cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 3267: Inhibition of angiogenic potential of neuroblastoma cells through regulation of microRNA expression profiles by tumor suppressor gene dipeptidyl peptidase IV

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Neuroblastoma (NB), a childhood cancer of peripheral nervous system generally progress to highly angiogenic and therapy resistant fatal metastatic tumor. We have recently shown that a cell surface protease called dipeptidyl peptidase (DPPIV) is expressed in normal neural crest derived differentiated cells and its expression is lost in proliferating NB, the malignant counterpart. We also demonstrated that re-expression of DPPIV in NB cells leads to their differentiation, apoptosis, and suppression of their migratory and angiogenic potential. Importantly, DPPIV inhibits the tumorigenic potential of NB cells in a xenograft mouse model. To further identify DPPIV-responsive genes and mechanisms, we used Affymetrix microarray analysis. This study showed an association of DPPIV expression with up-regulation of thrombospondin-1 (THBS1), an angiogenesis inhibitor. Interestingly, some of the genes regulated by DPPIV are also altered by microRNA (miRNAs), indicating that at least some of the miRNAs might act as intermediate effectors in mediating DPPIV function. PCR array screening of cancer specific miRNAs, showed that DPPIV indeed alters miRNA profile in NB cells. In particular, DPPIV down-regulated miR-19a which is a part of the miR-17-92 cluster that is known to decrease THBS1 levels. Furthermore, bioinformatics data mining of Sangers MicroCosm Targets v5 predicted THBS1 as a potential target of miR-19a suggesting that down-regulation of miR19a leading to up-regulation of THBS1 was a possible mechanism involved in DPPIV tumor suppressor function. In support of this idea, silencing of DPPIV expression by RNA interference resulted in increased miR-19a and decreased THBS1 expression. Furthermore, transfection of NB cells with anti-miR-19a decreased miR19a and increased THBS1 levels as shown by real time quantitative RT-PCR, immunofluorescence and western blot analysis. Furthermore, DPPIV expression decreased the levels of cMYC, a transcription factor that up-regulates miR-19a expression. These effects were associated with decreased levels of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), two strong downstream pro-angiogenic factors. Taken together, our work identifies a novel and an important mechanism wherein DPPIV inhibits angiogenesis and growth of NB tumor cells through down regulation of miR-19a mediated c-MYC expression and increased expression of THBS1, an angiogenesis inhibitor. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3267. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3267
PYROPHOSPHATE-DEPENDENT PHOSPHOFRUCTOKINASE, AN ANAEROBIC GLYCOLYTIC ENZYME ?

Recent evidence indicates that in as diverse organisms as unicellular eukaryotes, higher plants and prokaryotes, anaerobic glycolysis relies on a pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase instead of the classical ATP-dependent enzyme. This difference in phosphoryl donor specificity does not necessarily reflect a primitive metabolism, as thought earlier, but could rather be the result of convergent evolution, fostered by the energetic advantage conferred to the cell when glycolysis is the sole source of ATP.
TRUNDD, a new member of the TRAIL receptor family that antagonizes TRAIL signalling

TRAIL/Apo-2L induces rapid apoptosis of a variety of tumor cell lines. A family of tumor necrosis factor receptor-related molecules have been identified as receptors for TRAIL. Herein, we report the identification of another member of the TRAIL receptor family, TRUNDD (TRAIL receptor with a truncated death domain). The TRUNDD transcript was detected in multiple human tissues. TRUNDD is highly homologous to all known TRAIL receptors and has an extracellular TRAIL-binding domain but lacks a functional intracellular death domain and does not induce apoptosis. Consistent with an inhibitory role, ectopic expression of TRUNDD attenuated TRAIL-induced apoptosis in mammalian cells.
Funnel graft to innominate vein to control epicardial bleeding.

Abstract A simple technique to control severe epicardial bleeding is described. This technique constructs a "funnel graft" to deliver shed blood into the venous system. This technique was lifesaving during pericardiectomy in a critically ill patient with acute presentation of constrictive pericarditis.
Gravitational entropy of nonstationary black holes and spherical shells.

The problem of defining the gravitational entropy of a nonstationary black hole is considered in a simple model consisting of a spherical shell which collapses into a preexisting black hole. The second law of black-hole mechanics strongly suggests identifying one-quarter of the area of the event horizon as the gravitational entropy of the system. It is, however, impossible to accurately locate the position of the global event horizon using only local measurements. In order to maintain a local thermodynamics, it is suggested that the entropy of the black hole be identified with one-quarter the area of the apparent horizon. The difference between the event-horizon entropy (to the extent it can be determined) and the apparent-horizon entropy may then be interpreted as the gravitational entropy of the collapsing shell. The total (event-horizon) gravitational entropy evolves in a smooth (${C}^{0}$) fashion, even in the presence of \ensuremath{\delta}-functional shells of matter.
An Experimental Investigation of the Creping Process in Low-Density Paper Manufacturing

In this paper, a unique apparatus for the laboratory simulation and analysis of the creping process is described. The device consists of a fluid-heated micro-yankee dryer, 25.4 cm (10 inches) in diameter, and 8.25 cm (3.25 inches) wide, and a creping blade engaging system mounted on a three-component piezoelectric load cell. Mechatronics design principles were followed to design the device so that discrete paper samples can be creped at speeds over 250 meters/minute. The device has been used to study the effect of various manufacturing process parameters such as the creping adhesive type, concentration (application rate), creping geometry (creping angle), machine speed, and moisture content in the sheet at the time of creping, and their influence on sheet structure and creping forces. A mechanistic description of the creping process is also presented.
Synthesis of site-specifically deuterated arachidonic acid derivatives containing a remote tritium radiolabel.

