cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of upper endoscopy on satisfaction in patients with previously uninvestigated dyspepsia

Abstract Background: In patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia who undergo endoscopy, the presence of abnormal findings guides subsequent management. However, upper endoscopy is "negative" in the majority of these patients, and the value of endoscopy in these individuals has been questioned. This study evaluated the impact of endoscopy on patient satisfaction in patients with previously uninvestigated dyspepsia. Methods: The study was a secondary analysis of data obtained from a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial, evaluating a 6-week course of omeprazole versus placebo in 140 patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia who were followed for up to 1 year. The setting was the primary care outpatient clinics at the Houston Veterans Affairs Hospital. Participants had to be 18 years of age or older with at least a 1-week history of dyspepsia (epigastric discomfort) without alarm features. Satisfaction was measured at each visit with the Severity of Dyspepsia Assessment, a validated, reliable dyspepsia-related health measure that has a satisfaction scale (scores 2-23; higher scores indicate greater satisfaction). Patients unresponsive to empiric therapy with placebo or omeprazole based on predefined criteria underwent endoscopy. Severity of Dyspepsia Assessment satisfaction scores were analyzed for 5 visits: 2 closest in time to, but before, the day of endoscopy (Times 1 and 2); immediately before endoscopy (Time 3); and the 2 visits closest in time after endoscopy (Times 4 and 5). After determining there was no difference in treatment failure rates between patients who received placebo or omeprazole, data from these groups were combined. The mean Severity of Dyspepsia Assessment satisfaction scores for Times 1 through 5 in all patients who underwent endoscopy were compared as well as for subgroups with positive and negative endoscopic findings with a repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results: Data on all 5 visits were available in 62 patients, 36 of whom had a negative endoscopy. For all patients the mean scores for Time 2 (8.5; 95% CI [7.4, 9.6]), and Time 3 (7.6; 95% CI [6.6, 8.6]) were significantly lower than those for Time 4 (13.7; 95% CI [12.2, 15.3]) and Time 5 (14.4; 95% CI [12.9, 15.9]). The mean score for Time 1 (11.1; 95% CI [9.5, 12.6]) was significantly lower than the mean score for Time 5. Similar significant improvements in satisfaction scores were observed in subgroups with negative and positive findings. Conclusions: In patients with previously uninvestigated dyspepsia, endoscopy leads to improved patient satisfaction regardless of the endoscopic findings. (Gastrointest Endosc 2003;57:295-9.)
Intravascular Clearance of Parasitized Erythrocytes in Rodent Malaria

Abstract Little is known about host defense mechanisms responsible for protective immunity in malaria. The intravascular location of the infection suggested that removal of parasitized erythrocytes by reticuloendothelial organs might be important. To study this possibility, we examined the clearance of 51Crlabeled Plasmodium berghei-infected erythrocytes in rats. Infected erythrocytes were removed more rapidly from circulation than homologous uninfected erythrocytes. The rate of clearance of infected cells during the 1st hour after inoculation was approximately three times greater in rats rendered immune by prior infection than in control rats. This accelerated clearance resulted from greater splenic uptake in immune rats and appeared to correlate with spleen size. Since the clearance pattern of infected erythrocytes more closely resembled the clearance of Heinz body-containing uninfected erythrocytes than of antibody-coated (immunoglobulin G) uninfected erythrocytes, rheologic alterations of parasitized erythrocytes might be a more important determinant of clearance than an antibody-dependent process. During the phase of malaria infection in which increasing parasitemia is observed, organ uptake of infected erythrocytes did not increase despite splenic and hepatic enlargement. However during the spontaneous onset of resolution of malaria infection characterized by decreasing parasitemia, a marked enhancement of splenic clearance was noted. These observations suggest that sudden alteration in splenic clearance of parasitized erythrocytes might be important in the resolution of acute malaria.
Treatment of Unfavorable Childhood Hodgkin’s Disease With VEPA and Low-Dose, Involved-Field Radiation

PURPOSE: Between January 1990 and April 1993, 56 pediatric patients with Hodgkin’s disease were treated on a single-arm trial at three institutions with a regimen designed to maintain high cure rates while minimizing the potential late effects of treatment, such as infertility, second malignant neoplasms, and cardiopulmonary injury. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The regimen used combined-modality therapy with six cycles of vinblastine, etoposide, prednisone, and doxorubicin (VEPA) chemotherapy and low-dose, involved-field radiation. Unfavorable features comprised bulky presentations of localized (stage I or II) disease or advanced (stage III or IV) Hodgkin’s disease. RESULTS: Of 56 patients enrolled, 26 (46%) had unfavorable presentations of stage I/II disease and 30 (54%) had advanced (stage III/IV) disease. Seventy-nine percent of the patients are alive without disease at a median follow-up time of 8.9 years from diagnosis. Nineteen patients had events at a median of 1.5 years (range, 0.4 to 7.9 years) from dia...
Platelet Activation by 2-(4-bromo-2,3-dioxobutylthio)Adenosine 5′-Diphosphate is Mediated by Its Binding to A Putative ADP Receptor, Aggregin

