cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Engaging in social rejection may be riskier for women

People often worry how others will perceive them if they socially reject others, but do women have more to fear than men? Although previous research has shown that women are perceived negatively for behaving in counter-stereotypical ways, research on backlash has focused on business settings. The present research applies backlash theory to examine how women are perceived for engaging in social rejection. The findings suggest that backlash may operate differently in social rejection because only men punish women for rejecting. Across four studies, the present research found that (1) women felt they were more likely to be penalized for engaging in social rejection than men, (2) women were less willing to endorse social rejection than men, and (3) men, but not women, viewed female rejectors in a more negative manner than male rejectors.
Relationship between C:N ratios of lake sediments, organic matter sources, and historical deforestation in Lake Pleasant, Massachusetts, USA

The C:N ratios of lake sediments may reflect proportions of terrestrial and algal carbon contributing to accumulation of sediment. This possibility was tested in Lake Pleasant, Massachussetts, USA which underwent watershed deforestation in about 1780 A.D. The C:N profile of a 70-cm sediment core clearly reflected deforestation through a rise in C:N ratio caused by an increase in watershed contributions to sedimentary carbon. Spatial variability of C:N in modern surficial sediments is small compared to the change caused by deforestation.
Structure of interferon-stimulated gene product 15 (ISG15) from the bat species Myotis davidii and the impact of interdomain ISG15 interactions on viral protein engagement.

Bats have long been observed to be the hosts and the origin of numerous human diseases. Bats, like all mammals, rely on a number of innate immune mechanisms to combat invading pathogens, including the interferon type I, II and III responses. Ubiquitin-like interferon-stimulated gene product 15 (ISG15) is a key modulator of these interferon responses. Within these pathways, ISG15 can serve to stabilize host proteins modulating innate immune responses and act as a cytokine. Post-translational modifications of viral proteins introduced by ISG15 have also been observed to directly affect the function of numerous viral proteins. Unlike ubiquitin, which is virtually identical across all animals, comparison of ISG15s across species reveals that they are relatively divergent, with sequence identity dropping to as low as ∼58% among mammals. In addition to serving as an obstacle to the zoonotic transmission of influenza, these ISG15 species–species differences have also long been shown to have an impact on the function of viral deISGylases. Recently, the structure of the first nonhuman ISG15, originating from mouse, suggested that the structures of human ISG15 may not be reflective of other species. Here, the structure of ISG15 from the bat species Myotis davidii solved to 1.37 A resolution is reported. Comparison of this ISG15 structure with those from human and mouse not only underscores the structural impact of ISG15 species–species differences, but also highlights a conserved hydrophobic motif formed between the two domains of ISG15. Using the papain-like deISGylase from Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus as a probe, the biochemical importance of this motif in ISG15–protein engagements was illuminated.
Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator troubleshooting in patients with a left ventricular assist device: A case series and systematic review.

Background There are limited data on the performance of the subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) in patients with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Objective The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical course and outcomes of patients with both an S-ICD and an LVAD at our institution and via a systematic review of published studies. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of all patients who underwent LVAD implantation from 2009 to 2019 at Duke University Hospital. We also performed a systematic review of studies involving patients with an S-ICD and LVAD using the PubMed/Embase databases. Results Of 588 patients undergoing LVAD implantation with a preexisting implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, 4 had an S-ICD in situ after LVAD implantation. All 4 patients developed electromagnetic interference (EMI) in the primary/secondary vectors after LVAD implantation, resulting in inappropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shocks in 2 patients. Sensing in the alternate vector was adequate immediately postoperatively in 1 patient. Postoperative undersensing was present in the alternate vector in 3 patients but improved at first outpatient follow-up in 2 patients, allowing tachy therapies to be reenabled. Eight studies involving 27 patients were identified in the systematic review. EMI was common and frequently absent in the alternate vector (6 of 7 patients). Conclusion Undersensing and EMI are common after LVAD implantation in patients with an S-ICD in situ, particularly in the primary and secondary sensing vectors. Undersensing in the alternate vector may improve during follow-up, obviating the need for device revision or extraction.
Switching Between Medicare Advantage And Traditional Medicare Before And After The Onset Of Functional Disability.

