cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of glutaraldehyde concentration, pretreatment time, and type of tissue (porcine versus bovine) on postimplantation calcification.

Objective Our objective was to evaluate the effects of glutaraldehyde (GA) concentration, time of pretreatment, and type of tissue (porcine vs bovine) on quantitative and qualitative postimplant calcification of tissues. Methods Freshly obtained porcine and bovine pericardial tissues were each treated with increasing concentrations of GA (controls, 0.3125%, 0.625%, and 1.2%) for a fixed time (15 minutes) or increasing exposure times (5, 10, 20, and 30 minutes) at a fixed concentration of GA (0.625%). Pretreated tissues were subcutaneously implanted in 10-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats for 45 days before explantation. Quantitative calcium analysis was performed by flame atomic spectrophotometry. Histologic examination of tissue samples with hematoxylin and eosin and von Kossa staining was performed for cellular and inflammatory response, autolysis, and calcification. Results Two-way analysis of variance indicated significantly greater calcium levels at 1.2% compared with each lower concentration for both porcine and bovine samples ( P F = 6.97; P F = 1.46; P = .23). Histologic evidence of inflammatory response with infiltration with mononuclear cells, fibroblasts, and histiocytes was seen in all grafts; however, it varied from mild to severe without any pattern. There were no differences in degree or pattern of inflammatory response according to GA concentration or time of exposure. Estimation of amount of calcification by histologic examination correlated with the quantitative assay. Conclusions Increasing GA concentration leads to greater calcification with a sharp rise in calcium levels above a concentration of 0.625%, in both bovine and porcine pericardial tissues. At a concentration of 0.625%, increasing pretreatment time is inversely related to tissue calcification for porcine pericardium but not for bovine pericardium. Differences in the tissue composition in terms of cellular content and composition of the extracellular matrix could account for the observed findings.
Fetal exposures and perinatal influences on the stool microbiota of premature infants

AbstractObjective: To test the hypothesis that maternal complications significantly affect gut colonization patterns in very low birth weight infants.Methods: Forty-nine serial stool samples were obtained weekly from nine extremely premature infants enrolled in a prospective longitudinal study. Sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene from stool samples was performed to approximate the intestinal microbiome. Linear mixed effects models were used to evaluate relationships between perinatal complications and intestinal microbiome development.Results: Subjects with prenatal exposure to a non-sterile intrauterine environment, i.e. prolonged preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPPROM) and chorioamnionitis exposure, were found to have a relatively higher abundance of potentially pathogenic bacteria in the stool across all time points compared to subjects without those exposures, irrespective of exposure to postnatal antibiotics. Compared with those delivered by Caesarean section, vaginally delivered subjec...
Minor chromosome variations and selected heteromorphisms in 200 unclassifiable mentally retarded patients and 200 normal controls.

Lymphocyte chromosome preparations from 200 mentally retarded children and 200 normal adult controls were analyzed by G-, Q-, and C-banding techniques for minor chromosome variations (G and Q) and selected heteromorphisms (G and C). Minor variations scored included inv(9), prominent or decreased short arms and/or satellite on acrocentric chromosomes, and 17ph. C heteromorphisms analyzed included those involving 1qh, 9qh, and 16qh regions. Length variations of Yq were scored on G-banded karyotypes. No significant differences in frequencies of scored minor variations or heteromorphisms were noted between the retarded and control populations.
Identification of a minimal HIV-1 gag domain sufficient for self-association.

Gag polyprotein precursors play an essential role in the assembly of the HIV particle by polymerizing into a spherical shell at the plasma membrane. In order to define the domains within Gag responsible for this homotypic interaction, we have coupled the technology of the yeast two-hybrid system with the technology of a gene-based, semirandom library. By this method, we have identified a minimal region of Gag capable of efficient self-interaction. This region consists of the N-terminal portion of the nucleocapsid protein (NC), including the first zinc finger and the previously described interaction, or I, domain. In parallel with this randomized approach, individual HIV Gag domains, and combinations of these domains, were tested for potential homotypic and heterotypic interactions in the yeast two-hybrid system. Consistent with the results from the semirandom library screen, only combinations of species containing NC were strongly interacting.
Paclitaxel-eluting stents in coronary artery disease.

Purpose. Clinical information regarding paclitaxel-eluting coronary artery stents is reviewed. Summary. Restenosis is a significant complication of percutaneous coronary intervention. Coronary artery stenting has reduced restenosis compared with traditional balloon angioplasty, although restenosis still occurs with bare-metal coronary artery stents. The pathogenesis of in-stent restenosis is believed to involve smooth-muscle-cell proliferation and migration in response to vessel injury. A neointimal layer of extracellular matrix and collagen forms, which may impinge on the vessel lumen. Paclitaxel inhibits vascular smooth-muscle-cell proliferation and reduces neointimal mass. Local delivery of paclitaxel through a coronary stent has been shown to reduce restenosis rates and percent diameter stenosis and to produce other angiographic benefits compared with bare-metal stents. Fewer major adverse coronary events are seen with paclitaxel-eluting stents, predominantly because of a reduction in the need for target-vessel revascularization with minimal impact on rates of mortality and myocardial infarction (MI). The Taxus Express2 stent, the only approved paclitaxel-eluting stent in the United States, costs about three times as much as a bare-metal stent. Cost-effectiveness analyses are needed to determine if the Taxus stent is cost-effective in clinical practice. Conclusion. Paclitaxel-eluting stents reduce the rates of restenosis and target-vessel revascularization compared with bare-metal stents and have comparable effects on mortality and MI rates.
Why does Juan García have a drinking problem? The perspective of critical medical anthropology.

