cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sensitivity of the unruptured intracranial aneurysm treatment score (UIATS) in the elderly: retrospective analysis of ruptured aneurysms.

Background/Purpose The prevalence of intracranial aneurysms, as well as the incidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), increase with age, and the elderly have poor outcomes after SAH. Age is a key factor in the unruptured intracranial aneurysm treatment score (UIATS),but the sensitivity of the UIATS model in detecting risk of SAH among the elderly is unknown. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 153 consecutive cases of ruptured aneurysms between 2012 and 2018. We used Fisher's exact test, analysis of variance, and multivariate logistic regression to compare outcomes between those >65 years of age and those younger. We then applied the UIATS model and evaluated the sensitivity of the model as a predictor of SAH in the elderly compared with younger patients. Results Elderly patients made up 32% (n = 49 of 153) of our cohort. They had significantly higher in-hospital mortality (19 of 49, 39%) than younger patients (14 of 104, 13%) (P 65 years remained a significant predictor of unfavorable outcome at discharge (P = 0.03). The UIATS model had low sensitivity in the elderly compared with younger patients: 63% (59 of 136) of younger patients would have been recommended aneurysm repair had their aneurysm been detected unruptured, compared with only 12% (5 of 42) of elderly patients >65 years (P Conclusions Elderly patients >65 years in age have far worse outcomes after SAH. The sensitivity of the UIATS model for detecting those at risk of SAH was significantly lower in elderly patients. The UIATS model may lead to undertreatment of elderly patients at risk of SAH.
Wdfy3 regulates glycophagy, mitophagy, and synaptic plasticity

Autophagy is essential to cell function, as it enables the recycling of intracellular constituents during starvation and in addition functions as a quality control mechanism by eliminating spent organelles and proteins that could cause cellular damage if not properly removed. Recently, we reported on Wdfy3's role in mitophagy, a clinically relevant macroautophagic scaffold protein that is linked to intellectual disability, neurodevelopmental delay, and autism spectrum disorder. In this study, we confirm our previous report that Wdfy3 haploinsufficiency in mice results in decreased mitophagy with accumulation of mitochondria with altered morphology, but expanding on that observation, we also note decreased mitochondrial localization at synaptic terminals and decreased synaptic density, which may contribute to altered synaptic plasticity. These changes are accompanied by defective elimination of glycogen particles and a shift to increased glycogen synthesis over glycogenolysis and glycophagy. This imbalance leads to an age-dependent higher incidence of brain glycogen deposits with cerebellar hypoplasia. Our results support and further extend Wdfy3's role in modulating both brain bioenergetics and synaptic plasticity by including glycogen as a target of macroautophagic degradation.
Study on the Mechanism of Salvia miltiorrhiza in the Treatment of Traumatic Bone Defects

Traumatic bone defect is one of the major orthopedic diseases in clinics, and its incidence is increasing year by year. And repairing traumatic bone defects is a very difficult problem in clinics at present. The surface of medical titanium-based alloy has good biological properties, and its implant has a certain role in promoting bone in bone tissue. However, titanium-based materials are biologically inert and have no biological activity. As a traditional Chinese medicine, Salvia miltiorrhiza has the efficacy of treating bone diseases and promoting bone healing. The curative effect can be better exerted by loading the traditional Chinese medicine active compound Salvia miltiorrhiza on the surface of the titanium implant in a certain way. At present, due to the complex chemical composition of Salvia miltiorrhiza, the mechanism of its use for the treatment of traumatic bone defects is still unclear. Therefore, in this study, we mainly discussed the potential target and mechanism of Salvia miltiorrhiza in the treatment of traumatic bone defects through network pharmacology, which may provide a scientific basis for the treatment of traumatic bone defects with Salvia miltiorrhiza loaded on the surface of medical titanium-based alloy. We screened out effective compounds and targets of Salvia miltiorrhiza and targets related to traumatic bone defects with the help of relevant databases. The targets of Salvia miltiorrhiza for traumatic bone defects were analyzed by STRING and GeneCards databases, and the results were visualized by constructing a compound-target network, protein-protein interaction network, and compound-target-disease network with Cytoscape 3.7.1 analysis software. Finally, the selected core targets carried out GO and KEGG enrichment. The results showed that 60 main active components were screened from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, which could act on 149 targets. There were 33 active components and 70 targets related to traumatic bone defects, respectively. The core targets of Salvia miltiorrhiza in the treatment of traumatic bone defects were MAPK1, MAPK10, MAPK14, TGFB1, and TNF. The results of enrichment analysis showed that Salvia miltiorrhiza might treat traumatic bone defects through an osteogenic differentiation pathway.
Geo-statistical Evaluation of the Intelligent Compaction Performance in a Reclaimed Base Project

