cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of bleomycin on PHA-stimulated lymphocytes and isolated hepatic nuclei.

Experiments were carried out in which lymphocytes stimulated by phytohemagglutinin were exposed during 3-day culture to concentrations of bleomycin varying from 0.0 to 300 μg/ml. Inhibition of one hour 3H-thymidine incorporation in these 72-hour cultures increased as the concentration of bleomycin increased from 1.5μg/ml (14.1 % inhibition) to 300μg/ml (96.4% inhibition), and was a linear function when dose and percent control 3H-thymidine uptake were plotted logarithmically. In 3 of 9 experiments, 3H-thymidine uptake at the 1.5μg/ml dose was increased. This increase was not statistically significant, but the possibility of sublethal DNA damage followed by repair was raised. Exposure of resting lymphocytes to bleomycin in the absence of PHA showed no significant increase above baseline thymidine uptake. Addition of bleomycin to cultures at 24 and 48 hours after the addition of PHA produced the same quantitative reduction in uptake of thymidine at 70 hours as the same concentration added at zero time, suggesting that the effect of bleomycin is independent of the initial stimulatory events resulting from the addition of PHA. Evidence of a repair-like process following damage by bleomycin was observed in a different system utilizing isolated hepatic nuclei. A two to five fold increase of thymidine tri-phosphate incorporation was obtained in response to addition of bleomycin in this isolated nuclear system (rat liver nuclei). This process was time and dose related and continued for at least one hour in the presence of bleomycin. These results demonstrate that bleomycin causes dose-dependent reduction of DNA synthesis in PHA-stimulated lymphocytes. Furthermore, they suggest that DNA damage caused by low concentrations of bleomycin may be repaired, and that when damage exceeds the cell's ability to repair, cell death results.
Conjoint use of laetrile and megadoses of ascorbic acid in cancer treatment: Possible side effects

Individuals who have a reduced capacity to detoxify cyanide to thiocyanate are at increased risk to experience adverse side effects from laetrile, a cyanide containing substance used in cancer treatment. Since megadoses of ascorbic acid may markedly diminish body stores of cysteine, a sulfur containing amino acid which facilitates the detoxification of cyanide, it is predicted that persons consuming megadoses of ascorbic acid will be at increased risk to experience the adverse side effects from laetrile treatment.
Human B-lymphocyte antigens expressed by lymphocytic and myelocytic leukemia cells: Lymphocyte-dependent antibody studies with rabbit antisera☆

Abstract Rabbit antisera raised to papain-solubilized antigens from malignant spleen cell membranes had high lymphocyte-dependent antibody activity against normal B lymphocytes but no significant activity against T lymphocytes from the same donor. Leukemia blast cells from acute lymphoblastic and acute myelogenous leukemia and cultured B lymphoblastoid cell lines were also positive but the T line, Molt 4, and PHA blast cells were negative. Twelve rabbits were immunized with spleen cell extracts from 4 different patients with advanced malignant lymphomas. All produced antisera showing high lymphocyte-dependent activity with titers ranging from 10 4 to 10 8 . Studies indicated that the sera were reacting against a common antigen present on B cells and certain leukemia cells. These conclusions are supported by earlier complement-dependent antibody studies which, in addition, strongly suggested that the antigen being detected was part of the Ia-like alloantigen found on B lymphocytes. Lymphocyte-dependent antibody effector function was blocked by the original antiserum but not by F(ab′) 2 fragments made from the same serum.
Is the lower mortality in patients treated with aspirin and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors due to decreased norepinephrine release?

We read with great interest the article by Leor et al. [(1)][1]supporting the use of aspirin in patients with coronary artery disease treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Their study challenges the old tenet that aspirin may prevent the cardioprotective effects of ACE
Removal of foreign bodies from urethra and bladder

Abstract 1. 1. Because of similarity of technique employed in their removal, urethral and bladder stones are included along with the other types of foreign bodies. 2. 2. Methods usually employed for the removal of urethral foreign bodies are meatotomy, urethroscopy, internal urethrotomy, dilation of urethra, external urethrotomy. Concerning external urethrotomy, the impropriety of opening the pendulous urethra directly over a foreign body is stressed. 3. 3. Methods usually employed for the removal of foreign bodies in the bladder are cystoscopy, injection of solvents, litholapaxy, suprapubic cystotomy, external urethrotomy. 4. 4. Attention is called to several cases of foreign bodies whose removal was accomplished by means of special techniques. 5. 5. The importance of a knowledge of renal function before resorting to operative procedures is stressed.
Identification and Care of Problems Associated With Alcohol Ingestion in Pregnancy

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD) are fully preventable if alcohol use is separated from pregnancy. However, accomplishing this can be much harder than it might seem. This article describes some strategies for identification and treatment of women who drink during pregnancy.
Equity issues and offering dilution

Abstract This study investigates the effect on stock prices of seasoned equity offerings. The results demonstrate that the announcement of equity offerings reduces stock prices significantly. For industrial issues, regression results indicate that announcement day price reduction is significantly and negatively related to the size of the equity offering. The results appear not to be explained by changes in capital structure associated with the equity offerings. The findings are consistent both with the hypothesis that equity issues are viewed by investors as negative signals and with the hypothesis that there is a downward sloping demand for a firm's shares.
Microwave radiation from a high-gain free-electron laser amplifier.

