cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cryoprecipitation properties of a high-affinity monoclonal IgM anti-fluorescyl antibody.

Abstract A high affinity ( K a = 2–3 × 10 10 M −1 ) murine monoclonal anti-fluorescein IgM antibody (18-2-3) exhibiting low temp. insolubility in the absence of bound ligand has served as a model to study cryoprecipitation. Insolubility of 18-2-3 at low temp. (4° C) had been shown to be reversible at higher temp. and in the presence of fluorescyl ligand, indicating antigen binding site involvement. The primary objectives were to isolate and identify structural component(s) responsible for insolubility at low temp. Procedures developed for production and isolation of the monomeric subunit (IgM s ) involved thiol reduction and gel filtration separation in the presence of the zwitterionic detergent, CHAPS. Fab and (Fc) 5 fragments generated by papain digestion were purified sequentially by gel filtration (Sephadex G-200) and affinity chromatography (fluorescem-Sepharose). A protocol for covalent labeling of Fab fragments with the fluorescent chromophore 2,5 DNS-C1 was developed in order to measure steady-state fluorescence polarization. In kinetic and equilibrium cryoprecipitation assays, nonliganded 18-2-3 IgM and IgM s demonstrated insolubility. Bound fluorescyl ligand, increased ionic strength (0.5 M NaC1) or basic pH ( > 8.0) abrogated cryoprecipitation. Isolated Fab or (Fc) 5 fragments did not exhibit low temp. insolubility. Decreased cryoprecipitation occurred when (Fc) 5 fragments were added to nonliganded 18-2-3 IgM. Fluorescence polarization of 2,5 DNS Fab 18-2-3 fragments indicated lack of Fab-Fab aggregation. Results suggested that electrostatic interactions involving 18-2-3 antibody combining sites with interactive sites in the Fc region of homologous IgM were responsible for the phenomenon of cryoprecipitation.
Reliability of recording instructions: Multivariate agreement for nominal data

A method is proposed for evaluating the reliability of the details of such recording instructions as may be given to coders in content analysis or to observers of social interaction. The method is applicable to situations in which (1) the data to be generated are nominal, (2) the number of coders or observers are variable during the process, and (3) the instructions specify a multilevel decision process. The chief aim of the analysis is to detect and evaluate sources of unreliability in complex recording instructions and to predict by computational means the reliability of data when parts of a recording instruction are deleted. In contrast to other aims of data quality control, the term instruction reliability is used to designate the results. The method provides several coefficients and an accounting scheme for amount of disagreement. The power of the method is demonstrated by a computational example, and the relation of the proposed measures to other known reliability coefficients is discussed.
TU‐C‐12A‐02: Development of a Multiparametric Statistical Response Map for Quantitative Imaging

Purpose: Quantitative imaging biomarkers (QIB) are becoming increasingly utilized in early phase clinical trials as a means of non-invasively assessing treatment response and associated response heterogeneity. The aim of this study was to develop a flexible multiparametric statistical framework to predict voxel-by-voxel response of several potential MRI QIBs. Methods: Patients with histologically proven glioblastomas (n=11) were treated with chemoradiation (with/without bevacizumab) and underwent one baseline and two mid-treatment (3–4wks) MRIs. Dynamic contrast-enhanced (3D FSPGR, 6.3sec/phase, 0.1 mmol/kg Gd-DTPA), dynamic susceptibility contrast (2D GRE-EPI, 1.5sec/phase, 0.2mmol/kg Gd-DTPA), and diffusion tensor (2D DW-EPI, b=0, 1200 s/mm2, 27 directions) imaging acquisitions were obtained during each study. Mid-treatment and pre-treatment images were rigidly aligned, and regions of partial response (PR), stable disease (SD), and progressive disease (PD) were contoured in consensus by two experienced radiation oncologists. Voxels in these categories were used to train ordinal (PR<SD<PD) and logistic (PR/SD<PD) models incorporating the apparent diffusion coefficient, fractional anisotropy, Ktrans, ve, vp, and relative cerebral blood volume imaging biomarkers, as well as treatment type. Leave-one-out cross-validation was performed at the patient level to assess model prediction accuracy. Results: Ordinal regression resulted in model prediction accuracies of 60% (PR), 0% (SD), 81% (PD), and 69% (overall), with coefficients of variation (COV) of 9.4%, 9.6%, and 23.6%, respectively. Logistic regression resulted in accuracies of 82.0% (PR/SD), 46.2% (PD), and 76.2% (overall) with COVs of 22.4%, 45.7%, and 23.8%, respectively. Conclusion: Despite limited patient numbers, this feasibility pilot study demonstrates that ordinal and logistic regression models potentially provide a flexible statistical framework for incorporating longitudinal multiparametric quantitative imaging data and, for these particular data, can potentially distinguish PR from PD. Additional training data exhibiting a full range of treatment responses is expected to allow prediction of all three treatment outcomes. Moreover, these models are extensible to multi-modality, multiparametric analyses.
Convection and diffusion limited aeration during biooxidation of shallow ore heaps