One of the main objectives of utilizing intelligent compaction (IC) technology is to increase the uniformity and consistency of compaction operation. In this study, intelligent compaction measurement values (CMVs) in a reclaimed base project in Route 117, Vermont were used to perform a geo-statistical analysis. Semivariogram models were constructed to investigate the spatial structure and uniformity of compaction during the first and second reclaimed phases. The uniformity of the compaction operation was evaluated using the semivariogram model parameters (range, sill, and nugget). Furthermore, the semivariogram models of in-situ spot measurements were generated to verify the suitability of different types of measurements in capturing the geo-spatial trends in pavement layers. Then, the spatial statistics of each measurement were compared to the univariate statistics. It was found that the data variance might be closely related to each other, but there is no relation between these values and the spatial uniformity of the compacted area. The results indicated that the spatial structures of both compacted layers (i.e., first and second reclaimed layers) were successfully captured through all three types of measurements, where the second reclaimed phase revealed a higher degree of uniformity. In addition, geo-statistical analysis of both reclaimed layers revealed a higher degree of uniformity in dynamic cone penetration index (DCPI) data compared to other compaction measurements. On the other hand, a relatively high degree of inconsistency observed among the CMV measurements. It should be acknowledged that the conclusions of this study are based on data from only one project, specific to the characteristics/conditions of that project.
Media Systems and Attention Cycles: Volume and Topics of News Coverage on COVID-19 in the United States and China

We examined initial newspaper coverage of the COVID-19 outbreak (January–May 2020) in the United States and China, countries with contrasting media systems and pandemic experiences. We join the con...
The Inferencing Pass

Since conventional APL does not have declarations for identifier type and shape, and even in the language accepted by the APL compiler such declarations are optional, information concerning how a variable will be used must be inferred indirectly from an examination of the program text. Such information can be extremely beneficial. Consider the simple statement:
Ethical Practice in Clinical Psychology

Clinical psychologists aspire to achieve the highest ethical ideals of the profession of psychology. To do so they are guided by the principles of the APA Ethics Code (APA, 2010), relevant practice guidelines, ethical standards, laws, and regulations, and consider each in the context of a model of ethical decision making and judgment. While clinical psychologists may be confronted by a wide range of ethically and clinically challenging situations in the course of their professional work, the application of sound judgment, consideration of relevant ethical guidance, and the use of consultation together help clinical psychologists to practice ethically. Each of these components of ethical practice is reviewed. Their application to a wide range of challenges and dilemmas is articulated to include areas of practice such as competence, informed consent and assent, confidentiality, fees and financial arrangements, boundaries and multiple relationships, advertising and public statements, record keeping, education and training, research and publication, assessment, psychotherapy, and terminating the professional relationship. In each of these areas of psychology practice the role and application of underlying principles, ethical standards, guidelines, laws, regulations, professional judgment, and ethical decision making are illustrated. Keywords: ethics; ethical decision making; ethical practice; clinical psychology
Caspase inhibitors reduce symptom development and limit bacterial proliferation in susceptible plant tissues

Abstract How plant pathogenic bacteria kill plant cells and what benefit killing presents to bacteria residing in intercellular spaces remains a topic of considerable interest in plant pathology. Activating a host cell's programmed cell death pathway may provide a means to successfully initiate and maintain an infection of a host for both animal and plant bacterial pathogens. Co-infiltration of tetrapeptide caspase inhibitors [e.g. acetyl-asp-glu-val-asp-aldehyde (Ac-DEVD-CHO)] with plant pathogenic bacteria in a susceptible plant host resulted in reduced plant cell death and a virtual cessation in bacterial growth. Reductions of 1000- to 10 000-fold could be achieved when measurements were performed 3 days post-inoculation. The co-infiltration of DEVD-CHO with Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci into susceptible tobacco diminished the level of expression of all pathogenesis related transcripts assayed. No non-specific and deleterious impact of the caspase inhibitors on bacteria or plant cells was observed. The results of these experiments are among the first to suggest that necrotrophic, phytopathogenic bacteria are activating an apoptosis equivalent of programmed plant cell death as part of pathogenesis. Results also suggest that bacteria derive a growth-sustaining benefit from activating programmed plant cell death.
Escherichia coli DNA polymerase II is stimulated by DNA polymerase III holoenzyme auxiliary subunits

Abstract DNA polymerase III of Escherichia coli requires multiple auxiliary factors to enable it to serve as a replicative complex. We demonstrate that auxiliary components of the DNA polymerase III holoenzyme, the gamma delta complex and beta subunit, markedly stimulate DNA polymerase II on long single-stranded templates. DNA polymerase II activity is enhanced by single-stranded DNA binding protein, but the stimulation by gamma delta and beta can be observed either in the absence or presence of single-stranded DNA binding protein. In contrast with DNA polymerase III, the requirement of DNA polymerase II for gamma delta cannot be bypassed by large excesses of the beta subunit at low ionic strength in the absence of the single-stranded DNA binding protein. The product of the DNA polymerase II-gamma delta-beta reaction on a uniquely primed single-stranded circle is of full template length; the reconstituted enzyme apparently is incapable of strand displacement synthesis. The possible biological implications of these observations are discussed.
IL-10 Modulates Host Responses and Lung Damage Induced by Pneumocystis carinii Infection

