cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of Age and Strain on Striatal Dopamine Loss in a Genetic Mouse Model of Lesch‐Nyhan Disease

Lesch-Nyhan disease is a neurogenetic disorder caused by deficiency of the purine salvage enzyme hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT). Affected individuals exhibit a characteristic pattern of neurological and behavioral features attributable in part to dysfunction of basal ganglia dopamine systems. In the current studies, striatal dopamine loss was investigated in five different HPRT-deficient strains of mice carrying one of two different HPRT gene mutations. Caudoputamen dopamine concentrations were significantly reduced in all five of the strains, with deficits ranging from 50.7 to 61.1%. Mesolimbic dopamine was significantly reduced in only three of the five strains, with a range of 31.6-38.6%. The reduction of caudoputamen dopamine was age dependent, emerging between 4 and 12 weeks of age. Tyrosine hydroxylase and aromatic amino acid decarboxylase, two enzymes responsible for the synthesis of dopamine, were reduced by 22.4-37.3 and 22.2-43.1%, respectively. These results demonstrate that HPRT deficiency is strongly associated with a loss of basal ganglia dopamine. The magnitude of dopamine loss measurable is dependent on the genetic background of the mouse strain used, the basal ganglia subregion examined, and the age of the animals at assessment.
Limited proteolysis patterns of the B chain of insulin.

Abstract The oxidized B chain of insulin was used as a simple model for further consideration of limited proteolysis with low substrate:enzyme ratios. With low B chain:trypsin ratios, the ordinarily slower cleavage rate of the -Lys29-Ala30 bond essentially equaled the cleavage saturation rate of the -Arg22-Gly23 bond. This led to the disappearance of octapeptide which ordinarily forms most rapidly. Heptapeptide and alanine, formed mainly by cleavage of the octapeptide, decreased somewhat at high enzyme relative levels. Trypsin added to B chain formed a single chromatographic peak.
Dual contingency plans in optimal generalized linear designs

Traditional optimal linear design problems are formulated by linear programming with a single criterion (objective)and a single resource availability (right-hand side) level. This approach is to seek an optimal solution for a given design system. However, it fails to deal with optimal linear design problems with multi-criteria and multi-source availability levels. In this paper, we first sketch how to use the multi-criteria and multi-constraint levels (MC2) linear programming to formulate the optimal linear design problems and to find a set of potentially good designs (PGDs). Then we generate generalized good designs (GGDs) from given PGDs and show how to construct their related dual contingency plans under various decision situations, fn contrast to the known concept of PGDs, the GGDs go beyond the limitations of the design opportunities. In constructing the dual contingency plans for a given GGD, we adjust the unit contribution of selected design opportunities in the GGD to convert non-optimal solutions...
Olanzapine and obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Abstract Clozapine and risperidone have been implicated in the development of obsessive–compulsive symptoms. We present three cases in which olanzapine caused a significant exacerbation of obsessive–compulsive symptoms in schizophrenia (two cases) and obsessive–compulsive disorder (one case).
The role of lymphadenectomy in patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer.

The role of regional lymph node dissection (LND) in surgical management of high-grade, invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder has evolved over the past several decades. The current concepts and rationale for LND in patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer are reviewed and discussed. Evidence suggests that a more extended LND (with cephalad extent to include at least the common iliac vessels) for lymph node-positive and-negative patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer may provide therapeutic benefits in addition to prognostic information. Lymph node density also provides risk stratification for lymph node-positive patients and may reduce the surgical bias and extent of the LND, both of which are currently not standardized. Although the absolute limits of the LND remain to be determined, an evolving body of data supports a more extended LND at the time of cystectomy in appropriate surgical candidates.
BARROW AND TIPLER'S ANTHROPIC COSMOLOGICAL PRINCIPLE

Abstract. John D. Barrow and Frank J. Tipler's recently published Anthropic Cosmological Principle is an encyclopedic defense of melioristic evolutionary cosmology. They review the history of the idea from ancient times to the present, and defend both a “weak” version, and two “strong” versions of the anthropic principle. I argue the weak version of the anthropic principle is true and important, but that neither of the two strong versions are well grounded in fact. Their “final” anthropic principle is a revision of Teilhard de Chardin's evolutionary cosmology. They rectify Teilhard's factual errors but commit even more serious psychological and religious errors of their own.
Cardiac and Vasular Changes in Mice After Exposure to Ultrafine Particulate Matter

