cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Necrotizing enterocolitis

BECAUSE of its probable increased incidence there is need to be aware of the fatal—if untreated—condition called necrotizing enterocolitis. With this in mind the clinical and pathological features of ten infants with the condition are presented. The unreliability of radiological signs in diagnosis is stressed; the primary role of shock is supported and the necessity for prompt intervention is emphasised. It is concluded that the condition is not confined to neonates and it is suggested that it is identical to ischaemic colitis in adults. Treatment is discussed.
Radiological management of traumatic lymphatic injuries in children

Abstract Traumatic lymphatic leaks are uncommon in children. Outcomes of conservative treatment are variable with surgery being often necessary. Lymphangiography has been successful in adults. Its utility in children is rarely reported. We report two cases of successful lymphangiographic treatment of traumatic lymphatic leak in children. First patient was a 15-year-old male developed a large right-sided pleural effusion 3 weeks after being physical assaulted. Tube thoracostomy yielded high volume chylous output. After failed conservative, operative and initial radiological interventions, he underwent bilateral femoral lymphangiography demonstrating abnormal ducts with contrast extravasation. This was controlled using coils and cyanoacrylate glue. Second patient was an 8-year-old male who following a road traffic accident underwent surgery for left diaphragmatic rupture. Drain was placed in the retroperitoneum where chylous fluid was observed. Postoperatively, after resuming diet, drains had significant chylous output. Lymphangiogram performed via inguinal nodes demonstrated abnormal right retroperitoneal nodes. The drain was exchanged for a pigtail catheter away from the lymphatics resulting in improved lymphatic flow. Lymphangiography is useful for treatment of traumatic lymphatic leaks in children. It should be considered early when conservative treatments fail. We present current evidence on lymphatic mapping and intervention for lymphatic leaks in children with a proposed algorithm.
Limit Order Adjustment Mechanisms and Ex‐Dividend Day Stock Price Behavior

Unlike the NYSE, the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) does not adjust prices in the outstanding limit orders on ex-dividend days. We find that TSX ex-day stock price behavior differs from that on the NYSE in several key aspects. In each case, the TSX ex-day behavior is consistent with the lack of a limit order adjustment mechanism. Our findings confirm that market microstructure is an important factor that contributes to the observed Canadian ex-day price behavior. Our findings also resolve the puzzle of the relatively small ex-day price drop in Canada.
Modeling Claim-Making Process in Democratic Deliberation

Online deliberation is a promising venue for rational-critical discourse in public spheres and has the potential to support participatory decision-making and collective intelligence. With regard to public issues, deliberation is characterized by comparing and integrating different positions through claim-making, and generating collective judgments. In this paper, we examine the claim-making process and propose a conceptual model to manage the knowledge entities (claims, issues, facts, etc.) in claim-making and their relationships. Extending prior works in argumentation models and issue-based information systems, our model is especially capable of depicting the formation and evolvement of collective judgments in deliberation context.
Direct physician reporting is associated with reductions in radiation exposure in pediatric cardiac catheterizations.

Objective The objective is to quantify radiation dose in children undergoing cardiac catheterization and determine the impact of increased reporting transparency on total radiation exposure. Background: Cardiac catheterization (cath) can result in significant radiation exposure in children. There has been growing interest in quantifying and reducing radiation exposure in pediatric cath procedures. Our center underwent a slight change in practice recently that resulted in direct physician reporting of radiation dose following every case. Methods We reviewed cath procedures across three different eras in four cath categories: post-heart transplant annual cath, unilateral pulmonary artery (PA) stent placement, pre-Fontan cath, and pre-Glenn cath. The eras were defined as: Era 1, 1/2009 – 1/2011; Era 2, 1/2011 – 9/2013; and Era 3, 9/2013 – 5/2014. In Era 3, the physician performing the cath was responsible for reporting the radiation data. Results Across the three eras, there were significant decreases in cumulative air KERMA (mGy) among all four cath categories. From Era 2 to Era 3, the greatest decreases in radiation were noted, particularly in dose area product (cGy·cm2) in the transplant annual evaluation and pre-Glenn cases. In Era 1, 2 cases (1.2%) had a frame rate reduction, while in Era 2, 22 cases (12.0%), and in Era 3, 83 cases (21.6%) had frame rate changes (P < 0.01). Conclusions Increased physician awareness of radiation exposure is associated with a significant reduction in radiation dose across a variety of cath procedures. This is seen not only by the overall reduction in radiation across case types, but also as the frame rate was more frequently changed during individual cases, indicating an important change in physician behavior and practice. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Vegetation Distribution in Badlands National Park

The objectives of this study are to 1) determine the steppe habitat types and indicate the successional status of the current vegetation, 2) provide a mylar map of climax/relict communities, if any, for the entire park, 3) establish a network of permanent plots to evaluate changes in seral and climax communities for the North Unit and Sheep Mountain Table, and 4) provide a mylar map of candidate and/or listed rare, threatened, or endangered plant species per state and federal lists as they are encountered during the course of the study.
Abstract 1919: Profiling of cancer cell lines demonstrates a dynamic relationship between epithelial, mesenchymal and cancer stem states