A high-gain, high--extraction-efficiency, linearly polarized free-electron laser amplifier has been operated at 34.6 GHz. At low signal levels, exponential gain of 13.4 dB/m has been measured. With a 3-=kW input signal, saturation was observed with an 80-MW output and a 5% extraction efficiency. The results are in good agreement with linear models at small signal levels and nonlinear models at large signal levels.
Reactivity of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide dimer in plant phenol oxidase systems☆

Abstract The enzymie system in mung bean seedlings which earlier workers characterized as a diaphorase capable of oxidizing the 1,2- and 1,6-dihydropyridine isomers of NADH is, in fact, a phenol oxidase. The NAD species whose oxidation was observed is actually the dimeric 1-electron product obtained in the electrolytic reduction of NAD + solutions. The unidentified “cofactor” required along with the enzyme for the oxidation of the dimer is probably a naturally occurring phenol. Similar activity is found in a variety of plants, including other types of beans as well as corn, cotton, and wheat. The dimer is also reactive with respect to a commercial mushroom phenol oxidase preparation. It cannot be stated whether the NAD dimer is in any sense a natural reactant in such systems, but the supposedly unusual mung bean activity is clarified.
Olfactory functioning in Gulf War-era veterans: relationships to war-zone duty, self-reported hazards exposures, and psychological distress.

To explore possible neurotoxic sequelae of Gulf War (GW) participation, olfactory identification performance, neurocognitive functioning, health perceptions, and emotional distress were assessed in 72 veterans deployed to the GW and 33 military personnel activated during the GW but not deployed to the war zone. Findings revealed that war-zone-exposed veterans reported more concerns about health, cognitive functioning, and depression than did their counterparts who did not see war-zone duty. There was no evidence that performances on olfactory or neurocognitive measures were related to war-zone duty or to self-reported exposure to GW toxicants. However, symptoms of emotional distress were positively correlated with self-report of health and cognitive complaints. Results do not provide support for the hypothesis that objectively-measured sensory (i.e., olfactory) or cognitive deficits are related to war-zone participation but do underscore the increasingly demonstrated association between self-reported health concerns and symptoms of emotional distress. (JINS, 2003, 9, 407–418.)
Using support vector machines to eliminate false minutiae matches during fingerprint verification

To compensate for the different orientations of two fingerprint images, matching systems use a reference point and a set of transformation parameters. Fingerprint minutiae are compared on their positions relative to the reference points, using a set of thresholds for the various matching features. However a pair of minutiae might have similar values for some of the features compensated by dissimilar values for others; this tradeoff cannot be modeled by arbitrary thresholds, and might lead to a number of false matches. Instead given a list of potential correspondences of minutiae points, we could use a static classifier, such as a support vector machine (SVM) to eliminate some of the false matches. A 2-class model is built using sets of minutiae correspondences from fingerprint pairs known to belong to the same and different users. For a test pair of fingerprints, a similar set of minutiae correspondences is extracted and given to the recognizer, using only those classified as genuine matches to calculate the similarity score, and thus, the matching result. We have built recognizers using different combinations of fingerprint features and have tested them against the FVC 2002 database. Using this recognizer reduces the number of false minutiae matches by 19%, while only 5% of the minutiae pairs corresponding to fingerprints of the same user are rejected. We study the effect of such a reduction on the final error rate, using different scoring schemes.
Constructive Empiricism and Deflationary Truth

Constructive empiricists claim to offer a reconstruction of the aim and practice of science without adopting all the metaphysical commitments of scientific realism. Deflationists about truth boast of the ability to offer a full account of the nature of truth without adopting the metaphysical commitments accompanying substantive accounts. Though the two views would form an attractive package, I argue that the pairing is not possible: constructive empiricism requires a substantive account of truth. I articulate what sort of account of truth and empirical adequacy the constructive empiricist must offer and then show why deflationists cannot uphold such an account.
Investigating Family Shared Realities With Factor Mixture Modeling

The authors introduce factor mixture modeling (FMM) and its implications for assessing varying degrees of shared reality in families. FMM extends the typical factor analytic model that uses a set of observed indicators to identify an unobservable factor and its structure. FMM examines the possibility a sample is a mixture of “classes,” each with unique factor structures. To demonstrate, varying factor structures of father involvement are identified using father, mother, and child reports as observed indicators. Three classes were identified and relate to varying degrees of shared reality regarding the father. Predictors and outcomes of these classes are modeled. The class in which the child's view most overlapped with his or her parents' view was predicted by higher child agreeableness and higher levels of maternal depressive symptoms. As hypothesized, membership in this class predicted lower levels of parental conflict and fewer parental attempts to involve their children in their conflicts.
Third trimester ultrasound of fetal pyelectasis: Predictor for postnatal surgery