Biooxidation of an ore heap containing only a few percent of sulfide minerals requires insertion of a very large amount of oxygen either by natural air convection, forced air ventilation or gaseous diffusion. While shallow heaps, those with large areas relative to their height, are of great interest for many gold and copper heaped ore processing operations, natural convection is often ineffective for oxidizing them because of inadequate lateral flow to the heap's interior. However, even in the absence of airflow, oxygen can diffuse into a shallow heap from its upper, horizontal surface in contact with air. Oxygen diffuses through the air-filled void space within the heap, driven by the oxygen concentration gradient resulting from internal oxygen depletion caused by mineral oxidation. Oxygen diffusion, coupled with the chemical reaction kinetics oxidizing the sulfide minerals, is analyzed for typical ore heap biooxidation parameters. Practical limits on both natural convection and gaseous diffusion for effective biooxidation of the sulfide minerals in shallow ore heaps are discussed.
Reaching for the stars

Home is Where the Wind Blows: Chapters from a Cosmologist's Life. By Fred Hoyle. University Science Books: 1994. Pp. 443. $32.50, £18.95.
Isolation of a fluorophore-specific DNA aptamer with weak redox activity

Abstract Background: In vitro selection experiments with pools of random-sequence nucleic acids have been used extensively to isolate molecules capable of binding specific ligands and catalyzing self-modification reactions. Results: In vitro selection from a random pool of single-stranded DNAs has been used to isolate molecules capable of recognizing the fluorophore sulforhodamine B with high affinity. When assayed for the ability to promote an oxidation reaction using the reduced form of a related fluorophore, dihydrotetramethylrosamine, a number of selected clones show low levels of catalytic activity. Chemical modification and site-directed mutagenesis experiments have been used to probe the structural requirements for fluorophore binding. The aptamer recognizes its ligand with relatively high affinity and is also capable of binding related molecules that share extended aromatic rings and negatively charged functional groups. Conclusions: A guanosine-rich single-stranded DNA is capable of binding fluorophores with relatively high affinity and of weakly promoting a multiple-turnover reaction. A simple motif consisting of a three-tiered G-quartet stacked upon a standard Watson-Crick duplex appears to be responsible for this activity. The corresponding sequence might provide a useful starting point for the evolution of novel, improved deoxyribozymes that generate fluorescent signals by promoting multiple-turnover reactions.
Predicting communication protocol performance on superscalar architectures using instruction dependency

Increasing diversity in telecommunication workloads leads to greater complexity in communication protocols. This occurs as channel bandwidth rapidly increases. These factors result in larger computational loads for network processors that are increasingly turning to high performance microprocessor designs. This paper presents an analytical method for estimating the performance of instruction level parallel (ILP) processors executing network protocol processing applications. Instruction dependency information extracted while executing an application is used to calculate upper and lower bounds for throughput, measured in instructions per cycle (IPC). Results using UDP/TCP/IP applications show that the simulated IPC values fall between the analytically derived upper and lower bounds, validating the model. The analytical method is much less expensive than cycle-accurate simulation, but reveals similar throughput performance predictions. This allows the architectural design space for network superscalar processors to be explored more rapidly and comprehensively, to reveal the maximum IPC that is possible for a given application workload and the available hardware resources.
Planning an on‐premise telecommunication system: The University of Michigan case study—part two of two: construction and implementation

The University of Michigan's telecommunications system cost $38,000,000 to build, includes 30,000 lines, and processes 14,000,000 calls monthly. It is one of the largest private systems in the world. The process of implementing and managing such a massive system, which affected every office, lab, dorm room, and family‐residence on campus, and impacted literally every member of the campus community—to say nothing of the surrounding town—is discussed. This case study presents the issues and problems that other institutions—regardless of size—may face as they upgrade their telecommunication capabilities in the years ahead.
Intensity and Energy Spread at Injection in Proton Synchrotrons

Injection and capture in strong focusing proton synchrotrons often involves multiturn stacking in horizontal betatron phase space followed by some approximation of adiabatic capture. The energy spread in the coasting beam is usually relatively small so that the bunches are tight. Local space charge densities may be sufficiently high temporarily to limit intensity. An increase in the energy spread before capture, obtained by a dynamic variation of the energy in the beam to be injected as is done in some weak focusing installations rather than by an increase of its energy spread, should help to alleviate this limitation.
Management of Urinary Incontinence and Nocturnal Enuresis in Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

ABSTRACTPurpose: We sought to determine whether attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) influences the resolution of urinary incontinence (UI, or diurnal and nocturnal wetness) and monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (NE).Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients with ADHD, UI and NE. Individuals with UI were treated with timed voiding, and anticholinergics were added only after timed voiding failed. Patients with NE were treated with either an enuretic alarm, desmopressin or imipramine. Statistical comparisons used a control population matched for age, sex, IQ, and urinary and gastrointestinal symptoms.Results: The presence of ADHD had a negative effect on the resolution of incontinence, with 68% of the patients with ADHD becoming continent compared to 91% of controls (p <0.01). Two factors impact the resolution of wetness in patients with ADHD—treatment noncompliance and IQ. Treatment noncompliance was found in 48% of the patients with ADHD compared to 14% of controls...
Obesity and asthma: lessons from animal models.