Increased ambient air particulate matter (PM) concentrations are associated with risk for myocardial infarction, stroke, and arrhythmia, and ultrafine PM (UFPM) might be particularly toxic to the cardiovascular system. Recent epidemiological studies are beginning to offer mechanistic insights, yet the rodent model remains a valuable tool to explore potential mechanisms. This article reviews a series of studies from our laboratory demonstrating the promise of mouse models to link health effects to biological mechanisms. Specifically, data from 6- to 10-wk-old male ICR mice exposed to intratracheal instillation of 100 microg of UFPM collected from the Chapel Hill, NC airshed are described. Studies of ischemia/reperfusion, vascular function, and hemostasis are described. In summary, UFPM exposure doubles the size of myocardial infarction attendant to an episode of ischemia and reperfusion while increasing postischemic oxidant stress. UFPM alters endothelial-dependent and -independent regulation of systemic vascular tone; increases platelet number, plasma fibrinogen, and soluble P-selectin levels; and reduces bleeding time, implying enhanced thrombogenic potential. Taking these findings together, this model of acute UFPM exposure in the mouse indicates that UFPM induces a prothrombotic state and decreases vasomotor responsiveness, thereby offering insight into how UFPM could contribute to vascular events associated with thrombosis and ischemia and increasing the extent of infarction.
Cerebral oxygen saturation as a function of age, sex, and skin color

Near infrared optical spectroscopy (NIR) is a recognized technique for the study of the cellular oxygen metabolism, and oxygen delivery to the tissue. During the last few years, this technique has become useful for the study of the regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2); however, up to date no report exists showing the values of the normal variability of the rSO2 in humans. In the present study, rSO2 was measured via in vivo optical spectroscopy (INVOS 2910, Somanetics, Troy, MI) in 100 randomly selected adults (aged 16 to 78), who displayed no symptoms nor clinical signs of cerebral disorder. The sample population consisted of 51 males and 49 females (16 to 78 years old); 27 had dark skin and 73 had light skin. The mean rSO2 found was 68.6 5.6. The relationship between mean rSO2 and age was studied using the regression analysis. No association between age and rSO2 was found (p = 0.132). The correlation of mean rSO2 with sex and with color were evaluated by a two sample t-test for each. There was no significant difference between the mean rSO2 for females and the mean rSO2 for males (p =0.132). However, the mean rSO2 for light skin individuals was significantly higher than the mean rSO2 for dark skin individuals (rSO2 =69.50 forlight skin, rSO2 =66.15 for dark skin; p =0.0078). The advantages of infrared spectroscopy are evident; this is a noninvasive, simple, relatively inexpensive technology, easily interpreted and suitable for continuous monitoring of rSO2 at bedside or during brain surgery. We consider NW infrared spectroscopy the best actual technique for early detection of acute cerebral hypoxia, and a method for anticipation of undesirable outcome in these patients.
Steric effect in the scattering of oriented CH3F molecules by graphite (0001)

Abstract Measurements are reported of the scattering of oriented molecule beams of CH3F by the (0001) face of graphite, showing a small but significant “heads” versus “tails” orientation-dependent effect, the magnitude of which is found to increase with the degree of orientation of the CH3F molecules. The direction of the effect is such that the specularly scattered intensity is greater for molecules initially oriented with CH3 toward the surface. The sign of the effect changes, as expected, for the off-specular (non-direct) scattering.
Abstract 1031: Blockade of radiation-induced neuropilin-1 in glioblastoma cells impairs migration of endothelial cells

Neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) is an isoform specific receptor for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), that regulates the development of the nervous system and also promotes angiogenesis in endothelial cells. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a malignant tumor characterized by robust neoangiogenesis with an aberrant elevation of VEGF. Recent evidence suggests that the majority of GBMs after radiation therapy (IR) exhibit an angiogenic regeneration process, which contributes phenotypic plasticity and therapeutic resistance. A high expression of NRP-1 in GBM correlates with disease progression. In this study, we show that the IR-induced NRP-1 role in the VEGFR-2 mediated signaling cascade promotes migration of endothelial cells. We observed that IR (8Gy) significantly elevated levels of VEGF and NRP-1 expression in 4910 and 5310 human GBM xenograft cells. Endothelial cells cultured on tumor- conditioned media from IR induced xenograft cells showed a significant increase in migration of endothelial cells; whereas, conditioned medium (CM) from NRP-1 knockdown xenograft cells inhibited IR-induced migration effects in endothelial cells. Further, CM from NRP-1 inhibited cells downregulated IR-induced expression of VEGFR-2 and its downstream molecules Sema3A, Plexin-A1 and E-cadherin in endothelial cells. Immunoflourescence co-localization studies revealed that the interaction of NRP-1 and VEGFR-2 were significantly decreased in endothelial cells cultured on CM from NRP-1-siRNA-transfected xenograft cells compared to mock- and SV-transfected cells. Collectively, our data indicate that NRP-1 plays a significant role in the regulation of VEGF/VEGFR-2 signaling and migration in endothelial cells, and thereby suggests NRP-1 as an important therapeutic target for glioma patients receiving radiation therapy. Citation Format: Dilip Rajasekhar Maddirela, Divya Kesanakurti, Venkateswara R. Gogineni, Chandramu Chetty. Blockade of radiation-induced neuropilin-1 in glioblastoma cells impairs migration of endothelial cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1031. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1031
Did the moral education establishment kill character? An autopsy of the death of character

