cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dual-energy CT evidence of pulmonary microvascular occlusion in patients with sickle cell disease experiencing acute chest syndrome.

Abstract Purpose Acute chest syndrome (ACS), defined by the presence of a chest radiographic opacity in sickle cell disease patients experiencing respiratory symptoms is a leading cause of death in these patients. The etiology is ACS is not well understood however pulmonary microvascular occlusion has been postulated to be a major pathophysiologic driver. Our study aims to assess the value of dual-energy CT (DECT) as a marker of pulmonary microvascular occlusion. Materials/methods A search tool was used to identify CT angiography studies from 1/1/2017 to 9/15/2019 with any variation of the phrases “Acute chest syndrome” and “Sickle cell”. These studies were manually reviewed for the use of DECT technique. An age-matched control group was created. DECT pulmonary blood volume (PBV) maps were reviewed semi-quantitatively for the presence of iodine defects and the number of involved bronchopulmonary segments were scored. Other recorded values included type of parenchymal opacities, diameter of main pulmonary artery (MPA) and presence of right ventricular dilatation. Mean values between cases and controls were compared using a two-sample t-test. Results Nine sickle cell DECT cases with PBV maps and nine age-matched controls were evaluated. Bronchopulmonary segments with iodine defects were significantly higher in cases vs controls (mean: 4.7 vs 0.3, p Conclusions DECT demonstrates abnormal PBV in sickle cell patients, often the predominant abnormality identified early, and likely reflects the presence of pulmonary microvascular occlusion.
Transcriptional and Cytokine Profiles Identify CXCL9 as a Biomarker of Disease Activity in Morphea.

IFN-related pathways have not been studied in morphea, and biomarkers are needed. We sought to characterize morphea serum cytokine imbalance and IFN-related gene expression in blood and skin to address this gap by performing a case-control study of 87 participants with morphea and 26 healthy control subjects. We used multiplexed immunoassays to determine serum cytokine concentrations, performed transcriptional profiling of whole blood and lesional morphea skin, and used double-staining immunohistochemistry to determine the cutaneous cellular source of CXCL9. We found that CXCL9 was present at increased concentrations in morphea serum ( P r = 0.44, P = 0.0001), a validated measure of disease activity. CXCL9 gene expression was also increased in inflammatory lesional morphea skin (fold change = 30.6, P = 0.006), and preliminary transcriptional profiling showed little evidence for IFN signature in whole blood. Double-staining immunohistochemistry showed CXCL9 co-localized with CD68 + dermal macrophages. In summary, inflammatory morphea is characterized by T helper type 1 cytokine imbalance in serum, particularly CXCL9, which is associated with disease activity. CXCL9 expression in lesional macrophages implicates the skin as the source of circulating cytokines. CXCL9 is a promising biomarker of disease activity in morphea.
Penetrating Atherosclerotic Ulcer: Presentation and Management

Penetrating aortic ulcer (PAU) is a pathologic diagnosis consistent with localized excavation of the intima and media, likely due to an atherosclerotic plaque which causes erosion and inflammatory changes in the aortic wall. The clinical presentation of PAU ranges from most patients presenting without symptoms to others with frank rupture and hemodynamic instability. Symptoms can include chest or abdominal pain. PAU location is classified according to the Stanford classification as Type A or Type B, with the former more likely to lead to complications. Initial management of PAU, like in classic aortic dissection, is focused on reducing stress on the aortic wall by aggressive antihypertensive therapy. In hemodynamically unstable patients, emergent aortic repair should be performed. Given its frequent association with intramural hematoma, patients with Type A PAU usually undergo open repair. In contrast, patients with Type B PAU can be managed medically in the absence of symptoms. Symptomatic Type B PAU patients are managed with endovascular repair. Regardless of initial treatment, all patients with a history of PAU should undergo lifelong imaging surveillance and aggressive blood pressure control. Future advances in endovascular repair may extend the population who benefits from the less invasive approach.
The Well-Being of Nations: Linking Together Trust, Cooperation, and Democracy

The theme of this chapter is that cooperative and trusting social relationships tend to enhance people’s subjective well-being (happiness and life satisfaction), and that in turn positive feelings of well-being tend to augment cooperation and trust. Extensive empirical work now supports the fact that sociability, interpersonal warmth, community involvement, and interpersonal trust are heightened by positive emotions. New analyses based on the World Value Survey show that nations that are high on subjective well-being (SWB) also tend to be high on generalized trust, volunteerism, and democratic attitudes. Additional analyses indicate that the association of SWB to volunteerism and democratic attitudes is not fully accounted for by GDP per capita, freedom, or filial piety. The implications of SWB for promoting greater cooperation and trust within society and across nations is considered.
An analysis of gains to acquiring firm's shareholders

Abstract This study uses capital market data to measure the effects of REIT mergers on the wealth of the acquiring trust's shareholders. A significant increase in shareholder wealth is detected. This differs from the findings of other acquisition studies. The primary source of the value gain seems to be improved management of the acquired trust's assets.
Effects of MIP-1α, MIP-3α, and MIP-3β on the Induction of HIV Gag-specific Immune Response with DNA Vaccines

