cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Total Knee Arthroplasty in Patients with Dementia.

There are few studies evaluating total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients with dementia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the rate of revision, complication, emergency department (ED) visitation, and discharge disposition in patients with dementia undergoing primary TKA. In this retrospective study, we evaluated patients from 2007 to 2017 using a national database. Ninety-day complications in patients with dementia undergoing TKA were increased risk of ED visitation and skilled nursing facility (SNF) disposition (p ≤ 0.05). Two-year complications in patients with dementia undergoing TKA were increased risk of ED visitation and SNF disposition (p ≤ 0.05). Patients with dementia undergoing TKA are at an increased risk of resource utilization.
Out of This World: Fertility Investigations and the Space Program

Reports from the manned space flights to date have not clarified or mentioned changes in number of type of spermatozoa. Testicular tissue has not been biopsied in the astronauts. —Cockett et al. ( 1 )
Innovative and Strategic Aspects of Intellectual Property Management in State-Owned Enterprises of Georgia

Innovative, strategic management of IP is one of the currently urgent problems of the knowledge economy in Georgia. However, at this stage, many state-owned enterprises, organizations as well as enterprises where the state is partial shareholder, have not yet properly assessed the role of IP, as well as of other intangible assets, in creating sustainable competitive advantages, which are provided by the corporate governance standards as well as by the Guiding Principles (Guidelines) developed by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), recommendations included in the World Bank’s report on corporate governance of state enterprises and the recommendations and best practices related to the management of state-owned enterprises in EU member states. The IP Management Strategy in State-Owned Enterprises simultaneously covers diverse areas of financial, technological, and marketing activities and is also destined to ensure the effective implementation and protection of IP rights. Non-consideration of the IP’s role in the technological development will lead in the near future to decreased investments in innovations, losses in budget accruals and the loss of the promising export trade directions. The IP Management Strategy should mainly include such issues as: increasing the value of intangible assets and creating unique competitive advantages; ensuring technological leadership; providing of returns on investments in innovation; protection of IP rights on the IP objects; lobbying and promotion of trademarks, etc
Effect of an antiracism intervention on disparities in time to lung cancer surgery.

101Background: Racial disparities are well described in the management of early-stage lung cancer, with Black patients less likely to receive potentially curative surgery than non-Hispanic Whites. ...
Connecting COPD GWAS Genes: FAM13A Controls TGFβ2 Secretion by Modulating AP-3 Transport

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common, complex disease and a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Although multiple genetic determinants of COPD have been implicated by genome...
Sufi Turuq and the Politics of Democratization in Senegal

This study explains changes over time in the role of Sufi Islam in Senegal's democratization, tracing the role of Muslim authorities and organizations in political competition through the country's two presidential turnovers in 2000 and 2012. Secular and religious civil society groups have both advanced democratization in Senegal. Yet our understanding of this case is incomplete without an explanation for why Senegal's Sufi Islamic leaders and their disciples have shifted from reinforcing a robust, single-party authoritarian system (in the 1960s-1980s) to creating space for serious political contestation (in the 1990s and 2000s). This paper points to increased political and economic uncertainty as an underlying cause of Senegal's two turnovers and then illustrates how presidents' and Sufi leaders' responses to the uncertainty have shifted their degree of direct involvement in electoral politics. The paper shows that parties led by religious figures have had limited impact, but that grassroots social movements created by Sufi actors have more successfully channeled citizen energies towards popular and deliberative democratic ends in the last fifteen years.
Consolidated Advantage: New Organizational Dynamics of Wage Inequality:

The two main axes of inequality in the U.S. labor market—occupation and workplace—have increasingly consolidated. In 1999, the largest share of employment at high-paying workplaces was blue-collar ...
Treatment of choroid plexus tumors: a 20-year single institutional experience.

Object Choroid plexus tumors (CPTs) are rare intracranial neoplasms that constitute approximately 2%–5% of all pediatric brain tumors. Most of these tumors present with severe hydrocephalus. The optimal perioperative management and oncological care remain a matter of debate. The authors present the epidemiological and clinical features of CPTs from a 20-year single-institutional experience. Methods A total of 39 consecutive patients with pathologically proven CPTs (31 choroid plexus papillomas [CPPs] and 8 choroid plexus carcinomas [CPCs]) were included in this series. Patient demographics, clinical presentation, comorbidities, indications for surgery, radiological studies, tumor location, and all operative variables were reviewed for each case. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of tumor recurrence and survival. Results The overall mean age (± SD) was 13.13 ± 19.59 years (15.27 ± 21.10 years in the CPP group and 3.66 ± 3.59 years in the CPC group). Hydroceph...
Surgery: Routine adrenalectomy in renal cancer--an antiquated practice.