Abstract Objective The ability to predict surgically relevant fetal renal pyelectasis is limited. We sought to determine whether the intrauterine timing of prenatal pyelectasis can predict the need for postnatal surgery. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all patients with ultrasound measurements of the fetal renal pelvis during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters and postnatally. Pyelectasis was defined as >7 mm for renal pelvis antero-posterior diameter in the 2nd trimester and >10 mm in the 3rd trimester. Results Fifty-nine patients out of 2397 candidates met the criteria for inclusion. A total of 116 kidneys were analyzed independently. Second trimester pyelectasis was associated with grade of postnatal hydronephrosis but not the need for surgery. Third trimester pyelectasis was associated with both postnatal hydronephrosis and surgery. The positive and negative predictive values for postnatal surgery were respectively 18% and 95% in the second trimester, and 27% and 100% in the third trimester. Conclusions Third trimester ultrasound for fetal pyelectasis was better able to predict surgically relevant hydronephrosis than second trimester ultrasound.
Tox-match/pharm-match prediction of toxicological and pharmacological features by using optimal substructure coding and retrieval systems

Abstract The computer program TOX-MATCH/PHARM-MATCH allows prediction of toxicological or pharmacological features based on a reverse search strategy. The program has a library of model chemical structure toxicophores or pharmacophores in a tree structure using a special chemical coding method (based on topology, topography, and graph theory). Graph theory has proven particularly efficient for coding and retrieval of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. The library of model pharmacophores or toxicophores is then followed by a library of the toxicological or pharmacological triggering events (usually biochemical) caused by each model toxicophore or pharmacophore, the subsequent physiological events (also usually biochemical) and the observed physiological signs and symptoms of each species. An unknown sample is input (also in the special chemical coding), and the model toxicophore or pharmacophore is compared with the sample compound to see how close the match is (reverse search). This program is open-ended and extremely versatile and can be used for any toxicological or pharmacological problem.
Neuroprotection by histone deacetylase-7 (HDAC7) occurs by inhibition of c-jun expression through a deacetylase-independent mechanism

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) 7 is a member of the HDAC family of deacetylases. Although some of the HDAC proteins have been shown to regulate neuronal survival and death, whether HDAC7 has a similar role is not known. In this study, we show that HDAC7 protects neurons from apoptosis. In cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) primed to undergo apoptosis by low potassium treatment, expression of HDAC7 protein is reduced. Reduced expression is also observed in CGNs induced to die by pharmacological inhibition of the proteasome, in cortical neurons treated with homocysteic acid, and in the striatum of R6/2 transgenic mice, a commonly used genetic model of Huntington disease. Forced expression of HDAC7 in cultured CGNs blocks low potassium-induced death, and shRNA-mediated suppression of its expression induces death in otherwise healthy neurons. HDAC7-mediated neuroprotection does not require its catalytic domain and cannot be inhibited by chemical inhibitors of HDACs. Moreover, pharmacological inhibitors of the PI3K-Akt or Raf-MEK-ERK signaling pathways or that of PKA, PKC, and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase fail to reduce neuroprotection by HDAC7. We show that stimulation of c-jun expression, an essential feature of neuronal death, is prevented by HDAC7. shRNA-mediated suppression of HDAC7 expression leads to an increase in c-jun expression. Inhibition of c-jun expression by HDAC7 is mediated at the transcriptional level by its direct association with the c-jun gene promoter. Taken together, our results indicate that HDAC7 is a neuroprotective protein acting by a mechanism that is independent of its deacetylase activity but involving the inhibition of c-jun expression.
Vascular Wall Renin-Angiotensin Pathway in Control of the Circulation: A Hypothesis

Multiple lines of evidence support the existence of a vascular reninangiotensin system independent of the circulating system. Vascular renin appears to originate from both uptake of plasma renin and in situ synthesis. Renin may bind to vascular endothelium. In addition, the endothelium is capable of activating inactive renin. Cell-surfacebound renin and angiotensin-converting enzyme constitute a biochemical cascade on the endothelial surface, resulting in a high local concentration of angiotensin. The role of the intracellular system is unclear. Intracellular angiotensin may regulate the angiotensin receptor and modulate the vascular response to exogenous angiotensins. Recent data also suggest that neutrophils and platelets provide mobile pathways by which cell-bound or released enzymes can activate and amplify the renin-angiotensin biochemical cascade. The mobile angiotensin pathways may be important in the inflammatory vascular response, edema formation, and vasospasm of vascular injury. Taken together, the vascular wall renin-angiotensin system may play an important role in cardiovascular homeostasis. We postulate that abnormalities in the control of this system may result in local vasospasm or systemic hypertension.
Procedural Knowledge in Mathematics: The Role of the Curriculum

