cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cryostorage and Oxidative Stress in Mammalian Spermatozoa

Although cryopreservation of ejaculated sperm has been in clinical and agricultural use for decades, it is not completely clear how the damage that sperm incur as a result of cryopreservation contributes to fertilization failure, or embryonic or fetal loss. Oxygen is required for life, but oxidative metabolism, particularly during low temperature storage, of biological molecules can be potentially toxic due to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can modify cell functions or viability. A limited ability to store antioxidant enzymes combined with a membrane rich in unsaturated fatty acids makes spermatozoa particularly susceptible to oxidative stress and peroxidative attack by ROS, specifically superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide. This chapter outlines the primary mechanisms of sperm damage during cryopreservation and loss of subsequent fertility and discusses the potential mechanisms of DNA/chromosomal fragmentation and damage, lipid peroxidation, and intracellular ice formation and associated cell damage. The origin of ROS in sperm is discussed as well as how ROS are processed and ultimately scavenged by sperm.
Hubble Space Telescope and Ground-Based Optical Imaging of the Proto-Planetary Nebula M1-92

We present HST and ground-based images of the bipolar proto-planetary nebula M1-92. Trammell et al. (1993) studied M1-92 using spectropolarimetry and concluded that the continuum emission is reflected from the inner regions of the object, the forbidden lines are formed locally in the bipolar lobes, and the permitted lines are partially reflected and partially formed in the bipolar lobes. The emission produced in the lobes of M1-92 is indicative of shock heating, V s = 60 – 100 km s-1. Shock emission dominates the optical line spectra of the lobes of M1-92 and is a powerful probe into the properties of the mass loss occurring between the AGB and PN phases of evolution.
THE DUKE ELDER FAMILY/CAREGIVER TRAINING (DEFT) PROGRAM.

The decline in functional reserves and comorbidities complicate the recovery of older adults following a hospital discharge. Consequently, the assistance of family and friends (caregivers) while convalescing at home is particularly needed. The Duke Elder Family Caregiver Training (DEFT) Center offers a model for an academic-medical-community partnership for integrated caregiver support after hospital discharge. Thus, the goal of this presentation is to describe the conceptualization and structure of the DEFT and describe its preliminary results on caregiver preparedness and readiness for hospital discharge and patient readmission rates. The DEFT leverages the use of EPIC/Maestro for consult from hospital providers and designed its workflow to integrate its teaching as part of Duke’s hospital discharge process. Graduate students from Duke School of Nursing participated in the DEFT caregiver program for course credits. Since 10 months of launching the DEFT caregiver training program, more than 200 consults were received from hospital providers in selected units for caregiver training. Of these, 76 were successfully approached and trained. Analyses of patient data revealed lower 30-day readmission rate of patients whose caregivers received DEFT training compared those who did not (5.9% vs 22%). Overall, an improvement in levels of caregiver preparedness and readiness for hospital discharge was observed within 14 days of training. Lessons learned from the initial launch of DEFT included allowing case managers to write consults for DEFT in addition to physicians and advanced practice providers; optimizing training location for caregiver convenience; and strategizing informational sessions about DEFT for hospital clinicians.
Consumer-Facing Data, Information, And Tools: Self-Management Of Health In The Digital Age.

Consumers have greater access to data, information, and tools to support the management of their health than ever before. While the sheer quantity of these resources has increased exponentially ove...
Challenging the “Culture” of the Tracheal Aspirate

The tracheal aspirate (TA) culture is commonly ordered in the NICU, but it has low sensitivity and specificity, limited by contamination. Interpretation of a TA culture out of context can lead to antibiotic overuse, which should be avoided. Clinicians should practice caution in the diagnosis of congenital pneumonia and use newer, published approaches to the diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia in neonates. A subset of neonatal patients with risk factors of maternal fever or chorioamnionitis requiring intubation may benefit from TA culture performed within 12 hours after birth, to help identify an organism when blood culture may be negative, and tailor antimicrobial therapies. The more invasive, but more sensitive, technique of nonbronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage should be considered in older infants when bacterial isolation from the lower respiratory tract is necessary, because TA culture cannot distinguish between colonization and infection in that population.
Evaluating the impact of camp-based reunification on the resilience of siblings separated by foster care

Abstract Positive youth development is an approach to intervention that is designed to build upon youths' strengths, provide opportunities to develop skills, foster healthy relationships, and promote a sense of belonging and contribution. Such approaches may have an outsized potential for youth in foster care, who in addition to maltreatment victimization also face foster care specific risks including familial separation, relational discontinuity, and impermanence. To explore the viability of positive youth development for youth in care, this observational study investigated whether participation in a camp-based reunification program for siblings separated by foster care called Camp To Belong influenced youth resilience, a critical protective mechanism for maltreated youth. Three-hundred and thirty-nine youth from eight camp locations in two countries completed pre-test post-test questionnaires, and hierarchical linear modeling procedures determined if youth, sibling group characteristics, and program experiences influenced changes in youth resilience. Findings suggest modest increases in resilience across all camp locations (Yoo = .47, SE = .03, p
Why estimates of deglacial ice loss should be biased low

