cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sarcopenia Definitions Considering Body Size and Fat Mass Are Associated With Mobility Limitations: The Framingham Study

Age-related loss of muscle mass and strength, termed sarcopenia, is common among older adults and is associated with serious consequences, such as functional limitations, comorbidities, and mortality. Studies that have examined the relation between sarcopenia and mobility limitations in older adults have found conflicting results (1−5). This is perhaps due to the lack of a widely accepted definition of sarcopenia. Among the first to examine this question were Visser and colleagues (6), who found no association between sarcopenia and mobility limitation when sarcopenia was defined by low lean mass among elderly Framingham Study participants. They did report, however, that greater fat mass (FM) was associated with mobility limitation. These findings were later confirmed among older adults participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study III (1), suggesting FM may be more important for mobility than lean mass in older adults. Similarly, in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study, sarcopenia, based on low appendicular lean mass (ALM) adjusted for height squared, was not associated with incident mobility limitation (2). Yet when ALM was adjusted for both height and FM using the residuals method, sarcopenic women were at increased risk of future mobility limitation, suggesting that lean mass influences mobility in elders after accounting for body size and FM (2). It has been hypothesized that the combination of high FM and low lean mass may act synergistically so that older individuals with both may have greater mobility limitations compared with having either condition alone. Results from previous studies of this concept of “sarcopenic-obesity” and mobility limitations have, however, been contradictory as some support this hypothesis (5,7,8), whereas others do not (1,9,10). Given the conflicting data across studies of sarcopenia and mobility limitations, there exists a need to further examine this relation using appropriate sarcopenia measures. Thus, to expand on the results reported by Visser in the Framingham Study (6), the objective of this study was to examine two previously published measures of sarcopenia, which incorporate body size and FM, and their association with self-reported mobility limitation among community-dwelling older men and women. Additionally, to examine whether elders with both low lean mass and high FM are at even greater risk than those with either condition alone, we determined the association of sarcopenic-obesity with mobility limitation.
Adaptive matched filtering for QRS detection

The authors have investigated the use of an adaptive filter to whiten the noise in the ECG (electrocardiogram) signal and adjust the matched filter response accordingly. They applied a simple QRS detection strategy to the filtered signal and evaluated the QRS detector with ECG data containing severe motion artifact and muscle noise. Preliminary results indicate that in the presence of severe motion artifact, adaptive matched filtering for QRS detection represents a significant improvement over application of a matched filter with a white noise assumption. >
Diagnosis and Treatment Frequency for Overweight Children and Adolescents at Well Child Visits

Obesity in children is a rapidly growing problem and may be underrecognized by pediatricians. We reviewed 473 consecutive well child visits to assess frequency of correctly identifying overweight children. Of children with a body mass index greater than the 95th percentile for gender and age, only 27 (29%) were diagnosed as overweight by the physician. Our results suggest that the frequency of diagnosing children as overweight at well child visits is critically low.
LTW4 protein on mouse chromosome 1 is a member of a family of antioxidant proteins.

Abstract Based on its map position, polymorphism pattern, and expression in the kidney, the gene encoding liver 20,000–30,000 MW protein 4 (LTW4) can be considered a potential candidate for the Jckm2 modifying locus, which mediates the severity of polycystic kidney disease in the juvenile cystic kidney mouse. Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, we identified variants of a 26-kDa polypeptide that differed in their isoelectric points between the C57BL/6J and the DBA/2J inbred strains in a pattern similar to that originally described for LTW4 protein. N-terminal amino acid sequence was obtained by microsequencing analysis, and full-length clones were obtained by RT-PCR amplification and characterized. The map position of the cloned gene was determined and corresponded to that previously described for Ltw4. The gene has homology to a class of proteins characterized as thiol-specific antioxidants that are protective against damage caused by oxidative stress. The murine MER5 gene is also a member of this gene family and has recently been renamed Antioxidant protein 1 (Aop1), based on its functional characterization. We therefore propose that the gene encoding LTW4 be called Aop2.
The epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management of psychosocial risk factors in cardiac practice: The emerging field of behavioral cardiology

Observational studies indicate that psychologic factors strongly influence the course of coronary artery disease (CAD). In this review, we examine new epidemiologic evidence for the association between psychosocial risk factors and CAD, identify pathologic mechanisms that may be responsible for this association, and describe a paradigm for studying positive psychologic factors that may act as a buffer. Because psychosocial risk factors are highly prevalent and are associated with unhealthy lifestyles, we describe the potential role of cardiologists in managing such factors. Management approaches include routinely screening for psychosocial risk factors, referring patients with severe psychologic distress to behavioral specialists, and directly treating patients with milder forms of psychologic distress with brief targeted interventions. A number of behavioral interventions have been evaluated for their ability to reduce adverse cardiac events among patients presenting with psychosocial risk factors. Although the efficacy of stand-alone psychosocial interventions remains unclear, both exercise and multifactorial cardiac rehabilitation with psychosocial interventions have demonstrated a reduction in cardiac events. Furthermore, recent data suggest that psychopharmacologic interventions may also be effective. Despite these promising findings, clinical practice guidelines for managing psychosocial risk factors in cardiac practice are lacking. Thus, we review new approaches to improve the delivery of behavioral services and patient adherence to behavioral recommendations. These efforts are part of an emerging field of behavioral cardiology, which is based on the understanding that psychosocial and behavioral risk factors for CAD are not only highly interrelated, but also require a sophisticated health care delivery system to optimize their effectiveness.
Diagnostic difficulties and pitfalls in rapid on-site evaluation of endobronchial ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration

