cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Isolated liver and multivisceral transplantation for total parenteral nutrition–related end-stage liver disease

Abstract Purpose Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) has prolonged survival in children with intestinal failure; however, end-stage liver disease owing to TPN-induced cholestasis (ESLD-TPN) may preclude its use. ESLD-TPN is an indication for isolated liver transplantation (ILT) or multivisceral transplantation (MVT). Isolated liver transplantation for ESLD-TPN should only be considered in patients who have the potential for enteral autonomy. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with ESLD-TPN who underwent ILT (n = 7) or MVT (n = 5) between 1994 and 2005. The median age at the time of transplantation was 10.0 months. Intestinal failure followed necrotizing enterocolitis (n = 3), gastroschisis (n = 3), gastroschisis with volvulus (n = 3), gastroschisis with atresia (n = 1), malrotation (n = 1), and megacystis microcolon intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome (n = 1). Results Isolated liver transplant patients had a median length of small bowel of 70 cm and tolerated a median of 50% of enteral calories. The median length of small bowel in patients who underwent MVT was 29 cm, and none tolerated more than 30% of goal enteral feeds. Reduced-size (n = 5) and whole-liver (n = 2) allografts were used for patients undergoing ILT. Patients undergoing MVT received liver-small bowel-pancreas (n = 4) or liver-small bowel-pancreas-colon (n = 1). Overall patient survival was 57% in ILT (median follow-up = 25.1 months); 3 survivors are TPN independent, and the fourth patient requires TPN 3 days/wk. Patient survival was 40% after MVT (median follow-up = 13.0 months); 1 MVT patient died of abuse 16.9 months after transplant and was TPN independent at the time of death. Both survivors are TPN independent. Bilirubin levels are within normal range in all survivors. Conclusion Isolated liver transplantation for ESLD-TPN in the setting of intestinal failure is a viable option in patients who have the potential for enteral autonomy. Multivisceral transplantation is the only alternative in patients without the potential for intestinal recovery. Survival can be achieved in patients with ESLD-TPN, but mortality remains high for both procedures.
Digging for Clams: Shell Midden Analysis in New England:

Analysis of shellfish and other faunal remains from coastal middens is a powerful tool for archaeologists studying a wide range of problems. Results of analysis of four prehistoric middens excavate...
Eps15R Is a Tyrosine Kinase Substrate with Characteristics of a Docking Protein Possibly Involved in Coated Pits-mediated Internalization

Abstract eps15R was identified because of its relatedness to eps15, a gene encoding a tyrosine kinase substrate bearing a novel protein-protein interaction domain, called EH. In this paper, we report a biochemical characterization of theeps15R gene product(s). In NIH-3T3 cells, three proteins of 125, 108, and 76 kDa were specifically recognized by anti-eps15R sera. The 125-kDa species is a bona fide product of the eps15Rgene, whereas p108 and p76 are most likely products of alternative splicing events. Eps15R protein(s) are tyrosine-phosphorylated following epidermal growth factor receptor activation in NIH-3T3 cells overexpressing the receptor, even at low levels of receptor occupancy, thus behaving as physiological substrates. A role for eps15R in clathrin-mediated endocytosis is suggested by its localization in plasma membrane-coated pits and in vivo association to the coated pits’ adapter protein AP-2. Finally, we demonstrate that a sizable fraction of eps15R exists in the cell as a complex with eps15 and that its EH domains exhibit binding specificities that are partially distinct from those of eps15. We propose that eps15 and eps15R are multifunctional binding proteins that serve pleiotropic functions within the cell.
Optical interaction of space and wavelength in high-resolution digital imagers

Precise simulation of digital camera architectures requires an accurate description of how the radiance image is transformed by optics and sampled by the image sensor array. Both for diffraction-limited imaging and for all practical lenses, the width of the optical-point-spread function differs at each wavelength. These differences are relatively small compared to coarse pixel sizes (6μm-8μm). But as pixel size decreases, to say 1.5μm-3μm, wavelength-dependent point-spread functions have a significant impact on the sensor response. We provide a theoretical treatment of how the interaction of spatial and wavelength properties influences the response of high-resolution color imagers. We then describe a model of these factors and an experimental evaluation of the model's computational accuracy.
De Novo Nonsense Mutations in KAT6A, a Lysine Acetyl-Transferase Gene, Cause a Syndrome Including Microcephaly and Global Developmental Delay

Chromatin remodeling through histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and histone deactylase (HDAC) enzymes affects fundamental cellular processes including the cell-cycle, cell differentiation, metabolism, and apoptosis. Nonsense mutations in genes that are involved in histone acetylation and deacetylation result in multiple congenital anomalies with most individuals displaying significant developmental delay, microcephaly and dysmorphism. Here, we report a syndrome caused by de novo heterozygous nonsense mutations in KAT6A (a.k.a., MOZ, MYST3) identified by clinical exome sequencing (CES) in four independent families. The same de novo nonsense mutation (c.3385C>T [p.Arg1129∗]) was observed in three individuals, and the fourth individual had a nearby de novo nonsense mutation (c.3070C>T [p.Arg1024∗]). Neither of these variants was present in 1,815 in-house exomes or in public databases. Common features among all four probands include primary microcephaly, global developmental delay including profound speech delay, and craniofacial dysmorphism, as well as more varied features such as feeding difficulties, cardiac defects, and ocular anomalies. We further demonstrate that KAT6A mutations result in dysregulation of H3K9 and H3K18 acetylation and altered P53 signaling. Through histone and non-histone acetylation, KAT6A affects multiple cellular processes and illustrates the complex role of acetylation in regulating development and disease.
The “gangsta” persona: A case study from an ecosystems perspective

