cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A pre-operative allergy clinic: The first thousand patients

Abstract Rationale We developed a clinical pathway to optimize the use of antibiotics in pre-operative patients with self-reported penicillin (PCN) allergy. Methods In 2001, our institution developed a preoperative evaluation (POE) clinic for elective surgical patients. In June 2002, on-site, same-day allergy consultation and penicillin skin testing was available for pre-operative patients with self-reported PCN allergy. We reviewed the antibiotic recommendations and estimated charges of patients seen from June 1, 2002-September 16, 2003. Results 11,819 patients were seen at the POE clinic and 1204 were evaluated for PCN allergy. Of the 1204 patients, 1139 underwent skin testing for PCN allergy. 62 (5%) had one or more positive skin tests to PCN. Only 188 were recommended to use vancomycin or non-beta lactam antibiotic. The top three surgical specialties represented in the POE clinic were orthopedic (28.4%), urology (22%) and neurosurgery (15%). Of the first 460 patients evaluated for PCN allergy, 24 patients received prolonged (6 weeks) antimicrobial therapy, 16 (64%) received cefazolin and 8 (32%) received vancomycin. For these 24 patients, we estimate a savings of $7541 per patient for cefazolin therapy compared with vancomycin therapy ($8311 vs $15852), and a cost of $360 for allergy evaluation and testing. Thus, we estimate a net savings of $114,896 for these 24 patients. Conclusions Pre-operative allergy evaluation for patients with self-reported PCN allergy can result in significant reduction of vancomycin use. Preoperative allergy evaluation may also reduce expenditures for patients requiring prolonged antimicrobial therapy.
Formula rooms for newborn infants in lying-in hospitals

Summary Tentative impressions are presented on the results of a continuous program from 1947 to 1949 by the Department of Health of New York City to modernize the preparation of feeding formulas for newborn infants in hospitals giving maternity care in the prevention of infection. Terminal sterilization of formulas is discussed and a method is described of sampling the formulas and rubber nipples for bacteriological cultures.
Cation-dependent Reassociation of Subunits of N10-Formyltetrahydrofolate Synthetase from Clostridium acidi-urici and Clostridium cylindrosporum

Abstract N10-Formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase from Clostridium acidi-urici or Clostridium cylindrosporum is composed of four subunits which are identical by the criteria of molecular weight, peptide mapping, and isoelectric focusing in 8 m urea. The enzyme dissociates to inactive monomeric subunits in the absence of monovalent cations and reassociates to greater than 80% upon readdition of cations. The reassociation process involves cations in at least two steps. Steps I has little specificity and the cation requirement can be eliminated with ADP or ATP. The second step has an absolute requirement for monovalent cations where the order of selectivity is: NH4+ g K+, Rb+, Cs+ g Na+, Li+. At saturating concentrations of NH4Cl the rate of reassociation is first order with respect to protein which suggests that a conformational change of protein following binding of cation in Step II is the rate-determining process. No species intermediate between monomer and tetramer were observed.
Neuronal coupling by endogenous electric fields: cable theory and applications to coincidence detector neurons in the auditory brain stem

The ongoing activity of neurons generates a spatially and time-varying field of extracellular voltage (Ve). This Ve field reflects population-level neural activity, but does it modulate neural dynamics and the function of neural circuits? We provide a cable theory framework to study how a bundle of model neurons generates Ve and how this Ve feeds back and influences membrane potential (Vm). We find that these "ephaptic interactions" are small but not negligible. The model neural population can generate Ve with millivolt-scale amplitude, and this Ve perturbs the Vm of "nearby" cables and effectively increases their electrotonic length. After using passive cable theory to systematically study ephaptic coupling, we explore a test case: the medial superior olive (MSO) in the auditory brain stem. The MSO is a possible locus of ephaptic interactions: sounds evoke large (millivolt scale)Vein vivo in this nucleus. The Ve response is thought to be generated by MSO neurons that perform a known neuronal computation with submillisecond temporal precision (coincidence detection to encode sound source location). Using a biophysically based model of MSO neurons, we find millivolt-scale ephaptic interactions consistent with the passive cable theory results. These subtle membrane potential perturbations induce changes in spike initiation threshold, spike time synchrony, and time difference sensitivity. These results suggest that ephaptic coupling may influence MSO function.
The α2 and α3 integrins are required for morphologic differentiation of an intestinal epithelial cell line