Background: One of the novel techniques utilizing fine needle aspiration (FNA) in the diagnosis of mediastinal and lung lesions is the endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-guided FNA. In this study, we describe five cases which had a discrepancy between on-site evaluation and final diagnosis, or a diagnostic dilemma when rendering the preliminary diagnosis, in order to illustrate some of the diagnostic difficulties and pitfalls that can occur in EBUS FNA. Methods: A total of five EBUS FNA cases from five patients were identified in our records with a discrepancy between the rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) and final diagnosis, or that addressed a diagnostic dilemma. All of the cases had histological confirmation or follow-up. The cytomorphology in the direct smears, cell block, and immunohistochemical stains were reviewed, along with the clinical history and other available information. Results: Two cases were identified with a nondefinitive diagnosis at ROSE that were later diagnosed as malignant (metastatic signet-ring cell adenocarcinoma and metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC)) on the final cytological diagnosis. Three additional cases were identified with a ROSE and final diagnosis of malignant (large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) and two squamous cell carcinomas), but raised important diagnostic dilemmas. These cases highlight the importance of recognizing discohesive malignant cells and bland neoplasms on EBUS FNA, which may lead to a negative or a nondefinitive preliminary diagnosis. Neuroendocrine tumors can also be difficult due to the wide range of entities in the differential diagnosis, including benign lymphocytes, lymphomas, small and nonsmall cell carcinomas, and the lack of immunohistochemical stains at the time of ROSE. Finally, the background material in EBUS FNAs may be misleading and unrelated to the cells of interest. Conclusions: This study illustrates the cytomorphology of five EBUS FNA cases that address some of the diagnostic challenges witnessed while examining these specimens during ROSE. Many of the difficulties faced can be attributed to the baseline cellularity of the aspirates, the bronchial contamination, the difficulty identifying neoplasms with bland cytology, the wide spectrum of diseases that can occur in the mediastinum with overlapping cytomorphologic features, the mismatch between the background material and the cell populations present, and the overall unfamiliarity with these types of specimens.
Model-Based Reinforcement Learning in Factored-State MDPs

We consider the problem of learning in a factored-state Markov decision process that is structured to allow a compact representation. We show that the well-known algorithm, factored Rmax, performs near-optimally on all but a number of timesteps that is polynomial in the size of the compact representation, which is often exponentially smaller than the number of states. This is equivalent to the result obtained by Kearns and Roller for their DBN-E3 algorithm, except that we've conducted the analysis in a more general setting. We also extend the results to a new algorithm, factored IE, that uses the interval estimation approach to exploration and can be expected to outperform factored Rmax on most domains
Sources of nitrate in snowmelt discharge : Evidence from water chemistry and stable isotopes of nitrate

To determine whether NO3− concentration pulses in surface water in early spring snowmelt discharge are due to atmospheric NO3−, we analyzed stream δ15N-NO3− and δ18O-NO3− values between February and June of 2001 and 2002 and compared them to those of throughfall, bulk precipitation, snow, and groundwater. Stream total Al, DOC and Si concentrations were used to indicate preferential water flow through the forest floor, mineral soil, and ground water. The study was conducted in a 135-ha subcatchment of the Arbutus Watershed in the Huntington Wildlife Forest in the Adirondack Region of New York State, U.S.A. Stream discharge in 2001 increased from 0.6 before to 32.4 mm day−1 during snowmelt, and element concentrations increased from 33 to 71 μmol L−1 for NO3−, 3 to 9 μmol L−1 for total Al, and 330 to 570 μmol L−1 for DOC. Discharge in 2002 was variable, with a maximum of 30 mm day−1 during snowmelt. The highest NO3−, Al, and DOC concentrations were 52, 10, and 630 μmol L−1, respectively, and dissolved Si decreased from 148 μmol L−1 before to 96 μmol L−1 during snowmelt. Values of δ15N and δ18O of NO3− in stream water were similar in both years. Stream water, atmospherically-derived solutions, and groundwaters had overlapping δ15N-NO3− values. In stream and ground water, δ18O-NO3− values ranged from +5.9 to +12.9‰ and were significantly lower than the +58.3 to +78.7‰ values in atmospheric solutions. Values of δ18O-NO3− indicating nitrification, increase in Al and DOC, and decrease in dissolved Si concentrations indicating water flow through the soil suggested a dilution of groundwater NO3− by increasing contributions of forest floor and mineral soil NO3− during snowmelt.
Precise, highly female–biased sex ratios in a social spider