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Our previous work has demonstrated that exposure of M2 - Tumor Associated Macrophages M2-TAMs) to epithelial cancer cells can induce an Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). The resulting mesenchymal cancer cells exhibit a more aggressive phenotype, which places patients at a higher risk of relapse and death. Although most patients are cured by radical prostatectomy or radiation, it has been demonstrated that the majority of patients have disseminated tumor cells in their bone marrow at the time of primary treatment and approximately 10-15% of these men will eventually suffer a relapse after a period of dormancy. Further characterization of these disseminated cells both at the time of primary treatment and over time, is needed. It is unclear if these cells, especially those destined to eventually proliferate, are “mesenchymal”, “epithelial”, or “cancer stem” cells (CSCs). In this work, we investigate the CSC molecular and gene expression profile across multiple cancer cell lines and cell phenotypes. In part, this was done by utilizing various culturing conditions, such as 3D growth in stem cell media in order to generate sphere-like cultures known as tumorspheres. Flow cytometric analysis was performed based on ALDH, CD44 variant and CD133 expression. This was followed by gene expression analysis and characterization of the resulting tumorspheres and standard 2D cultures. The results demonstrate that there may be a level of plasticity that allows these cancer cells to alter gene expression and shift towards a CSC state and/or that there is a common CSC progenitor that exists within the population which can give rise to both epithelial and mesenchymal cell types. Therefore, furthering our understanding of the dynamic relationship between CSCs, EMT, and the converse mesenchymal to epithelial transition, is critical in developing novel therapeutics and prognostic tools in the field of cancer medicine. Citation Format: James R. Hernandez, Steven M. Mooney, Takumi Shiraishi, James E. Verdone, Calvin A. Harberg, Donald Vindivich, Kenneth J. Pienta. Profiling of cancer cell lines demonstrates a dynamic relationship between epithelial, mesenchymal and cancer stem states. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1919. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1919
On the need for combat librarians: A case study of knowledge management at the end of the iraq war

Despite operating in complex, dynamic, and frequently changing environments, organizations have a vested interest in making sure that knowledge created today is available for use tomorrow. This paper describes a case study of knowledge management (KM) at the end of the Iraq war, where the breadth and depth of KM was extreme. KM activities are analyzed using Anderson's KM and Kling's social informatics frameworks. The results reveal that many of the challenges mirror the socio-technical interdependencies identified in other organizational settings and suggests that lessons learned from this extreme case can be used to inform KM practices of information professionals in non-combat environments.
Correcting arterial hypoxemia by oxygen therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Effect on ventilation and hemodynamics.

Hypoxemia and alveolar hyperventilation were common findings in acute myocardial infarction; they were most severe in patients with left ventricular failure or shock. Hyperventilation did not appear to be due to hypoxemia and was not abolished by administration of oxygen. Oxygen administration did not increase tissue oxygen transport in patients with arterial oxygen saturations of 90 per cent or greater because of reductions in cardiac output in excess of increases in oxygen content. Peripheral vascular resistance was increased, and heart rate, blood pressure and left ventricular minute work were unchanged. In patients with arterial oxygen saturations of less than 90 per cent, oxygen administration increased cardiac output, oxygen content and tissue oxygen transport; it had a variable effect on peripheral vascular resistance.
Masculine Discrepancy Stress, Teen Dating Violence, and Sexual Violence Perpetration Among Adolescent Boys

Purpose: Addressing gender norms is integral to understanding and ultimately preventing violence in both adolescent and adult intimate relationships. Males are affected by gender role expectations which require them to demonstrate attributes of strength, toughness, and dominance. Discrepancy stress is a form of gender role stress that occurs when boys and men fail to live up to the traditional gender norms set by society. Failure to live up to these gender role expectations may precipitate this experience of psychological distress in some males which, in turn, may increase the risk to engage in physically and sexually violent behaviors as a means of demonstrating masculinity. Methods: Five-hundred eighty-nine adolescent males from schools in Wayne County, Michigan completed a survey assessing self-perceptions of gender role discrepancy, the experience of discrepancy stress, and history of physical and sexual dating violence. Results: Logistic regression analyses indicated boys who endorsed gender role discrepancy and associated discrepancy stress were generally at greater risk to engage in acts of sexual violence but not necessarily physical violence. Conclusions: Boys who experience stress about being perceived as “sub-masculine” may be more likely to engage in sexual violence as a means of demonstrating their masculinity to self and/or others and thwarting potential “threats” to their masculinity by dating partners. Efforts to prevent sexual violence perpetration among male adolescents should perhaps consider the influence of gender socialization in this population and include efforts to reduce distress about masculine socialization in primary prevention strategies.
Regional differences in luminal fluid polypeptides of the rat testis and epididymis revealed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

