cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Novel T55A Variant of Gsα Associated with Impaired cAMP Production, Bone Fragility, and Osteolysis

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) mediate a wide spectrum of biological activities. The GNAS complex locus encodes the stimulatory alpha subunit of the guanine nucleotide binding protein ( ) and regulates production of the second messenger cyclic AMP (cAMP). Loss-of-function GNAS mutations classically lead to Albright’s Hereditary Osteodystrophy (AHO) and pseudohypoparathyroidism, often with significant effects on bone formation and mineral metabolism. We present the case of a child who exhibits clinical features of osteolysis, multiple childhood fractures, and neonatal SIADH. Exome sequencing revealed a novel de novo heterozygous missense mutation of GNAS (c.163A GTPase domain. In order to further assess whether this unique mutation resulted in a gain or loss of function of , we introduced the mutation into a rat GNAS plasmid and performed functional studies to assess the level of cAMP activity associated with this mutation. We identified a 64% decrease in isoproterenol-induced cAMP production in vitro, compared to wild type, consistent with loss of activity. Despite a significant decrease in isoproterenol-induced cAMP production in vitro, this mutation did not produce a classical AHO phenotype in our patient; however, it may account for her presentation with childhood fractures and osteolysis.
Key Socio-Ecclesial Themes Arising in the Asian American Community

Korean Americans are an inevitable part of the socio-ecclesial or practical theological situation of all other Asian Americans. This chapter thus discusses the socio-ecclesial situation of Asian Americans, out of which Korean American evangelical diasporas seek their unique cultural faith formation—the topics of the following chapters. For this discussion, I rely on three major Asian American scholarly figures (or groups) along with others: Sang Hyun Lee and Jung Young Lee, Fumitaka Matsuoka, and Su Yon Pak, Hyun Kyung Chung, and Hee An Choi.
After Exposing the Roots of Homelessness – What?

I am deeply impressed by the contributions to this symposium and the debates that have led up to it, and happy that my little essay of more than 25 years ago fed into them. But at the same time I a...
Tumescent anaesthesia: its applications and well tolerated use in the out-of-operating room setting.

Purpose of review Tumescent anaesthesia is a method of administering dilute local anaesthetic into the subcutaneous tissue. Many anaesthesiologists are unfamiliar with the technique, its applications and potential risks. Recent findings The maximum safe dose of lidocaine with epinephrine in tumescent anaesthesia for liposuction is probably between 35 and 55 mg/kg. Without liposuction, the maximum dose of lidocaine with epinephrine should be no more than 28 mg/kg. After tumescent infiltration for liposuction, serum lidocaine concentrations peak between 12 and 16 h after injection. When tumescent lidocaine without epinephrine is used for endovenous laser therapy, peak serum lidocaine concentrations are observed much earlier, between 1 and 2 h after injection. Slow administration of more dilute concentrations of local anaesthetic decreases the risk of local anaesthetic systemic toxicity. Summary Although appealing because of its ability to provide prolonged analgesia, high doses of local anaesthetic are frequently administered using the tumescent technique, and absorption of local anaesthetic from the subcutaneous tissue is variable. When caring for patients having procedures in which tumescent anaesthesia is used, the risk of local anaesthetic toxicity should be acknowledged and lipid emulsion should be available for prompt treatment if needed.
An Instrumental Case Study Analysis of Anticipatory Leadership Practices in Community Colleges

ABSTRACTThis qualitative instrumental case study explored the experiences and perceptions of seven community college leaders of their use of anticipatory leadership. Two research questions guided this study: (a) How do community colleges use anticipatory leadership to respond to internal and external changes? (b) How do community college leaders use anticipatory leadership principles for problem solving? The themes that emerged to address question one were engagement with others is required to respond to change effectively, data analysis and currency of knowledge are required to identify gaps and to respond to them, leaders must be willing to take calculated risks, and leaders must communicate effectively in order for change to occur. The themes that emerged to address question two were analysis of data is instrumental to identifying and closing the gaps in institutions, leading to better informed decisions; and anticipatory leadership reduces the need to use reactionary leadership practices. The findings...
Direct atomic-level insight into the active sites of a high-performance PGM-free ORR catalyst.