It has been recognized for some time that the risk of producing maleless clutches should select for a lower than binomial variance in the sex ratio of organisms with female-biased sex ratios, small clutches and breeding groups containing the clutch of a single female. However, to date, precise sex ratios have only been reported for organisms with haplodiploid sex determination, a system which allows direct control of the sex of individual offspring. In contrast, under heterogametic sex determination chance is expected to play a crucial role in determining the sex composition of any one family, in particular when males are the heterogametic sex. Here, we present evidence of precise or underdispersed primary sex ratios in the Neotropical social spider Anelosimus domingo Levi. We show that this diplodiploid species with male heterogamety has not only beaten the odds of meiosis by producing mostly daughters, but has also attained relative precision in the proportion of sons and daughters produced in any one clutch. The latter finding suggests the existence of mechanisms that allow sorting of the two types of sperm in this spider species.
Optimal Lung Inflation Techniques under the Current Standard Lung Protection Protocol in a Rat Lung Transplantation Model

Purpose Historically, most of experimental work to seek for the optimal lung inflation techniques during lung preservation was performed in the late 1990s. Currently clinical lung preservation protocol has been more standardized; however, the optimal lung inflation techniques under the current lung preservation setting remain to be defined while those techniques play a pivotal role in the optimal lung preservation. Methods and Materials Lewis rat lungs were perfused with and stored in cold Perfadex for 6 hours at different levels of lung inflation defined by total lung capacity (25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of total lung capacity (TLC)) ( Fig. 1 A). Then orthotopic left lung transplantation using cuff techniques was performed in syngenic Lewis rats. Two hours after reperfusion, posttransplant allograft function, pro-inflammatory and lung surfactant profiles were evaluated and compared among the groups. Results Lungs with 75% or 100% TLC inflation showed a significantly better oxygenation in blood gas than 25% and 50% inflated lungs ( Fig 1 B). Lungs with 75% or 100% TLC exhibited attenuated serum TNF-α, IL-1β, ICAM-1 mRNA levels as compared to those with the deflated lungs, suggesting reduced ischemic reperfusion injury. In addition, transmission electron microscopy investigation confirmed better preserved lung surfactants in the alveolar space in the lungs with 75% or 100% TLC. Conclusions Lungs with 75% or 100% TLC inflation during preservation appear to be more beneficial with better posttransplant allograft function through attenuated reperfusion injury and better preserved lung surfactants.
Economics of Direct Legislation

This paper develops a theory of direct legislation to explain (i) why some issues are resolved by popular vote and others by elected representatives, and (ii) why citizens vote on some ballot propositions and abstain on others. Evidence is provided by a new data set describing 871 California propositions. The main findings are the following. "Good government" issues were usually resolved by legislative measures and distributional issues by initiatives. Citizen-initiated legislation was more common when representatives were unresponsive to the electorate. Voter turnout was higher on distributional propositions than good government propositions. Voter participation on ballot measures has been increasing over time.
The problem of disability definition: again.

(1999). The problem of disability definition: again. Disability and Rehabilitation: Vol. 21, No. 8, pp. 392-395.
Identification of Arabidopsis Histone Deacetylase HDA6 Mutants That Affect Transgene Expression

A mutant screen was conducted in Arabidopsis that was based on deregulated expression of auxin-responsive transgenes. Two different tightly regulated (i.e., very low expression in the absence of auxin treatment and very high expression after exogenous auxin treatment) auxin-responsive promoters were used to drive the expression of both a β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene and a hygromycin phosphotransferase (HPH)–selectable marker gene. This screen yielded several mutants, and five of the mutations (axe1-1 to axe1-5) mapped to the same locus on chromosome 5. A map-based cloning approach was used to locate the axe1 mutations in an Arabidopsis RPD3-like histone deacetylase gene, referred to as HDA6. The axe1 mutant plants displayed increased expression of the GUS and HPH transgenes in the absence of auxin treatment and increased auxin-inducible expression of the transgenes compared with nonmutant control plants. None of a variety of endogenous, natural auxin-inducible genes in the mutant plants were upregulated like the transgenes, however. Results of treatment with the DNA methylation inhibitor 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine suggest that the axe1 mutations affect transgene silencing; however, histone deacetylase inhibitors had no affect on transgene silencing in mutant or control plants. The specific effect of AtHDA6 mutations on the auxin-responsive transgenes implicates this RPD3-like histone deacetylase as playing a role in transgene silencing. Furthermore, the effect of AtHDA6 on transgene silencing may be independent of its histone deacetylase activity.
Evolution of Vertebrate Limbs: Robust Morphology and Flexible Development

