cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Relationship Between Acuity of Organ Failure and Predictive Validity of Sepsis-3 Criteria.

The Sepsis-3 taskforce defined sepsis as suspicion of infection and an acute rise in the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score by 2 points over the preinfection baseline. Sepsis-3 studies, though, have not distinguished between acute and chronic organ failure, and may not accurately reflect the epidemiology, natural history, or impact of sepsis. Our objective was to determine the extent to which the predictive validity of Sepsis-3 is attributable to chronic rather than acute organ failure. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting General medicine inpatient service at a tertiary teaching hospital. Patients A total of 3,755 adult medical acute-care encounters (1,864 confirmed acute infections) over 1 year. Interventions None. Measurements and Main Results We measured the total Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score at the onset of infection and separated its components (baseline and acute rise) using case-by-case chart reviews. We compared the predictive validities of acuity-focused (acute rise in Sequential Organ Failure Assessment ≥ 2) and conventional (total Sequential Organ Failure Assessment ≥ 2) implementations of Sepsis-3 criteria. Measures of predictive validity were change in the rate of outcomes and change in the area under receiver operating characteristic curves after adding sepsis criteria to multivariate logistic regression models of baseline risk (age, sex, race, and Charlson comorbidity index). Outcomes were inhospital mortality (primary) and ICU transfer or inhospital mortality (secondary). Acuity-focused implementations of Sepsis-3 were associated with neither a change in mortality (2.2% vs 1.2%; p = 0.18) nor a rise in area under receiver operating characteristic curves compared with baseline models (0.67 vs 0.66; p = 0.75). In contrast, conventional implementations were associated with a six-fold change in mortality (2.4% vs 0.4%; p = 0.01) and a rise in area under receiver operating characteristic curves compared with baseline models (0.70 vs 0.66; p = 0.04). Results were similar for the secondary outcome. Conclusions The evaluation of the validity of organ dysfunction-based clinical sepsis criteria is prone to bias, because acute organ dysfunction consequent to infection is difficult to separate from preexisting organ failure in large retrospective cohorts.
A Comparative Analysis of Cognitive Behavioral Variation of Group versus Individual Study in Lab to Improve Teaching Methods

Engineering is a field where acquiring practical knowledge is very important along with theoretical studies. Electronics I is a subject where an engineering student gets introduced to building circuits for the first time. Building a circuit on a bread board from a circuit diagram is challenging initially for most students. In this paper, a cognitive behavioral study is done to estimate a better way of teaching this lab. In this study, pilot data is collected from 22 students over a semester to understand their progress in handling the operational process of various electronics equipment. A comparative analysis is performed to see if the students' pace of learning is more when assigned in a group versus individual study. Before each lab, two theoretical classes on Electronics I was conducted so that students learn the theory before implementing it in hands-on experiments in lab class. A survey was conducted during mid-semester and at the end of the semester to compare the comprehension level of each student individually and cooperatively at critical time points throughout the class. Results shows that more than 90% of students agreed that working with two people in a lab group gives the most optimized output. Learning is much quicker and more in-depth when a hands-on project is performed in a group. It is also examined how a theoretical class helps in performing laboratory tasks. This study helps understand a better way to conduct a lab class in electrical engineering so that students gain interest in the subject and at the same time learn effectively.
CONSTRUCTING DAGARA GYIL PEDAGOGY: THE LEGACY OF BERNARD WOMA

Bernard Woma (1966–2018) was a virtuoso musician and global ambassador of Dagara music. From his extensive outreach, workshops, and touring, Bernard’s work teaching the Dagara gyil (xylophone) around the world is recognisable through his detailed compositions emphasising the use of Dagara musical forms. His founding of the Dagara Music Center in Medie, Ghana in 2000, provides instruction on Ghanaian music and dance to hundreds of non-Ghanaian students. Bernard’s pedagogical pieces for gyil introduce Dagara music systematically, building students’ technique and facility on the instruments in addition to ensuring student comprehension of Dagara musical practice. Based on sixteen years of apprenticeship with Bernard, this article investigates his pedagogy, detailing his methodical process through his use of cultural and educational scaffolding techniques theorised as “deliberate practice” by Ericsson and Pool (2016) and underscores the importance of recognising the individual African musician in academic and educational settings.
Self-Organizing Single-Rosette Brain Organoids From Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

The field of brain organoid research is complicated by morphological variability with multiple rosette structures per organoid. We have developed a new human brain organoid technique that generates self-organizing, single-rosette spheroids (SOSRS) with reproducible size, cortical-like lamination, and cell diversity. Rather than patterning a 3-dimensional embryoid body, we initiate brain organoid formation from a 2-dimensional monolayer of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) that is patterned with small molecules into neuroepithelium and differentiated to cells of the developing dorsal cerebral cortex. This approach recapitulates the 2D to 3D transition from neural plate to neural tube that occurs during neurodevelopment. The vast majority of monolayer fragments form spheres with a single central lumen. The reproducibility of this method has allowed us to demonstrate robust structural phenotypes arising from chemical teratogen exposure or when modeling a genetic neurodevelopmental epileptic disorder. This platform should advance studies of human cortical development, brain disorder mechanisms, and precision therapies.
Culturally Appropriate Acceptance Models for Civic Engagement Systems in Saudi Arabia