Platelet responses induced by ADP are mediated by a unique P2Tpurinergic receptor. Although a variety of ADP analogs, substituted at C2, have been used to delineate pharmacological properties of the ADP-binding site(s), the identity of the receptor protein has not been firmly established. 2-(4-Bromo-2,3-dioxobutylthio)-ADP[2-BrCH2(CO)2CH2-S-ADP], a well-characterized ADP analog, has been previously used as an affinity label to examine the structure/function relationship of ADP-requiring enzymes [Kapetanovic, E., Bailey, J. B. & Colman, R. F. (1985) Biochemistry 24, 7586–7593]. We found that it induced platelet shape change, aggregation, exposure of fibrinogen binding sites, secretion and mobilization of intracellular calcium, but was less potent than ADP. Under non-stirring conditions, incubation of platelets with this analog for longer time periods blocked ADP-induced shape change, aggregation, and the ability of ADP to antagonize the rise in intracellular levels of CAMP induced by iloprost (a prostaglandin I2 analog). Of a variety of agonists examined, only ADP-induced aggregation was almost completely inhibited in platelets irreversibly modified by the analog. An autoradiogram of the gel obtained by SDS/PAGE of solubilized platelets modified by the ADP analog followed by reduction of the dioxo group by NaB[3H]4 showed the presence of a single radiolabeled protein band at 100 kDa. Platelets incubated first with either ADP, ATP, or 2-methylthio-ADP were not labeled by 2-BrCH2(CO)2CH2S-ADP and NaB[3H]14 8-BrCH2(CO)2CH2-S-ADP was previously shown by us to irreversibly antagonize ADP-induced platelet responses by selectively modifying aggregin. Incubation of platelets with 2-BrCH2(CO)2CH2S-ADP completely blocked labeling of aggregin in platelets by 8-BrCH2(CO)2CH2S-[32P]ADP. These results show that 2-BrCH2(CO)2CH2S-ADP initially interacts reversibly with aggregin (100 kDa), a putative ADP receptor, and induces platelet shape change and aggregation, and at longer periods of incubation reacts irreversibly to block the ability of ADP to antagonize stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. In contrast, 6-BrCH2(CO)2CH2S-ADP was found to be a weak and reversible inhibitor of ADP-induced platelet aggregation. Prior incubation of platelets with the latter analog reduced labeling of aggregin by 8-BrCH2(CO)2CH2S-[32P]ADP. Taken together, the results further show that substitution by the BrCH2(CO)2CH2 group at the C2 and C8 positions is tolerated, while the presence of a free amino function at the C6 position is essential for its interaction with aggregin.
Opacity Pulse Propagation in Internal and External Carotid Vascular Beds of Experimental Animals

Opacity pulses and opacity pulse propagation times were recorded from the external carotid arterial bed (ear) and from the ipsilateral internal carotid arterial bed of the pial-cortical surface within the closed skull of conscious monkeys and anesthetized cats during the resting state and during carotid compression. Propagation of opacity pulses to the ear precedes those to the ipsilateral brain by 10 to 100 msec. Mean values of all pulse propagation time measurements to both brain and ear during successive cardiac cycles are stable from one minute to the next in the resting state. With compression of the common carotid artery, pulse propagation time to both beds is prolonged for the duration of compression, returning promptly to precompression levels with release of the artery, but the degree of prolongation is more marked in the external carotid bed. It is suggested that the consistent differences observed in both species between opacity pulses and pulse propagation times in the two beds, as well as the...
Relativistic scattered wave calculations on UF6

Self-consistent Dirac-Slater multiple scattering calculations are presented for UF6. The results are compared critically to other relativistic calculations, showing that the results of all molecular orbital calculations are in qualitative agreement, as measured by energy levels, population analyses, and spin-orbit splittings. A detailed comparison is made to the relativistic X alpha(RX alpha) method of Wood and Boring, which also uses multiple scattering theory, but incorporates relativistic effects in a more approximate fashion. For the most part, the RX alpha results are in agreement with the present results.
Spectroscopic Abundances in Cool Pleiades Dwarfs and NGC 2264 Stars

We derive parameters and abundances of several elements in two cool Pleiades dwarfs, four cool NGC 2264 premain-sequence stars, and a probable NGC 2264 nonmember from high-resolution, moderate signal-to-noise ratio, Keck/HIRES spectra. Our Pleiades Fe abundance agrees with previous spectro- scopic and photometric values of hotter stars and does not resolve the 0.3 mag distance modulus dis- crepancy between main-sequence —tting and Hipparcos parallaxes. Abundances of Cr-Ca-Ti-Al are subsolar, mimicking the pattern of interstellar medium abundances. While modest temperature errors may contribute, the results (particularly for Al) could suggest an association with ionization potential; such eUects might be related to the Pleiades Li scatter. The cluster Fe scatter and its relation to Li scatter is discussed. Three NGC 2264 members suggest (Fe/H) \( 0.15 and near-solar ratios of other elements. Mildly supersolar abundances for another object support its probable nonmembership. A fourth member exhibits an Mg-Si-Fe-Ni and Cr-Ti-Ca-Al dichotomy opposite to that of the Pleiades stars; a relation to ionization potential is again suggested. A 0.15¨0.20 dex scatter or steep decline, neither well accommodated by stellar models, in the NGC 2264 Li abundances with is indicated. We T eff note the surprising presence of the j7774 O I triplet in our Pleiades stars, one of the cool NGC 2264 stars, and the K6 —eld dwarf GL 241. The inferred LTE O abundances are enhanced by 0.23¨0.85 dex over solar, suggesting that even non-LTE calculations of the O I triplet are incomplete and perhaps implicating the in—uence of an overlying chromosphere. Our results demonstrate the utility of cluster abundances besides Fe and Li in addressing fundamental issues concerning stellar evolution and system- atic errors in the analysis of cool young stars. Subject headings: open clusters and associations: individual (NGC 2264, Pleiades) ¨ stars: abundancesstars: atmospheresstars: late-typestars: premain-sequence
Developing a market orientation: An organizational strategy perspective