(1992). Why does juan garcia have a drinking problem? The perspective of critical medical anthropology. Medical Anthropology: Vol. 14, The Application of Theory in Medical Anthropology, pp. 77-108.
Building and testing theories of decision making by travellers

Abstract How does the tourism literature model major recreational travel decisions? What influences do the “grand models” in consumer research have on tourist destination choice models? This article provides building-block propositions for creating useful theories of decision making by travelers via a qualitative review of the tourist decision-making literature. The grand models of decision-making in consumer research inform the propositions advanced. The article describes trends in developing traveler destination choice models. Along with examining decision-making propositions from the literature, the article covers important issues in need of resolution for making advances in understanding, describing, and predicting tourist decision-making.
Representation of flora and vegetation in Quaternary fossil assemblages: known and unknown knowns and unknowns

Paleoecological inference rests on a foundation of processes and relationships that lie between the target variables of interest and the proxy data extracted from the fossil record. Inattention to these processes can lead to overconfidence, reification of proxies, and “ignorance creep”, a process by which assumptions become taken for granted and ultimately hidden or forgotten. Paleoecological inference can be strengthened, and its uncertainties identified and quantified, by developing forward conceptual models that incorporate the processes and relationships known to lie between target variables and proxy data. These may fall into four general categories: source, vector, diagenesis, and analysis. The uncertainties within each of these categories are somewhat unique, although interactions often arise among processes in different categories. I use inference of regional species occurrence from macrofossil assemblages in woodrat (Neotoma) middens to illustrate the effects of various processes and interactions on strength of inference and origin of uncertainties, and to identify how uncertainties can be characterized, reduced, or quantified. The kinds of issues discussed in the woodrat-midden example are pervasive in paleoenvironmental and paleoecological inference, and should be examined thoroughly for all proxies and archives on a regular basis.
Robust techniques for curve and surface intersections

The problems of computing the intersection of curves and surfaces are fundamental to computer graphics and geometric and solid modeling. Earlier algorithms were based either on subdivision methods or algebraic techniques. They are generally restricted to simple intersections. It has been generally regarded that algebraic approach is impractical due to numerical problems on higher degree curves and surfaces (beyond cubics). In our earlier work we have applied Elimination theory and reduced the problem of intersections of curves and surfaces to matrix computations. These include Gauss elimination, matrix inversion, singular value decomposition, eigenvalues and eigenvectors etc. In this paper, we present robust algorithms based on techniques from linear algebra and numerical analysis for computing the zero dimensional intersections of curves and surface. These include intersection of parametric and algebraic curves and curve-surface intersections. In particular, we present a robust algorithm for computer higher order intersections.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Keratinocytes are Cell Targets of West Nile Virus In Vivo

West Nile virus (WNV) replicates in the skin; however, cell targets in the skin have not been identified. In the current studies, WNV infected the epidermis and adnexal glands of mouse skin, and the epidermal cells were identified as keratinocytes by double labeling for WNV antigen and keratin 10. Inoculation of mice with WNV replicon particles resulted in high levels of replication in the skin, suggesting that keratinocytes are an initial target of WNV. In addition, primary keratinocytes produced infectious virus in vitro. In conclusion, keratinocytes are cell targets of WNV in vivo and may play an important role in pathogenesis.
Natural aminoacyl tRNA synthetase fragment enhances cardiac function after myocardial infarction.

A naturally-occurring fragment of tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (TyrRS) has been shown in higher eukaryotes to ‘moonlight’ as a pro-angiogenic cytokine in addition to its primary role in protein translation. Pro-angiogenic cytokines have previously been proposed to be promising therapeutic mechanisms for the treatment of myocardial infarction. Here, we show that systemic delivery of the natural fragment of TyRS, mini-TyrRS, improves heart function in mice after myocardial infarction. This improvement is associated with reduced formation of scar tissue, increased angiogenesis of cardiac capillaries, recruitment of c-kitpos cells and proliferation of myocardial fibroblasts. This work demonstrates that mini-TyrRS has beneficial effects on cardiac repair and regeneration and offers support for the notion that elucidation of the ever expanding repertoire of noncanonical functions of aminoacyl tRNA synthetases offers unique opportunities for development of novel therapeutics.
Inclusions in Mount St. Helens dacite erupted from 1980 through 1983

