cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ablation of the mammalian methionine sulfoxide reductase A affects the expression level of cysteine deoxygenase.

Abstract Methionine sulfoxide reductases (Msrs) are able to reduce methionine sulfoxide to methionine both in proteins and free amino acids. By their action it is possible to regulate the function of specific proteins and the cellular antioxidant defense against oxidative damage. Similarly, cysteine deoxygenase (CDO) may be involved in the regulation of protein function and antioxidant defense mechanisms by its ability to oxidized cysteine residues. The two enzymes’ involvement in sulfur amino-acids metabolism seems to be connected. Lack of methionine sulfoxide reductase A (MsrA) in liver of MsrA−/− led to a significant drop in the cellular level of thiol groups and lowered the CDO level of expression. Moreover, following selenium deficient diet (applied to decrease the expression levels of selenoproteins like MsrB), the latter effect was maintained while the basal levels of thiol decreased in both mouse strains. We suggest that both enzymes are working in coordination to balance cellular antioxidant defense.
The Role of Ergonomics in Reducing Low Back Pain and Disability in the Workplace

Low back pain is a common problem, an expensive problem, and a recurring problem. In this paper, the problem is defined, the available evidence is reviewed, and three types of interventions are dis...
Exfoliating goblet cell hyperplasia mimicking pterygium: a clinicopathological case report

We present an interventional case report of exfoliating goblet cell hyperplasia mimicking pterygium. A 44-year-old male with bilateral lesions of the nasal bulbar conjunctiva extending over the cornea, consistent with pterygia, underwent surgical excision of the lesion in his left eye. Histopathologic examination revealed an exophytic lesion made up of proliferated goblet cells with benign cytologic features. Some of the goblet cells were atrophic and seemed to be desquamating from the lesion surface. Cytologic examination of a tear specimen collected from the right eye revealed the presence of exfoliated goblet cells admixed with mucin material. The lesion had not recurred three months after surgery. Exfoliating goblet cell hyperplasia, a condition not previously reported on the ocular surface, may mimic pterygium. Histopathologic examination is required to establish the diagnosis.
Conceptualizing spirituality for social work: Insights from diverse perspectives

(1988). Conceptualizing spirituality for social work: Insights from diverse perspectives. Social Thought: Vol. 14, No. 1, pp. 30-46.
Pharmacokinetics of antiepileptic drugs

Enzymatic biotransformation is the principal determinant of the pharmacokinetic properties of most antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), although some agents are excreted by the kidneys predominantly as unchanged drug. Most AEDs exhibit linear enzyme kinetics, in which changes in daily dose lead to proportional changes in serum concentration if clearance remains constant. There are several important applications of pharmacokinetics in clinical practice. Established therapeutic ranges help guide drug administration to achieve serum concentrations that control seizures without causing intolerable toxicity. Determination of the elimination half-life may provide a basis for selecting a dosing interval and predicting the time to steady-state concentration. However, the traditional concept of administering a drug at intervals equal to one elimination half-life does not apply to some drugs. With vigabatrin, the half-life of biologic activity greatly exceeds the half-life of elimination. In situations in which it is desirable to achieve a steady-state serum concentration immediately, a loading dose can be calculated from a drug's volume of distribution and its desired serum concentration. Many AEDs have the potential to be involved in pharmacokinetic drug interactions when they are co-administered with other AEDs or other medications. These interactions usually involve changes in the rate of biotransformation or in the protein binding of one or both co-administered drugs.
Investigations into the polymorphism of rat tail tendon fibrils using atomic force microscopy.

Collagen type I displays a typical banding periodicity of 67 nm when visualized by atomic force or transmission electron microscopy imaging. We have investigated collagen fibers extracted from rat tail tendons using atomic force microscopy, under different ionic and pH conditions. The majority of the fibers reproduce the typical wavy structure with 67 nm spacing and a height difference between the peak and the grooves of at least 5 nm. However, we were also able to individuate two other banding patterns with 23 +/- 2 nm and 210 +/- 15 nm periodicities. The small pattern showed height differences of about 2 nm, whereas the large pattern seems to be a superposition of the 67 nm periodicity showing height differences of about 20 nm. Furthermore, we could show that at pH values of 3 and below the fibril structure gets dissolved whereas high concentrations of NaCl and CaCl2 could prevent this effect. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Item-Option Weighting of Achievement Tests: Comparative Study of Methods.