Information systems that support civic engagement for the public good are a promising new category of technology-mediated social participation. However, adoption of these smart-phone enabled systems varies widely across countries. Building off existing research on how culture mediates technology acceptance, we seek to develop a culturally appropriate model from the ground up that can help explain this cross-cultural difference, with a specific focus on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a test case. This process involves mapping constructs from existing models, such as UTAUT, and theories, such as the Expectancy Theory of Motivation, to the cultural context and developing new contracts when no appropriate match is available. This paper reports early results from field work conducted in Saudi Arabia to generate these mappings.
Fatal Invention: How Science, Politics, and Big Business Re-create Race in the Twenty-First Century

Fatal Invention documents the emergence of a new biopolitics in the United States that relies on re-inventing race in biological terms using cutting-edge genomic science and biotechnologies. Some scientists are defining race as a biological category written in our genes, while the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries convert the new racial science into race-based products, such as race-specific medicines, ancestry tests, and DNA forensics, that incorporate false assumptions of racial difference at the genetic level. The genetic understanding of race calls for technological responses to racial disparities while masking the continuing impact of racism in a supposedly post-racial society. Instead, I call for affirming our common humanity by working to end social inequities supported by the political system of race.
Blind OFDM channel estimation through linear precoding: a subspace approach

A blind channel estimation method for OFDM systems is proposed. By introducing a linear precoder before the IFFT operation, a low-rank structure is created in the received post-DFT signal. Then subspace properties can be explored to identify the channel up to a scalar ambiguity.
Multicultural Training of Clinical and Counseling Psychology Doctoral Students: Ideals vs. Practice

The American Psychological Association (APA), which is the advocating body for the field of psychology, emphasizes the importance of multicultural competencies for researchers and clinicians (APA, 2003; 2010). Graduate students are the field’s future professionals. The multicultural training of doctoral level clinical and counseling psychology graduate students is integral to efforts to improve clinical services and the research that provides the foundation for those services. While the literature addresses issues of multicultural competence and training in a general way, few specifics regarding the methods employed by graduate programs to aid their students in the process of developing those competencies are explored. This study is a survey of doctoral programs. It was hypothesized that many training programs acknowledge the importance of multicultural training but fall far short in their efforts to provide students with sufficient training. Additionally, it was hypothesized that doctoral students who identified their programs as highlighting multicultural competence would have greater multicultural self-­‐efficacy. Graduate students’ self-­‐perceived multicultural competence was associated with a number of program training methods. Although analyses yielded clear differences in guidelines and standards adherence between program types, all participating training directors reported that multicultural issues are incorporated into their program training methods. As anticipated, many programs did not directly address multiculturalism and diversity in their training materials. Descriptive information about multicultural training methods, reflection on exemplary training methods, and recommendations for training initiatives are provided.
Near-field scanning optical microscopy as a passive and active (material modification) scientific probe

Summary form only given. We discuss combining photoelectrochemistry techniques with near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM). The purpose of these experiments is to study the surface chemistry induced by charge transfer across the solid/liquid interface on an unprecedented length scale (<100 nm).
La-doped PbZrTiO/sub 3/(PLZT) thin film optical detectors (TOD) for retinal implantation-a "bionic" eye

A new ceramic optical microdetector has been developed for retinal implant as a direct replacement for damaged retinal photo-detectors in patients with dystrophies such as Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and Age-related Macular degeneration (AMD). The thin film optical detector (TOD) is a heterostructure device composed of an atomically ordered La-doped PbZrTiO/sub 3/(PLZT) layer epitaxially grown on an atomically ordered Pt thin film layer. The TOD has an optical response, which in the visible region has a peak at around 550 nm with a sensitivity that overlaps the eye response from 400 nm to 650 nm. The device responsivity in the visible range is at a value of /spl sim/ 1000 V/W. Individual detectors are fabricated by photolithography and etch processing as is common in the microelectronics industry. Detectors 40 /spl mu/m in diameter have been processed and have been integrated with a newly developed polymer carrier layer technique for ease of handling and implantation of microdetector arrays into the eye.
Influence of ventilation and hypocapnia on sympathetic nerve responses to hypoxia in normal humans

The sympathetic response to hypoxia depends on the interaction between chemoreceptor stimulation (CRS) and the associated hyperventilation. We studied this interaction by measuring sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) to muscle in 13 normal subjects, while breathing room air, 14% O2, 10% O2, and 10% O2 with added CO2 to maintain isocapnia. Minute ventilation (VE) and blood pressure (BP) increased significantly more during isocapnic hypoxia (IHO) than hypocapnic hypoxia (HHO). In contrast, SNA increased more during HHO [40 +/- 10% (SE)] than during IHO (25 +/- 19%, P less than 0.05). To determine the reason for the lesser increase in SNA with IHO, 11 subjects underwent voluntary apnea during HHO and IHO. Apnea potentiated the SNA responses to IHO more than to HHO. SNA responses to IHO were 17 +/- 7% during breathing and 173 +/- 47% during apnea whereas SNA responses to HHO were 35 +/- 8% during breathing and 126 +/- 28% during apnea. During ventilation, the sympathoexcitation of IHO (compared with HHO) is suppressed, possibly for two reasons: 1) because of the inhibitory influence of activation of pulmonary afferents as a result of a greater increase in VE, and 2) because of the inhibitory influence of baroreceptor activation due to a greater rise in BP. Thus in humans, the ventilatory response to chemoreceptor stimulation predominates and restrains the sympathetic response. The SNA response to chemoreceptor stimulation represents the net effect of the excitatory influence of the chemoreflex and the inhibitory influence of pulmonary afferents and baroreceptor afferents.
Microanatomy of Adult Zebrafish Extraocular Muscles