Abstract Inclusions of plutonic, metavolcanic and volcanic rocks are abundant in dacite pumice and lava from the 1980–1986 eruption sequence at Mount St. Helens. Point counts of inclusions exposed in talus blocks from the dome from 1980 through 1983 show that inclusions form approximately 3.5 vol% of the lava. Eighty-five percent of the inclusions are medium-grained gabbros with an average diameter of 6 cm. Additional rock types include quartz diorite, hornfelsic basalt, dacite, andesite and vein quartz. Disaggregated inclusions are common and define shear planes within the dome. These fragmented inclusions may significantly contaminate analyses of the dacite. The gabbroic inclusions are of four distinct types, all with mineral assemblages consistent with crystallization pressures of less than 9 kb. Textures and major-element compositions indicate that most of the gabbroic inclusions are cumulates. The most abundant inclusion type is laminated gabbronorite, which contains up to 9% interstitial glass, derived from partial melting. The presence of quartz veins and hornblende-bearing veins within sheared zones in the laminated gabbronorite indicates that the source of these inclusions was holocrystalline rock that had been penetrated by water-rich fluids. The gabbronorite contained sufficient water to be susceptible to partial melting when the magma that fed the 1980–1986 eruption sequence was emplaced nearby. Various types of gabbroic inclusions, including the laminated gabbronorite, are common in Mount St. Helens lavas of approximately the last 3000 years. This coincides with the interval in which Mount St. Helens first erupted basalt and basaltic andesite lavas. These observations, together with the fact that the gabbroic inclusions are compositionally unlike any of the Tertiary intrusive rocks in the Mount St. Helens area, strongly suggest that the inclusions are related to the introduction of basalt to the Mount St. Helens magmatic system. The source of the gabbros could be a layered mafic pluton formed through crystal accumulation from multiple batches of basaltic magma emplaced at mid-to upper-crustal depths beneath the volcano. The prevalence of explosive eruptions at Mount St. Helens may play a part in bringing the inclusions to the surface. The eruptive products of the cataclysmic eruption of May 18,1980 contain notably fewer inclusions than the pyroclastic flows and dome lavas erupted subsequently. This suggests that the May 18 eruption shattered conduit wall rock that was subsequently stoped into the magma and carried to the surface later in the eruption series.
Model-averaged latent semantic indexing

This poster introduces a novel approach to information retrieval that uses statistical model averaging to improve latent semantic indexing (LSI). Instead of choosing a single dimensionality $k$ for LSI , we propose using several models of differing dimensionality to inform retrieval. To manage this ensemble we weight each model's contribution to an extent inversely proportional to its AIC (Akaike information criterion). Thus each model contributes proportionally to its expected Kullback-Leibler divergence from the distribution that generated the data. We present results on three standard IR test collections, demonstrating significant improvement over both the traditional vector space model and single-model LSI.
Accuracy of Renal Ultrasound Measurements for Predicting Actual Kidney Size

AbstractPurpose: We attempted to evaluate the accuracy of renal ultrasound measurements for determining actual kidney size in a growing renal unit.Materials and Methods: We evaluated 18 renal units in growing piglets weekly for 11 weeks on ultrasound. Measured parameters included length, transverse and anteroposterior dimensions, and volume. At 11 weeks final ultrasound measurements were obtained, animals were sacrificed and gross specimen measurements were made. Final ultrasound dimensions and serial measurements were correlated with actual size. Growth charts were constructed to evaluate variability between observations.Results: Mean difference between final ultrasound renal length and actual size was 3.8 mm. (correlation coefficient 0.74). Serial length measurements were not more accurate than isolated measurements for predicting final length (correlation coefficient 0.34). Volume measurement was not more accurate than renal length. Analysis of individual growth charts revealed a significant week-to-we...
TERMINI AND TELOMERES IN T-DNA TRANSFORMATION

A T-DNA vector for plant transformation has been constructed in which the cloning site is located 9 bp from the right-border (RB) end and 27 bp from the left-border (LB) end. In this vector cloned DNA homologous to plant chromosomal sequences is located at the T-DNA termini, and will thus be exposed by even limited exonucleolysis in planta. The arabidopsis ADH (alcohol dehydrogenase) locus was mobilized from Agrobacterium, and integration into the recipient genome was studied. Despite the terminal location of ADH homology in this vector, the T-DNA integrated essentially at random in the Arabidopsis genome rather than at the endogenous ADH locus. T-DNA integration was blocked, however, when Arabidopsis telomeric sequences were added to the construct at each end of the ADH homology. Thus the predominant mode by which incoming T-DNA is integrated into the continuity of chromosomal DNA involves free DNA ends, but, in contrast to modes of recombination such as gap repair, does not involve extensive terminal DNA sequence homology.
RER, an Evolutionarily Conserved Sequence Upstream of the Rhodopsin Gene, Has Enhancer Activity