Platinum group metal–free (PGM-free) metal-nitrogen-carbon catalysts have emerged as a promising alternative to their costly platinum (Pt)–based counterparts in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) but still face some major challenges, including (i) the identification of the most relevant catalytic site for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and (ii) demonstration of competitive PEFC performance under automotive-application conditions in the hydrogen (H 2 )–air fuel cell. Herein, we demonstrate H 2 -air performance gains achieved with an iron-nitrogen-carbon catalyst synthesized with two nitrogen precursors that developed hierarchical porosity. Current densities recorded in the kinetic region of cathode operation, at fuel cell voltages greater than ~0.75 V, were the same as those obtained with a Pt cathode at a loading of 0.1 milligram of Pt per centimeter squared. The proposed catalytic active site, carbon-embedded nitrogen-coordinated iron (FeN 4 ), was directly visualized with aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy, and the contributions of these active sites associated with specific lattice-level carbon structures were explored computationally.
A randomized controlled design reveals barriers to citizenship for low-income immigrants

Citizenship endows legal protections and is associated with economic and social gains for immigrants and their communities. In the United States, however, naturalization rates are relatively low. Yet we lack reliable knowledge as to what constrains immigrants from applying. Drawing on data from a public/private naturalization program in New York, this research provides a randomized controlled study of policy interventions that address these constraints. The study tested two programmatic interventions among low-income immigrants who are eligible for citizenship. The first randomly assigned a voucher that covers the naturalization application fee among immigrants who otherwise would have to pay the full cost of the fee. The second randomly assigned a set of behavioral nudges, similar to outreach efforts used by service providers, among immigrants whose incomes were low enough to qualify them for a federal waiver that eliminates the application fee. Offering the fee voucher increased naturalization application rates by about 41%, suggesting that application fees act as a barrier for low-income immigrants who want to become US citizens. The nudges to encourage the very poor to apply had no discernible effect, indicating the presence of nonfinancial barriers to naturalization.
C-H to C-N Cross-Coupling of Sulfonamides with Olefins.

Cross-coupling of nitrogen with hydrocarbons under fragment coupling conditions stands to significantly impact chemical synthesis. Herein, we disclose a C(sp3)–N fragment coupling reaction between terminal olefins and N-triflyl protected aliphatic and aromatic amines via Pd(II)/SOX (sulfoxide-oxazoline) catalyzed intermolecular allylic C–H amination. A range of (56) allylic amines are furnished in good yields (avg. 75%) and excellent regio- and stereoselectivity (avg. >20:1 linear:branched, >20:1 E:Z). Mechanistic studies reveal that the SOX ligand framework is effective at promoting functionalization by supporting cationic π-allyl Pd.
PIVOTS: A novel method of performing time gated particle image velocimetry

Backscatter Particle Image Velocimetry via Optical Time-of-flight Sectioning (PIVOTS) is a novel method of performing PIV in situations where conventional PIV presents difficulties. The PIVOTS technique is introduced along with recent applications and results.
A Survey of Methods for Improving Review Quality

For peer review to be successful, students need to submit high-quality reviews of each other’s work. This requires a certain amount of training and guidance by the review system. We consider four methods for improving review quality: calibration, reputation systems, meta-reviewing, and automated meta-reviewing. Calibration is training to help a reviewer match the scores given by the instructor. Reputation systems determine how well each reviewer’s scores track scores assigned by other reviewers. Meta-reviewing means evaluating the quality of a review; this can be done either by a human or by software. Combining these strategies effectively is a topic for future research.
Motion Perception: Psychological and Neural Aspects

Real-life visual scenes usually contain some kind of motion. This could be caused by a moving object, or by the observer's own movement with respect to the outside. Years of psychological research have shown that observers are exquisitely sensitive to visual motion, and that various kinds of perception, including depth perception and image parsing, derive heavily from retinal motion. Neurobiologists have characterized several primate visual areas in which neurons are selectively responsive to visual motion, and there is now an emerging picture of how visual motion is processed and analyzed as neural signals ascend the subcortical and cortical heirarchy. At the higher levels of this pathway, neural responses have been consistently linked to motion judgments, suggesting that these activities encode or at least influence the perception of motion. One of the major outstanding questions is how the translation of these activities into motion percepts might literally occur. As the resolution and scale of cortical imaging and recording techniques continue to increase, future studies hold the promise of explaining motion perception in terms of an explicit, underlying neural representation.
Pitting of Galvanized Steel in Controlled Clean Air Environments

Specimens of galvanized steel sheet were exposed to polluted and clean air in controlled environmental chambers having the capability to simulate diurnal conditions. Corrosion of the zinc films was essentially a linear function of time for each exposure condition. The range of weight losses for the polluted and clean air environments were unexpected approximately the same. However, uniform corrosion of the zinc occurred in the polluted exposures whereas pitting corrosion of the zinc was observed in the clean air exposures. Scanning electron microscopy/microprobe analysis of the galvanized zinc surface was used to study the mechanism of initiation and propagation of pitting corrosion. Corrosion products were observed to localize and form a barrier that could accentuate an acidic condition within the pit. Pitting corrosion is thus accelerated by the difference in pH within and outside the pit. During the pollutant exposures pitting corrosion is prevented because the drastic difference in pH within and outside the pit. During the pollutant exposures pitting corrosion is prevented because the drastic difference in pH did not occur.
Mechanical and Geometric Design of the Adaptive Suspension Vehicle

Some aspects of the mechanical and geometric design of the adaptive suspension vehicle are presented. In particular, there is an emphasis on aspects of the leg design and vehicle geometry, which affect the ability of the vehicle to operate on steep grades or to cross obstacles. A mechanism that maintains the attitude of the foot approximately parallel to the body is described. Geometric aspects of maintaining static stability on steep grades are discussed. Geometric and gait sequence aspects of crossing severe obstacles are also discussed.
Impact of Catheter Management on Clinical Outcome in Adult Cancer Patients With Gram-Negative Bacteremia.