Over the last few years, the information processing model of cognition has become increasingly prominent in the field. With this model, and other related research in cognitive science, there is a greater appreciation for the role of instruction in learning theory. One of the model's central tenets is that, as learners become more competent, they move from declarative to procedural states of knowledge. Researchers have concerned themselves with the efficiency of this transition, as well as with any systematic misconceptions that develop along the way. A carefully developed curriculum addresses both of these concerns. This article will focus on three principles of curriculum development: the nature of examples, explicitness, and parsimony. Recently conducted research that supports these principles will also be discussed. It is suggested that special educators strongly consider these principles when selecting or developing curricular material for students with learning disabilities.
EVALUATION OF PRODUCTS MADE FROM CITRUS PROCESSING PLANT GRADING LINE REJECTS

Products were manufactured from cull oranges rejected from processing plant grading lines. Cull fruit juice yields were 20% less than from sound fruit. Frozen concentrate had a detectable stale fruit off-flavor. Total reducing sugars were 10% higher and vitamin C was 8% lower in the juice from the cull fruit, while color, cloud and viscosity were about the same as in juice from sound fruit. The aldehyde content of cold pressed oil from cull oranges was too low to meet U.S.P. specifications. Dried pulp cattle feed and molasses yields from culls were greater than from sound fruit. Crude protein content of the cull dried pulp was 6.6% and total sugars (reducing and sucrose) of cull fruit molasses was 58%; while the cull orange molasses had a viscosity of over 20,000 c.p.
Eicosanoids and Nitric Oxide Influence Induction of Reactive Gliosis From Spreading Depression in Microglia but not Astrocytes

Microglia and astrocytes are transformed into reactive glia (RG) by brain disease and normal function. Eicosanoids and nitric oxide (NO), two intercellular mediators, may influence gliosis. We investigated how drugs that alter production of these paracrine signals effect induction of glial reactivity from spreading depression. Unilateral (left) neocortical spreading depression was induced in 95 halothane anesthetized rats by intracortical injections of 0.5 M KCl, with or without drug treatment (five animals/group). Immunohistochemical staining (IS) intensity using the OX-42 and anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) antibodies determined reactivity in microglia and astrocytes, respectively. After 3 days, brains were processed for OX-42 and GFAP-IS and mean optical densities (OD) of IS were measured. Average OD's (for OX-42) and the log ratio (left/right) of OD's (OX-42 and GFAP) were compared to normal animals. Spreading depression induced significant log ratios for both OX-42- and GFAP-IS (P's 0.05). L-Name, a NO synthase inhibitor, caused significant increases in left and right OD's for microglia (P's < 0.05). Mepacrine, a phospholipase A2 inhibitor, Indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, and phenylephrine, an adrenergic agonist, did not prevent induction of significant OX-42 log ratios (P's < 0.01, 0.05, 0.01), and resulted in increases in left side OD's (P's < 0.01, 0.05, 0.05). Significant GFAP log ratios occurred after spreading depression in all drug groups, P's < 0.01. Thus, induction of reactivity in microglia is more sensitive to eicosanoids and NO than in astrocytes.
Improving the Reuse of ScientificWorkflows and Their By-products

Most current practical methodologies and workflow systems for service composition and workflow creation in e-science pursue a semi-automatic way to allow users to discover and select appropriate services to include in a workflow based on semantic and conceptual service definitions. However, few of these approaches consider the potential for reuse: to share the knowledge gained during the service composition process and to reuse complete or partial of existing workflows. We believe that providing a capability for reuse of this knowledge and workflows could be an important component in a workflow system. In this paper, we present a methodology and an enhanced system design to facilitate the reuse of knowledge and workflows. It contains a hierarchical workflow structure representation, knowledge management and knowledge discovery components to capture and manage the reusable information in a system, and an approach for using a graph matching algorithm to discover similar workflows.
The role of free radicals and antioxidants: How do we know that they are working?

This review briefly discusses how free radicals are formed and the possible participation of free radicals in disease. The review describes the basic radical reactions and the types of products that are formed from the free-radical reactions of cellular constituents. In many cases, in vivo free-radical oxidation can be detected by measuring products that were derived from radical reactions. Since aerobic organisms generate oxygen-containing free radicals during oxygen metabolism, they carry chemicals and enzymes that reduce the threat posed by these radicals. The more common sources of in vivo free radicals are described in the article as well as the methods used by cells to protect themselves from free-radical damage. Generation of free radicals in vivo also may be the result of exposure to certain chemical agents present in the environment. Many of these agents cause pathologic changes to the exposed tissues and organs by initiating free-radical reactions.
Influence of Soil Half-Life on Risk Assessment of Carcinogens

