cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Peripheral blood stem cells for allogeneic transplantation: a review.

Peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) have become increasingly popular for use in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. PBSCs are readily collected by continuous-flow apheresis from patients and healthy donors after the administration of s.c. recombinant colony-stimulating factors with only minimal morbidity and discomfort. Although the precise identification of PBSCs remains elusive, they can be phenotypically identified as a subset of all circulating CD34+ cells. There are important phenotypic and biologic distinctions between PBSCs and bone marrow (BM)-derived progenitor cells. PBSCs express more lineage-specific antigens but are less metabolically active than their BM-derived counterparts. The use of PBSCs for allogeneic transplantation has been compared to BM in several randomized trials and cohort studies. The use of PBSCs in leukemia, myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and myelodysplasia has resulted in shorter times to neutrophil and platelet engraftment at the expense of increased rates of chronic graft-versus-host disease. The increase in graft-versus-host disease is mainly due to a log-fold increase in donor T cells transferred with the graft. Relapse rates after transplantation may be lower after PBSC transplantation but a convincing survival advantage has not been demonstrated overall. It is possible that a stronger graft-versus-tumor effect may exist with PBSCs when compared with BM although the mechanisms leading to this effect are not clear.
Synthesis of STEM education evaluation ideas

This chapter summarizes the main points made in the preceding chapters, highlights themes running throughout the chapters, and suggests implications for the fields of STEM education evaluation and evaluation overall.
Microsensor packaging and system partitioning

Abstract The possibility of using microfabrication technology for creating integrated sensors and actuators also brings with it new design problems. This paper addresses three of these design problems: system partitioning, package design and process optimization in the presence of the technological constraints that arise when one wishes to build both electronic components and sensor structures as part of the same device.
Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)-Mediated Rise in Urinary Cyclic AMP (UcAMP) During Acute Extracellular Fluid (ECF) Expansion Natriuresis in Man*

ABSTRACT Because of the possibility that proximal tubular rejection of sodium in response to extracellular fluid (ECF) expansion may be mediated by a factor activating renal cortical adenylate cyclase, we studied the response of urinary cyclic AMP to acute ECF expansion by administering 2000 ml of 0.9% NaCl over a 2-hr period. In 4 normal subjects there was a significant increase (p < 0.01) in urinary cyclic AMP, but this was associated with a fall in the serum calcium probably caused by dilution plus increased urinary loss. In 4 hypoparathyroid subjects, including one with documented pseudohypoparathyroidism, there was no change in urinary cyclic AMP, despite a greater fall in the serum calcium. In 4 normal subjects studied during a calcium infusion of 100 mg/hr, there was a 40% decrease in the urinary cyclic AMP during the calcium infusion along with no significant change following the acute ECF expansion. A significant correlation (r = 0.778, p < 0.001) was noted between the serum PTH concentration and...
DRUG ADMINISTRATION ERRORS IN NURSERIES

Ninety-five nurses were tested for their ability to correctly fulfill 10 physicians' orders that included a drug name, amount, route of administration and the patient's weight. Each nurse was asked to calculate the precise amount of a specified concentration of a stock solution of the drug ordered. For purposes of analysis, errors were declared only when the nurse's computation resulted in an administered dose 10 times greater or less than the ordered dose. The nurse was also asked to indicate whether the dose ordered was appropriate for the infant specified in the problem. Of the 95 nurses, 31 had more than 1 year's professional experience; 64 were inexperienced nurses who were tested less than 1 year after their graduation from nursing school. The mean computational test score of the 31 experienced nurses was 88.1 ± (SE)1.7%. This was not significantly different from the 85.1 ± (SE)1.4% score of the 64 inexperienced nurses. Experienced nurses incorrectly judged the appropriateness of ordered doses in 17% of the problems; this is a significantly higher error rate (p<.05) than the 14% wrong judgements made by the inexperienced nurses. From this study we conclude that infant care may be maladministered because of the computational and judgmental errors that occur when drug doses are prepared for administration to high risk newborns. There are sufficient anecdotal experiences also to conclude that this is a serious and real problem impeding the delivery of intended care to sick newborn babies.
Strength-probability-time diagrams using power law and exponential kinetics models for fatigue

Strength-Probability-Time (SPT) diagrams provide an intuitively pleasing method for presenting reliability data based on extrapolations from accelerated fatigue testing data. If power-law crack growth kinetics are assumed the calculations required to generate the SPT diagram are particularly simple. However, if exponential or other more complex forms are used, this is not the case. If the accelerated data are for dynamic fatigue measurements (strength as a function of stressing rate) the SPT diagram can only be determined after numerical integration of the crack growth equations, followed by non-linear regression to the fatigue data. However, we have developed software to perform this task. In this paper we describe the methods used and show sample results of lifetime predictions using SPT diagrams. Also, the effect of using different crack growth kinetics models on predicted lifetimes is discussed.
Calculation of surface peak intensity in MeV ion scattering. II