Abstract Background. The molecular mechanisms controlling intestinal epithelial cell differentiation are poorly defined because of the difficulty of growing normal intestinal cells. We have taken advantage of the ability of the Caco-2 cell line to acquire a glandular phenotype in 3-dimensional (3-D) culture systems to investigate the role of α2 and α3 integrins in morphologic differentiation. Methods. Caco-2 cells transfected with sense or antisense DNA constructs of α2 or α3 integrins were grown in 3-D Matrigel or collagen I in the presence or absence of integrin function-blocking antibodies. We used light and confocal microscopy, BrDU incorporation, TUNEL assay, a fluorometric adhesion assay, FACS analysis, and Western blot analysis to study the effect of extracellular matrix (ECM) and integrins on morphology, polarization, proliferation, apoptosis, cell adhesion, and integrin expression. Results. Compared to collagen I, Caco-2 cells cultured in 3-D Matrigel display cytoskeletal and adherens junction rearrangements and decreased proliferation consistent with cellular differentiation. These changes, which are inhibited by α2 and α3 blocking monoclonal antibodies and α2 and α3 antisense DNA transfection, were associated with an increase in α3 integrin expression. Conclusions. We demonstrated that signaling through both constitutively expressed α2 integrin and Matrigel-induced α3 integrin expression is required to acquire a differentiated phenotype in Caco-2 cells. (Surgery 2003;133:429-37.)
A semi-linguistic fuzzy approach to multi-actor decision-making: Application to aggregation of experts' judgments

Abstract In the present work, a semi-linguistic fuzzy algorithm is proposed to obtain the fuzzy weighting values for multi-criterion, multi-alternative performance evaluation problem, with application to the aggregated estimate in the aggregation process of multi-expert judgments. The algorithm framework proposed is composed of the hierarchical structure, the semi-linguistic approach, the fuzzy R-L type integral value, and the total risk attitude index. Depending on a linguistic/numerical scale conversion table, linguistic matrices of the importance weights and the preference ratings, assigned by multiple decision-makers, are converted to trapezoidal fuzzy numbers. Using the fuzzy preference index, computed through arithmetic operation on fuzzy numbers, for each alternative, the weighting value is yielded by the convex combination of the R-L type integral values using the Liou/Wang method and the total risk attitude index. In this work, extending the Chang/Chen method for triangular fuzzy numbers, the total risk attitude is devised for a trapezoidal fuzzy number system. Based on the fuzzy numbers assigned by multiple decision-makers at the data input stage, the total risk attitude index can be evaluated in terms of individual risk attitude indices for the importance weight and preference rating. To illustrate the single actor application of the algorithm proposed, a case problem available in literature is studied in connection to the weighting value evaluation of three-alternative (i.e., the aggregation of three-expert judgments) under seven-criterion. To investigate the effect of fuzzy models, the evaluation results such as overall utility value, aggregation weighting value, and aggregated estimate obtained using the present fuzzy model are compared with those for other fuzzy models based on the Kim/Park method, the Liou/Wang method, and the Chang/Chen method. It is found that the weight ranking of alternatives is independent of the aggregation models used. In addition, the effect of conversion scales is studied in assigning conversion scale systems available in literature. Furthermore, a multi-actor application associated with four decision-makers is illustrated by choosing heterogeneous scale system.
Bahiagrass Response to Sulfur on an Aeric Haplaquod

A 6-yr study was begun in 1978 on an established sward of bahiagrass on Myakka fine sand (sandy, siliceous, hyperthermic Aeric Haplaquod) to determine if an S response could be obtained by intensive management of bahiagrass and to evaluate N and S rates for this forage crop. Herbage yield, N and S uptake, the stolonroot mass, and soil S were measured and evaluated at two rates of N fertilization (200 and 400 kg ha −1 ) and four rates of S fertilization (6, 10, 20, and 40 kg ha −1 ) as gypsum (CaSO 4 •2H 2 O)
Effects of verbalizations on discrimination learning and retention

Five groups of adult Ss verbalized various stimulus combinations while learning ten, two-choice discriminations. In comparison with a nonverbal control group, verbalizing the correct stimulus after each response facilitated learning, verbalizing the stimulus responded to or verbalizing the incorrect stimulus had no effect, and verbalizing both stimuli or verbalizing a stimulus preselected at random had an interfering effect. The verbalizations also affected the number of positive and negative stimuli recalled following completion of the task, with Ss tending to recall more of the stimuli which they had overtly verbalized.
Validation of the Acuity Card Procedure for Assessment of Infants with Ocular Disorders

The acuity card procedure has been shown to be a rapid method for the assessment of monocular and binocular grating acuity in normal infants from birth through 36 months of age. The current study seeks to validate the procedure further by using the acuity cards to assess 20 2- to 8-month-old infant patients with ocular disorders, including aphakia, strabismus, ptosis, and orbital hemangioma. Assessments were made with the acuity cards by two different observers, both blind to the infant's diagnosis, and by a third observer using a traditional forced-choice preferential looking (FPL) procedure. One hundred percent of the infant patients completed both binocular and monocular acuity card testing in an average time of 8 minutes per test. Interobserver agreement between acuity card observers and inter-technique agreement were high, and were sustained in individual cases in which the infant's acuity was not predictable from its visible signs. These results help to establish the potential clinical utility of the acuity card procedure for the assessment of infant patients.
Cerebral artery aneurysms in children infected with human immunodeficiency virus

More than 250 children treated at our institution on antiretroviral treatment protocols have been monitored with brain imaging studies. We documented the occurrence and progression of aneurysms of major cerebral arteries in two children with advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection. In both cases these lesions remained clinically silent initially, despite progression to marked dilation.
Synthesis of 14C‐ and 3H‐labeled fluoxetine, a selective serotonin uptake inhibitor