Binocular vision requires intricate control of eye movement to align overlapping visual fields for fusion in the visual cortex, and each eye is controlled by 6 extraocular muscles (EOMs). Disorders of EOMs are an important cause of symptomatic vision loss. Importantly, EOMs represent specialized skeletal muscles with distinct gene expression profile and susceptibility to neuromuscular disorders. We aim to investigate and describe the anatomy of adult zebrafish extraocular muscles (EOMs) to enable comparison with human EOM anatomy and facilitate the use of zebrafish as a model for EOM research. Using differential interference contrast (DIC), epifluorescence microscopy, and precise sectioning techniques, we evaluate the anatomy of zebrafish EOM origin, muscle course, and insertion on the eye. Immunofluorescence is used to identify components of tendons, basement membrane and neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), and to analyze myofiber characteristics. We find that adult zebrafish EOM insertions on the globe parallel the organization of human EOMs, including the close proximity of specific EOM insertions to one another. However, analysis of EOM origins reveals important differences between human and zebrafish, such as the common rostral origin of both oblique muscles and the caudal origin of the lateral rectus muscles. Thrombospondin 4 marks the EOM tendons in regions that are highly innervated, and laminin marks the basement membrane, enabling evaluation of myofiber size and distribution. The NMJs appear to include both en plaque and en grappe synapses, while NMJ density is much higher in EOMs than in somatic muscles. In conclusion, zebrafish and human EOM anatomy are generally homologous, supporting the use of zebrafish for studying EOM biology. However, anatomic differences exist, revealing divergent evolutionary pressures.
Structural biology: wobble puts RNA on target.

Enzymes that attach amino acids to transfer RNAs during protein synthesis must recognize both substrates specifically. Crystal structures reveal a mechanism that explains the RNA specificity for one such system. See Article p.507 tRNA synthetases must attach the appropriate amino acid to the appropriate, cognate tRNA to maintain proper translation of the genetic code into protein. A single non-Watson–Crick base pair in the tRNA for alanine, G3·U70, ensures correct aminoacylation by the synthetase (AlaRS). Shigeyuki Yokoyama and colleagues report two crystal structures of AlaRS from the archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus, in complexes with tRNAAla bearing G3·U70 (tRNAAla/GU) and with a variant bearing A3·U70 (tRNAAla/AU), together with an alanyl-AMP analogue. Comparison of the structures reveals the basis for selectivity. The unique geometry of G3·U70 orients the CCA region of tRNA and guides the terminal adenosine into the catalytic site. This mechanism explains how a small number of nucleotides distant from the catalytic site can determine the reactivity of specific aminoacylation.
The significance of viscosity in density-dependent flow of groundwater

Abstract Many modeling studies of variable-density groundwater flow have been performed in the last few decades. In most of these studies, fluid density is considered to vary with concentration, while the variation of viscosity with concentration is neglected. The consequences of this negligence is not completely known. The present study uses a numerical simulation approach to investigate the density-viscosity-concentration relationship during groundwater flow and solute transport through a density-stratified system. Fluid density is assumed to increase with depth from freshwater at the surface, through brackish and saline waters, to brines at the bottom half of the system. The system mimics field observations at the Atikokan Research Area (ARA) in northwestern Ontario, Canada. Hypothetical ‘unit basin’ models, consisting of recharge-, midline- and discharge-area regimes are employed. Simulations with the density-concentration equation of state and a constant (freshwater) viscosity in the density-stratified system causes groundwater to sink against the buoyancy forces of the system. More water is recharged into the system than necessitated by the buoyancy. The configurations and lengths of travel paths, and travel time of conservative contaminants are inaccurately predicted. Accounting for concentration in the viscosity equation causes groundwater floating in agreement with the expected buoyancy physics of the system. Overestimation of concentration-dependent density causes sinking, whereas, overestimation of viscosity results in overfloating and underestimation of groundwater recharge. Even in density-stratified fluids with salinity of seawater, recharge and through flow of water may be slightly overestimated if a concentration-dependent depsity is used along with a constant freshwater viscosity. The concentration dependence of both density and viscosity are to be analyzed carefully during groundwater flow and solute transport simulations in systems with considerable fluid density variations.
Music tonality features for speech/music discrimination

