cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prenatal Screening Using Maternal Markers

Maternal markers are widely used to screen for fetal neural tube defects (NTDs), chromosomal abnormalities and cardiac defects. Some are beginning to broaden prenatal screening to include pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia. The methods initially developed for NTDs using a single marker have since been built upon to develop high performance multi-maker tests for chromosomal abnormalities. Although cell-free DNA testing is still too expensive to be considered for routine application in public health settings, it can be cost-effective when used in combination with existing multi-maker marker tests. The established screening methods can be readily applied in the first trimester to identify pregnancies at high risk of pre-eclampsia and offer prevention though aspirin treatment. Prenatal screening for fragile X syndrome might be adopted more widely if the test was to be framed as a form of maternal marker screening.
Comparison between Society of Thoracic Surgeons score and logistic EuroSCORE for predicting mortality in patients referred for transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Abstract Background The primary inclusion criteria from both the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score and the logistic EuroSCORE are currently used to identify high-risk and inoperable patients eligible for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). We aimed to examine the correlation between STS and logistic EuroSCOREs and their performance characteristics in patients referred for TAVI. Methods The study cohort consisted of 718 high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis who were considered for participation in a TAVI clinical trial. The performance of the STS and logistic EuroSCOREs was evaluated in three groups: ( a ) medical management or balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV), 474 (66%); ( b ) 133 patients (18.5%) with surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR); ( c ) 111 (15.4%) with TAVI. The mean age was 81.8±8.1 years, and 394 (54.8%) were female. Results The mean STS score was 11.5±6.1, and the mean logistic EuroSCORE was 39.7±23.0. Pearson correlation coefficient showed moderate correlation between the STS and logistic EuroSCOREs ( r =0.61, P P P =.01) with STS and 1.003 ( P =.7) with logistic EuroSCORE. In the surgical AVR group, the OR was 1.09 ( P =.07) with STS and 1.007 ( P =.6) with logistic EuroSCORE. In the TAVI group, the OR was 1.14 ( P =.03) with STS and 1.03 ( P =.04) with logistic EuroSCORE. Conclusion In high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis, STS score is superior to the logistic EuroSCORE in predicting mortality. Clinical judgment should play a major role in the selection of patients with severe aortic stenosis for the different therapeutic options.
Validation of the Individualized Numeric Rating Scale (INRS): A pain assessment tool for nonverbal children with intellectual disability

Clinical observations suggest that nonverbal children with severe intellectual disability exhibit pain in a wide variety yet uniquely individual ways. Here, we investigate the feasibility and describe the initial psychometrics properties of the Individualized Numeric Rating Scale (INRS), a personalized pain assessment tool for nonverbal children with intellectual disability based on the parent’s knowledge of the child. Parents of 50 nonverbal children with severe intellectual disability scheduled for surgery were able to complete the task of describing then rank ordering their child’s usual and pain indicators. The parent, bedside nurse and research assistant (RA) triad then simultaneously yet independently scored the patient’s post-operative pain using the INRS for a maximum of two sets of pre/post paired observations. A total of 170 triad assessments were completed before (n = 85) and after (n = 85) an intervention to manage the child’s pain. INRS inter-rater agreement between the parents and research nurse was high (ICC 0.82–0.87) across all ratings. Parent and bedside nurse agreement (ICC 0.65–0.74) and bedside nurse and research nurse agreement (ICC 0.74–0.80) also suggest good reliability. A moderate to strong correlation (0.63–0.73) between INRS ratings and NCCPC-PV total scores provides evidence of convergent validity. These results provide preliminary data that the INRS is a valid and reliable tool for assessing pain in nonverbal children with severe intellectual disability in an acute care setting.
Direct liquefaction of waste plastics and coliquefaction of coal-plastic mixtures

We have conducted further investigations of the direct liquefaction reactions of waste plastics, medium and high density polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PPE) and coal-plastic mixtures, varying the catalyst, temperature, gas, pressure, time and solvent. The experiments used four types of catalysts: a commercial HZSM-5 zeolite catalyst, and three catalysts synthesized in our laboratory, ferrihydrite treated with citric acid, coprecipitated Al2O3SiO2, and a ternary ferrihydrite-Al2O3SiO2. For direct liquefaction of plastics alone, a solid acid catalyst such as HZSM-5 or Al2O3SiO2 markedly improves oil and total liquid yields, as determined by pentane and THF solubility, respectively. Yields are higher when using either a waste oil solvent or no solvent than using tetralin as the solvent. For PE, temperatures of 430 °C or higher are required for good yields, while PPE gives excellent yields at 420 °C. A commingled plastic provided by the American Plastics Council (APC) exhibited peak oil and total liquid yields at 445–460 °C. The oil yields and total liquid from PE (HZSM-5, 430 °C) and the APC commingled waste plastic decreased only slightly with decreasing hydrogen pressure (from 800 to 100 psig H2 (cold)). Furthermore, yields were as high under nitrogen (200–600 psig, cold) as under hydrogen. Coliquefaction experiments were conducted on 50-50 mixtures of PE, PPE and the APC plastic with Black Thunder coal. For these experiments, the best results were obtained when the solvent was tetralin or a mixture of tetralin and waste oil. Lower yields were observed with only waste oil or with no solvent. Either HZSM-5 or Al2O3SiO2-ferrihydrite increased oil and total yields by approximately 10% at 460 °C. Under the same conditions, yields from a PPE-coal mixture were substantially higher than those from a PE-coal mixture.
Single-crystal film of a combination of organic materials involving a molecular salt and a laser dye; Electro-optic effect