Luminal fluid samples were collected by micropuncture of the seminiferous tubule, rete testis, and defined levels of the epididymal tubule. After removal of spermatozoa by centrifugation, the supernatant fluids were analyzed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE) and an ultrasensitive silver staining procedure to define the sequential change in protein composition along the excurrent duct system. Fluid from each segment displayed a characteristic 2-D PAGE map composed of numerous polypeptides. Seminiferous tubule fluid contained a wide array of polypeptides, with most concentrated in the 45 Kd to 90 Kd range, but, in contrast, rete testis fluid lacked most of these polypeptides. The major complex of rete testis fluid comigrated with serum albumin and was present in all distal segments. Other major rete testis components were not noted distally. Fluid from the caput was characterized by new major components of 30 to 37 Kd, 28 to 30 Kd, 24 Kd, and 23 Kd, each of which consisted of multiple spots of apparent isoelectric variants; all except the 30 to 37 Kd complex were present in the fluid from more distal segments. Proceeding distally, there was a temporal appearance of new polypeptides, especially in the molecular weight range below 30 Kd. Two-dimensional PAGE analysis of detergent extracts of washed spermatozoa indicate that a specific subset of these fluid polypeptides are sperm associated.
A general approach to averaged modeling and analysis of active-clamped converters

Averaged modeling of soft-switching converters employing active clamping techniques is presented in this paper. A general modeling method based on time-scale separation of converter state variables is used to develop reduced-order large-signal averaged models suitable for converter control design. A transformer-coupled active-clamped SEPIC converter is studied in detail to demonstrate the application of the method. Numerical simulation and experimental measurement of frequency responses of a prototype converter are presented to validate the developed model. An extension to the general time-scale separation technique is also presented as a means to improve the accuracy of the reduced-order averaged model when the switching-frequency ripple in the slow state variables is large. An active-clamped flyback converter is also briefly studied to demonstrate the general applicability of the method to other active-clamped converter topologies
Farrier services at private equine hospital practices in the USA

Summary Private equine hospital practices (PEHPs) may optimise patient healthcare by combining veterinary and farrier services. While PEHP veterinary services are generally well known, existing PEHP farrier services require better characterisation. To document farrier services at PEHPs in the USA, 41 PEHP Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and/or PEHP farriers completed a multiple choice questionnaire characterising PEHP farrier service prevalence and facilities; farrier details, experience and education; and farrier service finances, clinical services, training, education and research responsibilities. Questionnaire completion rate was 82%. Twenty-two of 41 (54%) responding PEHPs had in-house farrier service and 8 (20%) additionally provided ambulatory farrier service. Forty-nine of 50 (98%) PEHP farriers were male; 2 (4%) were 51 years old; 27 (54%) worked in-house <6 h/week. At 19 (86%) PEHPs, the farriers were paid by the client and at 3 (13%) by the PEHP. Thirty-five of 50 (70%) PEHP farriers had a professional certification. At 4 (18%) PEHPs, the in-house farrier service was profitable while at 14 (64%) PEHPs it met operational costs. Sixteen (73%) PEHP farrier services provided professional education in clinical settings and 11 (50%) in lecture settings. Five (10%) PEHP farriers participated in research activities. PEHP in-house and ambulatory farrier services in the USA are a valuable resource with the potential to enhance the quality and scope of PEHP services. PEHP farriers can contribute positively to patient care, care-provider education, and practice productivity.
Changes in the surface of Leptospira interrogans serovar grippotyphosa during in vitro cultivation.

Surface components of virulent and attenuated Leptospira interrogans serovar grippotyphosa were compared by using Triton X-114 solubilization and phase partitioning, immunoprecipitation of intact organisms, and freeze-fracture electron microscopy. Removal of the leptospiral outer membrane by using 0.1% Triton X-114 was demonstrated by whole-mount electron microscopy and by essentially complete solubilization of a lipopolysaccharidelike substance (LLS) from the outer membrane. Triton X-114 (0.1%) did not solubilize subsurface proteins, such as endoflagellar filaments or penicillin-binding proteins, which are markers for the periplasmic space and inner membrane, respectively. Triton X-114 solubilized material from both the virulent and attenuated strains, which partitioned into the hydrophobic, detergent phase, contained LLS and major proteins of 41 and 44 kDa, which were also immunoprecipitable from intact organisms. The virulent strain contained greater amounts of an LLS component with an apparent molecular mass of 30 kDa (R(f) = 0.57), whereas the attenuated strain contained larger amounts of an LLS component with an apparent molecular mass of 20 kDa (R(f) = 0.74). Differences in protein components between virulent and attenuated organisms were also detected; whereas the 41- and 44-kDa proteins were immunoprecipitated in equal amounts from both the virulent and attenuated strains, a 33-kDa protein was immunoprecipitated in significantly greater amounts from the attenuated strain. Quantitation of outer membrane particle density by freeze-fracture electron microscopy showed that both strains had a low transmembrane outer membrane protein content compared with that of typical gram-negative bacteria. The virulent and attenuated strains had 443 and 990 particles (P less than 0.000001) per micron, respectively, in the concave outer membrane fracture face. These findings suggest that in vitro cultivation of L. interrogans is accompanied by quantitative and qualitative changes in both LLS and outer membrane-associated proteins. Images
Electron-lattice coupling, orbital stability, and the phase diagram ofCa2−xSrxRuO4