The synthesis of arachidonic acid derivatives containing site-specifically incorporated deuterium atoms and also a remote tritium label are described. Deuterium incorporation at the C11 and/or C15 position was achieved using Wittig chemistry, while the radiolabel was introduced at a remote position using [3H]NaBH4 as the radiolabel source. These compounds can be used to measure secondary kinetic isotope effects for both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase enzymes under aerobic turnover with high precision. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Possible novel pharmacodynamic action of cocaine: cardiovascular and behavioral evidence.

Abstract Intravenous cocaine (0.03–3 mg/kg) produced two distinct and temporally separable effects in rats. One is an initial, large, and brief increase in blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) of a rapid onset (abrupt hemodynamic stimulation). A rapid, brief, and intense behavioral arousal accompanied this abrupt hemodynamic stimulation. The other effect of cocaine is a prolonged locomotor activation of a relatively slower onset. Prolonged increases in BP and HR accompanied this locomotor effect. The threshold doses of cocaine to produce abrupt hemodynamic stimulation and locomotion are 0.03 and 0.3 mg/kg, respectively. Dopamine receptor antagonists, SCH 23390 or eticlopride, at a 0.03 mg/kg dose antagonized the locomotion and the parallel prolonged increases in BP and HR, but not the initial brief behavioral arousal and abrupt hemodynamic stimulation responses to cocaine. Peripheral dopamine receptor antagonist, domperidone, altered neither behavioral nor cardiovascular effects of cocaine. Chlorisondamine (1 mg/kg), an autonomic ganglionic blocker, did not alter either the initial brief behavioral arousal or the locomotor responses to cocaine, but it prevented the cardiovascular changes that accompanied both these behavioral responses. Norepinephrine, a direct adrenergic vasoconstrictor, although produced rapid and large increase in BP, did not cause abrupt behavioral arousal or locomotor activation. Unlike cocaine, monoamine reuptake inhibitors that are selective for norepinephrine (nisoxetine, 0.1–1 mg/kg) or serotonin (fluoxetine, 0.3–3 mg/kg) produced neither brief behavioral arousal and abrupt hemodynamic stimulation nor locomotor activation. Dopamine-selective reuptake inhibitor, GBR 12909, also did not elicit the initial brief behavioral arousal and abrupt hemodynamic stimulation. But, GBR 12909, like cocaine, produced a prolonged locomotor effect and parallel increases in BP and HR. These effects of GBR 12909 were prevented by SCH 23390 and eticlopride, but not by domperidone. Similar to cocaine, cardiovascular, but not the locomotor effects of GBR 12909 were prevented by chlorisondamine. Lidocaine (0.3–3 mg/kg), a sodium channel blocker and local anesthetic, produced neither behavioral nor physiological changes. Both cocaine (3 mg/kg) and GBR 12909 (1 mg/kg) increased plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine concentrations. These increases were antagonized by both eticlopride and SCH 23390. These results indicate that behavioral and cardiovascular effects of cocaine are intricately related with respect to the molecular mechanisms involved. Two pharmacodynamic actions of cocaine appear to mediate these effects. One is a dopamine-dependent while the other is a monoamine- and sodium channel-independent novel action. The former mediates cocaine's locomotor effect and the accompanying prolonged increases in BP and HR, while the latter mediates the initial brief behavioral arousal and the accompanying abrupt hemodynamic stimulation.
Post-Konyne hepatitis: the ineffectiveness of screening for the hepatitis B antigen (HBAg).

Sixteen patients who received Konyne for bleeding episodes or for hemostasis during surgical procedures were evaluated for signs of posttransfusion hepatitis. Four patients died from their primary disease. Of the remaining 12 patients at risk, six patients developed posttransfusion hepatitis. Sera from four of the six patients with hepatitis were positive for the hepatitis B antigen (HBAg). Aliquots of Konyne from the specific lot (K4797) implicated in three cases of HBAg-positive hepatitis were negative for HBAg by immunodiffusion, immunoelectroosmophoresis, and radioimmunoassay. The high incidence of hepatitis associated with Konyne considerably limits the use for this specialized coagulation factor concentrate. HBAg screening by available technics does not necessarily detect Konyne preparations capable of transmitting HBAg-positive hepatitis.
How Do you Stop the Books from Being Cooked? A Management Control Perspective on Financial Accounting Standard Setting and the Section 404 Requirement of the Sarbanes/Oxley Act

