cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Piceatannol in combination with low doses of cyclosporine A prolongs kidney allograft survival in a stringent rat transplantation model.

Background. The discovery of new immunosuppressive agents has enhanced short-term graft survival. However, current immunosuppressants often induce toxicities that limit their clinical use. Thus, there is a need for new immunosuppressants for use in clinical transplantation. Piceatannol blocks Syk and ZAP-70, tyrosine kinases involved in immune cell activation. We examined whether piceatannol prolongs kidney allograft survival in the stringent ACI-to-Lewis rat model. Methods. Kidney recipients were divided into four groups. Group 1 (n=8) received piceatannol 30 mg/kg per day intravenously and cyclosporine A (CsA) 2 mg/kg per day intramuscularly from day -3 to day 7 after transplantation. At day 8, piceatannol was reduced to 10 mg/kg per day and the combined treatment continued until day 60. Group 2 (n=9) received 2 mg/kg per day CsA alone from day -3 to day 60. Group 3 (n=4) received piceatannol alone as in group 1. Group 4 (n=2) received only the vehicle dimethyl sulfoxide from day -3 to day 60. Graft rejection was defined as either a serum creatinine level more than 2 mg/dL or animal death. Results. Group 1 animals survived for at least 115 days (n=8, P<0.05), with several animals maintaining their grafts for more than 200 days. In contrast, 8 of 9 animals in group 2 rejected their grafts within 10 days of transplantation; one animal survived for 71 days. Excellent graft function was maintained in group 1 animals despite withdrawal of immunosuppression. Conclusions. These results are the first to show that piceatannol, when combined with subtherapeutic dosages of CsA, prevents graft rejection, suggesting that targeting Syk and Zap could be useful for preventing graft rejection.
Defense mutualisms enhance plant diversification

The ability of plants to form mutualistic relationships with animal defenders has long been suspected to influence their evolutionary success, both by decreasing extinction risk and by increasing opportunity for speciation through an expanded realized niche. Nonetheless, the hypothesis that defense mutualisms consistently enhance plant diversification across lineages has not been well tested due to a lack of phenotypic and phylogenetic information. Using a global analysis, we show that the >100 vascular plant families in which species have evolved extrafloral nectaries (EFNs), sugar-secreting organs that recruit arthropod mutualists, have twofold higher diversification rates than families that lack species with EFNs. Zooming in on six distantly related plant clades, trait-dependent diversification models confirmed the tendency for lineages with EFNs to display increased rates of diversification. These results were consistent across methodological approaches. Inference using reversible-jump Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) to model the placement and number of rate shifts revealed that high net diversification rates in EFN clades were driven by an increased number of positive rate shifts following EFN evolution compared with sister clades, suggesting that EFNs may be indirect facilitators of diversification. Our replicated analysis indicates that defense mutualisms put lineages on a path toward increased diversification rates within and between clades, and is concordant with the hypothesis that mutualistic interactions with animals can have an impact on deep macroevolutionary patterns and enhance plant diversity.
Safety and usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography in persons aged ≥70 years

Abstract Although transthoracic echocardiography remains the cornerstone of diagnostic cardiac ultrasound, satisfactory images cannot be obtained in up to 20% of patients. It may be particularly difficult to acquire high quality images in patients on mechanical ventilators, after major thoracic surgery, and in the elderly. In addition, transthoracic echocardiography is of limited value in assessing prosthetic valves, atrial masses and aortic dissection. 1,2 In contrast, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) provides a superior acoustic window and overcomes many of the limitations of the transthoracic approach. Although several studies have described the safety and utility of TEE, 1–7 the role of this technique in evaluating elderly patients needs clarification. This report describes our initial experience with TEE in the awake setting in 35 consecutive patients aged ≥70 years.
The role of cytokines and adhesive molecules in febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reactions

Febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reactions occur not infrequently following transfusion. Our understanding of the molecular biology of these reactions has increased dramatically over the past few years. A variety of biological response modifiers have been shown to play a role in these reactions. These chemical messengers include cytokines, complement fragments, antibodies and adhesion molecules. Many of the clinical symptoms associated with these reactions are attributable to activation and generation of these substances. This review article will cover the role of cytokines in generation of non-hemolytic febrile transfusion reactions and the role of activation of adhesion molecules in the generation of TRALI (non-cardiogenlc pulmonary edema). Our ability to modulate the generation of these chemical messengers could help us control clinical symptoms associated with these transfusion reactions.
U. S. POPULATION GROWTH AS AN ABSTRACTLY-PERCEIVED PROBLEM