SYNOPSIS. New information about molecular mechanisms of development can be combined with existing knowledge about embryology, anatomy and paleontology to allow for an increased understanding of evolutionary biology. The tetrapod limb is appropriate for such an approach since much is known about both its structural variation and development. To this end we are investigating molecular regulatory mechanisms in urodele limb development and regeneration. Urodeles have unique patterns of limb development compared to other tetrapods. In addition they are able to regenerate their limbs as adults, thus providing the opportunity to conduct comparative studies of the molecular mechanisms involved in development and regeneration in an identical genetic background. We have investigated the role of several homeobox-containing genes in the control of growth and pattern formation during limb development and regeneration, and have found that although there can be considerable variation in the ways in which expression of these genes is regulated in tune and space, their expression patterns relative to morphological landmarks is conserved. These results suggest that the function of these genes is a deeply conserved feature of all tetrapods, and may be the molecular manifestation of the homology between different limb types. These conserved similarities are overlaid with changes in the time at which genes are expressed and the sequence in which structures differentiate. It is these latter features that are most likely responsible for the wide variety of morphologies observed among tetrapod limbs.
Innovations in Policing: Meanings, Structures, and Processes

Research on organizational innovation is challenging given its complex nature. Using Wolfe's (1994) review and critique of the vast innovation literature, we identify some of the key conceptual and theoretical issues within three separate research streams: diffusion, organizational innovativeness, and innovation process. In doing so, we suggest that police researchers should pay more attention to defining and conceptualizing innovation; to testing multiple theories explaining the spread of different innovations across police agencies; to analyzing the structural and cultural bases of diffusion; to examining and comparing the effects of individual, organizational, and environmental determinants on different innovations; and to designing systematic longitudinal studies on the entire innovation process. In addition, we examine some trends and issues related to judging innovations. Our purpose is to provide guidance that will contribute to the development of a coherent and generalizable body of research on po...
Some effects of partial pulmonary valvectomy.

Partial pulmonary valvectomy was performed in 19 dogs. No change in pulmonary arterial pulse pressure was seen when less than one valvular cusp was removed; frequently no change was observed when an entire cusp was removed. Widening of the pulmonary arterial pulse pressure could be produced by removal of more than one cusp or by inducing pulmonary hypertension after removal of only one cusp. Observation as long as six months postoperatively revealed no evidence of right ventricular failure resulting from the operation.
Long-term survival differences for bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) patients with ipsilateral intrapulmonary metastasis at diagnosis

7207 Background: It has been suggested that survival for BAC patients with stage IIIB disease due to multiple lesions in the same lobe is improved over other stage IIIB patients, and that patients with multicentric BAC have improved survival over BAC patients with distant metastasis. To determine the prognostic implications of these various subsets of advanced stage BAC patients, we compared survival rates using a large population-based cohort. Methods: A case-only analysis of data from the U.S. SEER database during 1998–2002 was conducted. The primary outcome measured was overall survival (OS). OS and lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS) univariate analyses were conducted using the Kaplan-Meier method; multivariate survival analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazards ratios. Results: 2653 incident cases of BAC were analyzed with a 5-year follow-up duration, including 831 patients with advanced (i.e. stage IIIB or IV) BAC. Patients with stage IIIB BAC due to multiple lesions in the same lobe (n...
Rural Lesbians: Unique Challenges and Implications for Mental Health Providers

Although the majority of lesbians reside in urban areas, lesbian couples significantly outnumber partnered gay men in rural communities and are an important part of the rural demographic landscape. However, being present does not mean lesbians are fully embraced within rural culture. Rural culture i
A study of the variable response of human platelets to collagen: relation to aspirin-induced inhibition of aggregation.

Soluble collagen was extracted from human skin. The solutions of this collagen were storage-stable, and, in some samples of platelet-rich plasma, induced aggregation when diluted up to 1,000-fold. An examination of platelet aggregation in 20 normal subjects revealed a broad range of platelet responsiveness to collagen, as defined by the least collagen concentration needed to initiate platelet aggregation. The inhibitory effects of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. There was a direct correlation between the collagen concentration needed to demonstrate ASA inhibition of platelet aggregation and initial platelet sensitivity to collagen. ASA inhibition was obscured if too-large collagen concentrations were used to study the aggregation of collagen-sensitive platelets. The quantitative relationships between collagen, ASA, and platelets have an important bearing on the estimation of ASA as a platelet antiaggregating agent.
New York's Civil War Bounty Brokers