Previous research has studied the effects of dif ferent methods of item-option weighting on the re liability and the concurrent and predictive validity of achievement tests. Generally, increases in relia bility are found, but with mixed results for validity. This research attempted to interrelate several methods of producing option weights (i.e., Gutt man internal and external weights and judges' weights) and examined their effects on reliability and on concurrent, predictive, and face validity. Option weights to maximize reliability produced cross-validated (N = 974) increases in Hoyt reli ability over rights-only scoring (.82 versus .58, re spectively) ; decreases in correlations with other achievement tests; few changes in predictive valid ity ; and a loss in face validity (i.e., some correct op tions had lower weights than incorrect options). Weights to maximize validity did not cross-validate and led to a reduction in reliability and to mixed validity results. Judges' weights produced increases in re...
Effects of 15-Deoxy-Δ12,14-Prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) and Rosiglitazone on Human Vδ2+ T Cells

Background: Thiazolidinediones (TZD) class of drugs, and 15-deoxy-D12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) are immune regulators predicted to modulate human autoimmune disease. Their effects on cd T cells, which are involved in animal model and human and animal autoimmune diseases, are unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings: We characterized the activity of rosiglitazone (from the TZD class of drugs) and 15d-PGJ2 in human Vd2 T cells. We found that 15d-PGJ2 and rosiglitazone had different effects on Vd2 T cell functions. Both 15d-PGJ2 and rosiglitazone suppressed Vd2 T cell proliferation in response to IPP and IL2. However, only 15d-PGJ2 suppressed functional responses including cytokine production, degranulation and cytotoxicity against tumor cells. The mechanism for 15d-PGJ2 effects on Vd2 T cells acts through inhibiting Erk activation. In contrast, rosiglitazone did not affect Erk activation but the IL2 signaling pathway, which accounts for rosiglitazone suppression of IL2-dependent, Vd2 T cell proliferation without affecting TCR-dependent functions. Rosiglitazone and 15d-PGJ2 are designed to be peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARc) ligands and PPARc was expressed in Vd2 T cell. Surprisingly, when PPARc levels were lowered by specific siRNA, 15dPGJ2 and rosiglitazone were still active, suggesting their target of action induces cellular proteins other than PPARc. Conclusions/Significance: The current findings expand our understanding of how the immune system is regulated by rosiglitazone and 15d-PGJ2 and will be important to evaluate these compounds as therapeutic agents in human autoimmune disease.
A framework for distributed analytical and hybrid simulations

A framework for multi-platform analytical and multi-component hybrid (testing-analysis) simulations is described in this paper and illustrated with several application examples. The framework allows the integration of various analytical platforms and geographically distributed experimental facilities into a comprehensive pseudo-dynamic hybrid simulation. The object-oriented architecture of the framework enables easy inclusion of new analysis platforms or experimental models, and the addition of a multitude of auxiliary components, such as data acquisition and camera control. Four application examples are given, namely; (i) multi-platform analysis of a bridge with soil and structural models, (ii) multiplatform, multi-resolution analysis of a high-rise building, (iii) three-site small scale frame hybrid simulation, and (iv) three-site large scale bridge hybrid simulation. These simulations serve as illustrative examples of collaborative research among geographically distributed researchers employing different analysis platforms and testing equipment. The versatility of the framework, ease of including additional modules and the wide application potential demonstrated in the paper provide a rich research environment for structural and geotechnical engineering.
The exclusive interaction

It is proposed that there exists a fifth basic interaction from which the Pauli exclusion principle can be deduced. Such an interaction would affect only particles of half integral spin, whose total number is less than the number of particles which participate directly in the strong interaction. This is the reason for choosing the name exclusive interaction, which, like the strong interaction, would be expected to obey a relatively large number of conservation laws and symmetry principles. The tentative mathematical expression for this interaction $$V(r,\sigma ) = \frac{g}{r}\cos (cr)\exp ({{ - r} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{ - r} R}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} R})\left[ {\frac{{1 + \cdot }}{2}} \right]$$ is suggested by a discussion of fermion-fermion scattering in the Born approximation. It is found that a potential energy of this form may be used instead of antisymmetrizing the wave function in the manner required by the Pauli principle. An investigation of the binding of helium-like atoms is expected to lead to a determination of the relative strengthg/ħc and the rangeR of this interaction.
DATING THE AEGEAN LATE BRONZE AGE WITH RADIOCARBON: ADDENDUM

Additional comment on the new high-precision calibration curves and tables published after this article (Archaeometry 29 (1), 1987, 45–49) was in press.
Hutcheson, Perception, and the Sceptic's Challenge

Francis Hutcheson's theory of perception, as put forth in his Synopsis of Metaphysics, bears a striking similarity to that of John Locke. In particular, Hutcheson and Locke both have at the centre of their theories the notion of ideas as representational entities acting as the direct objects of all of our perceptions. On first consideration, one might find this similarity wholly unremarkable, given the popularity of Locke's Essay. But the Essay was published in 1689 and the Synopsis in 1742, and during these years Berkeley had published a substantive attack on Locke's representative realism and the sceptical conclusions he saw it implying. Further, Hume had argued in 1739 that in accepting a Lockean account of perception, we (at least when thinking as philosophers in our studies) are left without any sure knowledge of external objects, even their existence. Despite this, Hutcheson apparently feels no obligation to address either Berkeley's idealism or Hume's scepticism in the Synopsis. The question addres...
The potential role of the esophageal pre-epithelial barrier components in the maintenance of integrity of the esophageal mucosa in patients with endoscopically negative gastroesophageal reflux disease

The potential role of the esophageal pre-epithelial barrier components in the maintenance of integrity of the esophageal mucosa in patients with endoscopically negative gastroesophageal reflux disease
Evidence for organic synthesis in high temperature aqueous media--facts and prognosis.