Abstract Organic single-crystal films involving a combination of a molecular salt (DAST) and a laser dye (IR-125) have been grown on quartz substrates using the modified shear method. Polarized optical microscopy, polarization-dependent optical absorption, x-ray diffraction and electro-optic effect have been measured to characterize the film. The dipole axis of DAST is oriented close to parallel to the substrate. The IR-125 molecule appears to be oriented close to perpendicular to the dipole axis of DAST. The optical gap of the film is about 1.4 eV. The electro-optic coefficient ( r 11 ) as measured by the field-induced birefringence is ∼300 pm/V at 633 nm. Such films are promising for various photonic applications.
Persistent Bronchopleural Air Leak during Mechanical Ventilation: A Review of 39 Cases

Bronchopleural fistula (BPF), or bronchopleural air leak, is regarded as an ominous complication of ventilator management in acute respiratory failure, but data on its natural course and prognosis are lacking. We reviewed all instances of mechanical ventilation at a major trauma center during a four-year period, and found that 39 of the 1,700 mechanically-ventilated patients developed BPF lasting at least 24 hrs. Overall mortality in these 39 patients was 67 percent, and this was higher when BPF developed late in the illness (16 of 17, or 94 percent, when mean onset was hospital day 13), than when it occurred within 24 hours of admission (ten of 22, or 45 percent, p = 0.002). Survival in patients with chest trauma (12 of 27, 44 percent), most of whom had air leaks on or just after admission, was better than in those with other primary diagnoses (one of 12, 8 percent, p less than 0.005). All eight patients whose maximum air leak exceeded 500 ml per breath died, whereas 13 of 30 with smaller maximum leaks survived (p less than 0.05). Despite leaks as large as 900 ml per breath, however, conventional ventilator adjustments permitted avoidance of severe respiratory acidosis (pH less than 7.30) in all but two patients. We conclude that the occurrence of BPF during mechanical ventilation identifies patients with high mortality, but that unmanageable respiratory acidosis from this complication is rare.
Large Group Interventions An Empirical Field Study of Their Composition, Process, and Outcomes

Large group interventions are an important method of organization change. The large group intervention literature is largely descriptive and normative and contains a number of case studies that des...
Ozone fumigation decreased the root carbohydrate content and dry weight of green ash seedlings

Abstract Thirty one-year-old green ash seedlings were divided into two groups. The first served as the control whilst the second was fumigated with 0·5 ppm O3 for 8 h a day, 5 days a week. After 2, 4 and 6 weeks, five seedlings in each group were harvested to determine leaf and stem weight and the content of starch, reducing sugar and sucrose in the roots. The seedlings in the O3 fumigation had reduced stem and leaf dry weight and significantly less starch, sucrose and reducing sugar in the roots. The reduced root carbohydrate content may have resulted from the leaves of the fumigated seedlings not being able to meet the demands of the seedlings for carbohydrates.
Ultrastructure of Developing Hard and Soft Red Winter Wheats After Air- and Freeze-Drying and Its Relationship to Endosperm Texture

ABSTRACT A transmission electron microscopic study was conducted on air- and freeze-dried developing wheat to determine the effects of drying on the structure of the starchy endosperm. Field-grown hard red winter wheat (Karl) and soft red winter wheat (Clark) were harvested at 15, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, and 35 days after flowering (DAF). Wheat was dried by either air-drying in the spike at 28°C or freeze-drying following freezing in liquid nitrogen. Dried wheat was prepared for microscopy. Fresh samples of Karl and Clark were also harvested on the same days and prepared immediately for microscopy. The method of drying greatly affected cellular ultrastructure. The most pronounced change upon air-drying of developing samples was disappearance of individual protein bodies and conversion of the cytoplasm into a matrix-like material similar in appearance to storage protein matrix found in mature wheat endosperm. Freeze-dried wheats maintained nearly natural ultrastructure but exhibited various amounts of freeze d...
Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma: take the vein last?

Background Traditionally, the adrenal vein has been ligated early during excision of a pheochromocytoma. Patient anatomy or size of the lesion can sometimes make early vein dissection difficult or unsafe. This study aimed to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of delayed adrenal vein ligation during laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma.
Editor Observations about the NACADA Journal's First 25 Years.

