cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The frequency of trisomy and translocation in Down's syndrome

Data are now available to provide guidelines for determining which patients with Down's syndrome, and their families, should be studied by chromosomal analysis to determine if the disorder is genetically transmitted. Tables are presented to indicate the approximate incidence or frequency of the trisomy and translocation syndromes at different maternal ages, as well as the probability of a transmittable translocation. Available data indicate that if the maternal age is less than 30 years at the time of the birth of an infant with Down's syndrome, there is a 1 in 50 probability that the affected child has an inherited translocation; if the maternal age is 30 years or over, the chances are about 1 in 333. These estimates do not refer to recurrence risks, but rather to probabilities of an inherited translocation associated with Down's syndrome.
Correlation of radiographic and manometric findings in patients with ineffective esophageal motility.

Background: Ineffective esophageal motility disorder (IEM) is a new, manometrically defined, esophageal motility disorder, associated with severe gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), GERD-associated respiratory symptoms, delayed acid clearance, and mucosal injury. Videoesophagram is an important, inexpensive, and widely available tool in the diagnostic evaluation of patients with esophageal pathologies. The efficacy of videoesophagography has not been rigorously examined in patients with IEM. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of videoesophagography in patients with IEM. Methods: The radiographic and manometric findings of 202 consecutive patients presenting with foregut symptoms were evaluated. IEM was defined by strict manometric criteria. All other named motility disorders such as achalasia were excluded. Videoesophagography was performed according to a standard protocol. Results: Of patients in this cohort, 16% (33/202) had IEM by manometric criteria. Of IEM patients, 55% (18/33) had an abnormal videoesophagram, while in 45% (15/33) this test was read as normal. Only 11% (15/137) of patients with a normal videoesophagram were found to have IEM. Sensitivity of videoesophagram was 54.6%, specificity 72.2%, positive predictive value only 27.7%, and negative predictive value 89.1% in the diagnosis of IEM. Conclusions: These data show that videoesophagram is relatively insensitive in detecting patients with IEM and should not be considered a valid diagnostic test for this disorder. We conclude that esophageal manometry is an indispensable diagnostic modality in the workup of a patient with suspected of IEM.
EOSINOPHILIC FUNGAL RHINOSINUSITIS: SURGICAL IMPLICATIONS

Eosinophilic fungal rhinosinusitis (ERFS) is a disease that is in the mucus of the nose and leads to inflammatory tissue swelling and, eventually, frank nasal polyps. Surgical therapy demands removal of as much of the mucin as possible. To accomplish this goal, various techniques are described in this report.
A framework of total value orientation for strategic outsourcing decisions

Purpose – This paper aims to provide a comprehensive framework of strategic value encompassing several critical dimensions of value creation/delivery process amidst transactions between organizations, which outsource their work to local/global service‐providing firms.Design/methodology/approach – The paper consolidates pertinent extant literature encompassing these value dimensions, into a cohesive framework of “total value orientation” (TVO) for strategic outsourcing decisions, juxtaposed with their respective antecedents/outcomes.Findings – This research paper models the strategic outsourcing process as blending the three perspectives of shared value, respectively, outsourcing service‐provider value, client firm value, and relationship value, which converge toward manifesting into a common synergy labeled as “TVO” of the business system; thereby explaining how outsourcing has transitioned from a mere economically convenient and transaction cost optimizing‐business decision to a more strategically driven...
EMPLOYMENT, FAMILY LEAVE, AND PARENTS OF NEWBORNS OR SERIOUSLY ILL CHILDREN

Abstract Objectives Parents of newborns and children with special health care needs (CSHCN) often experience conflict between employment and family responsibilities. Family leave benefits such as the federal Family and Medical Leave Act and California's Paid Family Leave Insurance program help employed parents miss work to bond with a newborn or care for an ill child. The use of these benefits, however, is rare among mothers of CSHCN and fathers in general and limited even among mothers of newborns. We explored barriers to and experiences with leave-taking among parents of newborns and CSHCN. Methods We conducted semistructured qualitative interviews in 2008 with 10 mothers and 10 fathers of newborns and 10 mothers and 10 fathers of CSHCN in Los Angeles to explore their need for and experiences with family leave. Qualitative analytical techniques were used to identify themes in the transcripts. Results All parents reported difficulties in accessing and using benefits, including lack of knowledge by employers, complexity of rules and processes, and inadequacy of the benefits themselves. Parents of CSHCN also described being too overwhelmed to rapidly seek and process information in the setting of urgent and often unexpected health crises. Most parents expressed a clear desire for expert guidance and saw hospitals and clinics as potentially important providers. Conclusions Even when parents are aware of family leave options, substantial barriers prevent many, especially parents of CSHCN, from learning about or applying for benefits. Clinics and hospitals might be opportune settings to reach vulnerable parents at times of need.
A search for preferential synthesis of specific nuclear DNA's during mammary gland development.

