cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transient inverted metastable iron hydroperoxides in fenton chemistry. A nonenzymatic model for cytochrome p450 hydroxylation.

Quantum mechanical calculations (DFT) have provided a mechanism for the oxidative C−H bond cleavage step in Fenton-like hydrocarbon hydroxylation. A transition structure for hydrocarbon oxidation by aqueous solvated cationic iron(III) hydroperoxides ((H2O)nFeIIIOOH) is presented that involves a novel rearrangement of the hydroperoxide group (FeO−OH → FeO···HO) in concert with hydrogen abstraction by the incipient HO• radical with activation barriers ranging from 17 to 18 kcal/mol. In every hydroperoxide examined, the activation barrier for FeO−OH isomerization, in the absence of the hydrocarbon, is significantly greater than the overall concerted activation barrier for C−H bond cleavage in support of the concept of O−O bond isomerization in concert with hydrogen abstraction. The transition structure for the oxidation step in simple anionic iron(III) hydroperoxides has been shown to bear a remarkable resemblance to model porphyrin calculations on cytochrome P450 hydroxylation.
Pulsar Kicks With Sterile Neutrinos and Landau Levels

We use a model with two sterile neutrinos obtained by fits to the MiniBoone and LSND experiments. Using formulations with neutrinos created by URCA Processes in a strong magnetic field, so the lowest Landau level has a sizable probability, we find that with known paramenters the assymetric sterile neutrino emissivity might account for large pulsar kicks.
Efficient heterogeneous catalytic reduction of perchlorate in water.

A new heterogeneous catalyst that promotes the reduction by hydrogen of perchlorate ion in water under mild conditions has been developed. The catalyst is prepared by adsorption of a rhenium(VII) precursor (either ammonium perrhenate or methylrhenium trioxide) onto carbon powder containing 5% palladium by weight. Under standard batch conditions of room temperature, 1 bar of hydrogen, and 200 ppm perchlorate (as HClO4), reduction proceeded to less than 1 ppm in as little as 5 h. Extended reaction times led to residual perchlorate at low parts per billion levels. Chloride was the only observed product, with good material balance. Catalytic materials ranging from 3% to 13% Re showed (pseudo) first-order rates linearly dependent on the Re content. Representative normalized rate constants for catalysts with 5−9% Re were in the range 0.1−0.3 L h-1 (g of cat.)-1. Inhibition by chloride was not significant, with little change in perchlorate reduction rate in the presence of excess chloride to 1000 ppm. However, o...
Training in advanced pancreaticobiliary endoscopy: Why, how, and will we even need ERCP in the future?

Since its introduction in the early 1970s, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has undergone spectacular evolution from a solely diagnostic technique to a fully therapeutic modality. This has had major implications for training and practice. Until the last decade, too many patients suffered unnecessary and sometimes severe complications of ERCP performed for “soft” indications by over-aggressive and uncritical gastroenterologists. With data from well-conducted prospective studies, we can now identify the risk factors for ERCP complications, especially post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP). These include normal liver functions tests (LFTs), female gender, age
The influence of grain-boundary segregation of Y in Cr2O3 on the oxidation of Cr metal. II, Effects of temperature and dopant concentration

The oxidation behavior of pure Cr and Cr implanted with Y was studied as a function of temperature (900 and 1025°C) and ion-implantation dose (1×1015 and 2×1016 Y ions/cm2). The microstructures of the Cr2O3 scales were affected by both of the variables studied. Yttrium ions segregated at the grain boundaries in the Cr2O3 scales formed on the implanted alloys and the concentration of Y at the grain boundaries decreased with a decrease in the dose of implanted Y. The mechanism of growth of the Cr2O3 scales was altered by the presence of the Y ions at the Cr2O3 grain boundaries only when a critical concentration of Y at the grain boundaries was exceeded.
Chronic food restriction in rats augments the central rewarding effect of cocaine and the delta1 opioid agonist, DPDPE, but not the delta2 agonist, deltorphin-II.

Rationale: Chronic food restriction augments the self-administration and locomotor stimulating effects of opiates, psychostimulants and NMDA antagonists. The extent to which these effects can be attributed to changes in drug pharmacokinetics and bioavailability versus sensitivity of the neuronal circuits that mediate the affected behavioral functions, has not been established. Recent studies point to central adaptive changes insofar as rewarding, locomotor and c-fos-inducing effects of amphetamine and MK-801, injected directly into the lateral ventricle, are greater in food-restricted than ad libitum fed rats. The increased expression of c-fos in nucleus accumbens (NAC) shell, in particular, suggests that food restriction may augment drug reward by modulating dopamine (DA) synaptic function in this area. Objectives: The first purpose of this study was to investigate whether the rewarding effects of cocaine and the δ1 opioid agonist DPDPE, both of which increase DA synaptic transmission, are augmented by food restriction. The second purpose was to determine whether the δ2 opioid agonist, deltorphin-II, which has been reported to exert DA-independent rewarding effects, is subject to the potentiating effect of food restriction. Methods: Rewarding effects of drugs were measured in terms of their ability to lower the threshold for lateral hypothalamic self-stimulation (LHSS) using a rate-frequency method. Results: In separate experiments, cocaine (50, 100 and 150 μg, ICV) and DPDPE (10 and 25 μg, ICV) produced greater threshold-lowering effects in food-restricted than ad libitum fed rats. Deltorphin-II (5.0, 10 and 25 μg, ICV) had no effect on reward thresholds, regardless of feeding regimen. Conclusions: While the reported DA-independence of deltorphin-II rewarding effects seemed to offer a means of testing the hypothesis that DA transmission is the critical modulated variable in food-restricted subjects, rewarding effects of this compound could not be demonstrated in the LHSS paradigm. The present results do, however, confirm and extend prior findings indicating that the enhanced self-administration of abused drugs by food-restricted subjects is due to enhanced sensitivity of a final common pathway for drug reward.
Electron removal from atomic hydrogen by collisions with fully stripped oxygen ions

