cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Once-Daily Versus Twice-Daily Gentamicin Dosing Regimens in Infants ≥2500 g

OBJECTIVE: There is no uniformity in the current recommendations of dosing regimen of gentamicin for neonates. We conducted a prospective, randomized, controlled trial to compare a once-daily dosing regimen to the twice-daily dosing regimen for neonates ≥2500 g during the first 7 days after birth. STUDY DESIGN: Infants ≥2500 g admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and prescribed gentamicin for suspected bacterial infection were randomized to receive either 4 mg/kg every 24 hours, study group (n=20), or a standard regimen of 2.5 mg/kg every 12 hours, control group (n=21). Serum gentamicin concentrations (SGCs) were followed and gentamicin pharmacokinetics calculated on all infants. RESULTS: Peak SGC 30 minutes after the first dose was 8.2±1.7 μg/ml in the study group, compared to 6.4±1.5 μg/ml in the control group (p=0.001). Ninety-five percent of study group infants, compared to 81% of the control group, had peak SGCs in therapeutic range after the first dose. Peak SGC at 48 hours (steady state) was 8.9±1.5 in the study group and 6.8±1.1 in the control group (p=0.0001). On further analysis, a significantly higher percentage of infants in the study group, compared to the control group, had peak SGCs in higher therapeutic ranges of 6 to 12 μg/ml as well as 8 to 12μg/ml. None of the study infants, compared to six control infants, had trough SGCs ≥2 μg/ml at steady state. Thus, none of the study group infants, versus six of the control group infants, needed a dosing adjustment at 48 hours (p=0.02, Fisher's exact test). CONCLUSION: We found that 4 mg/kg gentamicin given every 24 hours achieved significantly higher peak SGCs and safe trough concentrations in all infants, compared to the twice-daily regimen of 2.5 mg/kg. We suggest that SGCs may not need to be followed in term infants prescribed a short course of this once-daily regimen for suspected early-onset sepsis if renal functions are normal.
Engineering of a recombinant vitamin K-dependent γ-carboxylation system with enhanced γ-carboxyglutamic acid forming capacity : evidence for a functional CXXC redox center in the system

Abstract The vitamin K-dependent γ-carboxylation system in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane responsible for γ-carboxyglutamic acid modification of vitamin K-dependent proteins includes γ-carboxylase and vitamin K 2,3-epoxide reductase (VKOR). An understanding of the mechanism by which this system works at the molecular level has been hampered by the difficulty of identifying VKOR involved in warfarin sensitive reduction of vitamin K 2,3-epoxide to reduced vitamin K1H2, the γ-carboxylase cofactor. Identification and cloning of VKORC1, a proposed subunit of a larger VKOR enzyme complex, have provided opportunities for new experimental approaches aimed at understanding the vitamin K-dependent γ-carboxylation system. In this work we have engineered stably transfected baby hamster kidney cells containing γ-carboxylase and VKORC1 cDNA constructs, respectively, and stably double transfected cells with the γ-carboxylase and the VKORC1 cDNA constructs in a bicistronic vector. All engineered cells showed increased activities of the enzymes encoded by the cDNAs. However increased activity of the γ-carboxylation system, where VKOR provides the reduced vitamin K1H2 cofactor, was measured only in cells transfected with VKORC1 and the double transfected cells. The results show that VKOR is the rate-limiting step in the γ-carboxylation system and demonstrate successful engineering of cells containing a recombinant vitamin K-dependent γ-carboxylation system with enhanced capacity for γ-carboxyglutamic acid modification. The proposed thioredoxin-like 132CXXC135 redox center in VKORC1 was tested by expressing the VKORC1 mutants Cys132/Ser and Cys135/Ser in BHK cells. Both of the expressed mutant proteins were inactive supporting the existence of a CXXC redox center in VKOR.
Molecular Speciation of Saturates by On-Line Liquid Chromatography−Field Ionization Mass Spectrometry

A commercial field ionization (FI) source has been successfully reconfigured to accommodate the moving belt interface for on-line liquid chromatography−mass spectrometric (LC/MS) operations. This n...
Crystal-Associated Arthritis in the Elderly

Since the original recognition of these conditions in 1961, a great deal has been learned about the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and appropriate treatment of gout and pseudogout, and the role of crystals in osteoarthritis has been further defined. The variable manifestations of crystal-induced arthritis in elderly populations has led to a greater need for proper diagnosis and treatment strategies for these increasingly common forms of arthritis.
A Framework for Linear Transform Approximation Using Orthogonal Basis Projection

This paper aims to develop a novel framework to systematically trade-off computational complexity with output distortion in linear multimedia transforms, in an optimal manner. The problem is important in real-time systems where the computational resources available are time-dependent. We solve the real-time adaptation problem by developing an approximate transform framework. There are three key contributions of this paper – (a) a fast basis projection approximation framework that allows us to store signal independent partial transform results to be used in real-time, (b) estimating the complexity distortion curve for the linear transform approximation using a given basis projection approximation set and searching for optimal transform approximation which satisfies the complexity constraint with minimum distortion and (c) determining optimal operating points on complexity distortion function and a meta-data embedding algorithm for images that allows for real- time adaptation. We have applied this approach on the FFT approximation for images with excellent results.
Greater downside risk aversion in the large