Transfection of DNA vaccines with chemokines may recruit dendritic cells (DCs) locally to capture the antigenic genes and their gene products to generate enhanced CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). In this study, we investigated the effects of macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α, MIP-3α, and MIP-3β on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Gag DNA vaccination. The chemokine plasmids markedly enhanced the local infiltration of inflammatory cells and increased the presence of CD11c+ B7.2+-activated DCs. MIP-1α and MIP-3α were potent adjuvants in augmenting CTLs and afforded strong protection to immunized animals against challenge with vaccinia virus expressing Gag (vv-Gag). However, decreased humoral response was observed. MIP-3β plasmid did not dramatically alter immunity. The chemokine inoculation time with respect to DNA vaccine priming was also investigated. The injection of pMIP-3α three days before Gag plasmid (pGag) vaccination markedly increased specific CTLs compared with simultaneous injection and led to higher protection against vv-Gag. Immunity was also shifted toward a T-helper type-1 (Th1) response. In contrast, inoculation with pMIP-3α three days after pGag vaccination shifted immunity toward a Th2 response. Our data suggest that administration of a chemokine with DNA vaccines offers a valuable strategy to modulate the efficacy and polarization of specific immunity and that chemokine–antigen timing is critical in determining overall biological effects.
Scheduling to minimize expected completion time in flowshop plants with uncertain processing times

Abstract We present a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model for the scheduling of flowshop plants with uncertain processing times in order to minimize the expected completion time. The uncertainty in processing times, modeled using discrete probability density functions, results in a combinatorially explosive state-space. Model sizes and solution times increase exponentially with the number of scenarios and multiperiod formulations cannot handle even modestly large problems. We use an activity network to represent a schedule, which enables us to derive an analytical expression for the expected completion time. The nonlinear optimization model is reformulated as an MILP using exact linearization techniques to yield rigorous optimal schedules. Numerical results show that the solution times for the proposed method are several orders of magnitude smaller than those for multiperiod models.
Analysis of clipping distortion in an SCM lightwave transmitter with feed-forward correction

We analyze the performance of a feed-forward linearized transmitter in terms of clipping distortion. With electrical filtering it can produce an output RMS modulation depth of 28.0%, compared to 22.0% of a basic transmitter.
Cronótopos de uma nação distópica: o nascimento da "dependência" no México porfiriano tardio

This paper develops a novel approach to anthropology and history of international borders. It proposes a typology and a phenomenological characterization of two kinds of border crossings that emerged alongside the new relationship of economic and political dependency that developed between Mexico and the United States in the last quarter of the 19th century. The new border crossings involved the development of new 'chronotopes', in other words new and competing spatial-temporal matrices, used to frame the relationship between Mexico and the United States. This paper analyzes the quality, nature and stakes of these alternative forms of historicity by way of a close case study of two pivotal journalistic texts: James Creelman's (1908) interview of General Porfirio Diaz, and John Kenneth Turner's (1910) reportage and expose of Mexican slavery.
Pharmacological characterization of the effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine ("ecstasy") and its enantiomers on lethality, core temperature, and locomotor activity in singly housed and crowded mice

Abstract Rationale. Few studies have directly compared the effects of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") and its enantiomers across measures. Objectives. To investigate the capacity of MDMA and its stereoisomers to produce aggregate toxicity in mice, the influence of 5-HT2 receptors, 5-HT transporters, and ambient temperature on this effect, and to directly compare the racemate and its enantiomers in terms of their effects on core temperature and locomotor activity with and without various serotonergic pretreatments. Methods. Mice were injected with various doses of MDMA and its stereoisomers in various housing conditions, with and without pretreatments of serotonergic drugs, and at two distinct ambient temperatures; lethality was quantified 2 h after MDMA administration. For temperature/activity studies, mice were injected with various doses of MDMA and its enantiomers, with and without ketanserin, MDL100907, or fluoxetine pretreatments, and core temperature and locomotor activity data were collected for 24 h. Results. Racemic MDMA and its isomers produced aggregate toxicity in mice. The lethal effects of racemic MDMA and its enantiomers were differentially attenuated by the various serotonergic pretreatments and manipulation of the ambient temperature across housing conditions. Racemic and S(+)-MDMA produced hyperthermic effects in mice, while R(–)-MDMA did not. The pretreatment drugs attenuated the hyperthermic effects of racemic MDMA, but were less effective in blocking S(+)-MDMA-induced hyperthermia. Racemic MDMA and both enantiomers stimulated locomotor activity, although R(–)-MDMA was least effective. The pretreatments all reduced the locomotor stimulant effects of racemic MDMA but potentiated S(+)-MDMA-induced hyperlocomotion. Conclusions. The MDMA isomers have heterogeneous effects that can be demonstrated across a wide range of endpoints.
Contribution of Kv1 channel activity to myogenic responses in skeletal muscle arterioles with aging and exercise training (678.7)

The impaired myogenic constriction of skeletal muscle arterioles observed with advancing age may be the result of increased Kv channel activity. Exercise training has been shown to restore myogenic...
Nitrogen utilization and lean growth performance of 20- to 50-kilogram pigs fed diets balanced for lysine:energy ratio.