The recent series of corporate scandals have resulted in an unprecedented crisis in accounting. Investors have lost faith in financial statements on the assumption that cooking the books has become a routine practice in corporate America. Restoring the credibility of financial reporting is clearly an urgent priority as indicated by the passage of the Sarbanes/Oxley Act that mandates that CEOs personally certify to the accuracy of their firm's financial statements. The approach being contemplated by the accounting profession itself is a shift away from the rules-based approach to financial accounting standards used by GAAP towards the principles-based approach of International Accounting Standards. Both these initiatives draw attention to the fact that accounting standards are only useful and effective if they are actually implemented by firms in the way they were intended to be by the standard setter. In other words, the need to ensure implementation of accounting standards by managers who have an incentive to beat analysts' earnings forecasts means that accounting standards have a management control component to them. In this paper we put forward an ex-post perspective on accounting standard implementation that places the problem clearly within the domain of control theory. In turn, that implies that standard setters can make use of the powerful tools that control theory provides to ensure compliance by management, the four levers of control: belief, boundary, diagnostic and interactive control systems. Our control perspective provides new insights into accounting standards setting, including the need for both belief and boundary controls rather than the reliance on one alone. Potentially of even greater significance is the implication our management control perspective has on the Sarbanes/Oxley Act's Section 404 requirement for management and auditor assurance on the effectiveness of the firm's internal controls over financial reporting. A management control perspective can provide a much-needed framework within which the COSO standards can be applied, avoiding an excessive focus on the existence and documentation of controls rather than on their efficacy.
Augmented Peritoneal Mass Transport with Intraperitoneal Nitroprusside

Lightly restrained, alert New Zealand white rabbits underwent peritoneal dialysis by percutaneous instillation of standard dialysis solution with or without intraperitoneal nitroprusside. Corrected to a mean intraperitoneal dwell time of 36 minutes, mean clearances of creatinine and urea were 0.74 and 0.90 ml/kg/min in six rabbits. With intraperitoneal nitroprusside, 1.13 mg/kg clearances increased to 1.13 and 1.30 ml/kg/min (p less than 0.01) respectively. The 53% increment in creatinine clearance maintained the ratio clearance larger/smaller solute suggesting increased peritoneal permeability and/or area. Lower nitroprusside doses were less effective and not significantly above control. Nitroprusside also increased clearances during hypertonic peritoneal dialysis, but had no effect on osmotically induced water flux. Lavage studies demonstrated a persistent effect of nitroprusside after a single exposure and a sustained effect with repeated use.
Analyzing Preservice Teachers' Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge Development in the Context of a Multidimensional Teacher Preparation Program

AbstractIn this quantitative study, correlational and multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) development of 299 preservice teachers in response to the technology preparation they received during their initial teacher licensure program. Survey data were analyzed to determine the extents to which preservice teachers' knowledge increased in response to technology preparation and to determine the contribution of individual knowledge components, including technological knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, and technological pedagogical knowledge, to the development of TPACK. Findings revealed that individual knowledge components made statistically significant and unique contributions to preservice teachers' TPACK. Findings from this work help explicate the significant contributions of individual knowledge components to TPACK development and have implications for teacher preparation programs on the use of technology.
Voice of the customer

Phishers continue to target customers of all factions of the Internet industry in an attempt to gain personal information that can be used for profit. Typical organizational responses to these attacks are the removal of the malicious content through website takedown and user education. The latter response is extremely important as it is the organization's direct communication to the customer about these attacks. The purpose of this study is to survey a number of organizations that are highly targeted in phishing attacks and measure their effectiveness in communication to their customers. This study performs an evaluation of seven organizations', across a variety of industry sectors, communication through website content, customer service phone calls, and email abuse reporting. The outcomes of this study are suggestions that can be incorporated by all of the organizations to provide a better customer experience.
Savagery in democracy's empire

The language of savagery is indigenous to US political culture as the trope that legitimises war and empire. This article traces its recurrence and development throughout US history, from America's 18th century revolution to the post-World War II American century and from Cold War to the present open-ended war on terror—a continuing quest for empire under the sign of civilisation and democracy. The three main dimensions of the image of savagery and multiple sets of decivilising vehicles are identified as an initial step towards language critique.
Enhancing experiential and subjective qualities of discrete structure representations with aesthetic computing

The task of visualization, as it applies to computing, includes by default the notion of pluralism and perspectivism since there is an explicit attempt at representing one, often textual, interface in terms of a more graphical one. This desire for alternate, subjective perspectives is consistent with art theory and practice, and even though rigor and formalism generally mean different things to artists and computer scientists, there is room for collaboration and connection by applying artistic aesthetics to computing, while maintaining that which makes computing a viable, usable field. This new area is called aesthetic computing. Within this area, there is an attempt to balance qualitative with quantitative representational aspects of visual computing, recognizing that aesthetics creates a dimension that is consistent with supporting numerous visual perspectives. We introduce one aspect of aesthetic computing, with specific examples from our research and teaching to illustrate the potential and possibilities associated with alternate representations of discrete structures such as finite state automata and a data flow network. We limit ourselves, and our methodology, to model notations with components that bear a largely symbolic connection to what they represent, thus providing greater degrees of representational freedom. We show that by exploring aesthetics, we surface some important philosophical and cultural questions regarding notation, which turn out to be at least as important as the algorithmic and procedural means of achieving customized model component representations.
The Daily Events and Emotions of Master’s‐level Family Therapy Trainees in Off‐campus Practicum Settings