Epidemiological data indicate that obesity is a risk factor for asthma. These data are supported by observations in several murine models of obesity. Ob/ob, db/db, and Cpefat mice each exhibit inna...
Characterization of the AMP-activated protein kinase pathway in chickens☆☆☆

In mammals, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is involved in the regulation of cellular energy homeostasis and, on the whole animal level, in regulating energy balance and food intake. Because the chicken is a valuable experimental animal model and considering that a first draft of the chicken genome sequence has recently been completed, we were interested in verifying the genetic basis for the LKB1/AMPK pathway in chickens. We identified distinct gene homologues for AMPK alpha, beta and gamma subunits and for LKB1, MO25 and STRAD. Analysis of gene expression by RT-PCR showed that liver, brain, kidney, spleen, pancreas, duodenum, abdominal fat and hypothalamus from 3 wk-old broiler chickens preferentially expressed AMPK alpha-1, beta-2 and gamma-1 subunit isoforms. Heart predominantly expressed alpha-2, beta-2 and gamma-1, whereas skeletal muscle expressed alpha-2, beta-2 and gamma-3 preferentially. Moreover, the AMPK gamma-3 gene was only expressed in heart and skeletal muscle. Genes encoding LKB1, MO25 alpha, MO25 beta, and STRAD beta were expressed in all examined tissues, whereas STRAD alpha was expressed exclusively in brain, hypothalamus, heart and skeletal muscle. Alterations in energy status (fasting and refeeding) produced little significant change in AMPK subunit gene transcription. We also determined the level of phosphorylated (active) AMPK in different tissues and in different states of energy balance. Immunocytochemical analysis of the chicken hypothalamus showed that activated AMPK was present in hypothalamic nuclei involved in regulation of food intake and energy balance. Together, these findings suggest a functional LKB1/AMPK pathway exists in chickens similar to that observed in mammals.
The use of misoprostol for termination of early pregnancy

Misoprostol is a prostaglandin analogue which has uterotonic properties. Administered vaginally, it is an effective agent for induction of second trimester abortions. This study was undertaken to determine if the vaginal administration of misoprostol is effective for inducing first trimester abortions. Fifty-eight women with pregnancies less than 10 weeks gestation who desired pregnancy termination received varying dosages of vaginal misoprostol, either alone or in combination with laminaria or tamoxifen. The overall success rate for a complete abortion was 61%. The use of laminaria or tamoxifen did not affect success rates. Abortions occurred within 24 hours of administration of misoprostol. Side effects were minimal. There were no significant differences in any of the following between those who had a successful abortion and those who did not: gravidity, parity, prior elective abortion, age, gestational age of the pregnancy, and level of human chorionic gonadotropin. Although not as successful as other combination regimens, misoprostol alone is readily available, easy to administer, and without major side effects. The use of this agent could eliminate the need for about two-thirds of surgical abortions in the first 10 weeks of gestation.
A review of Cheilothela (Ditrichaceae).

Cheilothela Lindb. is recognized as a monotypic genus forC. chloropus (Brid.) Lindb. The South American and New Zealand taxa are considered to be synonymous and placed in the resurrectedChrysoblastella Williams asC. chilensis (Mont.) Reim.Chrysoblastella is segregated fromCheilothela on the basis of numerous sporophytic characters as well as their phytogeography.Cheilothela longirostre Fleisch., from Java, is misplaced in either genus and a new genus,Strombulidens, is erected to accommodate it.Strombulidens is considered most closely related toWilsoniella on the basis of their unique peristomes.
Talking with feminists about what we can know in IR

International relations may be arriving at a time when it can recognise the value of taking the feminist contribution to the discipline seriously and on its own terms. This essay begins by outlining the nature of the ‘epistemological impasse’ that has tended to produce an ‘external character’ to the criteria used by feminists when evaluating the mainstream of IR and the criteria the mainstream has used to judge feminists. Tensions within the mainstream, particularly the failure to predict the end of the Cold War, provides an opening for engagement with alternative approaches. The final section elucidates what is regarded as the most significant element of feminist IR as a social science: its own struggle with the ‘quest for certainty’, and its efforts to stimulate and work with epistemological doubt.
On using eye tracking in empirical assessment of software visualizations

The paper advocates the use of eye movement measurements in conducting empirical studies of software engineering tools, especially visualization techniques. Traditionally, measures such as accuracy and performance time have been used to assess and compare different tools for a given set of tasks. These measures are typically collected after the conclusion of an assigned task. Eye tracking adds a new additional dimension to the assessment arsenal by allowing access to the gaze activity of human subjects. The gaze activities can be captured quite precisely while a task is being performed. Thus, providing a unique opportunity to include measures of how exactly humans use a tool and ratiocinate their conclusions. A brief discussion on using the eye movements for assessing UML class diagram layouts is also presented.
Tracer diffusion in fibre networks: the impact of spatial fluctuations in the fibre distribution

