cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Symbiotic Parasites and Mutualistic Pathogens

In perhaps no other system are mutualists and antagonists known to be so closely related as in the fungal family, Clavicipitaceae. Its type species is the infamous ergot fungus, Claviceps purpurea, dreaded throughout history as a deadly contaminant of grains. This and related fungi produce ergot alkaloids, and in the hallucinogenic 1960’s a modified ergot alkaloid became a popular symbol of the counter culture. Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a potent psychotropic agent, but its natural relatives, the ergopeptines, are also gruesome killers. Claviceps purpurea produces large amounts of ergotamine and other ergopeptines concentrated in its sclerotia, the resting structures that are also known as ergots (Tudzynski et al 1995). The fungus infects florets of grasses, including grain crops such as rye, and produces ergots as marvelous mimics of the seeds they replace. Historically the ergots were difficult to remove from the grain because of their similar size and density. In modern times ingenious methods are employed to remove the ergots automatically. Still, C. purpurea remains important as a source of ergot alkaloids for legitimate medical use (Rehâcek 1991), and as the exemplar of a fascinating group of fungi. Other genera in the family Clavicipitaceae also produce ergot alkaloids and numerous other metabolites with potent biological properties (Porter 1994), but they do so continuously while hiding in plain sight. These are symbionts of grasses and sedges that live perennially in their hosts, give little or no outward sign of their presence, and often provide great benefits as agents of biological protection from insects, vertebrate herbivores, fungal pathogens, parasitic nematodes and even drought. The best studied for their beneficial effects on grasses are Epichloe species and their asexual derivatives, the Neotyphodium species. This chapter discusses the plant-associated Clavicipitaceae with emphasis on the mutualistic species and their closest relatives.
A simple way to determine nonspecific effects of plasma and serum components in radioreceptor assays and radioimmunoassays for human chorionic gonadotropin

A simple approach is validated for the determination of nonspecific effects of human plasma and serum in the radioreceptor assays and radioimmunoassays for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The approach is based on the findings that, despite differences in the degree of inhibition of 125 I-hCG binding to its receptors and antibodies by nonhormonal components in different dilutions of pool plasma and serum, the standard curves (plotted as the percentage of control for each serum or plasma dilution) are superimposable. The approach consists of (1) running a single standard curve with no pool plasma or serum, (2) including a set of "correction" tubes which contain pool plasma or serum diluted correspondingly to the dilution of the unknown samples in the assay, (3) dividing the counts per minute found in the correction tubes into the counts per minute of the unknown samples and multiplying by 100, and (4) using this value to obtain the amount of hCG in the unknown samples by comparison with the no pool plasma or serum standard curve.
Clemens’ Retrial Yields Possibility of Jury Nullification

As the lengthy retrial in the Roger Clemens perjury case proceeds, attorneys for both sides have already wrestled with what may be their most critical, yet difficult, task: selection of a neutral jury. Predictably, this case has garnered a slew of media coverage already, and a host of ancillary factors has placed additional significance on this selection process. Finding a neutral panel proved to be an arduous task in this case, particularly with former and prospective jurors publically questioning whether the entire trial is a waste of time and resources, and in light of the nature of the crimes charged against a man of Clemens’ stature. This accumulation of circumstances has propagated an increased likelihood of jury nullification.
Tamoxifen Should be Cost-Effective in Reducing Breast Cancer Risk in High-Risk Women

PURPOSE: To estimate the cost-effectiveness of tamoxifen in the prevention of breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical trial results of National Surgical Adjuvant Breast Program P−1 compared tamoxifen versus placebo in the prevention of breast cancer, and direct medical care costs were estimated from the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research and local sources. The base estimate of effectiveness included all women on the trial. RESULTS: For every 100 women treated for 5 years, 1.665 expected cancers would not be detected. If breast cancer death is fully prevented by this strategy, then the cost-effectiveness of tamoxifen compared with no intervention is $8,479 per additional year of life gained. If lifetime prevention of the risk of death from breast cancer exceeded 17%, then the cost-effectiveness ratio would be less than $50,000 per year of life gained (a common benchmark). CONCLUSIONS: Tamoxifen for breast cancer prevention should be cost-effective under nearly all circumstances. Its use will ...
The association of sugar-sweetened beverage intake during infancy with sugar-sweetened beverage intake at six years of age (811.16)

Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake is associated with adverse health consequences including obesity and dental caries. Due to limited information on associations between SSB intake during infanc...
Meteoritics: how to make a chondrule.