Objective Gram-negative organisms have become a major etiology of bloodstream infections. We evaluated the effect of central venous catheter management on cancer patients with gram-negative bloodstream infections. Method We retrospectively identified patients older than 14 years with central venous catheters who were diagnosed with gram-negative bloodstream infections to determine the effect of catheter management on outcome. Patients were divided into 3 groups: Group 1 included patients with central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) without mucosal barrier injury and those whose infection met the criteria for catheter-related bloodstream infection; group 2 included patients with CLABSI with mucosal barrier injury who did not meet the criteria for catheter-related bloodstream infection; and group 3 included patients with non-CLABSI. Results The study included 300 patients, with 100 patients in each group. Only in group 1 was central venous catheter removal within 2 days of bloodstream infection significantly associated with a higher rate of microbiologic resolution at 4 days compared to delayed central venous catheter removal (3-5 days) or retention (98% vs 82%, P = .006) and a lower overall mortality rate at 3-month follow-up (3% vs 19%, P = .01). Both associations persisted in multivariate analyses (P = .018 and P = .016, respectively). Conclusions Central venous catheter removal within 2 days of the onset of gram-negative bloodstream infections significantly improved the infectious outcome and overall mortality of adult cancer patients with catheter-related bloodstream infections and CLABSI without mucosal barrier injury.
phyloregion: R package for biogeographic regionalization and spatial conservation

O_LIBiogeographical regionalization is the classification of regions in terms of their biotas and is key to understanding biodiversity patterns across the world. Previously, it was only possible to perform analysis of biogeographic regionalization on small datasets, often using tools that are difficult to replicate. C_LIO_LIHere, we present phyloregion, a package for the analysis of biogeographic regionalization and spatial conservation in the R computing environment, tailored for mega phylogenies and macroecological datasets of ever-increasing size and complexity. C_LIO_LICompared to available packages, phyloregion is three to four orders of magnitude faster and memory efficient for cluster analysis, determining optimal number of clusters, evolutionary distinctiveness of regions, as well as analysis of more standard conservation measures of phylogenetic diversity, phylogenetic endemism, and evolutionary distinctiveness and global endangerment. C_LIO_LIA case study of zoogeographic regionalization for 9574 species of squamate reptiles (amphisbaenians, lizards, and snakes) across the globe, reveals their evolutionary affinities, using visualization tools that allow rapid identification of patterns and underlying processes with user-friendly colours-for example- indicating the levels of differentiation of the taxa in different regions. C_LIO_LIUltimately, phyloregion would facilitate rapid biogeographic analyses that accommodates the ongoing mass-production of species occurrence records and phylogenetic datasets at any scale and for any taxonomic group into completely reproducible R workflows. C_LI
Evaluation of Impulse Attenuation by Football Helmets in the Frequency Domain.

Design of helmets used in contact sports has been driven by the necessity of preventing severe head injuries. Manufacturing standards and pass or fail grading systems ensure protective headgear built to withstand large impacts, but design standards do no account for impacts resulting in subconcussive episodes and the effects of cumulative impacts on its user. Thus, it is important to explore new design parameters, such as the frequency-domain measures of transmissibility and mechanical impedance that are based on energy absorption from a range of impact loads. Within the experimentally determined frequency range of interest (FROI), transmissibilities above unity were found in the 0-40 Hz range with the magnitude characteristics varying considerably with impact location. A similar variability with location was observed for the mechanical impedance, which ranged from 9 N/m to 50 N/m. Additional research is required to further understand how changes in the components or materials of the components will affect the performance of helmets, and how they may be used to reduce both transmissibility and dynamic impedance.
Choroid plexus cauterization to treat inadequate abdominal cerebrospinal fluid absorption: case report

Inadequate absorption of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the setting of high CSF production is a relatively rare cause of shunt malfunction. We present the unique case of a 3-year-old boy who developed sterile ascites and abdominal distension in a delayed fashion after shunt placement. The shunt was externalized, and the patient was noted to have high CSF output. Bilateral choroid plexus cauterization resulted in a significant decrease in CSF production and enabled the shunt to be re-inserted into the abdomen.
Oxidative kinetic resolution of P-chiral phosphines catalyzed by chiral (salen)dioxomolybdenum complexes