This essay examines James Davison Hunter's claim that the moral education establishment is responsible for the death of character. I contend that although Hunter's rhetoric about the "death of character" is distracting and his claims against the moral education establishment are overstated, moral educators must grapple with his finding that effective moral education requires a coherent moral culture with a clear conception of public and private good. I attempt to draw out the implications of Hunter's finding by comparing past Soviet and current American forms of moral education. Finally, I conclude that the effectiveness of moral education is threatened not only when character is separated from its nourishing social, historical and cultural moorings, but also when moral autonomy and respect for diversity is undermined. Thus, in the last part of the essay, I discuss three possibilities for how public education can both allow comprehensive approaches to moral education and adhere to liberalism's appreciatio...
Near–optium regulators for stochastic singularly perturbed systems

The objective of this paper is to study the near–optimum regulators for multi–time scale singularly perturbed systems. This is accomplished by using a slow and fast mode decomposition which provides three lower order control problems in different time scales. The near–optimal control for the overall control system is obtained in terms of the optimal control laws for three lower order control problems. Furthermore, the near–optimal performance index of the original control problem is obtained in terms of the lower order control problems in separate time scales
A Note on the Teaching of Economics Through American History

In the 1980-81 school year a Developmental Economic Education Program (DEEP) was initiated in the New York City public school system. Economics had been taught (and required) at the twelfth grade level for many years, but now an effort would be made to infuse economics into the curriculum at every grade level. During the first year of DEEP, a pilot project was developed to put some economics into the fourth grade curriculum and into the eleventh grade American History course. In January of 1981 a two-day workshop was held for the participating teachers. In ten hours of classroom contact, the teachers received instruction in basic economics and in method of teaching economic concepts at their grade levels. Plans were made to test the effectiveness of the pilot program in eleventh grade American History classes. The high school teachers received copies of the manuals Teaching Economics in American History and Strategies for Teaching Economics: United States History (Secondary), published by the Joint Council on Economic Education. Arrangements were made to administer the Test of Economic Literacy to experimental and control classes in four high schools. One school was dropped from the experiment because the teacher of the experimental classes was promoted to an administrative position and his replacement did not feel qualified to carry out the plans to incorporate economics into the American History course. In the three remaining schools two or three control classes were to be compared with the two experimental classes. An experienced high school teacher served as proctor and test administrator. The students in both the control and experimental classes took Form A of the TEL during their first class session of the spring 1981 term. The same form was administered as a post-test at the end of the spring semester. Although the students in the experimental and control classes seemed to reflect the variety of racial, ethnic, national, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds found in New York City schools, they were not randomly selected. Intact classes had to be used, and the participating students can best be categorized as a "convenience sample." It is not claimed, therefore, that the participants adequately represent the total population of eleventh graders in New York City public high schools. Two control classes were dropped from the experiment because the proctor reported serious discipline problems during the administration of the
An essay on misused words: Sophisticated and elegant

A trendy comment, intended to be a put-down, is to label someone's idea, model, or theory as `unsophisticated'. Recourse to a standard dictionary shows that `unsophisticated' is not a bad thing to be, and that `elegance' is also desirable.
Formation of recent martian gullies through melting of extensive water-rich snow deposits

The observation of gullies on Mars indicates the presence of liquid water near the surface in recent times1,2, which is difficult to reconcile with the current cold climate. Gullies have been proposed to form through surface runoff from subsurface aquifers1,3 or through melting of near-surface ice under warmer conditions4. But these gullies are observed to occur preferentially in cold mid-latitudes2, where the presence of liquid water is less likely, and on isolated surfaces where groundwater seepage would not be expected, making both potential explanations unsatisfactory. Here I show that gullies can form by the melting of water-rich snow that has been transported from the poles to mid-latitudes during periods of high obliquity within the past 105 to 106 years (refs 5, 6). Melting within this snow7 can generate sufficient water to erode gullies in about 5,000 years. My proposed model for gully formation is consistent with the age and location of the gullies, and it explains the occurrence of liquid water in the cold mid-latitudes as well as on isolated surfaces. Remnants of the snowpacks are still present on mid-latitude, pole-facing slopes, and the recent or current occurrence of liquid water within them provides a potential abode for life.
Gender role development in two clinical syndromes: Turner syndrome versus constitutional short stature