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to determine the lysine:DE ratio that would maximize nitrogen retention and lean growth in growing pigs. Diets were formulated to contain 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, or 4.0 g of lysine/Mcal of DE at 3.5 and 3.75 Mcal of DE/kg of diet arranged in a 4 x 2 factorial. Experiment 1 used 48, 20-kg crossbred barrows in a nitrogen balance study. Feeding diets containing 3.75 Mcal of DE/kg of diet resulted in higher (P < .01) nitrogen digestibility and retention as well as higher energy and DM digestibility. In diets containing 3.5 Mcal of DE/kg, increasing the lysine:DE ratio had no effect on nitrogen retention, but an increase up to 3.0 g of lysine/Mcal of DE was observed at the 3.75 Mcal of DE level. In Exp. 2, 96 individually housed growing crossbred barrows and gilts were used to determine lean and growth performance to the diets fed in Exp. 1 in a 4 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Weight gain was unaffected by dietary treatment. A reduction (P < .01) in feed intake and an improvement (P < .05) in feed efficiency was observed as the DE level increased. Increasing the lysine:DE ratio to 3.0 to 3.5 g of lysine/Mcal of DE increased (P < .05) the rate of fat-free lean and empty body protein gain and the weight of fat-free lean at 50.9 kg increased (P < .01) with increasing lysine:DE ratio regardless of sex or energy level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Using Multivariate Quantile Regression Analysis to Explore Cardiovascular Risk Differences in Subjects with Chronic Kidney Disease by Race and Ethnicity: Findings from the U.S. Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study

Background and Aims: Adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) carry an extraordinarily high risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD).The present study aimed to test two hypotheses that: (1) CVD risk factors disproportionately affect non-Hispanic black (NHB) with CKD than non-Hispanic white (NHW). (2) This difference significantly contributes to an excess risk of CVD in NHB versus NHW. Methods: A total of 3,939 aged 21-74 years old participating in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study was analyzed. A sum weighted CVDRisk score was constructed from well-established CVD risk factors. Differences in CVDRisk score by race/ethnicity were tested using quantile regression (Qreg) analysis. Results: The prevalence of CVD was 30.7% in NHW and 38.2% in NHB (p<0.001). The means (SD) of CVDRisk score were 12.6 (5.7) in NHW and 14.6 (6.4) in NHB (p<0.001). Qreg analysis indicated that NHB with estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 30-59.9 ml/min/1.73m 2 had significantly higher (worse) CVDRisk scores across all quantiles (Qs) than NHW. This race differences in CVDRisk were also significantly higher in NHB with eGFR 60-70 ml/min/1.73m 2 in Qs 1 and 2 as compared to their NHW counterparts. An estimated 35.8% of the excess prevalent CVD could be attributable to the difference in CVDRisk for NHB versus NHW. Conclusion: NHB have a significantly higher CVD risk factor score in those with moderate and mild CKD than NHW.
Self-Determination for Persons with Disabilities: Choice, Risk, and Dignity:

Self-determination refers to the ability to consider options and make appropriate choices in the home, at school, at work, and during leisure time. A growing philosophical and legal base supports full participation of persons with disabilities in natural settings in the community, and empirical studies document the abilities of persons with severe and multiple disabilities to learn to make choices. Follow-up studies indicate that the majority of special education graduates have not made a successful transition from school to life as an adult in the community. Many remain underemployed or unemployed for reasons associated with lack of decision-making skills. This article presents a rationale for including self-determination in special education curricula. The article describes a framework for providing choices, based on an analysis of risk and benefits. Assessment approaches and teaching strategies are offered.
Review of pharmacotherapy options for the management of obesity.

AbstractPurpose:To highlight the prevalence and impact of obesity in the United States and provide nurse practitioners (NPs) with an overview of pharmacotherapy options for treatment of overweight and obese individuals.Data source:A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted using multiple
Signaling on Prozac: altered audience effects on male-male interactions after fluoxetine exposure in Siamese fighting fish

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as fluoxetine, within the aquatic environment may adversely affect the health and behavior of exposed organisms. Most studies on the effects of inadvertent pharmaceutical exposure focus on the individual level rather than examining behavior within a network of individuals. Within communication networks, interactants send signals to multiple individuals, potentially altering, and being altered by, the behavior of nearby individuals. To address if fluoxetine interferes with communication within a network, male Siamese fighting fish interacted under three audience types (male, female, or no audience) and two exposure conditions (control, fluoxetine). In the control group, findings were similar to prior studies, with males altering gill flaring rate depending on the sex of the audience present. In the exposed group, gill flaring did not differ based on audience type and was lower overall compared to the control, suggesting a reduction in aggression. In contrast, both unexposed and exposed males performed more tail beats when a female audience was present, suggesting that fluoxetine has a context-specific effect on behavior. Behavioral changes during current interactions may affect behavior during later interactions as well as the outcome of future encounters with audience individuals. The influence of fluoxetine on total behavior within an interaction and loss of audience effect suggests it may generate broader changes in communication beyond the exposed individual, causing fitness consequences. This study stresses the importance of studying the effects of inadvertent pharmaceutical exposure on behavior in multiple social contexts to better understand its impacts on complex communication systems.
Estimation of automotive urea-based selective catalytic reduction systems during low temperature operations