Chondrules, the stony, seed-like grains in meteorites, were formed when some event melted rock in the solar nebula. The latest analyses narrow the possible 'when', 'where' and 'how' of that process.
II. Epitope specific induction of proteinuria by monoclonal antibodies

II. Epitope specific induction of proteinuria by monoclonal antibodies. A monoclonal antibody, K9/9, directed against a novel epithelial cell surface sialo-glycoprotein, SGP-115/107, present in the rat glomerulus, has been shown to induce glomerular epithelial cell effacement and retraction, and an increase in protein excretion rate upon in vivo administration. Such damage is not seen upon administration of two additional monoclonal antibodies that recognize this epithelial cell antigen, but with different epitope specificities. To further clarify the mechanism of the epithelial cell abnormality, in vitro studies were performed on glomerular epithelial cells established in primary culture. None of these antibodies alone appeared to induce alterations in the cultured cells. However, an antibody of the IgG 2a isotype induced complement-dependent cell damage in vitro, although failed to be pathogenic when administered in the intact animal. The pathogenic potential of K9/9 cannot be attributed to its isotype or rates of association or dissociation from the antigen. Studies suggest that all three monoclonal antibodies recognize different, though spatially close epitopes on SGP-115/107. These results demonstrate, for the first time, a complement- and leukocyte-independent mechanism of tissue injury that results from an epitope-specific interaction between a monoclonal antibody and its specific, epithelial cell surface-antigen. Results obtained in other cell systems suggest that abnormalities of epithelial cell structure and function can result from the interaction between specific cell surface components, particularly growth factor receptors, and monoclonal antibodies that mimic the actions of the specific agonist.
Familiarity Doesn't Breed Contempt: A Rejoinder to "Comment"

1. A high concentration ofAfrican Americans in a white voter's parish did not, on average, increase the probability the voter would support Duke. 2. An urban white s probability of voting for Duke decreased, on average, as proximity to African Americans increased. 3. The bulk of David Duke s support came from urbanized areas, especially suburbs, that were once thought to have little interest in such candidates.
INFLUENCES ON THE ADOPTION OF NEW PHARMACEUTICAL TECHNOLOGIES: THE EXAMPLE OF THE FENTANYL PATCH

ABSTRACTLittle documentation exists in the scientific literature on the introduction of new technologies in health care, especially for pharmaceuticals. Few adequate databases are available to be mined, and the methodologies are often outmoded. Thus, the past literature may be incomplete or misleading since important changes have occurred in the pharmaceutical industry and in its marketing strategies over the last decade. These changes include the advent of direct-to-consumer advertising, the lessening of reliance upon professional journal ads, the expansion of the ranks of manufacturers' detail representatives, and use of “value-added” inducements to large purchasing groups.A study utilizing the triplicate prescription control program data was analyzed with the Bass model, from the field of marketing, to examine as an example of a new pharmaceutical diffusion, the fentanyl patch. Estimates of the relative importance of the interpersonal influence and the external influences (e.g., mass media advertisemen...
Assessing the impact of power rate limitation based wind control strategy

With the DOE 20% by 2030 scenario for wind capacity, wind penetration is on the rise, and intermittency of this energy resource must be addressed since it hurts grid reliability and increases ancillary service needs. To cope with the rising variability, this study analyzed the effects of wind control, specifically absolute power rate limitation (ramping control). A ramping constraint was modeled to cap the increase in energy output of a wind generation unit for a minute interval, simulated using the IEEE 24 bus system. Results of this study include a decrease in variability of the wind output, a decrease in the ancillary service regulation requirement, a decrease in the production cost of the system, a decrease in de-commitments of coal-fired power plants, and a decrease in cycling cost of the system.
The IgG subclass specificity of anti IgG immunoglobulin rheumatoid factors

19S IgM anti-IgG immunoglobulin rheumatoid factors, isolated from the sera of two patients with rheumatoid arthritis, were reacted with 7S myeloma IgG globulins of four subclasses in a direct non precipitating reaction. IgG myelomas of subclasses 1, 2 and 4 reacted with equal binding constant (K0 = 1−3 × 105 L/M) whereas IgG myelomas of subclass 3 showed no observable reaction with either of these RF preparations.
Endometriosis: Still tough to diagnose and treat

Endometriosis is a chronic disease that may have life-altering implications such as chronic pelvic pain and infertility. The following review will familiarize the practicing physician with available therapies to maintain and enhance reproductive potential and control pelvic pain in women with endometriosis.
The developmental reduction of the marsupial coracoid: a case study in Monodelphis domestica.

During their embryogenesis, marsupials develop a unique structure, the shoulder arch, which provides the structural and muscle-attachment support necessary for the newborn's crawl to the teat. One of the most pronounced and important aspects of the shoulder arch is an enlarged coracoid. After marsupial newborns reach the teat, the shoulder arch is remodeled and the coracoid is reduced to a small process on the scapula. Although an understanding of marsupial coracoid reduction has the potential to provide insights into both, marsupial evolution and the origin of mammals, little is known about the morphological and cellular processes controlling this process. To remedy this situation, this study examined the morphological and cellular mechanisms behind coracoid reduction in the gray short-tailed opossum, Monodelphis domestica. A quantitative, morphometric study of shoulder girdle development revealed that the coracoid is reduced in size relative to other aspects of the shoulder girdle by growing at a slower rate. Using a series of molecular assays for cell death, no evidence was found for programmed cell death playing a role in the reduction of coracoid size in marsupials (in contrast to hypotheses of previous researchers). Although it is likely the case that coracoid growth is reduced through a relatively lower rate of cellular proliferation, differences in proliferative rates in the coracoid and scapula were not great enough to be quantified using standard molecular assays. J. Morphol., 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Granulomatous interstitial nephritis in a patient with Crohn's disease