Recent public opinion polls report that a majority of Americans consider the nation’s population growth rate to be a “serious” problem. Little systematic evidence exists on whether they view the problem as a factor that the individual married couple should consider in deciding on family size. A survey of 134 adult women living in a limited-income family housing project in a relatively small and isolated American community suggests: the view that continued population growth is a problem in the United States is endorsed more strongly than the view that the couple has a responsibility to limit its fertility because of overpopulation; and concern with population growth is only loosely associated with acceptance of the individual responsibility attitude. Among subgroups of respondents, Catholics were more likely to hold a negative attitude toward population growth than to possess the individual responsibility view and they exhibited a correlation between the two attitudes. Protestants were distinguished by no difference in or correlation between the acceptance of the two attitudes. A correlation between the attitudes was especially pronounced among Catholics with high achievement values. It is suggested that measures explicitly intended to control population growth probably cannot be adopted until there is a strong correlation between the two attitudes.
Analysis of nonlinear BVPs motivated by fluid film flow over a surface

We study a coupled nonlinear boundary value problem which has been shown to have applications to fluid flow and heat transfer in a fluid film over a stretching surface for set values of the model parameters (one of which determines the size of the problem domain). For arbitrary values of these parameters we are able to establish the existence and uniqueness of a class of monotone solutions. Perturbation solutions are then constructed and used to approximate certain invariants for the solutions. We then study a related boundary value problem formed by imposing an additional boundary condition on one of the governing equations (which results in an ill-posed problem), and we arrive at conditions allowing for solutions to this four-parameter problem to agree with the solutions to the three-parameter problem.
An update on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors.

Selective inhibitors of the cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme were developed to treat pain and inflammation while reducing the risk of the serious gastrointestinal side effects seen with nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The results of several clinical trials have demonstrated an apparent increased risk of serious cardiovascular events in patients taking the COX-2-selective inhibitors. Although the risk was observed originally with trials conducted with rofecoxib, it was attributed generally to the entire class of COX-2-selective drugs based on a similar mechanism of action and a hypothesis that predicted the possibility of a prothrombotic effect of the drugs compared with nonselective NSAIDs. Subsequent studies have demonstrated that elevated cardiovascular risk is not limited to the use of COX-2-specific inhibitors. An increase in cardiovascular risk actually has been seen with antiinflammatory drugs of the NSAID class, regardless of whether they are selective or nonselective inhibitors. The US Food and Drug Administration has recommended that all such drugs carry a black box warning for gastrointestinal and cardiovascular risks.
Cloud aided Internet mobility

The Internet is becoming increasingly mobile. Although several mobility solutions are proposed, none of them has been largely deployed. We propose a new system that can facilitate and support mobility on the Internet. The new mobility support service will be offered as a value-added service by mobility service providers to paying mobile customers. Therefore, the proposed solution is economically viable. We propose to design our mobility management system on cloud computing. Furthermore, we explore the architectural tradeoffs among QoS, economic viability, security and privacy of various cloud aided designs. Our simulation results show how various system architectures could be used to satisfy different requirements.
Kinetic studies of guanine recognition and a phosphate group subsite on ribonuclease T1 using substitution mutants at Glu46 and Lys41.

Abstract pH-Dependent kinetic studies were performed with ribonuclease T1 (RNase T1) and its Glu46Ser, Lys41Met, and Lys41Thr mutants with GpC and polyinosinic acid (PolyI) as substrates. Plots of pH versus log(kcat/KM) for both substrates had ascending slopes that were significantly greater for RNase T1 compared with Glu46Ser–RNase T1, which indicated that the γ-carboxyl group of conserved Glu46 must be deprotonated (anionic) for maximal interaction with N(1)H and N(2)H of the guanine moiety of GpC or the N(1)H of the hypoxanthine moiety of PolyI. The involvement of the e-ammonium group of nonconserved Lys41 at the 2p subsite (i.e., for an RNA phosphate group two nucleotide positions 5′-upstream from the active site) was supported by comparisons of Lys41Met–RNase T1 and Lys41Thr–RNase T1 with wild-type. These mutants shared identical catalytic properties (i.e., kcat and KM) with wild-type using GpC as a substrate. However, kcat/KM for both were identical with each other but lower than those for wild-type when PolyI was the substrate (PolyI has a phosphate group that could interact at a putative 2p site). The pH dependence of this latter difference can be interpreted as reflecting the loss of the 2p subsite interaction with the wild-type enzyme upon deprotonation of the e-ammonium group of Lys41. Subsite interactions for ribonucleases are shown to mainly increase kcat and result in an attenuated pH dependence of kcat/KM.
Total dietary fiber intakes in the US population are related to whole grain consumption: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009 to 2010 ☆