Abstract Monte Carlo calculations have been performed to evaluate the surface peak from 1 MeV He ions incident on Si(001) and Si(111) crystal surfaces. Detailed angular dependences of the surface peaks were obtained for tilt angles of ⩽2° and azimuthal angles of ⩽45° in the vicinity of axial channeling directions. The validity of the triangular background subtraction is discussed for cases of tilted incidence from axial channeling directions. The multiple scattering effect in thin adlayers on the crystal, which is important in application of MeV ion scattering to interfaces studies, is simulated and correlated with evaluation of the interface peak value of the substrate atoms.
The role of cognitive bandwidth in more cost-effective CT scan usage: A study in reducing “prevention costs”

Background: Research has shown preventative care measures aimed at reducing healthcare costs can actually increase them. The objective of this study was to observe the relationship between cognitive capacity and preventative CT scan use relative to best practice. Methods: Conducted in July 2012, the study involved a retrospective analysis of 825 consecutive head CT examinations performed over one month by ED physicians crossing three shifts in a large Detroit medical center. Military Acuity Model data mining and modeling techniques were used to examine the relationship between CT head yield to order timing in terms of cognitive capacity and decision fatigue relative to health risk reconciliation. Results: The study showed the number of CT scans ordered increased as physician shifts progressed, while the test value to clinical management decreased. Cognitive capacity was assumed to be at its highest at the start of physician shifts (when Decision Fatigue was lowest); Results indicated physicians were better able to evaluate CT scan use risks and trade-offs. Translating the study results into actual dollar amounts showed an opportunity cost of 26.7%, or more than $43,000 per month, for CT head/brain scan use alone. Conclusions: Ensuring the management of CT scan usage at the levels of efficiency demonstrated when the study physicians were performing at the level of their In-House Best Practice, is critical to maintaining high levels of patient care at the least possible cost. There is more than $1 million in potential annual cost savings attributable to this phenomenon of cognitive bandwidth affecting radiology decision-making for the average U.S. hospital.
Spectral sensing of foliar water conditions in two co-occurring conifer species: Pinus edulis and Juniperus monosperma

Many fundamental ecosystem properties and dynamics are determined by plant water stress, particularly in dryland ecosystems where water is usually limiting. Indeed, under severe drought, plant water stress and associated insect infestations can produce landscape-scale mortality. Despite the fundamental importance of plant water stress in determining properties and dynamics at ecosystem and landscape scales, approaches for remotely sensing plant water stress are largely lacking, particularly for conifers. We evaluated the remotely sensed detection of foliar drought stress in two conifer species, Pinus edulis and Juniperus monosperma, which are co-dominants of extensivejuniper woodlands in North America, the first of which experienced extensive mortality in association with a recent drought. Needle spectra were made on these species in the field using an integrating sphere and portable spectrometer. Two indices of foliar water condition, plant water content (% of dry mass) and plant water potential, were compared to five spectral analyses: continuum removal of the 970 and 1200 nm water absorption features, the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and the red edge wavelength position. For P. edulis, plant water content was significantly correlated with four of the five indices: NDVI (R 2 =0.71) and NDWI (R 2 =0.68) which exhibited stronger relationships than 970 nm continuum removal (R 2 =0.57) or red edge position (R 2 =0.45). All five indices were significantly correlated with P. edulis water content when trees undergoing mortality were included in analyses (R 2 =0.60–0.93). Although the correlations were weaker than for plant water content, plant water potential was significantly correlated with NDWI (R 2 =0.49), 970 nm (R 2 =0.44), NDVI (R 2 =0.35), and red edge (R 2 =0.34); again all five indices had significant relationships when trees undergoing mortality were included (R 2 =0.51–0.86). The relationships were weaker for J. monosperma: water content was significantly related to 970 nm (R 2 =0.50) and 1200 nm (R 2 =0.37) continuums and NDVI (R 2 =0.33), while water potential was related only to 1200 nm (R 2 =0.40). Our
Parathyroid hormone/parathyroid hormone‐related peptide modulates growth of avian sternal cartilage via chondrocytic proliferation

Parathyroid hormone (PTH; 10−7 to 10−15 M) decreased terminal chondrogenesis in the avian sterna. During the first half of an 8-day culture, 100 nM PTH (1–34) significantly increased sternal length and downregulated the deposition of type X collagen and its mRNA expression. However, it remains unclear how PTH increased cartilaginous growth. In this study, we examined growth by both cell proliferation and analysis of cyclin d1 and collagen mRNA. Types II, IX, and X collagens and cyclin d1 mRNA were quantified through real-time RT-PCR, while Ki-67 was used as an immunohistochemical proliferation marker. Extracellular matrix content was measured through mRNA quantification of types II, IX, and X collagen and observing deposition of the same collagens. PTH significantly increased the proliferation marker Ki-67 in the sternal cephalic region. There was less type II and X collagen in PTH-treated sterna with concomitant decreases in mRNA production, suggesting that proliferation was the major contributor to cartilage growth in the presence of PTH/PTH-related peptide receptor activation. In conclusion, these experiments demonstrated that PTH increased cartilage growth by upregulating cell proliferation or other extracellular matrix components. Anat Rec, 290:155–167, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A study of pore blockage in silicalite zeolite using free energy perturbation calculations.