Urea-based selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems have become indispensable for automotive Diesel engines to meet the tightened NO x emission standards. The modeling, estimation, and control of urea- SCR system are more challenging during low-temperature operations than during high-temperature operations, mainly due to the poor urea-to-ammonia conversion process in cold exhaust gas condition. As a result, the actual ammonia concentration input to the SCR system for NO x reduction and total ammonia slip including the unconverted urea solution and isocyanic acid (HNCO) may be unknown since the urea-to-ammonia conversion process can be delayed downstream to the catalysts or even be incomplete. To help addressing these issues, Lyapunov-based observers are proposed in this study to estimate the ammonia coverage ratio, actual ammonia concentration input, and the total ammonia slip, for a urea-SCR system during low-temperature operations. Simulation results from an experimentally-validated full-vehicle simulator verify that the proposed observers possess the capability of estimating the important states and input in urea-SCR systems with high accuracy under the FTP-75 cycle.
Measuring and Explaining Racial and Ethnic Differences in Willingness to Donate Live Kidneys in the United States

Background Reasons for US racial–ethnic minority ESRD patients’ reported difficulties identifying live kidney donors are poorly understood. Methods We conducted a national study to develop scales measuring willingness to donate live kidneys among US adults (scores ranged from 0 [not willing] to 10 [extremely willing]), and we tested whether racial–ethnic differences exist in willingness to donate. We also examined whether clinical, sociodemographic, and attitudinal factors mediated potential racial–ethnic differences in willingness. Results Among 845 participants, the majority were extremely willing to donate to relatives (77%) while fewer than half were extremely willing to donate to non-relatives (18%). In multivariable linear regression analyses, willingness to donate varied by race–ethnicity and recipient relationship to the donor. African Americans were less willing to donate to relatives than whites (β: −0.48; 95% CI [Confidence Interval]: −0.94 to −0.17; p = 0.04), but these differences were eliminated after accounting for socioeconomic factors, medical trust, and concerns about burial after death. There were no differences in willingness to donate between Hispanics and whites. Conclusions African Americans’ burial concerns, medical trust, and socioeconomic factors explained differences in their willingness to donate to relatives, suggesting efforts to address these barriers may enhance rates of live kidney donation in this group.
Genome-wide association study of maternal and inherited loci for conotruncal heart defects.

Conotruncal and related heart defects (CTDs) are a group of serious and relatively common birth defects. Although both maternal and inherited genotypes are thought to play a role in the etiology of CTDs, few specific genetic risk factors have been identified. To determine whether common variants acting through the genotype of the mother (e.g. via an in utero effect) or the case are associated with CTDs, we conducted a genome-wide association study of 750 CTD case-parent triads, with follow-up analyses in 358 independent triads. Log-linear analyses were used to assess the association of CTDs with the genotypes of both the mother and case. No association achieved genomewide significance in either the discovery or combined (discovery+follow-up) samples. However, three loci with p-values suggestive of association (p<10−5) in the discovery sample had p-values <0.05 in the follow-up sample and p-values in the combined data that were lower than in the discovery sample. These included suggestive association with an inherited intergenic variant at 20p12.3 (rs6140038, combined p = 1.0×10−5) and an inherited intronic variant in KCNJ4 at 22q13.1 (rs2267386, combined p = 9.8×10−6), as well as with a maternal variant in SLC22A24 at 11q12.3 (rs11231379, combined p = 4.2×10−6). These observations suggest novel candidate loci for CTDs, including loci that appear to be associated with the risk of CTDs via the maternal genotype, but further studies are needed to confirm these associations.
Population and familial association between the D4 dopamine receptor gene and measures of Novelty Seeking

Twin and adoption studies suggest that 30 to 60% of the variance in many personality traits is due to inherited factors. However, there is little knowledge of the number or identity of the responsible genes, how they differ between individuals, or how their gene products interact with the developing brain and with environmental and experiential factors to generate the complex blend of attitudes and actions that comprise human temperament1. In the accompanying paper, Ebstein et al.2 have found a population association between a long allele of polymorphic exon III repeat sequence of the D4 dopamine receptor gene (DADR) and the normal personality trait of Novelty Seeking. The possibility of a causal relationship between DADR and Novelty Seeking is further supported by studies showing that the number of exon III repeats can affect the binding of ligands to the receptor3,4; that DADR is expressed in lim-bic areas involved in cognition and emotion5,6; that dopamine mediates exploratory behaviour in experimental animals7–12; that the rewarding effects of amphetamines and cocaine are related to dopamine release13; and that Novelty Seeking is low in dopamine-deficient patients with Parkinson's disease14. We investigated the relationship between DADR exon III sequence variants and personality test scores in a population of 315 mostly male siblings, other family members and individuals from the United States. The association between long alleles of exon III and personality traits related to Novelty Seeking was confirmed. Moreover, family studies showed that this association is the result of genetic transmission rather than of population stratification.
The Riemann problem for materials with nonconvex equations of state I: Isentropic flow☆