Hartree-Fock calculations are presented of a theoretical model describing the Sr/CaRuO$_4$ family of compounds. Both commensurate and incommensurate magnetic states are considered, along with orbital ordering and the effect of lattice distortions. For reasonable parameter values, interactions disfavor orbital disproportionation. A coherent description of the observed phase diagram is obtained.
Binding of hyaluronic acid to lymphoid cell lines is inhibited by monoclonal antibodies against Pgp-1

Abstract Recent biochemical and sequence data suggest a possible relationship between Pgp-1 (identical to CD44/ Hermes 1/p85) and a hyaluronic acid-binding function. Here, we have studied the hyaluronic acid-binding activity of a series of murine hematopoietic cell lines using several assays: cell aggregation by hyaluronic acid, binding of fluorescein-conjugated hyaluronic acid, and cell adhesion to hyaluronic acid-coated dishes. Certain Pgp-1-positive T and B cell lines show hyaluronic acid binding that is highly specific and is not competed for by other glycosaminoglycans. Monoclonal antibodies against Pgp-1, but not antibodies against other major cell surface glycoproteins, inhibited hyaluronic acidinduced cell aggregation and cell adhesion to hyaluronic acid-coated dishes. Additionally, some anti-Pgp-1 antibodies inhibited binding of fluorescein-hyal-uronic acid to hyaluronic acid-binding lines. We found no Pgp-1-negative lines that bound, but many Pgp-1-positive cell lines did not bind hyaluronic acid. Two Pgp-1-positive thymomas that did not bind hyaluronic acid were induced by phorbol ester to bind hyaluronic acid with the same specificity as other hyaluronic acidbinding lines. Normal hematopoietic cells, including those which express high levels of Pgp-1, such as bone marrow myeloid cells and splenic lymphocytes, showed no detectable hyaluronic acid-binding activity. We discuss several models that might account for these observations: (1) the hyaluronic acid receptor is Pgp-1, but it normally exists in an inactive state; (2) hyaluronic acid receptors are a subset of a family of molecules recognized by anti-Pgp-1 antibodies; (3) the hyaluronic acid receptor is not Pgp-1, but is closely associated with Pgp-1 on the surface of cells which express hyaluronic acid-binding activity.
Thermodynamics of handles

Abstract We consider spin 1 2 free fermions on hyperelliptic Riemann surfaces including the infinite genus ones to study the configuration of the surfaces. The grand partition function of this system on the universal moduli space is defined using the branch point operator method. By taking a Coulomb gas analogy we observe a Kosterlitz-Thouless type phase transition on the universal moduli space which can be interpreted as the fusion and the condensation of handles. As a result, the notion of genus is lost. This is completely an analogy of a “thermodynamic” effect beyond the mathematical structure of the theory. Some remarks on the implication on string theories are also made.
Effect of strain on whisker growth in matte tin

Purpose – To evaluate the role of imposed strain on whisker growth in matte tin, and to identify the appropriate deformation states and environments that will facilitate the development of a reliable, accelerated test methodology to provide results representative of whisker growth under long‐term service conditions.Design/methodology/approach – Whisker growth in matte tin coated strips and wires of copper subjected to various outer fibre strains was characterized at three different temperatures under different humidity conditions.Findings – This study presents findings of the influence of imposed strain and temperature on whisker growth in a matte tin layers present on a copper substrate. A decrease in incubation time and accelerated growth of whiskers occur with critical imposed strain and specific environmental temperature.Originality/value – Whisker growth in tin coatings is becoming a major reliability concern in modern microelectronics. Immersion coating that produces a matte tin layer is being used ...
Ionic transport in LiNbO 3

The high temperature equilibrium conductivity (950 °C–1050 °C) of congruent LiNbO 3 can be resolved into two components: an electronic portion that is dependent on the oxygen partial pressure and an ionic portion that is pressure independent. It is shown that the two components can be obtained from an analysis of the total equilibrium conductivity measured as a function of oxygen partial pressure. The ionic transport number (fractional ionic conductivity) thus obtained is compared with that obtained from an oxygen concentration cell measurement. The two techniques are found to be in excellent agreement, confirming the experimental validity of the defect chemistry method. From the temperature dependence of the ionic conductivity, the activation energy (138 kJ/mol [1.43 eV]) for the ionic transport is obtained. The results are in good agreement with the value previously obtained for the oxygen chemical diffusivity.
Quantitation of Plasma Membrane Expression of a Fusion Protein of Na/H Exchanger NHE3 and Green Fluorescence Protein (GFP) in Living PS120 Fibroblasts:

