cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anti-MuSK Antibody Positive Myasthenia Gravis Patient Demographics, Symptomatology, and Treatment Responsiveness in the University of Southern California Neuromuscular Clinic: A Retrospective Analysis (2921)

Objective: To contribute to the limited existing literature regarding Anti-MuSK Antibody Positive Myasthenia Gravis (MuSK-MG) by describing our MuSK-MG patients’ demographics, symptomatology, and treatment responsiveness. Background: MuSK-MG is rarer than and differs from seropositive Myasthenia Gravis (MG) in regards to prevalence, demographics, symptomatology, and treatment responsiveness. Existing literature regarding MuSK-MG is limited when compared to that of seropositive MG. Design/Methods: Retrospective analysis of our MuSK-MG patients’ demographics and disease course characteristics. Results: Of 93 MG patients, 6 had MuSK-MG. 83% were female. 50% were Caucasian, 33.33% were African American, and 16.67% were Filipino. 66.67% had symptom onset in their 20s, 16.67% in their 30s, and 16.67% in their 40s. 50% had initial and later respiratory dysfunction. 16.67% developed exclusively later respiratory dysfunction. 66.67% had initial and later dysarthria. None developed exclusively later dysarthria. 33.33% had initial and later dysphagia. 50% developed exclusively later dysphagia. 83.33% developed later muscle of mastication weakness, while none had this initially. 33.33% had initial and later diplopia and ptosis. 33.33% had exclusively later diplopia and ptosis. 33.33% had exclusively later neck weakness, while none had this initially. 16.67% had initial and later extremity weakness. 33.33% had exclusively later extremity weakness. 33.33% had initial MuSK titer > 1:1000 and 33.33% had Musk titer > 1:2000. 33.33% had initial bulbar crisis. 33.33% had bulbar crisis on chronic immunosuppressive therapy. 100% had non-severe bulbar dysfunction worsening while on chronic immunosuppressive therapy. 16.67% treated acutely improved with IVIG alone, 33.33% with IVIG and PLEX, and 16.67% with IVIG, PLEX, and rituximab. None improved with pyridostigmine alone. 33.33% improved on steroids alone. 33.33% required one steroid sparing immunosuppressive drug (SSID) and 33.33% required two or more SSIDs. None were able to discontinue steroids with or without SSIDs. Conclusions: Our MuSK-MG patients’ demographics, symptomatology, and treatment responsiveness were in concordance with phenotypes described in existing literature. Disclosure: Dr. Cannon has nothing to disclose. Dr. Beydoun has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Grifols,Shire, CSL, Alexion, Mitsubishi Tanabe, Akcea, Alnylam. Dr. Beydoun has received research support from Argenx, Pfizer, Mallinckrodt, UCB, Catalyst. Dr. Darki has nothing to disclose.
Bergman spaces over noncommutative domains and commutant lifting

Abstract The goal of the present paper is to provide analogues of Sarason interpolation theorem in the Hardy algebra H ∞ ( D ) and Sz.Nagy-Foias commutant lifting theorem for contractions on Hilbert spaces in the setting of noncommutative Hardy spaces associated with noncommutative regular domains and varieties. This is accompanied by the study of multi-analytic operators with respect to the universal models associated with the regular domains (resp. varieties) and the study of multipliers of noncommutative Bergman spaces. As applications, we obtain Toeplitz-corona theorems for multi-analytic operators, commutant lifting in several variables where the liftings are in certain Schur classes, factorization of multi-analytic operators, and Nevanlinna-Pick interpolation results for multipliers of Bergman spaces over Reinhardt domains in C n . In addition, we obtain Ando type dilations and inequalities on noncommutative bi-domains and varieties.
Factors influencing protection against experimental tuberculosis in mice by heat-stable cell wall vaccines.

Abstract Ribi, E. (Rocky Mountain Laboratory, Hamilton, Mont.), R. L. Anacker, W. Brehmer, G. Goode, C. L. Larson, R. H. List, K. C. Milner, and W. C. Wicht. Factors influencing protection against experimental tuberculosis in mice by heat-stable cell wall vaccines. J. Bacteriol. 92:869–879. 1966.—Studies of nonviable, heat-stable vaccines for active protection against experimental tuberculosis have been continued with a test involving aerosol challenge of intravenously vaccinated mice. The previously reported activating effect of light mineral oil on disrupted cells of the BCG strain was found to be shared by certain other mineral oils and a synthetic, 24-carbon hydrocarbon, but not by kerosene or any of several vegetable oils. Dry cell walls coated with a small amount of oil and dispersed in saline with aid of an emulsifier were suitable for intravenous administration and were effective in promoting resistance to challenge. Oil used in this manner, in contrast to water-in-oil emulsions of the Freund type which could not be administered intravenously, did not potentiate the tuberculin-sensitizing activity of the cell walls. Although the amount of oil required for full effect was small (< 0.5 ml/100 mg of dry antigen), there was a critical level below which optimal enhancement was not achieved. More stable suspensions than could be obtained with the other oils were readily prepared from cell walls treated with the synthetic hydrocarbon, 7-n-hexyloctadecane. Extended experience has shown that in this test system both the viable BCG standard vaccine and heated, oil-treated experimental vaccines gave highly reproducible results showing graded responses to graded doses.
Transport and Binding of Hematoporphyrin Derivative and Related Porphyrins by Murine Leukemia L1210 Cells

