cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Septic Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty Is Not Adequately Compensated by Work Relative Value Units.

Abstract Background Performing revision total hip arthroplasty (rTHA) for periprosthetic joint infection is complex and may require greater time and resources than aseptic revision cases. Work relative value units (RVUs) assigned may not reflect the difference in actual work required for septic revision hip cases. The purpose of this study is to compare the work effort between aseptic and septic revision hip cohorts, and determine if physicians are appropriately compensated. Methods Data were collected through the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database for the years 2005 to 2018 to identify all aseptic rTHA cases and septic rTHA cases. Work RVU, operation time, RVU per minute, and dollars per minute were assessed between the aseptic and septic revision hip cohorts. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used for the study. Results The mean operation times for aseptic and septic rTHAs were 146.12 and 173.24 minutes, respectively (P Conclusion Although rTHA for infection is more complex and requires longer mean operative time than aseptic rTHA, physicians are not appropriately reimbursed for this challenging procedure. This inadequate RVU-based reimbursement for septic rTHA may deter physicians from performing these procedures, which could lead to decreased access to care for patients in need of rTHA for infection.
The VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL): Do Results Differ by Sex or Race/Ethnicity?

Whether vitamin D or marine omega-3 (n-3) fatty acid supplementation reduces risk of cancer or cardiovascular disease (CVD) in general populations at usual risk for these outcomes is relatively une...
Quantitative stability with patient size, dose, and kVp in spectral detector CT for pediatric imaging

Pediatric imaging utilizes the quantitative capabilities of CT to guide clinical decision making and treatment, but image quality is heavily affected by variation in patient sizes and the need for lower dose scans. Dual energy CT generates spectral results such as virtual monoenergetic images (VMI), electron density (ED), and effective atomic number (Zeff) that enhance material characterization and quantification. Though it has not been extensively explored, application of DECT to pediatric imaging may allow increased stability in quantitative measures with varying patient size, dose, and tube voltage. To examine the dependency of size, dose, and tube voltage, a phantom with tissue-mimicking inserts was scanned with dual-layer spectral detector CT with different extension rings to simulate different pediatric patient sizes. Each size configuration was subsequently scanned at CTDIvol of 9, 6, and 3 mGy with 100 and 120 kVp to obtain conventional CT and spectral results. Overall, both VMI and ED values were accurately quantified. VMI at 70 keV and 9 mGy demonstrated smaller differences among patient size and kVp compared to conventional images. Low dose dependency relative to 9 mGy was also present for VMI. Similarly, ED and Zeff showed low dependency on patient size, dose, and kVp and maintained material differentiability. Stability of these spectral results with different patient sizes, doses, and tube voltages illustrates the potential application of spectral detector CT to pediatric patients not only to improve the consistency of quantitative measures across patient sizes but also to allow lower doses without impairing quantification.
Why Are the Beveridge-Nelson and Unobserved-Components Decompositions of GDP So Different?

This paper reconciles two widely used decompositions of GDP into trend and cycle that yield starkly different results. The Beveridge-Nelson (BN) decomposition implies that a stochastic trend accounts for most of the variation in output, whereas the unobserved-components (UC) implies cyclical variation is dominant. Which is correct has broad implications for the relative importance of real versus nominal shocks. We show the difference arises from the restriction imposed in UC that trend and cycle innovations are uncorrelated. When this restriction is relaxed, the UC decomposition is identical to the BN decomposition. Furthermore, the zero-correlation restriction can be rejected for U.S. quarterly GDP, with the estimated correlation being -0.9.
Composition of the Early Modern and Modern English Vocabulary

The Early Modern English cultural scene The linguistic period identified as Early Modern English began some time during the second half of the fifteenth century. There is no single historical event comparable to the Norman invasion of 1066 for Middle English which can be taken conveniently as the boundary between Middle and Early Modern English. The language changes which characterize the transition of Middle to Early Modern English coincide chronologically with several major cultural and social changes. The most notable among these is the introduction of the printing press, by Sir William Caxton, in 1476 . This year is commonly taken as the cut-off date because it marks a turning point in the production and accessibility of books. Another historical event which coincides roughly with the beginning of Early Modern English is the discovery of the New World in 1492 . While its effect on our word stock was not as immediate as the availability of printed books, the discovery of the Americas has had extraordinary consequences for the composition of the English lexicon. The end-point of Early Middle English coincides with two important events which occurred in the second half of the eighteenth century. We have already mentioned the appearance of the first really influential dictionary of English, the Dictionary of the English Language in two volumes by Samuel Johnson in 1755 . That dictionary boosted enormously the prestige of English lexicographical research.
171 Targeting the Immunomodulatory roles of T-cell immunoglobulin– and mucin domain–containing (TIM)–3 on natural killer cells in glioblastoma