We introduce a novel set of features for speech/music discrimination derived from chroma vectors, a feature that represents musical tonality. These features are shown to outperform other commonly used features in multiple conditions and corpora. Even when trained on mismatched data, the new features perform well on their own and also combine with existing features for further improvement. We report 97.1% precision on speech and 93.0% precision on music for the Broadcast News corpus using a simple classifier trained on a mismatched corpus.
Comparison of upper extremity test devices for the evaluation of frontal air bags

AbstractThis study examines the response of two upper extremity test devices under driver-side air bag deployment to contribute to the development of dummy surrogates for the investigation of prima...
New Methods for Estimating the Heats of Formation, Heat Capacities, and Entropies of Liquids and Gases

Using group additivity values to estimate ΔvapH°(298) and the Kistiakowsky equation to estimate both ΔvapS°(Tb) and ΔvapH°(Tb) at the boiling point (Tb), it is shown how an average value of ΔvapCp° can be obtained which can then be used to calculate values of ΔvapS°(298). This latter can then be used in conjunction with S°(g,298) to calculate S°(l,298). Alternatively, where values of S°(l,298) are available but not S°(g,298) the latter can be calculated. The method applies to regular liquids, even those with relatively large dipoles but not to H-bonded liquids. The accuracy of estimated values of S°(l,298) are 0.45 ± 0.16 cal/(mol K) with a maximum deviation of 1.0 cal/(mol K) for an assortment of 14 selected compounds and 0.3 ± 0.12 for another 17 liquids for which groups are not available but ΔvapH°(298) and ΔvapS°(298) are. Here the largest deviation is 1.9 cal/(mol K). Calculated values of Cp°(l,298) are much less accurate, ±3 cal/(mol K) with a maximum deviation of 9.0 cal/(mol K). It is also shown t...
Monitoring humans for somatic mutation in the endogenous PIG-a gene using red blood cells.

The endogenous X-linked PIG-A gene is involved in the synthesis of glycosyl phosphatidyl inositol (GPI) anchors that tether specific protein markers to the exterior of mammalian cell cytoplasmic membranes. Earlier studies in rodent models indicate that Pig-a mutant red blood cells (RBCs) can be induced in animals treated with genotoxic agents, and that flow cytometry can be used to identify rare RBCs deficient in the GPI-anchored protein, CD59, as a marker of Pig-a gene mutation. We investigated if a similar approach could be used for detecting gene mutation in humans. We first determined the frequency of spontaneous CD59-deficient RBCs (presumed PIG-A mutants) in 97 self-identified healthy volunteers. For most subjects, the frequency of CD59-deficient RBCs was low (average of 5.1 ± 4.9 × 10−6; median of 3.8 × 10−6 and mutant frequency less than 8 × 10−6 for 75% of subjects), with a statistically significant difference in median mutant frequencies between males and females. PIG-A RBC mutant frequency displayed poor correlation with the age and no correlation with the smoking status of the subjects. Also, two individuals had markedly increased CD59-deficient RBC frequencies of ∼300 × 10−6 and ∼100 × 10−6. We then monitored PIG-A mutation in 10 newly diagnosed cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy with known genotoxic drugs. The frequency of CD59-deficient RBCs in the blood of the patients was measured before the start of chemotherapy and three times over a period of ∼6 months while on/after chemotherapy. Responses were generally weak, most observations being less than the median mutant frequency for both males and females; the greatest response was an approximate three-fold increase in the frequency of CD59-deficient RBCs in one patient treated with a combination of cisplatin and etoposide. These results suggest that the RBC PIG-A assay can be adopted to measuring somatic cell mutation in humans. Further research is necessary to determine the assay's sensitivity in detecting mutations induced by genotoxic agents acting via different mechanisms. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2011. Published 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Scanning electron microscopy and thermal characteristics of dentin ablated by a short‐pulse XeCl excimer laser

The interaction of a short pulse XeCl excimer laser radiation with human dentin was investigated. The dependence of surface temperatures and temperature gradients into the treated teeth on laser parameters such as fluence (0.5J/cm2-7J/cm2), pulse repetition rate (1Hz-35Hz), and spot size (0.004cm2-0.12cm2) was studied. Additionally, the effect of fluence and pulse repetition rate on dentin microstructure was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It is demonstrated that this “cold ablation” excimer laser can result in significant thermal modification in the dentin surfaces. Changes include the formation of melted dentin grains, which uniformly cover the surface and the exposed dentin tubules. Maximum temperatures of the ablated surfaces, however, remained relatively low at most laser parameters used. Also, the immediate neighborhood of the root canal was essentially undisturbed at most laser parameters. These observations suggest that with the appropriate choice of parameters XeCl lasers can be effective in producing surface structures that may prove useful in enhancing bond strength or other applications in dentistry, without exposing tooth pulp to significant temperature elevation. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A Developmental Perspective on Standardized Achievement Testing

Throughout the 1980s there was a proliferation of achievement testing in America to promote and assure the effectiveness of educational reforms. However, both traditional innovative forms of assessment failed to consider the cumulative impact of repeated testing on students” attitudes and motivation. Our surveys of students in Grades 2–11 revealed that by adolescence many students become suspicious and cynical about tests. A large number of students, especially low achievers, become anxious about tests, cheat, try half-heartedly, or use poor test-taking strategies. These reactions may preserve students’ feeling of competence when they receive low test scores, but they undermine the validity of the test scores and discourage genuine learning. A developmental perspective on testing may prevent students’ counterproductive reactions and may help to guide reforms in educational assessment.
Studies on some new metalloporphyrins: Rh(III) and Ir(III) derivatives of mesoporphyrin(IX) diethyl ester and hematoporphyrin(IX) diethyl ester