Medicare Advantage (MA) plans have increasing flexibility to provide nonmedical services to support older adults aging in place in the community. However, prior research has suggested that enrollee...
Cytauxzoon felis cytochrome b gene mutation associated with atovaquone and azithromycin treatment

Background Atovaquone and azithromycin (A&A) with supportive care improve survival rates in cats with cytauxzoonosis. Resistance to atovaquone via parasite cytochrome b gene (cytb) mutations occurs in other Apicomplexan protozoans but is not described in Cytauxzoon felis. Objective To serially characterize the C. felis cytb sequences from a cat that remained persistently infected after A&A treatment. Animal A cat with naturally occurring C. felis infection. Methods Case report of the anemic cat persistently infected with C. felis before, during and after A&A treatment. Cytauxzoon felis cytb genes were amplified and sequenced before, during and after A&A treatment. Results Cytauxzoon felis was detected before, during and after A&A treatment including samples collected 570 days after treatment. After A&A treatment, the cat's anemia improved slightly. Cytb sequencing revealed only wild-type cytb methionine (M128) in samples collected before treatment. In samples collected after treatment, the cytb coded for isoleucine (M128I) and valine (M128I) at 2- and 4-months after treatment. These M128I and M128V mutations persisted even after a repeat treatment course with a higher dose atovaquone combined with the standard dose of azithromycin. Conclusions and clinical importance This report documents C. felis atovaquone resistance associated with M128 cytb mutations. This study suggests parasites with mutations of cytb M128 can be selected and impart resistance to A&A treatment even with higher atovaquone dosing.
Thrombospondin-4 mediates hyperglycemia- and TGF-beta-induced inflammation in breast cancer.

Inflammation drives the growth of tumors and is an important predictor of cancer aggressiveness. CD68, a marker of tumor-associated macrophages (TAM), is routinely used as a marker to aid in prognosis and treatment choices for breast cancer. We report that thrombospondin-4 (TSP-4) mediates breast cancer inflammation and growth in mouse models in response to hyperglycemia and TGF-beta by increasing TAM infiltration and production of inflammatory signals in tumors. Analysis of breast cancers and non-cancerous tissue specimens from hyperglycemic patients revealed that levels of TSP-4 and of macrophage marker CD68 are upregulated in diabetic tissues. TSP-4 was co-localized with macrophages in cancer tissues. Bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) responded to high glucose and TGF-beta by upregulating TSP-4 production and expression, as well as the expression of inflammatory markers. We report a novel function for TSP-4 in breast cancer: regulation of TAM infiltration and inflammation. The results of our study provide new insights into regulation of cancer growth by hyperglycemia and TGF-beta and suggest TSP-4 as a potential therapeutic target.
The Lunch Bunch - A Meaningful and Impactful Conversation on Leadership.

Objective. To describe outcomes of an article club that was designed to foster leadership within Sour pharmacy school by informally gathering interested faculty and staff that provided a safe environment for discussion on leadership concepts. Methods. Participants discussed a Harvard Business Review’s Top 10 Leadership article monthly. After ten sessions, participants were asked to complete an electronic survey on their perspectives of the activities and could volunteer for an interview. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and qualitative software assisted in analyzing interview transcripts. Videoconferencing allowed for off-campus faculty and staff participation. No direct programmatic costs were incurred. Results. Four to 24 participants attended each session. Sixteen participants completed the survey, with five volunteering for interviews. All 16 strongly agreed the sessions “increased awareness of leadership concepts,” and 15 strongly agreed/agreed the activities “influenced my leadership decision-making” and “facilitated building a culture of leadership at the school.” Interviews revealed mid-career faculty participated to learn about general leadership concepts from discussions, and some junior faculty participated to gain leadership skills to help with promotion. All participants noted they were exposed to novel leadership styles. Teaching and practice commitments were the two highest noted barriers to participating. Conclusion. Providing an interactive discussion forum to learn and discuss leadership concepts and qualities is effective for personal growth and professional development. Other schools and institutions can implement similar activities to foster leadership.
Sequence independent lifting in mixed integer programming

We investigate lifting, i.e., the process of taking a valid inequality for a polyhedron and extending it to a valid inequality in a higher dimensional space. Lifting is usually applied sequentially, that is, variables in a set are lifted one after the other. This may be computationally unattractive since it involves the solution of an optimization problem to compute a lifting coefficient for each variable. To relieve this computational burden, we study sequence independent lifting, which only involves the solution of one optimization problem. We show that if a certain lifting function is superadditive, then the lifting coefficients are independent of the lifting sequence. We introduce the idea of valid superadditive lifting functions to obtain good aproximations to maximum lifting. We apply these results to strengthen Balas' lifting theorem for cover inequalities and to produce lifted flow cover inequalities for a single node flow problem.
Living with nondeterminism in replicated middleware applications

Application-level nondeterminism can lead to inconsistent state that defeats the purpose of replication as a fault-tolerance strategy. We present Midas, a new approach for living with nondeterminism in distributed, replicated, middleware applications. Midas exploits (i) the static program analysis of the application's source code prior to replica deployment and (ii) the online compensation of replica divergence even as replicas execute. We identify the sources of nondeterminism within the application, discriminate between actual and superficial nondeterminism, and track the propagation of actual nondeterminism. We evaluate our techniques for the active replication of servers using micro-benchmarks that contain various sources (multi-threading, system calls and propagation) of nondeterminism.
The nutrient supplying capabilities of Uzinura, an endosymbiont of armoured scale insects.