Whole grain (WG) foods have been shown to reduce chronic disease risk and overweight. Total dietary fiber is associated with WG and its health benefits. The purpose was to determine whether associations exist between WG intake (no-WG intake, 0 ounce equivalent [oz eq]; low, >0-<3 oz eq; high, ≥3 oz eq) and total dietary fiber intake among Americans 2 years and older. One-day food intake data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009 to 2010 (n = 9042) showed that only 2.9% and 7.7% of children/adolescents (2-18 years) and adults (≥19 years) consumed at least 3 WG oz eq/d, respectively. For children/adolescents and adults, individuals in the high WG intake group were 59 and 76 times more likely to fall in the third fiber tertile, respectively, compared with those with no-WG intake. Total dietary fiber intake from food sources varied by WG intake group for children/adolescents and adults with more total dietary fiber consumed from ready-to-eat (RTE) and hot cereals and yeast breads/rolls in the high WG intake group compared with the no-WG intake group. Major WG sources for children/adolescents and adults included yeast bread/rolls (24% and 27%, respectively), RTE cereals (25% and 20%, respectively), and oatmeal (12% and 21%, respectively). Among those with the highest WG intake, WG RTE cereal with no added bran was the greatest contributor to total dietary fiber compared with other RTE cereal types. Whole grain foods make a substantial contribution to total dietary fiber intake and should be promoted to meet recommendations.
Genetic population structure of migratory moths: the fall armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Populations of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), were characterized genetically using electrophoretic methods to determine patterns of interbreeding, and to identify potential sources from which migrants enter the southeastern United States each year. Specimens were collected from nine locations in Mexico, the southeastern United States, and the Caribbean and were examined at 12 polymorphic loci over 1 year and, for some sites, 2 years. Significant heterogeneity among populations was found at five loci, particularly esterase-3 and hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, and population structuring was high relative to other Lepidoptera. Genetic differences were largely due to a highly divergent Puerto Rican population collected from rice (all other collections were from corn). If this differentiation results from a lack of interbreeding between Puerto Rico and the mainland and is not due to the presence of host races, then the source of immigrant fall armyworm for the eastern United States is not the Puerto Rican area but more likely overwintering populations from southern Florida, Texas, or Mexico.
On the elimination of Kirkendall voids in superconducting composites

Kirkendall void formation, which has hitherto prevented the use of the external diffusion technique for the manufacture of practical multifilamentary superconducting composites, can be suppressed by using solution anneals to eliminate sites for heterogeneous void nucleation.
Projections to the basis pontis from the superior temporal sulcus and superior temporal region in the rhesus monkey

The present investigation was designed to determine the origins in the temporal lobe, and terminations in the pons, of the temporopontine pathway. Injections of tritiated amino acids were placed in multimodal regions in the upper bank of the superior temporal sulcus (STS), and in unimodal visual, somatosensory, and auditory areas in different sectors of the lower bank of the STS, the superior temporal gyrus (STG), and the supratemporal plane (STP). The distribution of terminal label in the nuclei of the basis pontis was studied using the autoradiographic technique. Following injections of isotope into the multimodal areas (TPO and PGa) in the upper bank of the STS, intense aggregations of label were observed in the extreme dorsolateral, dorsolateral, and lateral nuclei of the pons, and modest amounts of label were seen in the peripeduncular nucleus. The caudalmost area TPO projected in addition to the ventral and intrapeduncular pontine nuclei. The second auditory area, AII, and the adjacent auditory association areas of the STG and STP contributed modest projections to the dorsolateral, lateral, and peripeduncular nuclei, but generally spared the extreme dorsolateral nucleus. The lower bank of the STS, which subserves central vision, the somatosensory associated region at the fundus of the rostral STS, and the primary auditory area did not project to the pons. The higher order, multimodal STS contribution to the corticopontocerebellar circuit may provide a partial anatomical substrate for the hypothesis that the cerebellum contributes to the modulation of nonmotor functions.
Relationship of urine dopamine with phosphorus homeostasis in humans: the heart and soul study.

Background: Urine dopamine (DA) is produced in the proximal tubule and has been found to increase in response to dietary phosphorus intake, and to contribute to g
Work Motivation: The Incorporation of Self-Concept-Based Processes

This paper proposes a metatheory of work motivation incorporating theories of self-concept that have been proposed in the sociological and psychological literatures. Traditional theories of work motivation are reviewed, and the selfconcept-based sources of motivation are presented. How the self-concept influences behavior in organizations is explained and used to develop a metatheory of motivational sources. Both research and managerial implications of the model are presented.
Primordial germ cell deficiency in the connexin 43 knockout mouse arises from apoptosis associated with abnormal p53 activation.

Connexin 43 knockout (Cx43α1KO) mice exhibit germ cell deficiency, but the underlying cause for the germ cell defect was unknown. Using an Oct4-GFP reporter transgene, we tracked the distribution and migration of primordial germ cells (PGCs) in the Cx43α1KO mouse embryo. Analysis with dye injections showed PGCs are gap-junction-communication competent, with dye coupling being markedly reduced in Cx43α1-deficient PGCs. Time-lapse videomicroscopy and motion analysis showed that the directionality and speed of cell motility were reduced in the Cx43α1KO PGCs. This was observed both in E8.5 and E11.5 embryos. By contrast, PGC abundance did not differ between wild-type and heterozygous/homozygous Cx43α1KO embryos until E11.5, when a marked reduction in PGC abundance was detected in the homozygous Cx43α1KO embryos. This was accompanied by increased PGC apoptosis and increased expression of activated p53. Injection of α-pifithrin, a p53 antagonist, inhibited PGC apoptosis and prevented the loss of PGC. Analysis using a cell adhesion assay indicated a reduction inβ 1-integrin function in the Cx43α1KO PGCs. Together with the abnormal activation of p53, these findings suggest the possibility of anoikis-mediated apoptosis. Overall, these findings show Cx43α1 is essential for PGC survival, with abnormal p53 activation playing a crucial role in the apoptotic loss of PGCs in the Cx43α1KO mouse embryos.
Molecular Divergence in the Galapagos Islands—Baja California Species Pair, Gossypium klotzschianum and G. davidsonii (Malvaceae)