For decades, complete removal of the kidney with all the contents of the Gerota's fascia (including the adrenal gland) has been a standard procedure for treating renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Two recent articles argue against routine adrenalectomy, and encourage adrenal preservation for the vast majority of patients with RCC.
Rail Transit Simulation

The design and construction of the rail transit simulator for the dynamic testing of automobiles, trucks and components is described. The test facility features seven servo-controlled hydraulic actuators, along with associated electronics to simulate vehicle environmental conditions during rail shipment. This ability to simulate the shipping environment in the laboratory has effectively reduced the cost and the time required to evaluate designs.
Testing the null hypothesis of stationarity against the alternative of a unit root: How sure are we that economic time series have a unit root?

Abstract We propose a test of the null hypothesis that an observable series is stationary around a deterministic trend. The series is expressed as the sum of deterministic trend, random walk, and stationary error, and the test is the LM test of the hypothesis that the random walk has zero variance. The asymptotic distribution of the statistic is derived under the null and under the alternative that the series is difference-stationary. Finite sample size and power are considered in a Monte Carlo experiment. The test is applied to the Nelson-Plosser data, and for many of these series the hypothesis of trend stationarity cannot be rejected.
Characterization of Superantigen-Induced Clonal Deletion with a Novel Clan III-Restricted Avian Monoclonal Antibody: Exploiting Evolutionary Distance to Create Antibodies Specific for a Conserved VH Region Surface

Evolution of the Ab system has yielded three clans of VH region genes that are represented in almost every known higher species with an adaptive immune system. These clans are defined by sequence homologies primarily in highly conserved framework (FR) subdomains, which serve a scaffolding function maintaining the conformation of loops responsible for Ag binding. Structural analyses indicate that the VH FR1 and FR3 form a conserved composite exposed surface, which has been implicated in interactions with B cell superantigens. To directly investigate the expression of clan-defined supraclonal sets, we exploited the evolutionary distance of the chicken immune system and the selection power of phage display, to derive Abs diagnostic for clan III Ig. Using a specially tailored immunization and selection strategy, we created recombinant avian single chain Fv Abs specific for the clan III products, including those from the human VH3 family, and the analogous murine 7183, S107, J606, X24, and DNA4 families, and binding was competitive with natural B cell superantigens. The archetype, LJ-26, was demonstrated to recognize a clan-specific surface expressed in diverse mammalian, and also the Xenopus and chicken, immune systems. In flow-cytometric studies with LJ-26, we found that treatment of heterozygous T15i transgenic mice with a model B cell superantigen induced a clan III-restricted clonal deletion. These studies demonstrate the utility of a novel recombinant serologic reagent to study the composition of the B cell compartment and also the consequences of B cell superantigen exposure.
Symmetries and the connection between spin and statistics in rigorous quantum field theory

Some basic features of relativistic quantum mechanics and of quantum field theory in the Wightman formulation are reviewed. The connection between spin and statistics, and the PCT-Theorem, is discussed within this framework.
Multiple Comparisons - Applications †

In comparing several unknowns, e.g. the means μ 1, μ2, …, μk of k > 2 populations, the classical approach would recommend starting with a test of equality, i.e. test the hypothesis H0: μ 1 = μ2 = … = μk. The process known as multiple comparisons has historically been considered as the logical next step following a rejection of this ‘omnibus’ test: if we can be confident that some differences among the μi exist, then which pairs μi, μi ' are different (1 ≤ i ≠ i′ ≤ k) and (perhaps) how large are these differences? Modern multiple comparisons analysis retains the goal of answering these sorts of questions, though the preliminary test of equality is no longer sacrosanct.
The Use of SNOMED© CT Simplifies Querying of a Clinical Data Warehouse

The usefulness of digital clinical information is limited by difficulty in accessing that information. Information in electronic medical records (EMR) must be entered and stored at the appropriate level of granularity for individual patient care. However, benefits such as outcomes research and decision support require aggregation to clinical data -- "heart disease" as opposed to "S/P MI 1997" for example. The hierarchical relationships in an external reference terminology, such as SNOMED, can facilitate aggregation. This study examines whether by leveraging the knowledge built into SNOMED’s hierarchical structure, one can simplify the query process without degrading the query results.
Doctoral persistence and doctoral program completion among nurses.

PROBLEM. The United States is experiencing a critical shortage of registered nurses, which is due to multiple factors, including a deficit of full-time doctorally prepared nursing faculty. METHODS AND FINDINGS. This review of the literature addresses doctoral persistence and the challenges faced by doctoral nursing students. Themes found in this review included periods of transition, parenthood and outside demands, delays and “marinating” in the data, and positive aspects. These issues need to be addressed in order to increase doctoral student retention and reverse the nursing shortage.
Postmortem monoamine oxidase enzyme kinetics in the frontal cortex of suicide victims and controls