From tape-recorded telephone interviews with each of the former NACADA Journal editors, I transcribed and analyzed their observations to create a history of the first 25 years of the NACADA Journal. Editors were asked to comment on the definition of a research journal, primary audience of the Journal as well as challenges, strengths, weaknesses, and obstacles they had faced. They were also asked for any advice they might offer for current and future editors. Relative Emphasis:practice, research, theory
Blood Pressure Tables

To the Editor .— The Working Group of the National High Blood Pressure Education Program recently published updated guidelines on the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of high blood pressure (BP) in children and adolescents.1 This is a timely update, and the working group has done a commendable job in most areas of their recommendations. As a long-time student of children's BP measurement, however, I have some concerns about the current BP standards recommended by the working group,1 in particular, the validity of recommending age and height percentiles to express children's BP standards. In a recently published study from the San Antonio Children's Blood Pressure Study,2 we obtained triplicate BP readings by both the auscultatory2 and oscillometric (Dinamap Model 8100)3 methods in >8000 schoolchildren enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade. We used the currently recommended BP-measuring technique (BP cuff width: 40–50% of the arm circumference; sitting position: K5 [level at which the Korotkoff sounds disappear] as the diastolic pressure; averaging multiple BP readings). In that study, auscultatory systolic pressures were correlated more closely with weight ( r = 0.677) than with height ( r = 0.626), as has been shown by many other studies. More importantly, we found that when age and weight were used in a partial correlation analysis, the effect of height on auscultatory systolic pressure level virtually disappeared …
A new symmetric contact element stiffness matrix for frictional contact problems

Abstract A new contact element based on the penalty function method has been developed for frictional contact problems in Finite Element Analysis (FEA). The novel advantage of this new algorithm is that the contact element stiffness matrix is symmetric, even for frictional contact problems with a large sliding mode. This element can satisfactorily simulate sticking, sliding and separation modes in frictional contact analyses. The results using this new element are virtually identical to those obtained using conventional unsymmetrical contact element stiffness matrices. However, FEA using this new contact element requires only half the computing time and half the storage space of those using unsymmetrical contact elements. Such computational efficiency renders this element highly suitable for three-dimensional FEA or those involving multiple discrete contacting surfaces.
Decoding dynamic Ca2+ signaling in the vascular endothelium

Although acute and chronic vasoregulation is inherently driven by endothelial Ca2+, control and targeting of Ca2+-dependent signals are poorly understood. Recent studies have revealed localized and dynamic endothelial Ca2+ events comprising an intricate signaling network along the vascular intima. Discrete Ca2+ transients emerging from both internal stores and plasmalemmal cation channels couple to specific membrane K+ channels, promoting endothelial hyperpolarization and vasodilation. The spatiotemporal tuning of these signals, rather than global Ca2+ elevation, appear to direct endothelial functions under physiologic conditions. In fact, altered patterns of dynamic Ca2+ signaling may underlie essential endothelial dysfunction in a variety of cardiovascular diseases. Advances in imaging approaches and analyses in recent years have allowed for detailed detection, quantification, and evaluation of Ca2+ dynamics in intact endothelium. Here, we discuss recent insights into these signals, including their sources of origination and their functional encoding. We also address key aspects of data acquisition and interpretation, including broad applications of automated high-content analysis.
Drinking Water Arsenic Contamination, Skin Lesions, and Malignancies: A Systematic Review of the Global Evidence

Skin lesions and cancer are known manifestations of chronic exposure to arsenic contaminated drinking water. Epidemiologic data primarily comes from regions with exposures 1–2 orders of magnitude above the current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines of 10 μg/L. Emerging evidence indicates that more common exposures may also be related to both noncancerous and cancerous changes to the skin. In this review, we focus on the body of epidemiologic literature that encompasses exposures within the WHO guidelines, excluding studies that lacked individual exposure estimates and case reports. For skin lesions and skin cancers, 15 and 10 studies were identified that met our criteria, respectively. For skin lesions, a consistent dose-response relationship with water arsenic has been observed, with increased risk evident at low- to moderate-dose exposure. Of the larger studies of specific histologic types of skin cancers, although with differing exposure definitions, there was evidence of dose-related relationships with both basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas. The effect of arsenic exposure on skin lesion risk is likely modified by genetic variants that influence arsenic metabolism. Accumulating evidence suggests that arsenic may increase risk of skin lesions and skin cancers at levels not previously considered harmful, and that genetic factors may influence risk.
Rescue of SV40 following transfection of TC7 cells with cellular DNAs containing complete and partial SV40 genomes

Infectious SV40 virions could be rescued from permissive TC7 cells within one to three subcultures following cotransfection with two cellular DNAs, each containing a complementary portion of the SV40 genome. SV40 virions could also be rescued by transfection of TC7 cells with cellular DNAs from a variety of SV40 transformed cells containing complete genome equivalents but not from cells containing subgenomes alone or defective genomes. Infectious virus was not rescued if the transfecting DNA species was treated with DNAase or if the DEAE-dextran pretreatment of the recipient cells was omitted.
PPARγ agonists regulate the expression of stemness and differentiation genes in brain tumour stem cells.