Molecular divergence betweenGossypium klotzschianum andG. davidsonii was studied. The former is endemic to five of the larger islands of the Galapagos, whileG. davidsonii is restricted to the southern half of Baja California, approximately 2 500 km distant. A substantial body of genetic and taxonomic data suggests that these two species are related as progenitor and derivative. Interspecific hybrids are fully fertile, with no evidence of F2 breakdown and normal segregation of genetic markers. Allozyme analysis of 33 populations for 41 loci indicated that the allelic composition ofG. klotzschianum represents a subset ofG. davidsonii. Although genetic diversity is relatively restricted in both species, calculated measures demonstrate higher levels of genetic variability and greater population structuring inG. davidsonii than inG. klotzschianum. The interspecific genetic identity of 0.87 is typical for progenitor-derivative species pairs. Chloroplast DNAs were surveyed for variation with 25 restriction enzymes using hybridization probes that cover the entire chloroplast genome. No intraspecific and little interspecific variation was detected among 560 cpDNA restriction sites, representing sequence information for approximately 3200 nucleotides. Only 3 mutational differences distinguished the two species, resulting in a sequence divergence estimate of 0.09%. Divergence times were estimated from both the isozyme data and the cpDNA restriction site data. Although these estimates have several sources of error, both molecular data sets were congruent in suggesting that the two lineages diverged between 250000 and 700000 years ago. Accumulated evidence suggests that dispersal was from Baja California to the Galapagos Islands rather than the reverse, and most likely was mediated by trans-oceanic drift.G. klotzschianum may be the only species of the endemic Galapagos flora to have arisen from a northern Mexican progenitor.
Challenging Adult Perspectives on Children's Geographies through Participatory Research Methods: Insights from a Service-Learning Course

In this paper, the author adopts the notion that working with children in some ways highlights the challenges of university-level pedagogy and research ethics; this is done by evaluating a service-learning course she conducted with undergraduate and graduate students that was based on children's urban geographies. In the course of this examination, she considers ways that aiming towards child-led, participatory approaches created several practical and ethical dilemmas but also stimulated critical reflection on positionality in research and teaching. A set of suggestions is offered for working with children in participatory qualitative research projects that emerged from insights gained in this endeavor, and the author also confronts a set of six attitudes she and her students had to engage with in order to move toward a less essentializing and more critically rigorous participatory research practice.
The effects of the coupled slotline mode and air-bridges on CPW and NLC waveguide discontinuities

The extended spectral domain analysis is applied to analyze symmetrical and asymmetrical coplanar and non-leaky coplanar waveguide discontinuities. The three-dimensional dyadic Green's function is derived first to calculate the contributions of horizontal (vertical) magnetic (electrical) currents. No air-bridges are needed if the discontinuity is symmetrical, It is shown that the coupled slotline (CSL) mode excited by asymmetrical discontinuities drastically affects the CPW circuit performance. The effect of air-bridges used to suppress the unwanted CSL mode is studied. Experimental data agree very well with numerical results for CPW discontinuities. In addition, the discontinuities of a novel conductor-backed CPW structure, the non-leaky coplanar (NLC) waveguide, are also investigated. From experiment, it is found that the SMA-to-NLC transition causes power leakage. Except for the small leakage, theoretical and experimental results agree well.
Making Believe: A Descriptive Study of Fantasies in Middle Childhood

Sixty-four children between the ages of seven and twelve were asked a series of open-ended questions about their favorite fantasies or make-believe games. Their responses were coded by judges on a ...
'Ideology in' vs. 'Cultural Cognition of' Law: What Difference Does it Make?

Recent scholarship in law and political science identifies ideology as a major determinant of judicial decisionmaking. This essay suggests the possibility that much if not all the evidence this work rests on might be attributed to the influence of cultural cognition, a set of mechanisms that motivate individuals to conform their factual perceptions to their values. Such an account has the potential to furnish a psychologically richer description of how competing values generate judicial dissensus, a more informed normative appraisal of such dissensus, and a more tractable set of prescriptions for reducing it.
Water Vapor Uptake in Photolithographic Polymers Observed by Infrared Near-Field Scanning Optical Microscopy in a Controlled Environment

An infrared near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) is used in a controlled environment chamber to detect water vapor uptake in thin polymer films. A chemically amplified photoresist sample composed of alternating 2μm lines of the original 1000 nm thick poly-(tert-butylmethacrylate) (PTBMA) and the photochemically modified 500 nm thick poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) is studied both in low and high water vapor environments. The degree of water vapor absorption by the sample is measured using the infrared transmission of 2.85 μm light on a small spatial scale (<500 nm). The accompanying topographic swelling of the samples is measured using a shear-force feedback loop. Distortion of the topographic structure and variation in transmission contrast indicate that the PMAA zones absorb more water than the PTBMA regions in the water vapor environment. The PMAA swells 280 nm more than PTBMA when exposed to a partial pressure of water vapor of 2.1 kPa (16 Torr), whereas the infrared optical contrast is increased to a 6 ′ 1% difference in the PMAA regions compared to the PTBMA.
“Everyone knows their Miranda rights”: Implicit assumptions and countervailing evidence.