Hydrothermal systems are common along the active tectonic areas of the earth. Potential sites being studied for organic matter alteration and possible organic synthesis are spreading ridges, off-axis systems, back-arc activity, hot spots, volcanism, and subduction. Organic matter alteration, primarily reductive and generally from immature organic detritus, occurs in these high temperature and rapid fluid flow hydrothermal regimes. Hot circulating water (temperature range - warm to greater than 400 C) is responsible for these molecular alterations, expulsion and migration. Compounds that are obviously synthesized are minor components because they are generally masked by the pyrolysis products formed from contemporary natural organic precursors. The reactivity of organic compounds in hot water (200-350 C) has been studied in autoclaves, and supercritical water as a medium for chemistry has also been evaluated. This high temperature aqueous organic chemistry and the strong reducing conditions of the natural systems suggest this as an important route to produce organic compounds on the primitive earth. Thus a better understanding of the potential syntheses of organic compounds in hydrothermal systems will require investigations of the chemistry of condensation, autocatalysis, catalysis and hydrolysis reactions in aqueous mineral buffered systems over a range of temperatures from warm to greater than 400 C.
Three-time-level methods for the numerical solution of soil freezing problems

Abstract Finite element and finite difference methods for heat and mass transfer problems are usually based on two-time-level schemes for treating the time derivative. In freezing and thawing problems the equations are non-linear. The non-linearity arises because of the dependence of the material properties on both temperature and moisture fields. With two-time-level schemes it is usually necessary to iterate the solution in order to obtain accurate results. For non-linear problems of this type iteration can be avoided by using a three-time-level scheme with material properties evaluated at the intermediate time level. The most well known three-time-level scheme is, however, subject to oscillation which seriously limits its usefulness. This paper discusses a new three-time-level scheme and compares it with several other time marching schemes from the standpoint of accuracy and susceptibility to oscillation.
Pneumococcal Antibiotic Resistance and Rates of Meningitis in Children

Objectives/Hypothesis Recent studies have shown alarmingly high rates of antibiotic resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from patients with otitis media. A recent study has implicated resistant S pneumoniae for rising rates of acute mastoiditis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether S pneumoniae antibiotic resistance has similarly affected the rate of pediatric community-acquired meningitis, the most common intracranial complication of otitis media. Study Design Retrospective chart review. Methods All cases of pediatric community-acquired meningitis treated at an academic tertiary care hospital during a 10-year period were reviewed, and meningitis rates were calculated as a proportion of yearly admissions. Results The overall rate of meningitis decreased linearly during the study period (P = .001). This was largely because of a drop in the rate of Haemophilus influenzae meningitis (P = .001), corresponding with the introduction of H influenzae type B vaccine. Annual rates of S pneumoniae meningitis did not change. Only one case of S pneumoniae meningitis was due to a highly penicillin-resistant strain and isolates from four cases had intermediate sensitivity. Twenty-four of 83 cases were associated with antecedent acute otitis media and 63% of these had been treated with antibiotics before admission. Otitis media, as a cause of meningitis, did not increase during the study period. ConclusionS pneumoniae is responsible for a greater proportion of cases of pediatric community-acquired meningitis. However, this is because of a decline in the rate of H influenzae cases, not the rise in S pneumoniae antibiotic resistance.
Playing the Game of Sequence Alignment

Review of: Phylo website from the McGill University Centre for Bioinformatics, http://phylo.cs.mcgill.ca/
Dispositional Rumination in Individuals with a Depression History

Many studies show that rumination is related to current depressive episodes but very few studies have examined whether rumination is elevated among those with a history of diagnosed depression. The goal of the current study was to examine whether a history of diagnosable major depressive disorder (MDD) is related to rumination among undergraduates. In addition, individual difference variables (i.e. problem-solving abilities, neuroticism and self-esteem) that might help explain rumination were examined. Participants were interviewed with the SCID to diagnose MDD. Fifty-one had no history of MDD and 41 had a MDD history. Depression history was significantly related to rumination, even after controlling for subsyndromal symptoms. Rumination was related to negative problem-solving orientation. Major limitations of this study are the cross-sectional design, undergraduate sample and the relatively small sample size, particularly for multidimensional analyses.
Malignant Melanoma of Soft Parts Involving the Head and Neck Region: Review of Literature and Case Report