We developed a confocal morphometric analysis to quantitate the relative plasma membrane (PM) expression of the Na/H exchanger NHE3 in living PS120 fibroblasts. NHE3 is a membrane transport protein...
Diamond Blackfan Anemia Treatment: Past, Present, and Future

Despite significant improvements in our understanding of the pathophysiology of Diamond Blackfan anemia (DBA), there have been few advances in therapy. The cornerstones of treatment remain corticosteroids, chronic red blood cell transfusions, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, each of which is fraught with complications. In this article, we will review the history of therapies that have been offered to patients with DBA, summarize the current standard of care, including management of side effects, and discuss novel therapeutics that are being developed in the context of the research into the roles of ribosomal haplo-insufficiency and p53 activation in Diamond Blackfan anemia.
Analytic expression for the ideal one-dimensional mirror potential yielding perfect energy focusing in TOF mass spectrometry

Abstract The resolving power of a Wiley-McLaren time-of-flight mass spectrometer can be severely limited by the longitudinal velocity spread of ions originating from the same position along the flight path. This effect is normally minimized by using an electrostatic mirror to reflect the incident ions from their original direction back toward the spectrometer detector, in which case higher velocity ions have a greater delay time in the mirror due to their further penetration into the mirror potential, and spatial focusing occurs at the plane of the detector. In this paper, an analytic expression is obtained for the ideal one-dimensional mirror potential that yields perfect spatial focusing along the flight path. The mathematical techniques used are those commonly employed in the solution of calculus of variations problems.
Digibind attenuates cytokine TNFα-induced endothelial inflammatory response: potential benefit role of Digibind in preeclampsia

Exaggerated inflammatory response occurs in preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is also associated with elevated endogenous digoxin-like factors (EDLFs). Clinical data suggest that Digibind (a polyclonal sheep digoxin binding Fab fragment) binds to EDLF and may have the potential to attenuate vasoconstriction and other clinical symptoms of preeclampsia. This study was undertaken to determine if Digibind could attenuate increased endothelial inflammatory response induced by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα). Confluent endothelial cells were treated with TNFα at different concentrations with or without Digibind in culture. Endothelial adhesion molecule ICAM, VCAM and E-selectin expressions were determined by an immunoassay directly detected on the endothelial surface. Effects of Digibind on TNFα-induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase and Na+/K+-ATPase expressions were also examined. (1) TNFα induced dose-dependent increases in ICAM, VCAM and E-selectin expressions in endothelial cells; (2) Digibind could attenuate and reduce TNFα-induced upregulation of endothelial E-selectin, ICAM and VCAM expressions. The blocking effect was in a concentration dependent manner; (3) Digibind had no effects on TNFα-induced upregulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation, but could block TNFα-induced downregulation of Na+/K+-ATPase β1 expression. Digibind may exert beneficial effects by preserving cell membrane Na+/K+-ATPase function and consequently to offset increased inflammatory response in endothelial cells.
Vaccination with a synthetic zona pellucida peptide produces long-term contraception in female mice

The zona pellucida surrounding mouse oocytes is an extracellular matrix composed of three sulfated glycoproteins, ZP1, ZP2, and ZP3. It has been demonstrated that a monoclonal antibody to ZP3 injected into female mice inhibits fertilization by binding to the zona pellucida and blocking sperm penetration. A complementary DNA encoding ZP3 was randomly cleaved and 200- to 1000-base pair fragments were cloned into the expression vector lambda gt11. This epitope library was screened with the aforementioned contraceptive antibody, and the positive clones were used to map the seven-amino acid epitope recognized by the antibody. Female mice were immunized with a synthetic peptide containing this B cell epitope coupled to a carrier protein to provide helper T cell epitopes. The resultant circulating antibodies to ZP3 bound to the zona pellucida of immunized animals and produced long-lasting contraception. The lack of ovarian histopathology or cellular cytotoxicity among the immunized animals may be because of the absence of zona pellucida T cell epitopes in this vaccine.
Indexing institutional data to promote library resource discovery

Most academic research libraries provide subject guides or data-driven subject portals on their websites to help users find information resources by topical research area. Unfortunately, these guides and portals are underutilized because users fail to discover them in their information search process. We describe an approach in development at NCSU to increase the discovery of library subject portals, and topically organized library resources in general. This approach exploits the rich topical content in available institutional data stores to generate subject recommendations related to the user's search query.
On the possible magnetic field dependence of the nickel carbonylation rate

The interaction of Ni with CO gas to produce Ni(CO)4 at 1 atm pressure, has been studied as a function of time, temperature (25 < T < 95°C) and externally applied magnetic field (H ⩽ 500 Oe). We find no significant magnetic field dependence of the nickel carbonylation rate, in sharp contrast with results previously reported by Krinchik et al. The activation energy for this reaction is found to be 0.21 ± 0.05 eV independent of magnetic field.
Insights into the catalytic mechanisms of phenylalanine and tryptophan hydroxylase from kinetic isotope effects on aromatic hydroxylation