A mean-field formalism that addresses spatial non-uniformities in fibre networks is combined with the cylindrical cell model to calculate the diffusion constant for a spherical tracer. Deviations from randomness in the fibre distribution are described by an operational distribution over volume fractions that is parametrized by mean values for the pore radii and void space chord lengths. Weight factors for elements with different radii in the cell model are assigned in a manner that enforces agreement with the distribution over pore sizes predicted by our treatment of heterogeneous networks. Illustrative calculations suggest that the tracer diffusion constant is quite sensitive to non-uniformities in the network, particularly for tracer particles with radii that are large compared to the fibre diameter.
A quantitative study of synaptic interconnections in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat

2,700 synaptic contacts have been classified according to criteria described in an accompanying paper and the results summarized in tabular form. Only about 20% of the synaptic contacts in laminae A and A1 are formed by axons identifiable as retinogeniculate fibers. About 1/4 of these retinogeniculate synapses are axo-axonal. Approximately 45% of the contacts in these laminae are formed by axons tentatively identifiable as corticogeniculate fibers; about 35% by presumed intrageniculate fibers. Close to one half of the synapses occur in „encapsulated synaptic zones,“ where grapelike dendritic appendages are related mainly to intrageniculate and retinogeniculate axons, and about half lie in “interstitial zones,“ where corticogeniculate and some intrageniculate axons contact distal dendritic segments.
A Fluorescence Polarization Study of Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons Adsorbed on Colloidal Kaolin

Abstract The adsorption of a number of polyaromatic hydrocarbons onto aqueous colloidal kaolin was studied. The fluorescence polarization and hence the fluorescence anistropy of the hydrocarbons was measured as a function of their concentrations in aqueous solutions containing the colloid. The fluorescence anisotropy was found to be highest for dilute solutions of polyaromatic hydrocarbons, with often sharp decreases at higher concentrations. More concentrated solutions gave an isotropies similar to those of plain aqueous solutions of the fluorophores. The concentration versus fluorescence anisotropy curves and BET surface area data were used to calculate surface coverage of the colloid by the adsorbed hydrocarbons. Coverage in the range of 1% to 14% of the colloid surface was found at surface saturation for the compounds studied. This suggested that colloidal clays have the potential of transporting polyaromatic hydrocarbons through environmental waters.
Vaccines for preventing enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infections in farm animals

Fimbrial vaccines are routinely given parenterally to pregnant cattle, sheep and swine to protect suckling newborn calves, lambs and pigs against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) infections. Such vaccines are practical and effective because (1) most fatal ETEC infections in farm animals occur in the early neonatal period when the antibody titres in colostrum and milk are highest; (2) more than 90% of the ETEC in farm animals belong to a small family of fimbrial antigen types; (3) fimbriae consist of good protein antigens on the bacterial surface where they are readily accessible to antibody; (4) fimbriae are required for a critical step (adhesion-colonization) early in the pathogenesis of the disease. ETEC infections continue to be a significant clinical problem in farm animals in spite of extensive use of fimbriae-based vaccines. Definitive data on the efficacy of the commercial vaccines in field use are not available. The prevailing perception among animal health professionals is that the vaccines are effective, that the problem occurs chiefly among non-vaccinated animals, and that in some herds vaccination moves peak prevalence of disease from the first to the second or third week after birth, when mortality is lower. It has been suggested that extensive use of vaccines will rapidly select for the emergence of novel or previously low prevalence fimbrial antigen types. There is no evidence that this has happened after a decade of routine vaccine use in the United States. However, there is no active direct surveillance for such emergence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
An analysis of meiotic chromosomes of inbred male mice and their F1 sons after long-term treatment of sires with triethylenemelamine

Abstract The dose-dependent effects of triethylenemelamine (TEM) on fertility and the induction of chromosomal translocation in treated mice and their F1 sons were examined C3H mice were treated with TEM for 8 successive weeks at doses of 0.02 and 0.04 mg/kg of body weight. All males treated with TEM were fertile, and cytological analysis of meiotic cells showed no chromosomal rearrangements. Semi-sterility and sterility were noted in F1 sons of TEM-treated animals. This semi-sterility and sterility were associated with reciprocal translocations. The percentage of animals heterozygous for translocations was higher for F1 males originating from sires treated with TEM at 0.04 mg/kg than from sires treated with 0.02 mg/kg.
How often are polymorphic restriction sites due to a single mutation

An approximate expression is obtained for the probability that a restriction site, which is polymorphic in a random sample, is a site at which two or more mutations have occurred in the descent to the sample from the most recent common ancestor of the sample. The analysis is based on the assumption that the population from which the sample is obtained is at equilibrium under a selectively neutral Wright-Fisher model. Monte Carlo simulations show that the approximation is quite accurate. For commonly observed levels of genetic variation in humans and in natural populations of Drosophila, it is found that multiple mutations would occur at 5 to 10 percent of polymorphic restriction sites assuming that six-cutter enzymes are used on samples of size 50 to 100. Simulations are also used to investigate the bias and mean square error of four estimators of 4Nu, where N is the population size and u is the neutral mutation rate per nucleotide site. Two of the estimators are biased by approximately 20 percent when levels of variation are similar to those which have been observed in natural populations of Drosophila.
Susceptibility to Leishmania major infection in the absence of IL-4.