Granulomatous interstitial nephritis (GIN) is an uncommon disorder, previously documented in the literature in asso-ciation with sarcoidosis, multiple medications, and infection. The coexistence of GIN and Crohn's disease has rarely been reported, and its true incidence is unknown. We describe a young female with Crohn's disease who was found to have an elevated serum creatinine with a normal urinalysis and autoimmune work-up. Kidney biopsy revealed granulomatous interstitial nephritis. She was treated with corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, and mycophenolate mofetil. Her kidney function remains stable 2 years after diagnosis. This case report highlights the diagnosis and explores a novel treatment regimen.
Simultaneous foreground, background, and alpha estimation for image matting

Image matting is the process of extracting a soft segmentation of an object in an image as defined by the matting equation. Most current techniques focus largely on computing the alpha values of unknown pixels and treat computation of the foreground and background colors as an afterthought, if at all. However, for many applications, such as compositing an object into a new scene or deleting an object from the scene, the foreground and background colors are vital for an acceptable answer. We propose a method of solving for the foreground, background, and alpha of an unknown region in an image simultaneously. This allows for novel constraints to be placed directly on the foreground and background as well as on alpha. We show through both visual results and quantitative measurements on standard datasets that this approach produces more accurate foreground and background values at each pixel while maintaining competitive results on the alpha matte.
Prenatal diagnosis of congenital diaphragmatic hernia not amenable to prenatal or neonatal repair: Brachmann‐de Lange syndrome

Brachmann-de Lange syndrome (BDLS) is a variable multiple congenital anomaly syndrome that occasionally includes congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). CDH per se is commonly diagnosed antenatally and has been corrected with increasing success in utero and by neonatal repair with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). In utero repair requires normal karyotype as well as the absence of other lethal anomalies. Postnatal repair in combination with ECMO has resulted in improved neonatal outcome and has been recommended in all cases not having in utero repair. We describe a fetus diagnosed with a diaphragmatic hernia at 18 weeks of gestation in a woman whose only other pregnancy has been a 16 week abortus diagnosed with Fryns syndrome (FS). FS is a lethal, variable congenital anomaly syndrome that includes CDH, which is thought to contribute to the lethality of the syndrome. In utero repair was considered, but rejected because of the position of the liver and suspected FS. The patient elected to carry the pregnancy to term. Postnatal repair with ECMO was considered; however, the infant died at several hours of age because of severe pulmonary hypoplasia, being considered ineligible for ECMO. The diagnosis of BDLS was made at autopsy and suggests that the first case may, in fact, have been BDLS. In spite of recent success in the repair of CDH both in et ex utero, CDH in association with BDLS is likely lethal, and women with fetuses diagnosed antenatally with CDH and BDLS should be counseled as such.
Efficacy of antihypertensive medication in orthotopic heart transplant recipients and its effect on renal function.

The authors looked at 77 patients following orthotopic heart transplant who received a triple immunosuppressive regimen including cyclosporine to see the effect of various antihypertensive medications on mean arterial blood pressure and renal function. There were 62 men and 15 women retrospectively classified into three groups according to the antihypertensive medications they received. Group 1 included 26 patients followed up for 10.7 ± 2.7 months who received hydralazine therapy. Group 2 included 32 patients followed up for 9.0 ± 3.4 months who received angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition therapy. Group 3 included 19 patients followed up for 10.1 ± 3.3 months who received beta- adrenergic blocking agents. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine (CR) were determined for each group at the start and end of the follow-up period. The MAP at the start of the study was 107 ± 14 in group 1,110 ± 13 in group 2, and 100 ± 11 in group 3. It was not statistically sig...
Hot-swapping robot task goals in reactive formal synthesis

We consider the problem of synthesizing robot controllers to realize a task that unpredictably changes with time. Tasks are formally expressed in the GR(1) fragment of temporal logic, in which some of the variables are set by an adversary. The task changes by the addition or removal of goals, which occurs online (i.e., at run-time). We present an algorithm for mending control strategies to realize tasks after the addition of goals, while avoiding global re-synthesis of the strategy. Experiments are presented for a planar surveillance task in which new regions of interest are incrementally added. Run-times are empirically shown to be favorable compared to re-synthesizing from scratch. We also present an algorithm for mending control strategies for the removal of goals. While in this setting the original strategy is still feasible, our algorithm provides a more satisfying solution by “tightening loose ends.” Both algorithms are shown to yield so-called reach annotations, and thus the control strategies are easily amenable to other algorithms concerning incremental synthesis, e.g., as in previous work by the authors for navigation in uncertain environments.
DFT Investigation of the Interaction of Gold Nanoclusters with Nucleic Acid Base Guanine and the Watson−Crick Guanine-Cytosine Base Pair