The Day Reconstruction Method (DRM) was used to assess the daily events and emotions of one program’s master’s-level family therapy trainees in off-campus practicum settings. This study examines the DRM reports of 35 family therapy trainees in the second year of their master’s program in marriage and family therapy. Four themes emerged from the results: (i) Personal contact with peers-in-training engenders the most positive emotions during practicum; (ii) Trainees experience more positive emotions during therapy with families and couples in comparison with therapy with individuals; (iii) Positive affect increases over the course of a student’s practicum year; and (iv) Trainees experience less positive affect in individual supervision in comparison with most other training activities. Flow theory offers guidance for supervisors helping trainees face developmental challenges of clinical training.
Business process redesign as a tool for organizational development

Abstract The article presents a successful systematic organizational improvement effort at a mid-size electronics components manufacturer using process mapping and teamwork. The company was faced with increasing customer demand for a newly developed product line that it had not yet integrated into its appropriate production areas. It also had not clearly identified the long-term responsibilities of the engineering group it had assembled to support this new product line. A cross-functional team was charged to work on a business process redesign project, specifically targeting the quoting process (a bottleneck operation). It was intended not only to improve the quoting process, but also to force the clarification of the responsibilities of the new engineering group and thereby move them closer to integration with production function.
Comparison of rates of elution of 24Na+ from the mucosal and serosal sides of the toad bladder

Abstract 1. 1. The efflux of radioactive Na+ from the mucosal and serosal side of the toad bladder in which only the Na+ transport pool had been labeled was determined between 5 and 19 min after onset of the elution. 2. 2. Kinetic theory predicts that if there were a single compartment from which Na+ moved to either side of the bladder, then the elution rates from each side, when plotted against time on semi-logarithmic paper, should result in parallel lines. 3. 3. Data from eight bladders were tested for parallelism and the hypothesis of parallelism is rejected for the entire set of lines ( P ). It is concluded that the sodium being eluted must be coming from more than one compartment. 4. 4. A statistical method for combining the probabilities of individual experiments of a like kind which test a single hypothesis is well established. It has been infrequently applied to biological data. It was used for statistical analysis of the results of these experiments.
Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis in Three Patients with Normal Chest X-ray Films

Three patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis had normal chest x-ray films at the time of diagnosis. None had a history of pneumonitis or abnormal chest x-ray films in the past. On the basis of clinical and immunologic data that indicated the presence of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, bronchograms were obtained, which revealed evidence of proximal bronchiectasis in each patient. These early changes in bronchial architecture were not evident on the plain x-ray films of the chest but were revealed by bronchographic study. The diagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis may be made even in the presence of normal chest x-ray films.
Low power upconversion using MLCT sensitizers.

Selective low energy excitation of the metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transition in [Ru(dmb)3]2+ (dmb = 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine) in the presence of anthracene or 9,10-diphenylanthracene yields easily visualized upconverted singlet fluorescence resulting from triplet–triplet annihilation at low excitation power.
Interaction of uncouplers with the mitochondrial membrane: identification of the high affinity binding site.

Abstract A potent uncoupler, (half-maximal stimulation = 0.2 μ m ) of oxidative phosphorylation, 2-nitro-4-azido carbonylcyanide phenylhydrazone (N3CCP) was synthesized in radioactive form, with specific activity of 50 mCi 3H/mmol. Equilibrium binding studies with N3CCP showed the presence of high affinity uncoupler binding sites (Kd = 0.5 ± 0.2 μM) in the mitochondrial membrane at a concentration of 1.2 ± 0.2 sites per cytochrome a. In photoaffinity labeling studies, photolysis of the azido group resulted in 55% of the uncoupler being covalently bound to the mitochondrial membrane. After photolysis, the mitochondria were uncoupled even after washing with bovine serum albumin, indicating that the covalently bound uncoupler had retained its activity as an uncoupler. Of the N3CCP covalently bound to the membrane, 80–85% of the radioactivity was incorporated into a single peptide of 10–15,000 daltons on polyacrylamide-sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gel electrophoresis. Radioactive incorporation of N3CCP into the peptide was prevented by addition of saturating amounts of other uncouplers before photolysis. The labeled peptide was extractable in chloroform:methanol (2:1) with retention of size on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, suggesting involvement of a proteolipid. The peptide was shown to be part of the membrane sector of the oligomycin-sensitive ATPase. This uncoupler-binding proteolipid, localized in the oligomycin-sensitive ATPase, may be part of some “high energy” chemical intermediate and/or a proton channel.
Sexual differentiation of brain and behavior in the zebra finch: Critical periods for effects of early estrogen treatment