Abstract Synthetic LMoO2 compounds have long been of keen interest both as structural and functional models for molybdoenzymes and in their own right as catalysts for a variety of oxygen atom-transfer (OAT) reactions. Investigations of their use as catalysts for stereoselective OAT transformations, however, are little known. In this study chiral diimine-salen molybdenum complexes, L*MoO2, are evaluated for their potential to catalyze oxidative kinetic resolution of racemic monophosphines by pyridine N-oxide. A set of six L*MoO2 complexes incorporating chiral salen-type Schiff base ligands derived from 1,2-diaminocyclohexane (7-10) and 1,1’-diaminobinapthylene (12) has been prepared and characterized. Compounds 7-10 and 12 are active catalysts for the oxidation of racemic PMePhtBu by pyridine N-oxide, affording low to moderate enantioselectivities (0 - 35 % ee) of the phosphine oxide OPMePhtBu. Key structure/reactivity features of the catalysts for these reactions include: the presence of a p-NO2 substituent on the salen-unit increases the catalyst activity; and increasing the steric bulk of the ortho-salen-substituent increases enantioselectivity. DFT computational analysis has identified a viable reaction pathway that features a stereochemically-defining O-transfer transition state involving phosphine attack on the chiral LMoO2 complex, which accounts for the experimental stereoselectivity and catalyst activity.
The Impact of TiO 2 Nanoparticle Exposure on Transmembrane Cholesterol Transport and Enhanced Bacterial Infectivity

We have previously shown that exposure to TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) reduces the resistance of HeLa cells to bacterial infection. Here we demonstrate that the increased infectivity is associated with enhanced asymmetry in the cholesterol distribution. We applied a new live cell imaging method which uses tunable orthogonal cholesterol sensors to visualize and quantify in-situ cholesterol distribution between the two leaflets of the plasma membrane (PM). In the control culture, we found marked transbilayer asymmetry of cholesterol, with the concentration in the outer plasma membrane (OPM) being 12.5(2.2)-fold higher than that in the inner plasma membrane (IPM). Exposure of the culture to 0.1 mg/mL of rutile TiO2 NPs increased the asymmetry such that the concentration in the OPM was 50.8(9.5) times higher, while the total cholesterol content increased only 20.5(2.4)%. This change in cholesterol gradient may explain the increase in bacterial infectivity in HeLa cells exposed to TiO2 NPs since many pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus used in the present study, require cholesterol for proper membrane attachment and virulence. RT-PCR indicated that exposure to TiO2 was responsible for upregulation of the ABCA1 and ABCG1 mRNAs, which are responsible for the production of the cholesterol transporter proteins that facilitate cholesterol transport across cellular membranes. This was confirmed by the observation of an overall decrease in bacterial infection in ABCA1 knockout or methyl-β-cyclodextrin-treated HeLa cells, as regardless of TiO2 NP exposure. Hence rather than preventing bacterial infection, TiO2 nanoparticles upregulate genes associated with membrane cholesterol production and distribution, hence increasing infectivity.
Developing Confidence Intervals for Office Market Forecasts

This study focuses on the precision of models that forecast office construction and absorption. The article is novel because for the first time it applies Feldstein's (1971) technique for developing forecast standard errors in the presence of stochastic exogenous variables. The purpose of the article is not to find behavioral relationships but rather to evaluate forecasts. We find that in the case of many office markets, standard errors of long-term forecasts for absorption and completions are quite large, and therefore the forecasts themselves should not be used as a reliable basis for underwriting.
Emotional solidarity: Transcending the Superficial Relationships between Resident and Tourists

The relationship between residents and tourists in particular communities has been characterized by an imbalance of power, superficial interactions, an exchange of goods for money, and the dichotomy of ‘self’ versus ‘other.’ What has been neglected within the tourism literature is the embrace of an emotional component within the relationship between the parties. The purpose of this work is to offer emotional solidarity as a viable framework to explain the deeper, affective connections residents and tourists possess with one another. Three “real world” examples of emotional solidarity are presented to indicate its existence. The remainder of the paper includes a call for greater exploratory research of the construct.
Tissue expansion vaginoplasty for treatment of congenital vaginal agenesis

Background: A patient with congenital vaginal agenesis was unsuccessful in the use of dilation to create a vaginal orifice and rejected the option of a buttock graft. Case: Two tissue expanders were introduced beneath the labia majora bilaterally and slowly expanded over 4 weeks. Redundant labial tissue was advanced as a bipedicle flap to line the neovagina created intraoperatively. Postoperative stent placement and dilation resulted in a vaginal canal lined by full-thickness mucosa exceeding 8 cm in depth. Conclusion: A modified method of tissue expansion vaginoplasty using a bipedicle flap is an option for the surgical creation of a vaginal orifice.
Seismic discrimination with artificial neural networks: Preliminary results with regional spectral data