Serotonin, a preferred monoamine oxidase (MAO) A substrate may be deficient centrally in suicide victims. In postmortem samples of frontal cortex from suicide victims we demonstrated receptor changes in the serotonergic system supportive of this hypothesis. These changes were not accompanied in this series of brain samples by alterations in either MAO A or B enzyme kinetics. Thus brain MAO A is not a useful indicator of altered serotonergic function in suicide victims. We did confirm an age-related increase in cortical MAO B but not MAO A enzyme concentrations in both controls and suicide victims. Language: en
Pockmarks in the Floor of Penobscot Bay, Maine

Hundreds of depressions (pockmarks) were found within a 40 square kilometer area of the sea floor near the head of Penobscot Bay, Maine. These roughly circular depressions range in diameter from 10 to 300 meters and extend as much as 30 meters below the surrounding sea floor. The pockmarks have formed in marine mud of Holocene age, which unconformably overlies glaciomarine deposits.
A phylogenetic analysis of American Zamiaceae (Cycadales) using chloroplast DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms

A phylogenetic analysis of American cycad genera, all belonging to the family Zamiaceae, was attempted using chloroplast DNA restriction fragment polymorphisms.Ceratozamia mexicana Brongn.,Chigua restrepoi D. Stevenson,Dioon edule Lindley,Microcycas calocoma (Miq.) A. DC.,Zamia fischeri Miq., andZamia skinneri Warsz. ex A. Dietrich were used as representatives of the genera.Cycas revoluta Thunb., belonging to the family Cycadaceae, was used as an outgroup, following previous morphological works. One hundred and forty-one shared restriction fragments were scored for presence/absence and both Wagner and Dollo parsimony analyses were performed. The single, fully resolved, most parsimonious trees obtained from the analyses were topologically identical and perfectly matched previous morphology-based phylogenetic hypotheses. Statistical evaluation of the data showed a good reliability for the obtained phylogeny.Dioon edule, belonging to a different subfamily and more primitive on morphological grounds, proved to be the most primitive among American cycads as inferred from the molecular data;Chigua restrepoi, never analyzed before on cladistic grounds, was found to be the sister group of the genusZamia.
Thrombin stimulates inositol phosphate production and intracellular free calcium by a pertussis toxin-insensitive mechanism in osteosarcoma cells.

Human a-thrombin is known to elicit bone resorption in vitro and has been proposed as a mediator of increased bone turnover in inflammatory diseases. We used UMR 106-H5 rat osteoblast-like osteosarcoma cells to explore the signal transduction mechanism utilized by thrombin in bone. Thrombin produced a dose-dependent increase in the accumulation of [3H] inositol phosphates (IPs) in UMR 106-H5 cells prelabeled with [3H]myo-inositol (EC50 15 U/ml). In saponinpermeabilized cells, GTPγS increased [3H]IP production, whereas GDPβS inhibited the response to both GTPγS and thrombin, indicating involvement of a G-protein in thrombin action. Thrombin produced a dose-dependent increase in intracellular free calcium (Ca2+) in UMR 106-H5 cells (EC60 1 U/ml; maximal increase 4-fold), as well as a small (20%) increase in [3H]thymidine incorporation. Treatment of UMR 106-H5 membranes with pertussis toxin (PT) and [32P]NAD+ resulted in labeling of a 40-kDa protein. However, pretreatment of cells with a dose of PT sufficien...
Regulation of primary alloantibody response through antecedent exposure to a microbial T-cell epitope.

Humoral alloimmunization to red blood cell (RBC) antigens is a clinically significant problem that can lead to transfusion reactions and difficulty in locating future compatible blood for transfusion. However, factors regulating responder/nonresponder status are only partially understood. Herein, we identify a series of microbes with 100% identity in 8– to 9–amino acid peptides containing the variant amino acids in Kell, Kidd, and Duffy antigens. To test the hypothesis that infection with such a microbe could predispose to RBC alloimmunization, a mouse model was developed using murine polyoma virus expressing a defined CD4+ T-cell epitope ovalbumin323-339 ((OVA)323-339) and subsequent transfusion with RBCs expressing a B-cell epitope (hen egg lysozyme [HEL]) fused to (OVA)323-339. Whereas infection alone induced no detectable anti-HEL, subsequent RBC transfusion induced 100- to 1000-fold more anti-HEL in mice that had been previously infected compared with control mice. This effect did not occur with wild-type polyoma virus or RBCs expressing HEL alone. Together, these data indicate that prior exposure to a pathogen with small peptide homology to RBC antigens can lead to an enhanced primary alloantibody response. As such priming is not detectable by current clinical tests, it is unknown to what extent this occurs in human alloimmunization.
Empirical logic and quantum mechanics