Y THE winter of 1862-1863 two things had become clear to the Lincoln administration: a great many more troops would be needed for the Union armies, and the volunteer system of supplying troops had broken down miserably. As a consequence, the Enrollment Act, this country's first draft law, was adopted on March 3, 1863. Since the draft was detested by most Americans, the Enrollment Act was designed primarily to stimulate volunteer enlistments; the draft itself would be employed only where a district failed to meet its quota with volunteers. To avoid the dreaded stigma of the draft, communities naturally worked hard to fill their quotas, but unfortunately young men no longer seemed anxious to sign up. It was necessary therefore to offer cash inducements-bounties-to attract volunteers, and these bounties mounted steadily as the months passed. Bitter rivalries broke out between communities, and prospective recruits would shop around for the high bounty districts. The door was now open to many kinds of fraud involving bounty jumpers, bounty brokers, corrupt provost marshals, and corrupt recruiting officers.' Although most aspects of the bounty system appear highly objectionable today, that which provoked the most criticism then concerned the brokers. Bounty jumping itself was often stimulated by brokers, who would entice young innocents to desert, reenlist, and desert ad infinitum, making jumping a highly profitable practice. But even worse than aiding and abetting jumpers was the ruthless exploitation of these young men by such devices as kidnaping, immigrant-running, grand larceny, assault, and murder. While it was legally unnecessary for one to enlist through a broker, agency workers thronged so thickly about recruiting and provost marshal
Estimating the Hypocenter and Mechanism of the August 15, 1991 Centre Hall, Pennsylvania Earthquake Using Single-Station Data

On August 15, 1991 a small ( m bLg = 3.0) earthquake occurred near the town of Centre Hall, Pennsylvania. Based on early reports of felt effects and earthquake-generated sounds, the epicenter was placed somewhere ENE of State College, Pennsylvania. Three-component short-period digital data from the DWWSSN station SCP were analyzed to determine the hypocenter. Often, for small earthquakes in regions without dense seismic networks, information about an event must be obtained from single-station data. In this case, since no shallow velocity model exists for the area, simple ideas of wave propagation are invoked to estimate the distance and back-azimuth to the event. The horizontal P-wave particle motion constrained the back-azimuth, after calibrating the horizontal components by measuring the back-azimuth of quarry blast P-waves of known location. Distance determination was hampered by lack of a detailed upper crustal velocity model. Using iterative forward waveform modeling, a velocity model was generated that fit the observed S-minus-P and Rg-minus-P times and Rg-wave dispersion, and which was consistent with known upper crustal velocities in the area. A source depth of less than 1 km was inferred from the Rg-to-S ratio, the depth phase sP, and reports of earthquake-generated sounds. Estimates of the focal mechanism were obtained by a grid search procedure using Green’s functions computed with wavenumber integration for shear dislocation sources. Theoretical and observed amplitudes of sP, direct SH and SV (taken as ratios to the direct P), along with P polarity were compared for all possible combinations of strike, dip, and rake. Though fault plane orientation is poorly constrained, E-W to WNW-ESE P-axis orientation is a robust result of the search. Normal-faulting mechanisms are inconsistent with the data. However, the theoretical SV-to-P ratio is up to a factor of two larger than the observed ratio. This is probably related to an inadequate structure model and waveform sensitivity to source depth. Mechanism P-axis trends are consistent with other regional stress field indicators in the area.
Studies of the effect of contraction joints and the effective earthquake-resistant measures for arch dams

Several researches and the seismic response of some arch dams indicate that the contraction joints have great influence on the seismic response of arch dams. In this paper, the dynamic contact problem resulted from the contraction joints is simulated by the non-smooth equation method combined with the consideration of the balance of momentum and kinetic energy at the impact time. Implicit-explicit integration scheme is used for the equilibrium equation of the arch dam-foundation system. The effect of seismic belt in arch dam is also studied. The seismic analysis of Xiaowan arch dam provids technique basis for the choice of earthquake-resistant measures to high arch dam.
Security and Safeguard Strategies for National Timber Supply

This paper suggests security and safeguard strategies for timber supply through investigation and analysis on the existing status of forest resources,the overall demand and supply of timber,and the import of timber and wood goods in China.Currently,the government should be guided by scientific outlook on development,give overall consideration to the development of eco-forest and timber forest construction,make the National Planning for Developing Timber Plantation and implement it,rationally allocate forest resources,further perfect the national credit policies and investment mechanism for forestry,scientifically carry out forest management,improve quality and productivity of forest stand,and promote the reserve and supply of timber resources to achieve the goal of safety timber supply in China.
Water permeation through polyvinyl chloride bags without overwrap

