other elements required to enable a wide range of electronics and computing devices. Historically found in communications equipment, printers, and other computing gear, embedded chips have also become essential components within PDAs, consumer electronics, and wireless handsets, as well in many unconventional IT products, such as automobiles, washing machines, coffee makers, and a vast range of everyday devices. Due to this growing proliferation, along with advancements in materials, manufacturing techniques, and design tools, embedded processors with memory are poised to reign as a dominant force in the semiconductor industry, for years to come. This paper examines this trend, and explores the technology, system, and design challenges to be overcome, in fulfilling the promise of pervasive application.
The Development Of The Scale Of Educational Attitudes

The Scale of Educational Attitudes (SEA) determines a student’s attitude towards school. These attitudes can be separated into four categories: Academically Disinterested, Occupation-Driven, Academically Oriented Scholar, and Profession-Driven Scholar. In phase one of this study, items were written based on the literature. In phase two, a factor analysis eliminated weak items and identified underlying constructs of the scale. Phase three consisted of another factor analysis and validating the scale with established scales. The final phase tested the temporal stability of the SEA using test-retest data. Evaluation of a student’s educational attitude can provide insight into further success of a student in his or her educational endeavors.
Regulation of Casein Kinase Iϵ Activity by Wnt Signaling

The Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway is important in both development and cancer. Casein kinase Iepsilon (CKIepsilon) is a positive regulator of the canonical Wnt pathway. CKIepsilon itself can be regulated in vitro by inhibitory autophosphorylation, and recent data suggest that in vivo kinase activity can be regulated by extracellular stimuli. We show here that the phosphorylation state and kinase activity of CKIepsilon are directly regulated by Wnt signaling. Coexpression of XWnt-8 or addition of soluble Wnt-3a ligand led to a significant and rapid increase in the activity of endogenous CKIepsilon. The increase in CKIepsilon activity is the result of decreased inhibitory autophosphorylation because it is abolished by preincubation of immunoprecipitated kinase with ATP. Furthermore, mutation of CKIepsilon inhibitory autophosphorylation sites creates a kinase termed CKIepsilon(MM2) that is significantly more active than CKIepsilon and is not activated further upon Wnt stimulation. Autoinhibition of CKIepsilon is biologically relevant because CKIepsilon(MM2) is more effective than CKIepsilon at activating transcription from a Lef1-dependent promoter. Finally, CKIepsilon(MM2) expression in Xenopus embryos induces both axis duplication and additional developmental abnormalities. The data suggest that Wnt signaling activates CKIepsilon by causing transient dephosphorylation of critical inhibitory sites present in the carboxyl-terminal domain of the kinase. Activation of the Wnt pathway may therefore stimulate a cellular phosphatase to dephosphorylate and activate CKIepsilon
Reconfigurable differentiall accelerometer platform for inertial body sensor networks

This work presents a design of a reconfigurable differential accelerometer platform for body sensor networks (BSNs) that achieves lower power and lower cost than traditional inertial sensor systems. The proposed reconfigurable platform provides six degree-of-freedom (6DoF) sensing with four tri-axial accelerometers, entirely avoiding gyroscopes, which have become a bottleneck of power and cost optimization for many BSNs. Gryo-free 6DoF sensing has been demonstrated in the past but not under BSN form factor constraints. The proposed platform includes three components: (1) differential accelerometers in a BSN-compatible configuration, (2) a reconfigurable analog circuit for adaptive sensor conditioning given this configuration, and (3) a signal reconstruction algorithm based on prior knowledge about body motions. Simulated results demonstrate accurate angular velocity estimation using the proposed platform.
Rat hormone sensitive lipase inhibition by cyclipostins and their analogs

Abstract Cyclipostins are bicyclic lipophilic phosphate natural products. We report here that synthesized individual diastereomers of cyclipostins P and R have nanomolar IC 50 s toward hormone sensitive lipase (HSL). The less potent diastereomers of these compounds have 10-fold weaker IC 50 s. The monocyclic phosphate analog of cyclipostin P is nearly as potent as the bicyclic natural product. Bicyclic phosphonate analogs of both cyclipostins exhibit IC 50 s similar to those of the weaker diastereomer phosphates (about 400 nM). The monocyclic phosphonate analog of cyclipostin P has similar potency. A series of monocyclic phosphonate analogs in which a hydrophobic tail extends from the lactone side of the ring are considerably poorer inhibitors, with IC 50 s around 50 μM. Finally cyclophostin, a related natural product inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) that lacks the hydrocarbon tail of cyclipostins, is not active against HSL. These results indicate a critical SAR for these compounds, the hydrophobic tail. The smaller lactone ring is not critical to activity, a similarity shared with cyclophostin and AChE. The HSL kinetics of inhibition for the cyclipostin P trans diastereomer were examined in detail. The reaction is irreversible with a K I of 40 nM and a rate constant for inactivation of 0.2 min −1 . These results are similar to those observed for cyclophostin and AChE.
Epitaxial Electrodeposition of Fe3O4 on Single-Crystal Au(111)