A hematoporphyrin derivative (abbreviated in the literature as "HPD") has been used successfully for phototherapy of tumors in the clinic. The chemical nature of HPD, a complex mixture of porphyrins, is not fully understood. This study was designed to provide an explanation for the superior tumor-localizing ability of HPD. Chromatographic behavior, hydrophobicity, transport, binding, and photosensitizing capacity of different porphyrins were examined and compared. Biological studies were carried out using murine leukemia L1210 cells in vitro. The initial rate of porphyrin uptake was a function of drug hydrophobicity. The most hydrophobic components of HPD were therefore the most potent photosensitizers when irradiation followed a 10-min porphyrin-loading incubation. But these and other hydrophobic porphyrins were readily washed from cells by medium containing serum. Hydrophilic components of HPD were gradually accumulated by L1210 cells via a mode of binding not readily dissociated by washing and appear to be responsible for the preferential affinity of this product for neoplastic cells. A portion of the tightly bound porphyrin could not be dissociated by sodium dodecyl sulfate:polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis but remained bound to a low-molecular weight membrane component.
Phase noise mitigation for V-BLAST OFDM system

Future wireless mobile systems are required to transport multimedia traffics at much higher bit rates. Among all feasible implementations, V-BLAST OFDM system is one of the most promising candidates for such goal. However, similar to SISO-OFDM, V-BLAST OFDM suffers significant performance degradation due to the presence of phase noise. Although several phase noise mitigation method have been proposed in the literature for SISO channel, none has addressed this MIMO scenario, in which the performance degradation is more severe than SISO as it faces more complicated channel with little diversity gain. Moreover, in the original work of V-BLAST, a large number of antennas (8 transmit and 12 receive antennas) were proposed to obtain high bit rate. This may imply that multiple oscillators would be used to support such system. Most phase noise mitigation methods deal with one oscillator case, while in this paper, by considering the general case for any number of oscillators, we proposed a phase noise mitigation (PNM) scheme, which efficiently reduces the effect of multiple phase noise generated by different oscillators in V-BLAST OFDM system. Although the algorithm developed is based on independent MIMO channel, its effectiveness in correlated channel is also numerically evaluated.
Macromolecular Synthesis in Cells Infected by Frog Virus 3 XII. Viral Regulatory Proteins in Transcriptional and Post-Transcriptional Controls

Using fluorophenylalanine (FPA) to interfere with functional viral protein synthesis, we have investigated the complex transcriptional and post-transcriptional controls that operate in cells infected with frog virus 3. Our previous data, obtained by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of viral RNAs and proteins, showed that the addition of FPA at the beginning of infection completely prevented the synthesis of late viral RNAs and late viral proteins and blocked the normal progressive decline in the rates of synthesis of two quantitatively different classes (class I and class II) of early proteins. These results indicated that the initiation of late RNA and late protein syntheses, as well as the post-transcriptional regulation of early protein synthesis, was under the control of virus-specific proteins (D. B. Willis, R. Goorha, M. Miles, and A. Granoff, J. Virol. 24:326-342, 1977). In this communication, we show that the viral protein required to "turn on" the synthesis of late RNAs and late (class III) proteins was made within 1 to 1.5 h postinfection (p.i.); when we added FPA after this time, we observed the synthesis of all of the late macromolecules. The data also suggest that another viral protein, separate from the "turn-on" protein, controlled the abundance of late RNAs. In addition, at least two separate proteins were involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of two classes of early proteins. When FPA addition was delayed until 2 h p.i., the rate of synthesis of class I proteins (which normally peaked at 2 h p.i.) was reduced by 6 h p.i. just as in a normal infection, but the rate of synthesis of class II proteins (which normally reached a maximum at 4 h p.i. before declining) was reduced only when we waited until 3 or 4 h p.i. to add FPA. These experiments corroborate and extend previous evidence for the existence of numerous viral regulatory proteins in the control of frog virus 3 gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels.
Library savings through student labor

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to briefly present current research and insight into the subject of student labor as a sharp cost-saving measure in the management of today’s library personnel budgets. Design/methodology/approach – Drawing from a recent empirical study on the subject, this article adds commentary from other researchers on the pitfalls and benefits of student library labor versus paraprofessionals and librarians. Findings – Although library student workers are commonly not seen as “ideal” employees, their demonstrated performance on many library tasks is compelling enough to consider hiring more of them in place of existing staff. Originality/value – This subject can be provocative for managers to simply mention to their staff or professional colleagues. There is little research in this area, and this article helps to broach the subject in a candid manor to spark more discussion among library staff looking to improve their bottom line.
An examination into the origin, possible synthesis and physical properties of diamonds