Abstract In this paper, we advance a definition of greater downside risk aversion that applies to both large and small changes in risk preference, and thereby complements the results for small changes reported previously. We show that a downside risk-averse transformation of a utility function results in a function that is more downside risk averse in the same manner that a risk-averse transformation increases risk aversion. Our demonstration is conducted first by using the compensated approach introduced by Diamond and Stiglitz [P. Diamond, J. Stiglitz, Increases in risk and in risk aversion, J. Econ. Theory 8 (1974) 337–360] and then by using an adaptation of the risk premium approach taken by Pratt [J. Pratt, Risk aversion in the small and in the large, Econometrica 32 (1964) 122–136].
Nonlinear elastic behavior of fiber-reinforced soil under cyclic loading

Abstract Experimental investigations and modeling of nonlinear elasticity of fiber-reinforced soil under cyclic loading at small strain are conducted in this paper. The investigations include three aspects. First, cyclic shear tests are conducted using conventional triaxial apparatus. Twenty-seven specimens with three different fiber contents are employed to conduct triaxial cyclic shear tests under different confining pressure and loading repetition. Effects of geofiber, confining pressure and loading repetition on elastic shear modulus of reinforced soil are studied and analyzed. Second, a hyperbolic function is introduced to describe the nonlinear stress–strain skeletal curve under cyclic loading. Nonlinear elastic modulus is expressed as a function of shear strain and two variables A and B that are related to the initial tangential modulus and ultimate cyclic loading stress, respectively. In the present paper, variables A and B both are further assumed to be functions of geofiber content, confining pressure and loading repetition. Finally, eight constitutive coefficients of the nonlinear elastic model are calibrated using stress–strain curves from cyclic triaxial shear tests. The calibration of parameters is conducted using the technique of the linear regression for multiple variables. Impacts and effects of geofiber, confining pressure and loading repetitions on soil nonlinear elastic behavior are discussed.
Cosine pattern synthesis for single and multiple main beam uniformly spaced linear arrays

The method of cosine pattern synthesis for single- and multiple-main-beam equispaced linear arrays is introduced. The cosine pattern function is characterized by the position of the main beam in the theta -domain and its half-power beamwidth. The Fourier series and Woodward-Lawson methods are applied to the special cases of single- or multiple-main-beam cosine pattern synthesis. The patterns produced by application of these classical shaped-beam synthesis methods can then be used as initial patterns for iterative and perturbational techniques. Examples are presented and discussed, including the use of multiple-main-beam cosine pattern synthesis to design a high-power, high-frequency, ground-based transmitter for the creation of an array of 'wireless' ionospheric dipoles. >
253 CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF PANCURONIUM IN ANESTHETIZED NEONATAL PIGLETS

Effects of the muscular relaxant Pancuronium (P) were investigated in piglets under anesthesia with 0.25% halothane in N2O and O2. Artificial ventilation was adjusted to maintain normal arterial pH and PCO2. Control values for all animals were pH 7.432±0.1 and PCO2 34.4±1.3. Aortic pressure (AoP), heart rate (HR) and femoral and carotid flows (F) were recorded simultaneously in 17 animals in 3 age groups (6≥2 days, 5 at 1 week and 6 at 2 weeks). Resistance (R) was calculated at mean AoP/mean F. Single doses totaling 90.4±2.1 μg P/kg, which approximates the clinical dosage in infants up to 3 weeks of age, were injected into the right atrium. Different effects on ≥ were observed between the ≥ day and 2 week old piglets. ≥ increased 7.9%±3.0 in the youngest and 20.5%±4.7 in the oldest. HR changes were not systematic in the youngest animals. However, HR significantly increased 17.4%±2.1 in 2 week olds. Femoral and carotid F increased in all animals while R varied. In contrast to our results with decamethonium bromide (Crane, L., et al. Archint. Pharmacodyn. 208:52, 1974), P never produced hypotension, thereby emphasizing P's greater clinical usefulness. (Supported by the Nassau Heart Assoc.)
Dopamine denervation of the prefrontal cortex increases expression of the astrocytic glutamate transporter GLT-1.

Both dopamine and glutamate are critically involved in cognitive processes such as working memory. Astrocytes, which express dopamine receptors, are essential elements in the termination of glutamatergic signaling: the astrocytic glutamate transporter GLT-1 is responsible for >90% of cortical glutamate uptake. The effect of dopamine depletion on glutamate transporters in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is unknown. In an effort to determine if astrocytes are a locus of cortical dopamine-glutamate interactions, we examined the effects of chronic dopamine denervation on PFC protein and mRNA levels of glutamate transporters. PFC dopamine denervation elicited a marked increase in GLT-1 protein levels, but had no effect on levels of other glutamate transporters; high affinity glutamate transport was positively correlated with the extent of dopamine depletion. GLT-1 gene expression was not altered. Our data suggests that dopamine depletion may lead to post-translational modifications that result in increased expression and activity of GLT-1 in PFC astrocytes.
Use of Nutrition Outcomes Monitors in the Intensive Care Nurseries