Summary An emerging common physiological feature of plant sap-feeding insects is the presence of bacterial endosymbionts capable of providing essential nutrients to their host. These microbial partners are inviable outside of specialized host tissues, and therefore a cultivation-independent approach, namely high-throughput next-generation genome sequencing, can be used to characterize their gene content and metabolic potential. To this end, we sequenced the first complete genome of the obligate endosymbiont, Candidatus ‘Uzinura diaspidicola’, of armoured scale insects. At 263 431 bp, Uzinura has an extremely reduced genome that is composed largely of genes encoding enzymes involved in translation and amino acid biosynthesis. The tiny size of the Uzinura genome parallels that observed in some other insect endosymbionts. Despite this extreme genome reduction, the absence of a known obligate partner bacterial symbiont suggests that Uzinura alone can supply sufficient nutrients to its host.
Relational learning and interprofessional practice: Transforming health education for the 21st century

Theories and traditions emphasizing the centrality of caring have guided the evolution of the healthcare professions. In contemporary practice, creating a therapeutic context in which healing can occur relies not just on the caring dispositions of individual clinicians, but also on the collective relational capacities of interprofessional healthcare teams. This article describes the intersection and complementarity of relational and interprofessional learning approaches to health education, provides exemplars of shared learning models and discusses the benefits and obstacles to integrating relational and interprofessional philosophies into real world practice.
Is there a monthly effect in stock market returns?: Evidence from foreign countries

Abstract In a recent paper, Ariel documents a monthly pattern for U.S. stock market returns. Our paper examines this pattern of returns in four other countries. We find only weak evidence supporting this phenomenom in these foreign markets; just one country exhibits a significant seasonal consistent with Ariel's work. However, we do find stronger evidence of a ‘last day of the month’ effect. In addition there is evidence of a country unique monthly pattern (i.e. one that is not consistent with the U.S. pattern).
Artificial sweetener as a historical window to culturally situated health

This article employs the history of artificial sweetener consumption in the United States as a window onto the ways in which American women defined health as a physical and cultural construct in the mid-20th century. It uses, as an evidentiary basis, two consumer case studies: the initial adoption of saccharin and cyclamates in the 1950s, and the defense of saccharin in the wake of pending FDA restrictions in 1977. These instances suggest that individuals have historically based their assessment of healthy food products on both their understanding of the products' physical impact and their set of held values, attitudes, and beliefs particular to a historical moment. They also suggest that gender, class, and geographic location are formative influences on how those values, attitudes, and beliefs are constructed. The history of artificial sweetener consumption points to the importance of considering health from a physical and cultural point of view in attempts to shape nutrition practice and policy in the United States.
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha induces c-jun during the regenerative response to liver injury

After liver injury, remaining hepatocytes proliferate to regenerate the liver. Although the precise mechanisms that initiate and localize regeneration are unknown, local induction of c-jun is a critical, early step in the response. Treatment of rats with antibodies to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a mediator of liver injury, inhibits regenerative induction of jun nuclear kinase activity and nuclear c-jun expression and alters the DNA binding activity of the c-jun transcription factor, AP-1, in liver. Pretreatment with anti-TNF antibodies does not affect pulmonary or renal c-jun expression or AP-1 binding activity post-partial hepatectomy. In primary hepatocyte cultures, TNF-alpha directly promotes the proliferative actions of mitogens, supporting in vivo evidence that it sensitizes hepatocytes to mitogens. Thus local release of TNF may act in a paracrine fashion to initiate regeneration in the injured liver by promoting induction of critical growth-related genes, such as c-jun.
Arachidonic Acid Metabolism in Human and Bovine Retina

ABSTRACT Arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism in the human and bovine retina was assessed. This study demonstrates that the human and bovine retina can synthesize prostaglan-din (PG) E2, F2α, I2, D2 and thromboxane A2 from 14C-AA. This tissue also synthesized leukotriene (LT) B4, and 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE). Although human and bovine retina metabolized AA into PGs and LTs, the ability to synthesize these products was considerably less than some other ocular tissues of various species.
Bladder freeze ulceration and sodium saccharin feeding in the rat: examination for urinary nitrosamines, mutagens and bacteria, and effects on hepatic microsomal enzymes.