Abstract In the existing literature on nonlinear conservation laws, it is customary to assume that characteristic fields which are not linearly degenerate are in fact genuinely nonlinear. For the equations of compressible flow, this means that the pressure is a convex function of the volume. H. A. Bethe has investigated some of the conditions which cause this assumption to break down, and he has also studied some of the consequences of this breakdown. In this paper, we show that, assuming isentropic flow, one can obtain similarly detailed information about the Riemann problem for nonconvex gases as for convex ones. An important reason for doing this is that in many applications the pressure is given only as a table, and intermediate values are obtained by interpolation. Thus, the pressure used in the computation may not be convex even though the actual pressure is.
Conformational change as one of the earliest alterations of tau in Alzheimer’s disease

Paired helical filaments (PHFs) found in Alzheimer's disease (AD) are mainly comprised of an abnormal form of tau (PHF-tau) that has undergone several post-translational modifications. Previous studies have shown that the monoclonal antibody MCI identifies a distinct conformation of tau in AD. We have assessed the temporal and spatial occurrence of the tau conformation recognized by MC1, and found its appearance in hippocampal neurons vulnerable to neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) formation in Braak Stage I and II cases. Electron microscopy has clearly demonstrated that this conformation precedes the formation of PHF. MC1 immunoaffinity chromatography also has identified a nonfilamentous, soluble pool of this abnormal tau. ELISA and immunoblotting have shown that this material is indistinguishable from that found in NFTs. This soluble component has the ability to self-assemble into PHFs in a concentration-dependent manner. Because the conformational change recognized by MCI appears before the assembly of and is found in PHF, but is not present in the normal brain, we suggest that the formation of the MCI epitope is one of the earliest pathological alterations of tau in AD.
Nitrogen-oxygen and oxygen-oxygen alkyl group migrations. Synthesis of 1,2,4-triazine hydroxamic acid esters

Abstract Novel 1,2,4-triazine hydroxamic acid esters and alkylated 2, 3-dihydro-1,2,4-triazine N-oxides were prepared by rearrangement and selective alkylations of 3-alkoxy and 3-alkylamino-1,2,4-triazine N-oxides.
Spinal cord protective strategies during descending and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair in the modern era: the role of intrathecal papaverine.

Objectives An array of neuroprotective strategies has evolved to limit spinal cord injury during descending thoracic aneurysm and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair. This study prospectively assessed the neuroprotective impact of intrathecal papaverine added to other techniques in aortic aneurysm repairs. Methods From January 2002 to January 2010, 398 consecutive patients underwent descending thoracic aneurysm and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repairs at Cleveland Clinic, 68 under hypothermic circulatory arrest. We focused on the remaining 330, in whom a combination of neuroprotective adjuncts was used intraoperatively to mitigate spinal cord ischemia. These included distal aortic perfusion with moderate hypothermia, cerebrospinal fluid drainage, and intrathecal papaverine. Two patient groups were discriminated according to whether intrathecal papaverine was (n = 250) or was not (n = 80) administered. Postoperative outcomes were analyzed from a prospectively maintained clinical database. Results Preoperative patient characteristics and comorbidities were similar between groups. Extent of aortic disease was also similar: descending thoracic aneurysm (34% with papaverine vs 28%) and Crawford types I (25% vs 34%), II (27% vs 24%), III (13% vs 13%), and IV (2% vs 2.5%). Groups had similar in-hospital mortality (6.4% vs 11%; P = .11) and permanent stroke (4.4% vs 7.5%; P = .3). Permanent paraplegia (3.6% vs 7.5%; P = .01) and paraparesis (1.6% vs 6.3%; P = .01) were significantly lower in the intrathecal papaverine group. Conclusions Adding intrathecal papaverine to the neuroprotective protocol for descending thoracic aneurysm and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repairs may enhance spinal cord perfusion and provide additional spinal cord protection.
“To Tell What God Hath Done for Thy Soul”: Puritan Spiritual Testimonies as Admission Tests and Means of Edification

Abstract This essay revisits the importance of “conversion narratives” in New England puritanism, arguing that they were not widely used for admission to membership; instead, their primary function was to enable lay men and women to share their religious experiences to help others to salvation and cement the bonds of church fellowship.
A combined method for determining inhibition type, kinetic parameters, and inhibition coefficients for aerobic cometabolism of 1,1,1-trichloroethane by a butane-grown mixed culture.