Binary systems consisting of large coadsorbed molecules (n-hexane, cyclohexane, and benzene) with smaller penetrant molecules (methane) were simulated to investigate the mechanisms of pore blockage in the zeolite silicalite. Benzene and cyclohexane trap the methane molecules in the zeolite channels on the time scales of molecular dynamics simulations. Minimum energy paths for methane diffusion past the blocking molecules were determined, and free energy perturbation calculations were carried out along the paths to get the rate constants of methane hopping past coadsorbed benzene and cyclohexane molecules, which adsorb in the channel intersections. Three principal diffusion pathways were found in both the methane/benzene and methane/cyclohexane systems. Minima which were connected by low-energy pathways were grouped together into macrostates. Using the calculated hopping rates between macrostates, kinetic Monte Carlo was then used to obtain the diffusivity of methane with a coadsorbate benzene loading such...
Seasonal Diet Composition of Adult Shovelnose Sturgeon in the Middle Mississippi River

Abstract Because the shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus) population in the Middle Mississippi River (MMR) between Cairo, IL and St. Louis, MO (RKM 0–320) appears to be declining, we must understand dietary needs to help assess its conservation status. Diet is linked to growth, condition and reproduction and reflects population state. Thus, we quantified diets of adult shovelnose sturgeon monthly using gill nets (5.08-cm bar mesh) during Jan. 2005 through Nov. 2005 at three sites on the MMR (RKM: 201-198; 191-188, and RKM 127-124). Stomachs were removed from adult shovelnose sturgeon (winter n = 71; spring n = 163; summer n = 149; fall n = 179; fork length mean = 617 mm; standard deviation = 64.57). Overall, prey items occurred in less than 30% (n = 170) of shovelnose sturgeon stomachs. Dominant prey items throughout all seasons (winter, spring, summer and fall) were Chironomidae, Hydropsychidae, Ephemeridae and Corophiidae respectively. Corophiidae is an exotic amphipod that ha...
Linking a throughput simulation to a systems dynamics simulation to assess the utility of a US Navy foreign humanitarian aid mission

The success of any humanitarian aid mission is generally measured by the timeliness of critical supplies that are delivered to the affected area. However, a more interesting analysis may be to determine the effect of the aid on the overall satisfaction of the local population. The authors' research focused on the delivery of humanitarian aid to a notional region that was decimated by flooding with ships, landing craft and security personnel provided by the US Navy and Marines. While the research effort addressed naval force structure, the focus of the research was: (1) to assess different delivery methods for the aid; and (2) to determine how the aid delivery impacted the overall satisfaction of the local population. To examine both concerns, two simulation models were developed, with one examining the throughput of aid delivered during the operation, and the other the satisfaction of the population based on the humanitarian aid effort.
Restricted unimodular chordal graphs

A chordal graph is called restricted unimodular if each cycle of its vertex-clique incidence bipartite graph has length divisible by 4. We characterize these graphs within all chordal graphs by forbidden induced subgraphs, by minimal relative separators, and in other ways. We show how to construct them by starting from block graphs and multiplying vertices subject to a certain restriction, which leads to a linear-time recognition algorithm. We show how they are related to other classes such as distance-hereditary chordal graphs and strongly chordal graphs. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 30: 121–136, 1999
Soot surface growth and oxidation in laminar diffusion flames at pressures of 0.1–1.0 atm

Abstract The flame and soot structure and the soot surface growth and oxidation properties of round laminar jet diffusion flames were studied experimentally at pressures of 0.1–1.0 atm. Measurements were made along the axes of flames fueled with acetylene–nitrogen mixtures and burning in coflowing air with the reactants at normal temperature (300 K). The following properties were measured as a function of distance from the burner exit: soot concentrations by deconvoluted laser extinction, soot temperatures by deconvoluted multiline emission, soot structure by thermophoretic sampling and analysis using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), concentrations of major stable gas species (N 2 , Ar, H 2 O, H 2 , O 2 , CO, CO 2 , CH 4 , C 2 H 2 , C 2 H 4 , C 2 H 6 , C 3 H 6 , C 3 H 8 , and C 6 H 6 ) by isokinetic sampling and gas chromatography, concentrations of some radial species (H, OH, O) by deconvoluted Li/LiOH atomic absorption, and flow velocities by laser velocimetry. These measurements yielded local soot surface growth and oxidation rates, as well as local flame properties that are thought to affect these rates. Present measurements of soot surface growth rates (corrected for soot surface oxidation) in laminar diffusion flames at various subatmospheric pressures were consistent with earlier measurements of soot surface growth rates in laminar premixed and diffusion flames involving a variety of hydrocarbons at atmospheric pressure; in addition, rates from all the available flames were in good agreement with each other and with existing Hydrogen-Abstraction/Carbon-Addition (HACA) soot surface growth mechanisms in the literature for values of steric factors in these mechanisms on the order of unity, as expected. Similarly, present measurements of early soot surface oxidation rates (corrected for soot surface growth and prior to consumption of 70% of the maximum mass of the primary soot particles) for fuel-rich and near-stoichiometric conditions in laminar diffusion flames at pressures of 0.1–1.0 atm were consistent with earlier measurements of rates of early soot surface oxidation in laminar premixed and diffusion flames involving a variety of hydrocarbons at atmospheric pressure; in addition, rates from all available flames could be explained by reaction with OH, as proposed by K.G. Neoh et al. (in: Particulate Carbon, Plenum, New York, 1980, p. 261), having a collision efficiency of 0.13 and supplemented to only a minor degree by direct soot surface oxidation by O 2 .
Polymerase chain reaction based genotyping for characterization of SLA-DQB and SLA-DRB alleles in domestic pigs