Fluoxetine (N-methyl-γ-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy)benzenepropanamine) is a potent, highly selective serotonin uptake inhibitor that is useful in treating a variety of major psychiatric derangements. We have synthesized this compound in 14C- and 3H-labeled forms. The tritium label was introduced in the final step by catalytic dehalogenation of the brominated fluoxetine precursor 6. Reaction conditions could be controlled such that catalytic hydrogenolysis of the labile C-O benzylic bond was minimized. Following HPLC purification, [3H]-fluoxetine was obtained in a state of high radiochemical purity (98%) and specific activity (20.4 Ci/mmol). The 14C-label was introduced in the final step via a nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction between the sodium salt of α-(2-(methylamino)ethyl)benzenemethanol and uniformly ring-labeled p-chlorobenzotrifluoride. Following purification by flash chromatography, [14C]-fluoxetine was obtained in 98.3% radiochemical purity with a specific activity of 5.52 mCi/mmol.
Effect of pH and hemicellulase digestion on calcium binding by selected gums

Abstract The following study was conducted to investigate calcium binding by locust bean gum (Loc), gum arabic (Ara) and xanthan gum (Xan) under various pH conditions and during hemicellulase digestion. Binding behavior of the gums was pH-dependent. Ara and Xan bound most Ca at neutral pH, whereas Loc bound most Ca at pH 9.5. For all three gums, binding decreased below pH 5. Xan bound an average of 70% of added Ca in the range studied (0–3000 μM). Ara bound about 26% of added Ca, whereas Loc bound 5–25% of added Ca. Based on Scatchard analysis, there were two types of binding sites for Ca for Xan and Ara, and one type for Loc. Hemicellulase digestion decreased binding ability for all three gums. Ara and Loc released endogenous Ca, while Xan lost 35–45% of its Ca binding capacity after a 24 h indashvitro digestion.
Adjuvants that stimulate TLR3 or NLPR3 pathways enhance the efficiency of influenza virus-like particle vaccines in aged mice

There is intense interest in the design and use of vaccine strategies against influenza to enhance protective immune responses in the elderly. To address the need for improved influenza vaccines for the aged, two inflammatory adjuvants, Imject® alum (a stimulator of the Nod-like receptor, Nalp3) and poly I:C (a toll-like receptor type 3 ligand), were used during vaccination with novel influenza virus-like particles (VLP). Adult (4 month old) or aged (24 month old) mice were vaccinated with VLPs alone or in combination with adjuvant. VLP-vaccinated adult mice were protected from a lethal influenza virus challenge without the use of either adjuvant. In contrast, only aged mice that were vaccinated with VLPs plus adjuvant survived challenge, whereas ∼33% of the mice vaccinated with VLP only survived challenge. Mice vaccinated with adjuvant only did not survive challenge despite similar levels of activation of CD11b+/CD11c+ dendritic cells in the lungs. The protection was not associated with HAI titers or HA specific CD8+ T cells, since both adjuvants boosted the VLP-induced serum HAI titers and CD8+ responses in adult mice, but not aged mice. Influenza VLPs used in combination with two different inflammatory adjuvants during vaccination allow for the immune system to overcome the deficiency in the aged immune system to influenza virus infection.
Cutaneous defects of focal dermal hypoplasia: an ectomesodermal dysplasia syndrome.

The 5 major cutaneous defects of development found in focal dermal hypoplasia, an ectomesodermal dysplasia syndrome, are: aplasia cutis congenita, multiform atrophy-like areas, striate, papillomatous, and lipomatous lesions of skin. Subepidermal lipomatosis, present in some lesions, has been reported to be due to absence of dermis or a striking underdevelopment of connective tissue with replacement by adipose tissue from herniation of subcutaneous fat through multiple areas of hypoplasia. We believe this theory to be a major error in interpretation of the microscopic findings. We have had the unique experience of studying 2 patients periodically for 27-30 years and 2 additional patients for a shorter time. Biopsy specimens were removed at intervals for analysis from the same or similar lesions (43 specimens) from these 4 individuals. Our evidence strongly supports the concept that the cutaneous defects of development involving fat cells represent heterotopic fat i.e. a fat nevus resulting from dysplasia, not hypoplasia followed by herniation of subcutaneous fat.
Static and dynamic aspects of cortical somatotopy: A critical evaluation

The demonstration that functional somatotopic maps within the adult neocortex undergo some degree of reorganization following peripheral injury has aroused considerable interest. The evidence for such reorganization in the rat and monkey is reviewed and it is concluded that in both species there is good evidence for limited functional map reorganization in the adult neocortex following peripheral injury. The significance of such functional map reorganization, particularly in terms of whether or not cortical maps are continuously modifiable throughout life, is discussed. It is concluded that the current evidence for map reorganization is best interpreted in terms of the unmasking of preexisting neuronal circuits rather than as evidence of dynamic cortical selection processes.
An S1 episomal gene of maize mitochondria is expressed in male sterile and fertile plants of the S-type cytoplasm