Abstract This paper examines the relationships between the degree of market orientation from an organizational strategy perspective and organizational processes, individual attitudes and long run financial performance at the business unit level of analysis. Arguments are made that the degree of market orientation: (1) varies across business units within large scale organizations; (2) is positively related to broader organizational processes including recruiting, training, and compensation; (3) is positively associated with individual attitudes toward their jobs; and (4) is positively related to business unit long run performance. The results of a study of managers from a large, high technology firm indicate support for these hypotheses. These findings have implications for managers attempting to develop and maintain a market orientation within the firm.
Hierarchical petascale simulation framework for stress corrosion cracking

We are developing a scalable parallel and distributed computational framework consisting of methods, algorithms, and integrated software tools for multi-terascle-to-petascale simulations of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) with quantum-level accuracy. We have performed multimillion- to billion-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of deformation, flow, and fracture in amorphous silica with interatomic potentials and forces validated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Optimized potentials have been developed to study sulfur embrittlement of nickel with multimillion-to-multibillion atom MD simulations based on DFT and temperature dependent model generalized pseudopotential theory. We have also developed a quasi-continuum method embedded with quantum simulations based on DFT to reach macroscopic length scales and an accelerated molecular dynamics scheme to reach macroscopic time scales in simulations of solid-fluid interfaces that are relevant to SCC. A hybrid MD and mesoscale lattice Boltzmann simulation algorithm is being designed to study fluid flow through cracks.
Ultrasound-guided central venous cannulation in infants weighing less than 5 kilograms

PurposeRecent reports suggest that ultrasound-guided central venous cannulation may also be safe and effective in infants. This study aimed to evaluate the success and complications rate of this te...
Discontinuous Galerkin solutions of the Navier-Stokes Equations using Linear Multigrid Preconditioning

A Newton-Krylov method is developed for the solution of the steady compressible Navier-Stokes equations using a Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) discretization on unstructured meshes. An element Line-Jacobi preconditioner is presented which solves a block tridiagonal system along lines of maximum coupling in the flow. An incomplete block-LU factorization (Block-ILU(0)) is also presented as a preconditioner, where the factorization is performed using a reordering of elements based upon the lines of maximum coupling. This reordering is shown to be superior to standard reordering techniques (Nested Dissection, One-way Dissection, Quotient Minimum Degree, Reverse Cuthill-Mckee) especially for viscous test cases. The Block-ILU(0) factorization is performed in-place and a novel algorithm is presented for the application of the linearization which reduces both the memory and CPU time over the traditional dual matrix storage format. A linear pmultigrid algorithm using element Line-Jacobi and Block-ILU(0) smoothing is presented as a preconditioner to GMRES. The linear multigrid preconditioner is shown to significantly improve convergence in terms of the number of linear iterations as well as to reduce the total CPU time required to obtain a converged solution.
CD4+ T-lymphocyte nadir and the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy on phenotypic and functional immune restoration in HIV-1 infection.

To evaluate the effects of the timing of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on immune reconstitution, we compared lymphocyte subpopulations and lymphocyte proliferation (LP) in response to Candida albicans, cytomegalovirus, HIV p24, Mycobacterium avium complex, pokeweed mitogen, streptokinase, and tetanus toxoid in 43 patients with pretherapy advanced, moderately advanced, and early chronic HIV-1 infection. All patients had recent CD4+ T-cell counts >450/microl and HIV RNA 12 months. CD4+ nadirs were positively correlated with recent numbers of CD4+ T-cells (P < 0.001), memory cells (P < 0.001), and naive CD4+ T-cells (P < 0.05) and CD4+ CD28+ T-lymphocytes (P < 0.05) and were negatively correlated with recent CD8+ T-lymphocyte counts (P < 0.05). Only CD4+ naive T-cells normalized when HAART was initiated at lower CD4+ T-cell levels. Fifty-three percent of patients had LP responses to HIV p24 antigen. While LP responses to prevalent antigens were usually present, responses to tetanus toxoid were more common with higher CD4+ T-lymphocyte nadirs (P < 0.05). Delaying HAART may limit phenotypic and functional immune restoration in HIV-1 infection.
An ultrasonic UCS

Abstract A waveform generator is described which produces a triangular wave of continuously varying frequency ranging from 20–30 KHz. Suitably amplified, this sound was shown to be an effective noxious UCS for laboratory rats while inaudible to man.
Trends in precipitation and streamflow in the eastern U.S.: Paradox or perception?