Molecular genotyping of swine major histocompatibility complex SLA-DQB and SLA-DRB genes using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based amplification is described. Locus-specific oligonucleotide primers were designed for the analysis of expressed SLA genes by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RT-PCR products were sequenced, and the information gained was used to design primers for PCR genotyping of the exon 2 (beta 1) region from genomic DNA templates. A single segregating amplification product was detected for both DQB and DRB in all animals. PCR products were digested with restriction enzymes. Seven SLA-DQB PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) pattern types were observed for both HaeIII and RsaI that defined 14 SLA-DQB alleles. A total of seven SLA-DRB PCR-RFLP pattern types were defined using MspI (3 RFLP pattern types) and RsaI (6 RFLP pattern types). In order to demonstrate their universal utility, the primers were tested on genomic DNA samples from 10 different swine breeds. No breed-specific alleles were observed. These results show that locus-specific oligonucleotide primers and RFLP analysis provide a simple and rapid method for genotyping expressed SLA-DQB and SLA-DRB from genomic DNA.
Identifying early glaucoma with optical coherence tomography

Abstract Purpose To evaluate performance of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for detection of early glaucoma. Design Observational case-control study. Methods Setting: University-based tertiary care center. Study Population: One eye from 50 normals, 42 glaucoma suspects, and 59 early glaucoma patients meeting the following criteria: visual field (VF) mean deviation ≥−6.00 dB, age ≥40 years, spherical refractive error ≤5 diopters, astigmatism ≤3 diopters, and visual acuity ≥20/30. Observation Procedure: Early glaucoma by VF (EGVF) was described as repeatable abnormal achromatic VFs based on predefined criteria. Glaucoma suspects (GS) were defined as presence of glaucomatous disk appearance with normal achromatic VFs. Outcome Measures: Average nerve fiber layer thickness (NFLT) and NFLT in each of four quadrants and 12 clock-hour sectors. Receiver operating characteristic curves and sensitivity and specificity were used to assess the performance of OCT. Results Average NFLT was 128.4 ± 15.4, 102.0 ± 25.4, and 86.5 ± 31.5 μm in normal, GS, and EGVF eyes, respectively. Normal eyes were different from both glaucoma groups ( P P = .03). The sensitivity of the OCT for detection of glaucoma was 71% and 85% for the GS and EGVF groups with specificity fixed at 90%. Conclusion The OCT discriminates well between eyes with early perimetric glaucoma and normal eyes. However, its performance is less adequate in eyes with suspicious disk and normal VFs.
The Effect of Education on Age-Related Functional Activation During Working Memory

Abstract Education has been suggested to play a protective role against the development of age-related dementias. Accordingly, we examined modulation of functional activation during working memory by age and education. Eight older individuals with a college education, six older individuals with a high school education, and eight younger individuals with a college education performed a working memory task during O15 [water] PET scanning. In a voxel-by-voxel whole brain search, older participants with less education demonstrated greater left frontal activation relative to older participants with more education. Older participants with more education demonstrated greater right precuneus activation relative to older participants with less education. This suggests that older less educated participants may have used additional frontal resources to compensate for dysfunctional parietal cortex. These results occurred in the context of similar activation in well-educated younger and older participants. Younger par...
Scanning ablation of root caries with acoustic feedback control

It has been previously demonstrated that short λ=355-nm laser pulses can be used for the selective removal of caries lesions and composite restorative materials from occlusal surfaces with minimal damage to the peripheral sound tooth structure. One advantage of laser-systems is they can be integrated with acoustic and optical feedback systems for the automated discrimination of dental caries and restorative materials. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that root caries could be selectively removed from tooth surfaces using a computer controlled laserscanning system coupled with an acoustic feedback system. Dental root caries surfaces on extracted teeth were scanned with λ=355-nm laser pulses at irradiation intensities ranging from 0.6 to 0.8 J/cm2. Acoustic feedback signals were acquired and used to control the laser output and scanning stages were used to position the laser over carious dentin until all the caries were removed to a fixed depth. Polarization optical coherence tomography (PSOCT) was used to acquire images of the root caries lesions before and after removal by the laser in order to assess if ablation was selective. The amplitude of the acoustic waves generated during the ablation of carious dentin was higher than for sound dentin allowing the acoustic feedback system to discriminate between sound and carious dentin. PS-OCT showed that caries were removed to a depth of up to 1.5-mm with minimal peripheral damage to peripheral sound dentin. The acoustic feedback was successfully used to distinguish between root caries and sound dentin, enabling the selective removal of caries from dentin surfaces using a λ=355-nm, Nd:YAG Q-switched laser system.© (2007) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Floor Space Requirements for Young Guinea Fowl