Abstract The “gangsta “ persona adopted by some young Black males is generally viewed with apprehension and distaste by society. However, from an ecosystems perspective the gangsta presentation of self can be understood as serving adaptive functions in the macro, meso, and micro areas of experience. A case is presented to illustrate an ecosystems analysis ofthisphenomon, with implications for practice.
Morbidity and mortality risk associated with red blood cell and blood-component transfusion in isolated coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective:Our objective was to quantify incremental risk associated with transfusion of packed red blood cells and other blood components on morbidity after coronary artery bypass grafting.Design:The study design was an observational cohort study.Setting:This investigation took place at a large tert
Deoxynucleoside overproduction in deoxyadenosine-resistant, adenosine deaminase-deficient human histiocytic lymphoma cells

Deoxyadenosine toxicity toward lymphocytes may produce immune dysfunction in patients with adenosine deaminase (adenosine aminohydrolase, EC 3.5.4.4) deficiency. The relationship between endogenous deoxynucleoside synthesis in adenosine deaminase-deficient cells and sensitivity to adenosine and deoxyadenosine toxicity is unclear. The human histiocytic lymphoma cell line (DHL-9) naturally lacks adenosine deaminase, and has minimal levels of thymidine kinase. Dividing DHL-9 cells excrete deoxyadenosine and thymidine into the extracellular space. The present experiments have analyzed nucleoside synthesis and excretion in a mutagenized clone of DHL-9 cells, selected for increased resistance to deoxyadenosine toxicity. The deoxyadenosine-resistant cells excreted both deoxyadenosine and thymidine at a 6-7-fold higher rate than wild-type lymphoma cells. The deoxyadenosine overproduction was accompanied by a reduced ability to form dATP from exogenous deoxyadenosine, and a 2.5-fold increase in ribonucleotide reductase activity. The pace of adenosine excretion, the growth rate, and the levels of multiple other enzymes involved in deoxyadenosine and adenosine metabolism were equivalent in the two cell types. These results suggest that the excretion of deoxyadenosine and thymidine, but not adenosine, is exquisitely sensitive to alterations in the rate of endogenous deoxynucleotide synthesis. Apparently, small changes in deoxynucleotide synthesis can significantly influence cellular sensitivity to deoxyadenosine toxicity.
Uncertainty and health care spending by the poor: The health capital model revisited

This short theoretical paper examines health care utilization by the poor in the context of Grossman's (1972) health capital model. Earlier work has shown that uncertainty can reduce the attractiveness to the poor of health capital investments. This paper demonstrates that uncertainty can also have precisely the opposite effect. That is, while there may be cases in which it is excessively risky for the poor to invest in their health, there may also be cases in which the poor can ill-afford the risks that arise from not making timely investments in their health.
SOLITON DIFFUSION IN POLYACETYLENE

Making use of the Su, Schrieffer and Heeger (SSH) model for polyacetylene, we study theoretically the soliton difusion in pristine trans-(CH)x. The soliton in the SSH model couples linearly both optical and acoustic phonons. Since the coupling to the optical phonon is stronger, the optical phonon dominates the soliton diffusion in high temperature (T>400K). However, below the room temperature the acoustic phonon dominates the soliton diffusion. For temperature T>To≡2mc2, where m is the soliton mass and c is the acoustic phonon velocity, the soliton relaxation is determined by the single phonon process. This process results in the diffusion constant DαT1/2(2-d), where d is the dimensionality of the acoustic phonon. For T
A micromethod for the quantitative determination of the viability of Candida albicans hyphae

A micromethod for the quantitative determination of the viability of Candida albicans hypae was devised which takes advantage of the dimorphic nature of C. albicans which grows exclusively in the yeast form when incubated aerobically on Sabouraud dextrose agar at 30°C. When tested by thisd method, all viable, C. albicans hyphae were recognized as microcolonies consisting of one hypha surrounded by several yeast form progeny. In contrast to this, no yeast form progeny emerged from nonviable hypae. By counting appropriate total numbers (200–400) of microcolony-forming hypae and infertile hyphae, it was possible to determine the ratio of viable to nonviable cells in a given hyphal suspension. This micromethod may be used for quantitative assessment of the candidacidal effects of various antimycotic agents or phagocytes C. albicans hyphae whose viability could not have been determined by the conventional plating technique because of the species' high propensity to clump.
Damage Growth Investigation in a Random Fiber Composite Beam by Moire Interferometry