Brain tumour stem cells (BTSCs) are a small population of cancer cells that exhibit self-renewal, multi-drug resistance, and recurrence properties. We have shown earlier that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonists inhibit the expansion of BTSCs in T98G and U87MG glioma. In this study, we analysed the influence of PPARγ agonists on the expression of stemness and differentiation genes in BTSCs. The BTSCs were isolated from T98G and DB29 glioma cells, and cultured in neurobasal medium with epidermal growth factor+basic fibroblast growth factor. Proliferation was measured by WST-1 (4-[3-(4-iodophenyl)-2-(4-nitrophenyl)-2 H-5-tetrazolio]-1,3-benzene disulphonate) and 3H thymidine uptake assays, and gene expression was analysed by quantitative reverse--transcription PCR and Taqman array. The expression of CD133, SRY box 2, and nanog homeobox (Nanog) was also evaluated by western blotting, immunostaining, and flow cytometry. We found that PPARγ agonists, ciglitazone and 15-deoxy-Δ12,14-ProstaglandinJ2, inhibited cell viability and proliferation of T98G- and DB29-BTSCs. The PPARγ agonists reduced the expansion of CD133+ BTSCs and altered the expression of stemness and differentiation genes. They also inhibited Sox2 while enhancing Nanog expression in BTSCs. These findings highlight that PPARγ agonists inhibit BTSC proliferation in association with altered expression of Sox2, Nanog, and other stemness genes. Therefore, targeting stemness genes in BTSCs could be a novel strategy in the treatment of glioblastoma.
Reliability Modeling and Analysis of Fault-Tolerant Memories

A memory array reliability model is developed that can be applied to a wide range of memory organizations including random-access memories (RAM) and read-only memories (ROM). The model is particularly useful for computing the reliability of fault-tolerant memories that employ techniques such as hardware redundancy, error-correcting codes, and software error-correcting algorithms. The model accommodates the effect of faults masked by data. Reliability models that incorporate the array model are given for a simplex RAM, an N-modular-redundant RAM, a spared RAM, a single-error-correcting RAM, a multiple-error-correcting RAM, and a ROM. Reliability characteristics of these memories are compared. The results suggest that memories with error-correcting capability and spare bit-planes provide the best reliability. Memories with sparing at the array level are next best followed by NMR and simplex organizations. ROM reliability is shown to be more optimistic when masked faults are considered.
Three beam-combining schemes in a color projection display

Several beam-combining schemes for on-axis and off-axis optical system layout are presented. The on-axis approaches include two crossed plates with dichroic coatings placed at 90 deg, with respect to each other, and a pentaprism arrangement. The off-axis layout of the cathode ray tubes requires that the images be combined at the display screen. These image-combining approaches are compared for the standard television rates of 525 lines and the high-resolution television at 1200/2000 lines under development in Japan. It is concluded that, for the high-performance, high-color fidelity, and high-resolution projection systems, which are expected to fit into a small volume of space such as a Space Station display or a cockpit panoramic display, a folded configuration with either crossed plates or pentaprism plates will result in an optimum color display.
IIP2 Calibration by Injecting DC Offset at the Mixer in a Wireless Receiver

A major contributor to degraded input-referred second-order intercept point (IIP2) in integrated RF systems-on-chips is local oscillator (LO) leakage to the input of RF circuits. In this brief, we present a digital calibration technique for improving IIP2 by injecting controlled dc offset at the mixer output through a three-port network of switched-capacitor filters. The dc offset at mixer output gets up-converted to LO frequency at the input of RF circuits due to poor reverse isolation of the receiver front-end. By controlling the amplitude of the injected dc, IIP2 degradation due to LO leakage at the input of RF amplifiers can be compensated. Mathematical analysis is presented and supported by measurement data from a quad-band GSM/GPRS receiver implemented in 90-nm digital CMOS process. Calibrated IIP2 of 50 dBm is reported for the receiver at low-noise amplifier input.
Plant Vacuolar ATP-binding Cassette Transporters That Translocate Folates and Antifolates in Vitro and Contribute to Antifolate Tolerance in Vivo.

The vacuoles of pea (Pisum sativum) leaves and red beet (Beta vulgaris) storage root are major sites for the intracellular compartmentation of folates. In the light of these findings and preliminary experiments indicating that some plant multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) subfamily ATP-binding cassette transporters are able to transport compounds of this type, the Arabidopsis thaliana vacuolar MRP, AtMRP1 (AtABCC1), and its functional equivalent(s) in vacuolar membrane vesicles purified from red beet storage root were studied. In so doing, it has been determined that heterologously expressed AtMRP1 and its equivalents in red beet vacuolar membranes are not only competent in the transport of glutathione conjugates but also folate monoglutamates and antifolates as exemplified by pteroyl-l-glutamic acid and methotrexate (MTX), respectively. In agreement with the results of these in vitro transport measurements, analyses of atmrp1 T-DNA insertion mutants of Arabidopsis ecotypes Wassilewskia and Columbia disclose an MTX-hypersensitive phenotype. atmrp1 knock-out mutants are more sensitive than wild-type plants to growth retardation by nanomolar concentrations of MTX, and this is associated with impaired vacuolar antifolate sequestration. The vacuoles of protoplasts isolated from the leaves of Wassilewskia atmrp1 mutants accumulate 50% less [3H]MTX than the vacuoles of protoplasts from wild-type plants when incubated in media containing nanomolar concentrations of this antifolate, and vacuolar membrane-enriched vesicles purified from the mutant catalyze MgATP-dependent [3H]MTX uptake at only 40% of the capacity of the equivalent membrane fraction from wild-type plants. AtMRP1 and its counterparts in other plant species therefore have the potential for participating in the vacuolar accumulation of folates and related compounds.
Effect of suture type on postoperative urinary retention following Burch colposuspension