Summary The hormone-dependent differentiation of mammary gland epithelium of mature mice in vitro requires the synthesis of DNA. Only the daughter cells are capable of milk protein synthesis upon exposure to hormones. This coupling of cell proliferation to initiation of specific protein synthesis has suggested that gene amplification could be involved in the regulation of milk protein synthesis during lactation. It has been reported that DNA with a different buoyant density appears in the mammary gland at lactation in the mouse. The experiments reported here demonstrate that there is no change in the buoyant density of DNA in mammary epithelial cells either at lactation or during hormone-dependent differentiation of mammary tissue in tissue culture.
Neuroanatomic and behavioral traits for autistic disorders in age-specific restricted index selection mice

The pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism is believed to be influenced by interactions between genetic and environmental factors, and appropriate animal models are needed to assess the influence of such factors on relevant neurodevelopmental phenotypes. A set of inbred mouse strains (Atchley strains) including A12 (E+L0) and A22 (E-L0) were generated by age-specific restricted index selection from a baseline random-bred ICR mouse population obtained from Harlan Sprague-Dawley [Atchley et al. (1997) Genetics 146(2):629-640; Indianapolis, IN, USA). As compared with the A22 strain, A12 mice had significantly increased early (P0-P10) body weight gain with minimal changes in late (P28-P56) body weight gain. We found that these strains also differed in brain weight, brain volume, cell proliferation, and FGF-2 levels in certain brain regions. Specifically, brain weight and volume were significantly greater in A12 mice than that in A22 mice at P10 and P28. Quantitative analysis of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling of proliferating cells showed that the number of BrdU-positive cells in the A12 strain were significantly greater in the frontal cortex and lesser in the dentate gyrus than that in the A22 strain at P28. Western blot revealed that fibroblast growth factors-2 (FGF-2), but not brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), expression was significantly increased in the frontal cortex of A12 strain at P28. Also, A12 mice exhibited decreased intra-strain social interaction and increased repetitive stereotyped behaviors at P28. Our study suggests that A12 mice may partially mimic the anatomic and behavioral traits of patients with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders, and therefore may yield insights into the developmental mechanisms involved in their pathogenesis.
Impacts of Active Oil Pumps and Deer Feed Plots on Amphibian and Reptile Assemblages in a Floodplain

Abstract Floodplain forests are among the most threatened habitats in North America. We used the richness, abundance and diversity of amphibians and reptiles to assess the effects of habitat modifications at the Old Sabine Bottom Wildlife Management Area (OSBWMA) in Smith County, Texas, USA. Amphibians and reptiles were surveyed using artificial cover objects and minnow traps at nine ephemeral pools: three in undisturbed bottomland forest, three in deer food plots and three near active oil pumps. A total of 627 amphibians and reptiles representing 31 species was captured. Undisturbed forest plots sustained a higher amphibian richness compared to food and oil pump plots. Amphibian abundance differed significantly among habitats with food plots having the highest and oil pump plots the lowest. Reptile abundance was not significantly different among habitat types neither was reptile richness following rarefaction correction. Overall, each habitat type had similar Simpson's diversity indices, ranging from 0.8...
Greater superficial petrosal nerve dissection: back to front or front to back?

Objective To introduce a novel surgical technique for the dissection of the greater superficial petrosal nerve (GSPN) in the middle fossa approach. Methods Interdural temporal elevation was performed with a front-to-back technique to preserve the GSPN in 12 sides of 6 injected cadaveric heads dissected through a middle fossa approach. Results The GSPN emerged from the facial hiatus in a shallow bony groove proximally, ran into a deeper sphenopetrosal groove, and eventually reached the mandibular nerve. With front-to-back dissection, this nerve was easily identified at the posterior border of the mandibular nerve. Dissection from front to back minimized the retraction force applied to the proximal part of the GSPN, which was preserved in all specimens. Conclusion The temporal dura can be elevated safely with a front-to-back technique to preserve the GSPN and to help maintain the physiological integrity of the facial nerve.
Adhesion molecules in skeletogenesis: I. transient expression of neural cell adhesion molecules (NCAM) in osteoblasts during endochondral and intramembranous ossification

We report that neural cell adhesion molecules (NCAM) are expressed transiently in developing chicken osteoblasts during osteogenesis using immunostaining on cryostat sections. NCAM is strongly expressed in most osteoblasts along bone trabeculae that coincide with the presence of collagen I and alkaline phosphatase activity. In endochondral ossification, NCAM is highly expressed in osteogenic buds as seen in the epiphysis and diaphysis of tibia and vertebrae. In intramembranous ossification, NCAM is seen in osteogenic condensation of calvaria and in the periosteum of tibial diaphysis. The expression is transient because NCAM is not expressed in mesenchymal cells before osteogenic condensation and NCAM expression is lost in osteocytes in later stages. The staining pattern suggests that NCAM is present on the cell membrane of osteoblasts. Using a specific monoclonal antibody, the osteoblast NCAM is shown to contain polysialic acid, which is enriched in embryonic brain. Northern blot analysis using chicken brain NCAM cDNA as probes showed two major sizes of mRNA at 6.4 and 4.2 kb in calvarial mRNA as opposed to bands at 7.2, 6.4, and 4.2 kb in the brain. An immunoblot showed major proteins at Mr 165 and 110 kd, unlike brain NCAM, which are 180, 140, and 120 kD. That NCAM is involved in bone morphogenesis is consistent with the general hypothesis that NCAM plays pivotal roles in mesenchymal condensation, as shown in the formation of muscle, kidney, skin, and cartilage. The results establish NCAM as a cell surface molecule expressed transiently during osteoblast lineage. The implication that NCAM may mediate osteoblast interaction and regulate skeletal morphogenesis is discussed.
A synthesis method for chemical plant operating procedures