Epitaxial films of Fe3O4(111) are electrodeposited on single-crystal Ni(111). The lattice mismatch reduces from +138% in the ⟨011⟩ directions to −0.7% by forming a coincidence lattice in which 5 unit meshes of O overlap with 12 unit meshes of Ni.
On the intertemporal allocation of a natural resource

Abstract The dynamic problem of optimal allocation of a resource over time without discounting is reduced to a conditional static optimization for any given stock of the resource, thus providing an upper bound on rate of use for any given stock.
High-performance liquid chromatography determination of hydrastine and berberine in dietary supplements containing goldenseal

Abstract Goldenseal ( Hydrastis canadensis L., Ranunculaceae) is an ingredient of various dietary supplements intended for enhancing general body immunity. Many goldenseal products are currently available in the United States, either alone or in combination with echinacea. In most products, the content of the main active alkaloids of goldenseal, hydrastine and berberine, is not indicated on the label. A high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method has been developed for the detection and quantification of hydrastine and berberine in a number of products obtained from the United States market. The method uses a Phenomenex® Luna C 18 column, a mobile phase consisting of solvent A (100 mM sodium acetate/acetic acid, pH 4.0) and solvent B (acetonitrile/methanol; 90/10, v/v). Elution was run at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, with a linear gradient of 80– 40% A in B over 20 min and ultraviolet detection at 290 nm. A wide range of content variation was observed for both alkaloids in the tested samples. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmaceutical Association J Pharm Sci 90:817–822, 2001
Helium diffraction from the MgO(001) surface.

Helium diffraction beam intensity measurements from an /ital in/ /ital situ/ cleaved, oxygen-treated, room-temperature surface of MgO(001) are reported. The in-plane spectra obtained at several angles in the main azimuthal planes at beam energies of 17.3 and 63 meV were analyzed using a hard corrugated surface model. A corrugation amplitude of about 0.17 A gives a fair fit, in agreement with most previous work.
Design, development, fabrication, and safety-of-flight testing of a panoramic night vision goggle

A novel approach to significantly increasing the field of view (FOV) of night vision goggles (NVGs) has been developed. This approach uses four image intensifier tubes instead of the usual two to produce a 100 degree wide FOV. A conceptual demonstrator device was fabricated in November 1995 and limited flight evaluations were performed. Further development of this approach continues with eleven advanced technology demonstrators delivered in March 1999 that feature five different design configurations. Some of the units will be earmarked for ejection seat equipped aircraft due to their low profile design allowing the goggle to be retained safely during and after ejection. Other deliverables will be more traditional in design approach and lends itself to transport and helicopter aircraft as well as ground personnel. Extensive safety-of-flight testing has been accomplished as a precursor to the F-15C operational utility evaluation flight testing at Nellis AFB that began in March 1999.
Uniformity analysis at MEA and stack Levels for a Nexa PEM fuel cell system

Abstract The Nexa™ power module is evaluated at membrane-electrode-assembly (MEA) and stack levels. The I–V Curves of the Nexa™ PEM fuel cell system is measured using periodic current interruption to maintain isothermal stack temperature. The uniformity analysis is mainly performed on the load of 800 W for all MEAs in 10 individual Nexa™ stacks. Statistical data show that the MEA voltage without an external load averages 224 mV higher than that with a load of 800 W. The MEA voltage difference is especially pronounced around the two cells at the air compressor side. The average difference is 8.8% and the highest difference is 13.1% between the minimum MEA voltage in the stack and the mean value. This voltage difference reveals a possibility to increase the product power capability and cut the cost per kilowatts by improving the weak performance electrodes or MEAs in the stack.
Isolation of arboviruses from Culicoides midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Colorado during an epizootic of vesicular stomatitis New Jersey.

An arbovirus survey was conducted in Colorado and Utah during an epizootic of vesicular stomatitis New Jersey (VSNJ) that occurred in the western United States in 1982–1983. From 120,422 insect specimens assayed, 106 viruses were isolated. Four were rhabdoviruses (VSNJ), three were orbiviruses (bluetongue serotype-11), 92 were Bunyamwera group (65 Main Drain and 27 Lokern), and seven were Simbu group (Buttonwillow) bunyaviruses. Culicoides spp. accounted for 105 viral isolates ( C. (Selfia ) spp., C. variipennis (Coquillett), C. stellifer (Coquillett), and C. cockerellii (Coquillett)), and one was from Simulium bivittatum Malloch. C. (Selfia) spp. accounted for 59% of all pooled specimens and was the source of 89.6% (95) of the isolates. Insects from two sites accounted for 44% (52,802) of all pooled specimens and 67% (71) of the viral isolates. The isolations of VSNJ, Main Drain, Lokern, and Buttonwillow viruses from C. (Selfia) spp. are the first arbovirus isolations reported for this subgenus; this is the first time these viruses have been isolated from Culicoides species other than C. variipennis .
Evaluation of low energy CID and ECD fragmentation behavior of mono-oxidized thio-ether bonds in peptides