Risk estimates for contaminants in soil are currently calculated assuming that concentrations remain unchanged over time. In reality, biological and physicochemical processes can substantially diminish contaminant concentrations in soil. For exposure periods typically evaluated in USEPA risk assessments, failure to consider the decline in contaminant levels from environmental transport and degradation can result in a significant overestimation of the average daily dose of toxicant. This overestimation may be up to 2- to 3-fold for compounds with long half-lives (15-20 years) in soil and as much as 40-fold for compounds with short half-lives (0.5 years). Overestimation of dosages affects estimation of cancer risks because of the assumption that the probability of cancer increases directly with the cumulative dose of carcinogen. Thus, assuming static contaminant concentrations in soil adds unacknowledged conservatism to cancer risk estimates and target concentration limits. Furthermore, as significant time may elapse before future-use scenarios could possibly occur, soil half-life can affect the estimation of noncarcinogenic health hazards as well. Therefore, an increase in target concentration limits for some compounds could be allowed and corresponding remediation costs reduced by considering how soil half-life changes the dosage calculation. Specific examples of the influence of soil degradation rates on estimates of cancer risk are presented and the degree of added conservatism imparted to risk assessments through assumption of static site contaminant levels is discussed. Considering the potential importance of this parameter for risk assessment and risk management decisions, soil degradation of contaminants under site-specific conditions should be performed whenever possible and incorporated into the risk assessment exercise. When the soil degradation rate cannot be measured or reliably predicted, an estimate of the degree of conservatism should be made to provide risk managers with an appreciation of the degree of uncertainty in the calculation of risk.
Spatial SDR performances across three species of new world monkeys

To provide further information concerning the sensitivity of SDR methodology to performance differences of closely related species among the New World monkeys, the spatial SDR performances of Owl monkeys were measured and compared to those of Squirrel and Capuchin monkeys previously reported. The error scores of the Owls were more similar to those of Squirrel monkeys, than to the Capuchins, which provides some support for the view that the Squirrel is taxonomically more closely related to the Owl than to the Capuchin.
Purification of a thymidine-diphospho-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-glucose epimerase from an erythromycin-producing strain of Saccharopolyspora erythraea.

Abstract A thymidine-diphospho-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-glucose epimerase was purified from Saccharopolyspora erythraea , the producer of the macrolide antibiotic erythromycin, by a high resolution chromatographic method that exploited the difference in behavior of the protein on ion exchange columns at pH 7.5 and 5.5. By this procedure and by hydrophobic interaction chromatography, the enzyme was purified more than 400-fold to apparent homogeneity. The epimerase is a monomer of M r 55,000, as determined by reducing sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel filtration. The apparent Michaelis-Menten kinetic constants were determined to be K ′ m of 120 μM and V ′ max of 0.38 μmol mg −1 min −1 . Southern analysis indicates that this epimerase is encoded by a gene that is not located within the known confines of the erythromycin biosynthetic gene cluster.
Cautionary tales of persistent accumulation of numerical error: Dispersive centered advection

Abstract We identify a potentially severe source of spurious cooling within and below the thermocline. The effect involves an interplay between tracer advection scheme and eddy parameterization: a dispersive advection scheme generates spurious warm and cold extrema, and then the tracer mixing scheme is relied upon to moderate those extrema. Noise suppression is less robust when the eddy parameterization consists of the more physically based use of eddy-induced transport and isopycnal tracer mixing. Convection occurs in response to the spurious warm and cold extrema generated by the dispersive advection scheme, driving a persistent cooling below the thermocline. When choosing an advection scheme for ocean climate modelling this effect should be considered as a significant concern associated with the use of dispersive centered advection.
Strain-path effects on the evolution of microstructure and texture during the severe-plastic deformation of aluminum

Microstructure and texture evolution during the severe-plastic deformation (SPD) of unalloyed aluminum were investigated to establish the effect of processing route and purity level on grain refinement and subgrain formation. Two lots of aluminum with different purity levels (99.998 pct Al and 99 pct Al) were subjected to large plastic strains at room temperaturevia four different deformation processes: equal-channel angular extrusion (ECAE), sheet rolling, conventional conical-die extrusion, and uniaxial compression. Following deformation, microstructures and textures were determined using orientation-imaging microscopy. In commercial-purity aluminum, the various deformation routes yielded an ultrafine microstructure with a ∼1.5-µm grain size, deduced to have been formedvia a dynamic-recovery mechanism. For high-purity aluminum, on the other hand, the minimum grain size produced after the various routes was ∼20 µm; the high fraction of high-angle grain boundaries (HAGBs) and the absence of subgrains/deformation bands in the final microstructure suggested the occurrence of discontinuous static recrystallization following the large plastic deformation at room temperature. The microstructure differences were underscored by the mechanical properties following four ECAE passes. The yield strength of commercial-purity aluminum quadrupled, whereas the high-purity aluminum showed only a minor increase relative to the annealed condition.
Optimal Performance of Variable Stiffness Devices for Structural Control

This paper addresses control of structural vibrations using semi-active actuators that are capable of manipulating stiffness and/or producing variable stiffness. Usually vibration suppression is achieved using damping devices rather than stiffness ones. However, stiffness devices can produce large forces and have significant advantages for shock isolation purposes. In this work we use a passivity approach to establish the requirements for the control law for a structure equipped with semi-active stiffness devices. We also solve an optimal control problem that demonstrates that our passive, resetting feedback control law approximates the optimal control. Simulation and experimental results are presented in support of the proposed approach.
Acquired hypothyroidism in an infant related to excessive maternal iodine intake: food for thought.