We previously demonstrated that long-term feeding of sodium saccharin, a non-mutagen, induced bladder carcinomas when administered to F344 male rats with regenerative hyperplasia of the urothelium induced by the freeze-ulceration technique, even without prior chemical initiation (Cohen et al. Cancer Res. 1982, 42, 65). In the present study, we examined the urine of rats subjected to freeze ulceration of the bladder and then fed sodium saccharin at 5% in the diet to evaluate the possibility of a mutagen being generated as a result of ulceration and/or saccharin feeding. Urine was collected into a syringe by aspiration from the urinary bladder after ligating the urethra for 2 hr at intervals from day 0 to day 14 after ulceration. After ulceration and/or sodium saccharin feeding, the urine showed no bacterial contamination, no mutagenic activity in the standard Ames assay, no production of nitrosamines, and no nitrosating environment. In addition, no significant changes in activities of liver microsomal enzymes (i.e. cytochrome P-450, NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, aniline hydroxylase, or ethylmorphine N-demethylase) were observed in rats fed sodium saccharin for 1, 5 or 14 days. Thus, freeze ulceration, and the consequent regenerative hyperplasia of the epithelium, compared with sodium saccharin feeding do not involve the administration of an exogenous mutagenic substance or the generation of a detectable mutagen in the urine.
Orthotopic porcine liver transplantation: Operative technique

Considerable interest in experimental liver transplantation has been generated recently due to improvements in the results of clinical liver transplantation efforts. An operative technique for orthotopic porcine liver transplantation is presented which represents modifications of and improvements to previously published techniques. Salient features of the technique include (1) use of a diaphragmatic cuff for the suprahepatic inferior vena cava anastomosis, (2) use of a splenojugular shunt, (3) omission of caval shunts, and (4) use of isoflurane as the primary anesthetic agent. This operative technique has provided excellent survival rates in our transplanted animals.
Rapid decline of California's native inland fishes: a status assessment.

Abstract A quantitative protocol was developed to determine conservation status of all 129 freshwater fishes native to California. Seven (5%) were extinct; 33 (26%) were found to be in danger of extinction in the near future (endangered); 33 (26%) were rated as sufficiently threatened to be on a trajectory towards extinction if present trends continue (vulnerable); 34 (26%) were rated as declining species but not in immediate danger of extinction. Only 22 (17%) species were found to be of least concern. Of 31 species officially listed under federal and state endangered species acts (ESAs), 17 (55%) were rated as endangered by our criteria, while 12 (39%) were rated vulnerable. Conversely, of the 33 species that received our endangered rating, only 17 (51%) were officially listed under the ESAs. Among the seven metrics used to assess extinction threat, climate change, area occupied and anthropogenic threats had the largest negative impacts on status. Of 15 categories of causes of decline, those most likely to diminish status were alien species, agriculture, and dams. Overall, 83% of California’s freshwater fishes are extinct or at risk of becoming so, a 16% increase since 1995 and a 21% increase since 1989. The rapid decline of California’s inland fishes is probably typical of declines in other regions that are less well documented, indicating a strong need for improved conservation of freshwater ecosystems.
Exposure to an augmented acoustic environment alters auditory function in hearing-impaired DBA/2J mice

The effects of exposure to an augmented acoustic environment (AAE) on auditory function were evaluated using DBA/2J (DBA) mice, a strain that exhibits high-frequency hearing loss beginning around the time of weaning/adolescence (between 3-4 weeks of age) and becoming severe by 2-3 months of age. Mice were exposed 12 h per night for 10 nights to a 70 dB SPL broad-band noise AAE at one of three age periods ranging from the onset of hearing loss (25-35 days of age) to more severe degrees of hearing loss (35-45 days and 45-55 days); control mice did not receive the AAE. C57BL/6J (C57) mice of the same ages provided normal-hearing. age-matched mice in both exposed and control conditions. The auditory brainstem response (ABR), acoustic startle response amplitude, and prepulse inhibition (PPI) were used to assess the auditory system. The AAE had significant effects on DBA mice, but had no effect on normal-hearing C57 mice. For the most part, AAE exposure resulted in improved auditory performance in DBA mice (better PPI, lower ABR thresholds, bigger startle amplitudes). However, the age of the mice and/or severity of hearing loss proved to be an important variable; improvement of PPI occurred only when the AAE was initiated later in the course of hearing loss (35 days of age or older); in contrast to this, beneficial effects on ABR thresholds occurred only when the AAE was initiated early in the course of hearing loss (< 45 days of age).
An extension of Borel determinacy

We prove the determinacy of all Δ11 games on arbitrary trees, and we use this result and the assumption that a measurable cardinal exists to demonstrate the determinacy of all games on <ωω that belong both to (ω2+1)–Π11 and to its dual.
Recovery of acetylcholine response of denervated muscle following exposure to α-Bungarotoxin

Abstract Experiments were performed using denervated muscles and the irreversible cholinergic inhibitor α-Bungarotoxin. After eliminating the membrane voltage response to carbamylcholine by exposure to α-Bungarotoxin, the response was observed to recover to 30% of its original value after 5 hours. Additional experiments suggest that the dissociation of α-Bungarotoxin from the extrajunctional receptors may be responsible. It was also observed that d-tubocurarine, normally a rapidly reversible competitive inhibitor, acts as either a noncompetitive, an uncompetitive, or a slowly reversible competitive inhibitor after recovery from α-Bungarotoxin. Unlike d-tubocurarine, the rapidly reversing comeptitive effect of hexamethonium was not changed.
Narrow-band absorption-enhanced quantum dot/J-aggregate conjugates.