Our purpose in this article is to discuss some of the basic notions of quantum physics within the more general framework of operational statistics and empirical logic (as developed in Foulis and Randall, 1972, and Randall and Foulis, 1973). Empirical logic is a formal mathematical system in which the notion of an operation is primitive and undefined; all other concepts are rigorously defined in terms of such operations (which are presumed to correspond to actual physical procedures).
1099 Contrast echocardiography reduces the interobserver variability in measurements of ejection fraction:observations from the PREMIER study

s S191 Eur J Echocardiography Abstracts Supplement, December 2006 1099 Contrast echocardiography reduces the interobserver variability in measurements of ejection fraction:observations from the PREMIER study K.C. Kassimatis 1 ; N.L. Greenberg 1 ; M. Martin-Miklovic 1 ; M.M. Park 1 ; A.J. Morehead 1 ; M.P. Hudson 2 ; M.J. Garcia 2 ; W. Jaber 2 on behalf of: PREMIER Study 1The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cardiovascular Medicine Dept., Cleveland, United States of America; 2Henry Ford Hospital, Cardiovascular Medicine Dept., Detroit, United States of America Contrast Echocardiography is used for endocardial border definition. Rigorous evaluation of its impact on left ventricular volume (ESV, EDV) and ejection fraction (EF) measurements are lacking. We sought to determine the incremental value of using contrast echocardiography in comparison to non-contrast enhanced echocardiography in the setting of a controlled clinical trial. Methods: The multicenter international PREMIER trial (253 patients) used echocardiographis parameters as an endpoint to evaluate the impact of PG116800 (MMP inhibitor) in the treatment of post myocardial infarction patients. 48 pairs echocardiograms (contrast and non-contrast) were done at pre-specified times and used by the echo core laboratory for evaluation of interobserver variability in the quantitative measurement of ESV, EDV and EF. Both OPTISON® and DEFINITY® were used as conttrast agenst in this study. Each Echocardiogram was blindly reviewed and analyzed by two physician/ sonographer teams. Stdent t-test was used to detect significant differences in the absolute errors using the two echocardiographic methods. Results: See table. Conclusion: Contrast echocariography improves the interobserver variability in the evaluation of EF even when a standardized echo lab is used. A significant interobserver variability reduction was not seen for errors in measurements of ESV and EDV. When EF is used as an endpoint, this advantage of contrast echocardiography may be used to reduce the sample size needed in a clinical trial to observe true differences in outcomes. Table 1. Percentage Error
Evaluating the safety function: A conceptual model

Evaluation is becoming recognized as an important management practice of the Safety Function. What is it, then, that makes for effective safety function evaluation? This paper provides a framework for evaluating the efficacy of the Safety Function. The need for a model to evaluate the efficacy (i.e., intended effectiveness and efficiency) continues to build among a distinct group of safety practitioners who are required to justify their continued organizational existence in a strict economical sense. Specifically, the paper focuses on (a) a definition and purpose of safety function evaluation; (b) preconditions necessary for conducting an evaluation; (c) the types of safety function and the approaches to safety function evaluation; (d) guidelines for planning an evaluation; and (e) indicators that measure and evaluate financial and economic performance of the safety function.
Calibration of thin-layer chromatography with flame ionization detection for the analysis of natural lipid samples

Thin-layer chromatography coupled with flame ionization detection has been used to develop a method to quantitate fish lipids. Quantitation of fractionated lipid classes is usually accomplished through calibration with standards. Our work shows that various standards within a class, such as triglycerides or free fatty acids give substantially different responses to the detector. A method has been developed in which a composite sample of salmon lipid is prepared with an internal standard. This technique eliminates the variable detector response observed for compounds within a class and provides more accurate quantitation of oils from which the calibration samples were prepared. The lipid classes quantitated were triglycerides, free fatty acids, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine.
Erratum to: Molecular Evolution of Aminoacyl tRNA Synthetase Proteins in the Early History of Life

The legend for figure 2 was accidentally replaced with the legend of figure 1. The correct legend reads: Figure 2: Rooted phylogeny of aliphatic aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. IleRS and ValRS are sister paralogs, with LeuRS (not shown) included as outgroup. Domains within each paralog (colored) show differing topologies due to deep horizontal gene transfer events. Orig Life Evol Biosph (2012) 42:377 DOI 10.1007/s11084-012-9294-1
Molecular dynamics simulations of threadlike cetyltrimethylammonium chloride micelles: effects of sodium chloride and sodium salicylate salts.

We use atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to probe the effects of added sodium chloride (NaCl) and sodium salicylate (NaSal) salts on the spherical-to-threadlike micelle shape transition in aqueous solutions of cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) surfactants. Long threadlike micelles are found to be unstable and break into spherical micelles at low concentrations of NaCl, but remain stable for 20 ns above a threshold value of [NaCl] ≈ 3.0 M, which is about 2.5 times larger than the experimental salt concentration at which the transition between spherical and rodlike micelles occurs. The chloride counterions associate weakly on the surface of the CTAC micelles with the degree of counterion dissociation decreasing slightly with increasing [NaCl] on spherical micelles, but dropping significantly on the threadlike micelles at high [NaCl]. This effect indicates that the electrolyte ions drive the micellar shape transition by screening the electrostatic repulsions between the micellar headgroups. The a...
The peculiarities of Italo‐American relations in historical perspective