[1] Many studies have reported that total precipitation is increasing across the United States with most of the increase resulting from a positive trend in the upper tail of the daily precipitation distribution. Other studies have found that low and moderate, but not high flows are also increasing across much of the United States. How can precipitation, especially that produced by intense events, increase without a corresponding increase in high flows? We analyzed trends in annual 7-day low, average and high flows along with seasonal precipitation that is averaged over individual basins. Our findings suggest that statistically significant trends in both fall precipitation and 7-day low flow are found in a large percentage of the basins in the upper Mississippi and Great Lakes regions of the country. A large fraction of the trends in annual precipitation can be explained by an increase in fall precipitation. By estimating trends in precipitation at the spatial scale of individual basins, we offer a simple explanation for the apparent paradox of lack of trends in high flows. At the spatial scale of individual basins, precipitation is increasing during the fall but not during the spring, the season when high flows are generally observed. The increase in fall precipitation appears to result in an increase in the low flows while the lack of trends in precipitation in spring explains the lack of widespread trends in the high flows.
Swords into plowshares: The organizational transformation of rebel groups into political parties

How do the features of a rebel group and the external political environment interact to affect the internal dynamics within a rebel group after it transforms into a political party? In this paper we combine literature on organizational change in parties in new democracies with the emerging literature on rebel group-to-party transformation, to develop a framework by which to understand these dynamics. Using the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) as a case study, we find that the legacies of the conflict, the organizational legacies of the rebel group, and the post civil war incentives for electoral gain, create political cleavages within parties that generate considerable organizational centripetal pressures, pressures that will need to be accommodated in new party organizational structures.
Presentation and subsequent publication rates of phase I oncology clinical trials.

BACKGROUND Many trials submitted to scientific meetings are not reported in peer-reviewed journals. Results may vary substantially and the lack of final publication constitutes a form of reporting bias. The authors sought to determine the presentation and publication rates of Phase I trials submitted to a major oncology meeting and the factors impeding their subsequent publication. METHODS The authors identified all Phase I studies submitted to the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in 1997, categorizing them as novel (agents not approved by the Food and Drug Administration at the time of submission) or nonnovel (at least one agent approved), and as industry sponsored or not. MEDLINE searches and an E-mailed questionnaire confirmed publication in peer-reviewed literature and the reasons for nonpublication. RESULTS Approximately 54% of the 275 Phase I studies were selected for presentation. Abstracts reporting novel agents were more likely selected for presentation than those reporting nonnovel compounds (68% vs. 38%; P < 0.0001). Seventy-two percent of the presented abstracts were subsequently published, compared with 62% of those not presented (P = 0.08). The overall publication rate was 67% at 7.5 years. Presentation status was associated with time to publication (P = 0.01), with abstracts chosen for presentation being published sooner. The median time from presentation to publication was found to be 3.4 years. Lack of time and author relocation were the major obstacles to publication. CONCLUSIONS The underreporting of final results of Phase I oncology trials remains a serious problem. In the future, investigators must commit to the publication of final results in a timely manner. Journals should provide mechanisms for rapid reporting of Phase I trials. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Effect of ribonuclease upon immunologically active cells.

SummaryIncubation of homograft sensitized lymphoid cells with ribonuclease inhibits their ability to produce the “transfer reaction” on intradermal injection into the antigen donor. Ribonuclease in the concentration used does not kill the cells as determined by trypan blue staining and culture in Millipore filler chambers. The data indicate that intact protein synthesis of transferred immunologically active cells is essential for the expression of the “transfer reaction.
Bubble number saturation curve and asymptotics of hypobaric and hyperbaric exposures

Within bubble number limits of the varying permeability and reduced gradient bubble models, it is shown that a linear form of the saturation curve for hyperbaric exposures and a nearly constant decompression ratio for hypobaric exposures are simultaneously recovered from the phase volume constraint. Both limits are maintained within a single bubble number saturation curve. A bubble term, varying exponentially with inverse pressure, provides closure. Two constants describe the saturation curve, both linked to seed numbers. Limits of other decompression models are also discussed and contrasted for completeness. It is suggested that the bubble number saturation curve thus provides a consistent link between hypobaric and hyperbaric data, a link not established by earlier decompression models.
Gamma-ray bursts from cusps on superconducting cosmic strings at large redshifts

Babul et al. (1987) proposed that some gamma-ray bursts may be caused by energy released at the cusps of oscillating loops made of superconducting cosmic strings. It is claimed that there were some errors and omissions in that work, which are claimed to be corrected in the present paper. Arguments are presented, that given certain assumptions, the cusps on oscillating superconducting cosmic strings produce highly collimated and energetic electromagnetic bursts and that a fair fraction of electromagnetic energy is likely to come out as gamma rays.
Hypnosis to aid the recall of witnesses.