underwent adjuvant irradiation based on prognostic factors identified from the pathologic examination. During a mean follow-up time of 23.7 months (range 12– 42) we observed a recurrence rate of 1/11 (9.1%) and a deathof-disease rate of 0/11 (0%). In conclusion, considering that radiation therapy alone fails to eradicate uterine cancer in 10%–15% of cases [1] and that surgery provides a specimen that better defines the prognostic factors and the need for adjuvant therapy, we believe that maximum effort should be made before denying any woman the benefits of hysterectomy. Despite the small sample size of this preliminary study, we feel that surgery by minilaparotomy under spinal anesthesia maintains all of the advantages of the vaginal approach and should be considered as the primary treatment for the increasing category of morbidly-obese, high-risk surgical patients when vaginal surgery is precluded. References
Glycogenolysis and glycogen synthesis in a cell-free system from rat liver.

Summary A cell-free system capable of both glycogenolysis and glycogen synthesis was derived from rat liver by use of concanavalin A to precipitate glycogen-enzyme complexes. Glycogenolysis occurs in vitro in the presence of inorganic phosphate and can be reversed by adding uridinediphosphoglucose. Both glycogen synthetase and branching enzyme activities are present, resulting in a newly-synthesized glycogen polymer with a highly branched structure.
A Buddhist View of Adult Learning in the Workplace

The problem and the solution. Buddhism is a way of life practiced by more than 500 million people. The continued globalization of work and the expanding economic power and influence of Asian nations ensures that the beliefs, goals, practices, and traditions of Buddhism will take on increasing importance to business, education, and human resource development (HRD) professionals in every part of the world. Buddhism, like most worldviews, is not homogeneous and has many variations. Indeed, this adaptability is one of the hallmarks of Buddhism and is a major contributing factor to its spread and applicability around the world. The differences in these approaches are not as relevant to this article as are their commonalities in foundational beliefs, goals, and methods. Thus, this article presents a Buddhist view of learning, not the Buddhist view.
Dissociative charge transfer in reactions of CCl4 and SF6 with ions having recombination energies between 6.4 eV and 24.5 eV

Abstract Gas mixtures of CCl 4 and SF 6 with rare gases and simple diatomic gases in reactive plasmas are often used to etch insulating and semiconductor layers. However, much of the kinetic and product ion information for ion-molecule processes that occur in such plasmas is not known. To improve this situation, a selected ion flow tube (SIFT) study has been made of reactions of CCl 4 and SF 6 variously with D 3 + , H 3 + , D + , N + , D 2 + , N 2 + , Ar + , Ne + , He 2 + , and He + at 298 K. Because water is a common plasma impurity, the reactions of H 2 O + and H 3 O + have also been included. With this information, better models can be developed to predict plasma conditions that are optimal for etching. Reactions generally proceed by dissociative charge transfer with rate coefficients close to the collisional values. The degree of fragmentation (into Cl + , CCl + , CCl 2 + , CCl 3 + and SF 3 + , SF 4 + , SF 5 + ) and the energy thresholds at which products are observed are frequently consistent with a long-range mechanism in which the available energy goes into fragmentation. Notable exceptions to this are reactions of D 3 + and H 3 O + with CCl 4 and D + , H 3 + , H 2 O + , and H 3 O + with SF 6 . Rate coefficients and product ion information are discussed in terms of photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) and photoionization (coincidence) data (e.g. threshold photoelectron-photoion coincidence (TPEPICO) and PEPICO techniques) available in the literature. From this comparison, a better fundamental understanding of the dynamics of charge transfer is obtained. In addition to the reactions of neutral CCl 4 and SF 6 gases, Cl 2 + , CCl 2 + , CCl 3 + and SF + , SF 2 + , SF 3 + , SF 4 + , SF 5 + studies with H 2 have also been conducted.
Energy transfer as a probe of protein dynamics in the proteins transferrin and calmodulin