Host responses to Pneumocystis carinii infection mediate impairment of pulmonary function and contribute to the pathogenesis of pneumonia. IL-10 is known to inhibit inflammation and reduce the severity of pathology caused by a number of infectious organisms. In the present studies, IL-10-deficient (IL-10 knockout (KO)) mice were infected with P. carinii to determine whether the severity of pathogenesis and the efficiency of clearance of the organisms could be altered in the absence of IL-10. The clearance kinetics of P. carinii from IL-10 KO mice was significantly enhanced compared with that of wild-type (WT) mice. This corresponded to a more intense CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell response as well as an earlier neutrophil response in the lungs of IL-10 KO mice. Furthermore, IL-12, IL-18, and IFN-gamma were found in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids at earlier time points in IL-10 KO mice suggesting that alveolar macrophages were activated earlier than in WT mice. However, when CD4(+) cells were depleted from P. carinii-infected IL-10 KO mice, the ability to enhance clearance was lost. Furthermore, CD4-depleted IL-10 KO mice had significantly more lung injury than CD4-depleted WT mice even though the intensity of the inflammatory responses was similar. This was characterized by increased vascular leakage, decreased oxygenation, and decreased arterial pH. These data indicate that IL-10 down-regulates the immune response to P. carinii in WT mice; however, in the absence of CD4(+) T cells, IL-10 plays a critical role in controlling lung damage independent of modulating the inflammatory response.
Slow adaptation in the face of rapid warming leads to collapse of the Gulf of Maine cod fishery.

Several studies have documented fish populations changing in response to long-term warming. Over the past decade, sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Maine increased faster than 99% of the global ocean. The warming, which was related to a northward shift in the Gulf Stream and to changes in the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation and Pacific Decadal Oscillation, led to reduced recruitment and increased mortality in the region’s Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) stock. Failure to recognize the impact of warming on cod contributed to overfishing. Recovery of this fishery depends on sound management, but the size of the stock depends on future temperature conditions. The experience in the Gulf of Maine highlights the need to incorporate environmental factors into resource management.
For love or money: registered nurses who return to hospital practice.

Aim This commentary explores the value that returning nurses bring to the hospital setting. Background Nurses who have left hospital practice, usually due to family obligations, often return once the children are older. They return because they love nursing or they need to make money. They are at a point in their lives where they want to make a difference and miss the nurse–patient relationship. During recessions, nurses return to hospital practice because recessions tend to affect male dominated occupations. Evaluation Research and policy literature on the returning and/or older nurse was reviewed with a focus on the benefits and challenges of having returning nurses in hospital practice. Key issues Returning nurses serve as role models to younger nurses. They also bring experiential knowledge to patient situations. Conclusion There is limited research on this group of nurses. Yet they are ready for reentry in short order during nursing shortages. When they return, they add value to the hospital unit. Implications for nursing management Returning nurses want shorter workdays, alternative roles, and less physically taxing work. This can be achieved by offering flexible scheduling and work hours, creating niche roles and providing a more worker friendly physical environment.
Choosing an effective protein bioconjugation strategy

The large number of available chemical strategies to modify biomolecules can be overwhelming and time-consuming if adopted without careful consideration. Applying chemical logic to select context-dependent protocols can streamline this process substantially, leading to a wealth of functionalized materials for use in biology and materials science.
The efficiency of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in tumorigenic cells

The efficiency of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase (i.e. the amount of K+ pumped per ATP hydrolyzed) in intact tumorigenic cells was estimated in this study. This was accomplished by simultaneously measuring the rate of ouabain-sensitive K+ uptake and oxygen consumption in tumorigenic cell suspensions during the reintroduction of K+ to K+-depleted cells. The ATP turnover was then estimated by assuming 5.6–6 ATP/O2 as the stoichiometry of NADH-linked respiration in these cells. In the three cell lines tested (hamster and chick embryo cells transformed with Rous sarcoma virus and Ehrlich ascites cells), the K+/ATP ratio was approximately 2, the same value as that found in normal tissues. Furthermore, only 20% of the total ATP production of these cells was used by (Na+ + K+)-ATPase.
Avoiding Bloodshed? US Journalists and Censorship in Wartime

This article examines censorship of US journalists in World Wars I and II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and Persian Gulf War, and from war to war, trends in types of censored information. This article also answers whether any censorship has avoided bloodshed or been legitimate, and concludes by examining how, in any future US wars, the government or military could most legitimately ensure safe reporting.
Molecular self assembly on optical fiber-based fluorescence sensor