Maize mitochondria of cytoplasmic male sterile (cms-S) plants contain two linear episomes, S1 (6397 bp) and S2 (5453 bp). S1 contains three long open reading frames URF2 (1017 bp), URF3 (2782 bp) and URF4 (768 bp). We have demonstrated that the URF3 sequence of S1 encodes a protein with an apparent molecular weight of 103 kDa which is found in cms-S but undetectable in cms-T, cms-C or normal (fertile) mitochondria. A translational fusion containing the 5′ terminus of the lacZ gene and 800 bp of the 3′ end of URF3 was isolated from a cms-S mitochondrial genomic library in the expression vector λgt11. Polyclonal antibodies raised against the resulting fusion protein immunoprecipitated a 103 kDa polypeptide from among [35S]-methionine-labeled cms-S mitochondrial proteins but not from normal mitochondrial proteins. The mitochondria of fertile F1 plants resulting from a cross between B37 cms-S and Ky21 (universal restorer) contain as much of this 103 kDa protein as is observed in sterile cms-S mitochondria. The mitochondria of fertile cytoplasmic revertants from cms-RD and cms-LM in a WF9 nuclear background also synthesized the 103 kDa protein. We conclude that the URF3 sequence of the S1 episome is expressed in vivo and that the presence of its gene product in maize mitochondria is not sufficient to confer the male sterile phenotype.
Developing corporate culture as a competitive advantage

Defines the concept of corporate culture and shows how it affects organizations (both positively and negatively). Corporations that have been successful in establishing and fostering positive cultures are profiled. The authors find that an effective culture must be aligned with employee values and be consistent with the environment in which the organization operates. While it is best to establish a positive culture with which employees can identify during an organization’s infancy, it is possible to change an existing culture. Such change is best accomplished by modeling desired behavior at all levels of management and by planning events that foster frequent interaction among cross‐functional employees. Concludes that a positive culture can provide a significant competitive advantage.
On the Peculiarity of Standards: A Reply to Thompson

As Paul B. Thompson suggests in his recent seminal paper, “‘There’s an App for That’: Technical Standards and Commodification by Technological Means,” technical standards restructure property (and other social) relations. He concludes with the claim that the development of technical standards of commodification can serve purposes with bad effects such as “the rise of the factory system and the deskilling of work” or progressive effects such as how “technical standards for animal welfare… discipline the unwanted consequences of market forces.” In this reply, we want to append several points to his argument and suggest that he rightly points out that standards can promote various goods; however, there are peculiar powers wielded by standardization processes that might profitably be unpacked more systematically than Thompson's article seems to suggest. First, the concealment of the technopolitics around standards is largely due to their peculiar ontological status as recipes for reality. Second, technical standards can and do commit violence against persons, but such violence is often suffered not in the formation of class consciousness, as Marx might have put it, but as a failure to conform to the laws of nature.
Adsorption of (ZnS)i (i=1-4) clusters on graphite surfaces

Energetics and configurations of stoichiometric ${(\mathrm{Zn}\mathrm{S})}_{i}$ clusters, $i=1\char21{}4$, on graphite surfaces were investigated using a density functional approach with atomic-type orbitals and relativistic core pseudopotentials. Surface orientations were found to be cluster dependent. ZnS was found to adopt a vertical arrangement with the zinc atom pointed to the surface. The diamond-shaped dimer also preferred a perpendicular orientation with a zinc atom directed towards the graphite. However, the optimized ring geometry of the trimer preferred a parallel orientation with respect to the surface and the nearly square tetramer was also found to prefer a parallel orientation. The bonding interactions of the cluster with the surface were studied using Bader's Atoms in Molecules approach.
Spinal Cord Compression Injury in Guinea Pigs: Structural Changes of Endothelium and Its Perivascular Cell Associations after Blood–Brain Barrier Breakdown and Repair

This study examines morphological changes of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) after spinal cord compression. The lowest thoracic segment (T13) of female guinea pigs was injured and the BBB was tested from 7 days to 5.5 months postinjury using intravenously injected horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as a tracer. Tracer leakage in the injured segment was verified with the light microscope and the fine structure of capillaries was examined. Diffuse tissue staining was observed at T13 up to 2 weeks following injury. A leaky BBB correlated with expected changes in the fine structure of endothelial cell junctions. These were predominantly nonoverlapping cell junctions which, in many instances, were separated by clefts between adjacent cells. At early survival times, numerous capillary profiles with juxtaposed astrocyte foot processes were noted in addition to altered cell associations. Complete sealing of the BBB against interstitial HRP leakage was not observed until 17 days postinjury. After the first week, some of the endothelial cells were contacted by macrophages, processes of perivascular microglia, and processes of swollen and degenerating astrocytes. Perivascular spaces varied in extent and contained amorphous deposits of extracellular materials in addition to supernumerary layers of basal lamina. The early changes were followed by profound tissue restructuring due to loss of both neurons and glia. At longer survival times the BBB to HRP repaired. Endothelial cells formed complex overlapping junctions with zonulae occludentes. Most of the capillaries in the injured segment were no longer in direct contact with astrocyte foot processes, although reactive astrocytes constituted the predominant cell type in the remaining gray matter. Substantial expansion of perivascular spaces was evident. The cytoplasm of endothelial cells had numerous pinocytotic vesicles. Perivascular spaces contained layers of assembled collagen arranged perpendicularly to each other in addition to amorphous matrix materials. The findings suggest that decoupling of astrocyte foot processes from endothelial cell surfaces does not prevent reformation of tight junctions. It remains to be examined what effects the larger perivascular spaces, extracellular matrix deposits, and changes of cell associations may have on transport systems and ionic buffering. The data are relevant for estimating an opportune time for application of barrier-impermeable drugs to the lesion area.
Bayesian Estimation and Control of Detailing Effort in a Repeat Purchase Diffusion Environment