We have initiated an investigation into the usefulness of fluorescence energy transfer in probing protein dynamics. Our analysis involves measuring the energy transfer efficiency while perturbing the protein conformational equilibrium with heat. As the temperature increases, the amplitudes of vibrations increase, and fluorescence energy transfer should also increase if the donor and acceptor are in a flexible region of the protein. A theoretical analysis developed by Somogyi and co-workers for the temperature dependence of dipole-dipole energy transfer (Somogyi, B., J. Matko, S. Papp, J. Hevessey, G. R. Welch, and S. Damjanovich. 1984. Biochemistry. 23:3403–3411) was tested by the authors in one protein system. Energy transfer from tryptophan to a pyridoxamine derivatized side group in RNase increased 40% over 25 degrees C. Here we report further testing of this model in two additional protein systems: calmodulin, a calcium activated regulatory protein, and transferrin, a blood serum iron shuttle. Our studies show a slight differential sensitivity of the transfer efficiency to heat for the two systems. Normalized energy transfer over 6.5 A in calmodulin from a tyrosine donor to a Tb(III) acceptor increases 40% from 295 to 320 K. Normalized energy transfer over 42 A in transferrin from a Tb(III) donor to an Fe(III) acceptor increases 35% over the same temperature range. Whereas these results demonstrate that thermally induced fluctuations do increase energy transfer as predicted by Somogyi, they also appear rather insensitive to the nature of the protein host environment. In contrast to the Forster processes examined above, energy transfer over very short distances has shown an anomalously high temperature dependence.
Consumer-perceived risk model for the introduction of genetically modified food in Spain.

Abstract Since the last part of the 20th century, the search for new forms of cultivation and food has basically centred on the application of biotechnology, giving rise to GM foods. Consumer acceptance is conditioned by the risk that they perceive from introducing food into their consumption habits processed through technology that they hardly understand. Besides, information is insufficient in the consumer ambit and moreover, it is influenced by ideological and ethical determining factors. The factors were analysed that influence this consumer-perceived risk through a structural equation model. This study was conducted in Spain, concretely in the province of Alicante, located in the southeast of this country. The main conclusion from this research is that the introduction of GM food into agro-food markets should be accompanied by adequate policies to guarantee consumer safety. These actions would allow a decrease in consumer-perceived risk by taking special care of the information provided, concretely relating to health. For, the most influential factor in consumer-perceived risk from these foods is concern about health.
Pulmonary lymphatic flow alterations during intracranial hypertension in sheep

The role of intracranial hypertension in the genesis of neurogenic pulmonary edema was studied in 25 sheep; cardiopulmonary hemodynamics (aortic, pulmonary arterial, and left atrial pressures and cardiac output) and fluid and protein movement across the pulmonary capillary bed (efferent pulmonary lymph flow and lymph/plasma protein ratio) were monitored. Only when intracranial pressure was raised to equal the baseline mean systemic pressure (75 to 120 Torr) did we observe the expected Cushing response of increased aortic pressure, or any alteration in pulmonary hemodynamics or fluid movement. When pulmonary changes did occur, they included an increase in pulmonary arterial pressure of between 5 and 15 Torr without any notable rise in left atrial pressure, and a sustained doubling of the pulmonary lymph flow with no dilution of the lymph/plasma protein ratio. In 3 additional animals cerebral ischemia alone produced an elevation in systemic pressure (74 Torr over baseline) without change in pulmonary arterial pressure, left atrial pressure, or pulmonary lymph flow. Thus, intracranial hypertension and ischemia both affect systemic pressure, but only the elevated intracranial pressure is followed by changes in the pulmonary circuit. We suggest that these changes in pulmonary vascular pressure, independent of changes in left atrial pressure, produce increased pulmonary transcapillary fluid flux that may result in neurogenic pulmonary edema.
936-83 Chronic Estradiol Treatment of Rabbits with Cardiac Allografts Attenuates Graft Vascular Proliferation Induced by Insulin-like Growth Factor-I (IGF-I) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6)

Male New Zealand White rabbits fed a 0.5% cholesterol diet (n = 13) received a heterotopic cardiac allograft and cyclosporine ( 10 mg/kg/day) until sacrifice 6 to 7 weeks later, at which time both the native and transplanted hearts and aorta were harvested. Six of the rabbits were treated with estradiol 100 μg/kg/day i.m., beginning 7 days prior to transplantation and continuing until sacrifice; the remaining seven rabbits served as controls and received placebo. The native aorta as well as the aorta from the grafted hearts were isolated and used for in vitrostudies involving cytokine and growth factor stimulated cell proliferation. Tritiated thymidine incorporation is expressed as CPM/mg protein and the changes in cell proliferation are expressed as % changes from the control (the unstimulated vessel). IGF-I and IL-6 but not interferon-γ (INF-γ) significantly increased cell proliferation, measured as 3H-thymidine incorporation. in explants from both native and allograft vessels and significantly more so in the graft (p < 0.05). The mitogenic effect of both IGF-I and IL-6 in the graft aorta, but not in that associated with the native heart, was abrogated by chronic treatment with estradiol (p < 0.02). % Change in Vascular Wall Cell Proliferation IGF-I (20 μg/ml) INF-γ (50 U/ml) IL-6 (50 U/ml) Native - Estradiol 175 ± 32 189 ± 43 162 ± 28 + Estradiol 167 ± 42 143 ± 79 159 ± 36 Allograft - Estradiol 328 ± 66 197 ± 56 366 ± 101 + Estradiol 64 ± 12 116 ± 41 72 ± 14 Mean ± SEM Full-size table Table options View in workspace Download as CSV This inhibitory effect of estradiol treatment on the mitogenic effect of IGF-I and IL-6 on the vascular wall of the allograft supports previous studies showing that accelerated coronary transplant arteriosclerosis in this model is inhibited by estrogen. These data speak to the use of hormone replacement therapy in post menopausal women receiving a cardiac transplant.
Social and Community Participation of Children and Youth With Cerebral Palsy Is Associated With Age and Gross Motor Function Classification