Abstract Turner syndrome (TUS) in girls causes sex chromosome abnormalities, ovarian dysgenesis with estrogen deficiency, and short stature. The goal of this study was to assess the long-term effects of sex chromosome and hormonal anomalies on female gender role development. The authors report data from an interview assessing gender role development in 23 TUS women, compared with 23 closely matched women with constitutional short stature and with 10 normal sisters of the TUS women. The results show more stereotypic feminine behavior in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood in the TUS subjects. The authors conclude that the clinical features of TUS do not impede normal female gender development. Furthermore, the data suggest that the tendency to greater femininity in TUS women cannot be explained solely by short stature and may be related to other psychosocial, endocrine, or brain effects of the syndrome.
Visual Stimulation Affects the Perception of Voluntary Leg Movements during Walking

When a limb is used for locomotion, patterns of afferent and efferent activity related to its own motion are present as well as visual, vestibular, and other proprioceptive information about motion of the whole body. A study is reported in which it was asked whether visual stimulation present during whole-body motion can influence the perception of the leg movements propelling the body. Subjects were tested in conditions in which the stepping movements they made were identical but the amount of body displacement relative to inertial space and to the visual surround varied. These test conditions were created by getting the subjects to walk on a rotatable platform centered inside a large, independently rotatable, optokinetic drum. In each test condition, subjects, without looking at their legs, compared, against a standard condition in which the floor and drum were both stationary, their speed of body motion, their stride length and stepping rate, the direction of their steps, and the perceived force they e...
Instruction fetch mechanisms for multipath execution processors

Branch mispredictions can have a major performance impact on high-performance processors. Multipath execution has recently been introduced to help limit the misprediction penalties incurred by branches that are difficult to predict. This paper presents efficient instruction fetch architecture designs for these multipath processor execution cores. We evaluate a number of design trade-offs for the first-level instruction cache and the multipath PC fetch arbiter. Furthermore we evaluate the effect of additional bandwidth limitations imposed by the processor frontend pipeline. Our results show that instruction fetch support for efficient multipath execution can be achieved with realizable hardware implementations. In addition, we show that the best performing instruction fetch designs for multipath execution and multithreaded processors are likely to differ, since both designs optimize the processor for different performance goals (minimal execution time vs maximal throughput).
Inhibition of Escherichia coli fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase by fructose 2,6-bisphosphate.

Abstract Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, a potent inhibitor of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatases, was found to be an inhibitor of the Escherichia coli enzyme. The substrate saturation curves in the presence of inhibitor were sigmoidal and the inhibition was much stronger at low than at high substrate concentrations. At a substrate concentration of 20 μM, 50% inhibition was observed at 4.8 μM fructose 2,6-bisphosphate. Escherichia coli fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase was inhibited by AMP (Kj = 16 μM) and phosphoenolpyruvate caused release of AMP inhibition. However, neither AMP inhibition nor its release by phosphoenolpyruvate was affected by the presence of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate. The results obtained, together with previous observations, provide further evidence for the fructose 2,6-bisphosphate-fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase active site interaction.
Meta[131I]iodobenzylguanidine therapy for patients with metastatic and unresectable pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma

Abstract Introduction Pheochromocytomas (PHEOs) and paragangliomas (PGLs) are tumors that can exhibit a malignant behavior. Targeted radiotherapy with 131 I-metaiodobenzylguanidine ( 131 I-MIBG) has proven useful in patients with unresectable, metastatic and/or relapsed disease. Methods We review the literature and our experience at UCSF to highlight important characteristics of PHEO/PGL and the use of 131 I-MIBG in the treatment of this disease. Results These tumors are rare, with a diagnosed incidence of only two to four cases per million annually; 40% are discovered at autopsy. Clinical manifestations are caused by excess secretion of catecholamines, although some PGLs are nonsecretory. Approximately 25% of patients with PHEO/PGLs have an underlying genetic predisposition. The risk of a germline mutation is higher in children. Diagnostic evaluation should include serial determinations of fractionated metanephrines and serum chromogranin A. Staging requires both 123 I-MIBG and full-body magnetic resonance imaging or 18 FDG-PET scanning. The primary treatment for PHEO/PGL is resection. Patients may be candidates for treatment with 131 I-MIBG if they have unresectable or metastatic tumors that are avid for MIBG. Such patients usually respond to this targeted radioisotope therapy and many achieve a durable remission. Myelosuppression is a dose-related side effect that can be treated with transfusions or autologous hematopoietic stem cells. Late side effects can include infertility, myelodysplasia and second cancers. Conclusions Treatment with 131 I-MIBG can be considered for patients if surgery is not feasible. There are significant risks associated with this treatment, but the majority of patients will respond. Treatment with 131 I-MIBG should be done at institutions with experience in delivering targeted radiotherapeutics.
A posthospitalization study of patients treated for obesity by a total fast regimen.