Malignant melanoma of soft parts (MMSP) was originally described as a distinct entity by Enzinger in 1965 and was termed "clear cell sarcoma of tendons and aponeuroses" because of its association with tenosynovial structures. It has been shown immunophenotypically and ultrastructurally that this tumor is derived from neuroectoderm and shares a number of features with cutaneous melanoma. Over 95% of MMSPs present in the extremities, with the head and neck region (1.9%) being an unusual site. This study presents an additional case of MMSP of the head and neck region involving the posterior cervical region in a 15-year-old Hispanic male and reviews the literature on MMSP. Ultrastructural examination showed rudimentary cell attachments, smooth cell membranes, discontinuous basal lamina, scanty glycogen, and occasional premelanosomes in some tumor cells. Cytogenetic analysis showed a reciprocal translocation between the long arms of chromosomes 12 and 22 [t(12:22)(q13;q12.2)], characteristic for MMSP and not seen in cutaneous melanoma. Survival in MMSP has been correlated with tumor size, tumor necrosis, and ploidy status. Overall reported clinical outcome for this tumor is as follows: died of disease, 45%; alive with disease, 23%; no evidence of disease, 30%; and died of other causes, 2%. MMSP represents a distinct entity with a characteristic ultrastructural appearance and a tumor defining cytogenetic translocation.
Seeking Intersubjective Insight: Comments on William Rehg's Insight and Solidarity

through the grapevine that it was a very good book; that it did a masterful job in laying out Habermas's dense philosophical perspective; that it offered a coherent and compelling defense of some of Habermas's trickiest arguments; that it really pushed the field of discourse theory forward. This news made me very nervous. In a moment of cowardice and fatigue I decided to wrap up my manuscript and send it off to the publisher without reading the new book. William Rehg's book then sat on my shelf accusingly until the publishing point of no return at which point I picked it up and read it. The rumors had been right. In many ways I am glad I took the coward's route. There are so many moments in the book where one must acknowledge that here is the definitive statement on the issue that I might very well have been discouraged with in my own enterprise. But at a deeper and more im? portant level I missed a very great opportunity in not reading the book ear? lier. I missed the opportunity to engage in what Rehg calls "intersubjective insight."1 My first gut reaction to the book was based on the assumption that if it indeed contained the strong arguments that people said it contained, then this would undermine my confidence in my own arguments. Rehg points out that it is often the other way around: doubt results from insulating oneself from possible counter-arguments rather than confronting those arguments head on. Confidence in my own arguments is not a matter of deep, but essentially monological thought. Rather, it involves a process that takes place in the intersubjective spaces where arguments, reasons, answers, and questions meet. Confronting and engaging other people's ideas is to participate in rational cognition. I am happy that I now have the opportunity to pursue intersubjective in? sight in a dialogue with William Rehg and his important book. I have no deep or serious quarrels with Rehg, however. Instead, I plan to raise what might be called residual puzzles. There are a few things about discourse ethics that I
A microwave scattering model for ground-based remote sensing of snowfall and freezing rain

A microwave backscattering model for ground-based remote sensing of precipitation is developed and used to analyze back scattering measurements from snowfall and rain type precipitation. Backscattering from entire precipitation region is calculated by solving vector radiative transfer (VRT) equations. Geophysical parameters for rain or snow are determined by considering altitude and latent range. VRT equations are solved numerically by using matrix doubling method to take into account multiple-scattering effects. Results from model analyses agree well with measured radar data.
The control of gonorrhea by obstetricians and gynecologists

Abstract A questionnaire was mailed to all specialists practicing obstetrics-gynecology in two geographically remote metropolitan areas of comparable size. In one city routine culture for gonorrhea was performed by less than one-fifth of respondents, over one-fourth of diagnosed cases were unreported to the health department, and two-thirds of diagnosed patients had symptomatic infection. In the second city, where the Public Health Department had instituted a program of free culture media and microbiologic identification, half of responding physicians routinely cultured for gonorrhea, 93% of identified cases were reported, and half of diagnosed patients had asymptomatic infection. In both cities inappropriate therapy was given by nearly half of the respondents, and epidemiologic treatment was routinely used by less than half of the respondents. Data support the use of public health programs for diagnosis, and indicate that further physician education regarding appropriate individual and epidemiologic management are needed.
Neuroendocrine measures in psychiatric patients: Course and outcome with ECT

Measures of neuroendocrine function--plasma cortisol and its response to dexamethasone, and plasma thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and its response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)--were employed in 50 hospitalized male veteran psychiatric patients with diagnoses of unipolar or bipolar melancholia, secondary depression, or schizophrenia. Of 20 cases of unipolar melancholia, 17 (85%) exhibited hypercortisolism; 14 (70%) failed to suppress plasma cortisol after dexamethasone; and 4 (31%) of 13 tested had an abnormal TSH response to intravenous TRH. Two patients with secondary depression also exhibited hypercortisolism; no other patients evinced abnormal neuroendocrine test results. These measures were repeated in 14 unipolar depressed patients after a course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Improvement in psychopathology was directly related to normalization of measures of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) function. The TSH response to TRH was not systematically altered. After a followup period of 1 to 9 months, there was a good correlation between the measures of HPA function and the clinical outcome. These findings encourage further study of HPA function measures as outcome criteria for depressed patients receiving ECT.
Influence of sulfate on Fe-oxide formation; comparisons with a stream receiving acid mine drainage