Abstract A strategy is proposed for the systematic synthesis of operating procedures for chemical processing facilities. This strategy is based on artificial intelligence techniques, most importantly planning with constraints. Introduced in this paper is the technique of symbolic functional modelling, which has particular application in planning operating procedures for processes with recycle streams. Also introduced is the concept of stationary states, which are used as targets during procedure planning and real time operations, along with a decomposition strategy for the discovery of stationary states. Some of this methodology is implemented in a computer program called POPS (Prototype Operating Procedure Synthesis program). The application of POPS to a hydrocarbon chlorination process startup is illustrated.
How Can I Find a Pattern in this Random Data?: The Convergence of Multiplicative and Probabilistic Reasoning

Abstract This classroom-based research study examines the thinking of pre-calculus students about multiplicative growth and decay within a probabilistic context, thus bringing together two research strands in mathematics education: students' understanding of exponential functions and students' reasoning about random events. Using a multi-stage approach to model development, a curriculum unit was designed to elicit students' creation of a model or system that could be used to describe and explain the behavior of an experienced, probabilistic system. The evidence suggests that while the students made sense of the underlying multiplicative structure of the problem situation, many students experienced a conflict between the concept of a pattern and the concept of randomness. Students encountered difficulty in reconciling the deterministic nature of a closed-form analytic solution with the non-deterministic nature of a sequence of random events. These results suggest that there is a need for students to gain experience with non-deterministic models using contexts that provide meaningful empirical data.
"Symbols and selectivity" revisited.

Abstract The author recalls how he came to do one of the first statistical analyses of native American medicinal plants, published in volume 1 of Journal of Ethnopharmacology. The background of that paper, “Symbols and Selectivity,” involved a great deal of serendipity.
Thermochemical Properties, Pathway, and Kinetic Analysis on the Reactions of Benzene with OH: An Elementary Reaction Mechanism

Kinetics for the chemical activation reaction of the OH radical with benzene and unimolecular dissociation of the adduct are analyzed using quantum Rice−Ramsperger−Kassel (QRRK) theory for k(E) and master equation analysis for pressure falloff. Thermochemical properties and reaction path parameters are determined by ab initio and density functional calculations. Molecular structures and vibration frequencies are determined at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) and MP2(full)/6-31G(d) levels, with single point calculations for the energy at the B3LYP/6-311++G(2df,p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d,p), composite methods of CBS-Q, CBS-QB3 and G3(MP2) and the G3 methods. The OH addition to benzene forms a chemically activated prereactive complex with a shallow well (ca. 3 kcal mol-1), which predominantly dissociates back to reactants. Additional reactions of the energized precomplex include stabilization, or forward reaction to form hydroxycyclohexadienyl radical, C•HDOH, which has a well depth of 16 kcal mol-1. This C•HDOH adduct can eithe...
Internal solitary waves in the northwestern South China Sea inferred from satellite images

[1] Internal solitary waves (ISWs) in the northwestern South China Sea are studied from three spaceborne synthetic aperture radar images. ISWs are observed in the same area 18.5–20.5°N, 112–114°E. The common characteristics of the ISWs are: 1) their propagation directions are 270 ∼ 300 degrees with respect to north; 2) the wavelength is about 1.2–1.6 km; 3) the distance between two neighboring ISW packets is about 10 km, but it is not a constant; 4) in two images, the easternmost ISWs evolve into multiple rank-ordered soliton on the shelf (ISW fission); and 5) near Shenhu Shoal, a local uplift at 19.5°N, 112.9°E, one ISW packet splits into two ISW packets. Based on their propagation direction and barotropic tidal forcing analysis, we suggest that these ISWs originate from tide-topography interactions in the Luzon Strait. It takes the internal tide about 100 hours to propagate 880 km from the Luzon Strait to the observation site.
Could the Dumas Method Replace the Kjeldahl Digestion for Nitrogen and Crude Protein Determinations in Foods