More than four decades have passed since the Miranda decision (Miranda v. Arizona, 1966) enshrined the Constitutional protections afforded to custodial suspects against self incrimination. As a prophylactic safeguard, the rights to silence and counsel must be communicated via Miranda warnings or “other fully effective means” (Miranda, p. 478) or else the arrestee’s statement may be
Compactness measure of digital shapes

This paper presents a method for measuring the compactness of digital shapes, namely, the digital compactness. Unlike analog shapes, boundary of a digital shape (especially for low-resolution image) has measurable width and thus both its perimeter and area may have different measurements using different methods. Furthermore, rotating a digital shape results in changes in its perimeter and area, and thus its digital compactness. The purpose of this paper is to search for a method for measuring the perimeter, area, and compactness of a digital shape so that, for a given analog geometric shape, the difference between its analog compactness and digital compactness is minimized.
Clinicopathologic features and long-term outcome of patients with medullary breast carcinoma managed with breast-conserving therapy (BCT)

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the clinical characteristics and outcome of medullary carcinoma to infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast in a large cohort of conservatively managed patients with long-term follow-up. Methods and Materials: Chart records of patients with invasive breast cancer managed with breast-conserving therapy (BCT) at the therapeutic radiology facilities of Yale University School of Medicine before 2001 were reviewed. Forty-six cases (1971–2001) were identified with medullary histology; 1,444 patients with infiltrating ductal carcinoma served as a control group. Results: The medullary cohort presented at a younger age with a higher percentage of patients in the 35 years or younger age group (26.1% vs. 6.6%, p p = 0.0035). The medullary cohort was also significantly associated with greater T stage and tumor size (37.0% vs. 17.2% T2, mean size 3.2 vs. 2.5 cm, p = 0.00097) as well as negative ER (84.9% vs. 37.6%, p p = 0.00001) status. As of February 2003, median follow-up times for the medullary and control groups were 13.9 and 14.0 years, respectively. Although breast relapse-free rates were not significantly different (76.7% vs. 85.2%), 10-year distant relapse-free survival in the medullary cohort was significantly better than in the control group (94.9% vs. 77.5%, p = 0.028). Conclusions: Despite poor clinicopathologic features, patients with medullary histology demonstrate favorable long-term distant relapse-free survival. Local control rates of patients with medullary and infiltrating ductal carcinoma are comparable. These findings suggest that patients diagnosed with medullary carcinoma are appropriate candidates for BCT and are associated with favorable long-term prognosis.
Vasectomy techniques--need for better occlusion methods.

This commentary focuses on vasectomy techniques and expresses the need for a more reliable easy-to-apply method of vas occlusion. It suggests that an ideal method would: be compatible with the no-scalpel vasectomy (NSV) technique not involve destruction of a long segment of the vas for easy reversibility as safe or safer than existing methods of vas occlusion and not require expensive equipment.
Cooperative methods for road tracking in aerial imagery

A description is given of research in digital mapping and image understanding in the area of automated feature extraction from aerial imagery. The authors discuss a system for road tracking, ARF (A Road Follower), that uses multiple cooperative methods for extracting information about road location and structure from complex aerial imagery. This system is a multilevel architecture for image analysis that follows for cooperation among low-level processes and aggregation of information by high-level analysis components. Two low-level road tracking methods have been implemented: road-surface texture correlation and road-edge following. Each works independently to establish a model of the centerline of the road, its width, and other local properties. >
Far‐infrared studies of microphase separation in sulfonated ionomers

Far-infrared spectra of a series of un-neutralized and neutralized lightly sulfonated polystyrenes with varying sulfonation levels have been investigated to seek spectroscopic evidence for microphase separation known to control the physical properties of these polymers. Broad, strong absorbance bands, not found in the spectrum of unmodified polystyrene, are observed in the spectra of the sulfonated analogs. The effects on the far-infrared spectra both of sulfonation level and of the mass and charge of the neutralizing cation are discussed in terms of cation motion and the formation of ion-rich domains.
Experiments on Supersonic Boundary-Layer Separation in Three Dimensions