In order to determine the critical period(s) during which estrogen alters sexually dimorphic behavior and neuroanatomy in zebra finches (Poephila guttata), nestlings were injected daily 20 μg estradiol benzoate (EB) during posthatching week 1, week 2, week 3, or weeks 1, 2, and 3. At 7 months of age, birds were implanted with testosterone propionate and tested with female partners for singing, dancing, and copulatory mounting. Brains were subsequently processed for morphometry, and the volumes of the song system nuclei HVC, area X, and RA and the soma sizes and densities of neurons in RA were determined. Males given EB during week 1 failed to mount. Females given EB during week 1 were fully masculinized with respect to dancing and RA neuron soma size and density, and were partially masculinized with respect to song nuclei volumes and singing. Treatment beginning after week 1 was ineffective or less effective for all measures. Only for RA neuron measures was treatment for all three weeks more effective than week 1 treatment. Thus the first post-hatching week is the most influential period of those tested for effects of exogenous estrogen on sexual differentiation in this species, and is a period during which both masculinization of females and demasculinization of males is possible. 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Genetic factors influencing cytarabine therapy

The mainstay of acute myeloid leukemia chemotherapy is the nucleoside analog cytarabine (ara-C). Numerous studies suggest that the intracellular concentrations of the ara-C active metabolite, ara-CTP, vary widely among patients and, in turn, are associated with variability in clinical response to acute myeloid leukemia treatment. Thus, genetic variation in key genes in the ara-C metabolic pathway – specifically, deoxycytidine kinase (a rate-limiting activating enzyme), 5´ nucleotidase, cytidine deaminase and deoxycytidylate deaminase (all three are inactivating enzymes), human equilibrative nucleoside transporter (ara-C uptake transporter) and ribonucleotide reductase (RRM1 and RRM2 – enzymes regulating intracellular deoxycytidine triphosphate pools) – form the molecular basis of the interpatient variability observed in intracellular ara-CTP concentrations and response to ara-C. Understanding genetic variants in the key candidate genes involved in the metabolic activation of ara-C, as well as the pharmacodynamic targets of ara-C, will provide an opportunity to identify patients at an increased risk of adverse reactions or decreased likelihood of response, based upon their genetic profile, which in future could help in dose optimization to reduce drug toxicity without compromising efficacy. The pharmacogenetic studies on ara-C would also be equally applicable to other nucleoside analogs, such as gemcitabine, decitabine, clofarabine and so on, which are metabolized by the same pathway.
Temperature related alterations in the acidic alanine-rich “A” protein from the 50S ribosomal particle of the extreme halophile, Halobacterium cutirubrum

50-S ribosomal subunits from the extreme halophilic bacterium, Halobacterium cutirubrum, contain an alanine-rich acidic “A” protein which resembles the L7-L12 multimer (Kaltschmidt and Wittmann, 1970) found in the 50-S ribosomal subunit of Escherichia coli cells. The protein contains 24 mole % alanine and is devoid of histidine, tryptophan and cysteine. Unlike E. coli which has two forms of the “A” protein distinguished solely by the acetylation state of the serine amino terminus. H. cutirubrum 50-S subunits contain only one unsubstituted form of the “A” protein in vivo. However, during purification of ribosomes from cells grown between 25 and 37°C the latter “A” protein undergoes rapid, specific, in vitro enzymatic alteration at its carboxy-terminal end. When the halophile is grown in the temperature range of 40 to 42°C the cleaving enzyme is not active and only one form of the “A” protein is found on the ribosomes.
Outcomes with High Pre-Transplant PRA in Pediatric Heart Transplantation at a Single Center

Purpose Acceptance and management of pediatric heart transplant (Tx) candidates with high pre-Tx PRA remains center dependent, largely due to lack of medium and longterm followup on outcomes. Some centers proceed only with a negative crossmatch, essentially guaranteeing no suitable donor in the worst cases. Other centers proceed across a positive crossmatch, feeling mortality is more likely waiting for a suitable donor, but with uncertain outcomes. We review outcomes after pediatric heart Tx with positive pre-Tx PRA (>10%) at a center that has not used prospective crossmatch, and more recently has chosen to transplant across a positive virtual crossmatch for those with markedly elevated PRA. Methods and Materials This is a retrospective chart review of all children undergoing heart transplantation at our center. Results We identified 19 recipients with pre-Tx PRA >10%: 11 class I, 2 class II, and 6 both class I and II. PRA class I mean was 43% (range 0-100) and class II mean was 27% (0-100). 11 of 18 tested had a positive retrospective crossmatch; 1 had no crossmatch. Only the 2 most recent recipients had specific intra-operative therapy to reduce antibody. Anti-thymocyte antibody induction is used. Post-Tx medications are often modified for better B cell coverage in this group. There were 5 deaths: rejection 2.3 y; rejection 3.2 y; PTLD 3.4 y; infection 7.0 y; and suicide 10.4 y. Both rejection deaths were linked to noncompliance. None of the high PRA recipients had documented coronary vasculopathy. Actuarial survival was 100% at 1 y; 79% at 5 y; 69% at 10y. 7 of 19 had rejection: 3 cellular, 2 AMR and 2 diagnosed clinically without biopsy. Time to first rejection was 1 y in 3. 3 recipients had >1 rejection episode. Positive crossmatch did not predict those likely to have rejection or death from rejection. Conclusions Reasonable outcomes in pediatric heart Tx recipients with high PRA, with or without a positive crossmatch, support offering Tx across a positive virtual crossmatch for those unlikely to otherwise undergo Tx.
Anthropology and O.R.: The Place of Observation in Management Science Process