Abstract A posthospitalization survey of 709 obese individuals was made. Prior to hospitalization they had been unsuccessful in reducing weight. On a complete fast in a hospital they were able to lose 1 to 2 pounds daily. They were to continue a fast 1 day/week and adhere to a moderately restricted caloric, but otherwise nutritionally adequate diet (1100 to 1700 cal.). It was predicted that they would lose 1 to 2 pounds/week if they followed this regimen until the desired weight was attained. Of the 50 per cent who responded to a questionnaire, approximately 46 per cent lost weight; 21 per cent remained the same weight and 33 per cent gained weight. The average weight changes were computed according to (a) per cent overweight at the start of the program, (b) per cent of lifetime overweight, and (c) age. In category (a) the greatest average weight loss occurred in the group of individuals 100 to 119 per cent overweight at the start of the program. For category (b) the greatest average weight loss occurred in the group of individuals overweight 80 per cent of their lives. For those in category (c) the greatest average weight loss occurred in the 20 to 24 and the 45 to 54 age range groups. Of the respondents who lost weight, approximately 33 per cent lost 1 to 2 pounds/week (about 15 per cent of all respondents). Approximately 85 per cent of this group made many changes in their dietary pattern and 60 per cent fasted 1 day/week. Nearly 55 per cent of those who lost 1 to 2 pounds/week were between the ages of 35 to 54 years. Approximately 45 per cent of these patients were 40 to 59 per cent and 80 to 119 per cent overweight at the start of the program and they ((approximately 65 per cent) were overweight most of their lifetime. The findings in this survey show a diversity of responses too diffuse to form patterns from which generalizations can be made except that approximately two-thirds the respondents known to be failures to conventional methods of reduction have benefited from the fasting program. Further study is indicated to ascertain possible commonalities and differences in those individuals who lost and those who gained weight by following the fasting regimen.
Counting electrons and rationalizing structures of clusters and clusters of clusters

Abstract The investigation of the electronic structures of high nuclearity metal clusters constitutes an important prerequisite for the basic understanding of the relationship between discrete metal clusters and the extended bulk metal. Simple electron counting principles are particularly useful in this regard. It not only allows a systematization or rationalization of the observed structures of these clusters, but also can lead to prediction of clusters of yet unknown molecular architectures and/or formulations. In this review, electron counting principles for the metal clusters of varying nuclearity (magic numbers), size, shape and packing arrangements will be discussed. Emphasis will be focused upon: (1) the topological electron counting ( TEC ) rule; (2) the C 2 model for clusters of clusters; (3) the Shell model for v n polytopal close-packed metal clusters; and (4) the Extended Hume-Rothery rule for metal clusters of close-packed arrangements.
Japanese production theory and small business

The ability of small businesses to make and adjust to the paradigm shift needed to benefit from the Japanese production theory has been questioned in the literature. Zangwill (1992) questioned the limits of the Japanese Production Theory (JPT) and in a subsequent paper (Zangwill, 1994) held on to his argument about the limits of the Japanese Production Theory. In this paper, the Japanese Production Theory is first discussed, followed by a discussion of the consistency between the traditional EOQ theory and the Japanese production theory, critique of the Zangwill’s argument, and issues related to the relevance of the Japanese production theory to small businesses.
InAir: sharing indoor air quality measurements and visualizations

This paper describes inAir, a tool for sharing measurements and visualizations of indoor air quality within one's social network. Poor indoor air quality is difficult for humans to detect through sight and smell alone and can contribute to the development of chronic diseases. Through a four-week long study of fourteen households as six groups, we found that inAir (1) increased awareness of, and reflection on air quality, (2) promoted behavioral changes that resulted in improved indoor air quality, and (3) demonstrated the persuasive power of sharing for furthering improvements to indoor air quality in terms of fostering new social awareness and behavior changes as well as strengthening social bonds and prompting collaborative efforts across social networks to improve human health and well being.
Herrick's 1910 case report of sickle cell anemia. The rest of the story.