Cross sections for charge transfer and impact ionization in ${\mathrm{O}}^{8+}$ + H collisions have been calculated in the range of collision velocities (0.1-10) \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{8}$ cm/sec. At the lower velocities, up to 1.2 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{8}$ cm/sec, charge-transfer cross sections were determined by means of the perturbed-stationary-state method in the impact-parameter approximation with a selective basis set of adiabatic one-electron two-center orbitals. The charge-transfer cross section increases monotonically in this region, attaining a value of 8 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}15}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ at 1.2 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{8}$ cm/sec. Rotational coupling was found to be an important mechanism which contributes significantly to the large cross sections in the molecular regime. Thus the present results are at least a factor of 2 larger than previous Landau-Zener calculations. Above 2.2 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{8}$ cm/sec, a classical-trajectory Monte Carlo approach was used to compute both charge-transfer and ionization cross sections. At velocities above 5 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{8}$ cm/sec, ionization becomes the dominant electron-removal process.
Evaluating Unplanned Stand-Alone Transportation Projects: Linking Incremental and Comprehensive Planning

Transportation agencies may review proposed projects that were not examined as part of the long range planning process. Typically, these projects require an immediate response and lack detailed data. This paper describes a methodology to assess such unplanned or “stand-alone” transportation projects and applies it to two case studies: a large development involving several major new highway sections and a pedestrian crossing of a four-lane arterial bisecting residential and commercial areas. The methodology specifies the trade-offs and uncertainties of the proposed stand-alone projects. For example, adding phasing to an existing signal resulted in a lower capital cost, and a lower feasibility of pedestrian use, than constructing an overpass. Yet, neither alternative assures crash risk is minimized because the extent of pedestrian compliance with traffic laws is not known. The outcome is thus a timely clarification of each alternative’s advantages which can be compared to existing policies. Limitations are ...
A new, versatile, three-pulse technique for the measurement of picosecond duration luminescent decay

Abstract We present a new, versatile, three-pulse method for the measurement of picosecond duration time decay of luminescence with an example.
Electrodiagnostically confirmed posttraumatic neuropathy and associated clinical exam findings with lisfranc injury.

Background:Patients with a Lisfranc injury often complain of persistent pain radiating from the Lisfranc joint up or down the first dorsal web space, accompanied by decreased sensation. We hypothesized that these symptoms were related to a posttraumatic neuropathy of the terminal medial branch of deep fibular (peroneal) nerve (MBDFN) and that by recognizing this symptom an earlier diagnosis of Lisfranc injury may be possible.Methods:Twelve patients with diagnosis of subtle unilateral Lisfranc injury, confirmed by standing X-ray, CT, or bone scan, were enrolled. Standardized antidromic sensory nerve conduction studies of MBDFN were performed bilaterally within 2 months postinjury and prior to surgical intervention. The contralateral, normal side was used as a control. All patients were tested for decreased 2-point discrimination in the first dorsal web space on both lower extremities.Results:Sensory nerve action potential of the MBDFN was absent, with decreased 2-point discrimination on the injured side in...
Effective targeted cytotoxicity of neuroblastoma cells

Abstract Background/Purpose: Despite aggressive treatment with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, the prognosis for many children with neuroblastoma remains poor. Targeted toxins represent novel cancer therapeutics designed to selectively target and kill cancer cells. The authors have developed a novel fusion toxin, DT5F11, consisting of truncated diphtheria toxin (DT A ) linked to a single chain antibody (sc5F11) targeting the GD 2 antigen found on most neuroblastoma cells. This report describes the construction, expression, and in vitro function of DT5F11. Methods: Utilizing restriction enzyme digestion, polymerase chain reaction amplification, and gel electrophoresis, the prkDTL5F11 plasmid was created by the fusion of distinct coding sequences for a single-chain GD 2 targeting antibody (sc5F11) and truncated diphtheria toxin (DT A ). DH5[alpha ] Escherichi coli -competent cells were transformed with prkDTL5F11; DNA was amplified, isolated, and sequenced. The fusion protein was expressed and assayed by Western blot. Targeted cytotoxicity was analyzed on GD 2 -positive (SK-N-AS, IMR-32, SK-N-MC, LAN-1) and GD 2 -negative (HeLa) cells. Results: Fluorescent dye[ndash ]labeled cycle sequencing identified the constructed fusion toxin gene. Western blot analysis using a mouse antihuman DT A antibody showed a 69-kD band identifying the fusion toxin, DT5F11. Targeted cell killing with DT5F11 was seen only in GD 2 positive cells. Conclusions: This study demonstrates creation of a novel fusion toxin with effective GD 2 -targeted cellular toxicity. Further investigation of this fusion toxin as a therapeutic agent in the management of neuroblastoma is warranted.
Effects of arachidonic acid and inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism on phagocyte‐induced sister chromatid exchanges