Background Through social and community participation, children and youth with cerebral palsy (CP) form friendships, gain knowledge, learn skills, express creativity, and determine meaning and purpose in life. Objective The purposes of this study were: (1) to determine whether social and community participation of children and youth with CP differ based on age, sex, and gross motor function, and (2) to identify the types of activities in which social and community participation are highest. Design and Methods A prospective cross-sectional analytic design was used. The participants were a sample of convenience of 291 children (6–12 years of age) and 209 youth (13–21 years of age) with CP (55.4% males, 44.6% females) receiving services from 7 children's hospitals. Participants completed the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment (CAPE) by structured interview. Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level was determined by the researchers. Results Youth did a higher percentage of activities with friends and others and outside the home than children. Children and youth in level I did a higher percentage of activities with friends and others compared with children and youth in levels II and III and in levels IV and V. Children and youth in level I and in levels IV and V did a higher percentage of activities outside the home than children and youth in levels II and III. Differences were not found between females and males. The percentage of activities done with friends and others and outside the home was highest for physical and skill-based activities. Limitations Findings cannot be attributed only to GMFCS level. Conclusions The ability to walk without restrictions is desirable for social and community participation. For children and youth with CP who have limitations in mobility, physical therapists have roles as consultants for accessibility, activity accommodations, and assistive technology and as advocates for inclusive environments.
Distributed queueing in scalable high performance routers

This paper presents and evaluates distributed queueing algorithms for regulating the flow of traffic through large, high performance routers. Distributed queueing has a similar objective to crossbar-scheduling mechanisms used in routers with relatively small port counts, and shares some common high level characteristics. However, the need to minimize communication overhead rules out the iterative methods that are typically used for crossbar scheduling, while the ability to sub-divide the available bandwidth among different ports provides a degree of freedom that is absent in the crossbar scheduling context, where inputs must be matched to outputs. Our algorithms are based on four ideas (1) backlog-proportional-allocation of output bandwidth, (2) urgency-proportional-allocation of input bandwidth, (3) dynamic reallocation of bandwidth and (4) deferred underflow. Our algorithms guarantee congestion-free operation of the switch fabric. Our performance results show that for uniform random traffic, even a very modest speedup is sufficient to reduce the loss of output link bandwidth due to sub-optimal rate allocation to negligible levels, and that even under extreme conditions, a speedup of two is sufficient to eliminate such bandwidth loss.
Impact of transmit diversity at handsets on the reverse link DS/CDMA system capacity

This article investigates the impact of antenna diversity implementation at both mobile handsets and basestations on the reverse link DS/CDMA capacity in a myriad of fading environments. Our numerical results reveal that transmit diversity implementation at mobile handsets is most beneficial in indoor propagation channels (since only a few significant resolvable multipaths are available) with low order antenna diversity at the base-station and in harsh fading environments.
Chemokines as Cancer Vaccine Adjuvants

We are witnessing a new era of immune-mediated cancer therapies and vaccine development. As the field of cancer vaccines advances into clinical trials, overcoming low immunogenicity is a limiting step in achieving full success of this therapeutic approach. Recent discoveries in the many biological roles of chemokines in tumor immunology allow their exploitation in enhancing recruitment of antigen presenting cells (APCs) and effector cells to appropriate anatomical sites. This knowledge, combined with advances in gene therapy and virology, allows researchers to employ chemokines as potential vaccine adjuvants. This review will focus on recent murine and human studies that use chemokines as therapeutic anti-cancer vaccine adjuvants.
MIGRANT FILIPINA DOMESTIC WORKERS AND THE INTERNATIONAL DIVISION OF REPRODUCTIVE LABOR

This article examines the politics of reproductive labor in globalization. Using the case of migrant Filipina domestic workers, the author presents the formation of a three-tier transfer of reproductive labor in globalization between the following groups of women: (1) middle-class women in receiving nations, (2) migrant domestic workers, and (3) Third World women who are too poor to migrate. The formation of this international division of labor suggests that reproduction activities, as they have been increasingly commodified, have to be situated in the context of the global market economy. This division of labor is a structural process that determines the migration of Filipina domestic workers. As such, this article also uses in-depth interviews to examine and enumerate the contradictions that migrant Filipina domestic workers experience in their family and work lives as a result of “being in the middle” of this division of labor.
Downstream Vertical Foreclosure and Upstream Innovation

I examine a link between downstream foreclosure and upstream innovation. The crucial ingredient of the model is the presence of dynamic economies of scale upstream in the form of competition in R&D. The reason an upstream supplier has a captive buyer is to force rival suppliers to incur the disadvantages of low-scale production and discourage them from innovating. The downstream buyer is offered favorable terms and is “convinced” to sign an exclusive supply contract and accept captivity. In this context, downstream foreclosure may reduce consumer welfare.
Simulating SSC Event Detection