Submitted for publication January 14, 2013 Accepted for publication March 6, 2013 From 1Boston Children’s Hospital, Division of Endocrinology, Boston, Massachusetts; 2Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio; 3Boston University School of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition, Boston, Massachusetts. Address correspondence to Dr. Daniel Shumer, Boston Children’s Hospital, Division of Endocrinology, 333 Longwood Avenue 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02115. E-mail: Daniel.shumer@childrens.harvard.edu. Published as a Rapid Electronic Article in Press at http://www.endocrine practice.org on March 19, 2013. DOI:10.4158/EP13017.CO To purchase reprints of this article, please visit: www.aace.com/reprints. Copyright © 2013 AACE. Abbreviations: NIS = sodium/iodine symporter; T4 = thyroxine; TSH = thyroid-stimulating hormone
Use of a novel double-sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method for assaying chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans that bear 3-nitrotyrosine core protein modifications, a previously unrecognized proteoglycan modification in hydrocephalus.

Abstract 3-Nitrotyrosine is a useful marker for nitric oxide-mediated tissue injury. However, which proteins are preferred peroxynitrite modification targets is unclear. Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) abnormally accumulate in cerebrospinal fluid of human neonates with hydrocephalus and may be a target for peroxynitrite modification. We examined (1) whether CSPG core protein can be modified by peroxynitrite in vitro; (2) to what degree in comparison to bovine serum albumin (BSA), the most commonly used nitrated protein standard; (3) whether nitrated CSPGs can be measured directly in biological samples; and (4) whether nitrated proteoglycan concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid correlate with disease. In vitro nitration of bovine aggrecan was performed by exposure to different peroxynitrite concentrations, and 3-nitrotyrosine products were measured. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) nitration was also performed in comparison. A larger percentage of tyrosine residues were nitrated in aggrecan than in BSA under all conditions tested. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for 3-nitrotyrosine consistently overestimated aggrecan nitration when nitrated BSA was used as the standard. This is important as most current assays of nitration in biological samples use nitrated BSA as the standard. Therefore, if nitrated CPSGs were a substantial portion of the nitrated proteins in a sample, total nitrated protein content would be overestimated. Aggrecan retained its function of binding hyaluronic acid despite substantial nitration. A double-sandwich ELISA was developed for nitrated CSPGs in biological samples, using nitrated aggrecan as standard. [Nitrated CSPG] was found to be significantly elevated in preterm hydrocephalus cerebrospinal fluid (P 0.069), suggesting that nitrated CSPG and NO levels may be independant markers of tissue injury. Peroxynitrite-mediated protein tyrosine nitration is a previously unrecognized modification of CSPGs, and may reflect level of brain injury in hydrocephalus.
Vabra aspiration in office gynecology

Abstract Four years of clinical experience with 320 vabra aspirations in 271 patients, aged 21 to 84 years, has confirmed our expectation of the procedure, as a quick and easy method, affording reliable diagnosis, causing few complications, and acceptable to patients as a routine method. The procedure was suitable for approximately 80% of patients with menstrual disorders or postmenopausal bleeding. It was also valuable in the follow-up of patients with previous adenomatous hyperplasia of the endometrium and those on long-term estrogen therapy for postmenopausal symptoms. The initial VA specimen was adequate in 95.2% of cases and the quality was excellent. VA supplemented with ECC and uterine size measurement enabled the diagnosis, grading, and staging of all adenocarcinomas accurately. Adenomatous hyperplasia of the endometrium was correctly diagnosed in 96.5% instances but two patients with mild to moderate adenomatous hyperplasia were missed. Endometrial polyps were diagnosed in only 50% of patients. The therapeutic or hemostatic efficacy of VA was just over 50% in this series. The five pregnancy complications (two ectopic pregnancies and three incomplete abortions) in our experience, warrant consideration in all premenopausal females presenting with a menstrual disorder before VA is carried out. Undoubtedly, hospitalization can be avoided, with attendant cost saving, by more widespread use of this technique. We recommend that all obstetric and gynecologic residents be familiar with the procedure.
Incidence of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease and donor T-cell chimerism after small bowel or combined organ transplantation.