Previous transgenic mouse experiments localized the mammalian rhodopsin gene promoter to a region just upstream of the mRNA start site, and also suggested the existence of a second more distal regulatory region. A highly conserved 100-base pair (bp) sequence which is homologous to the red and green opsin locus control region is located 1.5-2 kilobases upstream of the rhodopsin gene (depending on the species). In order to test the activity of this 100-bp region, transgenic mice were generated with bovine rhodopsin promoter/lacZ constructs which differed only by the presence or absence of the sequence. Of 11 lines generated, all demonstrated photoreceptor-specific expression of the transgene, but the lines with the putative regulatory region showed significantly higher expression. Additional transgenic lines in which the region was fused to a minimal heterologous promoter did not show transgene expression in the retina. Gel mobility shift and DNase I footprint assays demonstrated that bovine retinal nuclear extracts contain retina-specific as well as ubiquitously expressed factors that interact with the putative regulatory region in a sequence-specific manner. These results indicate that the 100-bp sequence can indeed function in vivo as a rhodopsin enhancer region.
Corpus callosal signal intensity in treatment-naive pediatric obsessive compulsive disorders.

Abstract 1. 1. Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is increasingly recognized as a severe, highly prevalent and chronically disabling disorder, emerging during childhood in as many as 80% of cases. The authors previously found significant abnormalities in the region of the corpus callosum (CC) connecting ventral prefrontal cortex and striatum in pediatric OCD patients compared to controls that correlated significantly with OCD symptom severity. We speculated that this abnormality might reflect aberrant myelinization in OCD patients. 2. 2. In order to better characterize the abnormality, the authors examined CC signal intensity (SI), believed to be a reliable index of myelinization of the CC. Lower numbers would indicate a greater concentration of white matter, while higher numbers indicate higher concentrations of gray matter. We compared the SI from midsagittal magnetic resonance images of 21 treatment-naive OCD patients, 7.2–17.7 years, and 21 case-matched healthy controls to examine regional CC signal intensity of the anterior, middle and posterior genu, body, isthmus, and the anterior, middle and the posterior splenii. 3. 3. Mean total genu SI for the patient group (.993 + .006) was significantly less than the total genu SI of controls (.994 + .006) at F(1,37)= 4.73; p = .036. This abnormality in SI was localized to the CC region connecting ventral PFC and striatum, the anterior genu for the OCD group (.991 + .007) which was also less than control (.995 + .007) at F(1,37)= 5.47; p = .025, with no abnormality observed in middle or posterior genu regions. Genu SI was also inversely correlated with OCD symptom severity (r = -.55, p = .013) but not illness duration. Genu SI also correlated positively with genu area (r = .52, p = .020) in OCD patients but not controls. 4. 4. Developmental abnormalities in genu size may arise from abnormalities in myelination in early onset OCD patients. The increased genu myelination observed in OCD patients may alter signal transduction and function of VPFC-striatal association circuits.
Ajuba LIM proteins are Snail/Slug corepressors required for neural crest development in Xenopus

Snail family transcriptional repressors regulate epithelial mesenchymal transitions during physiological and pathological processes. A conserved SNAG repression domain present in all vertebrate Snail proteins is necessary for repressor complex assembly. Here, we identify the Ajuba family of LIM proteins as functional corepressors of the Snail family via an interaction with the SNAG domain. Ajuba LIM proteins interact with Snail in the nucleus on endogenous E-cadherin promoters and contribute to Snail-dependent repression of E-cadherin. Using Xenopus neural crest as a model of in vivo Snail- or Slug-induced EMT, we demonstrate that Ajuba LIM proteins contribute to neural crest development as Snail/Slug corepressors and are required for in vivo Snail/Slug function. Because Ajuba LIM proteins are also components of adherens junctions and contribute to their assembly or stability, their functional interaction with Snail proteins in the nucleus suggests that Ajuba LIM proteins are important regulators of epithelia dynamics communicating surface events with nuclear responses.
Urinary Acid Metabolites of Biogenic Amines in Schizophrenic Patients

A hypothesis is presented that only pure type B monoamine oxidase (MAO) amine substrates and their oxidized metabolites should be altered in mental patients, especially paranoid chronic schizophrenics. If urinary pH is rigorously controlled, it is predicted that 24-hour urinary amine levels (free and total) of pure type B MAO substrates will be elevated and their corresponding acid metabolites reduced, especially under excess substrate conditions in vivo. The usual 50 percent decrease in platelet MAO, which is reported to be in some schizophrenic patients in vitro, should especially show biochemical functional deficits in vivo when the organism is stressed with a suitable amine or amino acid substrate given as a diagnostic load. Such an approach amy be useful in demonstrating a functional biochemical deficit and the biological significance of low platelet MAO activity (a type B MAO) seen in some psychiatric patients.
The role of CD146 (Mel-CAM) in biology and pathology