A combined method for determining inhibition type, kinetic parameters, and inhibition coefficients is developed and presented. The method was validated by applying it to data obtained from batch kinetics of the aerobic cometabolism of 1,1,1-trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA) by a butane-grown mixed culture. The maximum degradation rates (k(max)) and half-saturation coefficients (K(s)) were independently determined in single compound tests, and compared with those obtained from inhibition tests. The inhibition type was determined using direct linear plots at various substrate and inhibitor concentrations. Kinetic parameters (k(max) and K(s)) and inhibition coefficients (K(ic) and K(iu)) were determined by nonlinear least squares regression (NLSR) fits of the inhibition model determined from the direct linear plots. Initial guesses of the kinetic parameters for NLSR were determined from linearized inhibition equations that were derived from the correlations between apparent maximum degradation rates (k(app)(max)) and/or the apparent half-saturation coefficient (K(app)(s)) and the k(max), K(s), and inhibitor concentration (I(L)) for each inhibition equation. Two different inhibition types were indicated from the direct linear plots: competitive inhibition of 1,1,1-TCA on butane degradation, and mixed inhibition of 1,1,1-TCA transformation by butane. Good agreement was achieved between independently measured k(max) and K(s) values and those obtained from both NLSR and the linearized inhibition equations. The initial guesses of all the kinetic parameters determined from linear plots were in the range of the values estimated from NLSR analysis. Overall the results show that use of the direct linear plot method to identify the inhibition type, coupled with initial guesses from linearized plots for NLSR analysis, results in an accurate method for determining inhibition types and coefficients. Detailed studies with pure cultures and purified enzymes are needed to further demonstrate the utility of this method.
Lens regeneration after mature galactose cataract formation.

SummaryFollowing the development of mature cataracts in the lenses of rats, one group of rats was placed on a normal diet and a control group continued on the galactose diet. New healthy lens fibers were formed around a dense opaque nucleus in the lenses of rats on the normal diet. Those that were continued on a galactose diet had lenses that were completely opaque. The implication of this observation for further experimental studies and for the interpretation of the etiology of cataractogenesis is discussed.
Chemotherapy With cyclophosphamide, vinblastine, procarbazine, and prednisone (CVPP) for hodgkin disease: Fourteen‐year follow‐up results

Thirty-eight patients with advanced Hodgkin disease were treated with a combination of cyclophosphamide, vinblastine, procarbazine, and prednisone (CVPP) from 1970 to 1973 and followed prospectively. Long-term results after a median follow-up of 14 years are reported. Seventeen of the 28 complete responders (61%) survived more than 10 years from the initiation of chemotherapy. At the current time, 12 of the 28 patients (43%) are continuously disease-free 12.8 to 15.3 years after completing induction chemotherapy. Two additional patients are alive in third and fifth remissions. All relapses occurred within 5.5 years of completing induction chemotherapy. Late complications included sterility, aseptic osteonecrosis, severe pulmonary fibrosis, and chronic uveitis. Four of the complete responders (14%) developed second neoplasms, including acute myelogenous leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and small cell carcinoma of the lung. All second malignancies were fatal and developed 5-13 years after initiation of induction chemotherapy. Our data confirm that cure is possible with alternative regimens to MOPP (nitrogen mustard, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone).
A general scheme for discontinuity detection

This paper is concerned with the initial segmentation step of locating the dominant discontinuities in a variety of image ensembles. Using vector representation for the image ensembles, we model the image vectors over a small neighborhood as an outcome of a linear transformation operating on the image vector at the center of the neighborhood. It is shown that such a modelling leads to a two-stage discontinuity detection process. During the first state, a measure of similarity is computed between the neighboring image vectors using the normalized inner product. These similarity values are then combined through two masks to obtain a measure of the discontinuity present at each location. Such a general formulation makes the proposed discontinuity detector capable of handling a variety of images.
Cooperative relaxations in semicrystalline fluoropolymers studied by thermally stimulated currents and ac dielectric

Semicrystalline fluoropolymers including poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE), a 8 mol % hexafluoropropylene (HFP)/92% TFE random copolymer (FEP), and poly(vinyl fluoride) (PVF) were studied using thermally stimulated current depolarization (TSC), ac dielectric, and other thermal analysis techniques. The TSC thermal sampling (TS) technique is emphasized here for the detection of broad and weak “cooperative” relaxations with all three of the polymers studied exhibiting two cooperative (i.e., relatively high apparent activation energy) transitions. The well-studied low-temperature γ relaxation in PTFE at ca. −100°C is characterized by this method as well as the γ relaxation in the less crystalline FEP sample. Higher temperature cooperative glass transitions, associated with constrained noncrystalline regions, are found at ca. 100°C in PTFE and ca. 80°C in FEP at TSC frequencies. Comparisons with relaxation studies of linear polyethylene are made, and the effects of crystallinity on the various transitions are discussed. The unique characterization by the TSC-TS technique in the detection of multiple “cooperative” relaxations, even in the case of overlapping transitions, is emphasized here. An example is the low-temperature relaxation in FEP. Two cooperative transitions were detected in PVF. The higher temperature one at ca. 45°C is the glass transition, as is well known in the literature. More information is needed to confirm the molecular origin and the effects of crystallinity and chemical structure on the low-temperature cooperative transition in PVF. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Color Contrast Under Controlled Chromatic Adaptation Reveals Opponent Rectification