Abstract Sea level rose by about 130 m over the last deglaciation, but the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, 24,000 to 18,000 yr before present) is estimated to have had only enough grounded ice to raise sea level by about 115 m. These estimates of the mass of grounded ice are typically expressed as an equivalent sea-level rise by normalizing with the oceanic surface area and seawater density. Here we diagnose the deglacial freshwater budget by comparing the freshwater content of the modern ocean to four reconstructions of the Last Glacial Maximum constrained by data from porewaters, benthic foraminifera, and faunal assemblages. A deglacial ice loss of 127.4 to 128.0 m of sea-level equivalent is necessary to balance the freshwater budget, suggesting a bias of 2.0 to 2.6 m less than the assumed true sea-level rise. Oceanic thermal expansion explains 0.8 to 1.4 m of the bias. Independent of deglacial warming, an additional 1.2 m of bias is intrinsic to the formulation of the equivalent sea-level metric. Thus, estimates of deglacial ice loss should underestimate the true sea-level rise, leading to a reduction in the amount of glacial land ice that needs to be found.
Predictors of Neurological Outcome Following Subaxial Cervical Spine Trauma.

Background The treatment of traumatic subaxial cervical spine injuries remains controversial. The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale (AIS) is a widely-used metric to score neurological function after spinal cord injury (SCI). Here, we evaluated the outcomes of patients who underwent treatment of subaxial cervical spine injuries to identify predictors of neurologic function after injury and treatment. Methods We performed a retrospective logistic regression analysis to determine predictors of neurological outcome; 76 patients met the inclusion criteria and presented for a three-month follow-up. The mean age was 50.6±18.7 years old and the majority of patients were male (n=49, 64%). Results The majority of patients had stable AIS scores at three months (n=56, 74%). A subset of patients showed improvement at three months (n=16, 21%), while a small subset of patients had neurological decline at three months (n=4, 5%). In our model, increasing patient age (odds ratio [OR] 1.39, 1.10-2.61 95% confidence interval [CI], P 24 hours) was associated with a decreased odds of neurological improvement (OR 0.24, 0.05-0.99 95% CI, P=0.048). Cervical spine injuries are heterogeneous and difficult to manage. Conclusion We found that increasing patient age and an oncologic history were associated with neurological deterioration while a delay in surgical treatment was associated with decreased odds of improvement. These predictors of outcome may be used to guide prognosis and treatment decisions.
Effectiveness of interventions targeting self-regulation to improve adherence to chronic disease medications: a meta-review of meta-analyses.

Adherence to chronic disease medication regimens depends in part on successful self-regulation. However, the overall benefit of interventions targeting self-regulatory mechanisms is not well-unders...
Precision Cancer Medicine and Clinical Trial Design

Over the past decade, large-scale genomic surveys have uncovered a wide landscape of somatic alterations in cancers, both across different types and within histopathologically identical sub-types. The contribution of this molecular heterogeneity towards clinical outcome (e.g. overall survival, response, toxicity) has become the focus of intense study and is undoubtedly an important component of precision cancer medicine. Importantly, as our understanding of cancer as a heterogeneous and complex disease continues to evolve, so do the approaches towards therapeutic discovery [1, 2]. Currently, multiple targeted therapies to matching genomic alterations have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) while many others are being evaluated in clinical trials. While the availability of cancer genomic testing in the clinic has led to opportunities in oncology such as drug target discovery, it has also led to challenges including how to develop targeted therapies for small populations of patients.
Enduring Myth: The Survival of the Unfit in Sophocles, Heiner Müller, Ursula Krechel, and Hans Blumenberg

To endure and to survive appear as synonyms in dictionaries, but the fates of the two words in the popular imagination have taken opposite tracks. ‘Endurance’ has enjoyed literary cache and wide ad...
Coordination and Party Change in the United States

The ability of American political parties to change issue positions is potentially hindered by problems of coordination. Research on parties since the 1990s has shown what tools party leadership ca...
Digital Badges and Employer Interest

Digital badges are becoming more prevalent in the credentialing sector yet there is limited understanding of how digital badges influence the hiring process. The researcher conducted a type of fiel...
Incommensurate Spin Fluctuations in the Spin-Triplet Superconductor Candidate UTe 2

Spin-triplet superconductors are of extensive current interest because they can host topological state and Majorana fermions important for quantum computation. The uranium-based heavy-fermion superconductor ${\mathrm{UTe}}_{2}$ has been argued as a spin-triplet superconductor similar to ${\mathrm{UGe}}_{2}$, URhGe, and UCoGe, where the superconducting phase is near (or coexists with) a ferromagnetic (FM) instability and spin-triplet electron pairing is driven by FM spin fluctuations. Here we use neutron scattering to show that, although ${\mathrm{UTe}}_{2}$ exhibits no static magnetic order down to 0.3 K, its magnetism in the [$0,K,L$] plane is dominated by incommensurate spin fluctuations near an antiferromagnetic ordering wave vector and extends to at least 2.6 meV. We are able to understand the dominant incommensurate spin fluctuations of ${\mathrm{UTe}}_{2}$ in terms of its electronic structure calculated using a combined density-functional and dynamic mean-field theory.
On Magic, Religion, Science and After-Science