James B. Herrick's 1910 article presenting the case of an anemic West Indian student with peculiar-shaped red blood cells was the first description of sickle cell anemia in Western medical literature. However, he told only part of the story. Records in Chicago, Washington, DC, and Grenada, West Indies, reveal more information about the events surrounding Herrick's discovery and help put them in historical perspective. Herrick's intern, Ernest E. Irons, abreast of the latest developments in medicine, actually performed the blood work and alerted Herrick about the odd-looking cells. Changing patterns in American race relations allowed the patient, Walter Clement Noel, to study dentistry in Chicago. He continued to receive care from Irons for 2 1/2 years, then returned to Grenada to practice dentistry. Noel died nine years after his return to Grenada, at age 32. ( JAMA 1989;261:266-271)
Preparation of [14C]G2.5 and [14C]G5.5 Starburst® PAMAM dendrimers: The first example of dendrimer radiosynthesis

A procedure for preparing 14C-labelled half-generation Starburst® PAMAM dendrimers is described. Controlled incorporation of radioisotope was achieved by Michael additions of amines with 14C-labelled methyl acrylate, resulting in dendrimers with specific activities between 30 and 45 mCi/ mmol in very high radiochemical purity.Copyright © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Patterns of intellectual functioning in non-retarded autistic and schizophrenic children.

Abstract The WISC—R factor scores of non-retarded children meeting DSM III criteria for autism and schizophrenia were compared. The scores of the schizophrenic children on factor 3 were significantly lower than those of the autistic children, Wow the range of normal children, and significantly lower than the scores they obtained on the verbal comprehension and perceptual organization factors. The autistic children scored in the superior range on the block design subtest and did not show gross impairments in language function as indexed by scores on the verbal comprehension factor. The only subtest autistic children were impaired on was the comprehension subtest.
An approach to the use of state crash and fatality registries.

OUTCOMES RESEARCH is popular in the medical profession, because it shares many of the decision pathways of daily clinical practice. A clinician uses both background scientific knowledge and clinical acumen from years of practice to determine the best course of treatment for optimal clinical outcome. The longer the clinician has been in practice, the more patients he or she has taken care of and the larger the sample number of experiences for the same disease process. Clinical acumen also improves with time and experience. This experience has encouraged many in our profession to report their personal case series as an indirect measure of outcomes. It is often difficult and not scientifically sound, however, to extrapolate the findings of one clinician’s case series to a different clinician’s patient population. The formality and design of outcomes research allow us to derive clinically meaningful results that can be applied generally to patient populations of interest. Done correctly, outcomes research has the potential to change clinical practice, to provide goal-directed interventions, and to identify previously unrecognized, yet important, issues. Therefore, it is essential to understand the basic principles of sound outcomes research. This article will not attempt to address all of the methods in outcomes research, but it will provide an example of how to use a dataset in a retrospective, observational study to derive meaningful results that are applicable to a surgical
Combinatorial gene expression using multiple episomal vectors.

Abstract Episomal vectors offer a powerful alternative to integrative recombination for transgene expression in mammalian cells. In this study, various combinations of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and the G protein subunit Gi2α, were stably expressed from separate episomal vectors in 293-EBNA (293E) cells. Each episome did not adversely affect the others, as gauged by episomal copy number, steady-state mRNA levels and the presence of functional receptors and G protein. Cell lines expressing genes from multiple autonomously replicating vectors were stable just two weeks after transfection, and remained stable in continuous culture for at least 5 months. Co-expression of supplementary Gi2α with receptor amplifies the magnitude of signal transduction thereby permitting the development of more sensitive high throughput functional assays. Given these results, combinatorial transfection is the strategy of choice for generating stable cell lines expressing multiple genes for the study of signal-transduction pathways or the evaluation of receptor ligands.
"Who's in charge here?" communicating across unequal computer platforms

People use personal data assistants in the field to collect data and to communicate with others both in the field and office. The individual in the office invariably has a laptop or a high-end personal workstation and thus, significantly more computing power, more screen real estate, and higher volume input devices, such as a mouse and keyboard. These differences give the high-end user the ability to represent and manipulate collaborative tasks more effectively. It is therefore useful to know what impact these differences have on work performance and work communications. Four different platform combinations involving a PC and a PDA were used to examine the effect of communicating via heterogeneous computer platforms. The PC platform used a mouse, a keyboard, and a 3-dimensional screen display. The PDA platform used a stylus, soft buttons, and a 2-dimensional screen display. A variation of the Tetris wall-building game called Slow Tetris was used as the subjects' collaborative task. A second factor in the experiment was role asymmetry. One subject was arbitrarily put in charge of the task solution in all of the combinations. An analysis of the solution times found that subjects with mixed platforms worked slower than their homogeneous counterparts, that is, a person in charge with a PC worked faster if his partner had a PC. An in-depth analysis of the communication patterns found significant differences in the exchanges between heterogeneous and homogenous combinations. The PC-to-PDA combination (with the person on the PC in charge of the solution) took significantly more time than the PC-to-PC combination. This extra time appears to come from the disadvantage of having a partner on the PDA who is unable to help in solving the problems. The PDA-to-PC combination took approximately the same amount of time as the PDA-to-PDA combination despite having one team member with a better representation. This member was, unfortunately, not in charge of the solution. The PDA-to-PC heterogeneous combination exhibited more direction giving, less one-sided collaboration, and more takeover attempts than any of the other combinations. Overall, roles were maintained in the partnerships except for the person with the PDA directing the person with the PC.
Risk-aversion and the term structure of real interest rates