In this paper, high sensitivity laser moire interferometry was used for observation and analysis of in-situ damage initiation and growth in random fiber composite beams. The technique was found to be very effective. The general approach was to load the beams to successively increasing load levels, and then unload, observing the residual field. Damage showed up as anomalies in the fringe patterns. In the four-point-bend tests, it was found that observable microscopic failure initiated in the tension region first at about 40% of the ultimate failure load, while failure initiation in the compression region started at about 50% of the ultimate failure load. To determine the effect of this early and asymmetric damage growth in the tension and compression regions, the neutral axis shift of the beam was determined as a function of increasing load. This was done by reloading the beams (after observing the residual field) to a small load well below any damage threshold. It was found that very little shift occurs indicating the stiffness of the beam was largely unaffected by the microstructural damage over a major range ofloading including close to failure. This unexpected behavior is most likely caused by progressive failure of the chopped fibers in orientations at or near 90° to the length of the beam.
Synthesis of unique proteins at the onset of carbon starvation in Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli bulk protein synthesis continued during the first 3–4 h of carbon starvation at 50–75% that of non-starved (growing) cells. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis analysis of in vivo pulse-labelled proteins resolved at least 30 polypeptides with new or increased synthesis, relative to total protein synthesis, during this time. Among these polypeptides were several that were also synthesized by ethanol-treatedE. coli (heat-shock proteins). In addition, a number of unique polypeptides were synthesized by carbon-starved cells. These ‘starvation proteins’ may be involved in survival of the starving bacteria.
Internal bores and breaking internal tides on the Oregon continental slope

AbstractObservations of breaking internal tides on the Oregon continental slope during a 40-day deployment of 5 moorings along 43°12′N are presented. Remotely generated internal tides shoal onto the slope, steepen, break, and form turbulent bores that propagate upslope independently of the internal tide. A high-resolution snapshot of a single bore is captured from lowered acoustic Doppler current profilers (LADCP)/CTD profiles in a 25-h time series at 1200 m. The bore is cold, salty, over 100 m tall, and has a turbulent head where instantaneous dissipation rates are enhanced (e > 10−6 W kg−1) and sediment is resuspended. At the two deepest slope moorings (1452 and 1780 m), similar borelike phenomena are observed in near-bottom high-resolution temperature time series. Mean dissipation rates and diapycnal diffusivities increase by a factor of 2 when bores are present ( W kg−1 and m s−1) and observed internal tides are energetic enough to drive these enhanced dissipation rates. Globally, the authors estimate...
A comparison of rule-based and statistical methods for semantic language modeling and confidence measurement

This paper presents a comparison of a rule-based and a statistical semantic information modeling technique. For the rule--based method we employ Embedded Grammar (EG) tagging and for the statistical method we use a previously proposed Semantic Structured Language Modeling (SSLM) technique. Both EG and SSLM achieve around 15% relative improvement in speech recognition performance over the baseline dialog state--based trigram language model in a financial transaction domain. Combining EG and SSLM using linear interpolation results in further improvement. We also use the features obtained from EG and SSLM for confidence measurement. Word level confidence measurement experiments using EG and SSLM--based semantic features combined with posterior probability show over 20% relative improvement in correct acceptance rate (CA) at 5% false alarm (FA) rate over the posterior probability based feature. In both language model rescoring and confidence measurement experiments SSLM outperforms EG by a small margin.
Incidence and Importance of Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Grade 3 Flow After Primary Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty for Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract We analyzed angiographic flow and myocardial salvage in 180 patients who underwent primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) without antecedent thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction. Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade was analyzed visually before and after PTCA. All patients underwent paired baseline (before angioplasty) and predischarge quantitative tomographic perfusion imaging with technetium-99m (Tc-99m) sestamibi techniques for assessment of the initial area at risk and final infarct size. The myocardial salvage index was defined as the proportion of jeopardized myocardium that was salvaged. After primary PTCA, TIMI grade 3 flow was obtained in 163 patients (91%), TIMI grade 2 flow in 13 patients (7%), and TIMI grade 0 or 1 flow in 4 patients (2%). There was a significant association between TIMI flow and both infarct size and salvage index. Infarct size was significantly smaller in patients with TIMI grade 3 flow than in those with TIMI grade 2 flow (15 ± 16% vs 29 ± 21% of left ventricular mass, p = 0.007). The salvage index was 55 ± 41% of the area at risk in the TIMI 3 group and 27 ± 38% of the area at risk in the TIMI 2 group (p = 0.04). After primary PTCA, restoration of TIMI grade 3 flow was necessary for optimal myocardial salvage. TIMI grade 2 flow was associated with a larger final infarct size and a lower salvage index. (Am J Cardiol 1996;78:623–626)
Tate classes and L-functions on a product of a quaternionic Shimura surface and a Picard modular surface

Abstract We compute the space of Tate classes on a product of a quaternionic Shimura surface and a Picard modular surface in terms of automorphic representations including the exact determination of their field of definition and prove the equality between the dimension of the space of Tate classes and the order of the pole at s = 3 of the L-function in some special cases.
A telephone survey to measure communication, education, self-management, and health status for patients with heart failure: the Improving Chronic Illness Care Evaluation (ICICE).