CD146, also known as Mel-CAM, MUC18, A32 antigen, and S-Endo-1, is a membrane glycoprotein which functions as a Ca(2+)-independent cell adhesion molecule involved in heterophilic cell-cell interactions. Based on homology of the nucleotide sequence, CD146 is classified as a member of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily, since it contains the characteristic V-V-C2-C2-C2 immunoglobulin-like domain structure. Using immunohistochemistry with CD146-specific antibodies, CD146 expression has been demonstrated in a relatively limited spectrum of normal human tissues and malignant neoplasms. The lineage-specific expression pattern of CD146 can be useful in the differential diagnosis of certain lesions including melanomas and various types of gestational trophoblastic lesions. Although the biological role of CD146 in normal tissue and malignant tumours remains unclear, CD146 has been suggested to play an important role in tumour progression, implantation and placentation. CD146 expression can promote tumour progression in human melanoma, possibly through enhanced interaction between melanoma cells and endothelial cells. In contrast, CD146 may act as a tumour suppressor in breast carcinoma. CD146 expression is frequently lost in breast carcinomas and overexpression of CD146 in breast carcinoma cells results in a more cohesive cell growth and the formation of smaller tumours in nude mice. During implantation and placentation, CD146 expressed by the intermediate trophoblast in the placental site binds to its putative receptor in uterine smooth muscle cells and limits trophoblastic invasion in the myometrium. In conclusion, CD146 is a recently identified novel cell adhesion molecule and its biological functions and role as a diagnostic marker in pathology are now being recognized. Identification of the receptor for CD146 and the development of experimental models that can account for the complex interactions between CD146-expressing cells and their microenvironment are needed to investigate further the functions of this molecule in biology and in pathological states.
Trace element composition of igneous zircon: a thermal and compositional record of the accumulation and evolution of a large silicic batholith, Spirit Mountain, Nevada

Hafnium, U, Th, and REE content of zircons from the Spirit Mountain batholith in southern Nevada correlate with calculated temperatures from the Ti-in-zircon thermometer to support field and petrologic evidence of rejuvenation of crystal mush and melt extraction events during the 2-million year accumulation of the granitoid batholith. Marked variation in zircon composition from sample to sample, from grain to grain within individual samples, and from zone to zone within individual grains documents in detail a history of fluctuating conditions with repeated episodes of replenishment, reheating, crystal mush rejuvenation, fractional crystallization, and melt segregation. The zircons exhibit compositional and thermal variability indicative of variations in host melt composition due to (1) melt rejuvenation, mixing, and fractionation (2) coeval growth of other REE-rich accessory minerals, and possibly (3) fluctuation in fO2.
Rectus Sheath Hematoma During Pregnancy - A Severe but Easily Overlooked Condition: A Case Report

Summary Objective Rectus sheath hematoma (RSH) of the abdominal wall is a severe condition caused by a tear in the inferior epigastric artery. Due to its relative rarity compared with other obstetric complications, the early recognition of RSH challenges the diagnostic acumen of obstetricians. We report a case of RSH that was initially suspected to be placenta percreta with bleeding into an extrauterine compartment. The differential diagnosis and management of this clinical condition are also discussed. Case Report A 30-year-old woman, gravida 2 para 1, with a 31-week singleton pregnancy, complained of lower abdominal pain after a week of coughing. Abdominal ultrasonography identified a well-defined, hypoechoic mass with some internal echoes in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. Doppler sonography detected vascularity with blood flowing around the mass but little within it. The patient underwent cesarean section and exploratory laparotomy because of unstable hemodynamics. After delivery of a 1,680 g male baby, surgical repair of the torn epigastric artery and ruptured rectus abdominis, and sufficient blood transfusion stabilized her condition. Conclusion RSH should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with abdominal pain during pregnancy. The key to diagnosis is to suspect that the pain originates from the abdominal wall.
Flow and Separation Characteristics of Three-dimensional Negatively Buoyant Wall Jets

This paper reports a study of the behavior of cold air jets, specifically three-dimensional, incompressible, negatively buoyant, turbulent wall jets, and their separation from horizontal surfaces. With a cold-air distribution system, both the supply air temperature and flow rate are lower than in conventional systems for the same cooling load. The cold air is supplied to a zone at temperatures between 39°F and 49°F (3°C and 9°C) instead of the conventional 55°F (13°C). As the building's ventilation and cooling airflow supply temperature and flow rate are reduced below the conventional values, indoor thermal environment considerations become increasingly important. An analysis using integral forms of the momentum and energy equations is presented for determination of the separation point of buoyant turbulent wall jets. The analysis shows that the separation point is a function of the outlet Richardson number in addition to the geometry of the outlet diffuser or nozzle. Also reported in this paper is an exp...
Face Detection by using Skin Color Model based on One Class Classifier

Human face detection plays an important role in real life application such as Face recognition, Human computer interface, Video surveillance and Face image database management. Automatic Face detection in such scenario is a challenging task. Here we propose to use skin color cue to detect face in a video sequence by modeling the skin color by an one class classifier named SVDD (Support Vector Data Descriptor). We apply the one class classifier for facial skin model on Various color transformations (YCrCb, HSV, Normalized RGB). We also examine SVDD on all the three Y, Cb and Cr and their combinations for the skin model as it is known that the non linear combination of the three gives better skin model and experiments on large set of data sets proves the robustness of the method.
Late onset of renal dysfunction in survivors of bone marrow transplantation.