This paper is an argument to combine the methods of observation with O.R. techniques to form the basis of a management science process. The paper begins by defining a typology showing where observation methods seem to be most appropriate in O.R. interventions. This is followed by a section outlining some of the techniques and problems of observation as seen from the field of anthropology. Using this theory, combined with personal experience, an observation process is developed. An example of using the process is then given.
Dynamic simulation of water depletion in the root zone

Abstract The joint effect of the distribution of the soil water potential and of the root mass in the crop root zone upon the water uptake by the crop is represented by a simple equation. This expression is used to join a layered crop canopy model for finding the evapotranspiration, as controlled by stomatal action and the weather, with a hydraulic flow model for the root zone and the underlying soil. The complete model is used for the calculation of the water extraction pattern and the changes, with time, of other plant and soil processes. A simulation of a 20-day drying period is performed, using S/360 CSMP, for a constant diurnal weather pattern, and for a fully developed sorghum crop. The results show that, after a few days of essentially constant water use by the crop, a monotonic decline sets in, that is principally attributable to the decrease in transpiration. For the entire drying period a substantial amount of water - about 30% of the total used - is contributed by upward flow into the root zone from the soil below. The results demonstrate the difficulty of quantitative definition of concepts such as “field capacity”, “wilting percentage”, and “available” or “extractable” water.
Comparing forecasts of inflation using time distance

Abstract When considering the relative quality of forecasts the method of comparison is relevant: should we use vertical measures, such as mean square forecasting error, or the recently developed horizontal measure time distance. Four models for inflation in the US are considered based on univariate time series, a leading indicator, a univariate model combining with the specifications of the two models, and a bivariate model. According to the mean squared forecast errors an AR(1) model is superior, but it performs much less well than models using a leading indicator when considered in terms of time distance. These results hold for both standard procedures and for the bootstrap reality check.
The ocean ‘landscape’

The ocean has a complex physical structure at all scales in space and time, with ‘peaks’ at certain wave numbers and frequencies. Pelagic ecosystems show regular progressions in size of organisms, life cycle, spatial ambit, and trophic status. Thus, physiological and ecological parameters are closely coupled to spatial and temporal physical scales.
Pigmented villonodular synovitis of the wrist invading bone—Report of a case

Pigmented villonodular synovitis of the wrist joint invading adjacent bones rarely occurs. A case in which synovitis invaded the carpal and metacarpal bones at the ulnar aspect of the wrist is described. The invasion of multiple bones by the tumor and its histologic hypercellularity in this case caused concern because of its aggressive behavior. However, review of the literature on pigmented villonodular synovitis arising at the wrist and invading adjacent bones and follow-up of our patient confirmed its benign character.
Exploratory study of the relationship of fat-free mass to speed of brain processing in preterm infants.

Exploratory study of the relationship of fat-free mass to speed of brain processing in preterm infants
Mandibular range of motion with rigid/nonrigid fixation

Decreased mandibular range of motion that followed orthognathic surgery and that was treated by wire osteosynthesis and 6 weeks of maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) has been previously documented. The present study evaluated maximum interincisal opening (MIO) in 49 subjects undergoing a bilateral sagittal ramus osteotomy (BSRO) with advancement or a BSRO with advancement and a concomitant LeFort I maxillary osteotomy with the patients having either rigid or nonrigid fixation. The group with rigid fixation had early function and mild physiotherapy. The nonrigid group had wire osteosynthesis, MMF that was maintained for 6 weeks, and no postoperative physiotherapy. Patients who underwent a BSRO with rigid fixation experienced a 3.5 mm decrease in MIO (6.9%). Those who had a BSRO and a LeFort I osteotomy with rigid fixation had a 3.3 mm decrease in MIO (6.6%). In contrast, nonrigidly fixed BSRO subjects had a 16.8 mm decrease (29.6%), while those who underwent a combined BSRO and LeFort I osteotomy had a 13.9 mm decrease (26.1%). This study showed that rigid fixation combined with early function and mild physiotherapy resulted in improved MIO postoperatively, as compared to the MIO in a group in which these treatments were not used.
Ru2(DMBA)4(BF4)2 and Ru2(DMBA)4(NO3)2: the first examples of diruthenium compounds containing BF4− and NO3− as ligands