According to Frazier, magic seems to predate religion, which is later challenged by science. Throughout the ages, man has been trying to better understand the world around him; the quest for the truth. To do this, he has resorted to magic (and superstition), religion and science. In this essay, we have reviewed the extent to which the three ways of “knowing” have helped man understand his world and his role in it. We have essayed to show that there might be need to invent another paradigm, beyond science, to lead us even closer to the truth. Even when science is not dogmatic and ritualistic, like religion, it might not lead us to the whole truth.
Recruitment and Screening Methods in Alzheimer's Disease Research: The FIT-AD Trial.

Background Recruiting older adults with Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia into clinical trials is challenging requiring multiple approaches. We describe recruitment and screening processes and results from the FIT-AD Trial, a single site, pilot randomized controlled trial testing the effects of a 6-month aerobic exercise intervention on cognition and hippocampal volume in community-dwelling older adults with mild-to moderate AD dementia. Methods Ten recruitment strategies and a four-step screening process were used to ensure a homogenous sample and exercise safety. The initial target sample was 90 participants over 48 months which was increased to 96 to allow those in the screening process to enroll if qualified. A tertiary analysis of recruitment and screening rates, recruitment yields and costs, and demographic characteristics of participants was conducted. Results During the 48-month recruiting period, 396 potential participants responded to recruitment efforts, 301 individuals were reached and 103 were tentatively qualified. Of these, 67 (69.8%) participants completed the optional magnetic resonance (MRI) imaging and seven were excluded due to abnormal MRI findings. As a result, we enrolled 96 participants with a 2.92 screen ratio, 2.14 recruitment rate, and 31.9% recruitment yield. Referrals (28.1%) and Alzheimer's Association events/services (21.9%) yielded over 49% of the enrolled participants. Total recruitment cost was $ 38,246 or $ 398 per randomized participant. Conclusions A multi-prong approach involving extensive community outreach was essential in recruiting older adults with AD dementia into a single-site trial. For every randomized participant, three individuals needed to be screened. Referrals were the most cost-effective recruitment strategy.
The principles and practices of psychoeducation with alcohol or other drug use disorders: A review and brief guide.

Abstract Overview In the current work, we build upon a small body of literature that delineates cross-cutting factors, or processes, of evidence-based alcohol or other drug (AOD) therapies. Here, we discuss Psychoeducation. We define psychoeducation as a brief process of therapy focused on the communication of varied aspects of disease- and/or treatment-related information. Method The authors conducted a literature review and qualitative content analysis to derive a set of principles and practices of psychoeducation. The review used source documents (i.e., literature reviews, therapy manuals, and government-issued practice guidelines) and videos (i.e., therapy demonstration videos), and we performed analyses in NVIVO. Results The review identified nine principles and 21 practices. Together, the principles suggest that psychoeducation in evidence-based addictions therapies can be characterized as a collaborative approach to teaching, education, or other provision of information. The term collaborative denotes a shift in emphasis from compliance to a more egalitarian partnership focused on meeting individual health needs. Specific practices included ways to transition to psychoeducation (e.g., provide rationale and promote expectancy), teaching methods in psychoeducation (e.g., use plain language), tailoring content in psychoeducation (e.g., to learning style, to cultural worldview), and methods for facilitating a dialogue about the information (i.e., five question types), for facilitating understanding and retention of the information (e.g., tailor to individual needs, use of varied teaching modalities), and how to end psychoeducation and engage in related goal-setting, where applicable. Conclusions We frame psychoeducation as a collaborative approach to teaching where client engagement, understanding, and utilization of the information provided is the central goal. We offer a novel resource with pragmatic value to trainees, providers, and clinical supervisors who do not consider themselves aligned with a single evidence-based modality but who may benefit from training and proficiency assessment in core, behavioral health counseling competencies.
Same-day pegfilgrastim or pegfilgrastim-cbqv prophylaxis in miniCHOP chemotherapy based regimens for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

e19542Background: Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, specifically, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is most frequently diagnosed among older patients. The utilization of a reduced dose of cyclophosphamid...
Trend changes of national zolpidem users and exposure cases after FDA drug safety communications.