Increased demand for determinations of nitrogen (N), and hence crude protein (CP), has led to wider use of the Dumas method in place of the traditional Kjeldahl methods. Although Kjeldahl N (KN) and Dumas N (DN) represent different N fractions, published studies on infant formula, animal feed and meat products have indicated that DN could replace KN with little practical impact on the reliability of the N values obtained. This study was conducted to establish whether DN determination could replace that of KN in a broader range of foods for CP calculation. Statistical analysis was performed on in-house assayed KN and DN values together with published KN and DN values for selected food products. In the range 0.05-6.8% N, KN may be estimated from DN with the equation : KN = 1.00 (P<0.01) x DN - 0.09 (P=0.50) (n = 101, R 2 = 0.98, P-regression < 0.01). Because N levels in individual groups of food did not span the entire range of N contents, KN : DN ratios were calculated for each food group. KN : DN ratios differed significantly (R 2 = 0.25, P <0.01) from group to group. Ratios of 1.01 for dairy, 1.00 for oilseeds, 0.99 for feed, 0.98 for infant formulas, 0.95 for cereals, 0.94 for meats, 0.89 for vegetables, 0.80 for fish and 0.73 for fruits were valid for the estimation of KN and CP using DN data. CP was independently calculated as CP1 = H x KN or CP2 = H x KN : DN x DN, where H is the nitrogen to protein conversion factor for the food group. Mean differences between CPI and CP2 values were 0% for dairy, oilseeds, feed, infant formulas and baby foods, cereals, meat and meat products, vegetables and vegetable products and fruit, and 1% for fish. These results suggest that DN may replace KN for the determination of N and CP in selected food groups when appropriate coefficients are used.
A User-Friendly VMM Based Interactive Mixed Signal Simulation Setup for MEMS Gyroscope ASIC Verification

Present day MEMS Gyroscope systems are almost always multi-die solutions with digital interface. Verification of such a system requires new and user-friendly methods to get first silicon success and reduce time to market. This paper presents an interactive mixed signal environment for verifying MEMS gyroscope system. To reduce time for verification this environment re-uses VMM environment made for digital verification. This environment provides common platform for different designers for validation of their designs.
Re: Childhood Lipid Screening: Evidence and Conflicts

McCrindle et al titled their response to our commentary, “Bringing Evidence to the Debate.” However, they primarily reiterated the rationale already in the guidelines, rather than bringing new evidence to address our concerns. One concern was that the guideline did not address the cost-efficacy of its recommendations. McCrindle et al cited studies of the cost-efficacy of screening for the rare (1 in 500) genetic condition familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). However, such a narrowly focused screening program was not recommended in the guideline. The $8700 per year gained that they quote is irrelevant because it refers to a program to screen family members of known FH cases,1 not to …
Market-based and Authorizer-based Accountability Demands and the Implications for Charter School Leadership

Charter school research has examined the relationship between charter school mission and issues of school accountability. However, there is a lack of research focusing on how charter school leaders frame and solve problems regarding multiple accountability demands. Given this gap, I investigate the question: How do charter school leaders conceptualize and address both market-based and authorizer-based accountability demands? To address this question, I interviewed 18 charter school leaders and school community members in the state of Wisconsin and utilized thematic analysis to illuminate the consequential components of charter school leadership practice in addressing these accountability demands. Findings indicate a tension between authorizer-based and market-based accountability demands for charter school leadership, and reconciliation of that tension involves multiple approaches, framed in identified themes, according to charter school type and authorizer.
Topical chemotherapy of advanced cutaneous malignancy with 5-Fluorouracil creme.

Klein et al. have demonstrated that basal cell carcinoma responds favorably to topical applications of 5-fluorouracil in an aquaphor creme base. In the present study 53 patients with advanced cutaneous basal cell and epidermoid carcinoma were treated with 5, 10, or 20 percent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in an aquaphor creme base to determine whether this mode of therapy might be superior to surgical excision or irradiation therapy. Patients included in the study fulfilled at least one of the following criteria on which the diagnosis of advanced cutaneous malignancy was made: (1) Primary epidermoid or basal cell carcinoma of the skin—(a) 2.0 cm in diameter or larger, or (b) involving deeper structures such as cartilage on the ear or bone on the top of the head, or (c) occurring in an area that would require a major surgical procedure to cure, or (d) requiring extensive irradiation therapy to cure. (2) Recurrent lesion at a site where a previous malignant lesion had been adequately treated. (3) Repeated solitary lesions occurring at different anatomic sites. (4) Multiple lesions, at least one of which was malignant, occurring simultaneously over a wide cutaneous area. The appropriate concentration of 5-FU creme was applied once daily for a minimum of 6 weeks and an average period of 9 weeks. One patient with a Marjolin's ulcer was treated in the hospital, and the remainder were treated on an outpatient basis. Pathologic diagnosis were as follows: basal cell, 35; epidermoid, 9; carcinoma in situ, 4; basal cell and epidermoid in the same patient, 3; and basosquamous, 2. In 50 patients progressive inflammation, gradual regression, disappearance, and healing were noted. Only malignant and premalignant tissue and its stroma appeared to be affected, while normal skin was affected only slightly or not at all. Healing occurred primarily with minimal or no scar formation. No local or invasive sepsis occurred. In three patients an apparently adequate inflammatory response was achieved, but the primary disease process was not eradicated; two of these patients had epidermoid carcinoma and one had basal cell carcinoma. Except for one patient who has been followed for 2 months since completing chemotherapy, the post-treatment follow-up period has ranged from 4 months to 2 years. The average follow-up period is 9 mouths. These preliminary results seem to indicate that daily topical application of an appropriate concentration of 5-fluorouracil in an aquaphor creme base for at least 6 weeks to advanced cutaneous basal cell or epiderrnoid Carcinoma is the treatment of choice when the diseaseis diffuse, there are no obvious metastases, and the procedure necessary to totally remove the involved area would be unusually mutilating.
Computer assisted neuron searching