We discuss the molecular self-assembly on optical fibers in which a novel method for protein attachment to the sensing tip of the fiber is used. Our objective is to assemble a conjugated polythiophene copolymer as an attachment vehicle. Subsequent attachment of the photodynamic phycobiliprotein serves as the fluorescence probe element. Following our earlier experiments from Langmuir-Blodgett deposition of these polymeric materials as thin films on glass substrates, we extended the technique to optical fibers. First, the bare fiber surface is silanized with a C18 silane compound. The copolymer (3-undecylthiophene-co-3- methanolthiophene, biotinylated at the methanol moiety) assembly on the fiber is carried out presumable through van der Waals interactions between the hydrophobic fiber surface and the undecyl alkyl chains on the polymer backbone. A conjugated Str-PE (streptavidin covalently attached to phycoerythrin) complex is then attached to the copolymer via the conventional biotin-streptavidin interaction. The conjugated polymer not only supports the protein but, in principle, may help to transduce the signal generated by phycoerythrin to the fiber. Our results from fluorescence intensity measurements proved the efficacy of this system. An improved methodology is also sought to more strongly attach the conjugated copolymer to the fiber surface, and a covalent scheme is developed to polymerize and biotinylate polythiophene in situ on the fiber surface.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The influence of growth conditions on the equilibrium states in a-Si:H

Abstract The influence of the growth conditions on the equilibrium states in a-Si:H is explored by studying samples of different deposition temperature, rf power and gas dilution. A hydrogen-mediated weak bond model is used to calculate the defect density and to explain the correlation between defect density and relaxation times.
Further observations on the behavior of carbohydrates in seventy-nine per cent sulfuric acid

Abstract The spectral properties of heated 79% sulfuric acid solutions of a number of representative polysaccharides have been determined and the use of these data for analytical purposes has been discussed. The question of interference by proteins and nucleic acids has been considered.
Become your own advocate: advice from women living with scleroderma.

Purpose. Systemic sclerosis (SSC) affects 300,000 people in the USA and has a significant effect on an individual's functional ability. The purpose of this study was to outline the key components of living with the illness and to identify the information that those who are newly diagnosed would need to initiate a successful course of disease self-management. The results will provide the groundwork for development and testing of a self-paced education program for patients with SSC.Method. Focus groups were conducted with 11 women diagnosed with SSC.Results. Analysis of the transcripts yielded three themes, Secure Effective Medical Management, Live Your Life, and Learn Everything You Can. The thread Become Your Own Advocate wove these three themes together and illustrated that taking control of SSC is ultimately a function of self-advocacy.Conclusion. For patients with SSC, taking control of their illness was a necessary component of maintaining the highest quality of life possible. A positive attitude, a s...
Shock Induced Flutter of Turbomachinery Blade Row

This paper describes the influence and effect of a normal shock wave on the flutter characteristics of a turbomachine blade row. High fidelity numerical analysis is used to calculate the energy exchange for a vibrating blade row in the presence of an oscillating normal shock wave. The 3-D Tenth Standard Cascade is used in the present study to calculate the influence of a shock on the energy exchange of blades undergoing a torsional vibration and to correlate the observations with an algebraic model. Effect of three parameters-distance of shock from elastic axis, inter-blade phase angle and vibration frequency are investigated. The results indicate that the three parameters strongly influence the flutter characteristics. The distance between shock location and elastic axis was found to have a linear effect on stability. Moving the elastic axis from downstream of the shock to upstream changes the sign of the stability characteristics as well. It was found that the shock induced energy exchange varied harmonically with inter-blade phase angle indicating the phase between shock motion and blade motion to be independent of inter-blade phase angle. The influence of vibration frequency on work done by the shock was found to be harmonic for reduced frequencies up to 2. The results also showed that either a positive or negative energy exchange could be induced by a shock depending upon the frequency of vibration. The influence of the shock wave on the unsteady flowfield was found to be linear for small amplitude blade oscillation. It was also found that the region of influence of the shock on the work could be divided into primary and secondary regions with work in the primary region being influenced directly by the shock motion. The work in the secondary region was found to be influenced by flow variations induced by shock motion downstream of the shock.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Low Energy Electron/Atom Elastic Scattering Cross Sections from 0.1-30 keV

Empirical forms for electron/atom scattering cross sections predict backscattering factors that compare well with those calculated using tabulated Mott data from 0.1 to 30 keV. The form of the empirical total cross section is similar to the screened Rutherford cross section. The fit to the tabulated differential Mott cross sections is decomposed into two parts, one part being of the same mathematical form as the screened Rutherford cross section (σR), and the second part being an isotropic distribution (σI). The ratio of the total cross sections (σR/σI) between the screened Rutherford part of the differential scattering cross section and the isotropic part of the distribution is fitted to give the same ratio of forward to backscattered currents as the tabulated Mott differential cross sections. The three equations, one for the total elastic cross section and two describing the differential cross section—one for the Rutherford screening parameter and one for the ratio σR/σI—give backscattering results covering all the major trends with energy and atomic number compared with the backscattering coefficients calculated using tabulated Mott cross sections. However, agreement with experiment is poor for some well-researched examples such as Au. Monte Carlo calculations using the empirical cross sections show that surface effects may be critical in interpreting experimental results.
Increased knee joint loads during walking are present in subjects with knee osteoarthritis