1) An examination of the geological formation of diamond indicates that they were formed at depth and under conditions of thermodynamics stability. 2) While the literature contains no certain example of the artificial production of the diamond, it seems unlikely that this situation will long maintain. 3) An explanation of some of the physical properties of the diamond are offered in terms of its highly localized electronic bonding.
Observations of corona in triggered dart‐stepped leaders

Corona streamers are a critical component of lightning leader step formation and are postulated to produce the very high electric fields at their tips that produce runaway electrons resulting in the observed X-ray bursts associated with leader stepping. Corona emanating from the vicinity of the leader tip between leader steps was analyzed using three sequential high-speed video sequences of dart-stepped leaders in three different triggered lightning flashes during the summers of 2013 and 2014 in northeast Florida. Images were recorded at 648 kiloframes per second (1.16 µs exposure time, 380 ns dead time) at an altitude of 65 m or less. In each image sequence, the leader propagates downward in consecutive frames, with corona streamers observed to fan outward from the bright leader tip in less than the image frame time of about 1.5 µs. In 21 exposures, corona streamers propagate, on average, 9 m below the bright leader tip.
Evaluating phase movement theory with the dramatis personae of time: 1923–1988

Parsons and Bales maintain that the temporal organization of a group's activities is characterized by a periodic swing between internal and external imperatives. The phase hypothesis holds that at the societal level phases characterized by an emphasis on solving external problems will be accompanied by economic prosperity. Temporal organization is also characterized by adaptive upgrading in response to environmental demands and a concomitant secular trend, or increasingly external focus. To test these hypotheses, 3,209 roles featured on the cover of Time magazine from 1923 to 1988 were classified as either internal (educators, mass media, entertainers, athletes, celebrities, private interest group leaders, religious leaders, and labor leaders) or external (politicians, public interest group leaders, military, administrators, scientists, and foreigners). A Phase Index was determined by the proportion of external roles. The level of business activity was established by the Cleveland Trust Company's “America...
Vertebrate microRNA genes.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an abundant class of ∼22-nucleotide (nt) noncoding RNAs, some of which are known to control the expression of other genes at the posttranscriptional level ([1–4][1]). We developed a computational procedure (MiRscan) to identify miRNA genes ([5][2]) and apply it here to
Philosophy of biology in the twenty-first century

We have survived the first decade of what Craig Venter and others have called ‘‘the biological century’’ (p. 530). A complete draft of the human genome is now available to scientists and the general public (p. 451). But the human genome project seems like old news, and progress continues: over a hundred eukaryotic genomes have been sequenced since 2003; last year, a team led by Venter created the first bacterial cell controlled by a synthetic genome (Gibson et al., 2010). These developments in biology have brought with them a series of ontological, epistemological, and ethical questions. Small wonder that the philosophy of biology, which only emerged as a separate subfield in the 1970s (pp. 23–25), has become one of the most exciting areas of philosophy. Assembling a philosophy of biology handbook is difficult, as the field encompasses several different types of research. Philip Kitcher (2005, p. 820) describes four standard approaches:
The role of purchasing/transportation in cycle time reduction

Reviews the literature of purchasing and transportation management to identify factors in the purchasing and transportation processes that influence a firm’s ability to reduce total cycle time. Presents a model of these factors to establish a framework for guiding research into comprehensive, systematic approaches to total cycle time reduction. In addition, the total cycle time model serves as a blueprint for practitioners in evaluating, in specific organizations, the effect of the purchasing and transportation processes on total cycle time. Although much of the research reviewed herein dates to the early 1980s its consideration as part of a comprehensive, systematic examination of the total cycle time concept is new.
The Case for Trials: Considering the Intangibles

In the United States, trials perform important functions that are difficult to quantify. Trials, for example, educate Americans about each other, and the law. They are a vivid, practical example of the faith in democracy that lies at the core of the American experiment. It is worrisome that trials are declining as trial arbiters—jurors and judges—become more diverse. The rejection of trials may also evidence a new and troubling cultural preference for compromise over standing on principles. The article recommends that trials be encouraged, including by reducing the costs of losing and by evaluating proposed laws and policies for the effect that they would have on trials.
A new route into hexahydro-cyclopenta[b]pyrrole-cis-3a,6-diols. Synthesis of constrained bicyclic analogues of pyrrolidine azasugars

Abstract Compounds that simultaneously combine charge and conformational features of glycosyltransfer transition states are of interest as transition state analog inhibitors. The synthesis of a central intermediate, cis-3a,6-dihydroxy-hexahydro-cyclopenta[b]pyrrol-2-one, which yielded a family of substituted cis-3a,6-dihydroxy-hexahydro-cyclopenta[b]pyrroles that combine conformational biasing and transition state charge mimicry, is described. The key steps in this synthesis involve synthesis of (2-azido-1,3-dihydroxy-cyclopentyl)-acetic acid ethyl ester in four steps from cyclopentenone, followed by an efficient reductive cyclization of the azide to the bicyclic lactam. The lactam was subsequently converted into the corresponding bicyclic pyrrolidine, and analogs having phenyl, hydroxyl, and phosphate substituents.
Optimal Design for System Reliability and Maintainability