Abstract Several porphyrin derivatives containing rhodium and iridium have been prepared by two different methods. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectrum, infrared spectrum, visible absorption spectrum, and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The metal ions in these rhodium and iridium complexes are in their tripositive oxidation states. The significant difference between the rhodium and iridium metalloporphyrins is that unlike the rhodium porphyrin, the iridium complex retains a carbon monoxide ligand in its coordination shell. Solvent and ligand interactions and spectra of the complexes are discussed.
Synthesis, Isolation, and Equilibration of 1,9- and 7,8-C70H2.

Equilibration of 1,9- and 7,8-C70H2 has allowed the relative free energy of these isomers to be measured. These "simplest hydrocarbon derivatives of C70" are formed by hydroboration of C70 at room temperature. Analysis of the platinum-catalyzed equilibration of these isomers yielded a relative free energy at 295 kelvin of 1.4 ± 0.2 kilocalories per mole, with the 1,9 isomer being more stable. This value is in excellent agreement with the ab initio HF/6-31 G* calculated energy difference of 1.3 kilocalories per mole, whereas semiempirical calculations gave poor agreement.
Intrauterine wound healing in a 20 week human fetus

Limb amputations, probably caused by amniotic constriction bands, were examined histologically in a 20 week human fetus to assess the degree of intrauterine healing. No acute inflammatory process, no removal of necrotic material, and no granulation tissue formation were seen at any of the amputation sites. A recent ulcer, probably caused by friction of an exposed piece of bone in the stump of the right leg, also showed no inflammatory response. Healing was by coagulation of exposed tissue and by a minor degree of mesenchymal proliferation without repair. Similar changes have been described in experimental intrauterine wound healing in rats, lambs, opossums and baboons. Conversion from a non-specific to a classical postnatal inflammatory response occurs sometime before term. It is not known at what point this change takes place in man; examination of this infant suggests that it occurs after the twentieth week of gestation.
Superoxide dismutase 1 overexpression in mice abolishes maternal diabetes–induced endoplasmic reticulum stress in diabetic embryopathy

Objective Both oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) are causal events in diabetic embryopathy. We tested whether oxidative stress causes ER stress. Study Design Wild-type (WT) and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1)–overexpressing day 8.75 embryos from nondiabetic WT control with SOD1 transgenic male and diabetic WT female with SOD1 transgenic male were analyzed for ER stress markers: C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP), calnexin, eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α), protein kinase ribonucleic acid (RNA)-like ER kinase (PERK), binding immunoglobulin protein, protein disulfide isomerase family A member 3, kinases inositol-requiring protein-1α (IRE1α), and the X-box binding protein (XBP1) messenger RNA (mRNA) splicing. Results Maternal diabetes significantly increased the levels of CHOP, calnexin, phosphorylated (p)-eIF2α, p-PERK, and p-IRE1α; triggered XBP1 mRNA splicing; and enhanced ER chaperone gene expression in WT embryos. SOD1 overexpression blocked these diabetes-induced ER stress markers. Conclusion Mitigating oxidative stress via SOD1 overexpression blocks maternal diabetes–induced ER stress in vivo.
Candida peritonitis in the newborn infant

1. Cornblath M, and Schwartz R: Disorders of carbohydrate metabolism in infancy, ed 2, Philadelphia, 1976, WB Saunders Company. 2. Prasad M, and Scott KE: Immediate correction of neonatal hypoglycemia. The acute glucose space, Society for Pediatric Research, 1968, Atlantic City Abstracts, p 187. 3. Lilien LD, Grajwer LA, and Pildes RS: Treatment of neonatal hypoglycemia with continuous intravenous glucose infusion, J PEDIATR 91:779, 1977. 4. Salle B, and Ruitton-Uglience A: Glucose disappearance rate. insulin response and growth hormone response in the small for gestational age and premature infant of very low birth weight, Biol Neonate 29:1, 1976. 5. Persson B: Glucose tolerance tests in the newborn, in Carbohydrate metabolism in pregnancy and the newborn, New York, 1975, Churchill Livingstone, p 106. 6. Bustamante SA: Treatment of neonatal hypoglycemia, J PEDIATR 94:1015, 1979 (letter). 7. Beard A, Cornblath M, Gentz J, Kellum M, Persson B, Zetterstrom R, and Haworth JC: Neonatal hypoglycemia: A discussion, J PEDIATR 79:314, i97L 8. Adam P, Kalhan S, and Savin S" Fuel metabolism in the infant of the diabetic mother: Attenuated mobilization of alternate fuels, in Diabetes and other endocrine disorders during pregnancy and in the newborn, New York, 1976, Alan R Liss, Inc., p 65. 9. Kalhan SC, Savin SM, and Adam PAJ: Attenuated glucose production rate in newborn infants of insulin-dependent mothers, N Engl J Med 296:375, 1977. 10. Bier DM, Leake RD, Arnold K J, Haymon M, Gruenke LD, Sperling MD, and Kipniss DM: Glucose production rates in infancy and childhood, Pediatr Res 10:405, 1976.
Mechanisms of LPS-induced CD40 expression in human peripheral blood monocytic cells.