Background Natural killer (NK) cells have emerged as a viable alternative to T cells in adoptive cell transfer for cancer treatment. NK cell activity is driven by the balance between inhibitory and activating receptors, many of which remain elusive. In addition, NK cell metabolism is also a driver of NK cell fitness in tumor settings, where changes in NK metabolic states with the tumor microenvironment in vivo, or with stimulants ex vivo, further confounds the NK cells’ cytotoxic function in cancer settings. One receptor that lies at the intersection between NK cell function and metabolism is TIM-3, with its expression having consequences on NK cell cytokine production and glucose metabolism. However, the contribution of TIM-3 to NK cell anti-tumor immunity is unclear and its role in driving NK cell function so far not fully defined. Methods NK cells were isolated from healthy adult peripheral blood and expanded in feeder-cell media. NK cell metabolism and function were evaluated by different flow cytometric assays to measure glucose uptake, cytotoxicity, degranulation, and cytokine production. TIM-3 knock-out cells were generated using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. Patient samples, including whole blood and tumor, were also processed and phenotyped to compare expression level with healthy donor samples. Results Previously, we discovered that TIM-3 downregulation was associated with decreased cytokine production and target cytotoxicity, and that maintenance of expression above a certain threshold was needed for NK cell function. As cytokine production reflects immune cell metabolic state, we hypothesized that TIM-3 participates in regulation of ex vivo-activated NK cell metabolism, which in turn affect the production of the cytokine IFN- γ to sensitize cancer targets to NK cell-mediated lysis. Here, we report the consequences of glucose starvation on TIM-3 expression, and how knock-out of TIM-3 on human NK cells affects NK cell metabolism and functionalities against glioblastoma targets. We also cross-reference TIM-3 expression level with glioblastoma patient samples, which provide clinical context for microenvironmental cues and nutrient deprivation. Conclusions Our findings suggest that TIM-3 expression is associated with both ex vivo-activated NK cell glucose metabolism and cytotoxic function against glioblastoma. As ex vivo-activated NK cells are considered to be highly glycolytic, and as such associated with higher cytotoxicity, TIM-3’s involvement with glucose uptake could prove crucial in sustaining NK cytotoxic phenotype in the tumor microenvironment. This information is shedding further light on the immunomodulatory roles of TIM-3, and aiding in leveraging this receptor usage in future NK cell-based immunotherapies. Ethics Approval All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were approved by Purdue University’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) in August 2018 (#1804020540). All institutional safety and biosecurity procedures were adhered to.
Case 69: An ETT Suction Problem

A 5-week-old girl (4 kg) is admitted from a rural hospital via helicopter. She is diagnosed with a lower respiratory tract infection, which, after 2 days in the rural hospital, has now progressed to respiratory failure. You see the child immediately on arrival in the emergency room (ER). The child is struggling and the oxygen saturation has fallen to 84 % in the last few minutes. You quickly place an orally 3.5 endotracheal tube (ETT) and the vital signs improve dramatically. The ETT was cut by you prior to the insertion to get the correct length of the ETT. Prior to the ETT being placed in the trachea, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) connector is attached to the ETT, however with some difficulty. (See Case 48 for a better way to put the ISO connector on the ETT after the tube has been cut). Two hours later, you get a call from the intensive care unit (ICU) telling you that it is not possible to pass any sized suction catheter down the ETT.
Protein kinase C, VEGF and ADAM metalloproteases regulate proteolytic cleavage of Flt1 to control the abundance of a functionally active ectodomain (679.3)

Flt1 or VEGFR1 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1/fms-related tyrosine kinase 1) is a tyrosine kinase receptor that regulates angiogenesis by sequestering VEGF from its signaling recept...
Mode of arrival to the emergency department of stroke patients in the United States.

Background: The modality of transport to the emergency department has implications for triage, evaluation, and treatment of patients with stroke. We performed this study to determine the national trends in modes of arrival in patients with stroke and its association with emergency department evaluation in a nationally representative sample of United States. Methods: We used the data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS). The NHAMC is one of the largest studies designed to provide utilization and provision of services in hospital emergency departments (ED). Patients were categorized into three modes of arrival: 1) ambulance, either air or ground; 2) walk-in, this include car, taxi, bus, or foot; and 3) public services such as police car or social service vehicle/Unknown. Results: Of the 630,402 patients evaluated with stroke in the ED, the mode of arrival was by ambulance [331,760 (53%)], walk-in [271,268 (43%)], and public services/unknown [27374 (4%)]. The mean time for evaluation by a physician was 30±37 minutes, 34±44 minutes, and 55±105 minutes for ambulance, walk-in (P=0.535), and public services/unknown (P=0.664) mode of arrival, respectively. There was a trend for more frequent utilization of brain imaging in the patients presenting by ambulance (73%) compared to walk-in (63%, P=0.64) and public services/unknown (59%, P=0.5). Patients transferred by ambulance were more often admitted to the intensive care unit (11%) compared to walk-in (0.2%, P=0.02) and public services/unknown (6%, P=0.47). Conclusion: Although arrival by ambulance was associated with a higher level of care, a prominent proportion of patients with suspected stroke are not arriving by ambulance to the ED.
Aircraft Dynamics and Control