Abstract A microprocessor controlled driver for the Kopf hydraulic microdrive is described. Neuron searching parameters can be specified during an experiment to facilitate the search for active neurons. These parameters include: period between movements, numbers of microns of electrode movement/advance, depth of penetration, automatic cessation of advacement when activity is encountered, and slow or rapid rates of movement. In addition, analog voltage outputs are available that are proportional to impulse frequency and to total impulse count.
Studies on vitamin D and its analogs. VIII. 3-deoxy-1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, a potent new analog of 1α,25-(OH)2-D3

Summary The seven step chemical synthesis of 3-deoxy-lα,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 from 1α,25-dihydroxycholesterol is described. This steroid is a potentially most interesting analog of the hormonally active form of vitamin D3, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 since it lacks only the 3β-hydroxyl group. The newly synthesized steroid stimulated intestinal calcium transport virtually as effectively as 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Further, the new compound is the most effective analog known to date in terms of its ability to compete with 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in an in vitro intestinal receptor assay.
Interpolation of functions from Besov-type spaces on Gaub-Chebyshev grids

Abstract In this paper, we give a unified approach to error estimates for interpolation on Gaus–Chebyshev grids for functions from certain Besov-type spaces with dominating mixed smoothness properties.
Epigenetics and the developmental origins of lung disease

The developmental origins of disease hypothesis have recently been expanded to include the early origins of lung disease, particularly early events that alter lung development. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), preterm birth with the need for prolonged mechanical ventilation, and maternal tobacco smoke (MTS) or nicotine exposure produce neonatal and adult lung disease. These perinatal insults are characterized by alterations in alveolar formation and changes in the expression of genes that regulate alveolarization, including IGF1 and PPARγ. A potential mechanism for such changes in gene expression is epigenetics. IGF1 and PPARγ have altered epigenetic states in response to these perinatal insults. Identification of the specific epigenetic mechanisms involved in the developmental origin of lung disease may facilitate identification of molecular biomarkers with the potential to personalize respiratory disease risk assessment and treatment. The purpose of this review is to summarize what is known about the developmental origins of lung disease, the epigenetic contributions to lung disease, and areas that need further investigation.
Physiological ecology of seed respiration in some tropical species

SUMMARY We examine the relationship of seed oxygen consumption rate (Vo2) to seed moisture content, seed mass, and seed age in 22 ecologically diverse tropical species. These seeds vary greatly in moisture content, age, mass, mechanism of dormancy and length of viability. We quantify each relationship with a power equation, Vo2=aXb, where X is the independent variable. Seed moisture content (MC) explains 80% of the variation in mass-specific VO2 (ml O2 g−1 h−1) among seeds of all species, whereas seed mass explains 28% MC) or dry (≤ 28% MC), seed mass explains 54% of the variation in mass-specific Vo2 (ml O2 g−1 h−1) within dry seeds, but no significant variation within moist seeds. In dry seeds, seed age explains only 27% of the variance in mass-specific Vo2, although seed age and moisture content are negatively correlated. On a per seed basis, seed mass explains 54% of the variation in mass-specific Vo2 (ml O2 h−1 per seed) in dry seeds and 83 % of the variation in moist seeds: the exponents of the power function, 0.54 in dry seeds and 0.78 in moist seeds, are within the range reported for the allometric relationship of oxygen consumption and body size in animals and prokaryotes. We present a framework for future studies that recognizes seed respiration as an important, yet unstudied, component of tropical seed ecophysiology. We discuss the ecological significance of seed respiration in three groups of tropical species which differ in seed moisture content, mass, viability, and post-dispersal moisture regimes: (1) shade-intolerant pioneer species with small, dry, orthodox seeds; (2) seasonally dormant species; and (3) shade-tolerant primary forest species with large, moist recalcitrant seeds.
Influence of pentachlorophenol on light emission from single barnacle muscle fibers preloaded with aequorin.