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: To identify a method of completing and applying nutrition outcomes monitors for very-low-birth-weight infants. Nutrition monitors were developed for the special care nurseries using growth as the outcome measure of nutrition therapy. Weekly weights, energy, and protein intakes are collected on all infants born weighing less than 1300 g. Growth and average nutrient intakes are calculated for four feeding intervals: parenteral (age 0-14 days), transition (age 15-35 days), early (age 35-56 days), and late enteral (age 57 days to term). The initial monitor period (Period A: 9/94-5/95) showed reduced energy and protein intakes in all feeding intervals and a concurrent suboptimal rate of growth. Areas of nutrition concern included: fluid restrictions, limited protein content of current preterm infant feedings, late initiation of enteral feeds, and a delay in adjusting feeding volumes for growth. Specific nutrition interventions were implemented including standards of care, general feeding protocols, physician and medical resident nutrition education, and weekly follow-up nutrition assessments. A recent monitoring period (Period B: 6/96-13/96) showed a tendency toward increased energy and protein intakes in the parenteral as well as late enteral feeding intervals which improved overall growth rates.Feeding IntervalEnergy (kcal/kg)Protein (g/kg)Growth (g/kg)Parenteral75/87 ** 1.9/2.61.5/3.3Transition99/992.5/2.714.3/17.3Early Enteral108/1072.7/2.718.8/22.4Late Enteral110/1132.7/3.020.6/24.4 ** Period A/Period B Work still remains to improve intakes in the later intervals with growth remaining below goal rates throughout hospitalization. Outcome monitors can help identify feeding concerns, establish nutrition goals, and achieve optimal nutrition and growth for high risk patients.
Prognostic markers and long-term outcomes in ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast treated with excision alone

BACKGROUND: Increased use of breast cancer screening has led to an increase in the number of diagnosed cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). However, there is no definite way to predict progression or recurrence of DCIS. We analyzed the significance of biological markers and tumor characteristics in predicting recurrence in a large series of DCIS patients with long-term follow-up treated with breast conservation surgery (BCS) alone. METHODS: Clinical and pathological data were analyzed for 141 patients who underwent BCS for DCIS. All had negative surgical margins. Using local disease recurrence as an endpoint, we sought to determine the prognostic significance of several histopathological characteristics (tumor size, presence of necrosis, and subtype) and biological markers (estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and Her-2/neu.) RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 122 months (maximum follow-up, 294 months), 60 recurrences occurred, with a median time to recurrence of 191 months. On multivariate analysis, Her-2 positivity (3+) was found to be significantly associated with reduced time to tumor recurrence (P = .028). Tumor size and higher grade were marginally statistically significant (P = .099, P = .070). Neither necrosis nor tumor pathological characteristics were found to be significantly related to time to disease recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that status of Her-2/neu, larger tumor size, and higher nuclear grade were significantly correlated with time to tumor recurrence in patients treated with BCS alone. Using logistical analyses, no significant correlation was found between tumor pathological characteristics and disease recurrence. Cancer 2011. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Timeline to efficiency

When you are in a position that relies on student employees as the majority of your workforce, there are many issues that you must handle and it is imperative to put the most efficient system into place. At the University of Missouri-Columbia, IAT Services, our organization employs approximately 175 students per semester. The processes that we have in place for hiring, training and performance evaluations are continuously being revamped and improved upon by our staff and employees. We have a common goal: minimize the amount of time spent on these tasks. Some of the many ways we have minimized our time were by automating most of our processes with online applications, renewal applications, availability, and training. We have also tried to maximize our time by setting deadlines one year in advance by creating a master calendar. For the full time staff we are able to better prepare and in turn prepare our student employees for what to expect and when to expect it. History has shown us that the better prepared we are, the better prepared our student employees will be. The following paper and presentation will review the streamlined system we have adopted that makes our hiring, training and the evaluation process more efficient.
High-Risk Pools for the Sick and Uninsured Under Health Reform: Too Little and Thus Too Late

Democrats and Republicans have turned to the concept of “high-risk pools” to provide health care for those Americans who face the dual challenge of uninsurance and serious health difficulties. Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), these “high-risk” individuals will receive extensive help and regulatory protections, in concert with a new system of health insurance exchanges. However, these federal provisions do not become operational until 2014. As an interim measure, PPACA provides $5 billion for temporary, federally funded high-risk pools, now known as the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP). This analysis explores the adequacy of such funding. Using 2005/06 data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), we find that approximately 4 million uninsured Americans have been diagnosed with emphysema, diabetes, stroke, cancer, congestive heart failure, angina, or a heart attack. To provide adequate health care for uninsured individuals with chronic diseases, the federal PCIP appropriations would need to be many times higher than either Democrats or Republicans have proposed.
Cyclic AMP stimulation of calcium efflux from kidney, liver and heart mitochondria.