Abstract This article proposes an explanation for two peculiar features of the Italo‐American relationship during the Cold War: Italy's extraordinary subservience to the United States on security policy and most other issues; and its toleration of an extraordinary level of US intervention in its domestic affairs. These peculiar features of the postwar relationship are all the more remarkable when one considers that prior to 1945 Italy entertained foreign policy ambitions greatly in excess of its means, whereas since 1945 it has played a far lesser role on the world stage than its economic importance, size and geographical position would appear to warrant. Fear of Communism, the author notes, may well have constituted a motive for American intervention, but it does not explain the willingness of Italians to tolerate that intervention. Despite differences between Liberal, Fascist and Republican Italy, the author argues that the peculiarities of the Cold War bilateral relationship have deep roots in the past...
Epidemiologic evidence of cardiovascular effects of particulate air pollution.

Scientific and policy interests in the health effects of particulate air pollution have increased dramatically in the past decade in response to numerous epidemiologic reports of increased daily mortality associated with episodes of particulate air pollution (1,2). In a recent comprehensive analysis of daily mortality and particulate air pollution in 90 U.S. cities, Samet and colleagues (3‐5) confirmed that these associations were real, robust, and not confounded by weather; furthermore, these particle effects were independent of the effects of other co-pollutants. Analyses by cause of death generally find larger relative risks for respiratory deaths. For example, in a combined analysis across six eastern U.S. cities, each 10-µg/m3 increase in fine particle mass [particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5)] was associated with an increase in total mortality of 1.7%, compared to an increase of 3.3% in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease deaths and 4.0% in pneumonia deaths (6). Increased relative risks are also generally reported for cardiovascular deaths (1). In the combined six-city analysis, PM 2.5 was associated with a 2.1% increase in ischemic heart disease deaths. Respiratory deaths (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, influenza) accounted for only 8.5% of all deaths in the United States in 1997, while cardiovascular deaths (heart, cerebrovascular, and arterial diseases) accounted for 39.5% (7). Thus, while the relative effects of particulate air pollution are larger for respiratory than for cardiovascular deaths, the numbers of deaths attributable to particulate air pollution are much larger for cardiovascular than for respiratory causes. Understanding the mechanisms by which these particle exposures produce sudden cardiac events is important not only scientifically but also in risk assessment and in setting public policy. Epidemiology cannot show causation, but innovative study designs do provide insights into possible causal pathways. Several years ago several colleagues and I investigated possible mechanisms by which particles deposited in the lungs might produce an immediate, fatal cardiac event. We hypothesized that particle exposures might interfere with oxygen transport and that the resultant hypoxemia might trigger cardiac arrhythmias. To test this hypoxemia hypothesis, we recruited two panels of elderly subjects living in Utah Valley, Utah (18). One panel consisted of emeritus faculty from Brigham Young University and their spouses living in Orem and Provo. The other panel consisted of residents in an assisted living facility in Orem. Members of the first panel measured their oxygen saturation twice daily (on arising and before retiring) with a pulse oximeter. Pulse rate, oxygen saturation, date, and time were automatically recorded. Residents of the retirement community had the same measurements
Reassessing the role of the independent judiciary in enforcing interest-group bargains

William Landes and Richard Posner contend that judicial independence maximizes the value of legislative deals with interest groups by enhancing the durability of those deals. Despite its acceptance among economics-minded scholars, we argue that this theory is seriously deficient. The ‘strong’ positive version of this theory fails as an attempt to explain the origin and maintenance of judicial independence because it ignores collective-action problems plaguing both the legislature and the judiciary in fostering judicial independence. The ‘weak’ descriptive version inadequately describes the full historical record. We re-interpret some empirical findings—previously thought to support the Landes-Posner theory—in light of our analysis. We conclude that the United States federal judiciary is truly independent of Congress and the President, and that this independence was designed by the Constitution's framers as a means of furthering sound government.
The real vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus has arrived

Abstract Over the last decade, staphylococci with reduced susceptibility to vancomycin have been reported with increasing frequency. The appearance of Staphylococcus aureus isolates with thickened cell walls for which the vancomycin MICs were 8 or 16 μg/ml (vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus , or VISA) were followed by reports of isolates for which the vancomycin MICs were ≥ 32 pg/ml (vancomycin-resistant S. aureus , or VRSA). The latter isolates harbor the vanA vancomycin resistance gene from enterococci. Both VISA and VRSA isolates may escape detection in the clinical microbiology laboratory, depending on the method of susceptibility testing in use. The use of a brain heart infusion agar plate containing 6 pg of vancomycin/ml can aid in detecting these clinically significant isolates. The clinical significance and optimal methods for detecting heterogeneously vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (hVISA) isolates remains controversial.
Physical properties and finished surface texture of composite restorative resins.