Abstract Between 1980 and 1986, 44 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or Stage IV neuroblastoma (NB) underwent allogeneic or autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Twenty-nine of these patients were alive and in remission 3 months post BMT and were evaluable for this analysis of whom eleven have developed renal dysfunction. Six of 17 (35%) evaluable ALL patients developed renal dysfunction (3.5 to 6 months post BMT). This group was transplanted for CALLA positive ALL and received an autologous transplant. Preparation included tenopiside (VM 26) cytosine arabinoside, and cyclophosphamide followed by total body irradiation (TBI). One patient received 850 cGy in a single fraction, while all other patients received fractionated TBI (1200–1400 cGy in 6–8 fractions over 3–4 days). Five of 7 (71%) evaluable patients who received a BMT for NB have developed late renal problems (4–7 months after BMT). The preparation for NB patients included VM 26, cis-platinum, melphalan, cyclophosphamide, and fractionated TBI (1200–1296 cGy). All seven NB patients had received cis-platinum as induction treatment prior to transplantation. All patients presented with anemia, hematuria, and elevations of BUN and creatinine. Two patients underwent renal biopsies which were consistent with radiation nephropathy or hemolytic uremic syndrome. In conclusion, a high incidence of renal dysfunction has occurred 3 to 7 months after BMT for children with NB and ALL. The clinical and laboratory features are consistent with either acute radiation nephropathy or hemolytic-uremic syndrome. These patients were prepared for BMT with multiple chemotherapeutic agents as well as TBI. The relatively young age of these patients and conditioning with intensive multi-agent chemotherapy may decrease the tolerance of the kidney to radiation injury.
Assessment of potentially salvageable myocardium during acute myocardial infarction: Use of postextrasystolic potentiation

Twenty-three patients with evolving acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing catheterization for thrombolytic therapy had interventional contrast ventriculography using programmed atrial stimulation. Postextrasystolic (PES) potentiation was present in 67% of infarct-related segments up to 9 hours after the onset of AMI. The presence of segmental potentiation was not related to time from onset of pain to ventriculography, initial ejection fraction, presence of collaterals, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure or the PES delay. In 18 patients reperfusion was successful using intracoronary streptokinase an average of 6.2 hours after the onset of AMI; in these patients repeat contrast ventriculography was performed an average of 11 days after AMI. Improved chronic segmental ventricular function was predicted by the presence of collaterals to the infarct-related artery at the time of acute catheterization (p = 0.02), but was best predicted by analysis of acute PES potentiation (p
A class of order statistic LMS algorithms

Conventional gradient-based adaptive filters, as typified by the well-known LMS algorithm, use an instantaneous estimate of the error-surface gradient to update the filter coefficients. Such a strategy leaves the algorithm extremely vulnerable to impulsive interference. A class of adaptive algorithms employing order statistic filtering of the sampled gradient estimates is presented. These algorithms, dubbed order statistic least mean squares (OSLMS), are designed to facilitate adaptive filter performance close to the least squares optimum across a wide range of input environments from Gaussian to highly impulsive. Three specific OSLMS filters are defined: the median LMS, the average LMS, and the trimmed-mean LMS. The properties of these algorithms are investigated and the potential for improvement demonstrated. Finally, a general adaptive OSLMS scheme in which the nature of the order-statistic operator is also adapted in response to the statistics of the input signal is presented. It is shown that this can facilitate performance gains over a wide range of input data types. >
Relationship between right-to-die and satisfaction with life.

To examine the relationship between right-to-die attitudes and satisfaction with life, 108 institutionalized elderly residents in a random sample were interviewed inthe summer of 1990.’ Overall, 55 percent responded Yes or Probably Yes to a question pertaining to the legalization of some form of control of death circumstances. Those who were moderately or most satisfied with their lives more often responded Yes or Probably Yes to the legalization question.The purpose of this article is to discuss findings from a random sample of 108 institutionalized elderly concerning the relationship between their responses to right-to-die questions and their self-reported satisfaction with life.
The geographic information science and technology and information technology bodies of knowledge: an ontological alignment

In this paper, we present a philosophical discussion of ontological alignments between the fields of Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIS & T) and Information Technology (IT) based on existing bodies of knowledge (BOKs). We argue that tighter integration of concepts from GIS & T into IT curriculum can provide three specific opportunities for IT education - enhanced spatial thinking, new interdisciplinary and innovative application areas, and student employment opportunities. We also discuss specific ideas for curricular integration based on the alignments and provide a list of free and open source GIS & T software, data and learning resources for IT educators interested in incorporating GIS & T concepts and technologies into their teaching.
Idiosyncratic Tastes in a Two-Country Optimizing Model: Implications of a Standard Presumption