The effect of cyclic AMP on subcellular calcium turnover was studied in isolated kidney, liver and heart mitochondria. The calcium concentration of the incubating medium was determined by fluorometric methods after its separation by millipore filtration. Liver and kidney mitochondria take up calcium in exchange for H+ and lower the medium calcium to 1 to 40×10−6 m in less than 2 min. Cyclic AMP produces an instantaneous release of calcium from mitochondria and a rise in the steady-state calcium concentration of the medium. A new medium calcium level of 0.7 to 3×10−4 m is achieved in less than 3 sec and is proportional to cyclic AMP concentrations between 10−7 and 3×10−6 m. Cyclic AMP is inactive above 5×10−6 m and below 10−7 m. Cyclic IMP, 5′ AMP, dibutyryl cAMP are inactive at any concentration. Cyclic GMP is active at 10−5 m and competitively inhibits cyclic AMP action. The same staedy-state calcium level is reached from higher or, lower calcium concentrations, i.e. whether cyclic AMP is added before or after the addition of calcium to the mitochondrial suspension. At low calcium or phosphate concentrations, the calcium released by cyclic AMP is immediately reaccumulated by the mitochondria is less than 2 min with a further release of H+. This “pulse” can be repeated by sequential additions of cyclic AMP. The transient or sustained response to cyclic AMP depends on the medium calcium x phosphate product and presumably on the presence or absence of calcium phosphate precipitate inside the mitochondria. These results support the hypothesis that cyclic AMP regulates cytoplasmic calcium by controlling the mitochondrial calcium efflux rate. This mechanism may be involved in the regulation of calcium transport and in some hormonal effects mediated by cyclic AMP.
Precollege Education as Applied Anthropology

Teaching anthropology, and particularly teaching it to precollege teachers, is an important part of applied anthropology as Erve Chambers writes. Yet most professors of anthropology probably do not see themselves as engaging in applied work. For many, teaching competes with scholarly research, and it is primarily the latter which defines their "professionalism." Worse yet, precollegiate anthropology enjoys even less prestige or professional weight than college or university teaching, even though it is an endeavor in which university or college faculty might be engaged. But anthropology's future depends in part on public recognition. By undervaluing the importance of precollegiate anthropology, therefore, we may undermine the future of the discipline. The core of the problem may well be a failure to recognize precollegiate anthropology as the applied anthropology it is.
POINT-LIKE HADRONS FROM COLLIDING BEAMS.

We recall that aframe-dependent cut-off in field theory has predicted the phenomenon apparently observed ine+e → 2 hadrons in colliding beams, namely that (hadronic or semi-hadronic) cross-sectionsdσ/dt directly measured in the CM frame should be different (in general, larger) than those measured in the Lab frame at sufficiently high energies. A rough calculation shows quantitative agreement with the preliminary data.
Interfacial dynamics of two liquids under an oscillating gravitational field

The evolution of two miscible liquids meeting at an initially sharp interface inside a cavity under microgravity £-jitter conditions is studied numerically. We show the response of the interface and kinematics of the flowfield to various £-jitter accelerations and aspect ratio variations. The interface region acts like a vortex source sheet, and it can be unstable to Kelvin-Helmho ltz and Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities. The vortices produced along the interface can serve as a stirring mechanism to promote local mixing. Below the critical Stokes-Reynolds number, the destabilization of the interface results in deformation into wavy structures. In some parameter regions, these structures oscillate in time; in others, they are quasisteady. Above the critical Stokes-Reynolds number, 4'chaotic" instability results and the interface breaks into concentration pockets. The morphology of the initial breakup is similar to observed Rayleigh-Taylor instability. Subsequent mixing of the two fluids after the breakup of the interface is then very rapid. C = Dir Gr = g = H = j = L = n = n = PeD = q = Re = Res = Sc = T
Optimal multiple-seams search for image resizing with smoothness and shape prior

Content-aware image resizing is of increasing relevance to allow high-quality image and video to be displayed on devices with different resolution. We present a novel method to find multiple seams simultaneously with global optimality for image resizing, incorporating both region smoothness and seam shape prior using a 3-D graph-theoretic approach. The globally optimal seams can be simultaneously achieved by solving a maximum flow problem based on an arc-weighted graph representation. Representing the resizing problem in an arc-weighted graph, we can incorporate a wide spectrum of constraints into the formulation, thus improving resizing results. By removing or inserting those multiple seams, the goal of content-aware image resizing is achieved. Due to simultaneous detection of multiple seams, our algorithm exhibits several good features: the ability to handle both crossing and non-crossing-seam cases, the ability to incorporate various feasible geometry constraints, and the ability to incorporate the seams importance, region smoothness and shape prior information. The proposed method was implemented and experimented on a variety of image data and compared with the state of the art in image resizing.
The incorporation of [1-14C]linolenate into lipids of developing rat brain during essential fatty acid deprivation.