Abstract The term structure of real interest rates is studied in the context of a consumption-based general-equilibrium model. It is shown that the expectations hypothesis is approximately satisfied for low interest rate volatility. Otherwise the term premia are generally positive.
Analyzing the dynamics of cell growth and protein production in mammalian cell fed-batch systems using logistic equations

The logistic modeling approach was used to describe experimental viable cell density (X) and product concentration (P) data from two industrial fed-batch mammalian cell culture processes with maximum product concentrations in the 3.0–9.4 g/l range. In both cases, experimental data were well described by the logistic equations and the resulting specific growth rate and protein productivity profiles provided useful insights into the process kinetics. Subsequently, sensitivity equations for both the X and P models were analyzed which helped characterize the influence of model parameters on X and P time courses. This was augmented by conventional sensitivity analyses where five values of each model parameter, 25% apart, were used to generate X and P time courses. Finally, results from sensitivity analysis were used to simulate X and P time courses that were reflective of typical early- and late-stage fed-batch cell culture processes. Different combinations of the logistic model parameters were used to arrive at the same final product concentration demonstrating the ability of the logistic approach to describe the multitude of process paths that result in the same final product concentration. Overall, the capability of the logistic equations to well describe X and P data from fed-batch cultures, coupled with their ability to simulate the multitude of paths leading up to the desired cell density and product concentration profiles, make them a useful tool during mammalian cell fed-batch process development.
Library Express Delivery Service: The Evolution of a Campus Delivery Service at Florida State University

Libraries are faced with the challenge of developing new services that respond to the growing needs of their patron base. A library material delivery service is one new service model that is becoming increasingly popular among academic libraries around the country. While this service has shown positive results on college campuses, the service model is still evolving. The purpose of this article is to provide library professionals with a clear and concise overview of policies and logistics currently implemented by the Library Express Delivery Service at Florida State University.
Balloon dissection facilitated laparoscopic extraperitoneal hernioplasty

background : With the goals of minimizing perioperative morbidity and obtaining direct inguinal access without transgressing the peritoneal cavity, we developed a balloon dissection device to facilitate laparoscopic extraperitoneal hernioplasty. patients and methods : We have performed balloon facilitated dissection on 113 patients (105 males) on an outpatient basis. Some patients were repaired under regional anesthesia. A total of 150 hernias have been repaired: 72 indirect, 70 direct, 3 scrotal, 2 sliding, 2 spigelian, and 1 femoral. results : Mean operating time was 60 minutes. All patients were ambulatory on discharge. Half reported minimal or no immediate postoperative pain. Over 80% had only minimal irritation or discomfort on the third postoperative day. Nearly 60% returned to work within 2 weeks. None required hospital readmission for an immediate complication of hernioplasty. With a mean follow-up of 6.3 months, only three recurrences are reported. Except for one persistent neuropathy which resolved after staple removal, there were no significant complications. conclusions : We conclude that balloon dissection facilitates laparoscopic extraperitoneal hernioplasty and obviates the need for general anesthesia. Our approach minimizes perioperative pain. It can be done on an outpatient basis and permits prompt return to full activity including physical work.
Amino acids as in vitro secretogogues of avian pancreatic polypeptide (APP) and insulin from the chicken pancreas

Abstract The potential for a direct effect of selective amino acids on avian pancreatic polypeptide (APP) and insulin secretion was investigated using a system of perifused microfragments of chicken pancreas. Leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, and valine produced a sustained increase in APP release when each was evaluated at 5-mM concentrations; 15 mM arginine also produced a sustained increase in APP secretion. The secretory response differed among the amino acids such that 5 mM leucine and isoleucine produced a transitory increase in insulin secretion while lysine, phenylalanine, and arginine produced a sustained increase in insulin secretion. In general, APP secretion exhibited a greater maximal response and a lower threshold for stimulation by various amino acids in vitro than did insulin. The significance of this effect is somewhat unclear due to the failure of intravenous arginine or leucine to alter circulating levels of APP in vivo. In conclusion, amino acids directly increase APP secretion from the chicken pancreas in vitro; although they are relatively unresponsive to glucose, perifused chicken B cells respond to amino acids as do B cells from mammalian species.
Data types, parameters and type checking