Abstract 14 cases are presented of interrogation under hypnosis of witnesses and victims of crimes. Videotaping is considered essential for use of the court, if necessary. Interrogation of indicted people should be done only as an exception, if at all. The ideal case for hypnosis interrogation is with a witness or a victim where information is obtained which leads to evidence which itself will stand up in court without the need of the hypnosis interrogation to be presented as such. Guidelines for such interrogation are presented.
Plasma Diamine Oxidase Activities in Renal Dialysis Patients, a Human with Spontaneous Copper Deficiency and Marginally Copper Deficient Rats

Objectives: Intestine and kidney are generally the most concentrated sources of the copper metalloenzyme diamine oxidase (DAO). Clinically, plasma DAO activities are used to diagnose disruptions in intestinal integrity. This study determined whether DAO activities were also affected by kidney injury or copper nutritional status. Design and Methods: Plasma DAO activities were measured in renal dialysis patients without diagnosed intestinal disease (n = 75), controls (n = 23), an adult with spontaneous copper deficiency before and after copper repletions, and in rats fed either adequate or marginal copper diets (8 or 2 mg copper/kg diet) for 7 months. Results: This study found high DAO activities in renal dialysis patients and low activities during spontaneous copper deficiency. Low activities were also seen for marginally copper deficient rats. Conclusions: Tissue injury-induced elevation of DAO activities is not limited to intestinal injury, and low DAO values may be useful for assessing copper nutritional status.
Kinetic and Equilibrium Cluster-Size Distributions of Antibody-Antigen-Induced Colloidal Aggregation

Our colloidal system is composed of antigens covalently coupled to polystyrene microspheres. When monoclonal antibodies are added to solution, they reversibly bind to the antigens causing aggregation. Unlike many other similar systems, our system is thermodynamicallyreversible: the aggregates will dissociate in the presence of free antigen, and the aggregation process reaches a state of thermodynamic equilibrium. This system is of interest as it can be used to model many different chemical, physical and biological processes. In particular, this system can be used to quantify the interactions between the biomoleculesattached to the microspheres1 and also to explore the statistical mechanics of reversible particle aggregation.
Radiation-Induced Paramagnetic Defects in MOS Structures

We have subjected thermally grown films of SiO2 on Si substrates to Co60 gamma irradiation. Using electron spin resonance we observe three radiation-induced paramagnetic defect centers in the structures at room temperature. One resonance appears to be unambiguously associated with trivalent silicon bonded to three other silicons at the Si/SiO2 interface. Two other resonances are very much like resonances observed earlier in irradiated high purity bulk SiO2; those bulk SiO2 resonances have been associated with trivalent silicons bonded to three oxygens and unpaired electrons in nonbonding oxygen 2p orbitals.
Matrix metalloproteinase-3 expression profile differentiates adaptive and maladaptive synaptic plasticity induced by traumatic brain injury

The interaction between extracellular matrix (ECM) and regulatory matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is important in establishing and maintaining synaptic connectivity. By using fluid percussion traumatic brain injury (TBI) and combined TBI and bilateral entorhinal cortical lesion (TBI + BEC), we previously demonstrated that hippocampal stromelysin-1 (MMP-3) expression and activity increased during synaptic plasticity. We now report a temporal analysis of MMP-3 protein and mRNA response to TBI during both degenerative (2 day) and regenerative (7, 15 day) phases of reactive synaptogenesis. MMP-3 expression during successful synaptic reorganization (following unilateral entorhinal cortical lesion; UEC) was compared with MMP-3 expression when normal synaptogenesis fails (after combined TBI + BEC insult). Increased expression of MMP-3 protein and message was observed in both models at 2 days postinjury, and immuohistochemical (IHC) colocalization suggested that reactive astrocytes contribute to that increase. By 7 days postinjury, model differences in MMP-3 were observed. UEC MMP-3 mRNA was equivalent to control, and MMP-3 protein was reduced within the deafferented region. In contrast, enzyme mRNA remained elevated in the maladaptive TBI + BEC model, accompanied by persistent cellular labeling of MMP-3 protein. At 15 days survival, MMP-3 mRNA was normalized in each model, but enzyme protein remained higher than paired controls. When TBI + BEC recovery was enhanced by the N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist MK-801, 7-day MMP-3 mRNA was significantly reduced. Similarly, MMP inhibition with FN-439 reduced the persistent spatial learning deficits associated with TBI + BEC insult. These results suggest that MMP-3 might differentially affect the sequential phases of reactive synaptogenesis and exhibit an altered pattern when recovery is perturbed.
GrooveSim: a topography-accurate simulator for geographic routing in vehicular networks

Vehicles equipped with wireless communication devices are poised to deliver vital services in the form of safety alerts, traffic congestion probing and on-road commercial applications. Tools to evaluate the performance of vehicular networks are a fundamental necessity. While several traffic simulators have been developed under the Intelligent Transport System initiative, their primary focus has been on modeling and forecasting vehicle traffic flow and congestion from a queuing perspective. In order to analyze the performance and scalability of inter-vehicular communication protocols, it is important to use realistic traffic density, speed, trip, and communication models. Studies on multi-hop mobile wireless routing protocols have shown the performance varies greatly depending on the simulation models employed. We introduce GrooveSim, a simulator for geographic routing in vehicular networks to address the need for a robust, easy-to-use realistic network and traffic simulator. GrooveSim accurately models inter-vehicular communication within a real street map-based topography. It operates in five modes capable of actual on-road inter-vehicle communication, simulation of traffic networks with thousands of vehicles, visual playback of driving logs, hybrid simulation composed of real and simulated vehicles and easy test-scenario generation. Our performance results, supported by field tests, establish geographic broadcast routing as an effective means to deliver time-bounded messages over multiple-hops.
Expression of a gene encoding a scorpion insectotoxin peptide in yeast, bacteria and plants.