Abstract Purpose Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after organ transplantation is a rare but life-threatening complication with very high mortality. Methods A retrospective review was performed of all patients undergoing small bowel or combined organ transplantation at a single institution during 2003 to 2009. Patients with donor T-cell chimerism were analyzed in detail for development of GVHD. Results Thirty-two patients were included in the study. Of 32 patients, 11 (34%) had donor T-cell chimerism (range, 0%-53%) studies performed; 7 (64%) of those 11 patients demonstrated clinical features of GVHD. All patients who demonstrated GVHD had detectable donor T-cell chimerism. All patients with GVHD presented with skin involvement. Graft-versus-host disease responded to increased immune suppression therapy. Mortality was 43% (3/7) among patients with GVHD and was caused by multiorgan failure and sepsis in all cases. Conclusion Acute and chronic GVHD were observed frequently after combined solid organ transplantation and were associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Alloreactive donor T cells cotransplanted with the organ likely play a role in the pathophysiology because levels of donor-derived T-cell chimerism correlated with the clinical course of GVHD.
Monosomic analysis of Russian wheat aphid (Diuraphis noxia) resistance in Triticum aestivum line PI137739

The Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko) (Homoptera: Aphididae), has become an important pest of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the United States. The aphid causes a phytotoxemic reaction in wheat evidenced by local and systemic chlorosis and rolling of infested leaves. Developing resistance in wheat cultivars to D. noxia is an essential factor in controlling the damage caused by this pest. Several sources of genetic resistance to D. noxia have been identified in wheat germplasm. Monosomic analysis of the monogenic resistant T. aestivum accession PI137739 has shown that the gene (Dn1) for resistance is carried on chromosome 7D. It appears that chromosome 7B may carry a second resistance gene for D. noxia that might be a source of minor or complementary gene action for resistance.
Regulatory and functional interaction of vasoactive factors in the kidney and extracellular pH.

Regulatory and functional interaction of vasoactive factors in the kidney and extracellular pH. A growing body of evidence suggests that vasoactive factors produced in the kidney such as nitric oxide, endothelins, angiotensin, and prostaglandins participate actively in the regulation of acid-base homeostasis under physiologic conditions. In addition, recent reports indicate that alterations in the systemic acid-base status may also influence the generation of vasoactive cytokines in the kidney, which in turn may mediate the renal effector processes that tend to restore normality under such conditions. Metabolic acidosis, which so frequently accompanies many forms of chronic renal failure (CRF), may contribute to down-regulation of intrarenal nitric oxide production that characterizes CRF. Reduced extracellular pH inhibits inducible nitric oxide production in mesangial cells by altering the reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidation, an important posttranslational mechanism in the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activation. The underlying defects resulting in the uncoupling of NADPH oxidation in acidemic microenvironment are discussed. Acidosis stimulates renal production of endothelins, which mediate proximal tubular acidification by enhancing sodium-hydrogen exchanger-3 (NHE-3) activity. Renal endothelins mediate enhanced urinary acid excretion following dietary acid ingestion, an effect that is effectively blocked by endothelin receptor blockers. Reduced extracellular pH stimulates endothelin secretion from renal microvascular endothelial cells, which may promote enhanced acid excretion from the distal tubule under conditions of acidosis. These phenomena as well as the role of angiotensin and renal prostaglandins in mediating renal acidification in normal and acidotic conditions are discussed in this review, which describe the regulatory interaction between extracellular pH and renal vasoactive factors.
MASER: A Mars meteorology and seismology mini-network mission concept enabled by Milliwatt-RPS

A design reference mission (MASER - Meteorology and Seismology Enabled by Radioisotopes) for a Mars mini-network is presented. Four hard landers using parachutes and crushable impact attenuators would be deployed in the polar plains north of the Tharsis bulge to perform seismic and meteorological measurements throughout a Martian year (including the dark winter). Operation throughout the polar winter is only possible through the use of a power subsystem that would rely upon six Radioisotope Heater Units (RHUs), providing ∼240mWe.
TRISO-fuel element thermo-mechanical performance modeling for the hybrid LIFE engine with Pu fuel blanket

Abstract A TRISO-coated fuel thermo-mechanical performance study is performed for the fusion–fission hybrid Laser Inertial Fusion Engine (LIFE) to test the viability of TRISO particles to achieve ultra-high burn-up of Pu or transuranic spent nuclear fuel blankets. Our methodology includes full elastic anisotropy, time and temperature varying material properties, and multilayer capabilities. In order to achieve fast fluences up to 30 × 1025 n m−2 (E > 0.18 MeV), judicious extrapolations across several orders of magnitude of existing material databases have been carried out. The results of our study indicate that failure of the pyrolytic carbon (PyC) layers occurs within the first 2 years of operation. The particles then behave as a single-SiC-layer particle and the SiC layer maintains reasonably-low tensile stresses until the end-of-life. It is also found that the PyC creep constant, K, has a striking influence on the fuel performance of TRISO-coated particles, whose stresses scale almost inversely proportional to K. Conversely, varying the geometry of the TRISO-coated fuel particles results in little differences in terms of fuel performance.
Are we teaching what patients need to know? Building skills in heart failure self-care.