In statically typed programming languages, each variable and expression in a program is assigned a unique "type" and the program is checked to ensure that the arguments in each application are "type-compatible" with the corresponding parameters. The rules by which this "type-checking" is performed must be carefully considered for modern languages that allow the programmer to define his own data types and allow parameterized types or types as parameters. (Such languages include Alphard [Wulf78], CLU [Liskov77], Euclid [Lampson77] and Russell [Demers79].) These features increase the expressive power of the languages, but also increase the difficulty of type-checking them.In this paper, we describe a treatment of type-checking that makes it possible to do completely static checking with a general parameterization mechanism allowing parameterized types, types as parameters, and even a disciplined form of self-application. Our method defines a calculus of "signatures," where signatures are similar to the "program types" of [Reynolds78]. Each identifier and expression is given a signature, and applications are type-correct when argument and parameter signatures are equivalent under a simple set of signature transformation rules. Below we present the signature calculus of Russell; we also present a semantic justification of this calculus and specify the language constraints necessary for us to justify our purely static approach to type-checking.
Field assisted and flash sintering of alumina and its relationship to conductivity and MgO-doping

Abstract We show that flash-sintering in MgO-doped alumina is accompanied by a sharp increase in electrical conductivity. Experiments that measure conductivity in fully dense specimens, prepared by conventional sintering, prove that this is not a cause-and-effect relationship, but instead that the concomitant increase in the sintering rate and the conductivity share a common mechanism. The underlying mechanism, however, is mystifying since electrical conductivity is controlled by the transport of the fastest moving charged species, while sintering, which requires molecular transport or chemical diffusion, is limited by the slow moving charged species. Joule heating of the specimen during flash sintering cannot account for the anomalously high sintering rates. The sintering behavior of MgO-doped alumina is compared to that of nominally pure-alumina: the differences provide insight into the underlying mechanism for flash-sintering. We show that the pre-exponential in the Arrhenius equation for conductivity is enhanced in the non-linear regime, while the activation energy remains unchanged. The nucleation of Frenkel pairs is proposed as a mechanism to explain the coupling between flash-sintering and the non-linear increase in the conductivity.
Nodule detection performance in compressed chest CT images

An investigation was performed to evaluate objectively observer's ability to find lung nodules on compressed spiral computerized tomographic (CT) images of the chest. A set of 80 images from 13 patients served as backdrops. One simulated nodule of either 3.0, 3.4, 4.0, or 5.0 mm in diameter was inserted into each image. These 80 images were viewed on a computer screen in two formats: compressed with a wavelet transform coder at a compression rate of 40:1, and in the uncompressed 8 bit-per-pixel format, windowed down from the 12 bit-per- pixel originals. The images were presented one at a time in random order, as two conditions of 80 images each. Six observers searched for lung nodules on both the original and compressed formats. The tasks were to locate the nodule in each image, and, using a five category rating scale, to indicate the confidence that the indicated location contained a nodule. The results indicate that all observers detected a higher fraction of nodules in the original images than in the compressed images. Even though the compressed images were described by the observers as unacceptable for clinical use because they contained numerous artifacts, the percentage of 4 and 5 mm nodules found in the compressed images was high. Directions of further research include measurement of detection performance at lower compression rates, identification of compression artifacts that get confused with nodules, and analysis of the confidence ratings.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
COLORIMETRIC DETERMINATION OF CITRULLINE RESIDUES IN PROTEINS

Abstract A method is described for the direct colorimetric determination of citrulline residues in proteins based on the reaction with diacetylmonoxime in the presence of lower concentrations of sulfuric acid. The reduced sensitivity due to the lower acid concentration was overcome by the addition of ferric chloride which also contributed to the color stabilization. Insoluble proteins or proteins resulting in turbidity can be analyzed following partial hydrolysis of those with enzyme or acid. The molar absorption coefficient (ϵ) for citrulline at 464 nm was 2.8 × 10 4 . The method enabled us to determine low levels of protein-bound citrulline which are beyond the limitations of conventional methods using an amino acid analyzer. We determined the citrulline contents in the cornified cells of the epidermis of newborn rats, as well as soybean trypsin inhibitor.
Chronocoulometric Investigation of Adsorption in Molten Nitrates.

Abstract The adsorption of chloride, bromide, lead(II), and cadmium(II) on mercury in molten nitrates at 145 and 250°C was investigated by double potential step chronocoulometry. No adsorption was found for chloride, bromide, and for lead(II) and cadmium(II) in the presence of a large excess of chloride. An apparent adsorption of lead(II) and cadmium(II) was found in the presence of bromide. The results obtained suggest that this is due to the formation of an insoluble mercury-lead or cadmium-bromide compound. Qualitative experimental evidence for the existence of such a compound in molten nitrates was obtained.