Abstract Infection with the intracellular parasite Leishmania major is the prototypical model system used to study Th1 and Th2 cytokine responses in vivo. Mouse strains that are resistant to L. major produce high levels of IFNγ, and Th1 cytokines while susceptible BALB/c mice have elevated levels of IL-4, and Th2-associated cytokines during infection. While antibody neutralization of IL-4 or IFNγ in vivo alters the disease patterns, infection of mice genetically deficient for IL-4 or IL-4 receptor (IL-4Rα) yield surprising outcomes. Contrary to the Th1/Th2 paradigm, IL-4−/− and IL-4Rα−/− mice remain highly susceptible to L. major parasite substrain LV39. In distinct contrast, another L. major substrain, IR173, the IL-4Rα−/− mice are highly resistant. These findings indicate a disparity between antibody treatment versus gene deletion, and more generally, challenge the role of IL-4 in promoting susceptibility to L. major. Furthermore, IL-4Rα−/− mice reveal that the ability of L. major to escape immune clearance depends on the parasite substrain.
Further evidence for a glial localization of rat cortical β-adrenoceptors : studies of in vivo cyclic AMP responses to catecholamines

The present experiments were designed to clarify the cellular localization of postsynaptic beta-receptors in the rat cortex by studying the cellular source and pharmacological characteristics of in vivo cAMP responses to catecholamines. The method used to study in vivo cAMP responses in the brain involved microdialysis both to deliver catecholamines to cerebral tissue and to sample cAMP released in response to local beta-receptor activation. It was found that selective blockade of the metabolism of glial cells by fluorocitrate infusion produced a virtually complete (90%) inhibition of the cortical cAMP response to norepinephrine (NE). Selective damage of neurons by kainic acid infusion had little effect on the response. Pharmacological experiments showed that the response was selectively antagonized by a beta 1-receptor blocker which also selectively antagonized the cAMP response to NE in brain slices known to be localized in glial cells. These results support the hypothesis that beta-adrenoceptors of the rat cortex are predominantly localized on glial cells and therefore strongly suggest that these cells are an important target of the locus coeruleus noradrenergic system.
Surgical Correction of Coarctation of the Main Pulmonary Artery

Two cases of pure congenital coarctation of the main pulmonary artery are reported. One case may be unique in that it represents the first report of an anatomically proved constriction located in the middle third of the main trunk. In this patient, successful open correction under hypothermia was carried out with cinematographic documentation. The results of preoperative and postoperative cardiac catheterization are described. A plea is made for the routine use of open operation for correction of "pure pulmonic valvular stenosis." This allows better correction when the diagnosis is confirmed and flexibility for treatment if the unusual coarctation or constriction of the pulmonary artery is encountered.
Recovery from vitamin B12-induced unbalanced growth: Fate of the elevated ribonucleotide reductase activity in Euglena gracilis

Abstract The fate of the elevated ribonucleotide reductase activity of vitamin B 12 -deficient Euglena was determined in vitamin-replenished cells. Upon replenishment, the reductase activity was maintained at a constant value during resumption of DNA synthesis. With the completion of DNA synthesis the activity dropped over the post-DNA replicative period to a low but still abnormally high value. A peak of activity then appeared during the ensuing round of DNA synthesis. Addition of minimal of high doses of cycloheximide prevented these changes in the elevated reductase activity. These results suggested that the elevated activity found in deficient cells results from continued synthesis and accumulation of enzyme protein in the absence of the normally occurring degradation. At low and moderate concentrations of cycloheximide DNA synthesis was completed at slower rates than normal, while the high concentration permitted only a limited synthesis. Vitamin B 12 -sufficient exponentially-growing cells maintained a constant level of activity. Addition of cycloheximide resulted in an exponential decay of enzyme activity by about 60%. A 50% drop in enzyme activity occurred within 1.2 h. A dose-dependent effect of cycloheximide on DNA synthesis was observed for these cells as well. The possible significance of this phenomenon is discussed.
Professional Values and Organizational Decision Making

Professions and organizations institutionalize values. These values may clash when professionals participate in organizational decision making. This article investigates the interplay between professional values and organizational purposes in the organizations that formulated federal subsidized housing policy between 1968 and 1977. Policy professionals in these organizations are committed to public finance theory, a branch of welfare economics that stresses policy criteria consistent with classical liberalism. Public finance theory was consistently influential in the President's Office of Management and Budget, briefly influential in the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and never influential in Congress. Objections to it, though never codified, can be inferred from the public finance prescriptions Congress rejected. Professionals rationalize rejections of their preferred policies by defining standards of good policy as sharply distinct from political realities that legitimately affect policy d...
Advanced Practice Nurses' Research Competencies: Competency I— Using Evidence in Practice