Stimulated human phagocytes produce toxic oxygen radicals which induce sister chromatid exchanges in cultured mammalian cells. Oxidative damage to membranes initiates lipid peroxidation chain reactions and stimulation of the arachidonic acid cascade. The products of these reactions may mediate the genetic toxicity of oxygen radicals. Arachidonic acid significantly augmented the number of sister chromatid exchanges in target cells exposed to stimulated phagocytes. This genetic damage was abrogated in radical-treated cells preincubated with inhibitors of the cyclooxygenase (indomethacin), lipoxygenase (nordihydroguaiaretic acid) or both (piroxicam) pathways.
Rational expectations and the theory of aggregate investment

Abstract This paper shows that net aggregate investment satisfies a modified acceleration principle in a neoclassical economy with rational expectations. Net aggregate investment depends mostly on changes in net national income, and in some cases it is also influenced by changes in aggregate consumption.
Basic and clinical immunology – 3016. Successful desensitization to oxaliplatin for metastic colorectal carcinoma

Method In this case a premedication protocol of dexamethasone 10 mg + diphenhydramine 50 mg + famotidine 20 mg by mouth were administered 13 hours, 6 hours and 1 hour respectively prior to the infusion of 40 mg of oxaliplatin in 1:10000, 1:1000, 1:100, 1:10 graded dilutions. Each dilution was infused over 1 hour under close telemetry monitoring. A final dilution that contained 90 % of the dose was infused over 4 hours until completion.
HTLV‐I‐associated myelopathy endemic in Texas‐born residents and isolation of virus from CSF cells

We report three Texas-born patients with spastic paraparesis and well-documented infection with HTLV-I. CSF examination showed moderate pleocytosis, protein elevation, and elevated IgG index. Oligoclonal bands were present in two patients. On MRI, one patient had frontal lobe lesions that were low intensity on T 1 - and high intensity on T 2 -weighted images. HTLV-I immunoblot studies of serum and CSF revealed reactivity to p19, p24, p53, gp46, or gp68 from all three patients. Titration studies of serum and CSF antibodies on ELISA and immunoblot assays indicated an intrathecal virus-specific response. HTLV-I-specific p19 antigen capture assay and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) demonstrated HTLV-I in lymphocyte cultures derived from each patient9s peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or CSF cells. Using HTLV-I- and HTLV-II-specific pol and gag primers, PCR studies of PBMC cells obtained directly from the patients demonstrated that the patients were infected with HTLV-I and not HTLV-II. These three cases are to our knowledge the only US cases in whom virus isolation from the CSF has been accomplished. Importantly, two patients may be the first US cases of myelopathy arising from endemic infection.
High efficiency transformation by electroporation of Yarrowia lipolytica

Yarrowia lipolytica was usually transformed by heat shock, but linearized integrative vectors always resulted in a low transformation efficiency when electroporation was used. To develop a high efficiency integrative transformation method by electroporation of F. lipolytica, we report here that pretreatment of F. lipolytica with 150 mM LiAc for 1 h before electroporation will approximately 30-fold of increase transformation efficiency. A cell concentration of 10(10)/ml and instrument settings of 1.5 kV will generate the highest transformation efficiencies. We have developed a procedure to transform F. lipolytica that will be able to yield an efficiency of 2.1 × 10(4) transformants/ug for integrative linear DNA. With our modifications, the electroporation procedures became a very efficient and reliable tool for F. lipolytica transformation.
Tracking the distribution of non-native marine invertebrates (Mytella charruana, Perna viridis and Megabalanus coccopoma) along the south-eastern USA

Our study tracked three non-native, marine, sessile, invertebrate species which have recently colonized the south-eastern United States Atlantic coastlines and estuaries: Mytella charruana, the charru mussel; Perna viridis, the Asian green mussel; and Megabalanus coccopoma, the titan acorn barnacle. Along the eastern Floridian coast, Mytella charruana was discovered in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida (FL) in 2004. Perna viridis was found in Ponce de Leon Inlet, FL in 2002, after being introduced to Tampa Bay, FL in 1989. Megabalanus coccopoma was documented in St Augustine, FL and Brunswick, Georgia in 2006. From 2006 through to 2011, a biannual survey of the south-eastern Atlantic coastlines and estuaries was conducted from Jupiter, Florida to Charleston, South Carolina (894 km) to document the distribution and range expansion of M. charruana, P. viridis and M. coccopoma. Field surveys were conducted in June and December each year at 82 sites (e.g. docks, boat ramps, jetties and mangrove roots). The ranges of the three invertebrates have expanded and retracted along the Atlantic coast since the survey began. Mytella charruana had spread as far north as Savannah, Georgia in 2007, but the species was absent from northern Georgia in 2010 and 2011. Perna viridis and M. coccopoma were present in Georgia in 2007, but were absent in the 2010 and 2011 surveys. These range fluctuations may be explained by extreme cold temperatures, which occurred during the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 winters. The patterns observed with these three sessile invertebrates provide information regarding how non-native species disperse and establish in new locations.
A Charge Coupled Device Imaging System For Ophthalmology