Abstract Background Many aspects of quality of care for heart failure cannot be reliably obtained by chart review. Methods and results We created and tested a telephone survey to measure provider-patient communication; satisfaction; patient education, knowledge, and self-management; and health status for the Improving Chronic Illness Care Evaluation. A total of 781 patients participated in the survey; 62% were age 65 or older, 66% had a history of coronary artery disease, and 59% were cared for by a cardiologist. The measures of communication, satisfaction, patient education, knowledge, and self-management performed very well with low rates of missing values and good psychometric properties. The self-efficacy scale had acceptable reliability (Cronbach's alpha 0.69); however, it was weakly correlated with objective measures of knowledge about self-management. The Heart Failure Symptom Scale (HFSS) showed high reliability (Cronbach's alpha 0.88) and good correlation with the SF-12 Physical Health Summary Scale ( r =0.63); the HFSS was also moderately correlated with measures of mental health. Conclusions Reliable information about processes of care and health outcomes that cannot be reliably assessed by chart can be obtained by telephone. This tool should be useful for measuring quality of care for large patient populations and determining the effectiveness of quality improvement activities.
Expression, purification, and characterization of the Kunitz-type proteinase inhibitor domain of the amyloid β-protein precursor-like protein-2

Abstract In this report we describe the use of the methylotrophic industrial yeast Pichia pastoris as a host system for the large scale production of the Kunitz-type proteinase inhibitor (KPI) domain of the amyloid β-protein precursor-like protein-2 (APLP-2). The expression plasmid for the KPI domain of APLP-2 encoded amino acids 305–364 of the APLP-2 cDNA (Slunt et al. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 2637–2644). The secreted 60 amino-acid product was purified to homogeneity and biochemically characterized. Amino-acid sequencing of the expressed KPI domain of APLP-2 verified its integrity. The proteinase inhibitory properties of the KPI domain of APLP-2 were compared to those of the KPI domain of proteinase nexin-2/amyloid β-protein precursor (PN-2/AβPP). Both KPI domains potently inhibited trypsin and, to a lesser extent, chymotrypsin, plasmin, and coagulation factors XIa and IXa. However, the KPI domain of APLP-2 was a ≈20-fold less effective inhibitor of coagulation factor XIa compared to the KPI domain of PN-2/AβPP. Similarly, the KPI domain of APLP-2 was a less effective anticoagulant in coagulation based assays than the KPI domain of PN-2/AβPP. These studies indicate that the KPI domains of PN-2/AβPP and APLP-2 form a family of proteinase inhibitors although the former is a better inhibitor of factor XIa and a more potent anticoagulant than the latter.
The effect of potassium on the catalyzed reactions of n-hexane over Pt(111) single crystal surfaces

The effect of potassium on the n-hexane conversion catalyzed by Pt(111) single crystals has been studied near atmospheric pressures. Reaction activity, selectivity, and self-poisoning with time were studied as a function of potassium coverage of the crystal faces. The activity of the catalyst dropped drastically with as little as 2% potassium atoms on the surface, with no improvement in selectivity or stability. The temperature dependence in the range 550–625 K of the reaction rates was not significantly different from the clean platinum case. The changes in the structure of the carbonaceous deposits formed during the reaction have also been studied. The amount of carbon on the surface after reactions was slightly higher on the platinum surface that was covered with 2% potassium atoms, as compared with the clean platinum case. The amount of bare platinum available for reaction, however, increase by a factor of 2 when θK = 0.3. When potassium was added to the platinum surface, the carbonaceus deposits showed a higher hydrogen content, with a higher activation energy for its desorption, an increase up to 4 kcal/mol more than for the clean platinum case. The inhibition of the dehydrogenation of adsorbed hydrocarbon species in the presence of coadsorbed potassium on the platinum surface explains the changes of reactivity that are reported.
Laboratory Assessment of Bioremediation Products Under Freshwater Conditions

ABSTRACT The recovery and transportation of petroleum and petroleum products creates the potential for spillage of these materials into the environment. Bioremediation is a recently applied technol...
Oil Revenues and Dutch Disease in Saudi Arabia: Differential Impacts on Sectoral Growth*

ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to examine Saudi Arabian industrial development and, in particular, one aspect of the Dutch Disease: the effects of exchange rate appreciation on the Saudi Arabian manufacturing sector. As a basis of comparison, the effects of exchange appreciation on the other major sectors are also estimated. After controlling for overall growth the rate of expected inflation, anticipated government expenditures and developments in the oil sector, the presence of the Dutch Disease effects (both positive and negative) were found across a wide spectrum of activities. Based on the results of this analysis, several conclusions are drawn concerning the country's industrial policies.
Ian A. McFarland, Difference and Identity: A Theological Anthropology

Book reviewed in this article: Ian A. McFarland, Difference and Identity: A Theological Anthropology
Radiation curable polymer blends for magnetic media