The author, a novice user of the CERN detector simulation package GEANT1), offers a very brief summary of some of the strengths and weaknesses the program, along with some indications of what must be done to implement a useful detector simulation for the SSC energy scale.
4D ultrasound quantification of LV function and valvular pathology

Real-time 3D echocardiography is currently limited by factors including accessibility of analysis software to quickly and accurately determine ventricular volumes for assessment of myocardial function. The goal of this study was to examine the capabilities of a 3D system to acquire full 4D echocardiographic datasets and evaluate the ability to obtain both LV function and valvular pathology. 3D exams were performed on 52 patients. 3D apical view datasets were analyzed using a GE Medical Systems workstation with a LV Function plug-in from Tomtec Imaging Systems. 3D data sets were analyzed by 2 independent observers. Interobserver variability varied with image quality, but was approximately 8% across all but 4 poor quality exams. Processing time also improved with better image quality, but averaged about 4 minutes. Tools for providing clinical data for assessment of LV function and valvular pathology are improving.
Randomized Clinical Trial of Intramuscular vs Oral Methylprednisolone in the Treatment of Asthma Exacerbations Following Discharge From an Emergency Department

Objective: To compare the efficacy of long-acting IM methylprednisolone to tapering oral methylprednisolone in adult asthmatic patients discharged from the emergency department (ED). Methods: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a single IM dose of 160 mg depot methylprednisolone vs 8-day tapering of a total dose of 160 mg oral methylprednisolone in adult asthmatic patients (age range, 18 to 45 years) who were discharged from the ED following standardized treatment for an acute exacerbation. The primary end point was relapse, which was defined as the need to seek unscheduled care at a doctor’s office, clinic, or ED for symptoms of persistent or worsening asthma within 10 days of ED discharge. Results: Of 190 patients enrolled into the study, 180 completed the study and the follow-up at 10 days (96%). The relapse rate was nearly identical for the two treatment groups (IM administration, 14.1% [13 of 92 patients]; oral administration, 13.6% [12 of 88 patients]; difference, 0.5% [95% confidence interval, 9.6 to 10.6%]). Conclusions: Single-dose IM methylprednisolone administered to adult asthmatic patients at ED discharge appears to be a viable therapeutic alternative to a course of oral methylprednisolone. Clinicians may choose to base the route of administration of corticosteroids on concerns about nonadherence to therapy or on the ability of a patient to afford a prescription for outpatient medication. (CHEST 2004; 126:362–368)
Radar reveals ancient rivers

Until now, archaeological evidence that human beings lived in the eastern Sahara Desert several hundred thousand years ago seemed to be distributed randomly. It now seems, however, that these artifacts may be concentrated along the shorelines of ancient streams that were detected only recently with the help of radar instruments carried aboard the space shuttle in 1981 and 1984.
Equational Propositional Logic

We formalize equational propositional logic, prove that it is sound and complete, and compare the equational-proof style with the more traditional Hilbert style.
A Look Forward

This chapter addresses some of the latest technologies (e.g., Google Glass, smart watches, etc.) and identifies future directions and possible trends involving technology and autism intervention.
Survey of pharmacy schools to determine methods of preparation and promotion of postgraduate residency training

Abstract Objective To identify the means in which pharmacy schools promote postgraduate residency training and prepare their students to be competitive candidates for such programs. Methods An electronic survey was e-mailed to administrators of pharmacy schools who were fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as of January 2014. The pre-tested survey included a possible 28 questions and employed skip logic to guide respondents. Formal activities available to students regarding promotion of and preparation for postgraduate residency opportunities as well as the extent to which pharmacy schools assist unmatched students in obtaining pharmacy residency positions was summarized via descriptive statistics of frequencies and averages. Results Overall, 63 pharmacy schools were represented of all 114 ACPE-accredited pharmacy schools surveyed in January 2014 (55.3% response rate). In all, 36 schools (57.1%) offered an elective course and 26 schools (41.3%) offered 40 curricular tracks whose purposes were to prepare students to be competitive candidates for postgraduate residency training or advanced direct patient care roles (beyond what is required of all students). The three most commonly used methods to promote and prepare students for postgraduate residency training were lectures, residency showcases, and programming via student organizations. More than 75% of schools offered at least some type of advising on and after residency Match Day. Conclusion A variety of methods to promote and prepare students for residency training was reported. General academic advising and advising for unmatched residency candidates was found to not be standardized. Pharmacy schools need to develop systematic methods for preparing students.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder

The “Little Prince,” as he came to be known in supervision, was a “special” person who felt he was in danger of losing this status. He alternated between insisting on his need for (indeed, his right to) perfection in his life and immediate gratification, and his distaste with this in himself. The work conducted in therapy was characterized by his ongoing struggle to reconcile his idealized childhood image of himself with his need to grow and mature, and take on a more adult, less self-centered view of the world. His task, as he put it, was to “grow up and realize that the world won’t come to a screeching halt if I die,” and to learn to accept this.