Color contrast was assessed in the equiluminant plane using asymmetric matching. Test and surround stimuli lay on cardinal axes of a cone opponent chromaticity space, (l-lw, s-sw). Matches were made as a function of both test and surround chromaticity. Some matches showed constant maximal induction consistent with retinal adaptation to the surround; others showed constant minimal induction. These matches were separated by a hiatus in which color appearance did not vary greatly with test chromaticity. The results suggest that rectified retinal spectral opponent pathways do not form a unitary chromatic opponent pathway but are subject to pathway-specific interactions.
Necrotic Core and Its Ratio to Dense Calcium Are Predictors of High-Risk Non–ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome

Increased creatine kinase-MB levels and ST-segment depression are well-known prognostic factors in the setting of non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We hypothesized a relationship between virtual histology intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) findings and these prognostic factors. We performed "whole vessel" VH-IVUS analysis in culprit arteries of 225 patients with ACS and measured the 4 basic VH-IVUS coronary plaque components--fibrous, fibrofatty, dense calcium (DC), and necrotic core (NC)--and calculated a NC/DC ratio. Patients' age was 62 +/- 11 years; 72% were men and 23% had diabetes. Only the NC/DC ratio had a positive association with creatine kinase-MB levels (r = 0.21, p = 0.03), and it was significantly higher for patients with ST-depression compared with those with non-ST-depression ACS (1.97 +/- 1.46 vs 1.58 +/- 1.10, p = 0.02). Sensitivity and specificity curves determined that a NC/DC value > or =2 (odds ratio 3.8, p = 0.01) and percentage of NC > or =6 (odds ratio 3.1, p = 0.04) were thresholds that best separated patients with high-risk non-ST-elevation ACS from those without abnormal creatine kinase-MB or ST depression. Patients with both predictors had significantly higher total cholesterol (204.7 +/- 60.5 vs 173.6 +/- 44.3 mg/dl, p = 0.01), higher low-density liprotein cholesterol (132.5 +/- 49.8 vs 101.3 +/- 33.2 mg/dl, p = 0.02), and more myocardial injury (creatine kinase-MB value of 42 +/- 38 vs 12 +/- 21, p = 0.01) than patients with no predictors. In conclusion, VH-IVUS analysis showed that the percentage of NC and its ratio to DC in diseased coronary segments are positively associated with a high-risk ACS presentation.
Sand and gravel mining: effects on ground water resources in Hancock county, Maine, USA

Based on this preliminary study, existing sand and gravel mining regulations (in Maine, USA) can be inferred to provide some protection to water resources. Sand and gravel deposits are important natural resources that have dual uses: mining for construction material and pumping for drinking water. How the mining of sand and gravel affects aquifers and change aquifer vulnerability to contamination is not well documented. Mining regulations vary greatly by state and local jurisdiction. This study test metrics to measure the effectiveness of mining regulations. The sand and gravel aquifer system studied is covered with former and active gravel pits to nearly 25% of its areal extent. Data from homeowner interviews and field measurements found scant evidence of changes in water quantity. Water quality analyses collected from springs, streams, ponds and wells indicate that the aquifer was vulnerable to contamination by chloride and nitrate. However, water quality changes can not be related directly to mining activities.
Key note lecture: Food and biotechnology

Abstract The new advances in biotechnology have been applied more rapidly to medicine and agriculture than to the food industry. Nevertheless, several recent applications are described, with emphasis on current research by food scientists and engineers at Cornell University. The nutritional needs of an aging population will provide one of the focal points for future work.
Solid support flame synthesis of 1-D and 3-D tungsten-oxide nanostructures

Abstract In this paper we report the growth of 1-D and 3-D tungsten-oxide nanostructures on tungsten wire probes inserted in an opposed-flow oxy-fuel flame. The probe diameter and oxygen content in the oxidizer were varied to study their influence on the growth of tungsten-oxide nanostructures. The introduction of a 1-mm diameter W probe into the flame environment with an oxidizer composition of 50%O 2 + 50%N 2 , resulted in the formation of 1-D nanorods on the upper surface of the probe. The formation of triangular, rectangular, square, and cylindrical 3-D channels with completely hollow or semi-hollow morphology was achieved by reducing the probe diameter to 0.5 mm. Whereas, the increase of the O 2 content to 100% and the employment of a 1-mm probe resulted in the growth of ribbon-like micron-sized structures. The lattice spacing of ∼0.38 nm measured for the 1-D W-oxides closely matches a monoclinic WO 3 structure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis revealed that the larger 3-D structures also consist of WO 3 confirming that the chemical composition of the structures remains the same while varying the probe and flame parameters. The proposed growth mechanism states that the 3-D WO 3 structures are formed through the lateral coalescence of 1-D W-oxide nanorods.
Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma

Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas (JNAs) are rare, benign, highly vascular, locally aggressive tumors that primarily affect male adolescents. Historical treatment of these neoplasms has been primarily surgical. In the past decade, endoscopic resection of JNAs has become a viable and promising surgical treatment option. Endoscopic resection has many advantages over traditional open techniques, including better cosmesis, decreased blood loss, shortened hospital stays, and equivalent or improved recurrence rates. Emerging endoscopic technology continues to push the boundaries of resection of skull base tumors and will no doubt become the surgical treatment of choice for most JNAs in the near future.
Dynamic aspects of phycobilisome structure: Modulation of phycocyanin content of Synechococcus phycobilisomes

Phycobilisomes of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus 6301 contain the phycobiliproteins phycocyanin, allophycocyanin, and allophycocyanin B, and four major non pigmented polypeptides of 75, 33, 30, and 27 kdaltons. The molar ratio of phycocyanin to allophycocyanin in wild type phycobilisomes can be varied over about a two-fold range by alterations in culture conditions with parallel changes in the amounts of the 33 and 30 kdalton polypeptides whereas the levels of the 27 and 75 kdalton polypeptides do not vary. Two nitrosoguanidine-induced mutants, AN112 and AN135, produce abnormally small phycobilisomes, containing only 35 and 50% of the wild type level of phycocyanin. AN135 phycobilisomes contain less 33 kdalton polypeptide than wild type and the 30 kdalton polypeptide is only detected in phycobilisomes from cultures grown under conditions favoring high levels of phycocyanin. AN112 lacks both the 30 and 33 kdalton polypeptides and produces phycobilisomes of constant size and composition, independent of growth conditions. Both mutant phycobilisomes have wild type levels of 27 and 75 kdalton polypeptides relative to allophycocyanin and have normal energy transfer properties. These results indicate that modulation of phycobilisome size involves concurrent regulation of the levels of phycocyanin and of both the 30 and 33 kdalton polypeptides with no change in the composition of the allophycocyanin-containing core.
Interpreter services in an inner city teaching hospital: a 6-year experience.

INTRODUCTIONBeing able to communicate effectively with patients is essential not only from a medicolegal standpoint but more importantly from clinical governance perspectives. Issues such as informed consent and patient choice within the NHS are currently being highlighted; for these to be available to patients, their language requirements are paramount. PATIENTS AND METHODSAn audit was performed by the Linkworkers office at the Central Manchester & Manchester Children's Hospital NHS (CMMC) Trust on the total number of attendances and refusals per language in the period 1998–2003. RESULTSIn the CMMC Trust, Urdu/Punjabi, Bengali, Cantonese, Somali, Arabic and French represent the majority of the workload, comprising almost 80% of cases in 2003. In the same year, an increase in demand for languages of Eastern European countries became evident. Finding interpreters for these languages even via agencies can be extremely difficult. CONCLUSIONSIf the current trend continues, requirement for these services will ...
White Coat Adherence over the First Year of Therapy in Pediatric Epilepsy

Objective To examine white coat adherence over time in children with epilepsy. Study design This was a longitudinal prospective study to examine medication adherence prior to and following consecutive clinic visits over a 13-month period in 120 children with newly diagnosed epilepsy (M age = 7.2 ± 2.9 years; 38% female) and their caregivers. Electronic monitors were used to assess adherence and ordinal logistic regression models were employed. Results Results demonstrated white coat adherence, with adherence increasing during the 3 days preceding clinic visits. Data also revealed a significant interaction, whereby adherence increased following initial clinic visits, but decreased following the last clinic visit. Conclusions White coat adherence occurs for children with newly diagnosed epilepsy. Increased awareness of white coat adherence has important implications for clinical decision-making and should be examined in other pediatric populations. Increased monitoring of medication patterns can help clinicians avoid unnecessary changes to the treatment regimen. Interventions targeting improved communication around adherence behaviors are necessary to maximize therapy benefits.
Transition metals in organic synthesis: highlights for the year 2000

A review with 1811 references about transition metal catalyzed or mediated reactions and functional group preparations is presented.
The effects of sex and sex-role concept on self-disclosure

Socialization into traditional sex-role concepts has been offered as an explanation of sex differences in self-disclosure. The present experiment tested a derivation of this hypothesis: Androgynous males would self-disclose more intimately than sex-typed males. A 2×2×2×2 factorial design was used with sex of subject, sex-role concept of subject, sex of target person, and disclosure level of target person as the independent variables. The results failed to demonstrate an overall difference between androgynous and sex-typed males, while significant sex differences and a strong reciprocity effect were obtained. With both male and female subjects, androgynous subjects did disclose more than sex-typed subjects when the target person had exhibited high disclosure. The findings are discussed in terms of two hypotheses: (1) compliance to a social norm regarding male disclosure to strangers; (2) flexibility of the disclosing behavior of androgynous subjects.