In this issue, Tull and Carroll’s (2004) article, “Advanced Practice Nursing in Home Health,” speaks of advance practice nurse (APN) competencies. Hamric, Spross, and Hanson’s text (see DePalma & McGuire, in press) was referred to in the article to support the listed competencies. In the next edition (2004) of this book regarding competencies needed by the APN, the research competencies will be slightly revised with an emphasis on evidence-based practice (EBP). The competencies addressed in this issue (DePalma & McGuire, in press) will be:
Cleavage of C3 by Neutral Proteases from Granulocytes in Pleural Empyema

The possibility of direct inactivation of C3 by granular enzymes from polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) in pleural empyema was examined. As a group, pleural empyema from 10 patients with purulent effusions and a positive bacteriologic culture cleaved significantly more 125I-labeled C3 bound to Sepharose (18.4% +/- 7.3%) than did 19 sterile pleural effusions (2.4% +/- 0.9%; P less than 0.001) and sonicates from bacterial strains commonly found in empyema (1.4% +/- 0.2%). Granular enzymes from 7 X 10(6) PMNLs cleaved 78.5% of 125I-labeled C3 bound to Sepharose. When proteolysis of 125I-labeled C3 after incubation with pleural empyema or PMNL granular enzymes was examined with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, breakdown products were similar. Granulocyte elastase-like activity was detected in four samples of pleural empyema. Granulocyte elastase inhibitors, as well as 10% human serum, effectively suppressed cleavage of C3 and elastase-like activity. In pleural empyemas, granula enzymes from PMNLs, especially elastase, apparently contribute to low complement-mediated opsonic activity by direct inactivation of C3.
John Witherspoon's theory and practice of public speaking

(1949). John Witherspoon's theory and practice of public speaking. Speech Monographs: Vol. 16, No. 2, pp. 272-289.
Application of von mises criterion to single and dual phase TiAl

The von Mises criterion is a necessary condition for ductility in polycrystalline solids. Methods for determining whether a set of slip system satisfies the von Mises criterion are well established and presented in many textbooks. Determining if a set of twinning systems satisfies the von Mises criterion is complicated by the fact that twinning is unidirectional as opposed to slip which is bidirectional. Twinning occurs when the shear occurs in one direction and reversing the direction of the shear will not produce a twin and therefore twinning is unidirectional. A method has been devised for determining if a set of twin systems satisfies the von Mises criterion. This method is actually a more general method that is also applicable to slip as well as twinning because it makes no assumption of bidirectionality. In this paper it is shown what slip and twin systems observed in TiAl and Ti{sub 3}Al are needed to satisfy the von Mises criterion. It is also shown that the von Mises criterion may be applied to a two-phase alloy where there exist an orientation relationship, the von Mises criterion is satisfied.
Family history-taking in community family practice: implications for genetic screening.

Purpose: To identify characteristics of physicians, patients, and visits associated with obtaining family history information in community family practice. Methods: Research nurses directly observed 4454 patient visits to 138 family physicians and reviewed office medical records. Results: Family history was discussed during 51% of visits by new patients and 22% of visits by established patients. Physicians' rates of family history-taking varied from 0% to 81% of visits. Family history was more often discussed at well care rather than illness visits. The average duration of family history discussions was <2.5 minutes. Conclusions: These data can form the basis for realistic interventions to increase the use of family history in primary care.
Perceived responses to capitalization attempts are influenced by self-esteem and relationship threat

Discussing good news builds strength in relationships. In particular, perceiving a close other as enthusiastic about good fortune can help individuals maintain relational strength when relationship security is threatened. In an experiment and a daily diary study, how self-esteem moderates perceptions of a partner's response to these capitalization attempts following relationship threats were examined. After having been primed with relationship threat (Study 1) or on days following relationship conflict (Study 2), low-self-esteem persons perceived less partner enthusiasm about their good news, but high-self-esteem persons perceived more partner enthusiasm. Self-esteem had no effect after a neutral prime or no-conflict days. These results indicate that capitalization as a strategy for repairing relationships may depend on the partners' self-esteem.
Rearrangement of a σ-2-(cycloprop-2-enyl)vinyl- to an η3-cyclopentadienylplatinum(II) complex. Selective protonolysis of the platinum-methyl bond

The σ-2-(cycloprop-2-enyl)vinylplatinum(II) complex (PEt3)2Pt(Me)(CHCH-cyclo-C3HPh2) (5) was prepared and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Treatment of 5 with Bronsted acids results in selective splitting of the Pt−methyl bond to give chloro derivative (PEt3)2Pt(Cl)(CHCH-cyclo-C3HPh2) (6), or the rearranged η3-diphenylcyclopentadienyl cation 7+, depending on the acid employed. Formation of cation 7+ could also be accomplished by treatment of 6 with TlPF6. Monitoring the protonolysis reactions by NMR spectroscopy at −60 °C, however, showed no evidence for platinabenzene or platinabenzvalene intermediates.
Plasticity of CD4(+) FoxP3(+) T cells.