Abstract Two trials were conducted to determine floor space requirements of guinea fowl from day-old to 12 weeks of age. Keets hatched at this station were placed in litter floor pens at densities of .07, .09, and .11 m2 per bird. Body weight and feed consumption data were taken at 4, 8, and 12 weeks of age. Best performance was obtained with the floor space allowance of .09 m2 per bird.
The effects of the nature of the coupling gas and its pressure on infrared photothermal beam deflection spectra of solids

An entire aspirin tablet was confined in a pressure cell and infrared spectra were recorded with a Fourier transform beam deflection spectrometer using different coupling gases. The intensity S of spectra at 1 atm increased linearly in the order He < Ne < H2 < N2 ∼ Ar < CO2 < CH4, with increasing refractive index, n, except CO2. As the pressure P was increased to 7 atm, S and S/noise increased ∼ 1.5-fold, but with H2, the increases were ∼4-fold. The data indicate that the thermal conductivity k and dn/dP rather than dn/dP of the gases are the main causes of increases in S. The values for CO2 were anomalously low, suggested to be caused by physical adsorption of CO2 by the sample. Relatively large samples can be examined, and worthwhile S/noise enhancement can be obtained with pressure cells.
Sternal Resections: New Materials for Reconstruction

Post-sternectomy reconstruction is a complex procedure. Traditional techniques offer reasonable cosmetic and functional outcomes in the majority of cases. However, recently surgeons have searched for alternative materials to deal with challenging clinical problems (i.e., perioperative irradiation, bacterial contamination, and growing children). Novel natural and synthetic biocompatible materials with varying degrees of rigidity, biodegradability, and host tissue ingrowth have been introduced to help significantly reduce operative time as well as postoperative complications. The biomechanical characteristics, indications, and techniques for application of these prostheses are outlined in the current review.
Effect of Site of Shunt on Left Heart-Volume Characteristics in Children with Ventricular Septal Defect and Patent Ductus Arteriosus

Quantitative cineangiocardiographic technics have been utilized to determine left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) volumes and LV muscle mass in 58 patients with isolated ventricular septal defect, 14 of whom were infants less than 2 years old, and in 25 patients with isolated patent ductus arteriosus, 13 of whom were infants. Patients were divided according to the degree of left-to-right shunt into small ( 50%) shunt groups. Data obtained in both the VSD and the PDA groups were compared with normal values. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume and mass and LA maximal volumes in the patients of both groups who had shunts of 35% or more were greater than normal and showed a linear increase with increasing left-to-right shunt. The LV ejection fraction was decreased from normal in infants with either VSD or PDA and a shunt of more than 50%. This variable was normal in older children with either VSD or PDA. Patients with an aortic or a ventricular defect and equiva...
The unit of analysis error in studies about physicians' patient care behavior.

Objective:To estimate the frequency with which patients are incorrectly used as the unit of analysis among statistical calculations in published studies of physicians’ patient care behavior. Design:Retrospective review of studies published during 1980–1990. Articles:54 articles retrieved by a computerized search using medical subject beadings for physicians and study characteristics. Article selection criteria included the requirement that the physician should have been the correct unit of analysis. Intervention:Presence of the error was determined by consensus using published criteria. Main results:The error was present in 38 articles (70%). The number of study physicians was reported in 35 articles (65%). The error was found in 57% of articles that reported the number of study physicians and in 95% of those that did not. The error rate was not lower among articles published more recently nor among those published in journals with higher rates of article citations in the medical literature. Conclusion:The unit of analysis error occurs frequently and can generate artificially low p values. Failure to report the number of study physicians can be a clue that this type of error has been made.
SP-B and SP-C alter diffusion in bilayers of pulmonary surfactant.

The hydrophobic proteins SP-B and SP-C promote rapid adsorption of pulmonary surfactant to an air/water interface by an unknown mechanism. We tested the hypothesis that these proteins accelerate adsorption by disrupting the structure of the lipid bilayer, either by a generalized increase in fluidity or by a focal induction of interfacial boundaries within the bilayer. We used fluorescence recovery after photobleaching to measure diffusion of nitrobenzoxadiazolyl-dimyristoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine between 11 and 54°C in multilayers containing the complete set of lipids and proteins in calf lung surfactant extract (CLSE), or the complete set of neutral and phospholipids without the proteins. Above 35°C, Arrhenius plots of diffusion were parallel for CLSE and neutral and phospholipids, but shifted to lower values for CLSE, suggesting that the proteins rigidify the lipid bilayer rather than producing the proposed increase in membrane fluidity. The slopes of the Arrhenius plots for CLSE were steeper below 35°C, suggesting that the proteins induce phase separation at that temperature. The mobile fraction fell below 27°C, consistent with a percolation threshold of coexisting gel and liquid-crystal phases. The induction of lateral phase separation in CLSE, however, does not correlate with apparent changes in adsorption kinetics at this temperature. Our results suggest that SP-B and SP-C accelerate adsorption through a mechanism other than the disruption of surfactant bilayers, possibly by stabilizing a high-energy, highly curved adsorption intermediate.
CaMKII isoforms differ in their specific requirements for regulation by nitric oxide

The Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) mediates physiological and pathological functions by its Ca2+-independent autonomous activity. Two novel mechanisms for generating CaMKII autonomy include oxidation and S-nitrosylation, the latter requiring both Cys280 and Cys289 amino acid residues in the brain-specific isoform CaMKIIα. Even though the other CaMKII isoforms have a different amino acid in the position homologous to Cys280, we show here that nitric oxide (NO)-signaling generated autonomy also for the CaMKIIβ isoform. Furthermore, although oxidation of the Met280/281 residues is sufficient to generate autonomy for most CaMKII isoforms, oxidation-induced autonomy was also prevented by a Cys289-mutation in the CaMKIIα isoform. Thus, all CaMKII isoforms can be regulated by physiological NO-signaling, but CaMKIIα regulation by oxidation and S-nitrosylation is more stringent.
BANK HOLDING COMPANY ACQUISITIONS, STOCKHOLDER RETURNS, AND REGULATORY UNCERTAINTY

This paper examines the returns accruing to the bank holding company (BHC) stockholders when an acquisition is initiated by the BHC. There is a significant, positive abnormal return to these shareholders when the acquisition is announced. The magnitude of this return does not depend on the relative size of the acquired firm. Further, the regulatory environment for these BHC acquisitions introduces uncertainty about the eventual outcome of the review process. Upon approval from the Federal Reserve Board (FRB), the BHC stockholders earn an additional, significantly positive abnormal return.
Acoustic waveguide modes observed in electrically heated metal wires

The steady-state resistance of small metal wires subject to an electric field is found to exhibit periodic resonances that scale with the width of the wire. The energies of the resonances have been determined using the low-temperature corrections to the resistance of the wires, and are shown to correspond to acoustic modes of the wire. We conclude that the resonances originate from increased energy relaxation that occurs when the electron system gains enough energy from the electric field to emit phonons in a higher acoustic subband of the wire.
Hmong women and reproduction

Introduction The History and the Culture The Hmong Hmong Women in Hmong Society Hmong Healers and Hmong Medicines Women and Childbearing Conception and Pregnancy Birth Nyob Nruab Hlis--Thirty Days Confinement Birth in a New Homeland Women and Childrearing Childrearing and Infant Care Beliefs about Breastmilk and Infant Feeding Practices Childhood Health and Illness Women and Reproductive Health Unsuccessful Reproduction: Infertility and Miscarriage Death in Birth: Stillbirth, Neonatal, and Maternal Death Fertility Regulation: Menstruation Regulation, Contraception, and Abortion Blood Magic: Menstruation and Menopause By Way of Conclusion--Motherhood in a New Country
V(D)J recombinational accessibility-heading in the opposite direction?

The assembly of antigen receptor genes in developing lymphocytes through V(D)J recombination is regulated through a mostly undefined but broadly relevant process referred to as 'accessibility'. New findings raise the possibility that wide-ranging, antisense transcription through unrearranged antigen receptor loci could be involved in modulating recombinational accessibility.
Identification of a high affinity nucleocapsid protein binding element within the Moloney murine leukemia virus Psi-RNA packaging signal: implications for genome recognition.

Abstract Murine leukemia virus (MLV) is currently the most widely used gene delivery system in gene therapy trials. The simple retrovirus packages two copies of its RNA genome by a mechanism that involves interactions between the nucleocapsid (NC) domain of a virally-encoded Gag polyprotein and a segment of the RNA genome located just upstream of the Gag initiation codon, known as the Ψ-site. Previous studies indicated that the MLV Ψ-site contains three stem loops (SLB-SLD), and that stem loops SLC and SLD play prominent roles in packaging. We have developed a method for the preparation and purification of large quantities of recombinant Moloney MLV NC protein, and have studied its interactions with a series of oligoribonucleotides that contain one or more of the Ψ-RNA stem loops. At RNA concentrations above∼0.3 mM, isolated stem loop SLB forms a duplex and stem loops SL-C and SL-D form kissing complexes, as expected from previous studies. However, neither the monomeric nor the dimeric forms of these isolated stem loops binds NC with significant affinity. Longer constructs containing two stem loops (SL-BC and SL-CD) also exhibit low affinities for NC. However, NC binds with high affinity and stoichiometrically to both the monomeric and dimeric forms of an RNA construct that contains all three stem loops (SL-BCD; K d =132(±55) nM). Titration of SL-BCD with NC also shifts monomer-dimer equilibrium toward the dimer. Mutagenesis experiments demonstrate that the conserved GACG tetraloops of stem loops C and D do not influence the monomer-dimer equilibrium of SL-BCD, that the tetraloop of stem loop B does not participate directly in NC binding, and that the tetraloops of stem loops C and D probably also do not bind to NC. These surprising results differ considerably from those observed for HIV-1, where NC binds to individual stem loops with high affinity via interactions with exposed residues of the tetraloops. The present results indicate that MLV NC binds to a pocket or surface that only exists in the presence of all three stem loops.
Rheology of concentrated microgel solutions