Phenylalanine hydroxylase (PheH) and tryptophan hydroxylase (TrpH) catalyze the aromatic hydroxylation of phenylalanine and tryptophan, forming tyrosine and 5-hydroxytryptophan, respectively. The reactions of PheH and TrpH have been investigated with [4-(2)H]-, [3,5-(2)H(2)]-, and (2)H(5)-phenylalanine as substrates. All (D)k(cat) values are normal with Delta117PheH, the catalytic core of rat phenylalanine hydroxylase, ranging from 1.12-1.41. In contrast, for Delta117PheH V379D, a mutant protein in which the stoichiometry between tetrahydropterin oxidation and amino acid hydroxylation is altered, the (D)k(cat) value with [4-(2)H]-phenylalanine is 0.92 but is normal with [3,5-(2)H(2)]-phenylalanine. The ratio of tetrahydropterin oxidation to amino acid hydroxylation for Delta117PheH V379D shows a similar inverse isotope effect with [4-(2)H]-phenylalanine. Intramolecular isotope effects, determined from the deuterium contents of the tyrosine formed from [4-(2)H]-and [3,5(2)H(2)]-phenylalanine, are identical for Delta117PheH and Delta117PheH V379D, suggesting that steps subsequent to oxygen addition are unaffected in the mutant protein. The inverse effects are consistent with the reaction of an activated ferryl-oxo species at the para position of the side chain of the amino acid to form a cationic intermediate. The normal effects on the (D)k(cat) value for the wild-type enzyme are attributed to an isotope effect of 5.1 on the tautomerization of a dienone intermediate to tyrosine with a rate constant 6- to7-fold that for hydroxylation. In addition, there is a slight ( approximately 34%) preference for the loss of the hydrogen originally at C4 of phenylalanine. With (2)H(5)-indole-tryptophan as a substrate for Delta117PheH, the (D)k(cat) value is 0.89, consistent with hydroxylation being rate-limiting in this case. When deuterated phenylalanines are used as substrates for TrpH, the (D)k(cat) values are within error of those for Delta117PheH V379D. Overall, these results are consistent with the aromatic amino acid hydroxylases all sharing the same chemical mechanism, but with the isotope effect for hydroxylation by PheH being masked by tautomerization of an enedione intermediate to tyrosine.
Efficacy of postdeployment balloon dilatation for current generation stents as assessed by intravascular ultrasound

Abstract Adjunctive balloon dilatation strategy has been shown to improve optimal stent deployment. As improvements in current stent designs evolve, less adjunctive balloon dilatation may be needed. However, few data currently exist to support this practice. We evaluated 88 native coronary lesions treated with single stent implantation (Nir, Tristar or S670). Serial intravascular ultrasound was performed after successful stent deployment and again after adjunctive balloon dilatation. To investigate further the precise expansion characteristics of the stents, serial volumetric intravascular ultrasound analyses were performed in 40 patients with automated pullback. After adjunctive balloon dilatation, minimal stent area increased significantly, from 6.4 ± 2.1 to 7.4 ± 2.2 mm2 (p
Phocomelia: Case report and differential diagnosis

While rarely seen in the present-day Western world, phocomelia is not uncommon in underdeveloped countries. Phocomelia is an abnormality in which the limbs are not fully formed. It may be inherited as an autosomal recessive or dominant disorder. This case concerns a 12-year-old Afghan boy with multiple skeletal anomalies, most prominently of his right arm, including aplasia of the entire proximal humerus, hypoplasia of the clavicle and scapula, and absence of the radial ray and thumb. A hypoplastic left thumb was also present. Other anomalies included thoracic scoliosis, upper thoracic hemivertebrae, and mild cardiomegaly. The differential diagnosis and likely diagnosis are discussed.
An adaptive control scheme for load-frequency control of multiarea power systems Part II. Implementation and test results by simulation

Abstract A companion paper (A. Rubaai and V. Udo, Electr. Power Syst. Res., 24 (1992) 183–188) discusses a control strategy for identification and functional design. In order to consolidate the validity of the proposed control, this paper describes its algorithmic implementation. The philosophy of the proposed control framework is based on the hierarchical configuration and is implemented using the minimum-variance control technique to satisfy a variety of performance objectives. The adaptive controller is synthesized on the basis of an autoregressive moving average model identified by using the recursive least-square model and is installed on individual subsystems. The feasibility of this control scheme is investigated on the 20-machine, 118-bus IEEE test system. Extensive simulations are performed under a variety of conditions.
Spinocerebellar ataxia multipoint linkage analysis of genes associated with the disease locus

Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) was studied in a seven-generation (Schut-Swier) kindred using linkage analysis to localize further the autosomal dominant, HLA-linked, disease-producing SCA1 locus relative to four other loci that map to the short arm of human chromosome 6. Genotypes for each locus were determined in as many individuals as possible from a total of 162 affected and unaffected family members that were studied. A maximum pairwise lod score of 8.52 (θm = 0.10, θf = 0.22) for linkage between SCA1 and HLA-A was observed. Multipoint linkage analyses for the SCA1, HLA-A, F13A, D6S7, and GLO1 loci revealed that the SCA1 locus is most probably located telomeric to HLA-A, with a likely location between HLA-A and F13A.
Exceptional Academic Performance: Perfect Scores on the PLAN.