An ochreous precipitate isolated from a stream receiving acid-sulfate mine drainage was found to consist primarily of goethite and lesser amounts of ferrihydrite-like materials. The Fe-oxide fraction, including goethite, was almost totally soluble in acid ammonium oxalate. Similar materials were produced in the laboratory by hydrolysis of ferric nitrate solutions containing 250 to 2000 μg/ml sulfate as Na2SO4. Initial precipitates of natrojarosite transformed to Fe-oxides upon aging for 30 days at pH 6.0. The proportion of goethite in the final products decreased with increasing sulfate (SO4/Fe = 0.2 to 1.8) in the initial hydrolysis solutions; only ferrihydrite-like materials were produced at SO4/Fe ratios > 1.5. Variations in SO4/Fe solution ratios also produced systematic changes in the color (10R to 7.5YR) and surface areas (49 to 310 m2/g) of the dried precipitates, even though total S contents were relatively constant at 2.5 to 4.0%.
Maximal cardiorespiratory responses to one- and two-legged cycling during acute and long-term exposure to 4300 meters altitude.

During exposure to altitudes greater than about 2200 m, maximal oxygen uptake (\(\dot V_{O_{2max} } \)) is immediately diminished in proportion to the reduction in the partial pressure of oxygen in the inspired air. If the exposure lasts longer than a couple of days, an increase in arterial oxygen content (CaO2), due to a hemoconcentration and an increase in arterial oxygen saturation, occurs. However, there is also a reduction in maximal cardiac output (\(\dot Q_{\max }\)) at altitude which offsets the increase in CaO2 and, therefore,\(\dot V_{O_{2max} } \) does not improve. The purpose of this investigation was to study the contribution of the increase in CaO2 to the working muscles without the potentially confounding problem of a reduced\(\dot Q_{\max }\). The approach used was to have seven male subjects (aged 17 to 24 years) perform one- and two-legged\(\dot V_{O_{2max} } \) tests on a cycle ergometer at sea level (SL, PIO2 = 159 Torr), after 1 h at 4300 m simulated altitude (SA, PIO2 = 94 Torr) and during two weeks of residence on the summit of Pikes Peak, CO. (pP, 4300 m, PIO2 = 94 Torr). Cardiac output limits maximal performance during two-legged cycling but does not limit performance during one-legged cycling. During the study, CaO2 changed from 189±3 (mean ±SE) at SL to 161±4 ml·L−1 during SA (SL vs. SA,p<0.01) and to 200±6 ml·L−1 at PP (SL vs. PP,p<0.05; SA vs. PP,p<0.01). Two-legged\(\dot V_{O_{2max} } \) decreased from 3.64±0.26 L·min−1 at SL to 2.70±0.14 L·min−1 during SA (p<0.01) to 2.86±0.16 L·min−1 at PP (p<0.01). One-legged\(\dot V_{O_{2max} } \) decreased from 2.95±0.22 at SL to 2.25±0.17 L·min−1 during SA (SL vs. SA,p<0.01) but improved to 2.66±0.18 L·min−1 at PP (SA vs. PP,p<0.05). Since only one-legged\(\dot V_{O_{2max} } \) increased as more oxygen was made available to the working muscles, the altitude-induced reduction in\(\dot Q_{\max }\) can be implicated as being responsible for the reduction in\(\dot V_{O_{2max} } \) during two-legged cycling.
Generalized susceptibility theory. V. The decorrelation approximation for the optical activity of helical polymers

Abstract An earlier linear response formulation of the optical activity of long helical polymers is extended to include a more detailed analysis of contributions for light incident perpendicular to the helix axis. Because of helical symmetry and exciton selection rules for periodic boundary conditions, one of the principles terms (the radial term) resulting from this anlaysis assumes a simple form in terms of components of the linear response tensor. Both the radial and the helix term (for light propagating along the helix axis) are expressed in closed form, in terms of monomer interactions, by use of the decorrelation approximation (equivalent to the random phase or time-dependent Hartree approximation). The resulting expressions are amenable both to calculation and to analysis of the role of geometry in determining optical activity.
Accretionary history of the Archean Barberton Greenstone Belt (3.55-3.22 Ga), southern Africa

The 3.55-3.22 Ga Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa and Swaziland, and surrounding coeval plutons can be divided into four tectono-stratigraphic blocks that become younger toward the northwest. Each block formed through early mafic to ultramafic volcanism (Onverwacht Group), probably in oceanic extensional, island, or plateau settings. Volcanism was followed by magmatic quiescence and deposition of fine-grained sediments, possibly in an intraplate setting. Late evolution involved underplating of the mafic crust by tonalitic intrusions along a subduction-related magmatic arc, yielding a thickened, buoyant protocontinental block. The growth of larger continental domains occurred both through magmatic accretion, as new protocontinental blocks developed along the margins of older blocks, and when previously separate blocks were amalgamated through tectonic accretion. Evolution of the Barberton Belt may reflect an Early Archean plate tectonic cycle that characterized a world with few or no large, stabilized blocks of sialic crust.
Minimum Energy Path Diffusion Monte Carlo Approach for Investigating Anharmonic Quantum Effects: Applications to the CH3+ + H2 Reaction