Thio-ether bonds in the cysteinyl side chain of peptides, formed with the most commonly used cysteine blocking reagent iodoacetamide, after conversion to sulfoxide, releases a neutral fragment mass in a low-energy MS/MS experiment in the gas phase of the mass spectrometer [6]. In this study, we show that the neutral loss fragments produced from the mono-oxidized thio-ether bonds (sulfoxide) in peptides, formed by alkyl halide or double-bond containing cysteine blocking reagents are different under low-energy MS/MS conditions. We have evaluated the low-energy fragmentation patterns of mono-oxidized modified peptides with different cysteine blocking reagents, such as iodoacetamide, 3-maleimidopropionic acid, and 4-vinylpyridine using FTICR-MS. We propose that the mechanisms of gas-phase fragmentation of mono-oxidized thio-ether bonds in the side chain of peptides, formed by iodoacetamide and double-bond containing cysteine blocking reagents, maleimide and vinylpyridine, are different because of the availability of acidic β-hydrogens in these compounds. Moreover, we investigated the fragmentation characteristics of mono-oxidized thio-ether bonds within the peptide sequence to develop novel mass-spectrometry identifiable chemical cross-linkers. This methionine type of oxidized thio-ether bond within the peptide sequence did not show anticipated low-energy fragmentation. Electron capture dissociation (ECD) of the side chain thio-ether bond containing oxidized peptides was also studied. ECD spectra of the oxidized peptides showed a greater extent of peptide backbone cleavage, compared with CID spectra. This fragmentation information is critical to researchers for accurate data analysis of this undesired modification in proteomics research, as well as other methods that may utilize sulfoxide derivatives.
Imported crazy ant displaces imported fire ant, reduces and homogenizes grassland ant and arthropod assemblages

A recently introduced, ecologically dominant, exotic ant species, Nylanderia fulva, is invading the Southeastern United States and Texas. We evaluate how this invader impacts diversity and abundance of co-occurring ants and other arthropods in two grasslands. N. fulva rapidly attains densities up to 2 orders of magnitude greater than the combined abundance of all other ants. Overall ant biomass increases in invaded habitat, indicating that N. fulva exploits resources not fully utilized by the local ant assemblage. At high density, as N. fulva spreads, it eliminates the current ecologically dominant invasive ant, red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta). Compared to imported fire ant dominated habitat, N. fulva invasion zones have lower non-ant arthropod species richness and abundance with impacts differing by trophic category. Further, N. fulva reduces abundance and species richness of the remainder of the ant assemblage and does so in a non-random manner: impacting species with small sized workers much less than species with larger workers. In these and other ant assemblages with a large exotic component, the exotics tend to be small bodied species. As a result, N. fulva almost completely eliminates regionally distributed species, but leaves globally distributed species largely unaffected, thereby systematically favoring introduced over native diversity. S. invicta impacts wildlife and arthropod assemblage structure and is nearly ubiquitous in non-forested habitats of the Southeastern United States and Texas. Its displacement by N. fulva has critical implications for the natural systems of this region.
Polarized electron beams for linear colliders

Longitudinally polarized electron beams for high energy collisions provide a sensitive way to explore the electroweak process as well as an effective means to measure spin dependent properties of particles. Once created, such beams are readily accelerated by linacs without loss of polarization, although emittance damping rings present potential hazards. The essential elements of a collider necessary for the utilization of polarized electrons are described. The key element is the polarized electron source as illustrated by the SLC which now operates with P{sub e} {approximately} 80% in the 50 GeV linac. Possible improvements for future colliders are discussed.
Regulation of Akt by arachidonic acid and phosphoinositide 3-kinase in angiotensin II-stimulated vascular smooth muscle cells

Angiotensin (Ang) II stimulates cytosolic phospholipase A2(cPLA 2 )-dependent release of arachidonic acid (ArAc) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). ArAc release and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) lead to the activation of downstream kinases resulting in VSMC growth. To determine the role of Akt in this pathway, we used VSMC to link Ang II-induced ArAc release and ROS production to the activation of Akt and VSMC growth. We observed that Ang II, ArAc, or H 2 O 2 increased Akt activation. The Akt inhibitor SH6 blocked Ang II-, ArAc-, or H 2 O 2 -induced Akt activation, as did inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3 K). Inhibition of cPLA 2 blocked Ang II effects, while the ROS scavenger NaC decreased Ang II- and ArAc-induced Akt activation. Inhibition of Akt blocked the 3 H-thymidine incorporation induced by all three agonists. Thus, Ang II-induced ArAc release and ROS production leads to the PI 3 K-dependant activation of Akt and VSMC growth.
Sustained carbon uptake and storage following moderate disturbance in a Great Lakes forest