Purpose To evaluate the impact of FDA's 2013 zolpidem Drug Safety Communications (DSCs), which recommended lowering the initial dose to mitigate drowsiness, on national estimates of zolpidem users and zolpidem exposure cases. Methods We analyzed trend changes of national zolpidem users from the IQVIA Total Patient Tracker (TPT) and zolpidem exposure cases reported to the National Poison Data System (NPDS), 2009-2018. To control for time varying confounding, the adjusted trends were analyzed using simple and controlled interrupted time series (ITS). We also adjusted for seasonal changes. Three sedating antidepressants were used together as a control. Results The national estimates of high-dose zolpidem users in TPT decreased significantly in the month immediately post-DSC; the absolute level decrease was -12.51 (95% CI: -14.12, -10.89) per 10 000 U.S. population relative to sedating antidepressants. The trend continuously decreased post-DSC, resulting in a 59% overall decrease by the end of the study period. There was a larger decrease in high-dose zolpidem use in females than in males. There was a level decrease of zolpidem exposure cases in the NPDS immediately post-DSC, -0.37 absolute decline (95% CI, -0.53, -0.20) per 10 000 national zolpidem users; or - 1.33 absolute decline (95% CI, -1.54, -1.13) per 1000 total NPDS exposure cases relative to sedating antidepressants. Similar patterns were observed for cases reporting drowsiness. The results from the single ITS and controlled ITS were similar. Conclusions Zolpidem users and exposure cases decreased significantly post-DSC, suggesting practitioners and patients became aware of and responded to the zolpidem DSCs. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Introduction: In Search of Esperanto

After almost one hundred years of continuous use, Esperanto has achieved the status and character of a fully-fledged language, functioning much as any other language does. Research on Esperanto is hampered because knowledge of the subject is often regarded, ipso facto, as evidence of a lack of objectivity, and also because Esperanto, as largely an L2, is elusive, and its speakers hard to quantify. The problem is compounded by the rapid shift in its community from membership-based organizations to decentralized, informal web-based communication. Also shifting are the community's ideological underpinnings: it began as a response to lack of communication across languages but is now often perceived by its users as an alternative, more equitable means of communication than the increasingly ubiquitous English. Underlying these changes is a flourishing cultural base, including an extensive literature and periodical press. There is a need for more research - linguistic, sociolinguistic, and in the history of ideas. In intellectual history, Esperanto and related ideas have played a larger role than is generally recognized, intersecting with, and influencing, such movements as modernization in Japan, the development of international organizations, socialism in many parts of the world, and, in our own day, machine translation.
Villus Epithelial Cell Migration is Delayed in Hypothyroid C.RF|[sol]|hyt Mice |[bull]| 579

The intestinal epithelium is established and maintained by continuous production of new cells, their migration along the villi and extrusion at the villus tip. In newborn mice replicating and differentiating cells are located throughout the intervillus epithelium, and mature cells slowly traverse the length of the villi. During the suckling period the proliferative epithelium becomes organized and confined to developing crypts. As crypts mature near weaning the replicating cell populations expand, and villus cell migration accelerates eventually reaching rates in adults that are 4-5X greater than in newborns. Glucocorticoid and thyroid hormones mediate changes in digestive enzyme expression during the suckling-weaning transition period, but mechanisms regulating epithelial renewal kinetics during development are not known. Our prior studies show glucocorticoids exert little effect on cell migration and epithelial renewal rates. This study examines thyroid hormone effects on villus epithelial cell migration in C.RF/hyt mice, a strain with primary hypothyroidism, undetectable serum T4 and normal corticosterone production. Proliferating cells were labeled with the thymidine analog, BrdUrd, on day of life 2, 5, 9, 14 or 18, or adults, and migration examined at intervals after labeling using immunohistochemical staining. Migration rates in C.RF/hyt and control euthyroid, Balb/cJ, mice are comparable in the first week of life when endogenous T4 levels are normally low. As T4 rises in the second week, migration rates accelerate rapidly in Balb/cJ mice. In contrast, migration rates in C.RF/hyt mice increase only gradually through weaning and remain delayed in adult animals. In all regions of the small bowel, villus epithelial cell migration rates in adult C.RF/hyt mice reach only 50% of the rates attained in adult euthyroid mice. Correction of hypothyroidism with dietary supplementation adequate to establish fertility and normal serum T4 results in more rapid epithelial cell migration and renewal rates approaching those observed in euthyroid mice. These studies show normal acceleration of villus epithelial cell migration rates during intestinal development are regulated by the physiologic rise in thyroid hormone levels during the suckling period.
Control of histone acetylation: Cell-cycle dependence of deacetylase activity in Physarum nuclei

Abstract Nuclei from naturally synchronous plasmodia of Physarum polycephalum were assayed for histone deacetylase activity. The substrate for the assay was a peptide comprising the amino terminal region (residues 1–23) of calf thymus histone H4. The deacetylase activity per nucleus remained constant during S phase and early G2 phase and then doubled in a linear fashion during mid and late G2 phase reaching its maximum level at metaphase. The data imply that H4 acetylation is linked to prior chromatin structural changes.
Isozymes of rabbit phosphofructokinase. Electrophoretic and immunochemical studies.