The sections in this article are 1 Background 2 Mathematical Description Of The Aircraft 3 The Laplace Transform And Transfer Function 4 Control-System Architecture 5 Trajectory Optimization 6 Control-System Design—A Classical Approach 7 Control-System Design—Modern Approaches Keywords: aircraft dynamics; aircraft control; trajectory control; control systems; flight control; atmospheric turbulence; simulation; digital control; linear control; nonlinear control
Modeling the oxidation of low-density carbon fiber material based on micro-tomography

Abstract Oxidation is one of the main decomposition mechanisms of fibrous carbon/phenolic ablators employed in thermal protection systems for planetary entry capsules. The oxidation process is driven by two competing mechanisms: diffusion of reactants within the porous medium, and reaction rates at the surface of the fibers. These mechanisms are characterized by the Thiele number. Given that the Thiele number varies during an atmospheric entry, we aim to understand the effects of the diffusion/reaction processes on the decomposition of a porous carbon material in various regimes. We use a particle method for simulations of the oxidation process at microscale. The movement of oxygen reactants is simulated using a Brownian motion technique, and heterogeneous first-order reactions at the surface are modeled with a sticking probability law. To enable simulations of the fiber decomposition on actual materials, we use digitized computational grids obtained using X-ray micro-tomographic imaging. We present results for the oxidation of the substrate of the material used on the Mars Science Laboratory capsule that landed the Curiosity rover. We find that the depth of the reaction zone for this material is critically dependent on the Thiele number.
Role of C1q in phagocytosis of Salmonella minnesota by pulmonary endothelial cells.

Abstract The Re mutant of Salmonella minnesota adheres in much greater numbers than the wild type to endothelial cells derived from the bovine pulmonary artery. Since the Re mutant is distinguished from wild-type S. minnesota by its ability to bind C1q and since endothelial cells possess receptors for C1q, we examined the role of C1q in the phagocytosis of the S. minnesota Re mutant. First, preincubating endothelial cells with C1q-enriched medium resulted in increased adherence of the Re mutant (17.9 x 10(4) versus 6.6 x 10(4]. Second, preincubating the Re mutant with C1q-enriched medium resulted in increased numbers of adherent bacteria (62.1 x 10(4) versus 6.6 x 10(4]. Preincubation of both endothelial cells and bacteria with C1q-enriched medium resulted in increased adherence above control levels but less adherence than when either cells or bacteria were preincubated separately in C1q-enriched medium. If serum depleted of C1q was used for preincubation of endothelial cells or bacteria, adherence was reduced below control levels. Thus, C1q plays an important role in the initial steps (recognition, binding, and ingestion) of phagocytosis. Next, the role of C1q was investigated in the respiratory burst response. Levels of superoxide anion released from endothelial cells 15 min after phagocytosis of the Re mutant (100 bacteria per endothelial cell) were assayed by measurement of the superoxide dismutase-inhibitable reduction of ferricytochrome c. Superoxide anion release was increased during phagocytosis of the Re mutant (35 nmol of O2- per 3 x 10(6) endothelial cells) and was also elevated above control values by incubation with soluble C1q (10 nmol of O2- per 3 x 10(6) endothelial cells). These results indicate a role for C1q in both the ingestion and the response of endothelial cells to the S. minnesota Re mutant.
Autophagy in astrocytes: A novel culprit in lysosomal storage disorders

Neurodegeneration is a prominent feature of lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs). Emerging data identify autophagy dysfunction in neurons as a major component of the phenotype. However, the autophagy pathway in the CNS has been studied predominantly in neurons, whereas in other cell types it has been largely unexplored. We studied the lysosome-autophagic pathway in astrocytes from a murine model of multiple sulfatase deficiency (MSD), a severe form of LSD. Similar to what was observed in neurons, we found that lysosomal storage in astrocytes impairs autophagosome maturation and this, in turn, has an impact upon the survival of cortical neurons and accounts for some of the neurological features found in MSD. Thus, our data indicate that lysosomal/autophagic dysfunction in astrocytes is an important component of neurodegeneration in LSDs.
Conditional Bias in Radar Rainfall Estimation.

Abstract The goal of this study is to improve understanding of the optimization criteria for radar rainfall (RR) products. Conditional bias (CB) is formally defined and discussed. The CB is defined as the difference between a given rain rate and the conditional average of its estimates. A simple analytical model is used to study the behavior of CB and its effect on the relationship between the estimates and the truth. This study shows the measurement errors of near-surface radar reflectivity and the natural reflectivity–rainfall rate variability can affect CB. This RR estimation error component is also compared with the commonly used mean-square error (MSE). A dilemma between the minimization of these two errors is demonstrated. Removing CB from the estimates significantly increases MSE, but minimizing MSE results in a large CB that manifests itself in underestimation of strong rainfalls.
Limited interaction in speech production: Chronometric, speech error, and neuropsychological evidence

Results from chronometric and speech errors studies provide convergent evidence for both lower and upper bounds on interaction within the speech production system. Some degree of cascading activation is required to account for patterns of speech errors in neurologically intact and impaired speakers as well as the results of recent chronometric studies. However, the strength of this form of interaction must be limited to account for the occurrence of selective deficits in the production system and restrictions on the conditions under which interactive effects influence reaction times. Similarly, some amount of feedback from phonological to word-level representations is necessary to account for patterns of speech errors in neurologically intact and impaired individuals as well as the influence of phonological neighbours on response latency. This interactive mechanism must also be limited to account for restrictions on the types of speech errors produced following selective deficits within the production sys...
Longitudinal posturography and rotational testing in children three to nine years of age: normative data.