Four composite resins were used in various aspects of this study in which their physical and mechanical properties were determined. Polymerization contraction, thermal dimensional change, indentation resistance and recovery, compressive properties, and tensile strength were among the properties evaluated. Water sorption and solubility were tested also. In a test for surface roughness, the effects of 15 finishing procedures on one composite resin were evaluated. Smoother finishes were obtained with use of white Arkansas stones and silicon carbide disks; use of green or diamond stones is recommended for removal of gross excesses which are away from the enamel margin.
Nuclear factor-kappaB does not mediate the inhibitory effects of dexamethasone on granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor expression

Human granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) reporter constructs containing up to 3·3 kb of upstream promoter sequence were transiently transfected into both Jurkat and HUT78 human T-cell lines. In Jurkat cells, stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus phytohemaglutinin (PHA) produced robust increases in reporter activity, whereas HUT78 cells showed low levels of reporter induction attributable to constitutive nuclear factor (NF)-?B activity. Following mutation of either the proximal NF-?B site (?85/?76) or the activator protein1 (AP-1) motif within the conserved lymphokine element 0 (CLE0) site (?54/?31), reporter activity was markedly reduced in both cell lines. Despite this dependence on NF-?B and CLE0/AP-1, GM-CSF reporter activity was unaffected by dexamethasone in either cell line. Similarly, an NF-?B-dependent reporter was also not repressed by dexamethasone, yet GM-CSF release from HUT78 T cells was inhibited. These data therefore confirm a critical role for both NF-?B and CLE0 sites in GM-CSF promoter activation and indicate that NF-?B may not mediate glucocorticoid-dependent repression of GM-CSF in these cells
The perception and discrimination of local 3-D surface structure from deforming and disparate boundary contours

In a series of four experiments, we evaluated observers’ abilities to perceive and discriminate ordinal depth relationships between separated local surface regions for objects depicted by static, deforming, and disparate boundary contours or silhouettes. Comparisons were also made between judgments made for silhouettes and for objects defined by surface texture, which permits judgment based on conventional static texture gradients, conventional stereopsis, and conventional structure-from-motion. In all the experiments, the observers were able to detect, with relatively high precision, ordinal depth relationships, an aspect of local three-dimensional (3-D) structure, from boundary contours or silhouettes. The results of the experiments clearly demonstrate that the static, disparate, and deforming boundary contours of solid objects are perceptually important optical sources of information about 3-D shape. Other factors that were found to affect performance were the amount of separation between the local surface regions, the proximity or closeness of the regions to the boundary contour itself, and for the conditions with deforming contours, the overall magnitude of the boundary deformation.
Performance and lifetime assessment of MPD arc thruster technology

A summary of performance and lifetime characteristics of pulsed and steady-state magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thrusters is presented. The technical focus is on cargo vehicle propulsion for exploration-class missions to the Moon and Mars. Relatively high MPD thruster efficiencies of 0.43 and 0.69 have been reported at about 5000 s specific impulse using hydrogen and lithium, respectively. Efficiencies of 0.10 to 0.35 in the 1000 to 4500 s specific impulse range have been obtained with other propellants (e.g., Ar, NH3, N2). Thermal efficiency data in excess of 0.80 at MW power levels using pulsed thrusters indicate the potential of high MPD thruster performance. Extended tests of pulsed and steady-state MPD thrusters yield total impulses at least two to three orders of magnitude below that necessary for cargo vehicle propulsion. Performance tests and diagnostics for life-limiting mechanisms of megawatt-class thrusters will require high fidelity test stands which handle in excess of 10 kA and a vacuum facility whose operational pressure is less than 3 x 10 to the -4 torr.
Performance of Multi-hop Communications Using Logical Topologies on Optical Torus Networks

We consider multi-hop communication in optical networks with time-division multiplexing. By using time-division multiplexing, multiple communication channels are supported on each link. As a result, more sophisticated logical topologies can be realized on top of a simpler physical network to improve the communication performance. These logical topologies reduce the number of intermediate hops that a packet travels at the cost of a larger multiplexing degree. On the one hand, the large multiplexing degree increases the packet communication time between hops. On the other hand, reducing the number of intermediate hops reduces the time spent at intermediate nodes. We study the trade-off between the multiplexing degree and the number of intermediate hops needed to realize the logical topologies on top of physical torus networks. Specifically, we examine four logical topologies ranging from the most complex logical all-to-all connections to the simplest logical torus topology. We develop an analytical model that models the maximum throughput and the average packet delay, verify the analytical model through simulations, and study the performance and the impact of system parameters on the performance for these logical topologies.
AknK is an L-2-deoxyfucosyltransferase in the biosynthesis of the anthracycline aclacinomycin A.