A complex system consisting of N modules that are logically interconnected for mission success is to be placed in the field for a fixed period of time. For some modules, standby units can be provided, for others this option is not available, but we must select from among several design alternatives differing in cost, weight, and reliability. The problem is to determine simultaneously the module designs and the numbers of standby units to maximize the system reliability, subject to cost and/or weight constraints. Other authors have considered a similar problem for a pure series inter-connection of modules, but we permit the system to be any configuration of modules in series and/or parallel. A dynamic programming model is presented for this problem. The notion of the generalized decomposition operator is used to develop a set of recursive relations. An example is included.
The Effect of Instructor's Major/Instrument on Student Melodic Imitation Scores and Tone Quality

Scores obtained from the Intermediate Ear to Hand Test (Dickey & Froseth, 1991) were used to compare melodic-imitation and tone-quality scores between students who played the major instrument of their classroom instrumental music instructor and students who played a different instrument. Data were collected from 20 instrumental music classrooms that included eighth-grade students in the third year of instrumental music instruction. Students who played the major instrument of their instructor obtained statistically significant higher scores on overall performance quality when compared with students who did not, but the effect size was quite small, and there were no effects for the melodic-imitation or tone-quality components of overall performance quality.
Conservation as Virtue: a Scientific and Social Process for Conservation Ethics

Most scientists take ethical arguments for conservation as given and focus on scientific or economic questions. Although nature conservation is often considered a just cause, it is given little further consideration. A lack of attention to ethical theory raises serious concerns for how conservation scientists conceive and practice ethics. I contrast two common ways scientists approach ethics, as demonstrated in the writings of Stephen Jay Gould and E. O. Wilson. Gould casts severe doubt as to whether any ethics are possible from science, whereas Wilson proposes science as the only path to ethics. I argue these two methods ultimately limit popular support for conservation and offer Alasdair MacIntyre's "virtue ethics" as an alternative. Unlike Gould and Wilson, MacIntyre provides an ethical theory that reconciles scientific inquiry and social traditions. Recent studies of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States affirm MacIntyre's claims and provide important insights for conservation today. These accounts argue that social solidarity and political success against segregation were possible only as rooted in the particular language, logic, and practices of a robust cultural tradition. If correct, conservation science should attend to several questions. On what basis can conservation achieve widespread cultural legitimacy? What are the particular social currencies for a conservation ethic? What role does science play in such a scheme? MacIntyre's careful positioning of scientific and social traditions provides a hopeful ethical direction for conservation.
Ultrafast Manipulation of Electron Spin Coherence

A technique is developed with the potential for coherent all-optical control over electron spins in semiconductors on femtosecond time scales. The experiments show that optical “tipping” pulses can enact substantial rotations of electron spins through a mechanism dependent on the optical Stark effect. These rotations were measured as changes in the amplitude of spin precession after optical excitation in a transverse magnetic field and approach π/2 radians. A prototype sequence of two tipping pulses indicates that the rotation is reversible, a result that establishes the coherent nature of the tipping process.
Recent Advances in Emergency Life Support

With additional international input, recent changes in emergency life support are reflected in updated guidelines for Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) from the American Heart Association and new technology in the arena of vascular access and emergency airway management. These changes will expand nurses' ability to provide advanced levels of care, even in the prehospital situation, and represent a more rigorous evidence-based approach than ever before. As early morbidity and mortality in emergency situations are frequently associated with complications associated with airway management and vascular access, recent development in these areas are reviewed along with evolution in ACLS guidelines.
Measurements and interpretation of the absorption of 0.35 μm laser radiation on planar targets

Abstract We report on experimental plasma absorption of 0.35 μm radiation incident on plane targets. Absorption fractions between 50 and 98% were found for UV pulses of 90 and 450 ps duration on planar CH, nickel, and gold targets for intensities between 10 13 and 3 × 10 15 W/cm 2 . The results are in agreement with computer calculations using inverse bremsstrahlung absorption and a thermal electron heat flux limiter between 0.03 and 0.06
Immunology: Context is key in the gut

The vitamin-A metabolite retinoic acid normally favours immune tolerance in the gut. But in coeliac disease — an intestinal inflammatory disorder due to adverse reactivity to a dietary protein — it may do just the opposite. See Letter p.220 The vitamin A metabolite retinoic acid is shown to act synergistically with the cytokine interleukin-15 (IL-15) to induce IL-12p70 production by intestinal dendritic cells, thereby promoting an inflammatory T-cell response to dietary antigens. IL-15 is upregulated in the guts of patients with coeliac disease, and this new work points to a previously unknown involvement of IL-15 and retinoic acid in promoting an inflammatory immune response to gluten.
Remark on a paper of Piff and Welsh