Water loss by permeation from polyvinyl chloride i.v. containers (Viaflex, Travenol Laboratories) without an overwrap is reported. Viaflex bags without the overwrap containing 0.9% sodium chloride injection or 5% dextrose injection in 50-ml, 100-ml, 500-ml, and 1000-ml sizes were used. All sizes were stored at room temperatures (25 degrees C) and in a refrigerator (4-8 degrees C); the two smaller sizes were additionally in a frost-free freezer (-20 degrees C) and in a non-frost-free freezer (-20 degrees C). Ten bags of each type were stored for 84 days; each container weighed on days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, 56, 70, and 84 days. Based on the weight change exhibited during this initial period, the time required to lose 10% of the weight was predicted. The bags were stored for that period of time and then weighed. The weight loss exhibited zero-order kinetics. At room temperature, the 50-ml containers of both solutions lost greater than 10% during the 84-day period. During this time, the 100-ml containers of both solutions lost 9% of their weight. Weight loss in the larger sizes was less than 5% during the 84-day period at room temperature. Under the colder storage conditions, weight loss averaged much less than 5% for all sizes during the 84 days. During extended storage, weight loss continued at the same rate for the 100-ml container but was slower for the larger sizes. The Viaflex container without the overwrap may be stored in a refrigerator or freezer for up to 84 days without substantial loss of water by permeation.
Structure Elucidation of Mixed-Linker Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks by Solid-State 1H CRAMPS NMR Spectroscopy and Computational Modeling

Mixed-linker zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) are nanoporous materials that exhibit continuous and controllable tunability of properties like effective pore size, hydrophobicity, and organophilicity. The structure of mixed-linker ZIFs has been studied on macroscopic scales using gravimetric and spectroscopic techniques. However, it has so far not been possible to obtain information on unit-cell-level linker distribution, an understanding of which is key to predicting and controlling their adsorption and diffusion properties. We demonstrate the use of 1H combined rotation and multiple pulse spectroscopy (CRAMPS) NMR spin exchange measurements in combination with computational modeling to elucidate potential structures of mixed-linker ZIFs, particularly the ZIF 8-90 series. All of the compositions studied have structures that have linkers mixed at a unit-cell-level as opposed to separated or highly clustered phases within the same crystal. Direct experimental observations of linker mixing were accompl...
Statistical Process Control in Cardiac Surgery? Ask Your Doctor.

See related article on pages 253-258. The pursuit of quality in medicine is not a recent phenomenon. Formalized in the Babylonian Hammurabi codes 4000 years ago, measurement of quality entered the modern era with the application of statistical methodology to medical outcomes in the early 19th century. Florence Nightingale in England and Ernest Codman in Boston challenged our profession study and report the “end results” of our efforts. The matter lay somewhat dormant until 1986, when the Health Care Financing Administration released a list of hospitals whose mortality rates exceeded “predicted mortality rates.” Based on administrative claims rather than clinical data, this approach had numerous methodological flaws—especially the absence of appropriate risk adjustment—and the program was terminated in 1993. However, the effect was dramatic. Clinical registries were developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, New York State, the Northern New England Cardiovascular Disease Study Group, and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. The introduction of serious and increasingly sophisticated analytical methodology to the assessment of quality in cardiac surgery had begun, and appropriate assessment of risk was one of its cornerstones. Paralleling and informing these efforts were the advances in science of quality assessment. In the same year that Codman reported surgical results, Taylor published his landmark study of efficiency in process. This approach laid the foundation for the statistical quality control methodology introduced by Shewhart and colleagues at Bell Laboratories in the 1920s with his introduction of the control chart. Observing that variation in processes does not always follow a Gaussian distribution, he described “common” sources of variation natural to the process —“in statistical control,” and “special” sources of variation, “not in control”—all of which could be graphically demonstrated by applying statistical methodology to graphic display. The application of these methodologies to the assessment of quality in medicine might appear intuitive if not imperative. It is in this vein that we greet the work of Moscarelli and colleagues with controlled exponentially weighted moving average charting to assess mortality in cardiac surgery. Using
Gene targeting in hemostasis. Factor X.

Blood coagulation Factor X (FX) is a vitamin K-dependent serine protease that plays a central role in blood clotting. Additionally, FX may exert other functions beyond coagulation but the precise role of this protein in these processes and the in vivo relevance remains to be further delineated. The development of gene knockout technology has allowed for a direct means to determine the physiological relevance of various proteins in a number of normal and pathological processes. Mice with a total deficiency of FX have been generated by targeted deletion of all exons encoding the mature FX protein. The genotypic distribution indicated that homozygous deficiency results in partial embryonic lethality at embryonic day (E) 11.5-12.5 with signs of massive bleeding but no histologically evident defects in the vasculature of these embryos or their yolk sac. The majority of those that survive to term die within 5 days, most frequently from intraabdominal bleeding. The remainder die between postnatal day (P)5 and P20 with intraabdominal, subcutaneous, or intracranial bleeding or a combination thereof. These observations underline the importance of FX function in embryonic and postnatal survival and confirm that these mice serve as effective models of the bleeding disorders observed in human FX deficiency. While the early FX-/- lethality impedes investigation of potential morphogenetic functions of FX in vivo, such studies may however become feasible through the availability of mice expressing mutant FX proteins, e.g., EPR-1 binding site mutants, or of mice with conditional FX deficiency.
Thirst neurons anticipate the homeostatic consequences of eating and drinking