Carbon (C) uptake rates in many forests are sustained, or decline only briefly, following disturbances that partially defoliate the canopy. The mechanisms supporting such functional resistance to moderate forest disturbance are largely unknown. We used a large-scale experiment, in which >6700 Populus (aspen) and Betula (birch) trees were stem-girdled within a 39-ha area, to identify mechanisms sustaining C uptake through partial canopy defoliation. The Forest Accelerated Succession Experiment in northern Michigan, USA, employs a suite of C-cycling measurements within paired treatment and control meteorological flux tower footprints. We found that enhancement of canopy light-use efficiency and maintenance of light absorption maintained net ecosystem production (NEP) and aboveground wood net primary production (NPP) when leaf-area index (LAI) of the treatment forest temporarily declined by nearly half its maximum value. In the year following peak defoliation, redistribution of nitrogen (N) in the treatment ...
CELLULAR REGULATION OF ECDYSONE SYNTHESIS BY THE PROTHORACIC GLANDS OF MANDUCA SEXTA

Abstract The cellular mechanism of action of the cerebral neuropeptide, prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH), was investigated in vitro using prothoracic glands from the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta . An involvement of cyclic AMP (cAMP) in PTTH-stimulated ecdysone synthesis was demonstrated as follows: (a) the steroidogenic effect of PTTH on prothoracic glands of day 3 fifth instar larvae and day 0 pupae was mimicked by agents (1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine, dibutyryl cAMP and forskolin) which act by increasing intracellular levels of cAMP; and (b) PTTH stimulated the formation of cAMP in glands from both stages in a rapid, dose-dependent manner. However, a significant accumulation of cAMP in response to PTTH occurred only in larval prothoracic glands. In pupal glands, effects of the neuropeptide on cAMP synthesis were seen only in the presence of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Although cAMP is involved in PTTH action at both stages, it thus appears that the developmental state of the prothoracic glands influences the degree to which cAMP accumulates in response to the neurohormone. In addition to cAMP, it appears from the following that Ca 2+ plays an essential role in mediating the steroidogenic effects of PTTH: (a) PTTH-stimulated ecdysone synthesis was blocked by omission of Ca 2+ from the incubation medium; and (b) ecdysone synthesis was stimulated by the calcium ionophore A23187. Agents which act by increasing intracellular levels of cAMP enhanced ecdysone synthesis equally well in both the presence and absence of extracellular calcium. By contrast, cAMP formation stimulated by both PTTH and A23187 was completely dependent upon extracellular Ca 2+ . The results suggest a primary role for Ca 2+ in mediating PTTH-stimulated synthesis of cAMP, with the cyclic nucleotide in turn stimulating ecdysone synthesis.
Radiative Lifetimes of Some n = 4 and n = 5 States in He ii*

We have measured the radiative lifetimes of the 4S, 4D, 4F, 5S, 5P, 5D, and 5F states in singly ionized helium using the high-energy atomic-beam technique. The measured values of the lifetimes are in excellent agreement with those calculated for hydrogenic atoms. Extensions of the experimental technique to the measurement of excitation cross sections and fine-structure splittings are discussed.
Contrasting dynamic responses in vivo of the Bcl-xL and Bim erythropoietic survival pathways.

Survival signaling by the erythropoietin (Epo) receptor (EpoR) is essential for erythropoiesis and for its acceleration in hypoxic stress. Several apparently redundant EpoR survival pathways were identified in vitro, raising the possibility of their functional specialization in vivo. Here we used mouse models of acute and chronic stress, including a hypoxic environment and β-thalassemia, to identify two markedly different response dynamics for two erythroblast survival pathways in vivo. Induction of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-xL is rapid but transient, while suppression of the proapoptotic protein Bim is slower but persistent. Similar to sensory adaptation, however, the Bcl-xL pathway “resets,” allowing it to respond afresh to acute stress superimposed on a chronic stress stimulus. Using “knock-in” mouse models expressing mutant EpoRs, we found that adaptation in the Bcl-xL response occurs because of adaptation of its upstream regulator Stat5, both requiring the EpoR distal cytoplasmic domain. We conclude that survival pathways show previously unsuspected functional specialization for the acute and chronic phases of the stress response. Bcl-xL induction provides a “stop-gap” in acute stress, until slower but permanent pathways are activated. Furthermore, pathologic elevation of Bcl-xL may be the result of impaired adaptation, with implications for myeloproliferative disease mechanisms.
Halogens in the atmosphere

Atmospheric halogen measurement data are presented for: (1) inorganic and organic gaseous compounds of chlorine, fluorine, bromine and iodine; and (2) chloride, fluoride, bromide and iodine in particulate form and in precipitation. The roles that these data and other, unavailable data play in the determination of the global cycles of the halogens are discussed. It is found that the speciation of the halogen gases in the troposphere is uncertain, with the only inorganic species detected by species-specific methods being HC1 and SF6. It is shown that heterogeneous reactions, both gas-to-particle and particle-to-gas processes, precipitation removal, and sea-salt aerosol generation and fractionation processes, need quantitative investigation to allow progress in estimating halogen sources and sinks. Where practical, quantitative comparisons are made between measured and predicted concentrations.
Injectable contraception with depot medroxyprogesterone acetate. Current status.

Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) the only injectable contraception approved in the United States in 1992 is used by 8-9 million women in more than 90 countries. DMPA inhibits ovulation by the reduction of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) plasma levels. The contraceptive efficacy of the usual dosage of 150 mg every 3 months is extremely high. In a World Health Organization-sponsored multi-center study no pregnancies were reported among 607 women (452 patient-years) using this regimen. Other trials have reported failure rates ranging from zero to 0.7% of women experiencing an accidental pregnancy during 1 year of use. The typical failure rate has been estimated as 0.3% which is comparable to the contraceptive efficacy of subdermal implants or tubal sterilization. Use of 300 mg every 6 months is associated with a higher failure rate of 2.3%. Following injection of 150 mg ovulation does not occur for at least 14 weeks. DMPA should be initiated within 5 days of delivery and the first Depo-Provera injection should be deferred until 6 weeks postpartum in nursing women. Episodes of irregular bleeding and spotting lasting 7 days are frequent during the first months of use. About 50% of women using DMPA for 1 year have amenorrhea. Women with diabetes should be monitored while using DMPA; but use of DMPA was not associated with significant changes in coagulation parameters. A 1979 WHO study found no increased risk of breast cancer in users on the other hand it markedly reduced the risk of endometrial cancer for 8 years following discontinuation. Bone density in 30 women who had used DMPA for 5 years was lower than in non-users although osteoporosis was not evident. Almost 70% of DMPA former users conceived within 12 months after discontinuation. Headache dizziness abdominal bloating mood changes alopecia and weight gain may occur in DMPA users. DMPA is particularly suitable for women with hemoglobinopathy. DMPA is safe and effective in appropriately selected patients.
Cone pathways and the π0 and π0′ rod mechanisms

The field-adaptation properties of two scotopic (rod) mechanisms, pi 0 and pi 0', were measured to test a two-pathway model that associates the fast temporal properties of pi 0' with the processing of rod signals by early cone pathways, possibly including cone photoreceptors, and the sluggish temporal properties of pi 0 with processing of rod signals by classical rod pathways. This model predicts that cone stimulation will differentially affect the flicker sensitivity of pi 0' compared to pi 0. Both rod mechanisms are seen in double-branched flicker-threshold-vs-intensity (FTVI) curves measured with a 15-Hz, square-wave-modulated, rod-detected test stimulus. We show that the position of the upper branch (pi 0') shifts relative to the lower branch in response to changes of background wavelength, indicating that different receptor types regulate sensitivity of pi 0 and pi 0'. Field spectral sensitivity (FSS) functions for pi 0 closely match the scotopic spectral sensitivity function, indicating that only rods adapt pi 0 under these conditions. In contrast, fitting of FSS functions for pi 0' required a combination of cone and rod spectral sensitivity functions. The relative adaptational effect of cone stimulation compared to rod stimulation increases with background light level: at highest levels, cone stimulation has more influence than rod stimulation. Test additivity experiments assessed the degree of additivity between cones and rods to ensure that the pi 0' branch did not result from sub-threshold summation between receptor mechanisms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Defining neurocognitive disorders.

R are questioning the boundary between normal cognition and subtle problems that are a prelude to dementia. In the 1980s, “normal cognitive decline” had several pseudonyms including age-associated memory impairment, age-consistent memory impairment, and late-life forgetfulness. The difficulty was that normal cognitive decline was poorly defined and the diagnoses of clinically significant age-related memory loss lacked reliability when applied clinically.1 Many potential cognitive problems were dismissed as “within expectations for age” or “senior moments.” Recently the understanding of what is “normal” cognition in the elderly individuals has been refined. The syndrome of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) was first described 20 years ago and considerable data supports the validity of MCI. MCI is of interest because subtypes of MCI have been shown to be predictive of the later development of Alzheimer disease (AD) and other dementing illnesses.2 In fact, the probability of conversion fromMCI to dementia is estimated to be approximately 15%.3 Estimates of the prevalence ofMCI are approximately 5% to as high as 29%3 and climbing with the aging of the population. MCI is defined as cognitive decline greater than expected for an individual’s age and educational level that does not interfere notably with activities of daily life.4 The definition of MCI has been further characterized by Petersen5 and the classification proposed by an international working group on MCI. This
Modeling Preharvest and Harvest Interventions for Escherichia coli O157 Contamination of Beef Cattle Carcasses