Experiments show that the resting ouabain-insensitive sodium efflux in giant fibers from the barnacle Balanus nubilus is stimulated by external application of pentachlorophenol (PCP). This work has...
Dendrimers as a scaffold for nitric oxide release

The preparation and characterization of nitric oxide (NO)-releasing dendrimer conjugates are reported. Generation 3 and 5 polypropylenimine dendrimers (DAB-Am-16 and DAB-Am-64) were modified at the exterior to impart different amine functionalities. The ability to store NO on a dendritic scaffold using N-diazeniumdiolate NO donors was examined via the reaction of primary amine, secondary amine, and amide functionalities with high pressures of NO (5 atm). The secondary amine dendrimer conjugates exhibited a high storage capacity for NO (up to 5.6 micromol NO/mg), greatly increasing the "payload" of released NO over existing macromolecular NO donors. The mechanism of diazeniumdiolate decomposition was proton initiated, generating NO spontaneously under physiological conditions (pH 7.4, 37 degrees C). The NO release durations (>16 h) observed for the secondary amine dendrimers were significantly longer compared to small molecule alkyl secondary amine diazeniumdiolates, thus illustrating a dendritic effect on NO release kinetics. The multivalent exterior of dendrimers allows for the future combination of NO donors and other functionalities on a single molecular scaffold, enabling diverse utility as NO storage/delivery systems.
Efficient processing of conical queries

Conical queries are a novel type of query with an increasing number of applications. Traditional index structures and retrieval mechanisms, in general, have been optimized for rectangular and circular queries, rather than conical queries. In this paper, we focus on conical queries which can be defined as a multi-dimensional cone in a multi-dimensional data space. We develop a model for expressing such queries and suggest efficient techniques for evaluating them. In particular, we explore the retrieval problem in the context of conical query processing and develop multi-disk allocation methods specifically for processing conical queries.
Regulation of Mitotic Inhibitor Mik1 Helps to Enforce the DNA Damage Checkpoint

The protein kinase Chk1 enforces the DNA damage checkpoint. This checkpoint delays mitosis until damaged DNA is repaired. Chk1 regulates the activity and localization of Cdc25, the tyrosine phosphatase that activates the cdk Cdc2. Here we report that Mik1, a tyrosine kinase that inhibits Cdc2, is positively regulated by the DNA damage checkpoint. Mik1 is required for checkpoint response in strains that lack Cdc25. Long-term DNA damage checkpoint arrest fails in Deltamik1 cells. DNA damage increases Mik1 abundance in a Chk1-dependent manner. Ubiquitinated Mik1 accumulates in a proteasome mutant, which indicates that Mik1 normally has a short half-life. Thus, the DNA damage checkpoint might regulate Mik1 degradation. Mik1 protein and mRNA oscillate during the unperturbed cell cycle, with peak amounts detected around S phase. These data indicate that regulation of Mik1 abundance helps to couple mitotic onset to the completion of DNA replication and repair. Coordinated negative regulation of Cdc25 and positive regulation of Mik1 ensure the effective operation of the DNA damage checkpoint.
The evolution of biomarkers in rheumatoid arthritis: From clinical research to clinical care

Background: Treatment efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been measured by clinical response, gross radiological results and some biochemical markers. With the new biologic treatments, markers for disease development, progress, severity and therapy response have evolved. Objectives: This review focuses on a selection of current markers and the need for better markers for determining RA treatment susceptibility and success. Methods: A review of the literature was conducted and expert opinions expressed. Results/conclusion: Current biomarkers mainly focus on disease activity and severity. Biomarkers for treatment response and susceptibility that help clinicians make initial treatment decisions are lacking or insufficient, yet required for optimal control of RA. A combination of biomarkers is necessary to classify a complex immune disease, such as RA.
Challenges in the Treatment of Overactive Bladder in the Octogenarian Female

The purpose of this paper is to discuss overactive bladder (OAB) treatment in the octogenarian female with focus on diagnosis, treatment options, and recent advances relevant to practicing physicians. OAB treatment in the octogenarian female should be individualized. Each patient has her own physical and mental limitations, support system, and treatment expectations. Physicians should assess patients in the overall context of their medical conditions and lifestyle, identify and treat reversible causes, reassess symptoms and continence goals, devise a feasible treatment plan, and follow for symptom improvement. Behavior and lifestyle modifications remain first line for OAB treatment in octogenarians. Age is not a contraindication to medical therapy. OAB procedures are generally low risk and require minimal or no anesthesia. Recent advances include two medications (Myrbetriq™, Oxytrol® for women) and three procedures (sacral neuromodulation, tibial nerve stimulation, onabotulinum toxin).
Lactotrope differentiation in rats is modulated by a milk-borne signal transferred to the neonatal circulation.