Thirst motivates animals to drink in order to maintain fluid balance. Thirst has conventionally been viewed as a homeostatic response to changes in blood volume or tonicity. However, most drinking behaviour is regulated too rapidly to be controlled by blood composition directly, and instead seems to anticipate homeostatic imbalances before they arise. How this is achieved remains unknown. Here we reveal an unexpected role for the subfornical organ (SFO) in the anticipatory regulation of thirst in mice. By monitoring deep-brain calcium dynamics, we show that thirst-promoting SFO neurons respond to inputs from the oral cavity during eating and drinking and then integrate these inputs with information about the composition of the blood. This integration allows SFO neurons to predict how ongoing food and water consumption will alter fluid balance in the future and then to adjust behaviour pre-emptively. Complementary optogenetic manipulations show that this anticipatory modulation is necessary for drinking in several contexts. These findings provide a neural mechanism to explain longstanding behavioural observations, including the prevalence of drinking during meals, the rapid satiation of thirst, and the fact that oral cooling is thirst-quenching.
Childhood-Onset Peripheral Neuropathy with Cognitive Decline

Abstract Childhood-onset sensorimotor axonal neuropathy with cognitive decline can have several etiologies and may be challenging to diagnose. Here, we describe the diagnostic approach to this clinical constellation through presentation of a previously healthy and normally developing 3.5-year-old girl who developed progressive neurologic problems including unilateral in-toeing, difficulty walking, forgetfulness, and confusion. The differential diagnosis for her presentation includes a variety of conditions caused by pathogenic nuclear gene mutations such as spinal muscular atrophy, Brown-Vialetto-Van Laere syndrome, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, POLG -spectrum disorders, and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis; conditions caused by pathogenic mitochondrial DNA disorders; and nutritional deficiencies including vitamin B12 deficiency and vitamin E deficiency. Ultimately, the proband was found to harbor a previously described pathogenic mutation in MFN2 , thereby confirming the diagnosis of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease type 2. CMT disease is a group of inherited motor and sensory neuropathies that is classified based on neuropathy type. CMT type I is characterized by demyelinating neuropathy, and CMT type 2 is characterized by axonal neuropathy. The specific MFN2 mutation seen in this child, c.310C>T (p.R104W), has been previously reported to cause CMT2 in several unrelated kindred in an autosomal dominant manner. MFN2 encodes for mitofusin-2, a protein localizing to the outer mitochondrial membrane that is required for mitochondrial fusion. Disruption of mitofusin-2 leads to decreased mitochondrial fusion, reduced mitochondrial movement, as well as small, fragmented, and clustered mitochondria that prevent mitochondrial movement to the distal portions of neurons. Thus, MFN2 disorders manifest as an axonal neuropathy. This case underscores the importance of molecular testing to accurately establish the underlying genetic etiology, and thereby appropriate prognostic and recurrence risk counseling information, for progressive neurologic decline.
Cytostellin: A Nuclear Protein that Redistributes to Peripheral Cytoskeletal Locations During Mitosis and G1

Transcription and splicing of pre-mRNA transcripts are closely linked spatiotemporally and occur in discrete sites of the interphase nucleus termed “transcript” domains’01–4. Fluorescent in situ hybridization has revealed linear “tracks” of a single gene’s unspliced and spliced polyA-RNAs emerging from only one or two transcript domains per nucleus, indicating that each transcript is synthesized, processed and exported on a solid phase structure, located at a specific intranuclear position2, 3, 6. More recently, multiple transcription and splicing factors (e.g. SC35, 5 RNA polymerise II and heterogeneous ribonucleoproteins [hnRNPs]) were shown to be coordinately recruited to transcript domains, in response to new gene transcriptaon6.
The original Jones boys: histories of race and place in nineteenth-century American archaeology

ABSTRACTThe creation of archaeological knowledge is profoundly contingent. Yet the preference for decontextualized philosophy among theoretical archaeologists has created conditions in which histor...
Methionine Sulfoxide Formation by Cigarette Smoke is Associated with the Degradation of Plasma Proteins