The interaction of gold nanoclusters (Aun, n = 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12) with nucleic acid purine base guanine (G) and the Watson−Crick guanine-cytosine (GC) base pair through the major groove site (N7 site of guanine) of DNA was investigated theoretically. Geometries of complexes were optimized at the density functional theory (DFT) level employing the hybrid B3LYP functional. The 6-31G(d) basis set was used for all atoms except gold, for which the LANL2DZ effective core potential (ECP) was used. Natural population analysis was performed to determine NBO charges. The vertical first ionization potential and electron affinity of guanine and the guanine-cytosine base pair and their complexes with gold nanoclusters were also analyzed. It was revealed that gold clusters interact more strongly with the GC base pair than with isolated guanine. It was found that consequent to the binding of gold nanoclusters a substantial amount of electronic charge was transferred from guanine (or the guanine-cytosine base pair) to t...
Family members' experiences with the nursing home placement of an older adult

Although there is substantial literature available on a variety of aspects of nursing home placement, relatively little is known about the experiences of family members confronted with this challenge. This study involved in-depth interviews with nine adult family members within 2 weeks of the relocation of the older adult relative. Factors related to recognition of the need for placement, selection of a facility, managing the relocation, and effects of placement on the family decision-makers were explored. Results have significant implications for nursing practice related to the lack of advanced planning, needs for time and information, and supportive interventions.
Event valence and spatial metaphors of time

Recent research suggests that people's understanding of the abstract domain of time is dependent on the more concrete domain of space. Boroditsky and Ramscar (2002) found that spatial context influences whether people see themselves as moving through time (ego-moving perspective) or as time moving towards them (time-moving perspective). Based on studies of the embodiment of affective experience, we examined whether affect might also influence which spatial metaphor of time people adopt. The results of Experiments 1 and 2 showed that participants who imagined a negative event were more likely to report that the event was approaching them, whereas those who imagined a positive event were more likely to report that they were approaching the event. Experiments 3a and 3b showed that participants judge an event to be more positive if it is described from the ego-moving perspective than if it is described from the time-moving perspective. Results from these studies provide initial evidence that positive and nega...
Dialysis and nutrition practices in Korean hemodialysis centers

Abstract Objective: Survey the dialysis practices and nutritional status–related patient characteristics. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: Twenty-eight randomly selected Korean hemodialysis facilities. Methods: Medical record review of 140 randomly selected patients in 28 Korean dialysis facilities. The Student t test and chi-square tests were used to compare facility types and locations. Results: The mean number of dialysis treatments per week was 2.7 ± 0.4. Mean dialysis treatment length was 253 ± 27.5 minutes. Rural dialysis centers reported fewer treatments per week and shorter dialysis treatment times than did urban centers but, otherwise, there were few differences by either location (urban v rural) or by facility type (hospital affiliated v freestanding facility). The mean age of the patients surveyed by record review was 51 ± 14 years, and 59% of the patients were men. The primary causes of end-stage renal disease were chronic glomerulonephritis, hypertension, and diabetes. Average vintage of dialysis was 53 ± 46 months. Adequacy of dialysis was usually assessed by using clinical judgment; urea kinetic modeling and urea reduction ratios were used less frequently. Patients' mean body mass index was 20.7 ± 2.3, which was at the lower end of the healthy range of 18.5 to 25, and most (93%) of their weights had been stable over the previous 6 months. Their mean serum albumin level was 4.0 ± 0.4 g/dL. Forty-two percent of patients used iron supplements and 68% of them received erythropoietin treatment. However, their mean hematocrit levels were only 25.9% ± 4.2%, suggesting that iron supplements were underused or erythropoietin doses were lower than optimal. Virtually all patients (94%) had received initial diet instruction but few (6%) received follow-up nutrition counseling. Conclusion: Greater attention to dialysis adequacy, hematocrit levels, nutrition assessment, weight monitoring, and diet therapy are recommended. © 2002 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.
From bondage to contract

In the era of slave emancipation no ideal of freedom had greater power than that of contract. The antislavery claim was that the negation of chattel status lay in the contracts of wage labor and marriage. Signifying self-ownership, volition, and reciprocal exchange among formally equal individuals, contract became the dominant metaphor for social relations and the very symbol of freedom. This 1999 book explores how a generation of American thinkers and reformers - abolitionists, former slaves, feminists, labor advocates, jurists, moralists, and social scientists - drew on contract to condemn the evils of chattel slavery as well as to measure the virtues of free society. Their arguments over the meaning of slavery and freedom were grounded in changing circumstances of labor and home life on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line. At the heart of these arguments lay the problem of defining which realms of self and social existence could be rendered market commodities and which could not.
Texas licensing of software engineers: all's quiet, for now