Abstract The distribution of phosphofructokinase isozymes in rabbit tissues was analyzed by electrophoretic and immunochemical techniques. Antisera to the enzyme purified from skeletal muscle and to enzyme purified from liver were prepared. The antiserum to muscle phosphofructokinase showed a partial reaction with the liver enzyme, whereas little cross-reaction was observed with antiserum to liver phosphofructo-kinase toward the muscle enzyme. Skeletal muscle extracts and heart extracts contain a single identical isozyme species. It is proposed that this isozyme be designated phosphofructokinase A. The major isozyme species of liver and erythrocyte are also identical (phosphofructokinase B). All other tissues examined contain isozymes that include both A and B monomers. Extracts of lung, adipose tissue, and stomach contain a complete set of five A-B hybrids. Other tissues appear to contain isozymes that have A and B monomers, but both electrophoresis and antiserum precipitation data indicate that at least one other isozyme is present. This is most obvious in extracts of brain tissue. Electrophoresis of extracts of brain produces at least four activity bands of mobility intermediate between those observed following electrophoresis of isozymes A and B. One of these bands of activity was not removed by treatment with a combination of both antisera while a similar treatment of A-B hybrids removed all activity. The residual activity is designated phosphofructokinase C.
DETERMINATIONS OF THE LEVELS OF SERUM FOLATE IN PATIENTS WITH CARCINOMA OF THE HEAD AND NECK TREATED WITH METHOTREXATE.

Summary In eighteen patients with far advanced neoplasms of the head and neck, the levels of serum folate were shown to correlate with the patient9s nutritional status. A similar correlation was observed in patients with tumors involving areas other than those of the head and neck. In the former group, levels of folate in the serum were determined before and after treatment with methotrexate (MTX); low levels of folate in the serum prior to treatment appeared to predispose patients to the toxic effect of the drug, but they did not correlate with the intensity of response of the neoplasms. Treatment with methotrexate caused a marked diminution in the levels of serum folate, and these remained low for an additional 2–4 weeks. Despite these reduced levels, subsequent courses of therapy with MTX, administered at 4- to 6-week intervals, caused toxic effects that, in general, were similar in degree to those produced by the first course of drug. Six of ten patients to whom methotrexate, 0.2 mg/kg, was administered rapidly intravenously daily for 5 days at intervals of 4–6 weeks, had definite objective tumor responses without excessive toxicity.
Perturbations, Organizational Structure, and the Measurement Problem

After an overview of theory for organizations based on data derived from individual members, we review the problem created by this traditional "methodological individualism" perspective and offer an alternative theory based on the mathematical physics of interdependent uncertainty for both individuals and organizations. Then a case study of the Department of Energy (DOE) and its Citizen Advisory Boards ("Boards") is presented as the first application of mathematical physics to competitive heterogeneity among organizations. In contrast to the expectations of the classical perspective, but in line with our alternative theory of performance, we conclude that consensus-seeking dampens the environmental cleanup of contaminated DOE sites around the USA, while dissonance from the competition of ideas driven by truth-seeking accelerates the cleanup, improves trust, and better educates Americans in the complexities of a technical subject like radioactive waste management by dynamically aligning risk perceptions with scientifically determined risks.
Nucleotide sequences at the 5′ termini of rabbit α and β globin mRNA

Abstract The nucleotide sequences at the 5′ termini of rabbit α and β globin mRNAs have been determined. Periodate oxidation of globin mRNA followed by reduction with 3 H-sodium borohydride and subsequent analysis of the 3 H-labeled mRNA reveals the presence of the "cap" structure m 7 G 5′ ppp-blocking the 5′ terminus. After periodate oxidation, β elimination, and phosphomonoesterase treatment to remove the m 7 G 5′ ppp-"cap," the 5′ end of globin mRNA was labeled with 32 P using γ- 32 P-ATP and T4 polynucleotide kinase. The 5′- 32 P-labeled α and β globin mRNAs were then resolved from each other by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions and sequenced separately. The 5′ terminal nucleotide sequences determined are: α—m 7 G 5′ ppp 5′ m 6 AmC(m)ACUUCUGG- β—m 7 G 5′ ppp 5′ m 6 AmC(m)ACUUGCUUUUGACACAA Besides the m 7 G "cap" structure, the two sequences are identical for the first six nucleotides and then diverge. No initiator codon is present within the first ten nucleotides from the 5′ end of the α globin mRNA, and the first nineteen nucleotides from the 5′ end of β globin mRNA.
Development of a Practical Tool for Assessing the Severity of Acute Otitis Media

Background: Watchful waiting management of nonsevere acute otitis media (AOM) can reduce the use of antibiotics, but it requires a reliable means of assessing clinical severity. Objective: We present the development of a pocket AOM card with which the clinician can rapidly assess total AOM severity. Design/Methods: The components of the pocket card consisted of a faces scale, to assess parent perception of severity, and a standard set of tympanic membrane photographs, with which the pediatrician can grade the severity of tympanic membrane inflammation. The components of the pocket card were tested for validity, reliability and responsiveness with the use of data from parents, pediatricians and pediatric otolaryngologists. Statistics: Instruments were assessed for concurrent correlation, sequence validity and reliability against previously published questionnaires with the use of Spearman correlation. Responsiveness was calculated with the use of enrollment, day 12 and day 30 data from a randomized clinical trial. Results: The components of the pocket AOM card demonstrated excellent sequence validity, concurrent correlation and reliability (r = 0.58–0.99). Total AOM card severity, consisting of the sum of the 2 scales, demonstrated better responsiveness to change than any of the scales taken individually. Conclusions: The AOM card combines a parent assessment of symptoms and the clinician assessment of the tympanic membrane to provide an assessment of total AOM severity that can be used to facilitate shared decision making between parent and clinician. The combined score of the AOM card was more responsive to change than any of the instruments used alone. The AOM card provides a useful tool for teaching and research.
Observation of a deuterium kinetic isotope effect in the chemisorption and reaction of methanol on Ni(111)