A digital camera system has been constructed for obtaining reflectance images of the fundus of the eye with monochromatic light. Images at wavelengths in the visible and near infrared regions of the spectrum are recorded by a charge-coupled device array and transferred to a computer. A variety of image processing operations are performed to restore the pictures, correct for distortions in the image formation process, and extract new and diagnostically useful information. The steps involved in calibrating the system to permit quantitative measurement of fundus reflectance are discussed. Three clinically important applications of such a quantitative system are addressed: the characterization of changes in the optic nerve arising from glaucoma, the diagnosis of choroidal melanoma through spectral signatures, and the early detection and improved management of diabetic retinopathy by measurement of retinal tissue oxygen saturation.© (1984) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effects of cracks on glass leaching

Abstract The effects of cracks on glass leaching have been studied to determine to what degree the increase in the surface area of the glass caused by cracks might contribute to the overall leachability of the glass. Borosilicate glass in the shape of cylindrical disks (pellets) has been used in a static leach test. The pellets were leached in deionized water at 90 °C. Parameters included crack widths of nominally zero and 0.038 cm, and the ratio of crack surface area to total surface area. Leaching from the cracks with 0.038 cm crack widths are found to be two to five times less than leaching from external surfaces. No apparent leaching from crack surfaces with nominally zero crack widths was observed.
Crossover function for the local susceptibility of a semi-infinite system near the special transition

The crossover function associated with the local susceptibility ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{11}$ near the multicritical point of a semi-infinite system is calculated to $O(\ensuremath{\epsilon})$. As the temperature decreases towards its critical value, the effective exponent ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{11}$ changes from a value ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{11}^{0}$ characteristic of the special transition to a value ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{11}^{\ensuremath{\infty}}$ characteristic of the ordinary transition.
A radioisotopic method for the determination of acetoacetyl Coenzyme A with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl Coenzyme A synthase.

Abstract A simple and sensitive assay for the quantitative determination of acetoacetyl-CoA (AcAc-CoA) in liver and heart is described. The method is based on incorporation of [ 14 C]acetyl-CoA into acid-stable nonvolatile material in the presence of avian HMG-CoA synthase. The specificity of this procedure for the measurement of AcAc-CoA was demonstrated by pretreating tissue extracts with 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase or CoA transferase from Escherichia coli to deplete. AcAc-CoA prior to assay. Acid-stable nonvolatile 14 C activity measured in the assay was proportional to the amount of tissue extract added. Satisfactory recovery of AcAc-CoA added at the initial extraction step further validated this procedure. This radioactive assay for acetoacetyl-CoA using a highly purified avian 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase has the advantages of both extreme specificity for AcAc-CoA as substrate and high sensitivity, facilitating the determination of this metabolite under a variety of physiological conditions.
Exploring The Dynamic Actions Of Cellulolytic Enzymes In A Heterogeneous System With Micro-cantilever Technology

The cellulolytic enzyme degradation process suffers from low efficiency and high cost because of the low activity of cellulases against their natural substrates cellulose, which is insoluble and crystalline in its native form. As a result, the degradation of crystalline cellulose becomes the rate-limiting step in the overall scheme of biomass conversion to ethanol. To address this problem, the development of a highly efficient and cost-effective cellulase has become one of the top priorities of the Advance Energy Initiative. Such an effort requires a thorough understanding of the mechanisms of cellulolytic enzyme actions including interactions between the cellulases and their native substrates. The current technologies such as ellipsometry and quartz crystal microbalance have not been able to provide with the level of sensitivity and resolution required for detailed characterization of the cellulolytic enzyme actions, especially the interaction between cellulase and glucan chains of cellulose, and the impact of such interaction on overall cellulose structure. To define cellulase actions in such a heterogeneous system, we focus on investigating the initial interaction between cellulase and its native substrate, crystalline cellulose by taking advantage of emerging micro-cantilever technology. We have constructed a micro-cantilever with a cellulose coating which allows us to detect the actions of cellulolytic enzymes in real time.
Delegation and Defensive Legislative Strategies in Brazil

In the course of the legislative process, legislators choose how much policy discretion to delegate to the executive branch. Uncertainty about policy outcomes and bureaucratic intentions weighs heavily in such decisions. In Brazil, executive control over the budget creates uncertainty about the availability of discretionary spending, which results in comparatively high levels of delegation in the legislature's direct-spending decisions. I demonstrate that sidelining the legislature from the budget in order to insulate government spending from political pressures diminishes the value of legislative work in Brazil and reinforces historical patterns of policymaking centered on the federal executive.
Pregnancy and cardiovascular disease

The complex interplay between pregnancy and cardiovascular disease is not fully understood. The 1st International Congress on Cardiac Problems in Pregnancy held in Valencia, Spain, gathered experts from multiple disciplines to discuss the complex interactions between pregnancy and the cardiovascular system, from both the maternal and fetal perspective. Important questions were discussed and our gap in knowledge highlighted, with an emphasis on the need for further research in this important area of medicine.
Volatiles of Mount St. Helens and their origins