— Twenty-one-day old essential fatty acid (EFA) deprived rats incorporated about twice the radioactivity from [1-14C]linolenate into brain lipid fractions as did controls. At 5 min after injection, 2/3 of the radioactivity was associated with the less polar lipid fraction of both control and EFA deprived animals. By 30 min after injection, 70% of the radioactivity was in the phospholipid fraction. This value increased to 90% at later time points. The specific activity of brain phospholipids from EFA deprived rats was always greater than that of controls. This held true for the individual phosphatide fractions also. In general, phosphatidylcholine (PC) was labeled most rapidly. With increasing time intervals, radioactivity was transferred to phospha-tidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylserine + phosphatidylinositol (PS + PI). The transfer of fatty acid radioactivity into phospholipid and the distribution of radioactivity among individual phosphatides did not appear to be affected by the dietary state. However, the total amount of radioactivity incorporated was related to the amount initially retained by brain after injection. Our data suggest that one or more components of the less polar lipid fraction may act as a ‘trap’ or reservoir for fatty acids which are required for phospholipid synthesis.
The PDZ2 domain of syntenin at ultra-high resolution: bridging the gap between macromolecular and small molecule crystallography.

Abstract The crystal structure of the second PDZ domain of the scaffolding protein syntenin was solved using data extending to 0.73 A resolution. The crystallographic model, including the hydrogen atoms and the anisotropic displacement parameters, was refined to a conventional R -factor of 7.5% and R free of 8.7%, making it the most precise crystallographic model of a protein molecule to date. The model reveals discrete disorder in several places in the molecule, and significant plasticity of the peptide bond, with some ω angles deviating by nearly 20° from planarity. Most hydrogen atoms are easily identifiable in the electron density and weak hydrogen bonds of the C–H⋯O type are clearly visible between the β-strands. The study sets a new standard for high-resolution protein crystallography.
Interphase transfer kinetics of uranium between phosphoric acid and DEPA-TOPO extractant using Lewis cell techniques

Rate constants for the interphase transfer of uranium from pure and plant solutions of phosphoric acid by DEPA-TOPO solvent have been measured in a Lewis cell. In pure H3PO4, the forward (aqueous to organic) rate constant, k′, decreased from 0.038 cm/min in 4 M H3PO4 to 0.006 cm/min in 8 M H3PO4, a factor of about six. Arrhenius plots of log k′ vs. 1T showed an activation energy of only 3.7 kcal/mol (15.5 kJ/mol), as compared to a value of 12.2 kcal/mol (51.0 kJ/mol) for the reverse reaction. The addition of typical impurities, such as humic matter and defoaming agents, to pure solutions of H3PO4 resulted in a significant decrease in k′. Rate constants for plant acid that had been cleaned of most of the humid matter by treatment with activated carbon were about 4 times higher than untreated acid. Residence times for mixing have been calculated for the various conditions.
Symptomatology, pathophysiology and treatment of the transurethral resection of the prostate syndrome.

Summary Five patients who developed the TURP syndrome during transurethral resection of the prostate absorbed an average of 4.3 litres of urologic irrigating fluid (Cytal). The serum sodium and chloride decreased an average of 36 and 21 mEq/l respectively. The serum Cytal increased an average of 892 mg/100 ml. In comparison minimal changes occurred in the serum values of 8 control patients under-going TURP. Pain in the previously anaesthetised area, seizures, cardiac arrhythmias or heavy prostatic venous bleeding occurred just before the onset of the reaction. Successful treatment included the immediate termination of the resection, control of haemorrhage with Foley catheter and traction, and cessation of all intravenous therapy. The administration of hypertonic saline is contraindicated. Using this method of treatment the serum Cytal levels returned to preoperative values in 5 hours; serum sodium and chloride returned to preoperative levels 24 hours after the resection.
Pituitary factors regulating mouse placental lactogen-II secretion during the last half of pregnancy in mice.

Hypophysectomy of mice during the last half of pregnancy results in an increase in the maternal serum mouse placental lactogen-II (mPL-II) concentration. The present study was undertaken to isolate and identify the pituitary factors that regulate mPL-II. Administration of pituitary extracts from virgin and day 12 pregnant mice (five pituitaries per mouse, every 8 h, sc) and bilateral pituitary implants under the kidney capsule significantly inhibited the increase in the mPL-II concentration that occurs within 24 h after hypophysectomy on day 12 of pregnancy, which indicated that the pituitary secretes factors that regulate mPL-II. To characterize these factors biochemically, pituitaries from virgin female mice were incubated for 14 days, and the culture medium was pooled, concentrated, and then fractionated by gel exclusion chromatography on Sephadex G-100, followed by ion exchange chromatography on DEAE. The fraction from DEAE chromatography that contained predominantly mouse (m) GH as well as a very sma...
Laser-induced acoustic desorption/chemical ionization in Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Abstract Laser-induced acoustic desorption (LIAD) of neutral molecules coupled with electron and chemical ionization was examined as an analysis method for nonvolatile organic and biomolecules in Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry. LIAD involved the production of a high amplitude acoustic wave by laser ablation of a copper or titanium foil from the opposite side of where the sample was deposited. The experiment was carried out with a simple probe designed for transmission mode laser desorption. Large amounts of neutral molecules were desorbed this way, but ions were not detected. The desorbed neutral molecules were ionized by 70 eV electron ionization or by reactions with reagent ions that were generated, isolated, and trapped in the ICR cell. Strong, reproducible signals were obtained in these experiments. The applicability of the method was demonstrated for a wide variety of molecules, including an organic salt, steroids, sugars, oligopeptides, nucleic acid bases, nucleosides, and synthetic polymers. For example, the tetrapeptide val-ala-ala-phe was volatilized by LIAD and ionized by a proton transfer reaction. The ions were stored in the FT-ICR cell for up to 30 s before detection. The base peak in the spectrum obtained corresponds to the protonated peptide, which indicates that the neutral peptide was desorbed intact. In contrast, thermal desorption of this peptide leads to substantial degradation. Based on this and other results obtained, LIAD combined with postdesorption ionization in an FT-ICR shows promise as a practical method for the analysis of thermally labile, nonvolatile molecules. A special advantage of this approach is that it allows better control of the ionization step (through selection of reagent ions) and a broader choice of ionization modes (e.g. group transfer, addition/elimination) than laser desorption/ionization methods, such as matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI). A disadvantage is lower sensitivity.
Effect of a Fat-Free Maternal Diet on the Fatty Acid Composition of the Progeny