The notion of licensing software engineers has been weighed and argued on global, national, and statewide platforms for many years. Here, we go to the frontlines---Texas and Canada---where the practice of licensing is in fact well under way. Sentiments may not have mellowed regarding this subject, but the perspectives we present here are based on real experiences.
FDA'S INSPECTIONS OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATORS

The FDA's recently revised compliance program for inspections of clinical investigators now focuses on determining authority to control the clinical studies and responsibility for administration of every aspect of the trial. During these inspections, we compare raw data with case record forms and in the converse, case record forms with raw data. We look for drug accountability; adherence by the clinical investigator to the protocol, IRB approvals, and notification of study progress; informed consent; and proper reporting of adverse experiences. The revised compliance program enables FDA to conduct inspections of clinical investigators and to audit clinical studies to determine if the agency can place reliance on the integrity of reported study data.
Beta‐adrenergic blockers in mental retardation and developmental disabilities

Beta-adrenergic-blocking medications have been hypothesized to benefit persons with a wide variety of neuropsychiatric disorders. Research supports their use in only three areas, however: anxiety disorders with prominent physiological signs, impulsive aggression, and neuroleptic-induced akathisia (NIA). Except for NIA, beta blockers are best used adjunctively, and cannot be considered treatments of choice as monotherapy. These guidelines are applicable to individuals with intellectual disability and psychiatric illness as well, and beta blockers are generally effective and well tolerated in these persons. Nadolol, a hydrophilic beta blocker, may be preferable for anxiety, whereas propranolol and metoprolol (lipophilic) are more beneficial in treating aggression and NIA. MRDD Research Reviews 1999;5:290–298. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Relation of atrial pressure and plasma level of atrial natriuretic factor in cardiac tamponade

Abstract There has been a great deal of interest in the factors that stimulate secretion of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) since its discovery in membrane-bound granules of atrial myocardial cells. 1,2 It is known that chronically elevated atrial pressures are associated with elevated plasma levels of ANF. 3–5 In addition, it has been shown that acute elevation of right and left atrial pressures produces a corresponding increase in ANF level. 6,7 In vitro work using isolated atria has demonstrated that stretching the atria by increasing tension results in an increased release of ANF. 8 To assess the effect of acute change in transmural atrial pressure on plasma level of ANF in humans, we measured ANF levels before and immediately after pericardiocentesis in 13 patients with pericardial effusion.
The lack of nurse-infant transmission of type Bhepatitis in a special care nursery

Twenty-four infants cared for by a nurse who developed acute type B hepatitis with HBsAg present in herserum and saliva were examined for serologic evidence of hepatitis B virus transmission. None of the infants had HBsAg by radioimmunoassay or anti-HBc by complement fixation. One infant had anti-HBs whose transient presence was consistent with passive acquisition. Using sensitive serologic tests, no identifiable risk to newborn infants in a special care nursery could be documented as a result of exposure to a nurse who developed acute type B hepatitis during their period of care.
Creating Histories: Oral Narratives and the Politics of History-Making

This text looks at stories and storytelling, listening and retelling, and the complex ways in which this results in the creation of historical narratives in post-colonial India. The author provides a critique of several schools of history-writing, specially within the Indian context, and argues that there are as many historical pasts as there are stories of it.
What Influences Parents' Decisions To Limit or Withdraw Life Support?

Purpose: Decisions to limit/withdraw life support from critically ill children are commonly faced by parents and physicians. Previous research regarding parents' perspectives on end-of-life (EOL) decision-making in the PICU has been limited by retrospective methods and the use of closed-ended questions with predetermined response choices. Deeper understanding of parents' views will allow physicians to focus EOL discussions on factors important to parents and help to resolve conflicts. We prospectively identified and described parents' self-reported influences on EOL decision-making for critically ill children. Methods: Parents of children whose PICU physician had made a recommendation to limit/withdraw life support from their child were eligible for the study. Parents participated in semi-structured audio taped interviews regarding their decision-making process. Interviews were conducted during the child's PICU stay. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and independently coded by two investigators to identify segments of text that describe factors influencing parents' EOL decisions. Results: Fourteen parents (9 mothers, 5 fathers) of 10 children were interviewed during the decision-making process. Factors influencing parents' decisions to limit/withdraw support included their personal observation of their child's suffering and decline; previous experience with death/EOL decisions; perceptions of their child's will-to-survive regardless of the child's cognitive and developmental state; their child's previous response to critical care interventions; their need to protect and advocate for their child; and the family's financial resources and concerns regarding life-long care. Parents expressed an overwhelming desire to do what is best for their child but struggled with feelings of selfishness, guilt and the need to avoid agony and sorrow. Physician recommendations, review of options and joint formulation of a plan helped parents gain a sense of control over their situation. Parents of eight children agreed to limit/withdraw life support and parents of two did not. Conclusions: Prospective interviews with open-ended questions identified factors influencing parents' EOL decisions such as their past experience with death and their anticipated emotional adjustments and future resources not previously described in the critical care literature. Inclusion of these factors into discussions with parents may facilitate the decision-making process. More prospective research is needed to further understand what is meaningful to parents during EOL decision-making for children.
Two faces of caspase-8.