This paper develops a model and an associated estimation procedure to forecast and control the rate of sales for a new product. A repeat-purchase diffusion model is developed, incorporating the effect of marketing variables-detailing force effects in particular-as well as a word-of-mouth effect. Bayesian estimation, with priors developed from past products is used to estimate and update the parameters of the model. The procedure is used to develop marketing policies for new product introduction.
Replication Properties of Parity Cellular Automata

In this paper we analyze the replication properties of additive or parity Cellular Automata (CA). The objective of the paper is twofold. Firstly, to review and extend the existing results in the ca...
Upgrading Housing Settlements in Developing Countries The Impact of Existing Physical Conditions

Abstract Both conventional policy, and the literature on housing consolidation for low-income groups in developing countries typically focus only on tenure status as the key variable in housing improvement, and on tenure legalization, as the preferable, in situ improvement strategy. Demolition of slums and their redevelopment is not considered as an option that may be in the best interest of slum dwellers. This paper, however, presents evidence from Mumbai's experience with slum redevelopment programs that suggests that the prevailing wisdom has limitations and that under certain conditions, there is a constituency among slum dwellers for redevelopment. Secondly, the Mumbai case suggests that policy makers and analysts, apart from focusing on tenure status should also pay attention to the existing physical conditions within settlements. Physical conditions — the location of settlements; the land uses in them; settlement layouts; and the sizes of the lots within them — can impact the success of upgrading strategies, particularly, the preference of beneficiaries for different strategies. However, the slum dwellers' interest in redevelopment is not simply because of a consumer preference for better housing conditions but more likely because of an economic interest in more valuable housing.
Interprofessional vs. interdisciplinary services in school‐based occupational therapy practice

Interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary service is strongly advocated in school-based occupational therapy practice. The terms, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary, however, are not accurate in their use. This paper examines the difference between the terms of discipline and profession and recommends the more precise and appropriate use of interprofession and transprofession related to school-based occupational therapy practice. Occupational therapy is a profession, not a discipline. Using the terms of interprofession and transprofession can benefit the occupational therapy profession by increasing language use precision, facilitating professionalism, and improving interprofessional interactions and collaborations based upon accuracy.
Strategies for massively parallel local-orbital-based electronic structure methods

We discuss several aspects related to massively parallel electronic structure calculations using the gaussian-orbital based Naval Research Laboratory Molecular Orbital Library (NRLMOL). While much of the discussion is specific to gaussian-orbital methods, we show that all of the computationally intensive problems encountered in this code are special cases of a general class of problems which allow for the generation of parallel code that is automatically dynamically load balanced. We refer to the algorithms for parallelizing such problems as “honey-bee algorithms” because they are analogous to nature's way of generating honey. With the use of such algorithms, BEOWULF clusters of personal computers are roughly equivalent to higher performance systems on a per processor basis. Further, we show that these algorithms are compatible with more complicated parallel programming architectures that are reasonable to anticipate. After specifically discussing several parallel algorithms, we discuss applications of this program to magnetic molecules.
TIME-RESOLVED CIRCULAR DICHROISM STUDIES OF PROTEIN FOLDING INTERMEDIATES OF CYTOCHROME C

The circular dichroism spectra of cytochrome c (cytc) in 4.6 M guanidine hydrochloride (pH 6.5) indicate that the secondary structure in reduced cytc is near-native, whereas in the CO-bound species (COCytc) it is substantially unfolded. Photolysis of COCytc should thus induce large changes in the secondary structure, which can be probed with time-resolved circular dichroism (TRCD) spectroscopy in the far-UV region. Time-resolved absorption (TROA) and TRCD methods were used to study the photolysis reaction of COCytc in efforts to identify structural intermediates in cytc folding on time scales from nanoseconds to seconds. TROA data from the Soret region, similar to previous studies, showed four intermediates with lifetimes of 2, 50, 225, and 880 μs. The 2-μs process is proposed to involve Fe(II)−Met80 coordination. Approximately 7% of the native CD signal was observed in the TRCD signal at 220 nm within 500 ns, with no significant additional secondary structure formation observed. Further folding after 2 μ...
Structural and signaling requirements of the human melanocortin 4 receptor for MAP kinase activation