Abstract Binder resins in magnetic coating formulations must fulfill a diverse set of requirements. These polymers must have the ability to accept high pigment loadings while maintaining good abrasion resistance, substrate adhesion, inherent lubricity and resistance to temperature and humidity effects. In addition, they must act as grinding aids in the dispersion of the magnetic pigment. In the thermally converted coatings now in use, these requirements are ususally met by combining several polymers and crosslinking agents into an optimized blend. This approach is also effective in designing radiation curable binder systems. An overview of the methods employed to acshieve such optimized blends will be discussed.
The winding road to regenerating the human heart

Abstract Regenerating the human heart is a challenge that has engaged researchers and clinicians around the globe for nearly a century. From the repair of the first septal defect in 1953, followed by the first successful heart transplant in 1967, and later to the first infusion of bone marrow-derived cells to the human myocardium in 2002, significant progress has been made in heart repair. However, chronic heart failure remains a leading pathological burden worldwide. Why has regenerating the human heart been such a challenge, and how close are we to achieving clinically relevant regeneration? Exciting progress has been made to establish cell transplantation techniques in recent years, and new preclinical studies in large animal models have shed light on the promises and challenges that lie ahead. In this review, we will discuss the history of cell therapy approaches and provide an overview of clinical trials using cell transplantation for heart regeneration. Focusing on the delivery of human stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, current experimental strategies in the field will be discussed as well as their clinical translation potential. Although the human heart has not been regenerated yet, decades of experimental progress have guided us onto a promising path. Summary Previous work in clinical cell therapy for heart repair using bone marrow mononuclear cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and cardiac-derived cells have overall demonstrated safety and modest efficacy. Recent advancements using human stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes have established them as a next generation cell type for moving forward, however certain challenges must be overcome for this technique to be successful in the clinics.
Orofacial Muscle Activity of Children Who Stutter: A Preliminary Study

This study was a preliminary investigation of the relations between stuttering development and the maturation of speech motor processes. Electromyographic (EMG) activity was recorded from the orofa...
On strategic management decision processes

This paper attempts to bridge the divide between rational/analytical and behavioural/political conceptions of strategic decision making. The linkages and interactions between these approaches to the making of strategic decisions are explored in the context of a specific decision arena—strategic energy management.
Trace impedance in switch-mode power converters

Some of the components used in switch-mode power converters, such as inductors and transformers, may cause substantial power loss when switching frequency is largely increased. If extra heat dissipation or decreased efficiency is not acceptable, one needs to search for a method of reducing power loss. With higher switching frequency, inductors and transformers are commonly implemented with traces on the PCB layout. Planar PCB traces are not free from skin and proximity effects. The influence of these two effects on trace impedance is determined by the layout geometry. In this paper, we discuss the dependence of AC resistance on current frequency while varying the trace geometry. Our results may assist in design of new inductive component geometries to gain better performance and mitigate power loss.
Involving Farmers in Preventing Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses: The Niosh Research-to-Practice Initiative

ABSTRACT This plenary talk at the eighth annual Midwest Rural Agricultural Safety and Health Forum, November 2009, focused on the value of having those who can benefit from, or who will use research findings (that is, partners), being involved throughout the research process. At the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Research-to-Practice (r2p) initiative was established to ensure that NIOSH-funded research is used in the workplace to prevent disease, injury, and fatality. Central to these efforts is the commitment to involve partners and stakeholders throughout the research process, from conceptualization of the research idea through the conduct of the research to the evaluation of the effectiveness of the research. Through partnerships and scientific integrity, NIOSH strives to ensure that our research contributes to improving the lives of all workers. In this presentation, mechanisms for and examples of how to identify and...
Primitive Defenses in the Language of the Psychopath: Considerations for Forensic Practice

ABSTRACT The PCL-R is the primary means of assessing psychopathy in research and forensic practice. However, recent research suggests that supplemental measures of defensive process used in conjunction with the PCL-R may better capture the psychopath's internal core. Borderline personality organization and the relationship between defensive process and cognitive style are inextricably linked to psychopath's ability to feel. The use of primitive defenses guides the psychopath's interpersonal style and mediates emotional experience. The relationship between unconscious defensive process and conscious cognitive style is a distinguishing feature of psychopathy within which the unique emotional (and emotionless) experiences of the psychopath can be more fully explored and understood. This paper reviews the literature on the assessment of borderline personality organization in psychopaths offering illustration of expression of primitive defenses in the language of the psychopath. The ways in which psychopaths' ...
Inhibition of Cumulus Cell Progesterone Secretion by Low Molecular Weight Fractions of Porcine Follicular Fluid Which Also Inhibit Oocyte Maturation