Background: High level of protein carbonyls have been found in plasma proteins in smokers compared to non-smokers. While oxidation may directly interfere with activity, the extent to which oxidation affects protein turnover is less clear.Objectives: To determine levels of oxidized serum proteins cleared in the urine of smokers and non-smokers with focus on methionine sulfoxide (MSO) formation in Human Serum Albumin (HSA) and to determine the effect of methionine oxidation on the turnover of HSA.Method: 100 mL of urine were obtained from smoker and non-smokers. proteins were concentrated by reducing the sample size to 1.5% of the original volume. 200 µL of the concentrate then were separated by SDS-page gel electrophoresis. The band with intact HSA was cut out and the remainder of the gel was cut into four different pieces. Gel sections then were digested with trypsin. Levels of MSO in the resulting peptides were assessed by LC-MS/MS and data analysis was performed using the Skyline software package.Results: A group comparison between non-smokers (control) and smokers showed a slight increase in the levels of MSO found in intact HSA of smokers relative to non-smokers. Regions of gels with proteins of lower mass than intact HSA showed that degraded fragments of HSA in urine of both smokers and non-smokers have higher levels of MSO than are found in intact HSA.Conclusions: HSA in smokers has statistically significant higher levels of MSO than HSA in non-smokers. However, the higher levels of oxidation in smokers are concentrated in partially degraded HSA. At the moment it is not possible to say unequivocally whether oxidized HSA is more likely to be cleaved and cleared, if cleaved protein is more likely to be oxidized before clearance, or both.
Mechanical Response of the Brain Under Blast: The Effect of Blast Direction and the Head Protection

Blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI), is defined as a type of acquired brain injury that occurs upon the interaction of the human head with blast-generated high-pressure shockwaves. Lack of experimental studies due to moral issues, have motivated the researchers to employ computational methods to study the bTBI mechanisms. Accordingly, a nonlinear finite element (FE) analysis was employed to study the interaction of both unprotected and protected head models with explosion pressure waves. The head was exposed to the incoming shockwaves from front, back, and side directions. The main goal was to examine the effects of head protection tools and the direction of blast waves on the tissue and kinematical responses of the brain. Generation, propagation, and interactions of blast waves with the head were modeled using an arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) method and a fluid-structure interaction (FSI) coupling algorithm. The FE simulations were performed using Ls-Dyna, a transient, nonlinear FE code. Side blast predicted the highest mechanical responses for the brain. Moreover, the protection assemblies showed to significantly alter the blast flow mechanics. Use of faceshield was also observed to be highly effective in the front blast due to hindering of shockwaves.Copyright © 2016 by ASME
Revision Surgery in the Posterior Cruciate Ligament and Multiple-Ligament Injured Knee

Revision surgery for reconstruction of failed posterior cruciate and multiple ligament injured knees is a difficult problem for knee surgeons. The procedure is required much less commonly than revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions. One of the key steps in managing this challenging problem is determining the cause of failure for the original procedure. Just as in the case of ACL failures, common causes of failure for PCL and MLI reconstructions can be divided into three general categories: iatrogenic, biologic, and traumatic. Often unrecognized combined instability, improper graft technique, and abnormal bony architecture influence the success rate of primary and revision reconstructions. In devising a strategy for revision knee ligament surgery, thorough preoperative planning is essential to success.
Therapeutic plasma exchange as part of multimodal treatment of acquired hemophilia in a patient with concurrent acute intracerebral bleed and pulmonary embolism

BACKGROUND Autoantibodies against Factor VIII (FVIII) define the rare but life-threatening bleeding disorder acquired hemophilia A (AHA). Correction of FVIII deficiency and eradication of the factor inhibitor are the ultimate therapeutic goals in this disorder. Bypassing agents such as recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) or FVIII inhibitor bypassing agent are often used to control coagulopathy before the inhibitor is eradicated. Bypassing agents carry a risk of thrombosis, however. CASE REPORT We report a patient with newly diagnosed AHA and thalamic bleed who additionally had active atrial fibrillation and developed a segmental pulmonary embolism, limiting tolerable rFVIIa dosage. This patient with very-high-risk brain bleed and concurrent thrombosis on bypass agent represented a significant management dilemma for which we successfully utilized therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) to reduce the inhibitor titer. RESULTS FVIII inhibitor was undetectable and FVIII level was above the lower limit of normal within 12.5 days from starting TPE. While the patient ultimately died 24 days from admission for reasons unrelated to bleeding, his intracerebral hemorrhage was unchanged in size and no other bleeding morbidity was observed. CONCLUSION This patient achieved eradication of FVIII inhibitor and did not have bleed expansion while receiving multimodal therapy including corticosteroids, rituximab, and TPE. We discuss the periprocedural risks of TPE in an acquired hemophilia patient and our multiteam management of that risk.
Linking Sustainability Strategy to Operations Strategy

IIn the literature on sustainability, most scholars refer to sustainability strategy at the corporate level; what is discussed at the operational level are practices rather than strategy. Although corporate level sustainability strategy plays a key role in organizations by creating a culture of sustainability, sustainability at the operational level plays a more critical role by practically paving the way toward implementing sustainability. It appears that to date, no research has been conducted identifying the characteristics of sustainability strategy at the operational level that explains how operational strategy might be linked to sustainability strategy. In this study, we conduct a content analysis of nine Dow Jones industry leaders in order to fill this gap and offer a framework of operational sustainability strategy. Relying on sand cone model of cumulative capabilities, this study also investigates the sequence of competitive capabilities within the operational sustainability strategy.