In addition to its well known stimulation of cAMP production, the human melanocortin type 4 (hMC4) receptor recently has been shown to mediate p44/42 MAPK activation. This finding opens new questions about the structural and signaling mechanisms that connect the receptor to this alternate cell signaling pathway. Point mutants in the hMC4 receptor that have been associated with obesity were constructed and transfected into HEK 293 cells. Functional analyses then were done to determine if these mutations would similarly impact cAMP formation and p44/42 MAPK signaling. Whereas a D90N mutation in the second transmembrane domain and a D298A mutation in the seventh transmembrane domain impaired both cAMP formation and p44/42 MAPK activation, a more conservative D298N mutation retained cAMP formation but abolished p44/42 MAPK activation. The D298N mutation identified, for the first time, differential structural requirements of the hMC4 receptor for activation of the cAMP and p44/42 MAPK pathways. Furthermore, functional characterizations of a series of chimeric receptors combining the hMC4 receptor and the hMC3 subtype, a receptor that does not couple to p44/42 MAPK activation despite stimulating adenylyl cyclase, indicate that the hMC4 cytoplasmic tail is a necessary structural element for p44/42 MAPK signaling. Subsequent investigation of the signaling requirements for p44/42 MAPK activation demonstrated that the adenylyl cyclase inhibitor 2', 5'-dideoxyadenosine blocked agonist-induced p44/42 MAPK activation, but the PKA inhibitor Rp cAMPS did not. Taken together, these data indicate that cAMP is required, but not sufficient for p44/42 MAPK activation and suggest structural elements required for hMC4 receptor signaling.
The value of silent myocardial ischemia monitoring in the prediction of perioperative myocardial infarction in patients undergoing peripheral vascular surgery

Real-time electrocardiographic monitoring for silent myocardial ischemia was performed on 200 patients undergoing peripheral vascular surgery to try to better define those at high risk of perioperative myocardial infarction. The patients were divided into those undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm or lower extremity revascularization procedures (group I, n = 120) and those undergoing carotid artery endarterectomy (group II, n = 80). Silent ischemia was detected during the preoperative, intraoperative, or post-operative periods in 60.8% of group I and 67.5% of group II patients. Six group I and three group II patients suffered an acute perioperative myocardial infarction with two cardiac deaths. In both groups I and II a variety of parameters based on monitoring of silent myocardial ischemia were compared between the subgroups of patients who had myocardial infarction and those who did not. The results show that in both groups there was a significantly (p less than or equal to 0.05) greater total duration of perioperative ischemic time, total number of perioperative ischemic episodes, and total duration of perioperative ischemic time as a percent of total monitoring time in patients who suffered a perioperative myocardial infarction compared to those who did not. Multivariate logistic regression analysis of preoperative characteristics in all 200 patients showed the occurrence of preoperative silent myocardial ischemia and angina at rest to be the only significant predictors of perioperative myocardial infarction. Thus perioperative monitoring for silent myocardial ischemia might noninvasively identify those patients undergoing peripheral vascular surgery who are at increased risk for perioperative myocardial infarction, permitting implementation of timely preventive measures in selected patients.
Regression of Perianeurysmal Fibrosis and Ureteral Dilation following Endovascular Repair of Inflammatory Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

An inflammatory component to abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) is thought to occur in approximately 5% of cases. Accompanying ureteral entrapment may be involved in 20% of these. Transabdominal repair of inflammatory AAA with ureterolysis may result in increased complications. Many authorities have recommended a retroperitoneal approach to decrease dissection. Similarly, an endovascular approach has been utilized. We report here the results of a patient with an inflammatory AAA with bilateral ureteral obstruction successfully treated with endovascular stent graft repair and bilateral ureteral stents with exclusion of the aneurysm and resolution of hydronephrosis.
A theory of business expectation formulation

An expectation, X, represents a psychological attitude relating to the future course of an economic time series, _I’, called the referent series. X is said to be controllable to a certain extent if it can be influenced by an expecter’s action. Expectations are of two kinds: (a) forecasts or predictions relative to a series X which is not controllable by the expecter, and (b) planes or intentions relative to a series X which is controllable to some extent (Theil, 1958).
Sociolinguistics, colonial and postcolonial: an integrationist perspective

In this article we explore and describe the emergence of languageness in order to evaluate the adequacy of an integrationist paradigm in explaining language experiences in colonial and postcolonial contexts. Integrationist linguistics addresses epistemological linguistic issues in western contexts; and its examples, by and large, are also drawn from the same contexts. In this article we explore its putative relevance to non-western colonial and postcolonial contexts. Using colonial linguistics as a framework for our description, we argue that pre-colonial communication systems and contemporary non-institutionalized systems (urban youth vernacular use, online language use) conform to a view of a language and communication as theorized within integrational linguistics. To a large extent, in pre-colonial Africa there was no sense of ethnic and language awareness as understood in western contexts. Theoretically, in integrationism, language and action are inextricably intertwined. This is in sharp contrast to the conceptualization of the same relationship in colonial and postcolonial contexts. In these contexts the relationship between language and action is strictly separate because speech is regarded as unreliable; hence the importance of inferring meaning and intentions from, although the two speech is regarded and how speech is regarded are distinct they mutually influence each other.
Mycoplasma insons sp. nov., a twisted mycoplasma from green iguanas (Iguana iguana).