The antitumor drug aclacinomycin A is a representative member of the anthracycline subgroup that contains a C7-O-trisaccharide chain composed of l-2-deoxysugars. The sugar portion of the molecule, which greatly affects its biological activity, is assembled by dedicated glycosyltransferases; however, these enzymes have not been well-studied. Here we report the heterologous expression and purification of one of these enzymes, AknK, as well as the preparation of dTDP-l-2-deoxysugar donors, dTDP-l-2-deoxyfucose and dTDP-l-daunosamine, and the monoglycosyl aglycone, rhodosaminyl aklavinone. Our experiments show that AknK catalyzes the addition of the second sugar to the chain, using dTDP-l-2-deoxyfucose and rhodosaminyl aklavinone, to create the l-2-deoxyfucosyl-l-rhodosaminyl aklavinone. AknK also accepts an alternate dTDP-l-sugar, dTDP-l-daunosamine, and other monoglycosylated anthracyclines, including daunomycin, adriamycin, and idarubicin, to build alternate disaccharides on variant anthracycline backbones...
Total energies, abundances, and electronic shell structure of lithium, sodium, and potassium clusters

Abstract The total energies of lithium, sodium and potassium clusters are computed as a function of N, the number of atoms in a cluster, using a jellium local-density-functional scheme. The calculated binding energy change shows discontinuities at certain cluster sizes because of the existence of electronic shell structure. This is consistent with the abundance discontinuities found in the mass spectrum for sodium. Predictions of the mass spectra are made for lithium and potassium clusters. The ionization energies for individual clusters are calculated and these also show shell structure.
Tangeretin-loaded protein nanoparticles fabricated from zein/β-lactoglobulin: preparation, characterization, and functional performance.

Abstract The aim of this study was to design a colloidal delivery system to encapsulate poor water-soluble bioactive flavonoid tangeretin so that it could be utilized in various food products as functional ingredient. Tangeretin-loaded protein nanoparticles were produced by mixing an organic phase containing zein and tangeretin with an aqueous phase containing β-lactoglobulin and then converted into powder by freeze-drying. This powder formed a colloidal suspension when dispersed in water that is relatively stable to particle aggregation and sedimentation. The influence of temperature, ionic strength, and pH on the stability of the protein nanoparticles was tested. Extensive particle aggregation occurred at high ionic strength (>100 mM) and intermediate pH (4.5–5.5) due to reduced electrostatic repulsion. Extensive aggregation also occurred at temperatures exceeding 60 °C, which was presumably due to increased hydrophobic attraction. Overall, this study shows that protein-based nanoparticles can be used to encapsulate bioactive tangeretin so that it can be readily dispersed in compatible food products.
Pulmonary artery pressure studies. Does over-distension of the lung cause hypertension?

In the postoperative period, a patient having pulmonary resection faces the problem of pleural space obliteration. Among the mechanisms involved are (1) shifting of the diaphragm, mediastinum and chest wall; and (2) distension of the remaining lung. The effects of these on pulmonary ventilation are well documented. it is not clear how much these mechanisms affect pulmonary vascular resistance or other cardiopulmonary function, since there is always the additional factor of loss of vascular bed with the resection.
Fertilization of Epichloe typhina stromata by mycophagous slugs.

Epichloe typhina, a fungal endophyte of cool season grasses, is heterothallic and an obligate out-crosser. In areas of endemism, its spermatia are moved between stromata of the two opposite mating ...
Flank crack detection in locomotive wheels with NDE techniques

There is a need to analyze locomotive wheels for flank cracks in a non-destructive manner in order to prevent catastrophic failures. Flaw, shape, and size are desired parameters in establishing the quality of commercial tires. A variety of defects such as voids, inclusions, surface and internal cracks, or the like, must be discerned in order to prevent failure. This paper exhibits and compares the benefits of a number of different techniques used for flaw detection. Non-destructive evaluation techniques used consist of a magnetic particle, dye penetrant, eddy current, electro-magnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT), and longitudinal and shear wave ultrasonic inspection. The techniques vary in their ability to ascertain the flaw characteristics. Surface, sub-surface, and internal defects were visualized using the various methodologies. Magnetic particle, dye penetrant, and eddy current inspection techniques are viable methods for looking at surface flaws. Depending on the penetration depth, sub- surface flaws were also detectable via these methods. EMAT and ultrasonic transducer methods can be used to find surface, subsurface, and internal flaws based on the configuration utilized.
Maximal exercise stress testing in normal and hyperlipidemic children

Abstract Electrocardiographic and cardiovascular responses during maximal exercise were evaluated in 103 normal children and in 82 children with familial hyperlipoproteinemia. The normal and hyperlipidemic children were comparable in regards to age, weight-height index, resting and exercise blood pressures, and maximal working capacity indices. The cohort of 82 hyperlipidemic children included 61 children (29 boys and 32 girls) with well defined "monogenic" familial hyperlipoproteinemia. Segmental ST depression on the exercise electrocardiogram occurred in 8 of these 29 boys (27.6%) as compared to 4 of 55 normal boys (7.3%), P P > 0.1. Segmental ST depression was present in 14 of 61 (23%) children with "monogenic" hyperlipoproteinemia, as compared to 11 of 103 (10.75%) normals ( X 2 = 4.47, P
Malonate complexing of lanthanide ions