Field studies evaluating the effects of multiple concurrent preharvest interventions for Escherichia coli O157 are logistically and economically challenging; however, modeling techniques may provide useful information on these effects while also identifying crucial information gaps that can guide future research. We constructed a risk assessment model with data obtained from a systematic search of scientific literature. Parameter distributions were incorporated into a stochastic Monte Carlo modeling framework to examine the impacts of different combinations of preharvest and harvest interventions for E. coli O157 on the risk of beef carcass contamination. We estimated the risk of E. coli O157 carcass contamination conditional on preharvest fecal prevalence estimates, inclusion of feed additive(s) in the diet, vaccination for E. coli O157, transport and lairage effects, hide intervention(s), and carcass intervention(s). Prevalence parameters for E. coli O157 were assumed to encompass potential effects of c...
High Temperature Pyrolysis of O-Terphenyl: Evidence for Kinetic Control in the Benzene Polymerization Pathway and Importance of Arene Aggregation/ Condensation Reactions in the Formation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Abstract The pyrolysis of o-terphenyl was effected in a drop tube furnace at 5 temperatures between 1248–1352 K, a range over which a significant change in product composition occurs. the use of atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry with a heated nebulizer interface permitted product characterization up to a molecular mass of 900 u. Least-condensed benzene polymers dominate the product spectrum at the lower temperatures. A shift to more condensed PAH, many of which are total resonant sextet (TRS) compounds, is seen at the higher temperatures, in agreement with previously established theory. However, the low abundance of the TRS compounds, the absence of a rate-limiting critical species, and the high abundance of o-terphenyl dimers, together suggest that the product suite is not at equilibrium but is instead kinetically determined. the abundance of several ring-rupture products, such as benz[a]anthracene, cyclopent[hi]acephenanthrylene and chrysene is also indicative of a kineti-cally-...
Positive and negative feedback control by estrogen of luteinizing hormone secretion in the rhesus monkey.

Silastic capsules containing 17β–estradiol were implanted subcutaneously into rhesus monkeys ovariectomized 3–18 months earlier. These capsules released the steroid at a rate which resulted in plasma estrogen concentrations (70 pg/ml) approximating those observed during the early follicular phase of the normal menstrual cycle. These estrogen levels were maintained for as long as the implants were kept in place (1 yr and 9 months). Following the implantation of estradiol, the elevated plasma LH concentrations characteristic of untreated ovariectomized monkeys declined to the low levels associated with the early follicular phase of the cycle and remained there for the duration of the study. The administration of a single subcutaneous injection of estradiol benzoate to these chronically suppressed ovariectomized animals elicited a discharge of LH resembling the spontaneous, preovulatory LH surge. These findings support the conclusion that the positive feedback action of estradiol, which initiates the LH surg...
Finest Partitions for Ultrafilters

If a uniform ultrafilter U over an uncountable cardinal κ is not outright countably complete, probably the next best thing is that it have a finest partition: a master function f:κ → ω with ƒ−({n}) ∉ U for each n ϵ ω such that for any g: κ → κ, either (a) it is one-to-one on a set in U, or (b) it factors through ƒ (mod U), i.e. for some function h, {α ω is indecomposable iff whenever ω < λ < κ, there is no V ≤RKU such that V is a (uniform) ultrafilter over λ.
HLA haplotype A*03-B*07 in hemochromatosis probands with HFE C282Y homozygosity: frequency disparity in men and women and lack of association with severity of iron overload.

Abstract Before the discovery of HFE , reports suggested that hemochromatosis patients with the ancestral haplotype (or some element thereof) have more severe iron overload than those without the haplotype. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses of the relationships of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*03 and HLA haplotype A*03-B*07 to iron measures (serum iron concentration, transferrin saturation, and serum ferritin concentration at diagnosis and units of phlebotomy to achieve iron depletion) in hemochromatosis probands homozygous for HFE C282Y diagnosed in medical care. Iron overload was defined by demonstration of hepatic iron index of ≥1.9 or removal of ≥2.0 g Fe by therapeutic phlebotomy. We tabulated the phenotype frequencies of HLA-A*03 and the frequencies of common HLA haplotypes A*01-B*08, A*02-B*44, A*03-B*07, and A*03-B*14 in three groups of white adults: (1) 141 hemochromatosis probands with C282Y homozygosity; (2) 195 index cases with IgG subclass deficiency (IgGSD) or common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), disorders typically linked to Ch6p, and (3) 750 control subjects. Among probands, 86 men and 42 women had iron overload. Frequencies of HLA-A and -B alleles in probands did not depart significantly from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The phenotype frequency of A*03 did not differ significantly between men and women in the each of the respective three groups. The frequency of haplotype A*03-B*07 was greater in men than women with hemochromatosis (0.3081 vs. 0.1455; P = 0.0019). The frequency of A*03-B*014 was significantly greater in women than men with hemochromatosis (0.1182 vs. 0.0407, respectively; P = 0.0134). Mean values of most iron measures were not affected by numbers of copies of A*03 or by presence of A*03-B*07 in either men or women in univariate analysis. ANOVA models of sex, age at diagnosis, and all HLA alleles and haplotypes in probands were used to determine effects of these variables on iron measures. ANOVA models revealed that (1) there were no significant predictors for serum iron concentration; (2) B*14 is associated with higher transferrin saturation in women and lower transferrin saturation in men; (3) A*01-B*08 is associated with a trend of higher serum ferritin levels; and (4) A*03-B*14 is associated with exaggeration of the age-associated upward trend in units of phlebotomy to achieve iron depletion. In hemochromatosis probands with HFE C282Y homozygosity, we conclude that (1) disparate frequencies of HLA haplotypes A*03-B*07 and A*03-B*14 occur in men and women and (2) HLA-A*03 and HLA-A*03-B*07 are not independent variables associated with iron overload severity.
Characteristics of the Inside-of-the-Body Test Drawings Performed by Normal School Children