Regulatory T (Treg) cells play an essential role in maintaining immunological tolerance. The discovery of FoxP3 as a key Treg transcription factor combined with recent advances in the development of functional reporter mice has enabled new insights into Treg biology and revealed unexpected features of this lineage. In this review, we address the stability of this population, focusing on studies that suggest that Tregs can downregulate FoxP3, lose regulatory activity and, under some conditions, become memory T cells capable of recognizing self-antigens and expressing effector cell activities including the production of IL-17 and IFNγ. The presence of these ‘exTregs’ in multiple inflammatory settings suggests a potential role for these cells in a variety of disease settings ranging from autoimmunity to cancer and infectious disease.
Modeling ADHD-type arousal with unilateral frontal cortex damage in rats and beneficial effects of play therapy

It has been recently shown that human adolescents with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have frontal lobe deficits, especially on the right sides of their brains (Castellanos et al., 1996). ADHD is commonly treated with psychostimulants which may have adverse consequences. Hence, less invasive therapies need to be developed. In the present work, we tested the ability of right frontal lesions to induce hyperactivity in rats. We also evaluated the effects of chronic play therapy during early adolescence to reduce both hyperactivity and the elevated playfulness later in development. Play therapy was able to reduce both hyperactivity and excessive playfulness. In additional work, we found that access to rough-and-tumble play in normal animals could enhance subsequent behavioral indices of behavioral inhibition (i.e., freezing in response to a startle stimulus) that appeared to be independent of increased fearfulness and fatigue. Overall, these results suggest that (1) neonatal frontal lobe lesions can be used as an animal model of the overactivity in ADHD and (2) rough-and-tumble play therapy may be a new useful treatment for ADHD.
Use of social media by pharmacy preceptors.

Objective. To define current use patterns of Facebook and Twitter among pharmacy preceptors and assess perceptions regarding use of social media within professional practice.Methods. An electronic survey instrument was sent to 315 pharmacists registered as advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) preceptors for Purdue University College of Pharmacy.Results. Approximately 60% of the 155 respondents used a Facebook account and 9% used a Twitter account. Respondents were willing to complete continuing education (CE) credit (46%) using social media, and were interested in following professional organizations (39%) on social media; however, the majority were not interested in obtaining drug or disease-state information, identifying employment opportunities, or participating in clinical discussion forums via social media.Conclusion. Despite the growing popularity of social media across multiple disciplines, the majority of pharmacy preceptors surveyed were not willing to use these venues in professional pra...
Performance comparison of assembly systems with fixed and flexible cycle times

The traditional assembly system consists of a series of balanced workstations operating at the same rate with fixed cycle times. Recent advances in technology allow more flexible assembly systems, in which workstations operate independently and cycle times vary from job to job. This article develops an analytical model for comparing the throughputs (jobs per hour) of assembly systems with fixed and variable cycle times. The throughputs are compared on a common basis by requiring that both systems allow sufficient processing time to ensure product quality and that they have the same total times in system per job. Results indicate that an assembly system with variable cycle times can operate at a significantly higher throughput than one with fixed cycle times, provided there is sufficient buffer storage space between workstations to accommodate queueing. This benefit must be weighed against possible increased capital investment and practical considerations associated with system control.
Comparison of the promoting activity of pristane and n-alkanes in skin carcinogenesis with their physical effects on micellar models of biological membranes

Abstract In 1976 (Horton, A.W., Butts, C.K. and Schuff, A.R. (1976) Colloid Interface Sci. 5, 159–168) we assayed pristance (2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecane) in a model interfacial system that has given excellent correlation with cocarcinogenic activity among n- alkanes , as tested in cycloalkane diluents. It was predicted that this branched-chain derivative of the diterpenes would have higher activity than n- C 18 H 38 , one of the most cocarcinogenic of the n- alkanes in such diluents. Pristane was compared with n- C 18 H 38 and two other n- alkanes for their promoting activities in cyclohexane for C3H male mice after a single application of 7,12-dimethylbenz [a] anthracene . The branched-chain alkane proved to be more active. 20% n- tetracosane in cyclohexane was inactive, which correlated with its effects in this diluent in the physical assay system. The promoting activity of 75% n- octane in cyclohexane, predicted by the physical assay, was confirmed by tests on mice. The combined by-products of the synthesis of tetracosane, including C12 alkanes and alkenes, C19 and C20 alkylbenzenes, and C24 alkenes, proved to be a very active promoter. However, a mixture in cyclohexane of purified tetracosane with this composite of potential impurities was inactive. From the alkanes behavior in physical systems involving vatious membrane phospholipids and steroids, it is hypothesized that the primary step in their biological activity is a chain-chain interaction with membrane lipids that alters the properties of liquid-crystalline phases at aqueous interfaces. Resulting changes in the microfluidity of the lipid phase and the lateral mobility of critical hormone receptors and enzyme systems, such as the nucleotidyl cyclases, would perturb control systems that maintain the normal behavior of the initiated cell. Thus, its progression to a proliferating neoplasm may be favored.
Human autobiographic memory simulation