Abstract Diruthenium compounds Ru2(DMBA)4X2 (DMBA=N,N′-dimethylbenzamidinate, X=BF4 (1) and NO3 (2)) were obtained by treating Ru2(DMBA)4Cl2 with AgX. The single crystal X-ray diffraction study revealed that the anions have been incorporated into the coordination sphere of the Ru center as the axial ligand and the RuY bond lengths are 2.378(3) (RuF) and 2.322(2) A (RuO) for 1 and 2, respectively. The RuRu bond lengths, 2.2646(6) and 2.2865(4) A for 1 and 2, respectively, are slightly shorter than that of the parent molecule (2.3224(7) A).
Effects of native vegetation on invasion success of Chinese tallow in a floating marsh ecosystem

Summary 1. Interactions between resident and exotic species have been shown to control the biotic resistance of communities to invasion. With different life stages of the exotic species, each sequential interaction may dampen or strengthen previous ones, thereby influencing invasion success. 2. We assessed the effects of resident vegetation type on the arrival and performance of Triadica sebifera (Chinese tallow), a widespread invader in freshwater floating marshes, using a combination of field studies and glasshouse experiments. 3. Our results indicated that Triadica abundance was positively associated with native woody species, particularly the native actinorhizal shrub Morella cerifera (wax myrtle). Seed dispersal and germination of Triadica were generally low but suggestive that Morella has weak, facilitative effects on the spread of Triadica by channelling its dispersal by birds into shrub thickets and promoting germination upon arrival. Triadica seedling growth was greatest where light and total inorganic N were higher. Growth of Triadica trees was greater in marsh sites without Morella and did not exhibit any detectable responses to elevated N levels in substrates from Morella thickets. 4. Morella may facilitate the spread of Triadica in floating shrub communities, yet inhibit its growth once established. The few individuals that establish in herbaceous marshes grow faster and may therefore reach maturity sooner than in Morella shrub thickets. 5. Synthesis . Our work suggests that the net effects of facilitation and inhibition by native, resident species on exotics can influence invasion success. In this case, weak, facilitative effects operating in the arrival and establishment phases of invasion are not completely negated by subsequent negative interactions between the same species, enabling the invader to persist. Models that quantify the relative strength and cumulative effects of these interactions are needed to improve predictions of community invasibility.
Willingness to pay for improved quality of trekking in Manang, Nepal.

This study investigates international trekkers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for three different quality improvements, which are aimed at promoting sustainable trekking in Manang, Nepal: (1) a guided additional trekking (nature walk) in the Annapurna Conservation Area; (2) an extended village tour in the Nar Phu Valley of Manang, for greater cultural understanding and (3) upgrades to a museum of Tibetan artefacts. This study uses data collected from a 2005–2006 in-person sample of trekkers in Nepal and a contingent valuation survey questionnaire. Results show that the proposed trekking quality improvements have positive economic values, with relative WTP per trekker of about US $35–$38 for the improved nature walk, US $11–$17 for the village tour and US $9–$15 for the museum quality improvements.
Inhibition of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Replication by HIV-1-Based Lentivirus Vectors Expressing Transdominant Rev

Retrovirus vectors expressing transdominant-negative mutants of Rev (TdRev) inhibit human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication by preventing the nuclear export of unspliced viral transcripts, thus inhibiting the synthesis of Gag-Pol, Env, and genomic RNA. The use of HIV-1-based vectors to express TdRev would have the advantage of allowing access to nondividing hematopoietic cells. It would also provide additional levels of protection by sequestering the viral regulatory proteins Tat and Rev, competing for encapsidation into wild-type virions, and inhibiting reverse transcription. Here we describe HIV-1-based vectors that express TdRev. These vectors contain mutations in the splicing signals or replacement of the Rev-responsive element by the simian retrovirus type 1 constitutive transport element, making them less sensitive to the inhibitory effects of TdRev. In addition, overexpression of Rev and the use of an HIV-1 helper plasmid that drives high levels of Gag-Pol synthesis were used to transiently overcome the inhibition by TdRev of the synthesis of Gag-Pol during vector production. SupT1 cells transduced with these vectors were more resistant to HIV-1 replication than cells transduced with Moloney murine leukemia virus-based vectors expressing TdRev. Furthermore, we show that these vectors can be mobilized by the wild-type virus, reducing the infectivity of virions escaping inhibition and conferring protection against HIV-1 replication to previously untransduced cells.
Biomarkers of Nutrient Exposure and Status in One-Carbon (Methyl) Metabolism

One-carbon metabolism is a network of interrelated biochemical reactions that involve the transfer of one-carbon groups from one compound to another. The coenzymes necessary for several of these reactions include the B-vitamins, folate, vitamin B-12, vitamin B-6 and riboflavin (vitamin B-2), whereas important intermediary compounds in this schema include methionine and choline. There has been renewed interest in one-carbon metabolism during the past several years, engendered by recent insights that indicate that modest dietary inadequacies of the abovementioned nutrients, of a degree insufficient to cause classical deficiency syndromes, can still contribute to important diseases such as neural tube defects, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Traditional means of assessing nutrient exposure with food frequency questionnaires, and nutrient status with plasma and urine vitamin assays, has some genuine validity and utility. Assessing the concentration of appropriate intermediary compounds, such as plasma homocysteine for folate and methylmalonic acid for vitamin B-12, provides further insights because they appear to add a degree of sensitivity that does not exist with the more traditional assays. There may also be value in developing measures that integrate the status of all these nutrients and express it as a functional "methylation capacity" of the individual. Plasma or tissue concentrations of S-adenosylmethionine and S-adenosylhomocysteine, and genomic DNA methylation are two potential candidates in this regard although much work is yet to be done to define the nature of these relationships.
Prototype induction and attribute selection via evolutionary algorithms