Abstract Objective This study tests the hypothesis that the peak external knee adduction moment during gait is increased in a group of ambulatory subjects with knee osteoarthritis (OA) of varying radiographic severity who are being managed with medical therapy. Tibiofemoral knee OA more commonly affects the medial compartment. The external knee adduction moment can be used to assess the load distribution between the medial and lateral compartments of the knee joint. Additionally, this study tests if changes in the knee angles, such as a reduced midstance knee flexion angle, or reduced sagittal plane moments previously identified by others as load reducing mechanisms are present in this OA group. Design Thirty-one subjects with radiographic evidence of knee OA and medial compartment cartilage damage were gait tested after a 2-week drug washout period. Thirty-one normal subjects (asymptomatic control subjects) with a comparable age, weight and height distribution were also tested. Significant differences in the sagittal plane knee motion and peak external moments between the normal and knee OA groups were identified using t tests. Results Subjects with knee OA walked with a greater than normal peak external knee adduction moment ( P =0.003). The midstance knee flexion angle was not significantly different between the two groups ( P =0.625) nor were the peak flexion and extension moments ( P> 0.037). Conclusions Load reducing mechanisms, such as a decreased midstance knee flexion angle, identified by others in subjects with endstage knee OA or reduced external flexion or extension moments were not present in this group of subjects with knee OA who were being managed by conservative treatment. The finding of a significantly greater than normal external knee adduction moment in the knee OA group lends support to the hypothesis that an increased knee adduction moment during gait is associated with knee OA. Copyright 2002 OsteoArthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved .
A member of the GAGE family of tumor antigens is an anti-apoptotic gene that confers resistance to Fas/CD95/APO-1, Interferon-gamma, taxol and gamma-irradiation.

Attractive targets for cancer therapy are gene products whose inactivation is not detrimental in essential tissues. The GAGE family of Cancer/Testis Antigens is a group of appealing candidates for cancer therapy since they are expressed in a wide variety of human tumors and are silent in most adult tissues, with the exception of testis. Interestingly, expression of GAGE has been associated with poor prognosis in some cancers. Nevertheless, no function has been reported for any of the GAGE family members. Here we describe for the first time an anti-apoptotic activity exerted by GAGE. We have cloned GAGE-7C from HeLa cells and showed that it renders transfected cells resistant to apoptosis induced by Interferon-g (IFN-g) or by the death receptor Fas/CD95/APO-1. Similarly, transfection of GAGE-7/7B also confers resistance to Fas induced apoptosis. In the Fas pathway, the anti-apoptotic activity of GAGE-7C maps downstream of caspase-8 activation and upstream of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage. Fu...
Preparation of the functionalizable methionine surrogate azidohomoalanine via copper-catalyzed diazo transfer.

The azide functional group has assumed a prominent role in chemical biology efforts in recent years. Azides may be readily introduced into proteins upon replacement of methionine residues with the non-canonical amino acid azidohomoalanine (AHA). This protocol describes a synthetic route to AHA based on the copper-catalyzed conversion of amines to azides. An alternate protocol for the preparation of AHA is presented in a companion paper. The synthesis and purification of AHA via the route described herein can be completed in 3–4 days.
CD5+ B lymphocytes.

SummaryA major proportion of CD5+ B lymphocytes are committed to the production of a discrete type of antibody that is polyreactive. Polyreactive antibodies appear to use selected V and, perhaps, D gene segments, mostly in unmutated configuration. They generally display relatively low affinity for different antigens and are often part of the primary response to foreign antigens. Polyreactive antibodies probably play a major role in vivo as a first line of defense against infectious agents not only by helping to temporarily limit the early stage of infection by directly binding to microorganisms, but also, owing to their RF-like activity, to amplify an ongoing IgG-mediated secondary response. In some cases, however, complete eradication of the invading pathogens may only be accomplished by the high affinity antibodies, mainly IgG, that appear late in the antibody response and are produced, in general, by cells that utilize a more diverse assortment of VH/VL gene combinations and/or have undergone an antige...
The Nation's Great Library: Herbert Putnam and the Library of Congress, 1899-1939