Abstract Analyses have been made of gases in clouds apparently emanating from Mount St. Helens. Despite appearances, most of the water in these clouds does not issue from the volcano. Even directly above a large fumarole δD and δ 18O data indicate that only half the water can come from the volcano. Isotopic and chemical evidence also shows the steam in the volcano (−33.0 per mol δD) from which a condensate of 0.2 N HCI was obtained is not a major cause of the explosions. The steam in the volcano is derived from a metamorphic brine in the underlying Tertiary meta andesite. The gas that caused the explosive eruptions is carbon dioxide.
Participation and the Profoundly Disabled: “Being” Engaged—A Theological Approach

Thinking about profound disability is being ever deepened by refinements to key principles such as inclusion, friendship, belonging, missing the presence of the disabled person, acceptance, and human rights. This article adds the principle of participation to this thinking. Participation can be understood in two ways: first as joining in, in which both common understandings and the principles of Catholic Social Teaching demonstrate that participation, especially in liturgical practice, goes beyond notions of citizenship or the requirements of justice or rights of people with disabilities. Second, and, more significantly for people with profound disabilities, participation as being engaged highlights that the disabled witness to understanding worship as God's work. Moreover liturgy and worship are not only about bringing needs and desires into God's presence: they are about bringing the self.
Four-Coordinate Titanium Alkylidene Complexes: Synthesis, Reactivity, and Kinetic Studies Involving the Terminal Neopentylidene Functionality

A series of titanium complexes containing a terminal neopentylidene functionality have been prepared by a one electron oxidatively induced α-hydrogen abstraction from the corresponding bis-neopentyl precursor (Nacnac)Ti(CH2tBu)2 (Nacnac- = [Ar]NC(CH3)CHC(CH3)N[Ar], Ar = 2,6-(CHMe2)2C6H3), among them (Nacnac)TiCHtBu(OTf) and (Nacnac)TiCHtBu(I). It was determined that bulky alkyl groups bound to titanium as well as a bulky coordinating anion from the oxidant are needed to promote α-hydrogen abstraction. Complex (Nacnac)TiCHtBu(OTf) serves as a template for other four-coordinate titanium neopentylidene complexes such as (Nacnac)TiCHtBu(X) (X- = Cl, Br, and BH4). Complexes (Nacnac)TiCHtBu(X) undergo cross-metathesis reactivity with the imine functionality of the Nacnac- ligand forming the imido complexes (HtBuCC(Me)CHC(Me)N[Ar])TiNAr(X) (X- = OTf, Cl, Br, I, BH4). In addition, C−H activation of two tertiary carbons also takes place to afford the titanacycles Ti[2,6-(CMe2)(CHMe2)C6H3]NC(Me)CHC(Me)N[2,6-(CMe2)(...
Clear cell carcinoma of the endometrium is characterized by a distinctive profile of p53, Ki-67, estrogen, and progesterone receptor expression

This study was designed to analyze certain clinicopathological features and the profile of p53, Ki-67, estrogen (ER), and progesterone (PR) receptor expression of clear cell carcinoma of the endometrium and to determine whether the pathogenesis of clear cell carcinoma can be accommodated by a dualistic model of endometrial carcinogenesis. In this model, endometrioid carcinoma develops from endometrial hyperplasia under unopposed estrogenic stimulation, and serous carcinoma develops in atrophic endometrium from a putative precursor lesion designated endometrial intraepithelial carcinoma (EIC). Twenty-one clear cell carcinomas of the endometrium were analyzed and compared with 77 endometrioid carcinomas of all grades and 30 serous carcinomas. Clear cell carcinomas showed a distinctive immunoprofile characterized by immunonegativity for ER and PR, low immunoreactivity for p53, and a high Ki-67 proliferation index. ER, PR, and Ki-67 expression were similar to serous carcinoma, but p53 expression was significantly lower in clear cell carcinoma ( P P
Optical test results on the CMU multifunctional hybrid optical/digital neural network

ABSTRACT Real time optical laboratory results are presented for the CMU hybrid optical/digital multifunctional neural network system. The applications considered are a new general memory associative processor and a multitarget tracking (MU) optimization neural network. 1 . INTRODUCTION The CMU neural network laboratory system was previously detailed [1 1 and its multifunctionalnature noted [2] for use as an associative processor, optimization neural network, adaptive learning neural network, and as various special purpose neural networks. Section 2 briefly reviews the laboratory system. Sections 3 and 4 show real time optical laboratory results obtained on the systemwhen used as an associative processor and as a MU optimization neural network. 2. LABORATORY SYSTEM A block diagram of the CMU hybrid optical/digital neural network system is shown in Figure 1 . It uses an HNC Anza hardware digital neural network for gated learning. The optical portion of the system is an optical matrix-vector multiplier (P1 to P3). The interconnection matrix weights are fed to
Dental plaque formation

Dental plaque is a complex biofilm that accumulates on the hard tissues (teeth) in the oral cavity. Although over 500 bacterial species comprise plaque, colonization follows a regimented pattern with adhesion of initial colonizers to the enamel salivary pellicle followed by secondary colonization through interbacterial adhesion. A variety of adhesins and molecular interactions underlie these adhesive interactions and contribute to plaque development and ultimately to diseases such as caries and periodontal disease.
Ultrasound-guided placement of midline catheters in the surgical intensive care unit: a cost-effective proposal for timely central line removal.