We report narrow-band absorption enhancement of semiconductor nanocrystals via Forster resonance energy transfer from cyanine J-aggregates. These J-aggregated dyes associate electrostatically with short quantum-dot (QD) surface ligands in solution. Energy transfer efficiencies approach unity for this light sensitization and result in a 5-fold enhancement in the QD excitation near the J-aggregate absorption maximum. Because a thin layer of J-aggregates attenuates the same amount of light (at peak absorbance) as a far thicker film of monomer dye, these absorption-enhanced materials may have applications in light-sensitizing applications such as photodetection and optical down-conversion.
Some observations on the ultrastructure of the hepatocyte in the metamorphosing tadpole

Abstract The principal ultrastructural changes occurring during metamorphosis in the hepatocyte of Rana pipiens tadpoles are (1) the great degree of pleomorphism in the mitochondria, (2) the appearance of glycogen in some nuclei of late stages and (3) the disappearance of cytoplasmic glycogen, presumably due to its breakdown to glucose, in late stages. The latter may be related to the inhibition of tryptophan oxygenase activity during this developmental period. Differences between the hepatocyte of the tadpole and the adult include the above, plus the appearance of pinocytotic vesicles between adjacent cells during metamorphosis which are not seen in the adult.
Antibodies to stem cell marker antigens reduce engraftment of hematopoietic stem cells.

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) have enormous potential for use in transplantation and gene therapy. However, the frequency of repopulating HSCs is often very low; thus, highly effective techniques for cell enrichment and maintenance are required to obtain sufficient cell numbers for therapeutic use and for studies of HSC physiology. Common methods of HSC enrichment use antibodies recognizing HSC surface marker antigens. Because antibodies are known to alter the physiology of other cell types, we investigated the effect of such enrichment strategies on the physiology and lineage commitment of HSCs. We sorted HSCs using a method that does not require antibodies: exclusion of Hoechst 33342 to isolate side population (SP) cells. To elucidate the effect of antibody binding on this HSC population, we compared untreated SP cells with SP cells treated with the Sca-1+c-Kit+Lin− (SKL) antibody cocktail prior to SP sorting. Our findings revealed that HSCs incubated with the antibody cocktail had decreased expression of the stem cell-associated genes c-Kit, Cd34, Tal-1, and Slamf1 relative to untreated SP cells or to cells treated with polyclonal isotype control antibodies. Moreover, SKL antibodies induced cycling in SP cells and diminished their ability to confer long-term hematopoietic engraftment in lethally irradiated mice. Taken together, these data suggest that antibody-based stem cell isolation procedures can have negative effects on HSC physiology.
Time Series Modeling of Degradation Due to Outdoor Weathering

Environmental variables have an important effect on the reliability of many products such as coatings and polymeric composites. Long-term prediction of the performance or service life of such products must take into account the probabilistic/stochastic nature of the outdoor weather. In this article, we propose a time series modeling procedure to model the time series data of daily accumulated degradation. Daily accumulated degradation is the total amount of degradation accrued within one day and can be obtained by using a degradation rate model for the product and the weather data. The fitted model of the time series can then be used to estimate the future distribution of cumulative degradation over a period of time, and to compute reliability measures such as the probability of failure. The modeling technique and estimation method are illustrated using the degradation of a solar reflector material. We also provide a method to construct approximate confidence intervals for the probability of failure.
DNA replication and late protein synthesis during SP82 infection of Bacillus subtilis

Abstract During infection of Bacillus subtilis by bacteriophage SP82, substantial quantities of at least two different late proteins were synthesized, even in the absence of detectable phage DNA replication. The two proteins were the lytic enzyme (which is possibly a host specific enzyme) and the protein(s) responsible for serum blocking power (which is presumably phage specific). The absence of replication was assured by the use of an SP82 double mutant carrying a mutation in each of two cistrons required for replication, and was verified by density transfer and isotope incorporation experiments. Thus, it appears that phage DNA replication is not required for late protein synthesis during SP82 infection. Using a closely related phage, 2C, Pene and Marmur (1967) had shown that, when DNA replication was inhibited by mitomycin C, an early enzyme was synthesized normally, but the lytic enzyme was not. We have repeated this observation with SP82 and have shown that the mitomycin also prevents the appearance of serum blocking power, eliminating the possibility that the effect of mitomycin is specific to host proteins. However, we have also shown that, with a suitable preincubation, mitomycin can also inhibit early enzyme synthesis. We suggest that the differential effect of mitomycin on early and late protein synthesis is merely the result of the time after application of mitomycin at which the two groups of proteins are normally synthesized. Gage and Geiduschek (1971) showed that a replication defective mutant of SP01, another closely related phage, failed to synthesize one class of late RNA. We discuss possible ways by which our data can be reconciled with this result.
Joint hypermobility: a common association with complex functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Objective To evaluate the prevalence of joint hypermobility (JH) and comorbid conditions in children and young adults referred to a tertiary care neurogastroenterology and autonomic disorders clinic for functional gastrointestinal complaints. Study design This was a retrospective chart review of 66 new patients aged 5-24 years who fulfilled at least 1 pediatric Rome III criteria for a functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) and had a recorded Beighton score (n = 45) or fibromyalgia tender point score (n = 45) based on physician examination. Comorbid symptoms were collected and autonomic testing was performed for evaluation of postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Results The median patient age was 15 years (range, 5-24 years), 48 (73%) were females, and 56% had JH, a significantly higher rate compared with population studies of healthy adolescents ( P Conclusion JH and other comorbid symptoms, including fibromyalgia, occur commonly in children and young adults with complex FGIDs. POTS is prevalent in FGIDs but is not associated with hypermobility. We recommend screening patients with complex FGIDs for JH, fibromyalgia, and comorbid symptoms such as sleep disturbances, migraines, and autonomic dysfunction.
Miscarriage chromosome testing: utility of comparative genomic hybridization with reflex microsatellite analysis in preserved miscarriage tissue