Mycoplasma insons sp. nov., first cultured from the choanae and tracheae of healthy green iguanas (Iguana iguana) from El Salvador, was readily distinguished from all previously described mollicutes and assigned to the Mycoplasma fastidiosum phylogenetic cluster by 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons. Growth inhibition assays distinguished the isolates serologically from the other two members of that cluster. Many M. insons cells exhibit a remarkable twisted rod morphology despite lacking a cell wall. The organism is nonmotile, produces acid from glucose, but does not hydrolyze arginine, esculin, or urea. Mycoplasma insons 16S rRNA gene was also detected by PCR in packed blood cells from culture-negative iguanas. The type strain I17P1T has been deposited with the Mollicutes Collection at Purdue University and with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC BAA-1435) in the USA. A limited number of cultures generated by the authors have also been deposited with the Culture Collection, University of Goteborg, in Sweden (CCUG 53461).
Clustering behavior of finite variance partial sum processes

Clustering rates in Strassen's functional law of the iterated logarithm are determined for finite variance partial sum processes in one dimension. A general characterization of these rates, similar to one recently obtained for onedimensional Brownian motion, shows that relatively mild moment conditions on a partial sum process lead to high order clustering rates at certain points of the Strassen set.
A Quantitative Framework for Managing Project Value, Risk, and Opportunity

Projects should create value. That is the desire and plan, but uncertainties cloud the paths to this destination. All project work should add value in terms of both the resources consumed and the benefits provided (e.g., scope, quality, technical performance, features, and functions), yet adding value is not always straightforward. Conventional techniques such as earned value management focus on time and cost but do not address quality, uncertainty, risk, and opportunity. An integrated approach is needed to account for all of these. This paper presents an integrated framework for quantifying and monitoring project value in terms of the key attributes that matter to its stakeholders. The framework distinguishes four types of project value: desired , goal , likely , and actual . Project management is value management. Project goals, capabilities, risks, and opportunities are evaluated with respect to each key attribute of the desired value. The project value, risk, and opportunity framework is useful for project planning, monitoring, control, and tradeoff decision support. An example project, developing a drone aircraft, demonstrates the framework's application to project planning and monitoring, including setting project goals that balance risk and opportunity. New indices for risk, opportunity, and learning are introduced to track project progress and operationalize new constructs for researchers.
Variation in Apache Trout Populations in the White Mountains, Arizona

Abstract Six hundred and forty-four trout from 46 streams in the White Mountains of east central Arizona were examined meristically and morphometrically to determine the presence of the native Apache trout (Salmo apache). Evidence for a wider range of morphometric characters than given in the type description of the species was substantiated. Patterns of variation were corroborated by stocking histories and probable behavior of stocked, catchable hatchery rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri). Based on combinations of three meristic characters, classifications are given for stream populations of trout in the White Mountains for use in the management of this threatened species of fish.
Assembly of avian mixed-species flocks in Amazonia.

Abstract Diamond's "assembly rules" model posits that competitive interactions among species govern the composition of avifaunas. Although originally applied to islands in archipelagoes, this controversial set of hypotheses is difficult to test because islands differ in habitat and resource availability, colonization history, and stochastic effects. Permanent mixed-species flocks of Amazonian birds are a model system for testing the assembly rules hypothesis because flocks occur in relatively homogeneous tracts of rain forest and because resident species are potentially interactive from minute to minute. To analyze cooccurrence patterns of species in flocks, we used null models that incorporate realistic autecological colonization parameters. Potentially competing pairs of congeneric species with similar ecologies cooccur in flocks less often than expected by chance, resulting in perfect checkerboard distributions. Interactions among more distantly related species, however, appear to have little effect on the assembly of mixed-species flocks. Checkerboard distributions enhance local species diversity within habitats by generating different combinations of species in different flocks. This process may have contributed to the immense species richness of the Amazonian avifauna.
Drug discrimination studies with MDMA and amphetamine.

The term entactogen has recently been introduced to describe a new pharmacological class of compounds best represented by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA, and its alpha-ethyl homologue MBDB. The present study was designed to test the similarities of the discriminative stimulus properties produced by MDMA and MBDB, as well as to elaborate further the distinction between entactogens, hallucinogens and stimulants. Two groups of rats were trained to discriminate saline from either racemic MDMA hydrochloride (1.75 mg/kg) or S-(+)-amphetamine sulfate (1.0 mg/kg) in a two-lever drug discrimination task. The (±)-MDMA cue completely generalized to S-(+)-MDMA, S-(+)-amphetamine, (±)-MDA, S-(+)-MBDB, (±)-MBDB, R-(-)-MDMA, and R-(-)-MBDB, but not to LSD or DOM. The S-(+)-amphetamine cue generalized to (±)-methamphetamine, but not to racemic MDMA or MBDB, nor to their optical isomers. The S-(+)-isomers of both MDMA and MBDB were more potent than the R-(-)-isomers. The results indicate that MDMA and MBDB may share a component of their discriminative stimulus properties which is different from both stimulants and hallucinogens. Although MDA and MDMA have been shown to be amphetamine-like, the lack of stimulant effects for MBDB suggests that amphetamine-like stimulant activity is not necessary for a compound to share discriminative stimulus properties with MDMA.
The effect of vitamin A deficiency and fluoride on glycosaminoglycan metabolism in bone.