Abstract The nucleotide sequence encoding the scorpion insectotoxin I5A was chemically synthesized and expressed in yeast, bacteria and tobacco. The I5A peptides produced in these organisms were purified using an immunoaffinity chromatography procedure. I5A produced using the bacteria secretion system was efficiently secreted and released into the culture medium. In contrast, only a trace amount of I5A was detected in bacterial cytosols when expressed from a direct expression vector, suggesting that I5A was unstable in bacterial cells. I5A secreted from yeast using an α-factor signal sequence was shown to have an N-terminal (Glu-Ala)2 extension, indicating incomplete processing of the secreted peptide by dipeptidyl aminopeptidase A. In tobacco, a nonsecreted form of the protein was produced. No measurable insect toxicity was observed when insect larvae were assayed, regardless of whether I5A was produced in yeast, bacteria or tobacco. The lack of toxicity is almost certainly the result of improper folding due to incorrect disulfide bond formation. The inability to produce a biologically active peptide must be overcome before scorpion toxins might be used for the genetic engineering of plants for insect resistance. The yeast and bacterial expression systems described here may be useful for further studies on the problem of expressing a biologically active peptide.
An Assessment of Students' Understanding of Ecosystem Concepts: Conflating Ecological Systems and Cycles.

Teaching ecological concepts in schools is important in promoting natural science and environmental education for young learners. Developing educational programs is difficult, however, because of complicated ecological processes operating on multiple levels, the unlimited nature of potential system interactions (given the openness of systems), and their often-times nonlinear dynamic processes. To understand how to effectively support learning requires first understanding how students organize their ideas and develop conceptions about the nature of ecological processes. This study investigates understanding of ecological processes using aquaria as a model closed system in a science classroom. Understanding was assessed using worksheets completed during classroom instruction. Student responses and models were coded to elucidate naive conceptions and conceptual shifts. Our data make salient an area in which students confuse related concepts with respect to ecosystems and cycles and offer suggestions on how t...
Intracellular distribution of folic acid in mouse liver.

Eine bedeutende Menge der gesamten Folsaure der Mauseleberzellen ist in den Mitochondrien vorhanden. Auch nach Inkubation des Leberhomogenats mit radioaktiver Folsaure wird der Grossteil der Radioaktivitat im mitochondrialen Anteil gefunden.
Low levels of genetic diversity among morphologically distinct populations of an enigmatic montane frog from Mexico ( Craugastor uno : Craugastoridae)

Craugastor uno is a direct-developing frog endemic to high-elevation pine-oak forests of the Sierra Madre del Sur in Mexico. The species was described from a single female specimen collected in the state of Guerrero, but otherwise remains poorly known. It is listed as endangered by the IUCN and some authors have considered it extinct. A recent report expanding the range to include montane localities in the state of Oaxaca has been disputed. Herein we describe variation in a group of 7 C. uno specimens that includes males, females, and juveniles collected from 1972 to 2004. We compared individuals from localities in the states of Guerrero and Oaxaca using morphology and several genetic markers. Molecular analyses revealed C. uno exhibits little genetic variation at the loci sampled. Our findings suggest that while the Guerrero and Oaxaca populations have diverged only recently from one another, they appear to be presently isolated and may be distinguished by several distinct quantitative and qualitative morphological traits. We also report multilocus genetic evidence of this putative isolation in the form of regional segregation among haplotypes. However, at this time we refrain from revising the taxonomy owing to our small sample size and limited geographic coverage.
Skeletonization does not influence internal thoracic artery innervation

Abstract Background This study was designed to compare the effect of surgical harvesting on internal thoracic artery innervation and to assess the eventual presence of denervation supersensitivity in skeletonized grafts. Methods Nineteen patients who underwent primary isolated coronary artery bypass grafting were randomly assigned to receive a skeletonized (n = 9) or pedicled (n = 10) internal thoracic artery graft. Immunohistochemical nerve localization using anti–S-100 protein, anti–160-kd neurofilament polypeptide and anti–tyrosine hydroxylase antibodies was performed on distal specimens of arteries to study vascular innervation. Moreover, endovascular vasoactive challenges using serotonin and methylergometrine were performed at early angiographic control to evaluate the eventual presence of denervation supersensitivity. Results Quantitative analysis of immunohistochemical specimens revealed lack of difference in the number of positive cells between skeletonized and pedicled arteries for all the antibodies used. No difference in the reaction to serotonin and methylergometrine was found between skeletonized and pedicled arteries. Conclusions Skeletonization does not influence internal thoracic artery innervation.
AN INFANT FATALITY ASSOCIATED WITH COXSACKIE B1 VIRUS.