Abstract Objective To obtain normative longitudinal vestibulo-ocular and balance test data in children from ages three to nine years with normal middle ear status. Study Design Prospective, longitudinal cohort. Setting Tertiary care pediatric hospital. Subjects and Methods Three-year-old children were entered and tested yearly. Subjects underwent earth vertical axis rotation testing using sinusoidal and constant velocity stimuli and performed the Sensory Organization Test. Results One hundred forty-eight children were entered, and usable data were collected on 127 children. A linear increase in the vestibulo-ocular reflex gain as children aged was found, without a change in the phase of the response. An age-related linear increase in equilibrium scores, indicating reduced postural sway, was also observed. Conclusion These normative data can be used in the evaluation of dizziness and balance disorders in children.
Linguistic Politeness in Student-Team Emails: Its Impact on Trust Between Leaders and Members

Research Problem: Claims have been made about the impact of applying Linguistic Politeness Theory to workplace contexts. Linguistic politeness theory argues that speakers or senders of messages make language choices to soften potential face-threatening acts. These claims have not been empirically examined in regards to trust between leaders and members. Research Questions: (1) What effect does a leader's use of linguistic politeness have on perceptions of trust? (2) Do indirect and direct requests differ in building trust? (3) Is there an optimal combination of level of directness and type of linguistic politeness strategy in building trust? Literature Review: Previous literature has shown that people in positions of power utilize linguistic politeness when interacting with subordinates. Further, studies have shown an association between managerial communication style and relational variables, including trust. No study, however, has empirically examined a leader's use of linguistic politeness on subordinate's perceptions of trust toward the leader. Methodology: The current study uses a quantitative approach. An experiment was designed to test the effect of politeness on trust. One-hundred fifteen undergraduates were selected for the experiment. Results and Discussion: Quantitative analysis, which included a two-way ANOVA, revealed that participants trusted leaders who used linguistic politeness strategies in their emails, as opposed to those who failed to include mitigating strategies. Furthermore, downgraders, moves that mitigate the force of face-threatening act without adding semantic content, were effective at building trust when paired with direct speech acts. Similarly, supportive moves, moves that mitigate face-threatening acts but do add semantic content, were effective at building trust when paired with indirect speech acts. The results have theoretical implications that include the contextual importance of linguistic politeness strategies. Further, practical implications include the way student leaders might phrase email requests to team members. However, because the sample included students, the results must be carefully interpreted, particularly when extrapolating to professional populations. Future studies can apply a similar methodology to a population of professionals, allowing for a comparison of datasets.
Influence of Hemodialysis on Plasma Chemotactic Activity and the Chemotactic Responsiveness of Polymorphonuclear Neutrophils

: Thirty patients with chronic renal failure on maintenance hemodialysis (HD) were studied. Plasma chemotactic activity was estimated using the “under agarose“ chemotaxis assay during the first 2 h of HD. It was found that in the fifth minute of HD, patients' plasma became chemotactic, reaching the maximum activity at the tenth minute. The chemotactic activity appearance correlated significantly with the decline in the number of the peripheral neutrophils. Patients' neutrophils, after a single passage through the cellophane coil of the dialyzer, revealed significant impairment of directed migration toward both complementary and bacterial chemoattractants. Moreover, the chemotactic properties of neutrophils obtained from dialyzed patients before HD were significantly lower than had been estimated in 15 nondialyzed patients with chronic renal failure. The results confirm HD-induced complement activation and might explain the mechanisms of the increased susceptibility of dialyzed patients to bacterial infections.
Microstructure of world trading markets

Automation, high-speed communication, electronic markets, and the increased sophistication of investors are dramatically changing financial markets and are greatly lessening the effective distance among widely separated world trading markets. The study of market microstructure, heretofore restricted primarily to U.S. markets, is rapidly expanding to foreign markets. This reflects the development of foreign markets and the increased academic and policy interest in the proper functioning of financial markets. In 1992 as a major U.S. financial institution, the New York Stock Exchange, celebrates its 200th anniversary, attention in the U.S. is increasingly focused on the challenges from foreign markets. Rapid economic development in Europe and in the Far East have put foreign equity markets on a more equal footing with U.S. markets. At the same time, new futures and options markets have been established in most of the major foreign financial centers. U.S. financial firms have expanded into these markets at the same time that foreign firms have expanded into U.S. markets. While trading in equities continues to occur primarily in companies’ home countries, cross-border trading of common stocks is likely to increase in the coming years. Similarly, futures and options contracts are likely to attract increased cross-border trading. These prospects require a better understanding of the nature and functioning of foreign trading markets.
Long Nucleotide Insertions between the HN and L Protein Coding Regions of Human Parainfluenza Virus Type 3 Yield Viruses With Temperature-Sensitive and Attenuation Phenotypes