A method for evaluating anharmonic corrections to energies along a minimum energy path is developed and described. The approach is based upon the Diffusion Monte Carlo theory as initially developed by Anderson. Diffusion Monte Carlo has been shown to be effective for evaluating the ground-state properties of highly anharmonic systems. By using Jacobi coordinates, the evaluation of anharmonic corrections to the energies along a minimum energy path are straightforward to implement using Diffusion Monte Carlo. In this work, the CH3+ + H2 → CH5+ reaction and its singly deuterated analogues are investigated. In addition to exploring how the energetics of this reaction change upon partial deuteration, projections of the probability amplitude onto various internal coordinates are evaluated and used to provide a quantum mechanical description of how deuteration affects the orientation of the two fragments as they combine to form the CH4D+ molecular ion.
Balloon angioplasty of native coarctation of the aorta in infants and neonates: is it worth the hassle?

Balloon angioplasty (BA) for native coarctation of the aorta (CA) in infants and neonates remains controversial with a high incidence of restenosis. The purpose of this study is to analyze our acute and midterm results for BA of native CA in infants and neonates and try to identify factors that may be predictive of outcome. Between September 1991 and June 1999, 17 patients with CA underwent BA at a median age of 3 months (range 2 weeks–9 months) and median weight of 4.8 kg (range 2.8–7 kg). Fourteen patients had discrete CA and 3 had tubular hypoplasia. All patients were hemodynamically stable prior to BA and no patients had critical coarctation requiring prostaglandin E1 infusion to maintain ductus arteriosus patency. Seven patients had other associated cardiac defects. All patients had significant initial improvement. The mean peak systolic gradient across the CA improved from 43 ± 15 mmHg to 10 ± 8 mmHg (p < 0.001), and the mean minimum diameter of the aortic lumen increased from 2.4 ± 0.9 mm to 5.2 ± 1.0 mm (p < 0.001). There was no mortality or major complication. At median follow-up interval of 2.7 years (0.15–7.75 years), 10 (59%) of 17 patients are clinically well and have an upper to lower limb systolic blood pressure difference of <20 mmHg. Seven (41%) of 17 patients developed significant restenosis (5 of these patients underwent repeat BA, which was successful in 3 patients). Four (24%) patients underwent surgical repair at a median age of 4.5 months (3–6.9 months) and a median time interval of 4 months (2–6.5 months) from the initial BA. All 3 patients with tubular hypoplasia type of CA underwent surgical repair. No patients developed aortic aneurysm following initial or repeat BA. All patients who underwent surgical repair were 1 month or less in age at the time of their initial BA. We conclude that BA of native CA in infants and neonates can be performed safely with low mortality and morbidity. It appears to offer the best results in patients who are older than 1 month with discrete CA and a well-developed aortic arch. Further restenosis of the discrete CA can be managed successfully by repeat BA.
Medical expulsive therapy in a tertiary care emergency department.

Objective To assess the extent of Medical expulsive therapy (MET) use and practice patterns in our tertiary care emergency department. MET is the first-line intervention for select symptomatic urolithiasis recommended by the American Urological Association and supported by clinical trials investigating its efficacy. Nonetheless, MET is not always prescribed in the emergency department setting for symptomatic patients with ureteral stones. Methods Using the “International Classification of Diseases” diagnostic codes, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all emergency department patients treated for urolithiasis at our institution from January to December 2008. Abstracted patient data included demographic and medically relevant information; MET use was determined by reviewing the electronic prescriptions at discharge. Results Of 165 patients identified with a diagnosis of renal colic owing to urolithiasis, 23 were excluded for suspected stone passage or failure to document a stone on cross-sectional imaging. Most (138 [97%] of 142) of the remaining patients met the criteria for outpatient treatment of symptomatic stone episodes and were eligible for MET. Urology consultation was requested in 19 outpatients (13%), and MET was prescribed for most (14 [73.7%] of 19). Of the 119 patients seen by an emergency department physician without urologic input and discharged, 17 (14%) received MET. Overall, tamsulosin was prescribed to 31 (22%) of 138 stone episodes treated with an outpatient trial of passage. Conclusion The underusage of tamsulosin in the emergency department of our institution highlights the need for educational interventions to improve the quality and cost of emergent patient care.
NSSD releases version 1.0 of the NSSDC Graphics System (NGS)

Pictorial or visual representations of data are critical to understanding those data, particularly in support of correlative data investigations. This is a concept that the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC) has recognized for several years and that has begun to grow in importance among the scientific community at large recently. The National Science Foundation's report, Visualization in Scientific Computing (July 1987) has a succinct discussion of the idea.
Facets of mindfulness mediate behavioral inhibition systems and emotion dysregulation