A detailed experimental study of three-dimensional separation in supersonic flow is described. Three-dimensional wedges affixed to flat plates were used to generate the flow fields that were used to examine the relationship of cross flow to the extent of separation. Models with strong transverse pressure gradients resulted in a diminished extent of separation about the model plane of symmetry but demonstrated expansive growth of separation to a limit with distance from the plane of symmetry. A secondary flow region was found embedded in the separated flow.
Plenary III–01: A Methodology for Quantitative Measurement of Quality and Comprehensiveness of a Research Data Repository

Background and Aim: With the existence of research over federated repositories, it is desirable to utilize high quality integrated data repositories (IDRs). IDR can be defined as a data warehouse optimized for research purposes rather than clinical care, which contains clinical, administrative, trial, and -omics data. In this work, we focus on the quality of clinical and administrative components of IDRs. There is no standardized methodology which could quantitatively evaluate the quality of an IDR (e.g., ‘Does a given IDR have at least 2000 adult diabetic patients (type 1) with complete pediatric history?’). With the increased interest in research of existing data (such as comparative effectiveness research) and increasing number of institutions with an comprehensive IDRs, it is important to have a mechanism for selecting quality IDRs. Methods: Our poster will present a set of IDR quality measures which can compare IDRs in size and completeness. We considered the following criteria for a good measure: the measure is intuitive to interpret; facilitates monitoring improvement; and does not place any arbitrary value on individual measure components. Our methodology proposes a hierarchy of definitions of minimum EHR elements and uses a simple count of each level to quantitatively evaluate an IDR (e.g., count of patients with at least one diagnosis and one laboratory result). Results: We have applied our methodology to an IDR at Marshfield Clinic. Our poster will list all measures and results. Selected results were: 1.7M unique patients (level G1), 0.4M patients with at least one diagnosis, lab and prescription (level D3). To facilitate evaluations at other institutions, we have created an ANSI-SQL script which can compute all measures in a single execution. Conclusion: Our evaluation methodology provides a quick way to compare IDRs at different institutions. It can be applied to institutions contributing to a virtual warehouse. Our goal was to arrive at a pragmatic set of measures operating on an easy-to-implement event schema. The limitations are: focus on general research idea and event types and criteria included in some level definitions. We plan to conduct a Delphi study involving informatics experts to arrive at an improved consensus set of measures.
An arthropod defensin expressed by the hemocytes of the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae)

Both soluble and cell-mediated components are involved in the innate immune response of arthropods. Injection of Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme disease agent, results in the secretion of defensin into the hemolymph of the ixodid tick, Dermacentor variabilis. The presence of the peptide is observed as early as 15 min post-challenge and remains present through 18 h post-challenge. As observed in insects and soft ticks, the transcript for defensin is detected as early as 1 h post-challenge in D. variabilis. RT-PCR resulted in an amplicon of 624 bp with a 225 bp region that translates to a 74 amino acid preprodefensin. The defensin encoding region was amplified, cloned and sequenced from the hemocytes. It appears as though defensin is stored in the granulocytes of the hemolymph and secreted into the hemolymph upon bacterial insult. The role of defensin as a contributing factor in determining vector competency is discussed.
Persistent Anemia in a Renal Transplant Recipient

Diagnosis: Chronic persistent parvovirus B19 infection. The bone marrow biopsy demonstrated markedly hypocellular marrow (10% cellularity) (figure 1) with incomplete erythroid maturation and increased storage of iron. Hematoxylin and eosin staining of the bone marrow specimen revealed occasional enlarged cells with prominent nuclear inclusions (giant pronormoblasts), which are characteristic of parvovirus B19 infection (figure 2). In contrast, cells infected with cytomegalovirus (CMV) usually have both cytoplasmic and intranuclear inclusions, which give the cells the characteristic "owl eye" appearance. The results of PCR of the bone marrow specimen for Epstein-Barr virus and CMV DNA were negative, and the findings of chromosomal analysis of bone marrow were also normal. The result of PCR of the bone marrow specimen for parvovirus B19 DNA was positive. The patient was treated with a 5-day regimen of intravenous immunoglobulin and has not required blood transfusions since the completion of treatment. His hematocrit rose quickly to 36%-37.9 % by 2 weeks after treatment and to 42.2% by 1 month after treatment. Parvovirus B19 is a nonenveloped, single-stranded DNA virus that commonly causes a benign childhood infection, fifth disease (erythema infectiosum), which typically manifests as a Figure 2. High-pow r micrograph (hematoxylin and eosin stain; original magnification, x100) of a bone marrow sp cimen showing giant pronormoblast (arrow) with prominent nuclear inclusions.
The problem of unobservables in strategic management research

In this paper we argue that unobservable constructs lie at the core of a number of influential theories used in the strategic marmgement literature—including agency theory, transaction cost theory, and the resource-based view of the firm. The debate over how best to deal with the problem of unobservables has raged in the philosophy of science literature for the best part of the current century. On the one hand, there are the positivists, who believe that theories containing unobservable constructs are only useful as tools for making predictions. According to positivists, such theories do not inform us about the deep structure of reality. On the other hand, there are the realists, who believe that our theories can give us knowledge about unobservables. Herein we review this debate, we argue for adopting a realist position, and we draw out the implications for strategic management research.
Does School Desegregation Policy Stimulate Residential Integration? A Critique of the Research.