Abstract It is shown that a transversal matroid of rank r on a set of cardinality m is representable over any field of order greater than m + ( inr −1 m ).
Actin Dosage Lethality Screening in Yeast Mediated by Selective Ploidy Ablation Reveals Links to Urmylation/Wobble Codon Recognition and Chromosome Stability

The actin cytoskeleton exists in a dynamic equilibrium with monomeric and filamentous states of its subunit protein actin. The spatial and temporal regulation of actin dynamics is critical to the many functions of actin. Actin levels are remarkably constant, suggesting that cells have evolved to function within a narrow range of actin concentrations. Here we report the results of screens in which we have increased actin levels in strains deleted for the ~4800 nonessential yeast genes using a technical advance called selective ploidy ablation. We detected 83 synthetic dosage interactions with actin, 78 resulted in reduced growth, whereas in 5 cases overexpression of actin suppressed the growth defects caused by the deleted genes. The genes were highly enriched in several classes, including transfer RNA wobble uridine modification, chromosome stability and segregation, cell growth, and cell division. We show that actin overexpression sequesters a limited pool of eEF1A, a bifunctional protein involved in aminoacyl-transfer RNA recruitment to the ribosome and actin filament cross-linking. Surprisingly, the largest class of genes is involved in chromosome stability and segregation. We show that actin mutants have chromosome segregation defects, suggesting a possible role in chromosome structure and function. Monomeric actin is a core component of the INO80 and SWR chromatin remodeling complexes and the NuA4 histone modification complex, and our results suggest these complexes may be sensitive to actin stoichiometry. We propose that the resulting effects on chromatin structure can lead to synergistic effects on chromosome stability in strains lacking genes important for chromosome maintenance.
The Effect of Past Performance on Expected Control and Risk Attitudes in Integrative Negotiations

Three experiments examine the relationship between past performance and strategies and risk attitudes in integrative negotiations. We hypothesized that past performance would affect negotiators’ willingness to embrace two types of risk: strategic (i.e., information sharing in the present) versus contractual (i.e., uncertainty about the future). Consistent with the hypothesis that past success promotes strategic risk taking, dyads with a history of success were more integrative than dyads with a history of failure in Experiment 1. In Experiment 2, we demonstrated that past performance impacts intentions regarding these two types of risk. Specifically, due to lower expected control over the negotiation process, past failure led negotiators to prefer a contractual risk strategy over a strategic risk strategy. In Experiment 3, we explored one implication of this tendency by showing a greater willingness of past failure negotiators to enter into a contingent agreement, which delays the outcome of the deal until a future point in time. Together these findings indicate that past performance influences not only the amount of risk negotiators assume but also the type of risk they are willing to embrace.
Comment on “The Ocean Sink for Anthropogenic CO2”

Using data from recently completed hydrographic surveys of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and related tracers in the world's oceans, Sabine et al . ([ 1 ][1]) arrived at an estimate of 118 ± 19 Pg C for the uptake of anthropogenic CO2 by the oceans through 1994. This estimate uses the “ΔC*
Inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis by novobiocin

Abstract In E. coli novobiocin immediately inhibits DNA synthesis and to a lesser extent RNA synthesis, while inhibition of protein synthesis and growth, and increased membrane permeability, appear considerably later. The drug is not bound detectably to DNA, and therefore may act directly on the polymerase system.
Fetal microchimerism persists at high levels in c-kit stem cells in sensitized mothers.

We previously showed that fetal and maternal exposure to non-inherited maternal antigens (NIMA) during gestation and nursing resulted in lifelong tolerance to NIMA in some offspring. This NIMA-specific tolerance was mediated by regulatory T cells (Tregs) and was correlated with the level of multi-lineage maternal microchimerism (Mc) indicating a causative link between Mc and Treg development. To determine if transfer of fetal cells into mothers resulted in a similar tolerance to fetal cells, we used qPCR to detect rare fetal derived cells and a delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) assay to detect fetal alloantigen-specific effector and regulatory T cells in mothers. We found that 5/8 B6 mothers of H2b/d offspring were sensitized to the alloantigens H2d and HY, indicating a dominance of alloantigen-specific effector T cells in the mothers. Though these sensitized mothers did not have detectable fetal Mc (FMc) in any of the organs tested, they had very high levels of fetus-derived c-kit+ stem cells in their ...
Trapped Mode Phenomena in a Weakly Overmoded Waveguiding Structure of Rectangular Cross Section

A general formula of the transmission coefficient derived from the Scattering Matrix Method (SMM) for reciprocal, lossless or lossy trapped mode structures is presented. Verifications of the theory by means of experiment and computer simulations (HFSS and Cascade) of the transmission coefficient are also presented. The rectangular cross section waveguide structure we considered consists of an uptaper, a straight uniform section, and a downtaper. The dominant TE10 mode can propagate through the structure whereas the TE30 mode is trapped within the center region of the structure. It is also shown that our formula reduces to that given by King and Marcatili for the reciprocal and lossless case. The first five resonant frequencies and the transmission coefficient for the trapped mode structure have been calculated and compared to the results from the experiment and the computer simulations. At the resonant frequencies of the trapped mode, the transmitted power of the dominant TE10 mode may be reduced signific...
Congruency of phylogenies derived from different proteins