A deficit of caspase-8 should presumably lead to over-activation of lymphocytes. A recent report in Nature from Lenardo's group, however, describes humans with a severe caspase-8 deficiency whose T cells, counter-intuitively, have impaired activation abilities.
Optimisation of Immunosuppressive Therapy by Monitoring of Immune Function in Transplant Recipients

Immunosuppressive therapy after organ transplantation is a balance between rejection because of underimmunosuppression and infectious complications because of overimmunosuppression. In the diagnosis of graft function, clinical and laboratory parameters are complemented by the study of the functional and phenotypic characteristics of immunocompetent cells in the transplanted organ and in the peripheral blood. The objective is the identification of complications prior to functional deterioration of the transplant.
Intradialytic Parenteral Nutrition Treatment and Biochemical Marker Assessment for Malnutrition in Adolescent Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients

Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality for patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis. Minimal study has evaluated therapeutic options for and biochemical marker assessment of pediatric patient PEM. In 2001, we expanded the indications for intradialytic parenteral nutrition (IDPN) treatment of PEM to all maintenance hemodialysis patients, regardless of etiology, who had a >10% weight loss and were at less than the 90th percentile of ideal body weight. Nine patients received thrice weekly IDPN from 3 to 22 months with minimal side effects. Six patients had weight and body mass index increase, 1 patient stopped losing weight, and 2 patients continued to lose weight during the initial 5 months of IDPN therapy. Cohort subanalysis showed that all patients with organic PEM responded to IDPN therapy, whereas patients with psychosocial causes of PEM did not. The normalized protein catabolic rate increased significantly for patients whose condition responded to IDPN therapy, whereas serum albumin did not change. The current study suggests that IDPN is effective treatment of organic causes of PEM in pediatric patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis and that normalized protein catabolic rate may be superior to serum albumin as a marker of nutrition status. The observation that IDPN was not sufficient to reverse PEM in patients with psychosocial PEM causes should direct caregivers to address the relevant underlying causes as well as to provide intensive nutrition therapy.
The effects of death education on nurses' attitudes toward caring for terminally ill persons and their families:

This study sought to determine the cffectiveness of an education program on nurses' attitudes toward caring for terminally ill persons and their family members. The program, based on the hospice co...
Amorphous Precursors for Low-Temperature Preparation of Chevrel Phases MxMo6S8 and Their Tungsten Analogues

Abstract High-yield preparations of the amorphous ternary salts Na 2 x (Mo 6 S 8 )S x · y MeOH (with x = 1.0 to 1.5, y = 4 to 5) and Na 2.1 (W 6 S 8 )S 1.05 -5.4MeOH have been devised by reaction of M 6 Cl 12 ( M = Mo or W) with NaSH and NaOBu in various ratios in refluxing n -BuOH for M = Mo and in refluxing MeCN for M = W. Characterization of these amorphous materials by chemical and spectroscopic methods (IR, Raman, PES) shows that the ( M 6 S 8 ) 0 cluster units are present. Vacuum thermolysis of the amorphous Na 2 x (Mo 6 S 8 )S x · y MeOH first produces poorly crystalline NaMo 6 S 8 by disproportionation at 800°C and well-crystallized NaMo 6 S 8 at ≥900°C. The amorphous tungsten compound disproportionates to W and WS 2 at ≥200°C. Ion exchange of the sodium material in methanol with soluble M 2+ and M 3+ salts ( M = Sn, Co, Ni, Pb, La, Ho) produces the M n+ 2 x / n (Mo 6 S 8 )S x · y MeOH compounds. For tungsten, only exchange with SnCl 2 in THF was examined and resulted in Sn x (W 6 S 8 )S x · y MeOH. Conversion of Sn x (Mo 6 S 8 )S x · y MeOH to poorly crystalline Chevrel phase, SnMo 6 S 8 , was achieved by reduction under H 2 at 600°C. Well-crystallized SnMo 6 S 8 resulted at higher temperatures. Conversion of Sn x (W 6 S 8 )S x · y MeOH to SnW 6 S 8 was not successful.
The Effectiveness of Classroom Passive Stretching Programs for Increasing or Maintaining Passive Range of Motion in Non-Ambulatory Children:

The purpose of this study was to determine if straight plane passive range of motion programs typically used to maintain or increase passive range of motion in severely motorically involved children are more effective when provided at a frequency of five times versus two times per week. Thirteen subjects between the ages of six and 20 received passive range of motion either two or five times per week. After five weeks the frequency was switched for each group for another five weeks. Range of motion measurements were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA and DuncanAEs multiple range test. Results of the study showed no significant difference between the two and five times per week conditions for six of the seven joint angles reviewed. Only right straight leg raising passive range of motion measurements were significantly improved after the five-time-per-week program when compared to the two-time-per-week program. The study suggests that no significant gain in passive range of motion occurred with a more intensive ...
Effect of a kelp forest on coastal currents

Abstract Ocean currents supply a kelp ecosystem with nutrients, planktonic food, and larvae. We have found that these currents in a kelp forest (Macrocystis pyrifera) are slower than currents outside. At the Pt. Loma, San Diego, California, site that we studied, current velocities were about a third of those outside. A comparison of frequency spectra shows that semi-diurnal frequencies are preferentially passed by the kelp. This effect of a kelp forest on the currents that nurture it is similar to that of a terrestrial forest on local winds.
Characteristics of endwall and sidewall boundary layers in a rotating cylinder with a differentially rotating endwall

The flow in a rotating cylinder driven by the differential rotation of its top endwall is studied by numerically solving the time-dependent axisymmetric Navier–Stokes equations. When the differential rotation is small, the flow is well described in terms of similarity solutions of individual rotating disks of infinite radius. For larger differential rotations, whether the top is co-rotating or counter-rotating results in qualitatively distinct behaviour. For counter-rotation, the boundary layer on the top endwall separates, forming a free shear layer and this results in a global coupling between the boundary layer flows on the various walls and a global departure from the similarity flows. At large Reynolds numbers, this shear layer becomes unstable. For a co-rotating top, there is a qualitative change in the flow depending on whether the top rotates faster or slower than the rest of the cylinder. When the top rotates faster, so does the bulk of the interior fluid, and the sidewall boundary layer region where the fluid adjusts to the slower rotation rate of the cylinder is centrifugally unstable. The secondary induced meridional flow is also potentially unstable in this region. This is manifested by the inflectional radial profiles of the vertical velocity and azimuthal vorticity in this region. At large Reynolds numbers, the instability of the sidewall layer results in roll waves propagating downwards.
A DIFFICULTY WITH MONETARIST MODELS OF HYPERINFLATION

The Cagan, Barro, and Allais analyses of hyperinflation have been shown to be questionable. Their impressive empirical results are a direct result of the method used to solve their models. Their solution does not depend on the input forcing function (the rate of change of the money stock) of their differential equation systems but expresses one dependent variable, real money balances, as a function of another dependent variable, the rate of change of prices. As a result, price changes which are unrelated to changes in the money stock acting through the dynamic structure of the model will incorrectly yield a good fit of the data.
Photoemission electron impact ionization in time-of-flight mass spectrometry: an examination of experimental consequences

Abstract The use of photoemission electron impact ionization in time-of-flight mass spectrometry is examined. It is found to complement laser ionization by providing many of the advantages of electron impact ionization. Some ions are more easily produced by photoemission electron impact ionization. Under certain conditions, these ions can act as an impediment to laser ionization experiments. Methods for distinguishing between ions produced by laser ionization and photoemission electron impact ionization are presented. A new source, designed for simple conversion between these two ionization methods, is presented. This source is easily adapted to the many laser ionization time-of-flight instruments already in use.
Tidal stabilization of rigidly rotating, fully relativistic neutron stars

It is shown analytically that an external tidal gravitational field increases the secular stability of a fully general relativistic, rigidly rotating neutron star that is near marginal stability, protecting it against gravitational collapse. This stabilization is shown to result from the simple fact that the energy δM(Q,R) required to raise a tide on such a star, divided by the square of the tide’s quadrupole moment Q, is a decreasing function of the star’s radius R, (d/dR)[δM(Q,R)/Q2]<0 (where, as R changes, the star’s structure is changed in accordance with the star’s fundamental mode of radial oscillation). If (d/dR)[δM(Q,R)/Q2] were positive, the tidal coupling would destabilize the star. As an application, a rigidly rotating, marginally secularly stable neutron star in an inspiraling binary system will be protected against secular collapse, and against dynamical collapse, by tidal interaction with its companion. The “local-asymptotic-rest-frame” tools used in the analysis are somewhat unusual and may be powerful in other studies of neutron stars and black holes interacting with an external environment. As a by-product of the analysis, in an appendix the influence of tidal interactions on mass-energy conservation is elucidated.
Caching for Location-Aware Image Queries in Mobile Networks