Definitions of residential integration and theformulae by which they are calculated will substantially affect conclusions.
MULE DEER SURVIVAL AMONG ADJACENT POPULATIONS IN SOUTHWEST IDAHO

Abstract We investigated survival and cause-specific mortality of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) on 3 distinct winter ranges in southwest Idaho from 1992 to 1997 to identify demographic variation and potential limiting factors based on a sample of 447 radiocollared deer. During winters 1995–1996 and 1996–1997, we modeled overwinter fawn mortality based on early winter mass, sex, activity, and habitat use variables. Annual survival rates of adult mule deer varied among the 3 adjacent study areas (χ22 = 10.93, P = 0.004). Overwinter deer survival also varied among study areas (χ22 = 8.00, P = 0.018), and the study area × year, study area × sex, and study area × age interactions were all significant (P ≤ 0.018). Overwinter survival differences among the study areas were not consistent over time or among sexes and ages of deer. Winter malnutrition was the main cause of mortality for both adults and fawns during the severe winter of 1992–1993, when overall survival was low. Excluding harvest, predation was th...
Conscious Perceptual Experience as Representational Self-Prompting

John Dilworth Western Michigan University [Journal of Mind and Behavior 28 no. 2 (2007), 135-156] The self-prompting theory of consciousness holds that conscious perceptual experience occurs when non-routine perceptual data prompt the activation of a plan in an executive control system that monitors perceptual input. On the other hand, routine, non-conscious perception merely provides data about the world, which indicatively describes the world correctly or incorrectly. Perceptual experience instead involves data that are about the perceiver, not the world. Their function is that of imperatively prompting the perceiver herself to do something (hence "self-prompting") via the monitoring activities of her executive control system. The theory explains both phenomenal consciousness and "what it is like" to be perceptually conscious of an item. In addition, as applied to early perceptual attention, the self-prompting theory can explain how and why consciousness evolved.
Comparison of HMF hydrodeoxygenation over different metal catalysts in a continuous flow reactor

Abstract The three-phase hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and hydrogenation of 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) were studied over six carbon-supported metal catalysts (Pt, Pd, Ir, Ru, Ni, and Co) using a tubular flow reactor with 1-propanol solvent, at 180 °C and 33 bar. By varying the space time in the reactor, the reaction of HMF is shown to be sequential, with HMF reacting first to furfuryl ethers and other partially hydrogenated products, which then form 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF). Ring-opened products and 2,5-dimethyltetrahydrofuran (DMTHF) were produced only from reaction of DMF. Rate constants for the pseudo-first-order sequential reactions were obtained for each of the metals. The selectivities for the reaction of DMF varied with the metal catalyst, with Pd forming primarily DMTHF, Ir forming a mixture of DMTHF and open-ring products, and the other metals forming primarily open-ring products. Catalyst stabilities followed the order Pt ∼ Ir > Pd > Ni > Co > Ru. Since the stability order correlated with carbon balances in the product (>93% for Pt;
Protein Hydrogen Exchange Measured by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Publisher Summary This chapter outlines a practical protocol for hydrogen exchange measurements on proteins using ESI-MS, which provides high protein sequence coverage and low back-exchange, thus improving the sensitivity of HX-MS for monitoring changes in solvent accessibility and conformational mobility. Hydrogen exchange-mass spectrometry (HX-MS) is a technique that measures the rate of exchange between protons on macromolecules and isotopically labeled water. The measurement can be used to obtain information about aspects of solution structure, protein folding, and conformational mobility. The basic protocol involves timed incubations of protein in 90% (v/v) D2O at neutral pH, which allows in-exchange of deuterons for protons within timescales ranging from seconds to hours. At the end of each incubation, the in-exchange reaction is quenched by rapidly lowering pH and temperature. Artifactual in-exchange occurs after quenching the in-exchange and is facilitated by the partial denaturation of protein in acidic solution. Deuterons at backbone amides slowly back exchange to hydrogen during HPLC separation in water.
Domain-Swapping Switch Point in Ste20 Protein Kinase SPAK.

The related protein kinases SPAK and OSR1 regulate ion homeostasis in part by phosphorylating cation cotransporter family members. The structure of the kinase domain of OSR1 was determined in the unphosphorylated inactive form and, like some other Ste20 kinases, exhibited a domain-swapped activation loop. To further probe the role of domain swapping in SPAK and OSR1, we have determined the crystal structures of SPAK 63–403 at 3.1 A and SPAK 63–390 T243D at 2.5 A resolution. These structures encompass the kinase domain and different portions of the C-terminal tail, the longer without and the shorter with an activating T243D point mutation. The structure of the T243D protein reveals significant conformational differences relative to unphosphorylated SPAK and OSR1 but also has some features of an inactive kinase. Both structures are domain-swapped dimers. Sequences involved in domain swapping were identified and mutated to create a SPAK monomeric mutant with kinase activity, indicating that monomeric forms a...
Synthesis and metabolism of quinolinic acid ring labeled with tritium.