This communication examines the question of phylogenetic congruency- i.e., whether or not the branching order of evolutionary trees is independent of the protein studied. It was found that trees constructed for birds on the basis of immunological comparison of their transferrins, albumins, and ovalbumins agree approximately with a published tree based on the amino acid sequences of their lysozymesc.
The isolation and characterization of a Saccharomyces mutant deficient in Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase activity

Abstract 1. Clones failing to grow on proline were isolated after ethylmethane-sulfonate treatment of a glutamate auxotroph of Saccharomyces, originally capable of utilizing proline as principal nitrogen source. 2. Most of the non-utilizers of proline were cytochromeless. One, however, possessed normal cytochrome levels but lacked Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase activity. This is the first isolate of this lesion in Saccharomyces.
Pediatric preoperative blood ordering: when is a type and screen or crossmatch really needed?

SummaryBackground Unnecessary testing for and ordering of blood products adds to overall healthcare costs. Objectives Determine intraoperative red blood cell (RBC) product utilization for pediatric procedures and costs associated with perioperative testing and ordering. Methods A retrospective chart review captured perioperative blood testing and intraoperative transfusion data for patients <19 years of age who underwent noncardiac surgery over a 13-month period at one tertiary care hospital. The main outcome measure was cost associated with testing for blood products in patients undergoing procedures that had a zero rate of transfusion. Results The intraoperative transfusion rate for 8620 noncardiac pediatric procedures was 2.78%. Of 8380 nontransfused patients, 707 (8.4%) had type and screen, and of those, 420 (5%) were crossmatched for RBC products in preparation for surgery. The 10 surgical procedures that had the highest perioperative blood testing but no instances of transfusion were as follows: colostomy or ileostomy takedown, spinal cord untethering, tunneled catheter placement, laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication, elbow reduction and fixation, lumbar puncture, suboccipital craniectomy, hip arthrogram, percutaneous intravascular central line, and tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Procedures with low transfusion probability and high crossmatch testing were ventriculoperitoneal shunt revision and growing rod distraction. For all nontransfused patients, the cost of obtaining type and screen was $31 815, and the cost for crossmatch was $25 200. Conclusion Patients may undergo preoperative type and screen or crossmatch for procedures rarely associated with transfusion. Historic transfusion probability may be used to predict need for transfusion for specific surgical procedures and reduce unnecessary perioperative testing and associated costs.
Immobilization hypercalcemia treatment with pamidronate disodium after spinal cord injury.

Abstract Objective: To review the use of pamidronate to treat immobilization hypercalcemia after acute spinal cord injury (SCI) in 9 cases. Design: Retrospective case series. Setting: Two inpatient rehabilitation programs, one pediatric and one adult, in the Northwest Regional Spinal Cord Injury System. Patients: Patients with acute SCI who developed immobilization hypercalcemia that was treated with pamidronate. Results: Nine patients (7 men, 2 women), ages 15 to 41yrs, with SCI (8 tetraplegia, 1 paraplegia) were treated using pamidronate between 1994 and 1998. A single dose of 60mg of pamidronate resolved the hypercalcemia or its symptoms in 7 (78%) patients within days. One patient required a second dose (90mg) and one patient required three additional doses (the fourth at 90mg) to achieve resolution of the hypercalcemia or symptoms. Side effects were mild and included drug-related fever in one patient and transient asymptomatic hypocalcemia in four patients. Conclusion: Pamidronate was effective in treating immobilization hypercalcemia caused by SCI. Its advantages include its effectiveness, the duration of treatment, ease of administration, and elimination of the need for long-term intravenous saline or daily medications.
Interfacial atomic transport in the nucleation of crystalline silicon from the melt

Abstract Observations of liquid supercooling achieved prior to solidification of rapidly quenched Si thin films as a function of quench rate are examined in terms of a numerical model for transient nucleation, which allows estimation of the kinetics for the transfer of atoms to and from crystalline clusters. The process is found to be thermally activated with an activation energy of 1.09 ± 0.05 eV/atom. This differs appreciably from previous estimates for the activation energy for planar growth of crystalline Si (≈0.3 eV) and possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed.
EMG contamination of EEG: spectral and topographical characteristics.