Abstract Recombinant parainfluenza virus 3 (rPIV3) is being developed as a vector to express foreign genes as a bivalent or multivalent live attenuated virus vaccine. In the present study, we examined the effect of inserted foreign sequence on virus replication in vitro and in vivo, focusing on the parameter of insert length. In one type of construct, foreign sequence of increasing length was flanked by PIV3 transcription signals and inserted as an additional gene unit (GU insert) between the HN and L genes, so that one additional mRNA would be made. In a second type of construct, foreign sequence was inserted into the downstream NCR (NCR insert) of the HN gene, so that the number of encoded mRNAs remained unchanged. In each case, the foreign sequence was designed to lack any significant open reading frame, which permitted an evaluation of the effect of insert length on replication independent of an effect of an expressed protein. The GU or NCR insert sizes ranged from 168 nucleotides (nt) to 3918 nt. rPIV3s containing GU insertions of up to 3918 nt in length, the largest size tested, were viable and replicated efficiently at permissive temperatures in vitro, but a reduction in plaque size was seen at 39°C and 40°C. The rPIV3 with a 3918-nt GU insertion was restricted in replication in the upper (fivefold) and lower (25-fold) respiratory tracts of hamsters. Although a 1908-nt GU insertion did not significantly modify replication of wild-type PIV3 in vitro or in vivo, its introduction significantly augmented the level of temperature sensitivity (ts) and attenuation (att) specified by three mutations in the L protein of a cold-passaged attenuated PIV3 vaccine virus. rPIV3s bearing a 3126- or 3894-nt NCR insertion exhibited in vitro and in vivo phenotypes like those of the rPIV3s bearing similar-sized GU insertions. These findings indicate that rPIV3s whose genome length has been increased by more than 3000 nt by either a GU or an NCR insertion exhibit an unexpected host-range phenotype, that is, efficient replication in vitro but restricted replication in hamsters, especially in the lower respiratory tract. Furthermore, these effects were greatly enhanced when the rPIV3 backbone contained other ts or att mutations. The implications of these findings for the use of single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses as vectors for vaccines are discussed.
Bivalirudin for endovascular intervention in acute ischemic stroke: case report.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: intra-arterial thrombolysis has been demonstrated to improve recanalization and outcomes among patients with acute ischemic stroke. However, thrombolytic agents have limited effectiveness and are associated with a signiticant risk of bleeding. Bivafirudin is a direct thrombin inhibitor that been demonstrated in the cardiology literature to have a more favorable efficacy and bleeding profile than other antithrombotic medications. We report the use of bivalirudin during endovascular treatment of acute stroke, when hemorrhagic complications are not uncommon. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 71-year-old woman with atrial fibrillation presented with right hemiparesis and aphasia and was found to have a National Institutes of Health-Stroke Scale score of 10. Computed tomographic scans revealed no evidence of intracranial hermorrhage, aneurysm, or ischemic stroke, Cerebral angiography revealed thromboembolic occiusion of the superior division of the left middle cerebral arterly. INTERVENTION: Foranticoagulation, a loading dose of bivalirudin was intravenously administered before the interventional procedure, followed by continuous infosion. Attempts to remove the clot with an endovascular snare failed to induce recanalization of the vessel. Bivalirudin was then administered intra-arterially. Immediate postprocedural angiography demonstrated restoration of flow in the left middle cerebral artery. Repeat computed tomographic scans demonstrated no intracranial hemorrhage. The patient's hemiparesis and aphasia were nearly resolved and her National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 2 at the time of her discharge 5 days later. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first report of the use of bivalirudin for treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Bivalirudin may be a useful agent for intravenous anticoagulation and intra-arterial thrombolysis in this setting.
Small-volume Raman spectroscopy with a liquid core waveguide

A liquid-core waveguide based on a new fluoropolymer tube is proposed as the basis of a novel, small probe-volume Raman-scattering-based detector. Illumination is transverse to the axis of the tube, with end-on detection through a transparent window at the tube terminus. Using this approach and a ∼6-nL probe volume, we have measured benzene, carbon tetrachloride, and aqueous solutions of 2-propanol (in 5−100% concentration) as test compounds. We show successful collection of Raman spectra to shifts of ∼200 cm-1 collected without a holographic notch filter. Additionally, the apparatus naturally discriminates against Raman signals from the capillary material. This permits simplified detection of the liquid sample without the need to subtract the otherwise omnipresent contribution of the capillary material. A simple, multiple-pass, laser illumination scheme is found to enhance the Raman signal intensities; the gain in S/N increases slightly less than linearly with the number of passes. In the case of 2-propa...
Prevalence and prognostic value of subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction by global longitudinal strain in a community-based cohort.