CD40 plays important roles in cell-mediated and humoral immune responses. In this study, we explored mechanisms underlying lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced CD40 expression in purified human peripheral blood monocytic cells (PBMCs) from healthy volunteers. Exposure to LPS induced increases in CD40 mRNA and protein expression on PBMCs. LPS stimulation caused IκBα degradation. Inhibition of NFκB activation abrogated LPS-induced CD40 expression. LPS stimulation also resulted in phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases, however, only Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) was partially involved in LPS-induced CD40 expression. In addition, LPS exposure resulted in elevated interferon γ (IFNγ) levels in the medium of PBMCs. Neutralization of IFNγ and IFNγ receptor using specific antibodies blocked LPS-induced CD40 expression by 44% and 37%, respectively. In summary, LPS induced CD40 expression on human PBMCs through activation of NFκB and JNK, and partially through the induction of IFNγproduction.
Synthesis of allyl complexes of iron, manganese and molybdenum by phase transfer catalysis

Abstract Synthetic methods are described for the convenient and efficient preparation of σ- and π-allyl complexes of iron, manganese and molybdenum from metal carbonyl halides and allyl halides in phase transfer catalyzed reactions.
The economic and social burden of compulsive hoarding.

Abstract The aim of the present study was to determine the economic and social burden of compulsive hoarding in a large sample of individuals with self-identified hoarding, as well as a separate sample of family members of individuals who hoard. Self-identified hoarding participants ( N =864, 94% female, 65% met research criteria for clinically relevant compulsive hoarding) and family informants ( N =655, 58% described a relative who appeared to meet research criteria for compulsive hoarding), completed an internet survey. Questions were derived in part from those used in the National Comorbidity Survey (NCS), and when possible, hoarding participants were compared to NCS participants. Compulsive hoarding was associated with an average 7.0 work impairment days in the past month, equivalent to that reported by individuals with psychotic disorders and significantly greater than that reported by female NCS participants with all other anxiety, mood, and substance use disorders. Severity of hoarding predicted the degree of work impairment after controlling for age, sex, and non-psychiatric medical conditions. Hoarding participants were nearly three times as likely to be overweight or obese as were family members. Compared to female NCS participants, hoarding participants were significantly more likely to report a broad range of chronic and severe medical concerns and had a five-fold higher rate of mental health service utilization. Eight to 12% had been evicted or threatened with eviction due to hoarding, and 0.1–3.0% had a child or elder removed from the home. These results suggest that compulsive hoarding represents a profound public health burden in terms of occupational impairment, poor physical health, and social service involvement.
Studies on the soluble and lysosomal neuraminidases of rat mammary glands.

Abstract 1. 1. Rat mammary glands contain a soluble neuraminidase ( N- acetylneuraminate glycohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.18) in the cytosol and a particulate neuraminidase strongly bound to the lysosomes. The pH optima were 5.8 for the soluble and 4.4 for the lysosomal enzyme. 2. 2. Cu 2+ , Hg 2+ and Zn 2+ inhibited the soluble but they did not affect the lysosomal neuraminidase. Li + , Na + and K + , on the other hand, inhibited the lysosomal but not the soluble enzyme. Addition of Triton X-100 caused mild stimulation of the soluble neuraminidase and strong inhibition of the lysosomal enzyme. 3. 3. Ovine submaxillary glycoprotein is hydrolyzed by the lysosomal but not by the soluble neuraminidase. However, sialoglycopeptides, isolated from a pronase digest of ovine submaxillary glycoprotein, proved to be a good substrate for both enzymes. Neuramin-lactose sulfate was hydrolyzed at a higher rate than neuramin-lactose by both neuraminidases. Mixed brain gangliosides, the poorest of the substrates tested, were hydrolyzed by the soluble enzyme at a rate proportionally lower than that obtained with the lysosomal neuraminidase. 4. 4. Although a light and a heavy lysosome-rich fraction have been separated from rat mammary gland homogenates, no differences have been detected between the properties of the neuraminidase activity associated with these two fractions.
Are there radiological changes in the brains of individuals with dyslexia

CT scans of a group of patients with developmental dyslexia have shown statistically a difference of mass distribution in the cerebral hemispheres from that seen in control patients studied during the same period. They have also shown an increased incidence of unusual ventricular asymmetries from that commonly occurring in normal individuals. The findings suggest there may be an increased incidence of early slight morphological changes in the brains of individuals with dyslexia but the changes are not diagnostic of dyslexia.
A new river discharge and river temperature climatology data set for the pan-Arctic region