An application of artificial neural networks (ANN) for discrimination between natural earthquakes and underground nuclear explosions has been studied using distance corrected spectral data of regional seismic phases. Pn , Pg , and Lg spectra have been analyzed from 83 western U.S. earthquakes and 87 Nevada Test Site explosions recorded at the four broadband seismic stations operated by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Distance corrections are applied to the raw spectra using existing frequency-dependent Q models for the Basin and Range. The spectra are sampled logarithmically at 41 points between 0.1 and 10 Hz for each phase and checked for adequate signal-to-noise ratios ( S/N > 2). The ANN was implemented on a SUN 4/110 workstation using a backpropagation-feedforward architecture. We find that, using even simple ANN architectures (82 input units, 1 hidden unit, and 2 output units), powerful discrimination systems can be designed. In order to regionalize the data characteristics, a separate neural network was assigned to each station. For this data set, the rate of correct recognition for untrained data is over 93 per cent for both earthquakes and explosions at any single station. Using a majority voting scheme with a network of four stations, the rate of correct recognition is over 97 per cent. Although the performance of the ANN is similar to that of the Fisher linear discriminant, the ANN exhibits a number of computational advantages over the conventional method. Finally, examination of the network weights suggests that, in addition to spectral shape, a criterion that the ANN utilized to discriminate between the two populations was the Lg/Pg spectral amplitude ratios.
Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors potentiate gene blunting induced by repeated methylphenidate treatment: Zif268 versus Homer1a.

There is a growing use of psychostimulants such as methylphenidate (Ritalin; dopamine reuptake inhibitor) for medical treatments and as cognitive enhancers in the healthy. Methylphenidate is known to produce some addiction-related gene regulation. Recent findings in animal models show that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) including fluoxetine can potentiate acute induction of gene expression by methylphenidate, thus indicating an acute facilitatory role for serotonin in dopamine-induced gene regulation. We investigated whether repeated exposure to fluoxetine in conjunction with methylphenidate in adolescent rats facilitated a gene regulation effect well-established for repeated exposure to illicit psychostimulants such as cocaine - blunting (repression) of gene inducibility. We measured, by in situ hybridization histochemistry, the effects of a 5-day repeated treatment with methylphenidate (5 mg/kg), fluoxetine (5 mg/kg) or a combination on the inducibility (by cocaine) of neuroplasticity-related genes (Zif268, Homer1a) in the striatum. Repeated methylphenidate treatment alone produced minimal gene blunting, while fluoxetine alone had no effect. In contrast, fluoxetine added to methylphenidate robustly potentiated methylphenidate-induced blunting for both genes. This potentiation was widespread throughout the striatum, but was most robust in the lateral, sensorimotor striatum, thus mimicking cocaine effects. For illicit psychostimulants, blunting of gene expression is considered part of the molecular basis of addiction. Our results thus suggest that SSRIs such as fluoxetine may increase the addiction liability of methylphenidate.
Correlation between ankle-brachial index, symptoms, and health-related quality of life in patients with peripheral vascular disease.

Abstract Objective Improving health-related quality of life (HRQL) is the main goal of surgery to treat peripheral vascular disease (PVD); however, HRQL is rarely measured directly. Rather, most surgeons use other measures, such as patient symptoms and ankle-brachial index (ABI) to determine the need for intervention in PVD. The accuracy of these surrogates in representing HRQL has been untested. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation of these measures with HRQL in patients undergoing evaluation for intervention in symptomatic PVD. Methods Patients (n = 108) referred to the vascular surgery service with symptoms of PVD were enrolled in a prospective study of HRQL. Patients completed two validated HRQL questionnaires: the short form-36 (SF-36) and the Walking Impairment Questionnaire (WIQ). All patients had symptoms consistent with PVD, including claudication (n = 69; 63.9%), ischemic rest pain (n = 17; 15.7%), or tissue loss (n = 22; 20.4%). ABI was measured at presentation. Results The mean ABI was 0.53 (range, 0.00-0.98). The maximal correlation between SF-36 score and ABI was reflected in the Physical Component Summary score ( r = 0.25). WIQ score also exhibited modest correlation with ABI, with maximal correlation noted for stair climbing ( r = 0.26). Both SF-36 and WIQ scores exhibited a highly significant association with symptoms. Patients with more severe symptoms, such as lifestyle-limiting claudication or limb-threatening ischemia, had lower HRQL scores compared with patients with non-lifestyle-limiting claudication. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that SF-36 and WIQ physical summary scores are better predicted by symptoms than by ABI ( P Conclusions HRQL in patients with PVD correlates weakly with ABI, but exhibits a closer association with vascular symptoms. However, neither variable fully expresses patient HRQL. These data suggest that sole reliance on these surrogates may not accurately reflect the effect of PVD on HRQL, or the potential benefit of vascular surgery in improving HRQL.
Brainstem projections to cats' upper lumbar spinal cord: implications for abdominal muscle control

Abstract Unilateral L1 L2 gray matter HRP injections labeled neurons bilaterally in nucleus retroambiguus (expiratory neuron region of caudal ventral respiratory group) and ventromedial reticular formation. Minor labeling occurred in raphe, vestibular, and medial parabrachial nuclei, lateral reticular formation, and C1 C2. Midsagittal lesions between C1 and obex prevented nucleus retroambiguus labeling (except 1 contralateral cell adjacent an incomplete lesion), indicating that these neurons decussate between C1 and obex and have collaterals that recross the spinal cord.
Biologically enhanced dissolution of tetrachloroethene DNAPL