Before the late nineteenth century, American libraries were primarily small and isolated storehouses of material. By 1899, when Herbert Putnam became the Librarian of Congress, those storehouses were evolving into centers of learning. With his expertise in organization and his desire to create a national library, Putnam transformed the Library of Congress into a world-renowned cultural institution and promoted American librarianship as a full-fledged profession. When Putnam defined the national role of the Library, he made it clear that LC would extend its services not only to Congress but also to scholars, researchers, and other libraries. At the same time, librarians across the country sought recognition for their work and were eager to cooperate with each other to serve users. Putnam linked LC with the rapidly growing library community. His Library of Congress card service created a unified cataloging system. He worked in conjunction with the American Library Association to fill librarians' needs and increased efficiency and communication across the profession that ultimately provided comprehensive service to the public.
Local maximum property and q-plurisubharmonic functions in uniform algebras

Abstract There is proven a formula expressing higher order Shilov boundaries of the tensor products of uniform algebras in terms of boundaries of the factor algebras. Main step: Cartesian product of k- and l-maximum sets is a (k + l + 1)-maximum set. (Definition: locally closed X⊂Cn is a k-maximum set if polynomials have local maximum property on intersections of X with (n-k)-dimensional complex planes.) Other properties and characterizations of k-maximum sets are given, e.g., X⊂Cn is a k-maximum set iff each k-plurisubharmonic function has local maximum property on X.
Scapular Osteochondromas Treated With Surgical Excision

A retrospective review was performed of all osteochondroma excisions at our institution from 1994 to 2007. Postoperative functional assessment was completed with use of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) survey and a self-report questionnaire. Eight osteochondromas were excised at a mean patient age of 21.63 years. Presenting reports included pain, mass, pseudowinging, and snapping of the scapula. Physical examination identified pseudowinging, palpable mass, and pain with shoulder motion. The lesions arose from the ventral surface of the scapula in 5 patients, the dorsal surface in 2, and the inferior acromion in 1. The resected specimen averaged 10.8cm(3). A reactive bursa was found and resected in 4 patients. At mean of 4.17 years postresection, no signs of recurrence were found in 7 patients (88%). The single patient with a recurrence had undergone 2 additional surgical procedures. Six patients (75%) reported no/mild pain with routine and strenuous activities. One patient reported moderate and 1 patient reported moderate/severe pain with routine and strenuous activities. Four patients reported post-resection function as excellent, 2 as good, 1 as average/good, and 1 as average/poor. Six patients (75%) reported feeling very satisfied with the results, 1 reported feeling satisfied, and 1 reported feeling unsatisfied. The average DASH score was 11.7 (range, 0.00-46.67). No winging or pseudowinging was identified in those available for examination, and no difference was identified in range of motion comparing the operative to the nonoperative upper extremity. Near normal functional outcomes can be expected following excision of scapular osteochondromas.
Kinetics of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in renal failure.

Although there is impressive documentation linking severe hypertension to renal insufficiency, corresponding data for mild-to-moderate hypertension are only now starting to emerge. As a result, it is only now becoming evident that a much larger portion of the hypertensive population could be susceptible to drug accumulation owing to renal insufficiency. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor therapy routinely requires dosage adjustment in the instance of renal insufficiency, as all currently marketed ACE inhibitors are renally eliminated
Discriminant Analysis with Categorical Data

A method for studying relationships among groups in terms of categorical data patterns is de scribed. The procedure yields a dimensional rep resentation of configural relationships among mul tiple groups and a quantitative scaling of cate gorical data patterns for use in subsequent assign ment of new individuals to the groups. Two ex amples are used to illustrate potential of the method. In the first, profile data that were pre viously analyzed by metric multiple discriminant function analysis are reanalyzed by the nonmetric categorical data pattern technique with highly similar results. The second example examines re lationships among psychiatric syndrome groups in terms of similarities in patterns of categorical background variables. Results appear consistent with other available information concerning the epidemiology of psychiatric disorders.
Politically realistic objective functions and trade policy PROFs and tariffs

Abstract This paper demonstrates a mathematical correspondence between the deus ex machina tariff formation approach and political economy approach. The correspondence implies that the tariff chosen by lobbying-influenced policy makers will be equivalent to a tariff chosen by a deus ex machina government that gives ‘too much’ weight to profits. This result allows many political economy issues to be addressed in the simple framework of a deus ex machina government which faces a politically realistic objective function (PROF).
Dressing regimens and intravenous catheter-related infections.

To the Editor. —The original designation by Maki et al 1 that the presence of greater than 15 colony-forming units (CFUs) on semiquantitative catheter culture reflects a positive result was derived from a study in which this criterion allowed some separation of catheters associated with local inflammation from those without catheter site inflammation and included all catheters responsible for catheter-related sepsis. The results of the more recent study about catheter infection by Maki and Ringer 2 challenge the validity of the label "catheter-related infection" for catheters that yield greater than 15 CFUs on semiquantitative culture and call into question the utility of this definition when applied to the carefully managed use of modern Teflon peripheral venous catheters. Not only were no cases of catheter-related sepsis encountered in this study despite the presence of 107 so-called catheter-related infections, but there apparently was not even an association between these colonized catheters and
High Resolution and Tandem Fourier-Transform Mass Spectrometry with Californium-252 Plasma Desorption