Abstract Measurements of the reactive sticking coefficient, S R 0 , under zero coverage (irreversible) conditions for the reaction of methanol with a clean Ni(111) surface have revealed a significant deuterium kinetic isotope effect. S R 0 measured for CH 3 OH and CD 3 OH are equal, and are about 1.61 to 1.35 times greater than 5 R 0 for CH 3 OD, in the temperature range 290–400 K. The ratio S R 0 ( OH ) S R 0 ( OD ) decreases monotonically from 1.35 to 1.10 in the temperature range 400 to 500 K. The measurements support the rate-controlling formation of adsorbed methoxy, CH 3 O (ads) , as an unstable surface intermediate in the decomposition of methanol to CO and H 2 . These observations indicate that the deuterium kinetic isotope effect may be a generally useful tool for determining the reaction site location on a molecule interacting with a surface.
The expression of β-galactosidase by Escherichia coli during continuous culture

Abstract We have used the technique of continuous culture to study the expression of β-galactosidase in Escherichia coli . In these experiments the cultures were grown on carbon-limited media in which half of the available carbon was supplied as glycerol, glucose, or glucose 6-phosphate, and the other half as lactose. Lactose itself provided the sole source of inducer for the lac operon. The steady-state specific activity of the enzyme passed through a maximal value as a function of dilution rate. Moreover, the rate at which activity was maximal (0.40 h −1 ) and the observed specific activity of the enzyme at a given growth rate were found to be identical in each of the three media tested. This result was unexpected, since the steady-state specific activity can be shown to be equal to the differential rate of enzyme synthesis, and since it is known that glycerol, glucose, and glucose-6- P -cause different degrees of catabolite repression in batch culture. The differential rate of β-galactosidase synthesis was an apparently linear function of the rate of lactose utilization per milligram protein regardless of the composition of the input medium. That is, it is independent of the rate of metabolism of substrates other than lactose which are concurrently being utilized and the enzyme level appears to be matched to the metabolic requirement for it. If this relationship is taken to indicate the existence of a fundamental control mechanism, it may represent a form of attenuation of the rate of β-galactosidase synthesis which is independent of cyclic AMP levels.
Evaluation of an aquatics programme on fitness parameters of individuals with a brain injury.

The primary objective was to determine the effect of an aquatic exercise programme on the physical fitness of people with a brain injury. A pre-test–post-test randomized-groups design was conducted. Sixteen outpatients with a brain injury were included in the study. Eight participants were assigned to an aquatic exercise group and eight to a control group. The components of physical fitness measured included cardiovascular endurance, body composition, muscular strength and endurance and flexibility. Measurements were taken pre- and post-programme. Results indicated an increase in components of physical fitness for the experimental group but not the control group. Increases in fitness were reported as having a positive impact on the functional capacity of individuals in the exercise group as well as enhancing the individual's ability to complete activities of daily living successfully. Results indicate that aquatic exercise may positively impact the primary and secondary physical injuries caused by a brain...
The electron transport game

Students more easily master the concepts of oxidative phosphorylation after the exercise proposed here — the Electron Transport Game — is carried out in class. Students play the role of electron carriers in the electron transport chain. Each student wears a two-sided sign which identifies an electron carrier in its oxidized or reduced form. “Electrons” are styrofoam balls that are handed down the chain as the students flip their signs from oxidized to reduced. Important principles about the chain, including the mechanism of several well-known inhibitors, are discussed during the exercise which illustrates the concepts of electron transport in a manner that students can comprehend and retain.
Human Lymphocyte Subpopulations: Rosette Formation with Sheep, Human and Horse Red Blood Cells

Rosette formation between human lymphocytes and horse red blood cells could be promoted by a low pH medium, overnight incubation and a temperature of 4°C. The percent of sheep, horse and human rosette-forming cells in the peripheral blood were 71.7 ± 1.8, 30.5 ± 2.8 and 28.3 ± 3.4 respectively. However, their percentages in thymuses were 97.1 ± 1.1, 91.4 ± 2.4 and 89.0 ± 3.4. Using preparations of isolated subpopulations, it was observed that the horse and human red cell rosette-forming cells were probably also “early” sheep red cell rosette-forming cells. Rosette formation with all three types of red blood cells were inhibited by a preparation of Fetuin-glycopeptide.
Reciprocal patterns of genetic resistance to avian tumor viruses in two lines of chickens.