Abstract Background The early removal of central intravenous (IV) catheters, as a means of reducing the incidence of central line–associated blood stream infections (CLABSI), remains a major health care initiative. However, attaining IV access in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) can be quite difficult. We report the success of a novel, resident-driven program for the placement of ultrasound-guided midline catheters in critically ill patients. Materials and methods A prospective pilot study of 31 subjects admitted to the SICU from June to December 2011 was performed. Intermediate-length (20 cm) midline catheters were placed by trained housestaff, under ultrasound guidance, into the basilic or cephalic veins. Procedural details including time to cannulation, complications, and costs were recorded. Results Successful placement was achieved in 96.8% (n = 30), with a mean follow-up of 9.8 ± 5.6 (range 2–21) days. An average of 1.3 ± 0.7 (range 1–4) attempts with a median of 13.0 ± 14.5 (range 0.5–68) minutes was required for successful venous cannulation. The most common site was the basilic vein (n = 23). Only minor complications were encountered; three catheters leaked at the insertion site and one patient developed phlebitis. No CLABSI occurred. The total procedure cost was $87 per catheter for the SICU team compared with $1500 per catheter when performed by an interventional radiologist. During the study period, a total of 283 central line days were avoided with an estimated cost savings of $13,614. Conclusions Ultrasound-guided midline catheters placed by the housestaff are a cost-effective alternative for patients in the SICU with difficult IV access. Successful placement can help facilitate early central line removal and thus may reduce CLABSI rates.
The impact of patient-specific quality-of-care report cards on guideline adherence in heart failure.

Background It is unknown if physician education through heart failure (HF) patient-specific quality-of-care report cards (HFRC) impacts outpatient HF guideline adherence. Methods A prospective pre-post design study was performed to test the hypothesis that a one-time, patient-specific HFRC delivered to physicians after HF patient (ejection fraction ≤40%) discharge would lead to improved HF guideline adherence compared with control practitioners. Patients were contacted at 1, 3, and 6 months after discharge to assess medication usage and intolerances. Six month quality score (QS) was the primary end point, calculated as the sum of adherence to 4 medication performance measures (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, β-blockers, aldosterone inhibitors, and warfarin for atrial fibrillation). Results The mean QS at discharge was 3.10 ± 0.78 in controls (n = 189) and 3.25 ± 0.79 in the HFRC group (n = 76, P = .11). Controlling for discharge QS, the HFRC resulted in a significantly improved QS at 3 months (β = .11, P = .023) but not at the 6-month primary end point (β = .084, P = .14). Controlling for baseline medication use, patients of practitioners receiving the HFRC were 32.5 ( P = .019) and 8.5 ( P = .030) times more likely to receive, or have a documented contraindication to, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker at 3 and 6 months, respectively. There were no significant differences in indicated β-blocker, aldosterone inhibitor, or warfarin prescriptions at any follow-up. Conclusions Although one-time patient-specific report cards result in short-term statistically significant improvements in outpatient evidence-based HF care, the gain does not translate into sustained improvements in quality of care.
Histochemical, cytochemical and autoradiographic studies on the rostellum of Hymenolepis diminuta.

Histochemical studies on the rostellum ofHymenolepis diminuta revealed diastase-stable, protein/neutral carbohydrate-rich material localized in the rostellum tegument. The remainder of the rostellum, primarily composed of the glycogen-rich myocytons of the rostellum musculature, is protein-poor, but rich in diastase-labile, neutral and acidic carbohydrates. Ultrastructural cytochemical studies, using the periodic acid-thiocarbohydrazideosmium (PATCO) technique, indicated that the granules of the rostellar tegumental cytons and distal cytoplasm are carbohydrate-rich. Lipids are present in the rostellar myocytons but not in the tegumental cytons. Autoradiography using a pulse-labeling with [3H]leucine revealed an apical translocation of tegumental granules, but at a slower rate than had been reported for the strobilar tegument of the same organism. Neither [3H]galactose nor [3H]glucose were incorporated into the rostellar tegumental granules. The function of the secretory glycoprotein(s) produced in the rostellar tegument and its (their) possible role in the regulation of maturation and/or strobilization remain enigmatic.
Cerebral Hemodynamics, Blood Gases, and Electrolytes during Breath-Holding and the Valsalva Maneuver