Abstract The stability constants and enthalpies of formation for the formation of the lanthanide monomalonato complexes have been determined by potentiometric and calorimetric titrations in solutions of 0·10 M (NaClO4) and 2·00 M (NaClO4) ionic strength. The formation of the dimalonato complexes of the heavier lanthanide was measured in solutions of 0·10 M (NaClO4). The values for the stability constants agreed with a model of ionic bonding. The pattern of the stability constant variation with lanthanide atomic number for the bidentate malonate complexation differed from that for the monodentate acetate complexing. The values of ΔH and TΔS are comparable for formation of the monomalonato and the diacetate complexes although the pattern of variation differ.
Suicide Probability Scale and its Utility with Adolescent Psychiatric Patients

This study examined the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the Suicide Probability Scale (SPS) in a sample of 226 (80 male, 146 female) adolescent psychiatric inpatients. Confirmatory factor analyses provided only some support for the original subscales. Exploratory factor analyses revealed some overlap with the original scales, but the factors differed by gender. Internal consistency of the original factors was somewhat better than the factors derived from this sample. A negative change in SPS scores over the course of the inpatient admission was related to risk for readmission due to repeat suicidal behavior.
Atmospheric consequences of disruption of the ocean thermocline

Technologies utilizing vertical ocean pipes have been proposed as a means to avoid global warming, either by providing a source of clean energy, increasing ocean carbon uptake, or storing thermal energy in the deep ocean. However, increased vertical transport of water has the capacity to drastically alter the ocean thermocline. To help bound potential climate consequences of these activities, we perform a set of simulations involving idealized disruption of the ocean thermocline by greatly increasing vertical mixing in the upper ocean. We use an Earth System Model (ESM) to evaluate the likely thermal and hydrological response of the atmosphere to this scenario. In our model, increased vertical transport in the upper ocean decreases upward shortwave and longwave radiation at the top-of-the-atmosphere due primarily to loss of clouds and sea-ice over the ocean. This extreme scenario causes an effective radiative forcing of ≈15.5–15.9 W m−2, with simulations behaving on multi-decadal time scales as if they are approaching an equilibrium temperature ≈8.6–8.8 °C higher than controls. Within a century, this produces higher global mean surface temperatures than would have occurred in the absence of increased vertical ocean transport. In our simulations, disruption of the thermocline strongly cools the lower atmosphere over the ocean, resulting in high pressure anomalies. The greater land-sea pressure contrast is found to increase water vapour transport from ocean to land in the lower atmosphere and therefore increase global mean precipitation minus evaporation (P–E) over land; however, many high latitude regions and some low latitude regions experience decreased P–E. Any real implementation of ocean pipe technologies would damage the thermal structure of the ocean to a lesser extent than simulated here; nevertheless, our simulations indicate the likely sign and character of unintended atmospheric consequences of such ocean technologies. Prolonged application of ocean pipe technologies, rather than avoiding global warming, could exacerbate long-term warming of the climate system.
Frequency stabilization of a high power argon laser.

A technique for frequency stabilizing a high power, single frequency argon laser is described which offers certain advantages over those that have already been reported. This system is capable of maintaining a relative short term frequency stability of the order of plus or minus two parts in one billion and a long term stability (2 hr) of about plus or minus five parts in one billion for the 5145-A line at a power level of 750 mW. This short and long term stability is achieved by means of a multiple feedback loop composed of an optical cavity discriminator which is stabilized against an iodine vapor absorption line.
Scavenging behavior in spitting spiders, Scytodes (Araneae: Scytodidae)

Abstract Spitting spiders, Scytodes spp., rapidly expectorate a zig-zag of silk from cephalothoracic glands through openings at the base of their fangs, tacking down prey before feeding. Previously, scavenging of dead prey was considered rare among the Araneae but, in laboratory bioassays, it is exhibited across a wide spectrum of spiders including Scytodes Latreille 1804. When presented with dead spiders as prey, two species of araneophagic Scytodes spiders secured their meals without deploying the probably metabolically expensive cephalothoracic silk in 25 of 30 feeding episodes. Scytodes globula Nicolet 1849 scavenged without spitting in 16 of 30 trials (53%), whereas S. atlacoya Rheims et al. 2007 did so in 9 of 36 trials (25%). Therefore, spitting spiders show behavioral plasticity in securing prey, conserving resources when necessary.
Restricted Cellular Networks

Networks of two input-one output cells are described in which the cells are restricted to realize a subset of the 16 two-variable functions. The restriction, if appropriately chosen, will result in a network whose function set is the same as that of a network of identical structure in which each cell realizes all 16 functions. A restricted network is demonstrated which realizes exactly those functions realized by an irredundant disjunctive network which are dependent on all inputs. In addition, a restriction on cell set size is shown which produces the same functions realized by a general network in which all cells realize 16 functions. From this latter result, it can be concluded that 16 · 7c-1is an upper bound on the number of functions realizable by any network of c cells.