International spillovers and exchange rate dynamics are examined in a two-country dynamic optimizing model that allows for idiosyncratic tastes across countries. Specifically, there is a home-good bias in consumption patterns: at given relative prices the ratio of home goods consumed to foreign goods consumed is higher in the home country. The setup nests Obstfeld and Rogoff (1995), who assume identical tastes. Allowing for idiosyncratic tastes produces results that differ from Obstfeld and Rogoff's: expansionary monetary policy increases home utility by more, the positive spillovers of a fiscal expansion are reduced, and both short-run and long-run deviations from consumption-based purchasing power parity (PPP) are possible. The model's predictions are broadly consistent with those from the Frenkel, Razin and Yuen (1996) version of the two-country Mundell-Fleming model and with observed behavior of real and nominal exchange rates.
Effect of modification of the β-hairpin and long loops simultaneously in both α- and β-subunits on the function of human choriogonadotropin: part II

According to the X-ray diffraction, human choriogonadotropin has four beta-hairpin and two long loops, equally distributed in each of the alpha and beta subunits. Radical mutations such as the replacement of alpha 18Phe and alpha 74Phe with Thr in the alpha1 and alpha3 loops respectively and the replacement of alpha 45Lys with Asp in the alpha2 loop in the alpha-subunit were introduced while the loop sequences in the beta-subunit were replaced with the corresponding sequences in hFSH beta. Nine different double mutants with simultaneous mutations in both the alpha and beta loops including hCG alpha1 beta1, hCG alpha1 beta2, hCG alpha1 beta3, hCG alpha2 beta1, hCG alpha2 beta2, hCG alpha2 beta3, hCG alpha3 beta1, hCG alpha3 beta2 and hCG alpha3 beta3 were partially purified from insect High-Five cells. As previously reported (Shao et al., 1996, Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 122, 173-182), the mutation in the alpha1 loop in the mutant, hCG alpha1 beta, the mutants hCG alpha1 beta1 and hCG alpha1 beta3 caused 200%, increase in the receptor binding, cAMP and progesterone stimulation. The mutant, hCG alpha1 beta2 and all other mutants behaved like the recombinant hCG (rehCG) in the receptor binding and post-receptor signaling activities. The molecular cause for this increase is probably due to a conformational change in the heterodimers caused by the mutation in the alpha1 loop. This conclusion is based on the results of the dissociation studies of the mutants heterodimers which indicated a decreased affinity between the subunits. The first order rate constants for the dissociation of the mutants hCG alpha1 beta1, hCG alpha1 beta2 and hCG alpha beta3 were 3.7 x 10(-2) min(-1), 1.4 x 10(-2) min(-1) and 4.6 x 10(-2) min(-1) respectively, as compared with 4.6 x 10(-3) min(-1) for the rehCG. It seems from the data that alpha 18Phe is located in, or in proximity to the receptor binding site and probably plays a critical role in maintaining either directly or indirectly its conformational integrity.
CASASviz: Web-based visualization of behavior patterns in smart environments

The need to prolong the ability for older adults to live at home independently has become an important area of smart environment research. In this proposal, we demonstrate a web-based visualization system (CASASviz) that integrates monitoring, analysis, and automated recognition of residents behavior patterns in smart environments. In our data collection module, we collect real sensor data from the CASAS smart apartment testbed. For our data adapter, we translate the raw data to various compatible formats for different visualization applications. In our visualization application module, we visualize resident behavior graphs that allow users to understand their behavior patterns in our smart environments.
Quantitative assessment of right ventricular function in pectus excavatum

Pectus excavatum is a common congenital chest wall deformity. Underlying cardiac chambers, in particular the right atrium and right ventricle (RV), may be compressed between the vertebral column and the depressed sternum in patients with this thoracic deformity. Citing improvement in indices of cardiovascular function after corrective surgery, some investigators have suggested that the deformed chest may contribute to cardiopulmonary impairment. Although cardiopulmonary impairment certainly may contribute to symptoms in patients with pectus excavatum and guide the need for and timing of corrective surgery, guidelines for the assessment of resting cardiovascular function remain undefined. Furthermore, the qualitative echocardiographic assessment of RV function and volumes among patients with pectus excavatum may be technically difficult and limited by subjectivity. Quantitative echocardiographic parameters, such as tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and RV fractional area change, may offer a more accurate assessment of RV function in this anatomically distinct population. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging has emerged as the criterion standard in RV functional assessment and, more recently, has been validated in patients with pectus excavatum. We compared qualitative assessment of RV systolic impairment by visual echocardiographic inspection with quantitative assessment of RV function with CMR and echocardiographically derived TAPSE and RV fractional area change in a series of patients referred to our institution with mild to severe symptomatic pectus excavatum. Patients were being considered for corrective surgery. Our hypothesis was that the patients would be found to have normal RV function when assessed quantitatively, either through CMR or quantitative echocardiographic examination, despite impairment seen qualitatively.
MurA (MurZ), the enzyme that catalyzes the first committed step in peptidoglycan biosynthesis, is essential in Escherichia coli.