Continuous recordings of arterial and internal jugular blood oxygen tension, oxygen saturation, carbon dioxide tension, pH, sodium and potassium, together with PECO 2 , blood pressure, and electroencephalogram were obtained to compare the effects of inspiratory and expiratory breath-holding and the Valsalva maneuver on the cerebral circulation and cerebral oxygen availability in man. During the interval of tolerated breath-holding for 69 seconds or less, jugular venous oxygen tension was increased owing to increased cerebral blood flow resulting from an increase of arterial carbon dioxide tension. There was a statistically significant correlation between changes in JPO 2 and PaCO 2 , which proved to be more or less linear for both increases and decreases of PaCO 2 4 mm. above and below control levels. No threshold was found for changes in PaCO 2 altering effective cerebral perfusion and cerebral venous PO 2 , extremely small changes in PaCO 2 (less than 1 mm. Hg) altered cerebral oxygen availability within 10 to 20 seconds. During the Valsalva maneuver a consistent reduction of jugular oxygen tension was found associated with the sudden fall in arterial blood pressure and reduction of arterial carbon dioxide tension. The rapid changes in cerebral hemodynamics and cerebral oxygen availability during the procedure are briefly discussed.
A stable nonconforming quadrilateral finite element method for the stationary Stokes and Navier–Stokes equations

Recently, Douglas et al. [4] introduced a new, low-order, nonconforming rectangular element for scalar elliptic equations. Here, we apply this element in the approximation of each component of the velocity in the stationary Stokes and Navier–Stokes equations, along with a piecewise-constant element for the pressure. We obtain a stable element in both cases for which optimal error estimates for the approximation of both the velocity and pressure in L2 can be established, as well as one in a broken H1-norm for the velocity.
Changes in incidence of carcinoma in situ after the Chernobyl disaster in central Europe.

The data files from an extensive cytological screening program for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia from a regional Czech hospital were analyzed. The data collection span is from 1985 to 1991 and shows highly significant maximum effects in the years 1988-1989, i.e., shortly after the Chernobyl accident. The increase was concordantly found in all the age categories, but the reaction seems to be faster in younger women. The delayed maximum effect (two years after the accident) also corresponds to the course of total foodstuffs burden and total-body activity.
Solubilization of coal by an extracellular product from Streptomyces setonii 75Vi2

Several low-ranked coals were solubilized when placed on the surface of agar cultures ofStreptomyces viridosporous T7A andS. setonii 75Vi2. When grown in submerged cultureS. setonii 75Vi2 produced an extracellular component that was capable of solubilizing coals. The extracellular coal solubilizing component had a molecular weight of <10000 and was heat stable since, after 1h at 121°C, only 30–40% of the activity was lost. Treatment with any of three proteases also appeared to be ineffective in decreasing activity. These results suggest that coal solubilization byS. setonii 75Vi2 is nonenzymatic.
Acupuncture loci: techniques for location.

This study investigated the use of the skin potential recording technique for the identification of acupuncture loci, or loci with markedly different electrical characteristics than loci located at random on the skin. Acupuncture loci described in the Chinese literature were identified on the upper arms of 8 subjects. These loci are bilaterally symmetrical, and their electrical characteristics are stable over time. The "waveform" of the potential is variable, though the preponderance of loci demonstrate decreasing negativity with respect to adjacent skin areas.
Proton magnetic resonance studies of substituted 8-quinolinols

Abstract The PMR spectra of several substituted 8-hydroxyquinolines in dilute dimethyl-sulfoxide solution have been investigated. Most of these spectra show first-order splittings. The observed chemical shifts are in qualitative agreement with the predicted shifts based on Diehl's additive substituent constants.
Effects of variability in prey abundance on reproduction and foraging in chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarctica)

Life-history theory predicts that adults of long-lived species such as seabirds should optimally balance investment in current and future offspring. However, when trying to optimize investment in offspring provisioning, the most energetically costly component of seabird parental care, adults need to contend with large interannual fluctuations in prey availability and hence the cost of chick provisioning. Adults faced with this uncertainty can mechanistically balance parental care by adopting a strategy somewhere along the continuum between maintaining constant investment in foraging effort between years and letting chick provisioning fluctuate or holding chick provisioning constant and varying investment in foraging effort. Using ship-based hydroacoustic assessment of prey, time-depth recorders attached to penguins and land-based observations at the breeding colony, we examined how foraging and reproductive effort in breeding chinstrap penguins Pygoscelis antarctica responded to interannual variation in the abundance of Antarctic krill Euphausia superba in the vicinity of Seal Island, South Shetland Islands, 1990–1992. Regional measures of krill density varied by a factor of 2.5 (47.0, 23.8 and 61.2 g m � 2 in 1990, 1991 and 1992, respectively) and was correlated with annual measures of breeding adult body weight and reproductive performance (breeding population size, duration of chick rearing, chick growth, breeding success and fledgling weight). In contrast, measures of penguin foraging effort (dive depth, dive duration, number of trips day � 1 , trip duration, number of dives trip � 1 and dive rate) did not differ between years. We conclude that chinstrap penguins reduce reproductive success rather than increase foraging effort in response to decreases in prey abundance in a manner consistent with predictions of life-history strategies for long-lived seabirds.
South African press coverage of a frontline African State