For ions formed by plasma desorption (PD) in a Fourier-transform mass spectrometer, high resolution measurements are demonstrated, such as 65,000 (FWHH) for the protonated molecularion of gramicidin S (MW 1140.7). Resolution is substantially improved by delaying measurements until a significant ion concentration has built up in the cell, and by collisionally deactivating the orbital kinetic energy of the ions. This also makes the ions available for subsequent dissociation steps, so that tandem mass spectrometry can be demonstrated for PD ions. With this for larger ions, collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) is effected with > 85% efficiency. The CAD spectra of (M + Na)+ and of fragment ions from the PD of gramicidin S provide structurally useful information.
Uridine kinase: altered enzyme with decreased affinities for uridine and CTP.

Uridine kinase is the rate-limiting enzyme in the salvage pathway for uridine or cytidine of mammalian cells. Alignment of the uridine kinase sequence with other nucleoside and nucleotide kinases supports a common ancestor for all of these. Three polypeptide segments for the ATP site and three polypeptide segments for the acceptor nucleoside site have been identified. We report here the characterization of an altered form of the enzyme with a single amino acid change, Q146R, within or near the uridine-binding site. This single amino acid change leads to a 160-fold increase in Km for uridine (Km = 6.5 mM) and a decrease in kcat by more than 99%. This variant has normal affinity for ATP (Km = 130 microM), but shows substrate inhibition at ATP concentrations >3 mM. Mouse uridine kinase is normally an active tetramer that will dissociate to inactive monomers in response to CTP. In contrast, the altered protein is monomeric, but will associate to dimers and then to tetramers with increasing ATP. The Q146R enzyme has a 100-fold loss in affinity for the allosteric inhibitor CTP; this supports a model for CTP inhibition being caused by CTP binding backward at the catalytic site, as a bisubstrate analog.
Improving identification of key players in aging via network de-noising

Since human aging is hard to study experimentally due to long lifespan and ethical constraints, current "ground truth" knowledge about human aging has mostly been predicted computationally or statistically by transferring the knowledge from well-studied model species via sequence homology or by studying human gene expression data. Since genes, i.e., their protein products, function by interacting with each other, analysis of protein-protein interaction (PPI) network data in the context of aging is promising. Existing studies of aging from PPI networks have typically relied on static network representations. But because cellular functioning is dynamic, and because different biological data types capture complementary slices of the cell, we recently integrated the static human PPI network with aging-related gene expression data to form dynamic, age-specific networks. Then, we predicted as key players in aging those proteins whose network topologies significantly changed with age. Since current PPI networks are noisy, here, we apply state-of-the-art link prediction methods to the human PPI network to de-noise it. After we show that de-noising improves biological quality of the network, we integrate the de-noised network with the aging-related expression data to construct de-noised age-specific networks and predict novel (hopefully improved) key players in aging from the de-noised data. Indeed, PPI network de-noising improves the quality of the predictions: it results in more significant overlap between the predicted aging-related data and the "ground truth" aging-related data. Yet, we obtain many novel predictions. Thus, we produce new knowledge about human aging from de-noised dynamic networks encompassing multiple biological data types, complementing in this way the existing knowledge obtained from sequence or expression data.
Using Technology to Build Teacher Decision-Making Skills.

Teachers must make quick, automatic, and conscious decisions in the classroom in order to maintain control and create an optimal environment for learning. The Department of Teaching and Learning at Peabody College of Vanderbilt University developed a program that uses technology to help give preservice teachers these necessary skills prior to entering the classroom. The program examined problems that student teachers had encountered in their practice teaching experiences and developed a series of learning experiences using videotapes, computer simulations, and videodiscs. The preservice teachers were enthusiastic about the program, and through observations it was determined that the experiences had developed their self-confidence and effectiveness as teachers.
Racial Differences in Behavioral Inpatient Diagnosis: Examining the Mechanisms using the 2004 Florida Inpatient Discharge Data

This study used the 2004 Florida Inpatient Discharge Data to examine the existence and the underlying mechanisms of the African American (AA)/white differences in behavioral inpatient diagnosis across a diverse patient population. Findings suggest that discharges of AA patients in Florida were at least twice as likely to have received a primary psychotic vs. affective or substance-related diagnosis, and this held true after between-hospital differences were controlled for. Furthermore, AA (vs. white) race was associated with a ratio of 3.3 in the population rate of hospitalization with a primary psychotic diagnosis, as compared to a ratio of 0.8 and 0.7 for affective and substance-related disorders, respectively. These findings demonstrated the wide existence of racial differences in behavioral inpatient diagnosis and the important role of clinician diagnostic behaviors as opposed to systems-level factors (such as racial differences in access to care and care-seeking behaviors) in leading to observed differences.
Assessment of Ventricular Function after Acute Myocardial Infarction by Plasma Volume Expansion