Artificial intelligence is the field that involves extending the capability of the computer in order to make it act as intelligently as a human. Since Al systems, including Knowledge Based Systems, require large amounts of domain specific knowledge, the problem of developing a good knowledge representation and organization technique for efficiently storing and retrieving large amounts of information is important. It is the central focus of this research project.People remember all kinds of events and past experiences and never seem to run out of space. Human memory thus appears to be an excellent model for large amounts of information storage and retrieval. In this research, a model for the organization and structure of human memory is developed based on Cognitive Psychology and is implemented in a computer program. The computer program, which simulates human autobiographic memory, is based on the episodic memory model developed by Kolodner (1983a, 1983b, 1983c) and the autobiographic memory model developed by Conway and Bekerian (1987). The autobiographic memory is represented by seven A-MOPs (Autobiographic Memory Organization Packet) which express seven different lifetime periods. The episodic memory is represented by several E-MOPs (Episodic Memory Organization Packet) which express the conceptual categories. An event, a unique episode which can be described by several simple facts, is characterized by the lifetime period when it occurred, the conceptual categories to which it belongs, and the feature/value pairs of the event. An E-MOP is connected with the appropriate A-MOP and the relevant events which belong to this conceptual category. The system structure is a hierarchy in which the related MOPs are connected through indexes. For the storage process, the system automatically encodes new events and appropriately refines and reorganizes the structure. For the retrieval process, the relevant concept is activated and recalled. The system is implemented in LISP on a VAX11/780.Kolodner built the first episodic memory model, and Conway and Bekerian extended the model by including the autobiographic memory concept. In this research, the main contribution is the structure of autobiographic memory using lifetime periods and the development of a computer implementation for the conceptual model. The work can be refined and improved by extending the retrieval strategies, learning abilities, and reasoning abilities. Additional psychological issues could also be addressed.
Automaintenance in guinea pigs: Effects of feeding regimen and omission training

Behavior maintained by stimulus-reinforcer pairings was examined. Guinea pigs maintained at 85 per cent of free-feeding weights reliably contacted a retractable lever presented before delivery of a single piece of guinea-pig chow or a 45-milligram guinea-pig pellet. When animals were given free access to one food and received the second food preceded by the lever, contact responses persisted. Such responses seldom occurred when a single food was freely available and was also delivered after lever presentation. Introduction of an omission training (negative automaintenance) procedure, in which lever contacts resulted in lever retraction and prevented food delivery, strongly reduced lever contacts. Observation indicated that mouthing the food cup, instead of the lever, became the prominent behavior during the prefood stimulus under the omission training procedure.
Is There an Association Between GNβ3–C825T Genotype and Lower Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders?

Background & Aims: GNβ3 influences G-protein translation of a majority of ligand-receptor activations. It has been reported that functional dyspepsia (FD) is associated with homozygous genotypes of the C825T polymorphism in the GNβ3 gene. It is unknown whether the GNβ3 genotype is associated with lower functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID). We aimed to compare the prevalence of the different GNβ3 –C825T genotypes in patients with lower FGID and healthy controls and to test the associations of these genetic variations with subgroups of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional abdominal pain (FAP), lower FGID–FD overlap, and high somatic symptom scores. Methods: GNβ3 –C825T polymorphism was analyzed in DNA from blood samples of 233 patients with lower FGID and 152 healthy controls. A validated bowel questionnaire characterized the FGID phenotype: 82 with IBS constipation, 94 with IBS diarrhea, 38 with IBS alternating bowel function, and 19 with FAP. There were 159 patients with lower FGID and overlap FD using Rome II criteria. Regression analyses assessed associations of the GNβ3 genotypes with lower FGID as a group, and subgroups of FGID and somatic symptom scores. Results: GNβ3 –C825T genotype distributions were similar between healthy controls (50.7% CC, 40.8% TC) and patients with lower FGID (8.6% TT, 51.5% CC, 40.8% TC, and 7.7% TT). There were no significant associations of GNβ3 –C825T polymorphism with lower FGID overall or with the separate symptom subgroups including IBS, FAP, lower FGID–FD overlap, or high somatic symptom scores. Conclusions: In contrast to the reported association with FD, GNβ3 –C825T polymorphism is not associated significantly with lower FGID, with different IBS or FAP phenotypes, or lower FGID–FD overlap.
Arctic Cloud Fraction and Radiative Fluxes in Atmospheric Reanalyses

Abstract Arctic radiative fluxes, cloud fraction, and cloud radiative forcing are evaluated from four currently available reanalysis models using data from the North Slope of Alaska (NSA) Barrow site of the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program (ARM). A primary objective of the ARM–NSA program is to provide a high-resolution dataset of direct measurements of Arctic clouds and radiation so that global climate models can better parameterize high-latitude cloud radiative processes. The four reanalysis models used in this study are the 1) NCEP–NCAR global reanalysis, 2) 40-yr ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-40), 3) NCEP–NCAR North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR), and 4) Japan Meteorological Agency and Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry 25-yr Reanalysis (JRA25). The reanalysis models simulate the radiative fluxes well if/when the cloud fraction is simulated correctly. However, the systematic errors of climatological reanalysis cloud fractions are substantial. Cloud fraction and radiation bias...