Objective To assess the utility of comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and reflex microsatellite analysis (MSA) for chromosome analysis of preserved miscarriage tissue. Design Observational study. Setting Academic recurrent pregnancy loss program. Patient(s) Patients with recurrent early pregnancy loss, defined as two or more miscarriages at Intervention(s) Preserved miscarriage specimens were sent for CGH. If results were euploid female (46,XX), reflex MSA was performed to assess if the result was of miscarriage or maternal origin. Main Outcome Measure(s) Results were recorded as either informative or uninformative. Uninformative results were classified as "CGH failed" or "maternal contamination." Result(s) Fifty-eight women with 77 miscarriage specimens met the criteria. CGH failed in nine of the preserved miscarriage specimens owing to minimal pregnancy tissue, and two owing to poor-quality DNA. Twenty-two of the 33 specimens reported as 46,XX by CGH were sent for MSA; maternal contamination was confirmed in 23% (5/22). CGH was therefore informative in 79% (61/77) of the specimens; 64% (39/61) were euploid, and 36% (22/61) were noneuploid, with a 46,XX/46,XY ratio of 2.5. Conclusion(s) CGH with reflex MSA is useful for obtaining chromosome results in preserved miscarriage specimens, although informative results were achieved in only 79% of specimens. Maternal contamination should be assessed after an initial diploid female result.
Outcome following surgical therapy for gastrointestinal stromal tumors

We have pursued an approach of complete resection for patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), including multivisceral resection, for patients with disease involving adjacent organs. We have also extended the limits of resection to include patients with metastatic disease who were treated with imatinib mesylate. The aim of this study is to report the outcomes and prognostic factors associated with this clinical approach. Study subjects were identified using the pathology database at our institution; for inclusion in the study group, patients must have undergone surgical resection for a KIT-positive gastrointestinal stromal tumor between January 1992 and March 2004. We calculated survival by using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed using log-rank analysis and the Cox proportional hazards model. Thirty-four patients met the study criteria. Fifty-nine percent of patients had GISTs of gastric origin, 20.6% had duodenal GISTs, and the remainder was comprised of a variety of other sites. Twenty-two (64.7%) patients underwent single-organ resection, and 12 patients (35.3%) underwent multivisceral resection. Estimated actuarial survival at 5 years was 65.2%. Seven patients (five patients with metastases, one patient with locally advanced disease, and one patient with organ-confined disease) received imatinib mesylate. Independent predictors of poor survival included incomplete resection, metastatic disease at presentation, and high mitotic index. Mitotic index and the presence of metastases remain the primary predictors of postoperative survival. Complete surgical resection, even if multivisceral resection is required, is associated with improved survival.
Coupling strength-based system reduction for complex engineering design

The design process associated with large engineering systems requires an initial decomposition of the complex system into subsystem modules which are coupled through transference of output data. The implementation of such a decomposition approach assumes that the ability exists to determine what subsystems and interactions exist and what order of execution will be imposed during the analysis process. Unfortunately, this is quite often an extremely complex task which may be beyond human ability to efficiently achieve. Further, in optimizing such a coupled system, it is essential to be able to determine which interactions figure prominently enough to significantly affect the accuracy of the optimal solution. The ability to determine “weak” versus “strong” coupling strengths would aid the designer in deciding which couplings could be permanently removed from consideration or which could be temporarily suspended so as to achieve computational savings with minimal loss in solution accuracy. An approach that uses normalized sensitivities to quantify coupling strengths is presented. The approach is applied to a coupled system composed of analytical equations for verification purposes.
Working in German: From the Classroom to the Dean's Office and Beyond: Introduction