We have previously reported that normal differentiation of PRL-secreting cells in neonatal rats requires a maternal signal specific to the first few days of lactation. Subsequently, we found that milk proteins from this period had a greater capacity than those from later in lactation to stimulate lactotrope differentiation in vitro, suggesting that the maternal signal was a milk-borne peptide. We reasoned in the present study that if this were the case, the signal should be present in the serum of suckling pups, and its level should reflect that in mothers' milk. To test this hypothesis, we first compared serum from 3-day-old pups with that from newborn pups that had not yet suckled. Anterior pituitary cells from 1-day-old pups were cultured for 6 days in the presence of various serum samples (0.01-1.0% by volume). Lactotrope differentiation was assessed using a reverse hemolytic plaque assay for PRL. Serum from 3-day-old pups was more effective (P < 0.01; n = 4) than that from unsuckled newborns at stimu...
Evaluating family preservation services: Reframing the question of effectiveness

Abstract Family preservation services (FPS) were developed to prevent the unnecessary placement of children in foster care. Most descriptive reports and other non-experimental research cite the effectiveness of FPS in keeping families together; experimental and quasi-experimental studies, however, report more mixed findings. In light of conflicting findings and given that FPS have been effective for some families and not for others, the question of “Are family preservation services effective in preventing out-of-home placement?” needs to be reframed to “Under what service conditions are family preservation services effective in preventing out-of-home placement and for which families?” Using case-file data from 488 families who received FPS in Los Angeles County, the current study examined the “black box” implicit within this reframed question. A series of logistic regressions tested four models predicting program outcome (successful vs. unsuccessful program completion). The models testing the main effects of family and service characteristics alone were significant; however, including interaction terms between these variables in a combined model did not significantly improve the model. In addition, duration of services emerged as a key predictor of outcome such that the longer families received services, the greater the likelihood for a successful outcome. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.
Nonexistence of exceptional imprimitive Q-polynomial association schemes with six classes

Suzuki (1998) [9] showed that an imprimitive Q-polynomial association scheme with first multiplicity at least 3 is Q-bipartite, or is Q-antipodal, or has four or six classes. The exceptional case with four classes has recently been ruled out by Cerzo and Suzuki (2009) [5]. In this paper, we show the nonexistence of the last case with six classes. Hence Suzuki's theorem now exactly mirrors its well-known counterpart for imprimitive distance-regular graphs.
The impact of public speaking and interpersonal communication courses on inclusion, control and affection

This study investigated the influence of public and interpersonal communication courses, behavioral discrepancy (over‐expressive and under‐expressive), and behavior type (wanted and expressed) on behavioral changes in the inclusion, control, and affection areas.
High energy X-ray scattering tomography applied to bone.

Abstract High energy synchrotron X-ray scattering was developed for reconstruction of specimen cross-sections. The technique was applied to a model specimen of cortical bone containing a capillary tube of silicon, and reconstructions were produced with either full diffraction rings or texture-related subsets of a given ring. The carbonated apatite (cAp) 00.2 and 22.2 reconstructions and the Si 3 1 1 reconstructions agreed with absorption-based reconstructions from the measured X-ray transmissivity recorded during diffraction pattern acquisition and from reconstructions produced subsequently of the same specimen using a commercial microCT (microComputed Tomography) scanner.
Informed consent: Is it always necessary?

Informed consent plays a pivotal role in human clinical research. It serves as a marker for the subject's comprehension of all the pertinent elements of the study. It is also a pledge by the investigator that during the trial, the rights and safety of the subject will be protected. Informed consent attempts to ensure that ethical behaviour will be upheld throughout the study. However, obtaining informed consent from certain vulnerable populations is a challenge, and thus warrants improvement. While informed consent is mandated for almost all clinical trial involving human subjects, there are situations of emergency research and trials with minimal risk that call for a waiver of the consent.
Screening strategies to identify HSP70 modulators to treat Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer's disease, the most common type of dementia, is a progressive brain disease that destroys cognitive function and eventually leads to death. In patients with Alzheimer's disease, beta amyloids and tau proteins form plaques/oligomers and oligomers/tangles that affect the ability of neurons to function properly. Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) has the ability to prevent aggregation/oligomerization of beta amyloid/tau proteins, making it a potential drug target. To determine this potential, it is essential that we have appropriate in vitro and cell-based assays that help identify specific molecules that affect this aggregation or oligomerization through HSP70. Potential drug candidates could be identified through a series of assays, starting with ATPase assays, followed by aggregation assays with enzymes/proteins and cell-based systems. ATPase assays are effective in identification of ATPase modulators but do not determine the effect of the molecule on beta amyloid and tau proteins. Molecules identified through ATPase assays are validated by thioflavin T aggregation assays in the presence of HSP70. These assays help uncover if a molecule affects beta amyloid and tau through HSP70, but are limited by their in vitro nature. Potential drug candidates are further validated through cell-based assays using mammalian, yeast, or bacterial cultures. However, while these assays are able to determine the effect of a specific molecule on beta amyloid and tau, they fail to determine whether the action is HSP70-dependent. The creation of a novel, direct assay that can demonstrate the antiaggregation effect of a molecule as well as its action through HSP70 would reduce the number of false-positive drug candidates and be more cost-effective and time-effective.
Optimal All-to-All Personalized Communication with Minimum Span on Boolean Cubes

All-to-all personalized communication is a class, of permutations in which each processor sends a unique message to every other processor. We present optimal algorithms for concurrent communication on all channels in Boolean cube networks, both for the case with a single permutation, and the case where multiple permutations shall be performed on the same local data set, but on different sets of processors. For K elements per processor our algorithms give the optimal number of elements transfer, K/2. For a succession of all-to-all personalized communications on disjoint subcubes of p dimensions each, our best algorithm yields $.+c-p element exchanges in sequence, where cr is the total number of processor dimensions in the permutation. An implementation on the Connection Machine of one of the algorithms offers a maximum speed-up of 50% compared to the previously best known algorithm.
Approach to discovering novel therapeutic agents for osteoporosis based on integrin receptor blockade.