Viscosity, modulus, and yield stress for 0–6 wt% aqueous solutions of Carbopol 941 were investigated using constant shear rate, constant shear stress, and dynamic oscillatory experiments. The microgel character of the polymer was evident from the solid-like behavior of the solutions above 1 wt%. Yield stress increased with concentration, but yield occurred at a critical shear strain of 40%, independent of concentration. The static stress-strain relationship became non-linear at ~ 25% strain, in fair agreement with the onset of non-linear response in the storage modulus at ~ 10% strain. Small strain moduli from static and low frequency measurements agreed rather well; modulus values obtained from the recoverable strain after yielding were 30–40% smaller. Solutions flowed at near-constant stress in the low shear rate regime; at higher rates the stress increases with shear rate more rapidly. The viscosity did not obey the Cox-Merz rule. Steady-state viscosity scaled with polymer concentration to the 3/4 power. Results were interpreted using a cellular, deformable sphere model for the polymer, in analogy to emulsions and foams.
Biomedical applications of electrostatic layer-by-layer nano-assembly of polymers, enzymes, and nanoparticles

The introduction of electrostatic layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly has shown broad biomedical applications in thin film coating, micropatterning, nanobioreactors, artificial cells, and drug delivery systems. Multiple assembly polyelectrolytes and proteins are based on electrostatic interaction between oppositely charged layers. The film architecture is precisely designed and can be controlled to 1-nm precision with a range from 5 to 1000 nm. Thin films can be deposited on any surface including many widely used biomaterials. Microencapsulation of micro/nanotemplates with multilayers enabled cell surface modification, controlled drug release, hollow shell formation, and nanobioreactors. Both in vitro and in vivo studies indicate potential applications in biology, pharmaceutics, medicine, and other biomedical areas.
Management of Rash and Other Toxicities in Patients Treated with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Targeted Agents

Inhibition of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) represents one of the most important avenues for research and development in the field of cancer therapy. The EGFR is a member of the ErbB receptor tyrosine kinase (TK) family, which also includes ErbB-2 (HER2/neu), ErbB-3 (HER3), and ErbB-4 (HER4). Current EGFR therapies available for use include monoclonal antibodies, such as cetuximab, and small-molecule EGFR TK inhibition by agents such as erlotinib. Side effects of these agents include dermatologic manifestations without the bone marrow suppressive properties of chemotherapy. Understanding of rash and how it relates to EGFR inhibitor toxicity and, perhaps more importantly, EGFR inhibitor response must be more clearly defined with clinical trials. The optimum management of rash in patients receiving anti-EGFR therapy remains somewhat controversial; this is secondary to imprecise classification of rash as well as the lack of clinical trials to determine the most appropriate treatment algorithm for these patients. We propose a treatment strategy to help aggressively treat dermatologic side effects allowing patients to continue receiving therapy without dose interruption or drug discontinuation.
Extracranial Carotid Artery Stenosis

Background— Carotid endarterectomy is the most common surgical procedure used to treat stenosis of the extracranial precerebral carotid artery. Data from several randomized controlled trials are available to help guide its use in specific patient subgroups. Carotid angioplasty with stenting is also being performed, and clinical trials comparing this procedure with carotid endarterectomy are in progress. Summary of Report— For patients with symptomatic high-grade (ie, 70% to 99%) stenosis, carotid endarterectomy is associated with an overall benefit (risk ratio estimate for the combined end point of nonfatal stroke, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or death, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.83). The benefit is more modest for patients with less severe stenosis (ie, 50% to 69%) and may vary with specific patient characteristics. Selected patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis may also benefit from the operation, but it needs to be performed with very low complication rates, which can be difficult to achieve in c...
Clustering in adsorbed films

Recently, Dash has shown that adsorption isotherms can show distinct types of behavior. In class I the bulk vapor pressure is reached asymptotically for an infinite adsorbed amount; in class II it is reached for a finite amount; in class III no adsorption takes place at all. We show that these possibilities can also be derived by a simple discussion of the possible forms of the free energy as function of the thickness of the adsorbed film. The question of clustering, i.e., the formation of drops, is also discussed.
Location! The unanswered question in right ventricular pacing.