Abstract ALTHOUGH Burr and Burr (1929) showed that a dietary source of poly-unsaturated fatty acids was essential for good growth and reproduction in rats, the chick’s requirement for essential fatty acids was not extensively investigated until the last decade. Reiser (1950) fed cockerels a low-fat diet and obtained poor growth and high mortality within 3 to 4 weeks. Bieri et al. (1956) reported that chicks maintained on a low-fat regime grew normally for 6–8 weeks, after which the growth rate decreased. More recently, Machlin and Gordon (1961) and Ross and Adamson (1961) reported that linoleic acid supplementation of chicks fed a low-fat diet resuited in improved growth. In addition to the poor growth rate exhibited by chickens receiving a fat-deficient diet, Bieri et al. (1956) and Ross and Adamson (1961) have also observed that fat-deficient chickens are much more susceptible to respiratory infections than chickens fed diets containing fat. Another…
Minimum current requirements for epidural stimulation test confirmation of epidural and intrathecal catheter placement.

Background and Objectives: The typical blind insertion of a catheter into the epidural space risks catheter misplacement into the intrathecal space. The epidural stimulation test is designed to confirm the correct epidural location of a catheter but may also detect unintended intrathecal catheter placement by evaluating the minimum electrical current required for appropriate motor stimulation. Using this test, we observed the minimum current requirements for appropriate motor stimulation of catheters placed in the epidural and intrathecal spaces. Methods: In this prospective observational study, patients scheduled for epidural catheter placement and intrathecal catheter placement were evaluated by the epidural stimulation test. The epidural space was localized by using a loss-of-resistance technique with normal saline, and the intrathecal space was identified by advancing a Tuohy needle until a continuous flow of clear cerebrospinal fluid was obtained. Afterward, a catheter was placed in the appropriate space, and a nerve stimulator delivered progressively, increasing electrical current until an appropriate muscle contraction was palpated. The minimum milliamperage required for this muscle contraction was our primary outcome measure. Results: Of 37 catheters intentionally placed in the epidural space, the mean current required to produce an appropriate palpable motor contraction was 7.8 ± 3.3 mA with a range of 2 to 14 mA. Of the 11 catheters intentionally placed in the intrathecal space, the mean current required to produce an appropriate palpable motor contraction was 1.3 ± 0.8 mA with a range of 0.05 to 2.4 mA. Conclusions: We conclude that the epidural stimulation test minimum electrical current requirement seems to be lower for intrathecal compared with epidural catheter placement.
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Behavioral Interventions to Reduce HIV Risk Behaviors of Hispanics in the United States and Puerto Rico

This systematic review examines the overall efficacy of HIV behavioral interventions designed to reduce HIV risk behaviors or incident sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among Hispanics residing in the United States or Puerto Rico. Data from 20 randomized and nonrandomized trials (N = 6,173 participants) available through January 2006 were included in this review. Interventions successfully reduced the odds of unprotected sex and number of sex partners, increased the odds of condom use, and decreased the odds of acquiring new STD infections. Interventions successful in reducing the odds of any sex risk behavior used non-peer deliverers; included ≥4 intervention sessions; taught condom use or problem solving skills; or addressed barriers to condom use, sexual abstinence, or peer norms. Interventions that included the Hispanic cultural belief of machismo or those developed based on ethnographic interviews were successful in reducing the odds of sex risk behaviors among non-drug users. Interventions targeting injection drug users (IDUs; N = 3,569) significantly reduced the odds of injection drug use and the odds of sharing cotton or cookers, but did not significantly reduce the odds of engaging in risky sex behavior or needle sharing. Further development of culturally appropriate HIV prevention interventions for Hispanic populations, particularly men and persons living with HIV, are warranted.
Training teachers in a large urban area to administer and interpret a new literacy assessment: lessons learned from New York City

A nine‐item survey was administered to 47 New York City public school kindergarten through third‐grade teachers to determine their experiences during training in the administration and interpretation of the Early Childhood Literacy Assessment System (ECLAS‐2). Results show that most teachers found that their ECLAS‐2 training was insufficient to accurately administer the test and interpret the results. Furthermore, information about what teachers do with the ECLAS‐2 data once they are collected indicates that approximately one‐half of the teachers are utilizing the data to inform their teaching decisions. The results of this investigation indicate that proper assessment training can influence how teachers collect and use data. Recommendations for improvement in assessment training are provided.
From Aristotle to Marx