On a global scale, osteoporosis is a major and growing public health problem. In the United States, osteoporosis is present in 24 million people (mostly women) and contributes to more than 1.3 million fractures/year. Serious morbidity and mortality result from these fractures. Current therapies for osteoporosis are few, efficacy is limited, and side effects problematic. Fundamental to the pathophysiology of osteoporosis is an imbalance between the tightly coupled processes of bone resorption and bone formation that characterize normal bone remodeling. Our laboratory is engaged in a research effort focused on elucidating the role of the osteoclast integrin in bone resorption, defining the nature of ligand–integrin interactions, and developing antagonists for cell surface adhesion molecules, particularly the αν, β3 vitronectin-like integrin receptor present on the surface of human osteoclasts. Peptides containing the internal arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) motif have been shown to inhibit osteoclast-mediated bone resorption in vivo. We are now designing more potent and selective inhibitors of bone resorption as a potential new mechanism-based therapeutic approach to osteoporosis based on a novel mechanism. In an effort to rapidly identify the highest affinity ligands for the human ανβ3 integrin, we have generated combinatorial peptide libraries containing substantial structural diversity. For instance, based on all possible sequence combinations of extracellular matrix proteins known to bind ανβ3, we recently synthesized and chemically analyzed a library of 360,000 peptides, all of which contain RGD. Human ανβ3 receptors are now available in a clonal cell line that expresses high levels of recombinant receptor, these cells can serve as a very important research tool in this project because of the limited number of bone-derived osteoclasts that can be harvested for experimentation. The library of peptides will be screened by “affinity selection”: the highest binding affinity peptide(s) will be isolated and microsequenced. Receptor-favored sequences will be synthesized and evaluated in a battery of in vitro and in vivo bioassays. Through these investigations, insight will be gained into the role of integrins in bone biology and patho-physiology, and new directions will be developed for the design of potent human ανβ3-selective antagonists for the treatment of osteoporosis. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Scrub Typhus: The Geographic Distribution of Phenotypic and Genotypic Variants of Orientia tsutsugamushi

Orientia tsutsugamushi is the etiological agent of scrub typhus, an acute, mite-borne, febrile illness that occurs in the Asia-Pacific region. Historically, strain characterization used serological analysis and revealed dramatic antigenic diversity. Eyeing a recommendation of potential vaccine candidates for broad protection, we review geographic diversity and serological and DNA prevalences. DNA analysis together with immunological analysis suggest that the prototype Karp strain and closely related strains are the most common throughout the region of endemicity. According to serological analysis, ∼50% of isolates are seroreactive to Karp antisera, and approximately one-quarter of isolates are seroreactive to antisera against the prototype Gilliam strain. Molecular methods reveal greater diversity. By molecular methods, strains phylogenetically similar to Karp make up ∼40% of all genotyped isolates, followed by the JG genotype group (Japan strains serotypically similar to the Gilliam strain but genetically non-Gilliam; 18% of all genotyped isolates). Three other genotype groups (Katorelated, Kawasaki-like, and TA763-like) each represent ∼10% of genotyped isolates. Strains genetically similar to the Gilliam strain make up only 5% of isolates. Strains from these groups should be included in any potential vaccine.
Exploring Students' Conception and Expectations of Achievement in Physical Education.

Achievement in a domain is normally defined by the experts within the curricula. This exploratory study reported student conception of achievement in physical education, attempting to address two questions: (1) what do students expect to achieve and (2) how do students view the achievement in physical education. Students (N = 48) purposefully selected from seven classes participated in the study. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from three sources: curriculum documents, observation, and cognitive interviews with a ranking task sheet (Willis & Schechter, 1997). Student rankings were analyzed descriptively. The interview, observation notes, and documents were analyzed using constant comparison (Strauss & Corbin, 1998). Students reported multiple conceptions of achievement, and each achievement statement was ranked the highest by certain students. Overall, trying to stay in shape and having fun were rated the highest expected achievements by students in physical education. This finding provid...
Analytical design of sensor configuration for EEG

Addresses the problem of electrode configuration design for recording electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. The standard 10-20 configuration, which is widely employed, uses 21 sensors and had been demonstrated to be inadequate. EEG researchers, therefore, have been using more sensors. However, no theoretical studies have been conducted on selecting the number of sensors and for placement of the electrodes. Here, the authors present a technique based on finite sum approximation to a continuous potential function on the surface of a sphere. They then borrow techniques from sampling theory to select the number of sensors and a suggest a strategy for placing them. >