To examine the inhibitory effect of an oocyte maturation inhibitor (OMI) on progesterone secretion from cumulus cells, cumulus-enclosed oocytes were harvested from medium- sized (3–5 mm) porcine follicles and cultured for 2 days in the presence and absence of various fractions of porcine follicular fluid. Two fractions eluted from a Sephadex G–25 column had OMI activity and, in addition, significantly inhibited progesterone secretion from cumulus cells in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect upon progesterone secretion as well as upon oocyte maturation was reversed after removal of the inhibitory agent from the culture medium and subsequent culture under control conditions. A crude low molecular fraction (< 10,000 daltons) of porcine follicular fluid also brought about a significant inhibition of oocyte maturation as well as cumulus cell progesterone secretion. The addition of FSH and LH overcame the inhibitory influence of the low molecular weight fraction of follicular fluid upon progesterone ...
Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis of Myasthenia Gravis in Older People

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the characteristics of myasthenia gravis (MG) in older people and to evaluate the benefits of immunosuppressive treatments at this age. BACKGROUND: Myasthenia gravis in older adults has not been extensively studied. In patients with disease onset after the age of 60, treatment mainly relies on medical therapy because thymectomy is generally not performed unless a thymoma is present. METHODS: Of 837 myasthenic patients followed since 1978, we identified 172 cases with onset after age 60. All patients were treated with anticholinesterases. In the decade from 1978 to 1988, immunosuppressive therapy was performed mainly with corticosteroids (prednisone); since 1989, azathioprine alone or, more often, associated with prednisone, has been increasingly used in MG patients. Long-term outcome was evaluated in 149 cases with follow-up longer than 1 year. Remission, pharmacological remission, and marked improvement with reduction in drug dosage were considered good results. RESULTS: Patients older than age 60 at onset of the disease were 20.5% of our series, male/female ratio was 1.9, age at onset ranged from 61 to 86 years, 87.2% patients had generalized disease, thymoma was detected in 37 patients (21.5%). Of 149 cases with sufficient follow-up data, 9 were in remission, 111 achieved good results, 3 died of MG, and 120 required immunosuppressive therapy at some time. Sixty-seven patients had been treated with prednisone for 0.5–16 years (mean, 5 years); good results were recorded in 51 patients (76.1%) and severe side effects in 12 (17.9%). Forty-six patients had received combined therapy with prednisone and azathioprine for 1 to 12 years (mean, 3.9 years); good results were recorded in 41 patients (89.1%) and severe side effects in six (19.5%). Seven patients had been treated with azathioprine alone for 1 to 4 years (mean, 2.3 years) with good results in five and with no side effects. CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of MG in older people seems to be favorable, although full remission is rare and MG weakness, treatment side effects, and associated thymoma can contribute to mortality rate. In our experience, the combined therapy with prednisone and azathioprine was more effective than prednisone alone, and steroid-related side effects were more frequent than those related to azathioprine.
Multiple antioxidants in the prevention and treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the major progressive neurological disorders for which no preventative or long-term effective treatment strategies are available. Epidemiologic studies have failed to identify specific environmental, dietary or lifestyle risk factors for PD except for toxic exposure to manganese, meperidine (Demerol®, the “designer drug” version of which often contains a toxic byproduct of the synthesis, 1-methyl-4-phenyl 1,2,3,6 tetrahydropyridine [MPTP]), and some herbicides and pesticides. The search for genetic risk factors such as mutation, overexpression or underexpression of nuclear genes in DA neurons in idiopathic PD has not been successful as yet. Polymorphism in certain genes appears to be a risk factor, but there is no direct evidence for the causal relationship between polymorphism and increased risk of PD. In familial PD, mutation in the α-synuclein gene is associated with the disease, but a direct role of this gene in degeneration of DA neurons remains to be established. A...
Transition-Metal Nanocluster Stabilization versus Agglomeration Fundamental Studies: Measurement of the Two Types of Rate Constants for Agglomeration Plus Their Activation Parameters under Catalytic Conditions

A recent mechanistic study of transition-metal nanocluster formation and agglomeration (Besson, C.; Finney, E. E.; Finke, R. G. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 8179) identified two types of agglomeration for the first time, specifically bimolecular agglomeration of nanoclusters B (i.e., B + B → C; rate constant k3) and a new step of autocatalytic agglomeration of nanoclusters B with larger already somewhat agglomerated nanoclusters and/or bulk metal, C (i.e., B + C → 1.5C; rate constant k4). Herein, this two-step, parallel-path agglomeration mechanism is independently tested by the temperature-induced agglomeration of the prototype preformed, pre-isolated P2W15Nb3O629−-stabilized Ir(0)∼900 transition-metal nanoclusters undergoing cyclohexene hydrogenation and concomitant agglomeration. The resulting k3 and k4 rate constants are measured as a function of the temperature, yielding the previously unavailable ΔH⧧ and ΔS⧧ for each type of nanocluster agglomeration under the specific reaction conditions, which inc...
Health Care Professional Staffing, Hospital Characteristics, and Hospital Mortality Rates