The Escherichia coli gene murZ was recently shown to encode UDP-N-acetylglucosamine enolpyruvyl transferase, which catalyzes the first committed step of peptidoglycan biosynthesis (J. L. Marquardt, D. A. Siegele, R. Kolter, and C. T. Walsh, J. Bacteriol. 174:5748-5752, 1992). The map position of murZ (69.3 min) differed from that determined for murA (90 min), a gene which had been previously proposed to encode the same activity (P.S. Venkateswaran and H. C. Wu, J. Bacteriol. 110:935-944, 1972). Here we describe the construction of a chromosomal deletion of murZ and a plasmid containing murZ under arabinose control. Growth of cells containing the murZ deletion was dependent on the expression of murZ from the plasmid. We conclude that murZ is an essential gene and encodes the sole UDP-N-acetylglucosamine enolpyruvyl transferase of E. coli. To simplify the nomenclature, we recommend that murA be used to designate the gene at 69.3 min that encodes this activity and that the designation murZ be abandoned.
The Mechanism of Oxidative Hemolysis Produced by Phenylhydrazine

Superoxide anion was found to be unimportant in phenylhydrazine-induced hemolysis and destruction of oxyhemoglobin. Phenyldiazene, presumably produced via the 2-electron oxidation of phenylhydrazine by oxyhemoglobin, was found to hemolyze red cells rapidly and convert oxyhemoglobin into methemoglobin, hemichromes, and other hemoglobin breakdown products. Phenyldiazene-induced hemolysis requires the presence of molecular oxygen, although superoxide anion, a known product of the reaction of phenyldiazene with oxygen, was demonstrated not to be the active hemolytic agent. The hemolysis produced in the presence of phenyldiazene and oxygen is related to lipid peroxidation in the red cell membrane. Benzenediazonium ion and benzene, oxidation products of phenylhydrazine, were not found to be hemolytic when compared with equimolar quantities of phenyldiazene. It is concluded that the active hemolytic agent produced from phenylhydrazine in red cells is a phenyldiazene-derived free radical produced by the reaction of phenyldiazene with oxygen, and is most probably the phenyl free radical.
An Attributional Analysis of Responsibility for a Happy Accident: Effects of Ability, Intention, and Effort

Two experiments concerned with attribution of responsibility for a happy accident were conducted in order to distinguish defensive attribution theory from an attributional model of achievement evaluation. The principal findings were: (1) In both experiments responsibility judgments decreased as the severity of the happy accident increased (the "happy accident" effect); and (2) this effect was attenuated when the stimulus person (SP) had been described as exerting effort in the situation, but it was not affected by information about SP's ability or his intentions. These data are interpreted as support for the attributional model of achievement evaluation as well as an attributional formulation derived from equity theory. Sex differences were also discussed.
Sensitivity and image quality of resists with electron-beam, ion-beam, and optical exposure

Chemically-amplified resists show promise as patterning materials in many advanced lithography systems including optical, electron-beam and ion-beam systems. In this study, four such resists including IBM APEX-E, IBM ENR, Shipley UVIIHS, and Shipley SAL-601 (ion-beam and electron-beam exposure only) were characterized for the three methods of exposure to determine relative sensitivities, fundamental resolution limits, and diffusivity for each of the above mentioned exposure methods. It was discovered that volumetric exposure doses for ion-beam and electron-beam were roughly equivalent but all resists were more sensitive to optical exposure. This is most likely due to a difference in transfer of energy to the photoacid generator during the exposure. Resolution tests were conducted in ion-beam exposure with simple line/space array patterns. All resists demonstrated patterning capability with resolution limits of 150 nm, 70 nm, 70 nm, and 50 nm for APEX-E, SAL-601, UVIIHS, and ENR respectively. Evidence of a competing cross-linking mechanism in the positive tone resists was discovered from the resolution tests. From a simple electron-beam `post/hole' experiment with varying post-exposure bake times, it was determined that SAL-601 and APEX-E demonstrated the highest level of diffusivity while UVIIHS and ENR exhibited negligible levels of diffusion. The characterization tests demonstrated the suitability of all four resists as good ion-beam patterning materials in addition to their suitability for electron-beam and optical exposure.
Universal estimation of information measures

In this presentation, the author gives an overview of the state of the art in universal estimation of: entropy; divergence; mutual information with emphasis on recent algorithms we have proposed with H. Cai, S. Kulkarni and Q. Wang. These algorithms converge to the desired quantities without any knowledge of the statistical properties of the observed data, under several conditions such as stationary-ergodicity in the case of discrete processes, and memorylessness in the case of analog data. A sampling of the literature in this topic is given below.
Using a semi-asynchronous Hopfield network to obtain optimal coverage in logic minimization

Applies the neural network approach to solve the minimal coverage problem. The procedure to obtain the minimal expression of a Boolean function includes a step to find a cover with minimal cost. Since this step is an NP-complete problem, it is impractical to find an optimal solution for a large data size. The neural network approach is used to solve this problem. The authors first formulate this problem, and then define an energy function and map it to a modified Hopfield network, which includes a layer of regular neurons and a layer of synchronous neurons. The formulation and construction of the network are discussed. >