Abstract Two subgroups of avian tumor viruses can be distinguished on the basis of their host range. The first, referred to as subgroup A, consists of RAV-1 and of viruses having envelopes that are antigenically closely related to that of RAV-1. The second, designated as subgroup B, is represented by RAV-2 and its immunological relatives. Genetically determined cellular resistance to avian tumor viruses is frequently selective against one or the other viral subgroup. Genetic resistance effective against both subgroups is found more rarely. It is suggested that subgroup A and B represent two major types of avian tumor virus envelope which interact with different cellular receptors during the initiation of infection. Selective resistance of chick embryo cultures to one subgroup should be correlated with a genetically determined lack of the corresponding cellular receptor.
HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors Inhibit Endothelial Exocytosis and Decrease Myocardial Infarct Size

Three-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors protect the vasculature from inflammation and atherosclerosis by cholesterol dependent and cholesterol independent mechanisms. We hypothesized that HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors decrease exocytosis of Weibel-Palade bodies, endothelial cell granules whose contents promote thrombosis and vascular inflammation. We pretreated human aortic endothelial cells with simvastatin for 24 hours, then stimulated the cells with thrombin, and measured the amount of vWF released into the media. We then measured the effect of simvastatin on myocardial infarction in mice. Simvastatin decreased thrombin-stimulated Weibel-Palade body exocytosis by 89%. Simvastatin inhibited exocytosis in part by increasing synthesis of nitric oxide (NO), which S-nitrosylated N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor (NSF), a critical regulator of exocytosis. Simvastatin treatment attenuated myocardial infarct size by 58% in wild-type but not eNOS knockout mice. Furthermore, simvastatin decreased endothelial exocytosis and neutrophil infiltration into ischemic-reperfused myocardium, which was mediated in part by P-selectin contained in Weibel-Palade bodies. However, simvastatin did not affect exocytosis and inflammation in myocardial infarcts of eNOS knockout mice. Inhibition of endothelial exocytosis is a novel mechanism by which HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors may reduce vascular inflammation, inhibit thrombosis, and protect the ischemic myocardium. These findings may explain part of the pleiotropic effects of statin therapy for patients with cardiovascular disease.
Acute Optic-Nerve Infarction in Carotid Dissection

A 33-year-old man presented to the emergency room after a massive object fell onto his head and neck. An acute epidural hematoma on the left side was identified and evacuated. On subsequent physical examination, the patient was stuporous and had flaccid hemiplegia on the right side and a dilated left pupil that was not responsive to light stimulation. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging showed extensive infarctions of the left, middle, and bilateral anterior cerebral artery territories (Panel A). In addition, hyperintense lesions (Panel B) were observed in the bilateral optic nerves (arrowheads) and optic chiasm (arrow), findings that were consistent with . . .
Human lead exposure in a late 19th century mental asylum population

Lead isotope ratios and lead (Pb) levels were analyzed in 33 individuals from a forgotten cemetery at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo, Colorado dating to 1879-1899. Isotopic ratios from healing bone fractures, cortical bone, and tooth dentine provide information about sources of Pb exposures over a range of time that illuminates individual's life histories and migration patterns. Historical records and Pb production data from the 19th century were used to create a database for interpreting Pb exposures for these African, Hispanic and European Americans. The analysis of these individuals suggests that Pb exposure noticeably impacted the mental health of 5-10% of the asylum patients in this frontier population, a high number by standards today, and that differences exist in the three ancestral groups' exposure histories.
Integrating the Americas: Shaping Future Trade Policy

Analysing the changes in the national development of Latin America, this study also assesses their implications for the Western Hemisphere. Prospects for strengthening the separate integration arrangements are suggested, and proposals for consolidating them into a free trade area are discussed.
The Response of Low-Fertility Cows to Chlorobutanol and Ascorbic Acid Administration,

Summary This study covers 116 cows, 53 Holsteins and 63 Guernseys, each of which had been bred four or more times previously without apparent conception. Five g. of chlorobutanol fed daily increased the ascorbic acid concentration of the blood plasma on the day of heat and 2 days after heat and also increased the ascorbic acid concentration of the anterior pituitary, 3-day corpus luteum and endometrium as determined at the time of slaughter. The feeding of chlorobutanol with the feed made the mixture unpalatable to many of the cows and apparently induced an emphysema of the omasal wall. Three g. of ascorbic acid injected subcutaneously every other day from the day of heat until slaughter failed to maintain an increased ascorbic acid content of the blood plasma, 3-day corpus luteum, 34-day corpus luteum, endometrium or embryo. When the results of the studies with chlorobutanol and ascorbic acid are combined, the percentage of cows with normal embryos at 34 days after breeding is 26 in 43 control cows and 30 in 45 treated cows. There is no evidence from these studies that ascorbic acid stimulation is significantly beneficial in increasing conception rate in repeat-breeder cows.
The effects of disposition, situation, and setting on in-group favoritism