Location, like in real estate, is the most important question in electrophysiology as it determines the acute and long-term outcomes in patients undergoing ablation as well as placement of pacing or high voltage leads. Right ventricular (RV) apex is the most commonly selected location for placement of RV pacing leads. This preference reflects the ease, stability, and excellent pacing thresholds usually achieved at this location. However, human and experimental data have suggested potential deleterious effects of RV pacing on cardiac function, and thus, there has been an interest in alternate RV pacing sites. Singh et al in this issue of the journal present their study comparing right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) and RV apical pacing using equilibrium radionuclide angiography (ERNA). To better understand and review the findings of their study or any trial of alternate site RV pacing, we must first answer the following questions.
On Comparing Alternative Advertising Policies of Pulsation

In this paper, five alternative advertising policies that belong to the advertising pulsation class are compared analytically for linear and concave response functions using a modified version of the Vidale-Wolfe model. The results of the research show that (1) For both linear and concave response functions, advertising pulsing/maintenance policy dominates advertising pulsing policy but is dominated by the Uniform Advertising Policy. For convex response functions, the order of dominance is reversed. (2) For linear response functions, uniform advertising policy dominates the impulse advertising policy but is dominated by the chattering advertising policy. (3) For concave response functions, uniform advertising policy dominates both the impulse advertising policy and the chattering advertising policy. (4) For convex response functions, chattering advertising policy dominates both the advertising pulsing policy and the impulse advertising policy. The Vidale-Wolfe model is estimated using the well-known Lydia Pinkham data. Optimality analysis shows that the company was overadvertising about half of the time studied. Overadvertising seems to have produced appreciable gain in sales and created significant barriers to competitive entry at a little cost in terms of foregone profits.
Role of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand in Interferon-Induced Apoptosis in Human Bladder Cancer Cells

Immunomodulators such as Bacillus Calmette-Guerin and interferon are clinically active in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, but their mechanisms of action remain unclear. Here we investigated the effects of IFNα on tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) expression and apoptosis in a panel of 20 human bladder cancer cell lines. Six (30%) displayed significant DNA fragmentation in response to increasing concentrations of IFNα (10–100,000 units/mL). In these lines IFNα induced early activation of caspase-8, and DNA fragmentation was blocked by a caspase-8-selective inhibitor (IETDfmk), consistent with the involvement of death receptor(s) in cell death. IFNα stimulated marked increases in TRAIL mRNA and protein in the majority of IFN-sensitive and IFN-resistant cell lines. A blocking anti-TRAIL antibody significantly inhibited IFN-induced DNA fragmentation in four of six IFN-sensitive cell lines, confirming that TRAIL played a direct role in cell death. Bortezomib (PS-341, Velcade), a potent TRAIL-sensitizing agent, increased sensitivity to IFNα in two of the IFN-resistant cell lines that produced large amounts of TRAIL in response to IFN treatment. Our data show that IFN-induced apoptosis in bladder cancer cells frequently involves autocrine TRAIL production. Combination therapy strategies aimed at overcoming TRAIL resistance may be very effective in restoring IFN sensitivity in a subset of human bladder tumors.
Longitudinal assessment of bone loss from diagnostic computed tomography scans in gynecologic cancer patients treated with chemotherapy and radiation.

Objective The objective of the study was to measure the volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) using diagnostic computed tomography scans in gynecologic oncology patients. Study Design In a retrospective study, spine and femoral neck (FN) vBMD was measured for 1 year in 40 patients receiving chemotherapy or radiation. Results There is significant bone loss after chemotherapy, radiation, and a combination of radiation and chemotherapy (P = .0211). In 1 year, the percent reduction in vBMD (±SE) at L1-L2 spine and the FN was a 15.9% (±5.67) and 10.4% (±4.06) in chemotherapy; 11% (±5.68) and 15.8% (±2.56) in radiation; and 21.0% (±7.03) and 3.6% (±3.3.7) in the combined therapy group. Bone loss was evident immediately after treatment and persisted or worsened in most women. Conclusion Gynecologic cancer patients treated with chemotherapy or radiation experience immediate and prolonged bone loss; thus, pre- and posttreatment monitoring of bone loss is important in these patients.
Self-force on an accelerated particle

We calculate the singular field of an accelerated point particle (scalar charge, electric charge or small gravitating mass) moving on an accelerated (nongeodesic) trajectory in a generic background spacetime. Using a mode-sum regularization scheme, we obtain explicit expressions for the self-force regularization parameters. We use a Lorentz gauge for the electromangetic and gravitational cases. This work extends the work of Barack and Ori [1] who demonstrated that the regularization parameters for a point particle in geodesic motion in a Schwarzschild spacetime can be described solely by the leading and subleading terms in the mode-sum (commonly known as the $A$ and $B$ terms) and that all terms of higher order in $\ensuremath{\ell}$ vanish upon summation (later they showed the same behavior for geodesic motion in Kerr [2], [3]). We demonstrate that these properties are universal to point particles moving through any smooth spacetime along arbitrary (accelerated) trajectories. Our renormalization scheme is based on, but not identical to, the Quinn-Wald axioms. As we develop our approach, we review and extend work showing that that different definitions of the singular field used in the literature are equivalent to our approach. Because our approach does not assume geodesic motion of the perturbing particle, we are able use our mode-sum formalism to explicitly recover a well-known result: The self-force on static scalar charges near a Schwarzschild black hole vanishes.
The Impact of the 2004 Hurricanes on Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test Scores: Implications for School Counselors.

What is the impact of natural disasters on students' statewide assessment scores? To answer this question, Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) scores of 55,881 students in grades 4 through 10 were analyzed to determine if there were significant decreases after the 2004 hurricanes. Results reveal that there was statistical but no practical significance between the FCAT scores of students in high- and low-hurricane-impacted schools. Implications for school counselors are provided.