The clinical, pathologic, and virologic findings of a 10-day-old infant who died after a rapid fulminating illness are described. The most significant postmortem findings were evidence of myocarditis and meningoencephalitis. Coxsackie B 1 virus was isolated from throat washings and urine obtained before death and from necropsy specimens of liver, lung, kidney, and brain. Thus, Coxsackie B 1 virus is added to the group of known Coxsackie B viruses associated with myocarditis and severe generalized disease in infancy.
Anatomic, clinical, and neuropsychological correlates of spelling errors in Primary Progressive Aphasia

This study evaluates spelling errors in the three subtypes of primary progressive aphasia (PPA): agrammatic (PPA-G), logopenic (PPA-L), and semantic (PPA-S). Forty-one PPA patients and 36 age-matched healthy controls were administered a test of spelling. The total number of errors and types of errors in spelling to dictation of regular words, exception words and nonwords, were recorded. Error types were classified based on phonetic plausibility. In the first analysis, scores were evaluated by clinical diagnosis. Errors in spelling exception words and phonetically plausible errors were seen in PPA-S. Conversely, PPA-G was associated with errors in nonword spelling and phonetically implausible errors. In the next analysis, spelling scores were correlated to other neuropsychological language test scores. Significant correlations were found between exception word spelling and measures of naming and single word comprehension. Nonword spelling correlated with tests of grammar and repetition. Global language measures did not correlate significantly with spelling scores, however. Cortical thickness analysis based on MRI showed that atrophy in several language regions of interest were correlated with spelling errors. Atrophy in the left supramarginal gyrus and inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) pars orbitalis correlated with errors in nonword spelling, while thinning in the left temporal pole and fusiform gyrus correlated with errors in exception word spelling. Additionally, phonetically implausible errors in regular word spelling correlated with thinning in the left IFG pars triangularis and pars opercularis. Together, these findings suggest two independent systems for spelling to dictation, one phonetic (phoneme to grapheme conversion), and one lexical (whole word retrieval).
New method for assessing changes in growth and sexual dimorphism in paleoepidemiology.

This paper has three goals. First, traditional methods used for analyzing growth disruption (GD) and sexual dimorphism (SD) in prehistoric skeletal populations are critiqued. Second, a new method, using adult vertebrae, is presented which helps overcome these limitations. Third, this new method is then tested in the Dickson Mounds skeletal population. Between A.D. 950 and 1300 this population underwent a transition from hunting and gathering (PreMississippian: PreMiss.) to maize horticulture (Mississippian: Miss.). Previous research has found a decrease in long bone length in Miss. children, but no difference in adults, or a change in SD. Could this be due to catch-up growth? In the adult skeleton vertebral neural canals (VNCs) size and vertebral body heights (VBHs) can easily be measured. VNCs generally cease growth by early childhood, whereas VBHs grow through young adulthood. This new method offers inference into prehistoric GD and SD previously thought impossible. For example, if VNCs are reduced, but not VBHs, it implies early GD with subsequent catch-up growth. If both VNCs and VBHs are reduced, GD was presumably chronic. Moreover, within this framework, preadult SD can be examined. Results from Dickson show that early GD was followed by catch-up growth. There was a significant change in SD, with females becoming smaller. They had chronic GD. Miss. males had early GD, followed by catch-up growth. Indeed, Miss. males, compared to PreMiss. males, had significantly larger VBHs. Together, these results suggest females lost, but males gained, social status. Thus, vertebral morphometrics may be an invaluable new tool for paleoepidemiologists.
Enzymatic hydroxylation of aromatic compounds.

Abstract An aromatic hydroxylating system has been found in liver microsomes which requires TPNH and oxygen for its activity. Evidence for the enzymatic nature of this reaction is presented. A number of substrates for this system have been investigated and their phenolic metabolites have been identified.
Offshore assembly provisions and the structure of protection

Abstract This paper derives the structure of protection afforded by tariffs that are subject to an offshore assembly provision (OAP). The effects of an OAP on the equilibrium price relationships are shown to depend on two sets of factors: the amount of domestic consumption of the final good in relation to the level of output of the domestic component and assembly industries; and the height of barriers to trade in the intermediate good compared to the tariff savings afforded by OAP exemption of domestic value-added. An interesting result is that equilibrium under an OAP scheme may entail two-way trade in identical intermediate goods.
A novel insight into the mechanism of pulmonary hypertension involving caveolin-1 deficiency and endothelial nitric oxide synthase activation.

Severe pulmonary hypertension (PH) is characterized by a progressive increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and vascular remodeling leading to right heart failure and early death. Our recent studies with the use of the novel mouse model with genetic deletions of caveolin-1 (Cav1) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) (NOS3) have demonstrated that persistent eNOS activation in Cav1 −/− lungs results in tyrosine nitration of protein kinase G (PKG) and impairment of its activity, which thereby induces PH. The finding of eNOS activation and PKG nitration concomitant with Cav1 deficiency was recapitulated in lungs from patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension. These data suggest targeting PKG nitration has potential value for the treatment of PH. Here, we will review the current knowledge about Cav1-regulated eNOS activity and its fundamental role in the pathogenesis of PH.
Modifying Electroglottograph-Identified Intervals of Phonation: The Effect on Stuttering.