Behavioral motivation is regulated through the behavioral inhibition system (BIS) and the behavioral approach system (BAS), which underlie responses to emotional stimuli and are thought to influence emotion dysregulation. Research shows that mindfulness may increase the efficacy of emotion regulation among those with psychological symptoms, but the relationships between behavioral motivation and mindfulness have been only minimally explored. This study examines relationships between behavioral motivation systems and emotion dysregulation as mediated by mindfulness facets. Mediation was tested in a sample of 246 college students (Mage = 19.28, 61.8% female, 81.3% Caucasian) using a multiple mediator bootstrapping method. Results revealed an indirect relationship between BIS sensitivity and increased emotion dysregulation through underutilization of three distinct mindfulness skills: act with awareness, non-judging, and non-reactivity. Mindfulness facets did not mediate relationships between BAS sensitivity and emotion dysregulation, though BAS Reward Responsiveness directly predicted increased emotion dysregulation while BAS Drive was marginally associated with decreased emotion dysregulation. Findings delineate specific relationships between BIS/BAS, mindfulness skills, and emotion dysregulation while suggesting mindfulness training may be useful for BIS sensitive individuals.
Have State and Local Fiscal Policies Become More Alike? Evidence of Beta Convergence Among Fiscal Policy Variables

This article examines the convergence of state and local fiscal policies among the United States. Based on the standard assumptions of the neoclassical growth model with a public sector, it is shown that state and local fiscal policies have indeed converged over the past 20 years, at a rate substantially faster than real per capita gross state product. These results are contradictory to the Tiebout hypothesis.
Emergency General Surgery in the Elderly: Too Old or Too Frail?

Background Assessment of operative risk in geriatric patients undergoing emergency general surgery (EGS) is challenging. Frailty is an established measure for risk assessment in elective surgical cases. Emerging literature suggests the superiority of frailty measurements to chronological age in predicting outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the outcomes in elderly patients undergoing EGS using an established Rockwood frailty index. Study Design We prospectively measured preadmission frailty in all geriatric (aged 65 years and older) patients undergoing EGS at our institution during a 2-year period. Frailty index (FI) was calculated using the modified 50-variable Rockwood Preadmission FI. Frail patients were defined by FI ≥ 0.25. Outcomes measures were in-hospital complications, development of major complications, and mortality. Multivariate regression analysis was performed. Results A total of 220 patients were enrolled, of which 82 (37%) were frail. Frailty index score did not correlate with age ( R = 0.64; R 2 = 0.53; p = 0.1) and poorly correlated with American Society of Anesthesiologists score ( R = 0.51; R 2 = 0.44; p = 0.045). Thirty-five percent (n = 77) of patients had postoperative complications and 19% (n = 42) had major complications. Frailty index was an independent predictor for development of in-hospital complications (odds ratio = 2.13; 95% CI, 1.09-4.16; p = 0.02) and major complications (odds ratio = 3.87; 95% CI, 1.69-8.84; p = 0.001). Age and American Society of Anesthesiologists score were not predictive of postoperative and major complications. Our FI model had 80% sensitivity, 72% specificity, and area under the curve of 0.75 in predicting complications in geriatric patients undergoing EGS. The overall mortality rate was 3.2% (n = 7) and all patients who died were frail. Conclusions Frailty index independently predicts postoperative complications, major complications, and hospital length of stay in elderly patients undergoing emergency general surgery. Use of FI will provide insight into the hospital course of elderly patients, allowing for identification of patients in need and more efficient allocation of hospital resources.
Copper(I)/TEMPO-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes with ambient air

This protocol describes a practical laboratory-scale method for aerobic oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes, using a chemoselective Cu(I)/TEMPO (TEMPO = 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxyl) catalyst system. The catalyst is prepared in situ from commercially available reagents, and the reactions are performed in a common organic solvent (acetonitrile) with ambient air as the oxidant. Three different reaction conditions and three procedures for the isolation and purification of the aldehyde product are presented. The oxidations of eight different alcohols, described here, include representative examples of each reaction condition and purification method. Reaction times vary from 20 min to 24 h, depending on the alcohol, whereas the purification methods each take about 2 h. The total time necessary for the complete protocol ranges from 3 to 26 h.
Anorexia nervosa. A study of outcome discriminators in exclusive dieters and bulimics.

Differences between bulimic anorectics and exclusive dieting anorectics were determined on both pretreatment and 1-year follow-up on the same assessment scales. At the time of follow-up there was no significant difference in the mean weights between the groups, however, there was a large within group weight variation. During pretreatment the exclusive dieters were significantly more depressed than the bulimics. This finding persisted at the time of the 1-year follow-up. The bulimics retained a greater sensitivity on interpersonal matters and remained more preoccupied with somatic complaints at the follow-up. Psychotic factors on two assessments discriminated bulimics from exclusive dieters at follow-up. Although there was considerable within group heterogeneity of signs and symptoms, the bulimics seem to be a more chaotic group with personality disorder features of lying, “psychotic tendencies,” and stressed interpersonal relationships.
Anthrax toxin: can a little be a good thing?