This experiment investigated the differential effects of dispositional (gender) and situational (armband) group membership on in-group favoritism. Subjects met a confederate either similar or dissimilar in disposition and/or situation in an interpersonal setting. The proximity between the subject and the confederate, as well as the subject’s memory about the confederate, were the dependent measures. In addition, the ecological validity of studies that employ hypothetical situations in their methodology was examined. The results indicated that similarity of both disposition and situation resulted in the highest levels of favoritism. Memberships based on disposition, as compared with situation, resulted in greater favoritism. The results also demonstrated the need for ecological validity in research, as significant differences were found between actual and hypothetical settings.
Effects of continuous hyperfractionated accelerated and conventionally fractionated radiotherapy on the parotid and submandibular salivary glands of rhesus monkeys

Radiotherapy is a major treatment modality for head and neck cancer. It is often not possible to exclude the salivary glands from the treatment fields. The unique susceptibility of the serous cells of the salivary glands to irradiation often results in xerostomia with ensuing secondary complications and discomfort to the patients. Recent reports have suggested that continuous hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy (CHART) can lead to considerably less reduction in the parotid salivary gland than conventional radiotherapy. This study was undertaken to assess histologic changes of salivary glands induced by CHART and conventional radiation fractionation schedules. The parotid and submandibular salivary glands of adult rhesus monkeys were irradiated with cobalt-60 gamma radiation at 50 Gy/20 fractions/4 weeks, 55 Gy/25 fractions/5 weeks, or 54 Gy/36 fractions/12 days (CHART). Salivary tissues were harvested at 16 weeks following irradiation and evaluated histopathologically. Microscopically, the glands receiving 50 Gy, 55 Gy, or CHART were virtually indistinguishable. There was severe atrophy and fibrosis of all glands. Quantitative analysis revealed that 50 Gy, 55 Gy, and CHART induced a reduction of serous acini in parotid glands by 86.4%, 84.8%, and 88.8%, respectively. In submandibular glands, serous acini were reduced by 99.4%, 99.0%, and 100%, respectively. The corresponding reduction in mucous acini were 98.4%, 98.4%, and 99.2%, respectively. These histopathologic and quantitative morphologic studies show that the magnitude of serous gland atrophy in the parotid and submandibular salivary glands of rhesus monkeys was similar at 16 weeks after receiving 50 Gy in 20 fractions, 55 Gy in 25 fractions, or CHART.
A tutorial system on inorganic chemical formulations and reactions

This paper proposes a model that permits the development of a tutorial system devoted to teaching formulation and reactions in inorganic chemical. The model is based on both abstract data structures to represent this type of knowledge and the use of an Object-Oriented paradigm which permits the development of complex systems which can be used as a tutorial system for students as well as an expert system for researchers.The user interacts with the system through sentences representing inorganic chemical names (in several nomenclatures) working in a graphic environment that permits the development of powerful user interface necessary in this kind of system.
The Reign of Richard II: From Minority to Tyranny, 1377–97. Translated and annotated by Alison K. McHardy. (New York, NY: Manchester University Press, 2012. Pp. xxiv, 344. $35.00.)

The author of this study has produced a wonderful companion to Chris Given‐Wilson's earlier Chronicles of the Revolution 1397–1400: The Reign of Richard II. In this volume, Alison K. McHardy provid...
Sleep patterns and the impact on performance: A study of men and women enrolled at the United States Military Academy

Sleep requirements of adolescents and young adults are distinct from those of other age groups due to differences in the circadian rhythms of the sleep-controlling hormone, melatonin. This study examined the sleep patterns of cadets during their first year of training and study at the United States Military Academy (USMA). The study population included the entire USMA class of 2007 (n ∼ 1300) and a small group of upperclassmen (n=40). Actigraphy was recorded on a sample of the class (n=80). Survey results compared sleep patterns prior to reporting to USMA with sleep patterns during Cadet Basic Training and during the Fall semester, 2003. This baseline data collection effort sets the stage for follow-on interventions that will attempt to rectify inadequacies in the sleep patterns of cadets.
A comparison of parent-education methods in maternity wards

This study investigated the effect of three parent-education methods for use with mothers in maternity wards. The three methods were videotapes and a handbook, videotapes only, and handbook only. The two groups who received the videotapes performed better on a posttest than two no-treatment control groups. No differences were evident between the videotapes and handbook group and the videotapes-only group. The handbook-only condition was better than only one of the control groups. Usefulness of the program, problems encountered, and future research needs are discussed.
Manufacturing yield of QCA circuits by synthesized DNA self-assembled templates

DNA self-assembly has been proposed as a promising "bottomup" manufacturing technique to supersede photolithography at nanometer scale. This paper discusses the application of DNA self-assembly for manufacturing templates of QCA circuits. Using a synthesis algorithm, a tile set of reduced cardinality is utilized for growing multiple patterns of the same QCA circuit on a two-dimensional template. Errors in the DNA self-assembly process are then considered; their implications on the operation of faulty QCA circuits following the deposition of QCA cells, are discussed. The errors are mostly clustered and along facets; a detailed treatment with respect to manufacturing yield, circuit functionality, error tolerance and growth speed is pursued. As a general conclusion, it is shown that errors are pattern dependent, hence the faults occurring in the assembled QCA circuits are physically and logically different.