The following papers emerge from a meeting of the Editorial Board of The German Quarterly at the 2009 Convention of the Modern Language Association in Philadelphia, chaired by GQ’s editor, James Rolleston. Looking forward to Board member Russell Berman’s term as MLA President, the Board saw an opportunity to highlight the position of German studies: the MLA Program Committee’s call for sessions for the newly restructured 2011 convention’s first-day events addressing “The Academy in Hard Times.” AATG leadership and membership met the challenge set by the Editorial Board. Its president, Carol Anne Costabile-Heming, organized one session (439: German in the Life of the University: Responding to the 2007 MLA Report); Katherine Arens of the Editorial Board and AATG’s Executive Director Helene Zimmer-Loew organized two additional sections (one under the aegis of AATG as a competitive session, 130: German in Hard Times in the Life of the University, and one as an independent special session, 7: German in the Life of the University: A View from the Trenches). The two latter sessions were featured in the Los Angeles Convention’s first-day brochure announcing its special cluster, along with twenty-eight other sessions—the only sessions sponsored by language divisions, interspersed among sessions on academic labor, university governance, university studies, and publishing. The three sessions played out to full rooms and lively discussions, and so, to preserve representation of these timely discussions for the AATG membership, the GQ is presenting a selection of the presentations that took stock of our professions. Unterrichtspraxis will do the same at a later date. German Quarterly does not often publish essays on professional issues and teaching, but these two essays deserve their place in a journal dedicated to the literatures and cultures of the germanophone world. They show how the study of literature in a foreign language might be reframed to recover its visibility to administrators and our students, and how we might all better advocate for the survival of the scholarly work and teaching about cultures to which we are dedicated.
Pharmacological characterization of ear-scratch response in mice as a behavioral model for selective 5-HT2-receptor agonists and evidence for 5-HT1B- and 5-HT2-receptor interactions

(±)1-(2,5-Dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane [(±)-DOI], a phenylisopropylamine hallucinogen, is a 5-HT2-receptor agonist. The drug induced a dose-dependent increase in ear-scratch response (ESR) in mice, and the R(−)-isomer was more than 6 times as potent as its S(+)-enantiomer. The induced behavior was potently inhibited by selective 5-HT2-receptor antagonists such as ketanserin and spiperone. The (±)-DOI-induced ESR is also inhibited by stimulation of 5-HT1-receptors and the inhibition seems to be through a 5-HT1B-receptor mechanism. Thus, taken together, the present investigation indicates that ESR is due to selective stimulation of 5-HT2-receptors and that simultaneous costimulation of 5-HT1B-receptors inhibits the induced behavior. The study further suggests that the inability of the indolealkylamine hallucinogens to induce ESR is due to simultaneous excitation of 5-HT1B-receptors which are inhibitory to induction of ESR. Moreover, the data suggest possible inhibitory control mechanisms through 5-HT1-receptor subtypes to provide a damping mechanism to reduce excessive 5-HT2-receptor excitation due to exogenous drug stimulation or pathological conditions.
Effects of hexachlorobenzene and pentachlorophenol on cellular and humoral immune parameters in Glycera dibranchiata

The effects of exposure to two model marine pollutants, hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) on components of the defense system of a polychaete, Glycera dibranchiata, were determined. Although both pollutants were markedly concentrated in the tissues, the levels reached in these studies produced no mortality or morbidity. Certain parameters (in vitro phagocytosis by amebocytes, total and differential coelomocyte counts, hemolysin, hemagglutinin and bacterial agglutinin activity) were not affected by our experimental procedures. However, the activity of a bactericidal glycoprotein was consistently induced in PCP- or HCB-exposed Glycera. We suggest that the release of this factor from coelomocytes is increased by a mechanism similar to that of macrophage activation, a characteristic of the leukocytes of higher animals. Exposure to PCP caused an apparent reduction in the numbers of amebocytes capable of forming rosettes with formaldehyde-treated rabbit erythrocytes. This was interpreted as an impairment in the ability of the cells to recognize foreign material, a process required for the normal functioning of these potentially protective blood phagocytes.
Evaluation of a faculty development model for technology use in higher education for late adopters

The design, implementation, and evaluation of the second phase in a two-year faculty development initiative by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Consortium on Higher Education (SEPCHE) is presented. The initiative addressed instruction of SEPCHE faculty in the use of technology in college teaching. Six workshops were conducted for faculty in specific disciplines to create working relationships among SEPCHE faculty, establish faculty as mutually supportive resources, to decrease attitudinal and behavioral barriers toward adoption of new technology by "late adopters," and to improve teaching effectiveness through the application of new technology. Faculty from SEPCHE, rather than outside consultants, served as expert presenters. Workshops included mastery of software and adaptation for specific disciplines, Internet search strategies and usable sites, Web site design, and electronically mediated course delivery. Faculty indicated satisfaction with the workshops in exit interviews, and attitudinal and usage changes are documented by evaluation four months later.
Dorsal Plating of Low-Energy Lisfranc Injuries: A Case Report