The Inside-of-the-Body test was administered to an unselected group of 150 elementary school children in Grades 1 to 6. The most frequently identified body part was the heart. Musculoskeletal and visible body parts were identified in younger children. Children in the higher grade levels drew more cavity organs and their drawings more frequently showed the organs in the correct anatomic arrangement. The Inside-of-the-Body test may be a useful adjunctive tool in the psychological assessment of children by identifying the development of internal body perception in normal children as well as those with physical and psychological disorders.
Characterization of some morphological parameters of orbicularis oculi motor neurons in the monkey

The primate facial nucleus is a prominent brainstem structure that is composed of cell bodies giving rise to axons forming the facial nerve. It is musculotopically organized, but we know little about the morphological features of its motor neurons. Using the Lucifer Yellow intracellular filling method, we examined 11 morphological parameters of motor neurons innervating the monkey orbicularis oculi (OO) muscle, which plays an important role in eyelid closure and voluntary and emotional facial expressions. All somata were multipolar and remained confined to the intermediate subnucleus, as did the majority of its aspiny dendritic branches. We found a mean maximal cell diameter of 54 microm in the transverse dimension, cell diameter of 60 microm in the rostrocaudal dimension, somal surface area of 17,500 microm(2) and somal volume of 55,643 microm(3). Eight neurons were used in the analysis of dendritic parameters based upon complete filling of the distal segments of the dendritic tree. We found a mean number of 16 dendritic segments, an average dendritic length of 1036 microm, diameter of 7 microm, surface area of 12,757 microm(2) and total volume of 16,923 microm(3). Quantitative analysis of the dendritic branch segments demonstrated that the average number, diameter and volume gradually diminished from proximal to distal segments. A Sholl analysis revealed that the highest number of dendritic intersections occurred 60 microm distal to the somal center with a gradual reduction of intersections occurring distally. These observations advance our understanding of the morphological organization of the primate facial nucleus and provide structural features for comparative studies, interpreting afferent influence on OO function and for designing studies pinpointing structural alterations in OO motor neurons that may accompany disorders affecting facial movement.
205: A Case of Endoscopy-Related Peritonitis in a Peritoneal Dialysis Patient

A CASE OF ENDOSCOPY-RELATED PERITONITIS IN A PERITONEAL DIALYSIS PATIENT Minesh Pathak, Tibor Fulop. University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi. We present a case of a 54 year-old female with end-stage renal disease on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (PD) and history of systemic lupus erythematosus and hypertension. She presented with two days history of generalized abdominal pain, associated with nausea and vomiting. She reported no fever, hematemesis, melena, hematochezia, diarrhea or cloudy PD effluent. Her symptoms started shortly after an upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy with biopsies, revealing only “inflammation and a small hiatal hernia. Vitals on admission: heart rate of 145/min, blood pressure 135/66 mmHg, respiratory rate 35/min. She was in moderate distress and looked clinically ill. Physical exam revealed moderately diffuse tenderness, lack of bowel sounds and involuntary guarding. Laboratory results: ABG with pH of 7.48, pCO2 28 mmHg, PO2 85; serum HCO3 18 mMol/L, potassium of 7.7 mMol/L, lactic acid 7.2 mMol/L, WBC count 15,100 /mm3. Acute peritonitis with sepsis was entertained and surgery was immediately consulted. Subsequent exploratory laparotomy revealed copious murky fluid, without evidence for bowel perforation or obstruction. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter was removed. Peritoneal fluid Gram stain showed both gram positive and gram negative flora. Blood cultures grew S. pneumoniae. She received also appropriate treatment with broad antibiotic coverage and hemodialysis was started for renal replacement therapy. Discussion: Peritonitis occurs commonly in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis, either due to direct contamination of the fluid bag connector, or due to tunnel infection of PD catheter. This case report likely represented a transmural route of infection resulting from biopsy with upper GI endoscopy. When evaluating patients with PD peritonitis, focused history should specifically query recent GI procedures. Early surgical exploration and broad spectrum coverage, including empiric anaerobic coverage may be appropriate for these patients.
Effects of heroin self-administration on cigarette smoking.