Abstract Most regional ocean models that use discharge as part of the forcing use relatively coarse river discharge data sets (1°, or ∼110 km) compared to the model resolution (typically 1/4° or less), and do not account for seasonal changes in river water temperature. We introduce a new climatological data set of river discharge and river water temperature with 1/6° grid spacing over the Arctic region (Arctic River Discharge and Temperature; ARDAT), incorporating observations from 30 Arctic rivers. The annual mean discharge for all rivers in ARDAT is 2817 ± 330 km 3 yr −1 . River water temperatures range between 0 °C in winter to 14.0–17.6 °C in July, leading to a long-term mean monthly heat flux from all rivers of 3.2 ± 0.6 TW, of which 31% is supplied by Alaskan rivers and 69% is supplied by Eurasian rivers. This riverine heat flux is equivalent to 44% of the estimated ocean heat flux associated with the Bering Strait throughflow, but during the spring freshet can be ∼10 times as large, suggesting that heat flux associated with Arctic rivers is an important component of the Arctic heat budget on seasonal time scales. We apply the ARDAT data set to a high-resolution regional ocean-ice model, and compare results to a model integration using a 1° resolution discharge data set. Integrated freshwater content on the Arctic shelves ( 3 in the ARDAT forced model run compared to the coarser forcing, suggesting that river discharge is contained on the Arctic shelves when forced with the ARDAT data set. Modelled summer heat fluxes over the shelves increase by 8 TW when river water temperature is included, which subsequently reduces basin-wide September sea ice extent by ∼10%. Regional differences are larger, where e.g., sea ice extent on the Beaufort shelf is reduced by ∼36%. Using a non-linear free surface parameterization along with the ARDAT data set, we find an increase in the sea surface height gradient around river mouths. Geostrophic velocities increase to form quasi-continuous, fast-moving near-shore boundary currents not reproduced using the 1° resolution data set. Omitting river water temperature, or using a lower resolution data set, can therefore lead to incorrect model estimates of coastal transport, sea ice formation/melt rates, and other regional and basin scale processes. Using a high-resolution discharge data set, and accounting for the considerable heat carried by the Arctic rivers is recommended for future modelling efforts.
Estrogens, Progestins, and Atherosclerosis

To the Editor: We feel compelled to comment on the Brief Review “Should progestins be blamed for the failure of hormone replacement therapy to reduce cardiovascular events in randomized controlled trials?” by Koh and Sakuma.1 Specifically, although we agree with the suggestion that the effects of estrogen on the vasculature may depend on the extent and severity of existing atherosclerosis, we disagree with the assertion that “added progestin does not negate the beneficial effects of estrogen” and the implication that all progestins affect the vasculature equivalently. Our objections are based on the authors’ incomplete and misleading summary of the animal studies relating to estrogen and progestin effects on atherosclerosis and vascular responsivity. Koh and Sakuma’s misstatement in this regard is important, because most clinical and epidemiological data on the subject come from studies of populations of older postmenopausal women or those with preexisting atherosclerosis. Evidence is accumulating that hormone replacement therapy may not have cardiovascular benefit in these populations. However, effects on younger women or those with little preexisting atherosclerosis are still unclear and a matter of controversy. Animal studies provide …
Lutein, lycopene, and their oxidative metabolites in chemoprevention of cancer

Numerous epidemiological studies have demonstrated that consuming large quantities of fruits and vegetables reduces the risk for several types of human cancers. Carotenoids are abundant in fruits and vegetables and have been extensively studied as cancer preventive agents. A proposed mechanism of action for the protective effect of carotenoids against cancer is based on their antioxidant capability. Recently, we have isolated and characterized 14 new carotenoids, including seven metabolites from the extracts of human serum/plasma. This brings the total number of identified blood carotenoids to 21. Lutein and lycopene, abundant in most fruits and vegetables as well as human serum, have been shown to possess strong antioxidant capability. Among the metabolites of lutein, four results from oxidation and two from non-enzymatic dehydration. The metabolite of lycopene has been identified as 5,6-dihydroxy-5,6-dihydrolycopene, which apparently results from oxidation of lycopene to an intermediate, lycopene epoxide. This intermediate may undergo metabolic reduction to form the lycopene metabolite. Although in vivo oxidation of lutein to its metabolites has been demonstrated based on data obtained from two human studies, in vivo oxidation of lycopene to its metabolite has not yet been established. Recent preliminary studies involving healthy subjects ingesting purified lutein and zeaxanthin (a dietary dihydroxycarotenoid isomeric to lutein) are presented. We propose a possible antioxidant mechanism of action for lutein and lycopene that leads to formation of the oxidation products of these promising chemopreventive agents.
Capillary sieving electrophoresis and micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography produce highly correlated separation of tryptic digests

We perform 2-D capillary electrophoresis on fluorescently labeled proteins and peptides. Capillary sieving electrophoresis (CSE) was performed in the first dimension and MEKC was performed in the second. A cellular homogenate was labeled with the fluorogenic reagent FQ and separated using the system. This homogenate generated a pair of ridges; the first had essentially constant migration time in the CSE dimension, while the second had essentially constant migration time in the MEKC dimension. In addition, a few spots were scattered through the electropherogram. The same homogenate was digested using trypsin, and then labeled and subjected to the 2-D separation. In this case, the two ridges observed from the original 2-D separation disappeared and were replaced by a set of spots that fell along the diagonal. Those spots were identified using a local-maximum algorithm and each was fit using a 2-D Gaussian surface by an unsupervised nonlinear least squares regression algorithm. The migration times of the tryptic digest components were highly correlated (r=0.862). When the slowest migrating components were eliminated from the analysis, the correlation coefficient improved to r=0.956.
Magnetic susceptibility and EPR changes caused by grinding of samples

Abstract EPR signals were observed in four metal-free porphyrins. The intensity of the EPR signal increased upon grinding the sample, and then decreased upon evacuation of the sample. The lineshape of the EPR signal and the magnetic susceptibility of seven copper porphyrins changed when the samples were ground.
The clinical presentation of peripheral arterial disease and guidance for early recognition.