To evaluate associations among hospital characteristics, staffing levels of health care professionals, and mortality rates in 3763 United States hospitals, a data base was constructed from the American Hospital Association's Abridged Guide to the Health Care Field and hospital Medicare mortality rates from the Health Care Financing Administration. A multivariate regression analysis controlling for severity of illness was employed to determine the associations. Hospital characteristics associated with lower mortality were occupancy rate and private nonprofit and private for-profit ownership. Mortality rates decreased as staffing level per occupied bed increased for medical residents, registered nurses, registered pharmacists, medical technologists, and total hospital personnel. Mortality rates increased as staffing level per occupied bed increased for hospital administrators and licensed practical-vocational nurses. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that pharmacists were associated with lower mortality rates.
DELETION OF b5 IMMUNOGLOBULIN-BEARING LYMPHOCYTES IN ALLOTYPE-SUPPRESSED RABBITS

The proportion of peripheral blood lymphocytes with cell surface b5 immunoglobulin (Ig) was compared with serum b5 Ig levels in allotype-suppressed and recovering b5 homozygous rabbits in order to establish the cellular defect in suppression and to determine the relation between lymphocyte membrane Ig and secreted Ig of the same allotype. In rabbits fully suppressed for b5, the absence of circulating b5 Ig is reflected in a complete deletion of b5-bearing lymphocytes. During spontaneous escape from suppression, the appearance of b5-bearing lymphocytes precedes the appearance of detectable serum b5. During recovery from suppression b5-bearing lymphocytes recover rapidly toward normal levels, but circulating b5 levels remain chronically and disproportionately depressed.
Vitamin A inhibition of polyoma virus replication.

Vitamin A (retinoic acid) inhibited polyoma virus replication in confluent mouse embryo cells. A significant, dose dependent inhibition was observed when cell monolayers were pretreated with concentrations of vitamin A (10 −8 to 10 −6 M) thought to approximate those found in vivo . This inhibitory effect could be reduced by increasing the input multiplicity of infection. Growth curves of polyoma virus in the presence and absence of vitamin A suggested that vitamin A actually inhibited, and did not simply delay, virus replication. The cell density dependence of this inhibitory effect suggested its association with the prevailing level of cellular DNA synthesis. Vitamin A caused a significant decrease in overall (viral plus cellular) DNA synthesis. Other viruses which do not require induction of host cell DNA synthesis for their replication in confluent, non-dividing cells were not inhibited by vitamin A. These results are consistent with the known inhibitory effects of vitamin A on papovavirus infection in vivo and suggest a mechanism of vitamin A action at the level of the infected cell.
Variant angina pectoris: Clinical and anatomic spectrum and results of coronary bypass surgery

Twenty patients are described with the variant angina syndrome (recurrent angina at rest with S-T segment elevations occurring only during pain and no evolution of infarction). In contrast to patients previously reported on, all but one had progressive unstable angina before hospitalization. Angina was frequently associated with arrhythmias, including ventricular fibrillation (2 instances), ventricular tachycardia (4), frequent ventricular premature beats (5), atrioventricular block (4), sinus bradycardia (2), sinoatrial exit block (1) and supraventricular tachycardia (1). Seventeen patients had significant proximal stenosis of one or more coronary arteries with good distal vessels. Bypass surgery in 15 of these patients resulted in one noncardiac postoperative death, one perioperative infarction and relief of pain in all 14 survivors. After a 17 month mean follow-up period (range 4 to 38 months), all survivors are pain-free. Three patients had no significant coronary disease; one of these became asymptomatic with medical therapy, one continues to have angina and one died suddenly. Patients with normal coronary arteries could not be distinguished clinically or by electrocardiogram from those with severe obstructive lesions. This experience suggests that all patients with the variant angina syndrome should be studied by coronary angiography, and that most patients with significant fixed coronary lesions will do well after coronary bypass surgery.
Role of fibrillar structure of collagenous carrier in bone sialoprotein-mediated matrix mineralization and osteoblast differentiation.

To investigate the effects of the microstructure of collagenous carriers on the in vivo function of bone sialoprotein (BSP) in mineralization and osteoblast differentiation, we examined the ultrastructure of reconstituted type I collagen (collagen) and heat-denatured collagen (gelatin) and the in vivo responses to purified bone-derived BSP that was implanted with collagen or gelatin into surgically created 8-mm rat calvarial bone defects. Scanning and transmission electron microscopies revealed that the collagen displayed a fine fibrillar structure with interconnecting spaces between the fibrils/fibers, while the gelatin completely lost this unique three-dimensional structure after denaturation. The rates of in vivo release of BSP from the collagen scaffold were significantly lower than those from the gelatin. Collagen-BSP, but not gelatin-BSP, induced early mineral deposition in the matrix of proliferating repair cells in the calvarial defects at ∼4–7 days after implantation. Expression levels of osteoblast markers, alkaline phosphatase activity and amounts of new bone synthesized in the collagen-BSP treated defects were significantly greater than that in the gelatin-BSP treated defects (p<0.001). The data suggest that the fibrillar microstructure of reconstituted collagen is essential for retaining BSP at a higher concentration within the defects, which enhances BSP-mediated matrix mineralization and osteoblast differentiation during the repair of rat calvarial defects.
An Experimental and Theoretical Study of the Long-Lived Radical Cation of CH3OCH2CH2OH