The effects of fluoride intake and vitamin A deficiency on glycosaminoglycan metabolism in vivo were investigated. Weanling female rats were fed either a vitamin A deficient diet ad libitum, a vitamin A supplemented diet pair-fed to the deficient animals, or the vitamin A supplemented diet ad libitum. Additionally, each vitamin A dietary group was divided into three subgroups with the animals receiving water containing 0, 10 or 50 ppm fluoride. The results showed that the groups receiving 10 and 50 ppm fluoride at all dietary levels of vitamin A had significantly higher in vivo 35SO4 incorporation in both the epiphyseal and diaphyseal regions of the bone than the animals receiving 0 ppm fluoride. The vitamin A deficient animals incorporated significantly less 35SO4 into glycosaminoglycans in the epiphyseal and diaphyseal regions of the bone compared to the pair-fed, vitamin A sufficient animals for all three fluoride receiving groups. There was no interaction between fluoride intake and dietary vitamin A ...
Conjugated laminar forced convection in ducts with periodic variation of inlet temperature

Abstract Conjugated laminar forced convection with parabolic velocity is studied for flow inside both parallel-plate and circular ducts subjected to a periodically varying inlet temperature. The analysis of this classs of problems lead to a Sturm-Liouville type complex eigenvalue problem for which no known solution is available. In this work, a new methodology is presented for a direct solution of such complex eigenvalue problems in the complex domain using the shooting method along with the Runge-Kutta method. The methodology is applicable for solving both laminar and turbulent flow problems; here we consider only the laminar flow with a parabolic velocity profile. The results clearly show that the slug-flow assumption overestimates the phase lag and the Nusselt number. Some benchmark results are also presented for the eigenquantities in tabular form.
Local IgA-memory response to bacterial antigens.

For over 100 years, it has been known that oral immunization can protect against challenge by certain enteropathogenic ba~teria. ' .~ The mechanism of this protection was unclear as most individuals did not demonstrate strong serum agglutinins to the orally administered vaccine. Work by Davies in 1922 provided evidence that agglutinating antibodies in stool specimens from patients with dysentery correlated better with the disease activity than serum antibody levels.' Following the demonstration by Tomasi et al. in 1965 that IgA was the main antibody on mucosal surfaces, a new area of investigation was opened that led to the elucidation of the mechanism of protection by oral vaccination.' In order to follow the development of the local IgA-immune response, we developed a chronically isolated ileal loop model in rabbits.' This model allowed us to sample ileal loop secretions daily. In other studies, we immunized the isolated segment directly with bacteria, toxins, or other macromolecules. In the present study, we have used this model to demonstrate that a mucosal IgA-memory response can be elicited following oral immunization with Shigella flexneri antigen.
Effect of the Shuttle contaminant environment on a sensitive infrared telescope.

A sensitive IR telescope on the Space Shuttle Orbiter will be limited in its performance by fluctuations in the IR radiation from the natural environment and the contaminant atmosphere. Models of the Orbiter's contaminant atmosphere were used to predict its spectral radiance from 3 to 300 microns. At 350 km, statistical fluctuations in the radiation from a water vapor column, and a noise equivalent power were measured. This noise is somewhat smaller than the expected contribution from zodiacal light from 5 to 30 microns. The column density of all IR emitting molecules can be kept low only if restrictions on rocket firings and liquid vents are maintained. The relatively low frequency of particle sightings from Skylab, coupled with improvements in Orbiter venting techniques, indicate that sightings of particles 2 microns and larger in radius will not seriously hamper telescope performance provided that liquid vents and rocket firings are properly restricted.
Hyperdense posterior falx in the neonate

Objective. Hyperdense posterior falx and/or torcula on unenhanced CT scans is associated with sagittal sinus thrombosis in adults. However, the validity of this finding in newborns is unknown. Materials and methods. A prospective review was performed from September 1995 to November 1996, evaluating head CT scans of infants during their first week of life. Results. Eleven neonatal head CT scans revealed a hyperdense posterior falx, suggestive of sagittal sinus thrombosis. Further imaging (7 ultrasound and 4 magnetic resonance imaging examinations) revealed no evidence of venous thrombosis in 10 of the 11 infants. Conclusion. Predominantly unmyelinated neonatal brain and increased hematocrit of neonatal blood probably contribute to the false impression of hyperdense posterior falx/torcula on neonatal head CT scans.
Comment on “Gut-associated lymphoid tissue contains the molecular machinery to support T-cell-dependent and T-cell-independent class switch recombination”

Comment on “Gut-associated lymphoid tissue contains the molecular machinery to support T-cell-dependent and T-cell-independent class switch recombination”