ESSENTIALISM IN THE THOUGHT OF KARL MARX by Scott Meikle LaSalle, Ill.: Open Court, 1985. 195 pp., $24–95 Meikle emphasizes the roots of Marx's dialectical method in Aristotelian essentialism and organicism. This is shown to constitute a challenge to liberal scholars to rethink their methodological premises. Though many liberals claim Aristotle as their intellectual forebear, they haue not grasped the Aristotelian propensity for holistic analysis of social phenomena—as Marx did. In order to reclaim Aristotle's legacy, liberals must reformulate their economic and political ideas within a broader context that takes account of historical, cultural and socio‐psy‐chological factors.
UsingGCN4as a Reporter of eIF2α Phosphorylation and Translational Regulation in Yeast

Abstract Molecular genetic analyses in yeast are a powerful method to study gene regulation. Conservation of the mechanism and regulation of protein synthesis between yeast and mammalian cells makes yeast a good model system for the analysis of translation. One of the most common mechanisms of translational regulation in mammalian cells is the phosphorylation of serine-51 on the α subunit of the translation initiation factor eIF2, which causes an inhibition of general translation. In contrast, in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae phosphorylation of eIF2α on serine-51 by the GCN2 protein kinase mediates the translational induction of GCN4 expression. The unique structure of the GCN4 mRNA makes GCN4 expression especially sensitive to eIF2α phosphorylation, and the simple microbiological tests developed in yeast to analyze GCN4 expression serve as good reporters of eIF2α phosphorylation. It is relatively simple to express heterologous proteins in yeast, and it has been shown that the mammalian eIF2α kinases will functionally substitute for GCN2. Structure–function analyses of translation factors or translational regulators can also be performed by assaying for effects on general and GCN4 -specific translation. Three tests can be used to study eIF2α phosphorylation and/or translational activity in yeast. First, general translation can be monitored by simple growth tests, while GCN4 expression can be analyzed using sensitive replica-plating tests. Second, GCN4 translation can be quantitated by measuring expression from GCN4–lacZ reporter constructs. Finally, isoelectric focusing gels can be used to directly monitor in vivo phosphorylation of eIF2α in yeast.
The Ka-Band Communication Systems of the Lincoln Experimental Satellites LES-8 and LES-9

Introduction L INCOLN Experimental Satellites LES-8 and LES-9 are a pair of experimental communication satellites designed and built to operate in a synchronous ecliptic orbit and to communicate on a crosslink from satellite to satellite as well as with surface terminals. At synchronous-orbit altitude, each satellite has a groundvisibility area about 8000 miles in diameter. With crosslink communication between two satellites spaced thousands of miles apart, a single pair of satellites could provide communications among terminals anywhere in an area covering more than 3/4 of the surface of the Earth. Communication links are possible at both UHF and Ka-band at approximately 37 GHz. Figure 1 shows a cutaway drawing of LES-9. The side facing the Earth is the forward platform, which is used for mounting and precision alignment of the Ka-band antennas and the Earth sensors. The Ka-band receiver diplexer filters and front ends are mounted as close as possible to the diplexer polarizer mounted on each antenna. The Ka-band transmitter power amplifiers are mounted on sections of the internal decagon adjacent to the forward platform to minimize the length of the waveguide runs to the antennas. LES-8 and LES-9 each utilize two independent Ka-band communication systems (see Fig. 2). The Ka-dish system uses a fixed paraboloidal reflector in conjunction with a steerable flat reflector to provide a narrow beam, tracking antenna for crosslink or uplink/downlink communications. The Ka-horn system includes a fixed horn to provide a wide-beam antenna coverage. Local oscillator requirements for both systems are provided by a single Ka-band local oscillator. Each receiver subsystem features a broadband low-noise mixer utilizing Schottky-barrier diodes to achieve a typical system noise figure of less than 8 dB. Each transmitter includes an array of solid-state amplifiers which utilize IMPATT diodes, and delivers 0.5 W of power to the antenna. The transmitter signal is modulated at a lower frequency and is upconverted to Kaband using a mixer similar to that used in the low-noise receiver. This paper will discuss the Ka-band systems carried on LES8 and LES-9, which were built to demonstrate component and
Fracto-emission and electrical transients due to interfacial failure

Interfacial failure is often accompanied by intense photon and electron emissions. When interfacial failure involves the separation of a conducting material from an insulator, transient electrical signals are generated in the conducting phase; these signals are ultimately due to contact charging across the interface, followed by charge separation during failure. We review the application of these signals as probes of the failure process in two adhesive systems: a steel rod embedded in an epoxy matrix, and a pressure sensitive adhesive on a copper substrate. The intensity of the photon and electron emissions (in vacuum) from the steel rod-epoxy system allows us to determine where debonding begins and the direction and approximate velocity of the resulting debond crack. Electron emission is particularly sensitive to the production of exposed fracture surface, and thus indicates when the debond crack reaches the epoxy surface. The peeling of pressure sensitive tape from copper yields a fluctuating current si...
Rotavirus protein involved in genome replication and packaging exhibits a HIT-like fold