Abstract Objective : Electromyogram (EMG) contamination is often a problem in electroencephalogram (EEG) recording, particularly, for those applications such as EEG-based brain–computer interfaces that rely on automated measurements of EEG features. As an essential prelude to developing methods for recognizing and eliminating EMG contamination of EEG, this study defines the spectral and topographical characteristics of frontalis and temporalis muscle EMG over the entire scalp. It describes both average data and the range of individual differences. Methods : In 25 healthy adults, signals from 64 scalp and 4 facial locations were recorded during relaxation and during defined (15, 30, or 70% of maximum) contractions of frontalis or temporalis muscles. Results : In the average data, EMG had a broad frequency distribution from 0 to >200 Hz. Amplitude was greatest at 20–30 Hz frontally and 40–80 Hz temporally. Temporalis spectra also showed a smaller peak around 20 Hz. These spectral components attenuated and broadened centrally. Even with weak (15%) contraction, EMG was detectable ( P 12 Hz in the average data and >8 Hz in some individuals. Conclusions : Frontalis or temporalis muscle EMG recorded from the scalp has spectral and topographical features that vary substantially across individuals. EMG spectra often have peaks in the beta frequency range that resemble EEG beta peaks. Significance : While EMG contamination is greatest at the periphery of the scalp near the active muscles, even weak contractions can produce EMG that obscures or mimics EEG alpha, mu, or beta rhythms over the entire scalp. Recognition and elimination of this contamination is likely to require recording from an appropriate set of peripheral scalp locations.
The Relationship between Bacteria and the Abnormal Follicular Keratinization in Acne Vulgaris

The structural organization and bacteriological profile of follicular casts and early comedones in prepuberal children were investigated. Follicular casts were present in all samples but were not as abundant as usually seen in older individuals with acne. When examined with the light microscope, all casts and comedones were composed of numerous layers of horny cells and sebum, but were devoid of bacteria. Neither follicular casts nor comedones yielded bacteria when cultured. Electron microscopy of the follicular casts revealed the presence of small round, discrete lipid droplets, and alternating dense and less dense lamellar configurations within the horny cells. Some horny cells closest to the sebum-filled lumen contained large lipid masses, resulting in "balloon-shaped" regions. Prepuberal follicular horny cells contained all of the abnormalities usually seen in follicular casts and biopsy material from acne patients, which suggests that these casts are potential comedones. These aberrations occurred in the complete absence of bacteria indicating that bacteria are not essential to the formation of casts or comedones. Furthermore, our findings indicate that bacteria play little if any role in the initial events of pathological keratinization.
Interactional Constraints on Proposal Generation in Mediation Hearings: A Preliminary Investigation

Previous research on negotiation and bargaining suggests that problem-solving strategies lead to more beneficial outcomes than contentious strategies. This paper asks whether participants in mediat...
Binding and Photoreactivity of Psoralen Linked to Triple Helix-Forming Oligonucleotides ¶

Abstract Triple helix–forming oligonucleotides conjugated to a psoralen (psoTFO) have been designed to bind to three distinct purine-rich sequences within the human interstitial collagenase (MMP1) gene. Gel mobility shift assays indicate that these psoTFO bind to and photoreact with model target DNA sequences following ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation. The dissociation constants for binding of the psoTFO to their targets range from 0.3 to 4 μM. Psoralen monoadducts with the purine-rich target strand and interstrand crosslinks are efficiently formed on targets containing either 5′-ApT-3′ or 5′-TpA-3′ sequences adjacent to the TFO binding sequence. The dependence of adduct formation on UVA dose has provided quantitative estimates of the overall rate constants for psoralen monoadduct and crosslink formation in the presence of a TFO. When psoralen is tethered to a TFO, the rate of monoadduct formation exceeds that of crosslinking for all sequences studied. This contrasts with the relatively low rate of monoadd...
On Predicting Failures in a Future Time Period From Known Observations

The problem of a prediction interval for the number of failures of a system during a future time period knowing the failures observed during a time interval in the past is considered. It is assumed that the failures follow a Poisson process. Now, if the failures in both time intervals were known, they could be used to test the hypothesis that the two observations were generated by the same Poisson law. By appropriately inverting the inequalities for the critical region of the above test, it is possible to generate the prediction limits for the number of failures in one time interval by observing the failures in the other time interval, provided both observations are subject to the same Poisson law.
Right lower quadrant pain.