One major problem with tetrachloroethene (PCE) contamination of aquifers is its ability to form dense, nonaqueous-phase liquids (DNAPL), which can act as a persistent contamination source for decades. Batch studies were performed to determine the potential for biological reductive PCE dehalogenation at high concentration and the effect on competing microorganisms, including methanogens and homoacetogens. Results show that PCE dehalogenation can be obtained at saturation concentration (>0.9 mM). Also, trichloroethene was dehalogenated up to 2.26 mM, and no apparent inhibitory effect on dehalogenation was found with cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cDCE) and ethene at the highest tested levels of 0.66 and 1.05 mM, respectively. However, such high concentrations of PCE, cDCE, and ethene were inhibitory to methanogens, and high concentrations of PCE were inhibitory to homoacetogens. Such inhibition is highly beneficial as it greatly diminished the competition by methanogens and homoacetogens for added electron donors,...
Use of model for end-stage liver disease exception points for early liver transplantation and successful reversal of hepatic myelopathy with a review of the literature

Hepatic myelopathy (HM) is a rarely reported disorder characterized by progressive spastic paraparesis due to impaired corticospinal tract function in the setting of cirrhosis or portosystemic shunting. HM has not to date been recognized as a Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) exception for transplantation. Outcomes for a small number of patients from Europe and Asia who have undergone liver transplantation (LT) for HM suggest a potential neurological benefit, especially with earlier transplantation. We report the first use of MELD exception points for the condition of HM to enable early LT resulting in the reversal of marked spastic paraparesis. Our patient, whose myelopathy had markedly progressed without further hepatic decompensation, underwent LT 14 months after the diagnosis of HM with an adjusted MELD score of 30, which was granted as a United Network for Organ Sharing exception. After LT, there was significant neurological improvement as the patient progressed from wheelchair dependency to full ambulation. We reviewed the literature of other HM patients who had undergone LT. With our patient, there were in all 15 reported cases of LT in individuals with HM. LT can lead to a marked improvement in HM, particularly in the earlier clinical stages of the disorder. Early LT can be accomplished, as in our case, by the submission of an appeal for a MELD upgrade.
Pressure leaching of converter vanadium slag with waste titanium dioxide

The process of pressure leaching the converter vanadium slag with waste titanium dioxide without roasting was studied. Mineralogy analysis indicates that the converter vanadium slag contains mainly three mineral phases: magnetite, titanium magnetite, and silicate phase. Vanadium is in combination with iron, titanium, manganese, aluminum, and silicon. The impacts of leaching temperature, leaching time, stirring speed, liquid-to-solid ratio, and initial leaching agent concentration were investigated on the waste titanium dioxide leaching process. The results indicate that under the optimal conditions, the vanadium and the iron leaching rates are 96.85 % and 93.50 %, respectively, and the content of titanium is 12.6 % in the residue. The main mineral phases for the residues under the optimal operation conditions are quartz, ilmenite, anatase, and silicate phase, and the residues can be reused as the extraction of titanium raw materials for titanium dioxide production technology by the sulfate method.
Isospin splitting of E1 resonances in 88Sr and 90Zr

Abstract The high-lying T > , E1 resonances are investigated in 88 Sr and 90 Zr by means of the reactions 87 Rb(p,γ o ) 88 Sr, 87 Rb(p,p o ) 87 Rb, 89 Y(p,γ o ) 90 Zr and 89 Y(p,p o ) 89 Y.
Prospective use of molecular paleontology to test for iron limitation on marine primary productivity

Abstract An interesting hypothesis has recently been advanced that primary productivity in large expanses of the Pacific Ocean is limited by the eolian input of iron. I present organic geochemical data from a sediment core from one of these areas, the eastern tropical Pacific, as evidence in support of this hypothesis. The data show that the deposition of total organic carbon (TOC), primarily derived from marine productivity, reached its maximum at 18 ka and is highly correlated with the input of eolian dust. The data also show that the timing of the period of maximum deposition for biomarkers of prymnesiophyte productivity preceded the maximum for TOC by 4–6 kyr. The temporal offset between these two records of primary productivity, one a subset of the other, suggests that an ecological change in the phytoplankton community occurred in surface waters over the period of the last glacial transition as a consequence of systematic variation in the supply of eolian dust and associated bioavailable iron. This inference remains highly speculative, however, because a set of biomarkers to define the climatic response of other major components of the overall phytoplankton community during this transition period is as yet unidentified. A general discussion is developed identifying (I) the types of biomarkers that are needed to confirm the significance of iron limitation on primary productivity throughout the World Ocean and (2) new analytical approaches that might be employed to recover such biomarker information from the marine sedimentary record.
Strategies for Sustainable Development of Less-Favored Areas: Discussion