Single-subject experiments were conducted with an adolescent and an adult male who stutter to assess the effect on stuttering of changing the frequency of phonation intervals that were within prescribed duration ranges during spontaneous speech. Electroglottograph-identified intervals of phonation were measured using a computer-assisted biofeedback system. Both subjects demonstrated that their stuttering could be controlled by modifying the frequency of phonation intervals within short duration ranges. The experimental effects not only replicated earlier findings but were demonstrated to be independent of changes in speaking rate, or alterations to other intervals of phonation, and produced little disruption to speech naturalness. The theoretic implications of these findings are discussed.
Extending Responsiveness to Intervention to Mathematics at First and Third Grades

Responsiveness to intervention (RTI) is an innovative approach to the identification of learning disabilities (LD). The central assumption is that RTI can differentiate between two explanations for low achievement: poor instruction versus disability. If the child responds poorly to validated instruction, then the assessment eliminates instructional quality as a viable explanation for poor academic growth and instead provides evidence of a disability. For children who do respond nicely, RTI serves a critical prevention function. Most of RTI research has been focused on early reading. In this article, we describe two ongoing programs of research on RTI in the area of mathematics: one on a comprehensive mathematics curriculum at first grade and the other focused on word problems at third grade. For each research program, we describe the sample, explain how students are identified as at risk for mathematics disability, provide an overview of the interventions to which responsiveness is gauged, and describe some results to date.
Differences in the Metabolic Clearance of Pituitary and Serum Thyrotropin (TSH) Derived from Euthyroid and Hypothyroid Rats: Effects of Chemical Deglycosylation of Pituitary TSH

We compared the MCR, volume of distribution, and rapid phase (rt1/2) and slow phase half-lives of purified pituitary rat (r) TSH, TSH from crude pituitary extracts of normal and hypothyroid rats, TSH from hypothyroid rat sera, and TSH secreted from hypothyroid rat pituitaries incubated in vitro. For 3 h after iv bolus injection into euthyroid rats, 125I-labeled rTSH was determined by acid precipitation in serum and various organs, and unlabeled TSH was measured by RIA. The MCR of TSH from normal pituitary extracts (0.53 +/- 0.02 ml/min) was similar to that of unlabeled purified rTSH (0.52 +/- 0.03), while those from hypothyroid pituitary extracts (0.32 +/- 0.03) and hypothyroid sera (0.33 +/- 0.01) were decreased. The reduced MCR of TSH from hypothyroid pituitaries was due to a decreased distribution volume (8.4 +/- 0.6 ml) compared to that from normal pituitaries (11.4 +/- 0.7) and hypothyroid sera (10.9 +/- 0.8). The decreased MCR of circulating TSH from hypothyroid sera reflected an increase in its rt1/2 (12.6 +/- 0.5 min) vs. that from both normal (5.1 +/- 0.5) and hypothyroid (5.7 +/- 0.4) pituitaries. The rt1/2 of secreted TSH from incubated hypothyroid rat pituitaries (8.5 +/- 0.9) was intermediate between those of circulating and pituitary forms of hypothyroid rTSH. The clearances of intact bovine TSH (bTSH) and deglycosylated bTSH (dg-bTSH) were compared. The dg-bTSH MCR was found to be increased (0.71 +/- 0.02 ml/min) compared to that of bTSH (0.59 +/- 0.02), primarily due to a decreased rt1/2 for dg-bTSH (3.8 +/- 0.1 min) vs. bTSH (4.7 +/- 0.2). Uptake of purified [125I]rTSH was highest in the kidney at all times, varying from 43% of the injected dose at 5 min to 54% at 180 min. We conclude that in the euthyroid rat, 1) the metabolic clearance of TSH differs between pituitary and serum forms and appears to depend on specific molecular features that vary with the physiological state of the animal from which the TSH is derived; 2) since chemical deglycosylation increased the clearance of TSH, we speculate that the chemical basis for changes in TSH clearance may be related to alterations in its carbohydrate structure; and 3) for normal pituitary TSH, the kidney is the major organ of clearance.
Producing a Semielliptical Flaw in a Glass Surface

A semielliptical flaw was produced by differential expansion of a brass bar cemented to a glashd surface. Crack growth was monitored by continuous observation in polarized light.
Reaction with mole changes in porous catalysts in the molecular, transition, and Knudsen regimes

Equations are derived and solved numerically for the intrapellet pressure and composition profiles in porous catalysts. The extended dusty-gas model is used to describe the transport for a zero-order, irreversible reaction with mole changes. Results agree with other models in the purely Knudsen and molecular regimes. In the transition region, however, the effectiveness factor is a function of five dimensionless parameters. The calculations predict a significant pressure gradient in the Knudsen regime and transition region but an insignificant gradient in the molecular regime for reactions with mole changes. Since many industrial catalysts operate in the transition region of transport, these calculations are highly desirable in reactor design.