Aims Global longitudinal strain (GLS) assessed by speckle-tracking echocardiography has been proposed as a parameter able to reflect early changes in left ventricular (LV) systolic function at a stage when LV ejection fraction (LVEF) is still normal. This study aimed at assessing prevalence and prognostic value of LV systolic dysfunction (LVSD) assessed by echocardiographic speckle-tracking GLS in a community-based cohort.
Ultrastructural changes in rat hypothalamic neurosecretory cells and their associated glia during minimal dehydration and rehydration.

A quantitative ultrastructural study was performed to determine the changes in the neurosecretory neurons of the supraoptic (SON) and circularis (NC) nuclei following 4–24 h of water deprivation (WD) and subsequent rehydration (12 and 24 h). In both nuclei, the amount of direct soma-somatic contact increased throughout WD, apparently by retraction of fine glial processes from between the cells. Rehydration reversed these changes. The number of smaller (<1600 A) neurosecretory granules (NSG's) decreased in both nuclei at 4 h of WD but returned to control levels by 24 h of WD and remained so during rehydration. Larger (<1600 A) NSG's decreased in number at 4 h of WD in SON and then returned to control levels by 24 h of WD and remained the same throughout rehydration. In NC, these NSG's did not change in number with WD, but significantly increased between 12 and 24 h of rehydration. No cells with dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum were seen in NC during this study. In SON, however, the percentage of such cells increased at 4 and 12 h of dehydration only to decrease to control levels at 24 h of dehydration and throughout rehydration. Lysosomes decreased at 4 h of dehydration in SON and returned to control levels thereafter. In NC, lysosomes tended to decrease with dehydration and increase with rehydration. These findings indicate that detectable morphological changes take place in the course of alterations in hydration state that are well within the physiological range.
Increasing multiple myeloma mortality among the elderly : a manifestation of aging and differential survival

Increasing multiple myeloma incidence and mortality among the elderly in industrialized nations has been attributed to associated environmental carcinogens. Age-specific multiple myeloma mortality rates in the United States from 1968 to 1989 were analyzed using the Strehler-Mildvan modification of the Gompertz relationship between aging and mortality. The results suggest that worsening environmental influences are not responsible for increasing multiple myeloma mortality among the elderly. Differential survival, a concept originally popularized by Charles Darwin, and its effect upon the surviving gene pool in an aging population is an alternative explanation for increasing multiple myeloma incidence and mortality in the elderly.
The Monopoly Power of Multinational Enterprises in the Service Sector of a Developing Country

This paper draws attention to the implications of the foreign direct investment (FD1) in the presence of monopoly power of multinational enterprises (MNEs) in the industries that are natural monopolies of a developing host country. We also take into account the MNEs' behavior that relies on the local capital market in order to finance their FDI. In a simple general model, we show that these firms use their advanced technology to lure local resources to the industries under their control away from the industries under the control of indigenous firms. As a result, the MNEs are likely to prosper from their activities at the expense of indigenous firms. This reduces employment and leads to a fall in real national income of the host country. It is further shown that a long-run expansion of the indigenous firms may be stalled by the monopoly power of MNEs which impedes the al locative efficiency of relative price and hinders local resources from adjusting to factor rewards.
p-Nitrophenol and glutathione response in medaka (Oryzias latipes) exposed to MX, a drinking water carcinogen

When chlorine is introduced into public drinking water for disinfection, it can react with organic compounds in surface waters to form toxic by-products such as 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2[5H]-furanone (MX). We investigated the effect of exposure to MX on cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1)-like activity and total glutathione (GSH) in the liver of the small fish model, medaka (Oryzias latipes). The multi-site carcinogen methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAMAc) was the positive control compound. Both medaka liver microsome preparations and S-9 fractions catalyzed the hydroxylation of p-nitrophenol (PNP), suggesting CYP2E1-like activity in the medaka. Male medaka exposed for 96 h to the CYP2E1 inducers ethanol and acetone under fasted conditions showed significant increases in PNP-hydroxylation activity. Furthermore, total reduced hepatic GSH was reduced in fish fasted for 96 h, indicating that normal feeding is a factor in maintaining xenobiotic defenses. Exposure to MX and MAMAc induced significant increases in hepatic CYP2E1-like activity, however MX exposure did not alter hepatic GSH levels. These data strengthen the role of the medaka as a suitable species for examining cytochrome P450 and GSH detoxification processes and the role these systems play in chemical carcinogenesis.
Stereoselectivity of soman detoxication by organophosphorus acid anhydrases from Escherichia coli.