This paper addresses the issue of reducing the storage requirements on instance-based learning algorithms. Algorithms proposed by other researches use heuristics to prune instances of the training set or modify the instances themselves to achieve a reduced set of instances. This paper presents an alternative way. The presented approach proposes to induce a reduced set of prototypes (partially-defined instances) with evolutionary algorithms. Experiments were performed with GALE, a fine-grained parallel evolutionary algorithm, and other well-known reduction techniques on several data sets. Results suggest that GALE is competitive and robust for inducing sets of partially-defined instances. Moreover, it achieves better reduction rates in storage requirements without losses in generalization accuracy. Simultaneously, if the partially-defined instances induced by GALE are post-processed, results can also be used for attribute selection.
Cardiac Myosin Binding Protein C

Abstract—Myosin binding protein C (MyBP-C) is one of a group of myosin binding proteins that are present in the myofibrils of all striated muscle. The protein is found at 43-nm repeats along 7 to 9...
Multiple visceral hematomas in a child with familial Mediterranean fever: answer

A 14-year-old girl was diagnosed with familial Mediterrenean fever (FMF) with homozygous for M694V mutation of the MEFV gene and was started on colchicine therapy 4 years before admission to our hospital. She was uncompliant to therapy and was admitted to a local hospital with complaining of fever, malaise, abdominal pain and artralgia lasting for 2 months. Multiple hypoechogenic mass lesions were detected on liver and kidneys with ultrasonography (US) and diagnosed to be hematomas by laparoscopic examination. She was referred to our hospital because of development of convulsions. On physical examination her blood pressure was 140/90 mmHg and body temperature was 39 °C. She was pale and extremely cachectic, with atrophic muscles of the extremities. She had diffuse abdominal tenderness and hepatosplenomegaly. Laboratory investigations revealed a hemoglobin of 9.8 g/dl, white blood cell count 9,900/mm3, platelets 213,000/mm3, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) 112 mm/h, C- reactive protein (CRP) 78 mg/L (normal < 2 mg/L) and fibrinogen 500 mg/dl. Electrolytes, renal and hepatic functions and urinalysis were normal. Examinations of peripheric blood smear and bone marrow aspiration were normal. X-rays of bones and chest showed no pathological finding. Protrombine, partial thromboplastine and bleeding times were normal. Bacterial cultures of blood, urine and stool grew no organisms. Serological tests for hepatitis B and C, cytomegalovirus, salmonella and brucella were negative.
Outcomes associated with balloon angioplasty for recurrent coarctation in neonatal univentricular and biventricular norwood-type aortic arch reconstructions.

Objectives We evaluated the use of, and outcomes associated with, balloon angioplasty (BA) for recurrent coarctation in single ventricle (SV) and two ventricle (2V) patients following a Norwood-type aortic arch reconstruction (NTAR). Background Extended patch augmentation of the aorta, a NTAR, is utilized in SV patients undergoing the Norwood procedure (NP) as well as 2V patients with a diffusely hypoplastic aorta. While many studies have evaluated recurrent coarctation following the NP, the incidence of recurrent coarctation and outcomes associated with BA in 2V patients following NTAR are unclear. Methods A retrospective review was performed of all neonates who underwent a NTAR at our institution between 2000 and 2010. The incidence of recurrent coarctation requiring intervention and factors associated with successful BA were evaluated. Results A NTAR was performed in 361 SV patients and 88 2V patients. The incidence of recurrent coarctation requiring intervention was 19.3% in 2V vs. 9.7% in SV patients (P = 0.01) at a median of 0.5 (interquartile range 0.3–1.2) years from initial surgery. BA was successful in 25 SV patients (81%) and 10 2V patients (71%; P = 0.70). Of the characteristics evaluated, lower initial peak-to-peak gradient (P = 0.02), larger balloon size for angioplasty (P = 0.02) and larger diameter of the descending aorta (P = 0.01) were associated with BA success. Conclusions Recurrent coarctation following NTAR is more common in 2V patients than in SV patients. BA for recurrent coarctation has similar success in both groups and should continue to be utilized in this population. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Multipulse interferometric frequency-resolved optical gating

We review multipulse interferometric frequency-resolved optical gating (MI-FROG) as a technique, uniquely suited for pump-probe coherent spectroscopy using amplified visible and near-infrared short-pulse systems and/or emissive targets, for time-resolving ultrafast phase shifts and intensity changes. Application of polarization-gate MI-FROG to the study of ultrafast ionization in gases is presented.