Caching has been widely used in mobile networks to improve system performance. However, conventional caching methodologies have two major drawbacks in dealing with spatial queries in a dynamic mobile network: (i) the description of cached data is defined based on the query context instead of data content ignoring the spatial or semantic locality of the data. (ii) the description of cached data does not reflect the popularity of the data, making it inefficient in providing QoS-related services. To address these issues, we propose a location-aware caching (LAC) model which reflects the distribution of images based on the analysis of earlier queries. The novelty of our method stems from several factors including: 1) describing the image data distribution based on a Hilbert space-filling curve, 2) optimizing spatial query resolution through efficient exploitation of locally cached data, and 3) reducing the cost of query resolution with restricted search scope. Through extensive simulations, we show that our model can perform spatial search with less cost. In addition, it is scalable to large environments and voluminous data.
Changes in Liver Lipid Composition with Overnight Fasting

SummaryFasting rats overnight from 8 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. produced significant changes in liver weight and liver fatty acid composition in comparison with fed rats killed at 8 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. Feeding and fasting procedures and time of sacrifice of animals should be carefully standardized in studies of liver lipid composition to minimize variations related to the eating patterns of the animals.
MOCK JURORS' BEHAVIOR AS A FUNCTION OF SEX AND EXPOSURE TO AN EDUCATIONAL VIDEOTAPE ABOUT JURY DUTY

An experiment was designed to assess the influence of viewing a tape intended to educate mock jurors to jury duty and the jury process and sex of juror on juror verdicts and sentencing in a rape ca...
Brief Note Comparing the Rotter and Levenson Measures of Locus of Control

Summary.-This smdy investigated the factor stability and reliability of the 1966 Roaer and 1972 Levenson measures. The latter was more factorially stable, and little difference in reliability was noted based upon a sample of 497 business undergraduates. A scale (Chance) within the Levenson measure is suggested as an expedient way to measure locus of control. Internal-external locus of control is an individual difference variable which has been the subject of extensive study (8). An internal scorer perceives that personal events are dependent on one's own behavior, while an external scorer perceives that such events are the result of fate, luck, or powers beyond one's control. The best known measure of locus of control is a 23-item forced-choice scale developed by Roaer (8). Although initial work by Rotter suggested that this scale consisted of one general factor, subsequent factor analyses of the Rotter scale (2, 3, 5) showed multiple factors. For example, Collins (2), using 300 college smdents, found four factors present. He labeled these, belief in a (a) difficult vs easy world, (b) just vs unjust world, (c) predictab!e vs unpredictable world, and (d) politically responsive vs unresponsive world. Partly as a result of finding the Rotter scale to be multidimensional, Levenson (4) constructed a 24-item locus of control measure based on a six-point response scale (1 = strong disagreement, 6 = strong agreement). The 24 items are divided into three separate eight-item scales: Internal, Chance, and Powerful Others. This study further investigated the factor stability and reliability of the Roaer (8) and Levenson (4) measures. Both measures were administered to 497 business undergraduates at a large midwestern university. Of the sample, 61% were men, while 39% were women. The average age was 21.9 yr. Factor analytic procedures were performed to analyze the factor stability of each
RESOURCE ALLOCATION AND REPRODUCTION IN POPULATIONS OF AMPHICARPUM PURSHII (GRAMINEAE)

A B S T R A C T Five New Jersey populations of Amphicarpum purshii (an annual panicoid grass) were investigated as to total allocation of biomass to reproduction and its distribution between aerial chasmogamous and subterranean cleistogamous inflorescences. Germination of both types of seed was documented, for the first time, in not only the field but under three laboratory temperature regimes. Overall, approximately 29 % of the shoot biomass was allocated to reproduction. On a population basis, subterranean inflorescences accounted for 37-100 % of the reproductive biomass, and these seed (5 x heavier but fewer in number) were the source of most surviving seedlings. Subterranean spikelets contained caryopses significantly more frequently than aerial spikelets. The ratio of the number of viable aerial seed to the number of viable subterranean seed increased from 0/4 to 4/2 with recentness and/or frequency of disturbance. As a pioneer species in secondary succession, Amphicarpum purshii produces a larger subterranean propagule, with greater seedling vigor and a higher probability of local reproductive success, and also a smaller aerial propagule in larger numbers with potentially greater genetic variability.
Instability of ST segments in the early stages of acute myocardial infarction in patients undergoing continuous 12-lead ECG monitoring

Many patients presenting to the emergency department with suspected acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have an initial 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) nondiagnostic for acute injury and thus do not meet any accepted ECG criteria for thrombolytic therapy. Early studies in the use of intracoronary thrombolytic therapy documented that cyclic variations in ST segment magnitudes between normalcy and injury are common during the early phase of AMI and correspond to spontaneous intermittent coronary opening and reocclusion. The reliance on a single ECG to diagnose AMI may mean that many patients with AMI are missed if the initial ECG is obtained during a window of ST segment normalcy. We present 3 patients with AMI who underwent continuous 12-lead ST segment monitoring with frequent serial ECGs whose ST segments periodically normalized during the acute injury phase. We believe continuous 12-lead ST segment monitoring with frequent serial ECGs can aid the physician in identifying patients with AMI who may benefit from thrombolytic therapy and other urgent revascularization techniques.