Abstract Three organophosphorus acid anhydrases have been isolated from E. coli by gel filtration and ion exchange column procedures, and further identified by gel electrophoresis. All three have molecular weights in the 120 000 – 140 000 range. Two of them hydrolyze racemic 1,2,2-trimethylpropylmethylphosphonofluoridate (soman) to completion at a single rate and, in parallel with this, detoxify soman at a comparable rate. The third enzyme appears to show stereoselectivity with respect to the two pairs of isomers of soman in that it hydrolyzes the racemic mixture at a fast and a slow rate, the latter approaching the non-enzymatic rate, and detoxifies soman only at the slower rate. In the past, organophosphorus acid anhydrases from bacterial and mammalian sources have been assayed either as crude sonicates or homogenates, or as cold ethanol precipitated fractions. Major discrepancies among laboratories have probably been due either to the assay of mixtures of varying proportions of these three enzymes depending on the various organs or organisms used as the source, or to the purification of one of the enzymes at the expense of the others. For E. coli, a fourth organophosphorus acid anhydrase is also present but at a considerably lower activity.
The California Digital library and the eScholarship program

Summary The eScholarship program was launched in 2000 to foster facultyled innovation in scholarly publishing. An initiative of the University of California (UC) and a program of the California Digital Library, the eScholarship program has stimulated significant interest in its short life. Its modest but visible accomplishments garner praise from many quarters, within and beyond the University of California. In perhaps the best indication of its timeliness and momentum, there are more proposals submitted to eScholarship today than the CDL can manage. This early success is due in part to the sheer power of an idea whose time has come, but also to the unique approach on which CDL was founded and the eScholarship initiative was first launched.rved.]
Hepatitis A and B immunity and vaccination in chronic hepatitis B and C patients in a large United States cohort

Background Hepatitis A and B vaccines are effective in preventing superinfection and sequelae in patients with chronic hepatitis B or C. We describe immunity and vaccination against hepatitis A and B in chronic hepatitis patients from the US Chronic Hepatitis Cohort Study. Methods We identified chronic hepatitis B and C patients with healthcare utilization during 2006-2008 and 12 months of enrollment. We used electronic laboratory records to determine immunity and medical and billing records for vaccination history. Immunity against hepatitis A was defined by positive hepatitis A antibody or documented vaccination. Immunity against hepatitis B was defined as hepatitis B surface antibody level ≥10 mIU/mL or core antibody positive, or by documented vaccination. Results Among 1635 chronic hepatitis B patients, 978 (59.8%) were immune or vaccinated against hepatitis A, 122 (7.5%) had negative hepatitis A antibody tests, and 535 (32.7%) had no testing or vaccination record. Among 5328 chronic hepatitis C patients, 2998 (56.3%) were immune or vaccinated against hepatitis A, 659 (12.4%) had negative hepatitis A antibody tests, and 1671 (31.4%) had no testing or vaccination record. Additionally, 3150 (59.1%) chronic hepatitis C patients were immune or vaccinated against hepatitis B, 1003 (18.8%) had a negative test result, and 1175 (22.1%) were neither tested for nor vaccinated against hepatitis B. Conclusions Approximately 40% of chronic hepatitis B and C patients are susceptible to or have no documented immunity or vaccination against hepatitis A or hepatitis B. Clinicians should consider antibody testing and vaccination for this vulnerable population.
Characterization of pro-apoptotic and matrix-degradative gene expression following induction of osteoarthritis in mature and aged rabbits

Summary Objective The genetic and molecular changes leading to the distinctive alterations of aged cartilage and its propensity for developing osteoarthritis (OA) are unknown. We hypothesized that pro-apoptotic and matrix-degradative gene expression in a rabbit model of induced OA using mature and aged animals might elucidate this relationship. Methods Groups of six mature and aged rabbits underwent anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) and were sacrificed 4 weeks after surgery to create an Outerbridge grade II OA. RNA was extracted from the articular cartilage and menisci of the affected knee and was examined with regard to expression of the following genes: Caspase 8, Fas, Fas ligand (Fas-L), p53, aggrecanase, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, and MMP-3–MMP-13. A second cohort of mature and aged animals was sacrificed with no intervention to the joint and gene expression was assessed in a similar manner. Results Fas and Caspase 8 showed significantly increased expression in the cartilage of mature animals with induced OA when compared to unoperated controls while induction of OA in aged rabbits did not significantly increase expression of any of the apoptosis genes. Among unoperated animals, the aged cohort showed significantly increased expression of MMP-1 and aggrecanase in cartilage when compared to mature animals. MMP-13 expression was upregulated in aged cartilage following induction of OA. Although ACLT animals showed gross thinning and irregularities within the meniscus, only the expression of Caspase 8 in the aged rabbits was significantly increased after induction of OA. Conclusions Aging of articular cartilage shares some qualities with the development of OA, as seen in the parallel increases in gene expression of Caspase 8 and Fas. Although this may imply a common mechanism of cartilage degeneration in aging and OA or even a spectrum of disease, both are complex processes requiring further study.
A single genotype of Acinetobacter baumannii expresses multiple antibiotic susceptibility phenotypes.