development based on indicators of change in the natural capital stock alone, such as the indicators used by Kerr and by PGB&E. This constrained maximization problem for sustainable development leads to two linked objectives: increase in wealth and maintenance of the capital stock, especially the natural capital stock. Returning to our metaphor, the elephant must enjoy feeding without trampling and overgrazing the bush. Through this elephantine lens on sustainable development, the disparate research questions of the three articles fit into view. Fan and Hazell explicitly look at changes over time, addressing the wealth maximization objective of the SD problem at the district scale within two huge countries. They find that agricultural investment in the less-favored areas leads not only to higher marginal rates of return, but also to sharper declines in poverty incidence. They speculate Scott M. Swinton is associate professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Michigan State University. This article was presented in a principal paper session at the AAEA annual meeting (Chicago, IL, August 2001). The articles in these sessions are not subjected to the Journal's standard refereeing process.
Pharmacologic Prophylaxis, Postoperative INR, and Risk of Venous Thromboembolism after Hepatectomy

Pharmacologic prophylaxis (PP) is recommended for patients undergoing general surgical procedures with at least moderate risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). The role of PP in patients undergoing hepatectomy is controversial, however, due to concerns regarding postoperative liver dysfunction and bleeding. We conducted a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained institutional database in order to clarify the relationship between PP, postoperative INR, and risk of VTE. Postoperative VTE occurred in 55 of 2,147 patients (2.6 %) and was independently associated with advanced age, higher BMI, longer procedure time, and development of a major complication, as well as higher postoperative INR (≥1.5 versus <1.5: OR 2.50, P = 0.006). Patients undergoing more extensive liver resection with higher postoperative INR were less likely to receive PP, but receipt of PP demonstrated no relationship with either VTE incidence or hemorrhagic complications. In this large single-institution study, incidence of VTE was not associated with PP but was associated with higher postoperative INR, contrary to the notion that postoperative liver dysfunction is protective against VTE. The interplay between prothrombotic and antithrombotic mechanisms in posthepatectomy patients must be more completely characterized before broad recommendations can be made regarding PP use in these patients.
Fatty liver and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Fatty liver is a relatively common incidental finding on imaging studies. Although generally a benign condition, fat in the liver can be troubling for clinicians because it can cause persistently elevated liver enzyme levels. The finding of fatty liver may also indicate the presence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH is a histologic diagnosis applied to a constellation of liver biopsy findings that appear similar to alcoholic liver disease but are found in the absence of alcohol abuse. NASH is typically identified during the evaluation of elevated aminotransferase levels after exclusion of viral, metabolic, and other causes of liver disease. Obesity is a major risk factor; the role of diabetes is less certain, although evidence is accumulating that hyperinsulinism may play an important pathophysiologic role. About 15% to 40% of NASH patients develop hepatic fibrosis, a precursor to cirrhosis. Exactly how many patients with NASH progress to cirrhosis is unknown, but 1% to 2% of liver transplants are now performed because of a pretransplant diagnosis of NASH. Specific and effective treatments are needed but until the pathogenesis of this common liver disease is better understood, weight loss will remain the mainstay of treatment for obese patients.
Effect of the Neck Retraction Taping (NRT) on Forward Head Posture and the Upper Trapezius Muscle during Computer Work.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of neck retraction taping on forward head posture and the upper trapezius muscle of computer workers during computer work. [Subjects] Twelve males aged 20–30 years were recruited. [Methods] We measured forward head angle and upper trapezius muscle activity during computer work before and after NRT. [Results] The FHP angle significantly decreased during computer work performed with NRT compared to without NRT. The UT muscle activity was also significantly decreased during computer work performed with NRT compared to without NRT. [Conclusion] We think that the taping tension provided by NRT may have provided a mechanical effect that prevented FHP. NRT may also encourage a proper head posture in patients unfamiliar with the neck retraction posture.
Combined thermocapillary and buoyant flow in a drop in a space laboratory

Abstract The problem of axially symmetric motion in a levitated drop due to a prescribed surface temperature distribution is treated. The effects of thermocapillarity as well as buoyancy due to a residual steady gravity vector aligned parallel to the axis of symmetry are included. The relevant equations are solved in the creeping flow limit wherein the convective transport of momentum as well as that of energy is neglected. Also, the solution for axially symmetric buoyant flow in a spherical container is reported in the creeping flow limit.
Investigation of pyroelectric polarization effect on GaN MOS capacitors and field-effect transistors