Rotavirus, the major cause of life-threatening infantile gastroenteritis, is a member of the Reoviridae. Although the structures of rotavirus and other members of the Reoviridae have been extensively studied, little is known about the structures of virus-encoded non-structural proteins that are essential for genome replication and packaging. The non-structural protein NSP2 of rotavirus, which exhibits nucleoside triphosphatase, single-stranded RNA binding, and nucleic-acid helix-destabilizing activities, is a major component of viral replicase complexes. We present here the X-ray structure of the functional octamer of NSP2 determined to a resolution of 2.6 A. The NSP2 monomer has two distinct domains. The amino-terminal domain has a new fold. The carboxy-terminal domain resembles the ubiquitous cellular histidine triad (HIT) group of nucleotidyl hydrolases. This structural similarity suggests that the nucleotide-binding site is located inside the cleft between the two domains. Prominent grooves that run diagonally across the doughnut-shaped octamer are probable locations for RNA binding. Several RNA binding sites, resulting from the quaternary organization of NSP2 monomers, may be required for the helix destabilizing activity of NSP2 and its function during genome replication and packaging.
Compensatory escape mechanism at low Reynolds number

Despite high predation pressure, planktonic copepods remain one of the most abundant groups on the planet. Their escape response provides one of most effective mechanisms to maximize evolutionary fitness. Owing to their small size (100 µm) compared with their predators (>1 mm), increasing viscosity is believed to have detrimental effects on copepods’ fitness at lower temperature. Using high-speed digital holography we acquire 3D kinematics of the nauplius escape including both location and detailed appendage motion. By independently varying temperature and viscosity we demonstrate that at natural thermal extremes, contrary to conventional views, nauplii achieve equivalent escape distance while maintaining optimal velocity. Using experimental results and kinematic simulations from a resistive force theory propulsion model, we demonstrate that a shift in appendage timing creates an increase in power stroke duration relative to recovery stroke duration. This change allows the nauplius to limit losses in velocity and maintain distance during escapes at the lower bound of its natural thermal range. The shift in power stroke duration relative to recovery stroke duration is found to be regulated by the temperature dependence of swimming appendage muscle groups, not a dynamic response to viscosity change. These results show that copepod nauplii have natural adaptive mechanisms to compensate for viscosity variations with temperature but not in situations in which viscosity varies independent of temperature, such as in some phytoplankton blooms. Understanding the robustness of escapes in the wake of environmental changes such as temperature and viscosity has implications in assessing the future health of performance compensation.
Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) inhibits basal bone resorption in fetal rat long bone cultures.

Abstract Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) has a wide variety of biologic actions. In vivo, its net effect on bone is to increase new bone formation. Recently, the sequence of human LIF was found to differ by only a single amino acid from that of human differentiation-inducing factor (D-factor). The effects of LIF on bone appear to be complex since purified murine D-factor and recombinant LIF stimulate bone resorption in cultured newborn mouse calvaria. To examine further the responses of bone to LIF, we studied the effects of recombinant human LIF (glycosylated and non-glycosylated) and recombinant human D-factor (non-glycosylated) on resorption in another in vitro organ culture model, fetal rat long bones. Both LIF preparations and D-factor inhibited basal bone resorption rates by 25% to 44% in these cultures. Resorption rates in maximally inhibited LIF-treated cultures were similar to those in devitalized bones. Inhibitory effects typically occurred at concentrations of ≥10 ng/mL (0.5 nM) for the non-glycosylated LIF and D-factor and 1000 U/mL for glycosylated LIF. Neither LIF nor D-factor blocked the resorptive response to interleukin 1 (IL 1) or parathyroid hormone (PTH) nor did they alter total DNA synthesis. Hence, their inhibitory effects appeared to be specific for the mechanisms regulating basal resorptive activity. These results demonstrate that LIF has potent inhibitory actions on basal resorption rates in these cultures. These effects may be important for the anabolic responses that LIF has on bone in vivo. In addition, they may also be involved in the interactions between inflammatory or tumor cells and bone.
The relationship between the serum free light chain assay and serum immunofixation electrophoresis, and the definition of concordant and discordant free light chain ratios

"Stringent" complete remission in myeloma has been defined by a normal serum free light chain ratio (SFLCR) in addition to the standard criteria for CR. 2648 serial samples from 122 IgG or IgA myeloma patients were studied to explore the relationship between SFLCR and serum immunofixation electrophoresis (SIFE). SFLCR was normal in 34% of cases with positive SIFE and abnormal in 66%. SFLCR was normal in 69% of cases with negative SIFE and abnormal in 31%. When evaluated with SIFE as the benchmark, the sensitivity of SFLCR was 66% and specificity was 69%. These findings were unchanged when abnormal SFLCR values were classified as concordant ( 1.65 for kappa) or discordant ( 1.65 for lambda). Additional studies are required to determine the temporal relationship between SFLCR normalization and paraprotein clearance. Until then, the role of SFLCR in defining response remains controversial.