Summary1. Quinolinic acid was labeled in the 4, 5, and 6 positions with tritium by the neutron recoil method. 2. Intraperitoneal injection of labeled quinolinic acid into rats was followed by excretion of labeled N1 methylnicotinamide in urine during the next 24 hours. Tritium contents of excreted N1 methylnicotinamide in 2 experiments indicated that 7.6 and 23.6% originated from the injected labeled quinolinic acid. The evidence is definite that quinolinic acid can serve in the rat as a source of niacin. 3. Most of the injected quinolinic acid was exreted as such in the urine. Quinolinic acid isolated from urines of 2 rats had specific activities of 103 and 112% of injected quinolinic acid. The increase in specific activity suggests that tritium-labeled quinolinic acid may have been less rapidly metabolized than the unlabeled substance.
Abstract 155: A comparison of DNA methylation in identical twins discordant for Hodgkin lymphoma

DNA methylation is an epigenetic change that may affect gene expression. Environmental determinants are largely unknown but strongly suspected. Because twins are matched on genome and to some extent, early life exposures, a comparison of DNA methylation between twins is of more interest than one between unrelated individuals. To evaluate the possibility of an association between DNA methylation and young adult Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), DNA samples from blood or saliva were collected from both members of 25 identical twin pairs in whom one twin had developed HL prior to age 50 (discordant pairs). The median time since diagnosis was 16 years. DNA methylation status at 27,578 loci in 14,475 genes was measured in each sample using the Illumina Infinium methylation assay. We measured any difference ( 0) in the level of DNA methylation at each locus between the case and the unaffected co-twin and applied a paired t-test. The overall pattern indicated that cases had higher levels of DNA methylation at loci with lower average DNA methylation levels, but the reverse was true at loci with higher overall levels of DNA methylation (e.g., here the cases had lower levels). With respect to specific loci, the HL case consistently had a higher level of DNA methylation compared to his/her unaffected co-twin at locus cg24693053 in the MFSD7 (major facilitator superfamily domain containing 7) gene in 22/25 pairs; this was also the locus with the most significant p-value (p= 0.0000332). Twenty-two out of 25 cases had a lower level of DNA methylation than their unaffected co-twin at loci cg17385448 in the AGMAT (Agmatine ureohydrolase [agmatinase]) gene (p= 0.0001587) and cg09809672 in the EDARADD (EDAR-associated death domain) gene (p= 0.003775846). Seventeen out of 19 cases with the nodular sclerosis subtype had consistently higher DNA methylation levels at 9 loci and lower levels at 7 loci compared to their unaffected co-twin (binomial test p=0.0007). There was no overall effect on the pattern of methylation by time since diagnosis. We observed suggestive differences in DNA methylation levels in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected from young adult HL patients in remission relative to their unaffected identical co-twins. The differences may have resulted from HL disease or treatment, or could have pre-dated the diagnosis. The results are compatible with a role of the cumulative environment on DNA methylation. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 155.
Prenatal diagnosis of classic hemophilia.

Abstract Prenatal diagnosis of classic hemophilia (hemophilia A) in mid-trimester was achieved by means of immunoradiometric assays for factor VIII on fetal plasma and amniotic-fluid mixtures obtai...
Emplotting Virtue: A Narrative Approach to Environmental Virtue Ethics

In Emplotting Virtue, Brian Treanor provides a critique of what he calls the “duo-lithic” climate in contemporary ethics, a concise overview of narrative theory, and an innovative and sustainable a...
The clinical impact and prognostic value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT in the initial staging non-small cell lung cancer at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

11079 Background: 18F-fluorodeoxyglucosePositron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (FDG-PET/CT) has an important role for Non-Small Cell lung cancer (NSCLC) management, especially in staging....
Determination of nitrite in salt vegetables by marinating directly

Objective:Several conditions were chosen in the extraction of nitrite in salt vegetables with the recovery proved.Methods:Applied in the detection of nitrite in the process of salting vegetables.Results:Beer′s law was obeyed in the range of 0.00～0.28 mg/L,relational coefficient being r=0.9996.The relative standard deviation was 1.2%.The recovery was between 91.7%～102.3%.Conclusion:By choosing the condition of extraction of nitrite in salt vegetables,it seems to be an exact and fast determination method.
Case 45: Pediatric Research

A fellow in pediatric anesthesiology approaches you with a suggested clinical research study. He is interested in developing a safe sedation/anesthetic management protocol for uncooperative children undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). He has come across a case report by Rosen and Daume [1] where they described an uncooperative child for an MRI using intravenous dexmedetomidine. The drug is not recommended for use in children. Unfortunately they made a miscalculation, and instead of a bolus, they gave the drug as a continuous infusion which resulted in a tenfold overdose. Your fellow tells you that the child tolerated the overdose and was discharged to home the same day.