Surgically repairing acute Lisfranc injuries remains a difficult task, and the injury remains a challenging one for the treating surgeon. Although there are many proponents of acute arthrodesis for...
Verification of Snapback Model by Transient $I$ – $V$ Measurement for Circuit Simulation of ESD Response

It is demonstrated that if the compact model of a snapback-type device is calibrated using only pulsed I-V data, it may not correctly reproduce the device response to arbitrary electrostatic discharge (ESD) waveforms. Transient I-V measurements are demonstrated to improve the completeness of the device characterization and model verification. Given an accurately calibrated ESD compact model, circuit simulations may be used to identify device-tester interactions that have been reported to cause unexpected damage during ESD testing. The interaction between a snapback device and an ESD tester can be understood in the context of a relaxation oscillator.
An Objective Method of Analyzing Cochlear Versus Noncochlear Patterns of Distortion-Product Otoacoustic Emissions in Patients With Acoustic Neuromas †

Objectives To objectify the effects of retrocochlear disease on distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) by developing a computer-based software strategy for classifying DPOAE patterns as cochlear or noncochlear and to evaluate the sensitivities of these techniques in a large series of patients with unilateral acoustic neuromas. Study Design Development of a novel, software-based method of DPOAE analysis, which was evaluated with data obtained from a retrospective review of the results from audiometric tests performed in a series of patients. Methods A computer-based software strategy was developed, using frequency-specific data from normal-hearing adults, for the purpose of distinguishing cochlear from noncochlear patterns of hearing loss, by determining the discrepancies between DPOAEs and behavioral audiometry. Preoperative pure-tone thresholds and DPOAEs from 97 patients with surgically confirmed acoustic neuroma were compared using an objective method and a standard, subjective technique that was considered to be the gold standard. The effects of bilateral hearing losses, such as noise-induced hearing loss and presbycusis, were accounted for during the analysis to isolate the effects of the tumors on hearing thresholds and DPOAEs. Results Overall, 55 (57%) of the tumor ears were assigned to the cochlear group (i.e., DPOAEs consistent with hearing thresholds), 40 (41%) to the noncochlear group (i.e., DPOAEs inconsistent with hearing thresholds), and 2 (2%) to an indeterminate group, using the subjective technique for classifying DPOAEs. There was no significant difference in the categorization of the patients with acoustic neuroma when employing the objective strategy. The objective algorithm, when modified to maximize the number of noncochlear identifications, led to assignments of 36 (37%) to the cochlear, 57 (59%) to the noncochlear, and 4 (4%) to the indeterminate categories. Conclusions Subjective analysis of a large series patients with acoustic neuromas showed that the majority of ears with tumors demonstrated cochlear (57%), rather than non- cochlear (41%), patterns of DPOAEs. The computerized, software-based algorithm developed for differentiating cochlear from noncochlear patterns of DPOAEs in patients with retrocochlear disease had a maximum sensitivity of 59%. This value was significantly higher than that reported in previous studies.
Serial myocardial scintigraphy after a single dose of thallium-201 in men after acute myocardial infarction.

Abstract Serial myocardial scintigraphy after a single dose of thallium-201 in the period immediately after myocardial infarction may demonstrate redistribution of thallium-201 into perfusion defects that were evident in the initial scan. This study tested the hypothesis that evaluation of this redistribution, available within hours of infarction, could provide a more accurate estimate of the eventual perfusion defect than a single thallium-201 Image obtained immediately after infarction. The study group comprised 14 patients with a diagnosis on admission of probable acute myocardial infarction. The patients received thallium-201 a mean of 1.3 hours after admission to the coronary care unit. Imaging began 10 minutes after the thallium injection and was repeated 4 to 8 hours later. Eight patients with acute myocardial infarction had a definite reduction in one or more perfusion defects on serial scintigraphy, possibly indicating reperfusion of transiently Ischemic zones. Two patients with acute infarction had an increase in perfusion defects in a second study performed 6 hours after the initial scintigram. In the interval between scans, one patient had a cardiac arrest with clinical evidence of infarct extension after successful resuscitation; the other sustained a lateral extension of the infarct. One patient with acute aortic dissection had normal scans on both studies. All three patients with unstable angina had an abnormal initial scan; on repeat scan, the thallium-201 defect was unchanged in one patient, increased in one and decreased in the third. In the patients with myocardial infarction, repeat thallium-201 scans corresponded more nearly than the initial scans to the extent of technetilum-99m stannous pyrophosphate uptake by the heart. These data suggest that serial myocardial imaging with thallium-201 immediately after myocardial infarction can overcome some of the limitations of a single thallium-201 scintigram and may be useful in delineating ischemic from infarcted myocardium in the postinfarction period.