Most patients with lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are asymptomatic. Although intermittent claudication is the classic presenting symptom in those who are symptomatic, PAD often presents atypically as a result of associated comorbidities. The differential diagnosis involves consideration of many nonvascular and nonatherosclerotic causes of exercise-associated leg pain. Weak or absent pulses are the hallmark physical finding of PAD, and the ankle-brachial index is the most efficient objective test for documenting it. PAD may progress to acute limb ischemia (acute deterioration of limb flow) or critical limb ischemia (chronic compromise in limb perfusion resulting in rest pain and tissue loss), both of which can lead to limb loss without timely treatment.
Modulation of waves due to charge-exchange collisions in magnetized partially ionized space plasma

A nonlinear time dependent fluid simulation model is developed that describes the evolution of magnetohydrodynamic waves in the presence of collisional and charge exchange interactions of a partially ionized plasma. The partially ionized plasma consists of electrons, ions and a significant number of neutral atoms. In our model, the electrons and ions are described by a single fluid compressible magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model and are coupled self-consistently to the neutral gas, described by the compressible hydrodynamic equations. Both the plasma and neutral fluids are treated with different energy equations that describe thermal energy exchange processes between them. Based on our self-consistent model, we find that propagating Alfvenic and fast/slow modes grow and damp alternately through a nonlinear modulation process. The modulation appears to be robust and survives strong damping by the neutral component.
Promoter hypermethylation of DLC-1, a candidate tumor suppressor gene, in several common human cancers

Abstract Aberrant methylation of CpG islands within the promoter regions of tumor suppressor or cancer-related genes is a common mechanism leading to the silencing of gene expression. To determine whether aberrant methylation is a contributing factor to transcriptional inactivation of DLC-1 (deleted in liver cancer-1), a candidate tumor suppressor gene, we examined its methylation status in twelve hepatocellular carcinoma, breast, colon, and prostate tumor cell lines with low or undetectable expression of DLC-1 . By Southern blot analysis of DNA digested with the methylation sensitive enzyme HpaII, we found a different degree of promoter hypermethylation in all cell lines with aberrant DLC-1 expression. The hypermethylation status was reversed by the addition of 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine, a demethylating agent, in one human hepatocellular carcinoma line. These observations suggest that hypermethylation is responsible for abrogating the function of the DLC-1 gene in a subset of liver, breast, colon, and prostate cancers.
Effects of Omitted Variable Bias on Construction Real Output and Its Implications on Productivity Trends in the United States

AbstractAn accurate measure of the U.S. construction industry’s productivity remains a consistently perplexing challenge. The thread of previous research has produced contradictory results, which contributes to the differences in opinion regarding whether construction productivity has been improving or declining over the past several decades. Typically, macroeconomic studies involving industry aggregated output measures have shown a decline in construction productivity, while micro studies involving activity based data have shown an increase. A dominant theory to explain these opposing results is that current measurements of construction inflation do not adequately consider the change in quality and amenities provided in today’s structures as compared to when the measurements were first established. The U.S. Census Bureau (Census) New Single-Family Houses under Construction Price Index is one of the industry’s major measurements of construction inflation. Previous research suggests that omitted quality va...
The mechanism of inhibition of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase by quinolinic acid.

Abstract The effect of quinolinic acid and its ferrous and manganous derivatives on phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase (GTP:oxaloacetate carboxy-lyase (transphosphorylating), EC 4.1.1.32) from rat liver cytoplasm is dependent upon the concentration of oxaloacetate in the assay system. At limiting levels of oxaloacetate all three compounds are inhibitory. At saturating levels of oxaloacetate the concentration of quinolinic acid and ferrous quinolinate required to inhibit PEP formation is increased and manganous quinolinate actually stimulates the reaction. Reciprocal plots show that ferrous quinolinate is a competitive inhibitor and manganous quinolinate produces a mixed type of inhibition. Removal of one of the carboxyl groups of quinolinic acid so that it no longer has the same dicarboxylic structure as oxaloacetate markedly decreases its ability to inhibit PEP carboxylase. The calculated Ki for ferrous quinolinate is 1·10−4 M. The intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg of l -tryptophan/100 g of body weight produces a quinolinic acid concentration of 3.7·10−4 M and a 5-fold rise in the level of malate in the liver indicating the cytoplasmic PEP carboxylase is blocked. Concentrations of quinolinic acid in the liver below 1·10−4 M may also influence this reaction through the chelation of ferrous ions as suggested by Lardy.