It is common practice to define a bacterium with unequal antibiotic susceptibility phenotypes as a different genotype. Here, we describe the utility of this practice for Acinetobacter baumannii . We determined antibiotic susceptibility for 19 clinical isolates of A baumannii . Repetitive sequence polymerase chain reaction method was used to determine genotypes. Although all isolates were of the same genotype, 79% were predicted to be different based on susceptibility patterns. The antibiotic susceptibility phenotype does not accurately predict the genotype of A baumannii .
Guanylin, an endogenous ligand for C-type guanylate cyclase, is produced by goblet cells in the rat intestine

Abstract Background & Aims: Guanylin activates an intestinal guanylate cyclase (GCC) and stimulates electrolyte movement across the gut epithelium. Cells expressing guanylin messenger RNA have been localized to the epithelial cell layer of the intestine; however, the identity of the guanylin-producing cells has not been determined. The aim of this study was to identify cells that express guanylin in the rat intestine. Methods: Antibodies were raised against defined proguanylin epitopes, evaluated by Western blotting, and used for immunoperoxidase histochemistry. Results: Guanylin-like immunoreactivity was localized to a subset of goblet cells. In the small intestine, most, perhaps all, goblet cells in the villi were immunopositive, as were some goblet cells in upper crypts; however, goblet cells deep within crypts were unlabeled. In the colon, goblet cells clustered in the necks and around the openings of crypts were immunopositive, whereas (as in the small intestine) goblet cells in deeper crypt regions were unlabeled. In some animals, immunoreactive columnar epithelial cells were also observed in the colon (although such cells were not apparent in the small intestine). Relative labeling of columnar cells varied from animal to animal. Conclusions: Guanylin is expressed in mature goblet cells. If secreted in conjunction with mucin, it could play a role in the hydration of mucus.
On an optimal method for the numerical differentiation of smooth functions

Abstract Given a smooth function ƒ and a bound on its derivatives we construct an optimal linear estimator for ƒ′(0) which uses only function values of ƒ.
Hypothesis sampling, construction, or adjustment : how are inferences about nonlinear monotonic contingencies developed ?

Abstract Individuals' ability to detect nonlinearities in monotonic increasing contingency functions was studied. The probabilistic nature of the contingency function along with the amount of information available to learn the contingency function was found to affect the extent to which subjects learned the degree of nonlinearity in the function form. Subjects learning a highly predictable contingency function initially hypothesized a linear function and gradually adjusted the form of their response functions to fit the nonlinearity of the stimulus function. Contextual ambiguity had the effect of allowing subjects to explore more nonlinear association rules, but did not increase the likelihood that they would match the stimulus function. Subjects learning a less predictable contingency function appeared to test alternative hypotheses about the function form but eventually returned to estimating a positive linear contingency function. The number of learning trials had a significant effect on subjects' ability to match the stimulus function. Two different monotone increasing functions were investigated. While the effects of cue validity were the same on both functions, one appeared to be easier to learn. The implications of these findings for decision making based on judged contingency functions are discussed.
THE SPIROCHETICIDAL ACTION OF PENICILLIN IN VITRO AND ITS TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT.

1. Penicillin was found to be actively spirocheticidal in vitro against the Reiter, Kazan, Nichols, and Noguchi strains of so called S. pallida, and a strain of mouth spirochetes. The threshold concentration was 0.01 unit per Cc. (1-160,000,000 penicillin). The rate and degree of action increased with the concentration of penicillin up to a level of approximately 0.1 to 0.25 unit per cc., which rendered more than 99 per cent of the organisms non-viable within 12 hours. Higher concentrations did not appreciably accelerate the effect. 2. Within the range 4 x 10(4)-10(7) organisms per cc., the initial rate at which the spirochetes were killed was not affected by their number. Consistent with that observation, no demonstrable penicillin was bound or inactivated by thick suspensions. The amount of penicillin required to sterilize suspensions of varying density nevertheless varied to a large extent with the initial number of organisms. This was only in part due to the progressive deterioration of the penicillin with prolonged incubation; and the persistence of organisms resistant to the drug, and perhaps an adaptative change after prolonged exposure to penicillin, may be contributing factors. 3. The organisms remained actively motile for a period of 8 to 24 hours after they had been rendered non-viable by the action of penicillin. Even 500 units of penicillin per cc., or approximately 10,000 times an effectively spirocheticidal concentration, did not accelerate that delayed immobilization. It follows that, although penicillin rapidly renders the organisms non-viable, the metabolic system affected is not immediately essential to the life of the cell, and the motility and presumably other vital functions remain unaffected for a significant number of hours. 4. The rate at which the organisms were killed by penicillin increased with temperature in the range 8-40 degrees C. With an original inoculum of 10(6) spirochetes per cc., the percentage of organisms surviving after 24 hours at 39-40 degrees , 36-37 degrees , 32-33 degrees , 22-23 degrees , and 8 degrees C. was 0.02, 0.2, 1, 10, and 100 respectively; and those results were independent of the concentration of penicillin in the range 0.25 to 250 units per cc. If these observations with a non-pathogenic organism in vitro are applicable to the pathogenic organism in vivo, they suggest that the combined use of fever and penicillin in the treatment of syphilis may be more effective than either alone.