We compared the high temperature electrical characteristics of GaN MOS capacitors and MOSC-HEMTs on sapphire, Si and bulk GaN substrates. From the flatband voltage shift of the capacitors, we extracted a pyroelectric voltage coefficient of 7.4×104 V/m-K and 8.5×104 V/m-K for sapphire and bulk GaN substrates. The complex threshold voltage shift of MOS Channel-HEMTs (MOSC-HEMTs) could be due to the combining effect of interface traps and polarization charges. The field-effect mobility is very insensitive to the temperature below 150°C, then changes more rapidly (T−1.59 for sapphire substrate and T0.86 for Si substrate) from 150°C to 250°C, which indicates that it is surface scattering limited at low temperatures and phonon scattering limited at higher temperatures.
Use of the Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment Program for Patients Being Discharged from the Hospital to the Nursing Facility

Abstract Background: The Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) documents patient preferences as medical orders that transfer across settings with patients. Objectives: The objectives were to pilot test methods and gather preliminary data about POLST including (1) use at time of hospital discharge, (2) transfers across settings, and (3) consistency with prior decisions. Study Design: Descriptive with chart abstraction and interviews. Participants: Participants were hospitalized patients discharged to a nursing facility and/or their surrogates in La Crosse County, Wisconsin. Measurements: POLST forms were abstracted from hospital records for 151 patients. Hospital and nursing facility chart data were abstracted and interviews were conducted with an additional 39 patients/surrogates. Results: Overall, 176 patients had valid POLST forms at the time of discharge from the hospital, and many (38.6%; 68/176) only documented code status. When the whole POLST was completed, orders were more often m...
The laser-excited Raman spectra of polyethylene sulfide

Abstract The Raman spectrum of polyethylene sulfide has been obtained. The spectrum is utilized to differentiate between alternative structures for the polymer. The observed spectrum is satisfactorily interpreted with the (CH2CH2SCH2CH2S) repeat unit having a TGG, TG'G' conformation. Some band assignments are suggested for both the infrared and Raman spectra.
Biological‐chemical indicator for ethylene oxide sterilization

The use of a biological-chemical indicator for ethylene oxide sterilization of disposable medical and pharmaceutical materials is reported. The indicator system affords an immediate visible indication of gas penetration into the materials during the sterilization cycle and also serves as a biological (spore) control. Preparation of the indicator is discussed in some detail, including the organisms and chemicals employed and the basic chemical reactions. The usefulness of the indicator for determination of gas penetration is discussed in terms of diffusion of the gas and permeability of the materials, including latex and plastic films.
BHV-1 infection and inflammatory cytokines amplify the interaction of Mannheimia haemolytica leukotoxin with bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro.

Abstract Bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) has been reported to increase the susceptibility of cattle to respiratory disease caused by Mannheimia (Pasteurella) haemolytica A1. The principal virulence factor of M. haemolytica is a leukotoxin (LKT) that can specifically kill ruminant leukocytes following its binding to the β 2 -integrin CD11a/CD18 (lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1)). In this study, we investigated the effects of experimental infection of bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNCs) with BHV-1 in vitro, on the subsequent interaction of these cells with the M. haemolytica LKT. We found that BHV-1 infection increased LFA-1 expression (as assessed by flow cytometry), and subsequently enhanced LKT binding and cytotoxicity to bovine MNCs. We also found that BHV-1 infection increased CD18, IL-1β, and IFN-γ mRNA expression by MNCs. As previously reported for bovine polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), MNCs increased their expression of LFA-1, and their LKT binding and cytotoxicity, following exposure to IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ. These findings suggest that BHV-1 infection, and the resulting release of inflammatory cytokines, can stimulate expression of LFA-1 in bovine MNCs, thus enhancing the binding and biological effects of LKT. If such a mechanism occurs in vivo it might explain, in part, the increased susceptibility of BHV-1 infected cattle to bovine pasteurellosis.
Economic voting in U.S. presidential elections: Who blames whom for what

In United States presidential elections, the incumbent party’s fortunes depend significantly on recent economic conditions, as numerous studies have shown. Many details of how economic voting takes place, however, are still not well understood. Here we present evidence on four issues. 1) Which is more important for determining people’s votes, national or local economic conditions? 2) What time frame do people consider in economic voting? 3) Which demographic groups are most sensitive to the economy in their voting behavior? 4) How does economic voting depend on the political context—in particular, whether a candidate is running for re-election, and whether the incumbent party also controls Congress? Our study includes the first county-level analysis of economic voting in presidential elections. We find the answers to our four questions are: 1) national conditions, by far; 2) the most recent year; 3) blacks, females, and the non-elderly; and 4) no.
A comparison of two objective measures of sexual arousal of women.

Abstract The efficacy of two objective measures of sexual arousal of women was compared by simultaneously recording vaginal blood volume by means of a photoplethysmograph and labial temperature by means of a thermistor-clip during and after stimulation by an erotic film. Both measures increased during the stimulation, and they were highly correlated with each other in six of the eight subjects, indicating that both were valid measures of sexual arousal. During the stimulation, labial temperature was significantly correlated with subjective ratings of arousal while vaginal blood volume only approached significance. During the 15-min period following stimulation, the measures neither correlated significantly with subjective ratings nor each other, and both had a tendency not to return to prestimulation levels.