In March 1984, an unprecedented peace treaty in southern Africa was signed by the governments of Mozambique and the Republic of South Africa. The treaty held an obvious promise for peace and economic stability in the region, particularly for the signatories.This study was undertaken to decipher what changes the Nkomati Peace Treaty may have brought to the relationships of the signatories through the eyes of the press. The prestigious Rand Daily Mail was content analyzed. All issues that were published during the twelve-month period preceding the treaty and the twelve-month period following the treaty were included in the study.Comparisons of the direction of coverage (favorable, neutral, un favorable, towards Mozambique), frequency of coverage, and prominence of the coverage of Mozambique in the Mail were done. The results showed a significantly less favorable treatment of Mozambique following the treaty; a considerable increase in coverage; and a significant decrease in the prominence of Mozambican stories.
Utility of NCCLS Guidelines for Identifying Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamases in Non-Escherichia coli and Non-Klebsiella spp. of Enterobacteriaceae

NCCLS screening and confirmation methods for detecting extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) apply only to Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp., yet ESBLs have been found in other members of the family Enterobacteriaceae. We evaluated the effectiveness of NCCLS methods for detecting ESBLs in 690 gram-negative isolates of Enterobacteriaceae that excluded E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Klebsiella oxytoca. Isolates were collected between January 1996 and June 1999 from 53 U.S. hospitals participating in Project ICARE (Intensive Care Antimicrobial Resistance Epidemiology). The antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the isolates were determined by using the NCCLS broth microdilution method (BMD), and those isolates for which the MIC of ceftazidime, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, or aztreonam was ≥2 μg/ml or the MIC of cefpodoxime was ≥8 μg/ml (positive ESBL screen test) were further tested for a clavulanic acid (CA) effect by BMD and the disk diffusion method (confirmation tests). Although 355 (51.4%) of the isolates were ESBL screen test positive, only 15 (2.2%) showed a CA effect. Since 3 of the 15 isolates were already highly resistant to the five NCCLS indicator drugs, ESBL detection would have an impact on the reporting of only 1.7% of the isolates in the study. Only 6 of the 15 isolates that showed a CA effect contained a blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCTX-M, or blaOXA β-lactamase gene as determined by PCR (with a corresponding isoelectric focusing pattern). Extension of the NCCLS guidelines for ESBL detection to Enterobacteriaceae other than E. coli and Klebsiella spp. does not appear to be warranted in the United States at present, since the test has poor specificity for this population and would result in changes in categorical interpretations for only 1.7% of Enterobacteriaceae tested.
Serotonin-like immunoreactivity in the adult and developing retina of the leopard frog Rana pipiens.

Recent work in nonmammalian vertebrate retinas has suggested that other cell types besides the generally accepted amacrine cells may contain serotonin. We have used immunocytochemical methods to study serotonin-like immunoreactivity (5-HTLI) in the retina of the developing and mature frog Rana pipiens. In the adult, two types of serotonin immunoreactive (5-HT-ir) cells were found in the inner nuclear layer (INL) of the retina. Additionally, a large population of cells in the retinal ganglion cell layer (RGCL) had 5-HTLI. These cells were grouped into three types based on their soma size and their primary dendritic branching pattern. The optic nerve fiber layer was also intensely stained with serotonin antisera although staining intensity decreased progressively as the fibers approached the optic nerve head. Severing the optic nerve resulted in 5-HT-ir elements that extended up the optic nerve shaft from the lesion site toward the retina. Both regional and temporal changes in the pattern of 5-HTLI were seen. In middle regions of retina, approximately 30% of the cells in the RGCL were 5-HT-ir. Nasal and temporal regions of central retina had significantly fewer 5-HT-ir cells. Early in development only scattered cells in the RGCL were 5-HT-ir. As the animals matured there was an increase in both the proportion and the staining intensity of these cells. Our results suggest that in studying the function and development of the visual system in this animal, the role of serotonin must be examined. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Splicing regulation in spinal muscular atrophy by an RNA structure formed by long‐distance interactions

Humans carry two copies of the survival motor neuron gene: SMN1 and SMN2. Loss of SMN1 coupled with skipping of SMN2 exon 7 causes spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a leading genetic disease associated with infant mortality. Our discovery of intronic splicing silencer N1 (ISS-N1) is a promising target, currently in a phase III clinical trial, for an antisense oligonucleotide-mediated splicing correction in SMA. We have recently shown that the first residue of ISS-N1 is locked in a unique RNA structure that we term ISTL1 (internal stem through long-distance interaction-1). Complementary strands of ISTL1 are separated from each other by 279 nucleotides. Using site-specific mutations and chemical structure probing, we confirmed the formation and functional significance of ISTL1. Located in the middle of intron 7, the 3' strand of ISTL1 falls within an inhibitory region that we term ISS-N2. We demonstrate that an antisense oligonucleotide-mediated sequestration of ISS-N2 fully corrects SMN2 exon 7 splicing and restores high levels of SMN in SMA patient cells. These results underscore the therapeutic potential of the regulatory information present in a secondary and high-order RNA structure of a human intron.
Evidence-Based Indicators of Neuropsychological Change in the Individual Patient: Relevant Concepts and Methods

Repeated assessments are a relatively common occurrence in clinical neuropsychology. The current paper will review some of the relevant concepts (e.g., reliability, practice effects, alternate forms) and methods (e.g., reliable change index, standardized based regression) that are used in repeated neuropsychological evaluations. The focus will be on the understanding and application of these concepts and methods in the evaluation of the individual patient through examples. Finally, some future directions for assessing change will be described.