Dr. Martin Lucenti: Today’s case is that of a 47-yearold woman G1P0 with the complaint of right lower quadrant (RLQ) pain. The patient had a history of uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts. The pain was described as crampy and nonradiating, and was similar in nature to the pain she had experienced with a left ovarian cyst 4 years earlier. The symptoms began during the evening prior to emergency department (ED) presentation. The patient had nausea, but had not vomited, and had a normal bowel movement prior to ED arrival. Her appetite was normal, and she had breakfast earlier in the morning. She denied fever, chills, night sweats, dysuria, or back pain. The patient was menstruating for 3 days prior to presentation, and described this as consistent with prior menstrual cycles. She was monogamous, sexually active, denied any history of sexually transmitted disease, and was not taking oral contraceptive agents. She was only taking acetaminophen for pain, and was allergic to sulfa drugs and tetracycline. She lived with her husband and did not drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes. Dr. Eric Nadel: Are there any questions regarding the initial history? Dr. Laura Bontempo: Can you describe the past gynecological history in more detail? Dr. Lucenti: The patient had a history of numerous episodes of pelvic pain and menorrhagia. The patient was diagnosed with uterine fibroids in 1992. She underwent a myomectomy at that time. In 1997, the patient had a left hydrosalpinx requiring surgical drainage. During that operation a lysis of adhesions was performed. She had cervical dysplasia with cryosurgery in 1988. On physical examination, her temperature was 37.1° C (98.7° F), blood pressure 138/63 mm Hg, pulse 84 beats per minute, respiratory rate 18 breaths per minute, oxygen saturation 100% on room air. The patient appeared comfortable and was alert and oriented. Examination of the head and neck revealed pupils that were equal and reactive to light, no pharyngeal exudate, and no meningeal signs. The cardiac examination revealed a regular heart rate without any murmurs or extra heart sounds. Examination of the lungs revealed clear breath sounds bilaterally. The abdominal examination was remarkable for normal bowel sounds, minimal right lower quadrant tenderness to palpation near McBurney’s point, and no rebound or guarding. Rovsing, psoas, and obturator signs were negative. Rectal examination revealed heme negative stool, and no right or left-sided tenderness. The pelvic examination showed a closed os with minimal oozing of blood. Bimanual evaluation revealed right adnexal tenderness, and no cervical motion tenderness. Examination of the back revealed no costovertebral angle tenderness. The extremities showed no peripheral
INTERFERON THERAPY IN CHRONIC IMMUNE THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA IN CHILDHOOD 169

Fifteen children with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura were treated with interferon alpha 2a with a 3 mil/m2 dose 3 times weekly for a total of 15 doses.
Uric acid excretion in infants and children.

Abstract A new paper-chromatographic test for urinary uric acid is described based on the reaction of dichloroquinonechlorimide with uric acid. Mean excretion of uric acid by 2506 infants and children was 0.51 ± 0.37 mg/ml. Differences between boys and girls were not significant. Uric acid excretion increased during the age period from 3 months to 1–2 years and remained fairly constant up to 12–16 years. Uric acid determinations using the standard uricase method showed a high correlation with values obtained by paper chromatography.
Testing for Detailed Balance (Microscopic Reversibility) in IonChannel Gating

The gating of ion channels is subject to the thermodynamicprinciple of detailed balance (microscopic reversibility). Inthe absence of an external energy source driving the gating,the number of transitions in each direction between any twostates should (on average) be equal at thermodynamic equi-librium so that the single-channel record shows time revers-ibility (Colquhoun and Hawkes, 1982, 1995). For gatingmechanisms in which states are connected in loops, detailedbalance is preserved if the product of the rate constants inthe clockwise direction around each loop is equal to theproduct of the rate constants in the counterclockwise direc-tion around the same loop (Colquhoun and Hawkes, 1982,1995). A violation of detailed balance would indicate thepresence of an external energy source, as in the gating ofCl channels from Torpedo, where the external energysource is the Cl gradient (Richard and Miller, 1990).In a recent paper published in the
Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complexes from Ricinus communis Endosperm

Summary The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex was isolated, partially purified and characterized from mitochondria of germinating and developing endosperm of castor oil seeds ( Ricinus communis var. N5). The complex required coenzyme A, thiamine pyrophosphate, NAD + and a divalent cation for activity which was optimal at pH 7.0–7.4. The Michaelis constants were 51, 3 and 90μM for NAD + , coenzyme A and pyruvate, respectively. There was competitive inhibition between NADH (K i = 15μM) and NAD + , as well as acetyl-CoA (K i = 20μM) and CoA. Incubation of lysed mitochondria with ATP phosphorylated and inactivated the complex. A pyruvate dehydrogenase-kinase transfers the γ-phosphate of ATP to the complex. Pyruvate, dichloroacetate and EDTA inhibited this phosphorylation. Reactivation (dephosphorylation) occurred after treatment with Mg 2+ . Dephosphorylation was inhibited by fluoride. Western blots revealed no detectable difference in subunit structure of PDC from mitochondria of both germinating and developing tissue. The plastid enzyme subunit structure was significantly different from the mitochondrial complex. Results of these studies indicate that the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from mitochondria of the two tissue types exhibit similar characteristics and regulation, but are very distinct from the plastid complex.
Generation and purification of highly specific antibodies for detecting post-translationally modified proteins in vivo

Post-translational modifications alter protein structure, affecting activity, stability, localization and/or binding partners. Antibodies that specifically recognize post-translationally modified proteins have a number of uses including immunocytochemistry and immunoprecipitation of the modified protein to purify protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid complexes. However, antibodies directed at modified sites on individual proteins are often nonspecific. Here we describe a protocol to purify polyclonal antibodies that specifically detect the modified protein of interest. The approach uses iterative rounds of subtraction and affinity purification, using stringent washes to remove antibodies that recognize the unmodified protein and low sequence complexity epitopes containing the modified amino acid. Dot blot and western blot assays are used to assess antibody preparation specificity. The approach is designed to overcome the common occurrence that a single round of subtraction and affinity purification is not sufficient to obtain a modified protein-specific antibody preparation. One full round of antibody purification and specificity testing takes 6 d of discontinuous time.