Abstract The secreted lethal toxin produced by Bacillus anthracis is a major virulence factor associated with anthrax. Therefore, understanding how this lethal toxin induces death in the host and how the host responds at the cellular level are major areas of interest. To this end, a surprising new finding reports that murine macrophages can become resistant to lethal toxin through a mechanism coined ‘toxin-induced resistance' or TIR.
Learning verb argument structure from minimally annotated corpora

In this paper we investigate the task of automatically identifying the correct argument structure for a set of verbs. The argument structure of a verb allows us to predict the relationship between the syntactic arguments of a verb and their role in the underlying lexical semantics of the verb. Following the method described in (Merlo and Stevenson, 2001), we exploit the distributions of some selected features from the local context of a verb. These features were extracted from a 23M word WSJ corpus based on part-of-speech tags and phrasal chunks alone. We constructed several decision tree classifiers trained on this data. The best performing classifier achieved an error rate of 33.4%. This work shows that a subcategorization frame (SF) learning algorithm previously applied to Czech (Sarkar and Zeman, 2000) is used to extract SFs in English. The extracted SFs are evaluated by classifying verbs into verb alternation classes.
AlGaN/GaN ohmic contact resistance variations across epitaxial suppliers

Abstract Six AlGaN/GaN epitaxy suppliers grew their standard films on SiC substrates as deliverables for Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA’s) “Wide Bandgap Technology Initiative”. An ohmic contact study was performed to determine an optimum process for each supplier and to study the impact of growth conditions on contact resistance. On each wafer four metal stacks were evaporated, with one being the epitaxial supplier’s proprietary stack. The wafers were diced and alloyed using AFRL’s standard conditions and the epitaxial supplier’s condition. The optimal metal stack was found for each wafer and yielded contact resistances lower than 1 Ω mm. However, each wafer required a different metal stack in order to achieve the lowest contact resistance, which indicates that growth conditions can have a large impact on ohmic contact results. The molybdenum (Mo) based ohmic contacts showed little variation from sample to sample and produced marginally acceptable ohmic contact values across all material suppliers. The Mo based contacts show potential for optimization as a generic ohmic contact that is not dependent on the growth conditions of the material.
The role of radiation therapy in the treatment of head and neck cutaneous melanoma

Abstract Introduction: This study was undertaken to elucidate the efficacy of external beam irradiation in the treatment of head and neck malignant melanoma, in comparison with the efficacy of surgical excision and the efficacy of surgical excision combined with external beam irradiation. Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review of all patients seen at the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of California at Los Angeles Medical Center with the diagnosis of head and neck melanoma from 1973 to 1992 was conducted. Using χ2 analysis, survival rates were examined for patients treated with excision alone, irradiation alone, and both excision and irradiation. Results: Patients were treated with primary excision (96%), salvage excision for recurrent or residual disease (47%), primary irradiation (9%), post-surgical-planned irradiation (22%), adjuvant chemotherapy (45%), and adjuvant immunotherapy (36%). The overall survival rate for the entire group was 29%. For patients with recurrent or regional disease, survival rates were 37% for those treated with excision in combination with irradiation, 20% for those treated with irradiation alone, and 19% for those treated with excision. Whereas the differences among groups were not statistically significant, the biologic implication is that external beam irradiation is effective in controlling regional disease, since the tumors treated with irradiation alone or excision in combination with irradiation were larger and more aggressive than those treated with excision alone. Conclusion: External beam irradiation is of benefit in treating patients with melanoma who are ineligible for salvage surgery or as an adjunctive modality in situations where the risk of racurrence is high.
Effect of high-level copper feeding on the sulfur amino acid need of chicks fed corn-soybean meal and purified crystalline amino acid diets.

Supplementation of a corn-soybean meal diet with .05% methionine maximized gain and feed efficiency of three-week-old chicks fed copper at either 0 or 250 mg/kg. With copper present at 500 mg/kg, the supplemental methionine requirement was in excess of .10%. Liver copper stores of chicks fed copper at 250 mg/kg declined linearly as supplemental methionine level increased, but methionine level had no effect on liver copper when chicks were fed 500 mg/kg copper. Liver copper accumulation did not occur in chicks fed 250 mg/kg copper when supplemental sulfur was provided as a combination of .05% methionine and 1800 mg/kg sulfide. Irrespective of methionine level, sulfide addition reduced liver copper by one-half in birds fed 500 mg/kg copper. Chicks fed the purified diet were appreciably more susceptible to copper toxicity than those fed the corn-soybean meal diet. Chicks fed the purified diet without supplemental copper required .52% sulfur amino acids (SAA). Chicks fed copper at 250 and 500 mg/kg required .65 and .70 SAA, respectively, although gain and feed efficiency were still depressed when compared with the performance of the control birds. Higher levels of methionine failed to restore growth rates to those achieved with birds fed no supplemental copper. Supplementing the copper-containing diets with up to 1.6% cystine improved performance some but failed to completely overcome the growth depressing effect of copper at 500 mg/kg. Results of additional studies indicated that the purified diet containing .70% SAA and 500 mg/kg copper was nutritionally adequate and that the marked toxicity of copper when fed in the purified diet was due to the chemical nature of the diet rather than to any specific copper-induced nutritional deficiencies.