Cigarette smoking increased during heroin self-administration in comparison to drug-free and methadone detoxification conditions in eight heroin addicts given naltrexone placebo (P<0.01) and three heroin addicts given buprenorphine placebo. Cigarette smoking was stable across conditions for one subject who did not use heroin during naltrexone blockade of heroin effects. Five subjects smoked significantly more (P<0.01) during the hour following a heroin injection than during the preceding hour, and two subjects in the same group smoked significantly less following a heroin injection (P<0.05). Subjects smoked significantly more during the evening and night when self-administering heroin than during baseline conditions (P<0.05), but subjects did not sleep significantly less during heroin self-administration. The peak of the intercigarette interval distribution remained between 16–30 min during baseline and heroin conditions. However, the increased smoking during heroin use appeared to reflect a higher rate of smoking rather than a generalized increase across intercigarette intervals. These data extend previous findings, that alcohol consumption is associated with increased cigarette smoking, to IV heroin self-administration.
The 1A protein gene of human respiratory syncytial virus: Nucleotide sequence of the mrna and a related polycistronic transcript

The 1A mRNA is the smallest mRNA of human respiratory syncytial (RS) virus and encodes a single protein of approximate molecular weight 9500 as estimated previously by gel electrophoresis. The nucleotide sequence of the 1A mRNA, determined from several full-length cDNA clones, is reported. The 1A mRNA consists of 405 nucleotides, exclusive of poly(A), with relatively long nontranslated regions at the 5' and 3' ends (84 and 126 nucleotides, respectively). The sequences at the 5' and 3' termini of the 1A mRNA conform to the previously described conserved consensus sequences for RS virus mRNAs. The major open reading frame of the 1A mRNA codes for a hydrophobic polypeptide of 64 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 7536. The 5' terminus of the 1A mRNA was mapped and sequenced by primer extension under conditions for sequencing by partial chain termination. These experiments also identified a population of polycistronic RNA having the general structure: 5' M protein mRNA-1A mRNA 3'. This polytranscript was sequenced in order to determine the intergenic sequence. In the polytranscript, the nucleotide sequence of the M gene is followed by, in mRNA sense, six A residues and the intergenic sequence 5' ... UAUACACNN (N represents unidentified nucleotide).
CIGARETTE SMOKING IS ASSOCIATED WITH CONVERSION FROM NORMOGLYCEMIA TO IMPAIRED FASTING GLUCOSE: THE WESTERN NEW YORK HEALTH STUDY

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a formidable public health problem leading to premature morbidity and mortality and contributing to increased health care costs. Putative risk factors associated with the development of T2DM are age, ethnicity, obesity, family history of T2DM, and physical inactivity. Moreover, both the Diabetes Prevention Program and the Finish Diabetes Prevention Study have shown the strong predictive nature of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) on diabetes risk (1, 2). Like the growing epidemic of T2DM, the number of individuals with pre-diabetes (defined as impaired fasting glucose (fasting plasma glucose ≥ 100 mg/dl and < 126 mg/dl) or impaired glucose tolerance (plasma glucose ≥ 140 and < 200 mg/dl after an oral glucose tolerance test) is also on the rise. In 2007 approximately 57 million Americans had pre-diabetes (3). The pre-diabetic period provides a prime opportunity to prevent or delay not only T2DM, but to possibly reduce the microvascular and/or macrovascular complications as well. Therefore, identification of impaired fasting glucose and its modifiable risk factors would offer the chance to intervene at an earlier point in the natural history of disease. Cigarette smoking may be a common antecedent of both IFG and diabetes. Epidemiologic evidence accumulated over the last few decades convincingly establishes smoking as a risk factor for T2DM with a relative risk (RR) ranging from 1.5 to nearly 6.0 (4–18). There is, however, a paucity of information on the association between smoking and impaired fasting glucose. Two studies among occupational cohorts of Japanese men presented contradictory results: one prospective study reported a RR of 2.56 (95% confidence interval:1.32, 4.95) (19) whereas a cross-sectional study found no association (20). A third study, a population- based cross-sectional study of Swedish men found a null association between smoking and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), but did not examine smoking and IFG (12). The Western New York Follow-up Study was designed to examine the incidence of type 2 diabetes and, therefore provides a unique opportunity to prospectively examine whether smoking behavior at baseline (never, former, or current) is associated with the conversion from normoglycemia (NGT) to impaired fasting glucose in a community- based cohort that includes both men and women from Western New York
Open-Channel Block by the Cytoplasmic Tail of Sodium Channel β4 as a Mechanism for Resurgent Sodium Current

Abstract Voltage-gated sodium channels with "resurgent" kinetics are specialized for high-frequency firing. The α subunits interact with a blocking protein that binds open channels upon depolarization and unbinds upon repolarization, producing resurgent sodium current. By limiting classical inactivation, the cycle of block and unblock shortens refractory periods. To characterize the blocker in Purkinje neurons, we briefly exposed inside-out patches to substrate-specific proteases. Trypsin and chymotrypsin each removed resurgent current, consistent with established roles for positively charged and hydrophobic/aromatic groups in blocking sodium channels. In Purkinje cells, the only known sodium channel-associated subunit that has a cytoplasmic sequence with several positive charges and clustered hydrophobic/aromatic residues is β4 (KKLITFILKKTREK; β4 154–167 ). After enzymatic removal of block, β4 154–167 fully reconstituted resurgent current, whereas scrambled or point-mutated peptides were ineffective. In CA3 pyramidal neurons, which lack β4 and endogenous block, β4 154–167 generated resurgent current. Thus, β4 may be the endogenous open-channel blocker responsible for resurgent kinetics.