In order to see if changes in preload could be used to help assess left ventricular function, 24 patients with uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction (AMI) received plasma volume expansion (PVE). In eight patients (group A) cardiac index (CI) increased by 20% or more, and in 16 patients (group B) CI increased by less than 20% or decreased. By plotting left ventricular stroke-work index (LVSWI) against left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) before and after PVE, the ventricular function curves upon which the heart was operating could be assessed. In group A patients the values moved upward and to the right, while in group B the values during PVE moved horizontally or downward and to the right suggesting that at rest these hearts were operating at the peak of their function curves. Patients in group B had a higher incidence of anterior infarction and a lower control mean arterial pressure than patients in group A, but other clinical and control hemodynamic values did not differ between the two g...
Denervation effects on newt limb regeneration: Collagen and collagenase☆

Abstract Although the inhibitory effect of denervation on newt limb regeneration results in decreased macromolecular synthesis and changes in transcription, no specific protein has been identified to be differentially affected by denervation. This study reports the effect of denervation on two specific proteins involved in collagen metabolism in the regenerate. The activity of collagenase, a marker protein for dedifferentiation, was compared in normal regenerates and in limbs denervated at the time of amputation by means of culture techniques. The time course of collagenase activity in innervated versus denervated limbs indicates that the nerve is not required for the onset of collagenase production but suggests that inhibition of collagenase production in the regenerate may be related to formation of the regeneration blastema. The effect of denervation on synthesis of collagen, a marker protein for differentiation, relative to synthesis of noncollagen proteins was studied with tracer techniques in vivo . After unilateral denervation of palette-stage regenerateś, incorporation of proline into collagen is reduced to a larger extent (2.5- to 3-fold) than incorporation into NCP (1.8- to 2-fold). At 70 hr after denervation, the kinetics of incorporation of proline into both collagen and NCP indicate that the relatively larger effect of denervation on collagen synthesis results primarily from a differential reduction in the rate of collagen synthesis compared to NCP synthesis.
The Changing Role of the Energy Manager

The traditional energy manager has been primarily focused on the demand side management or energy conservation aspects of energy management. As a result, the energy manager's responsibilities were ...
Effects of the Anatomical Region Used for Insulin Injections on Glycemia in Type I Diabetes Subjects

OBJECTIVE Subcutaneous insulin is absorbed at different rates from different anatomical regions, but it is not clear how much the varying rates of absorption affect plasma glucose concentrations in diabetic subjects. To address this issue, subcutaneous injections of insulin in the abdomen were compared with subcutaneous injections of insulin in the thigh. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In a crossover trial, 22 type I diabetic subjects received, in random order, a test dose of regular insulin injected subcutaneously in the abdomen on one morning and in a thigh on another morning. The subjects also received, in random order, usual morning doses of NPH and regular insulins injected subcutaneously in the abdomen on one morning and in a thigh on another morning. The study was performed in the University of Minnesota General Clinical Research Center. Main outcome measures were plasma glucose and serum free insulin. RESULTS After injections of regular insulin in the abdomen, the peak postprandial increment in plasma glucose was 3.1 mM or 29% lower ( P P = 0.017), and the length of time required to achieve peak serum free insulin was significantly shorter than after injections of regular insulin in the thigh. After injections of NPH and regular insulins in the abdomen, the morning peak increment in plasma glucose was 2.5 mM or 18% lower ( P = 0.008) than after injections of NPH and regular insulins in a thigh. However, no significant difference was observed in the afternoon peak increment in plasma glucose. CONCLUSIONS A subcutaneous injection of regular insulin in the abdomen produced a substantially greater reduction in plasma glucose than an injection of regular insulin in the thigh. Changing the injection site of regular insulin from the abdomen to the thigh had an effect equivalent to reducing the dose administered. With injections of NPH and regular insulin in combination, the influence of the region used for injection was less but still potentially important.
Overinvestment, Tobin's q and gains from foreign acquisitions

Abstract U.S. acquisitions of foreign firms, show that bidder abnormal returns are substantially higher for high q bidders than low q bidders; further, bidder returns are significantly and inversely related to free cash flow for low q bidders but not for high q bidders. There is also evidence that financial markets reward more the initial than subsequent foreign investments of value maximizing U.S. multinational firms. Finally, bidder returns are found tc be higher when foreign acquisitions take place in low-tax-rate jurisdictions; in addition, the results show that the 1986 Tax Reform Act exerted a negative effect on bidder returns.
Picosecond measurements of vibrational energy decay in matrix-isolated polyatomic molecules

Abstract The rates of vibrational energy decay for the S 2 excited state of azulene have been measured in both monatomic and polyatomic matrix media at 4 K. We find that the existence of molecular modes in the polyatomic matrix does not substantially affect the rate of energy decay within the S 2 vibrational manifold of azulene. Temperature effects on vibrational energy decay rates have also been measured and the implications of the experimental details evaluated in terms of existing theoretical models.