This study describes the characteristics of students who made perfect scores on one or more subtests (English, Mathematics, Reading, Science Reasoning) of the PLAN. The sample were 4,751 perfect sc...
The evolution of menopause and human life span

Noteworthy data is emerging to support the existence of longevity-enabling genes. Our observations of the relationship between reproductive fitness and longevity among centenarians support theories that posit strong selective forces in the determination of how fast humans age and their susceptibility to diseases associated with ageing. Current data support the idea that there is no selective advantage for humans to have a lifespan of approximately 100 years. Rather, getting to such a very old age may be a by-product of longevity-enabling genes that maximize the length of time during which women can bear children, and during which they can increase the survival probabilities of their children and grandchildren. We thus review the literature pertaining to the relationship between reproductive fitness and longevity.Es liegen bemerkenswerte Daten vor, welche die Existenz von Langlebigkeits-Genen stutzen. Unsere Beobachtungen bezuglich des Verhaltnisses zwischen reproduktiver Fitness und Langlebigkeit bei Hund...
Neurophysiological Anomalies in Brainstem Responses of Mercury-exposed Children of Andean Gold Miners

The health hazards of occupational exposure to Mercury (Hg) in adult gold miners are well known, but little attention has been given to the effects of Hg exposure in the children of gold miners. Children who assist their parents in gold mining operations or live in mining enclaves may be exposed to elemental Hg vapors or methylmercury-contaminated food, both of which may induce neurodevelopmental disabilities. Brainstem auditory-evoked responses (BAER) were measured as biomarkers of subtle mercury-induced neurological impairment in Andean children of gold miners living in the Ecuadorian gold mining settlement of Nambija, where Hg exposure is prevalent. Thirty-one children (19 boys and 12 girls, aged 4-14 years, mean age: 10 years) in the study group were found to have a mean blood mercury (HgB) level of 23.0 micrograms/L (SD: 19, range: 2.0-89.0 micrograms/L; median: 20 micrograms/L), which was significantly higher than the mean HgB level of a reference group of 21 Ecuadorian children (4.5 micrograms/L, SD: 2.3; t = 4.39, P = 0.0001), and in excess of the health-based biological limits for the U.S. (10 micrograms/L). The BAER measures indicated statistically significant differences in interpeak III-V (P = 0.03) and I-V (P = 0.008) neural conduction times for children with HgB levels above the median. BAERs at the conventional click stimulus rate of 10/second showed statistically significant positive correlations between HgB level and the absolute latency of wave V (P = 0.03), and the neural conduction times of the eighth nerve to midbrain I-V interval (P = 0.02). BAER at 50/second revealed statistically significant relationships between HgB and the latency of wave VI (P = 0.03), and the I-VI interpeak interval (P = 0.02). Brainstem neural conduction times suggested that some of the Hg-intoxicated children in the study group have subtle neurophysiological anomalies that may be more manifest at higher BAER stimulus rates, and that the Hg-exposed children of gold miners are at risk for neurodevelopmental disabilities.
A note concerning time parameterization of Markovian models of ecosystem flow analysis

Abstract A continuous Markovian model of resource flow in a steady state ecosystem model is developed. This model calculates the mean and variance of the frequency of intercompartmental cyclings and duration of compartmental residence times. This model is compared with an analogous discrete Markovian flow model to demonstrate the sensitivity of discrete and continuous ecosystem flow analyses. Appropriate time parameterization of of discrete Markovian flow models is then discussed with special reference to Shannon's theorem of dynamic system sampling.
Police officer stress awareness and management: a handbook for practitioners

Police Officer Stress Awareness and Management: A Handbook for Practitioners is a valuable resource for law enforcement practitioners. In its seven chapters, it provides information to help raise p...
Evaluation of computed tomography for determining the diagnosis of acetabular fractures.

Objective:We assessed whether, in contrast to reports in the literature, computed tomographic (CT) scans improve the ability to classify acetabular fractures in comparison with plain radiographs.Design:Prospective.Setting:Level I trauma center.Patients:Seventy-five patients with 75 acetabular fractu
Assessing subjective sleepiness during a night of sleep deprivation: examining the internal state and behavioral dimensions of sleepiness

Investigators in previous research have indicated that subjective measures of sleepiness may separate into state- and behavior-based dimensions; however, researchers have not examined this under sleep deprivation conditions. The authors' purpose in this study was to examine several measures of subjective sleepiness under sleep deprivation conditions following completion of various tasks. Fourteen students participated in a 28-hour sleep deprivation study and completed vigilance and cognitive tasks 4 times during the night. The authors administered subjective measures of sleepiness after each task. Factor analyses indicated that when individuals were not excessively sleepy, subjective sleepiness measures separated into 2 dimensions: state and behavioral sleepiness. However, when individuals were more fatigued, there was no distinction between the state and behavior dimensions of sleepiness. The current results suggest that using measures that assess state and behavioral sleepiness separately could be useful in clinical and research settings when extreme levels of sleepiness are not expected.
Microporous membrane formation via thermally-induced phase separation. VI: Effect of diluent morphology and relative crystallization kinetics on polypropylene membrane structure