Objective Heart failure (HF) self-care requires both knowledge and skill, but little attention has been given to identify how to improve skill in HF self-care. The objective was to assess what self-care skills patients with HF perceive that they need and how they developed the skills needed to perform self-care. Methods Data from 85 adults with chronic HF enrolled in 3 prior studies were analyzed using qualitative descriptive meta-analysis techniques. Themes were reexamined using within study and across-study analyses and translated to create a broader and more complete understanding of the development of skill in HF self-care. Results Tactical and situational skills are needed to perform adequate self-care. Skill in self-care evolves over time and with practice as patients learn how to make self-care practices fit into their daily lives. Proficiency in these skills was acquired primarily through input from family and friends. Health care professionals rarely made significant contributions to the learning of essential skills. Conclusion Traditional patient education does not support self-care skill development in patients with HF. New patient teaching strategies are needed that support the development of tactical and situational skills, foster coherence, and use trusted resources. Research testing coaching interventions that target skill-building tactics, such as role-playing in specific situations, are needed.
Domain wall motion in ferromagnetic layers

Abstract We consider the dynamics of one-dimensional micromagnetic domain walls in layers of uniaxial anisotropy. In the regime of bulk materials, i.e. when the thickness is assumed to be infinite, and the magnetostatic interaction terms appear as local quantities, explicit traveling wave solutions for the corresponding Landau–Lifshitz equation, known as Walker exact solutions, can be constructed. A natural question is whether this construction can be perturbed to the non-local regime of layers of finite thickness. Our stability analysis gives an affirmative answer.
Modeling the Dynamics of Risky Choice

Individuals make decisions under uncertainty every day. Decisions are based on incomplete information concerning the potential outcome or the predicted likelihood with which events occur. In addition, individuals' choices often deviate from the rational or mathematically objective solution. Accordingly, the dynamics of human decision making are difficult to capture using conventional, linear mathematical models. Here, we present data from a 2-choice task with variable risk between sure loss and risky loss to illustrate how a simple nonlinear dynamical system can be employed to capture the dynamics of human decision making under uncertainty (i.e., multistability, bifurcations). We test the feasibility of this model quantitatively and demonstrate how the model can account for up to 86% of the observed choice behavior. The implications of using dynamical models for explaining the nonlinear complexities of human decision making are discussed as well as the degree to which the theory of nonlinear dynamical sys...
Racial and Ethnic Determinants of Birth Defects and Infant Mortality in a Low Income Minority Hospital Population: A Review of 67,349 Deliveries

Objective: The purpose of this paper was to examine the prevalence and distribution of birth defects between low income Black and migrant Hispanic women delivering at South-Central Los Angeles County Hospital and assess the associated prematurity and mortality rates.Study design: All delivery records from 1982 to 1990 were studied. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test, chi-square, and Fisher's exact test as appropriate. Results: The birth defect rate was 7.35/1000 in Blacks and 5.5/1000 in Hispanics (P <. 05). Cardiac and genital defects were more prevalent among Blacks, while chromosomal, orofacial, and central nervous system defects were more common in Hispanics. Only 13.8% of defects occurred in women 35 years and above (P <. 0001). The mortality was 22% for Black babies and 24% for Hispanics. Prematurity and LBW were more common in Blacks while postdates was associated with Hispanics. The infant mortality rate was 16.3/10,000 for Blacks and 13.4/10,000 for Hispanics (NS).Conclusio...
Further Good News on Stroke, but No Time for Rest

Progressive reduction in stroke deaths over the last few decades has resulted in the recent preliminary announcement that stroke has declined from the third to the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States.1 Moreover, the 2010 American Heart Association goal of reducing coronary heart disease and stroke mortality by 25% in the first decade of this century was achieved early, with a 30.7% reduction in CHD mortality and a 29.2% reduction in stroke mortality from 1999 to 2008.2 Article see p 2111 Stroke incidence also appears to be declining. Two population-based studies in the United States3 and United Kingdom4 have demonstrated an age-adjusted decrease in stroke incidence. The rise in the number of primary and comprehensive stroke centers in the United States, increasing use of acute stroke therapies, and greater availability of evidence-based approaches to prevent and treat stroke have undoubtedly had a favorable impact on these improving trends.5 Less is known about temporal trends in recurrent stroke risks. Of the estimated 795 000 annual strokes in the United States, 23% are recurrent events.6 In this issue of Circulation , Hong et al7 have provided important data on trends in the risk of recurrent stroke over the last 50 years. They performed a study-level systematic review of the control arms of secondary stroke prevention randomized, controlled trials with broad inclusion criteria, excluding trials that tested interventions directed at specific stroke mechanisms, such as atrial fibrillation or carotid or intracranial stenoses. In total, 59 trials and 66 157 patients in control arms were analyzed. Significant absolute average declines of 1% per decade for annual rate of recurrent stroke, 0.3% for fatal recurrent stroke, and 1.3% for major vascular events were estimated. Other …