The long-lived radical cation of 2-methoxyethanol, CH3OCH2CH2OH•+, is stable toward isomerization in the gas phase. This radical cation reacts with neutral reagents via three main channels in a Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. CH3OCH2CH2OH•+ abstracts an electron from reagents with ionization energies less than that of CH3OCH2CH2OH. Neutral reagents with higher ionization energies replace CH3OCH2• or CH2O in the ion. Both replacement reactions are probably driven by the formation of a hydrogen bond between the entering nucleophile and the hydroxyl group in CH3OCH2CH2OH•+, which breaks the C−C bond in CH3OCH2CH2OH•+. For strong nucleophiles, this process is so exothermic that the resulting ion/molecule complex dissociates by loss of CH3OCH2•. However, weak nucleophiles yield a longer-lived ion−molecule complex. Within this complex, CH3OCH2• can react with the initially produced ion by replacement of CH2O (a weaker nucleophile) to yield the hydrogen-bridged complex of CH3OCH2• an...
The National Assessment of Educational Progress in Economics: Test Framework, Content Specifications, and Results

A significant event for the advancement of economic education in the schools is the development of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in economics. For the first time, national data from a representative sample of students are available to measure the achievement of high school students in economics. The achievement results are reported overall, across three content areas, by cognitive levels, and for different subgroups of students. The results and data set are a valuable resource for evaluating the status of economic education in schools and for recommending needed changes. The authors review seven issues that had to be resolved in the preparation of this assessment to provide insights about this measure for potential users of the assessment results and data. They also provide a brief description of the results from the 2006 testing.
Getting the big picture: Development of spatial scaling abilities

Spatial scaling is an integral aspect of many spatial tasks that involve symbol-to-referent correspondences (e.g., map reading, drawing). In this study, we asked 3–6-year-olds and adults to locate objects in a two-dimensional spatial layout using information from a second spatial representation (map). We examined how scaling factor and reference features, such as the shape of the layout or the presence of landmarks, affect performance. Results showed that spatial scaling on this simple task undergoes considerable development, especially between 3 and 5 years of age. Furthermore, the youngest children showed large individual variability and profited from landmark information. Accuracy differed between scaled and un-scaled items, but not between items using different scaling factors (1:2 vs. 1:4), suggesting that participants encoded relative rather than absolute distances.
Mcm2-7 is an Active Player in the DNA Replication Checkpoint Signaling Cascade via Proposed Modulation of its DNA Gate

The DNA replication checkpoint (DRC) monitors and responds to stalled replication forks to prevent genomic instability. How core replication factors integrate into this phosphorylation cascade is incompletely understood. Here, through analysis of a unique mcm allele targeting a specific ATPase active site (mcm2DENQ), we show that the Mcm2-7 replicative helicase has a novel DRC function as part of the signal transduction cascade. This allele exhibits normal downstream mediator (Mrc1) phosphorylation, implying DRC sensor kinase activation. However, the mutant also exhibits defective effector kinase (Rad53) activation and classic DRC phenotypes. Our previous in vitro analysis showed that the mcm2DENQ mutation prevents a specific conformational change in the Mcm2-7 hexamer. We infer that this conformational change is required for its DRC role and propose that it allosterically facilitates Rad53 activation to ensure a replication-specific checkpoint response.
A Basic Program for Computing the Kruskal-Wallis H

A computer program is described and presented which computes the Kruskal-Wallis H statistic. This program was written in BASIC for the Commodore 64/128 and IBM-PC.
Forgeries of Memory and Meaning: Blacks and the regimes of race in American theater and film before World War II

Forgeries of Memory and Meaning: Blacks and the regimes of race in American theater and film before World War II CEDRIC J. ROBINSON Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina Press, 2007 xxii + ...
Approximate kinematical relations in plasticity

Abstract Within the framework of finite plasticity, it is shown how a number of kinematical approximations can be systematically derived from the multiplicative decomposition of the deformation gradient. Particular attention is devoted to two types of approximate theories: (a) those in which elastic deformations are of a different order of magnitude than plastic deformations; and (b) those in which rotations are of a different order of magnitude than strains.
Extracting Metalworking Fluid Aerosol Samples in Cassettes by Provisional ASTM and NIOSH Methods

Recent provisional methods for the determination of metalworking fluid aerosol in workplace air involve a solvent extraction procedure to separate the nonvolatile fraction of the fluid from insoluble material such as metal turnings and dirt. The procedure calls for preweighing a filter (W1) and assembling it into a cassette and taking a sample. In the laboratory the filter is removed from the cassette, desiccated to remove any collected water or other volatile substances, and weighed again (W2). The filter is then extracted in an organic solvent blend, allowed to dry, and weighed a final time (W3). The total weight collected by the filter is given by (W2−W1), and the weight of (nonvolatile) metalworking fluid collected is given by (W2−W3). The extraction step can take place within a cassette housing if it is relatively inert to the solvent blend used. The extraction of four metalworking fluids (straight oil, soluble oil, synthetic and semisynthetic) within disposable polypropylene cassettes was investigat...