Abstract Microporous membranes were prepared via thermally-induced phase separation of isotactic polypropylene blended with hexamethylbenzene. The effects of melt composition and isothermal crystallization temperature on the microstructure of the resulting membranes were determined via scanning electron microscopy. The structures formed were interpreted in terms of the sequence and mechanism of phase transformations in the supercooled melt.
Cigarette smoking, tumor recurrence, and survival from bladder cancer

Results are presented from an investigation into the effects of cigarette smoking on tumor recurrence and survival in a group of 302 patients with bladder cancer. A regression analysis using Cox's proportional hazards model was done to evaluate the effect of cigarette smoking status, stage of disease at diagnosis, histology, race, sex, and the patient's age at diagnosis on length of survival. Results showed that younger patients, those with less extensive disease, and those with transitional cell tumors showed the best survival. Cigarette smoking was unrelated to survival. The effects of cigarette smoking on tumor recurrence were examined in patients with localized disease. Smoking status was not associated with either recurrence-free survival or the number of tumor recurrences. These findings suggest that cigarette smoking is not an important prognostic factor for patients with bladder cancer.
Laparoscopic myomectomy for symptomatic uterine myomas

Objective To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and techniques of laparoscopic myomectomy as treatment for symptomatic uterine myomas. Design Medline literature review and cross-reference of published data. Results Results from randomized trials and clinical series have shown that laparoscopic myomectomy provides the advantages of shorter hospitalization, faster recovery, fewer adhesions, and less blood loss than abdominal myomectomy when performed by skilled surgeons. Improvements in surgical instruments and techniques allows for safe removal and multilayer myometrial repair of multiple large intramural myomas. Randomized trials support the use of absorbable adhesion barriers to reduce adhesions, but there is no apparent benefit of presurgical use of GnRH agonists. Pregnancy outcomes have been good, and the risk of uterine rupture is very low when the myometrium is repaired appropriately. Conclusion(s) Advances in surgical instruments and techniques are expanding the role of laparoscopic myomectomy in well-selected individuals. Meticulous repair of the myometrium is essential for women considering pregnancy after laparoscopic myomectomy to minimize the risk of uterine rupture. Laparoscopic myomectomy is an appropriate alternative to abdominal myomectomy, hysterectomy, and uterine artery embolization for some women.
Signal-to-noise limitations on the number of channels in holographic interconnection networks

Volume holograms stored in a photorefractive crystal have been used as routing templates for an optical communication switch. These holograms are recorded and read out by using coded object beams. A spatial light modulator is used to modulate the object beam with different addresses, such that the coded signal is routed from an input channel to a desired output channel. In this paper the maximum number of channels that can be addressed and hence the maximum number of equal-diffraction-efficiency holograms that can be stored in the photorefractive crystal for a given bit error rate are presented.
Temperature dependence of electron scattering in thin single crystal films of gallium at He temperatures

Abstract It is shown that the temperature dependence of the ideal resistivity in thin single crystal films of gallium between 4.2°K and 1.2°K is strongly dependent on the crystal orientation with respect to the plane of the film.
Priority of the anti-idiotypic response after antigen administration: artefact or intriguing network mechanism?

Immunization triggers at least two speck responses measurable at cellular and humoral levels: the antigen-driven proliferation of idiotype-bearing (idt+) cells; and an autochthonous anti-idt response'. As the expansion of the idt* clone(s) is presumed to provide the activating stimulus for the complementary response, one expects the proliferation of anti-idt clones to follow the idt response at an interval equivalent to the time required for ~pmphocyte activation. However, there have been several reports of an autochthonous anti-idt response preceding the expansion of antigen-driven idt' clone(s). In this brief commentary, we examine these reports and offer some suggestions that may resolve this apparent paradox.
Development and evaluation of nursing user interface screens using multiple methods

Building upon the foundation of the Structured Narrative Electronic Health Record (EHR) model, we applied theory-based (combined Technology Acceptance Model and Task-Technology Fit Model) and user-centered methods to explore nurses' perceptions of functional requirements for an electronic nursing documentation system, design user interface screens reflective of the nurses' perspectives, and assess nurses' perceptions of the usability of the prototype user interface screens. The methods resulted in user interface screens that were perceived to be easy to use, potentially useful, and well-matched to nursing documentation tasks associated with Nursing Admission Assessment, Blood Administration, and Nursing Discharge Summary. The methods applied in this research may serve as a guide for others wishing to implement user-centered processes to develop or extend EHR systems. In addition, some of the insights obtained in this study may be informative to the development of safe and efficient user interface screens for nursing document templates in EHRs.