cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thymectomy for myasthenia gravis in children: a comparison of open and thoracoscopic approaches.

Abstract Purpose Thymectomy is an accepted component of treatment for myasthenia gravis (MG), but optimal timing and surgical approach have not been determined. Though small series have reported the feasibility of thoracoscopic resection, some studies have suggested that minimally invasive methods are suboptimal compared to open sternotomy owing to incomplete clearance of thymic tissue. Here we report the largest series of thymectomies for pediatric myasthenia gravis in the literature to date. Methods A retrospective review of patients undergoing thymectomy for MG between 1990 and 2013 in a tertiary referral hospital was performed. Twelve patients who underwent thoracoscopic thymectomy were compared to 16 patients who underwent open thymectomy via median sternotomy. Postoperative outcomes were determined by electronic chart review in consultation with the treating pediatric neurologist. Disease severities were graded according to a modified Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) Quantitative MG (QMG) score. Results Overall, thoracoscopic resections tended to be performed on patients with earlier and less severe disease than open surgeries. Inpatient length of stay was significantly shorter after thoracoscopic surgery (mean 1.8 vs 8.0 days, p=0.045). The preoperative and postoperative MGFA QMG scores were equivalent between the two groups. Both groups experienced a decrease in disease severity (p Conclusions Minimally invasive thymectomy for MG in children has increased in popularity as surgeons and neurologists compare the risks and benefits of surgery against other therapies. This analysis suggests that thoracoscopic thymectomy is not inferior to median sternotomy in terms of disease control in this small series, and that the morbidity of the thoracoscopic approach appears sufficiently low to be considered for early stage disease. Low perioperative morbidity and shortened hospital course make thoracoscopic thymectomy an attractive option in centers with sufficient medical and surgical experience.
Comparison of Coronary Calcium and Stress Myocardial Perfusion Imaging in Apparently Healthy Siblings of Individuals With Premature Coronary Artery Disease

Detection of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis is possible using exercise myocardial perfusion imaging for inducible ischemia or multidetector computed tomography for coronary artery calcium (CAC), which is used to detect subclinical coronary atherosclerosis. The extent to which these screening tests converge in an asymptomatic population that is at increased risk for coronary artery disease remains unknown. We compared the concordance of findings in 260 asymptomatic middle-age siblings of hospitalized index patients 50% of subjects with a CAC score >100, but also in 12% with no CAC, 9% with CAC scores of 1 to 10, and 20% with CAC scores of 11 to 100. In subjects with an abnormal exercise SPECT result, 59% had CAC scores ≤100. Overall, there was only a modest agreement between an abnormal exercise SPECT result and high CAC scores. In conclusion, although moderate or severe CAC is often associated with inducible ischemia, the absence of CAC or the presence of only mild CAC by no means precludes inducible myocardial ischemia. These screening tests may reflect different aspects or stages of coronary disease in an asymptomatic middle-age population.
Thixotropy measured using a weight‐actuated viscometer

A method of quantitatively measuring structure breakdown and buildup of thixotropic substances using a weight-actuated viscometer was proposed. This approach eliminated the problems involved in obtaining the classical loop of hysteresis and furnished, instead, data on the actual rates of breakdown and buildup of the systems. Bentonite magmas of different concentrations were prepared, and the change in the apparent viscosity was measured as a function of time. The effects of concentration and shelfife on the static yield values of the systems were evaluated.
Behavioral and Emotional Outcomes of Leadership in Task Groups

High performance in organizations is often accompanied by high dissatisfaction. This can occurfor several reasons. Workers mayfeel that their work is underappreciated or underrewarded; they mayfeel that they are bearing more than theirfair share of the work load; and they may resent workers who perform less than they do. The result is that high performers often become more likely to leave the organization voluntarily or to lessen their commitment to the organization and begin to perform at a lower level. Analysis using expectation states theory suggests that dysfunctional turnover may be decreased through assigning high-performing members of work teams job titles indicating high status. Two experiments examine the impact of a high-status job title on the satisfaction, commitment, performance, and turnover of subjects who believed they were high performers on work teams. Members were led to believe that they were high performers and were then assigned titles indicating high status. These group members displayed greater satisfaction, commitment, and performance and lower turnover intentions than did high performers not given a high-status assignment. Thus, organizations may be able to increase satisfaction and productivity in workers by carefully monitoring status processes. Consider an employee who consistently works at a higher level than his or her
The Chemistry of Impounded Waters as a Factor in Game Fish Production

Abstract Since 1931, the writer has been engaged in making a survey of small lakes and ponds for the New York Conservation Department Biological Survey. During this time, he has observed and studied a large number of new and old artificial lakes. These studies have included, among other important factors in fish production, an analysis of those chemical conditions that directly affect fish life. Studies were made on Minerva Lake over a period of several years after the construction of the lake. From the many lakes studied, pertinent examples are chosen which indicate that In small newly impounded waters, chemical conditions tend, at first, to be unsuitable for game fish throughout the entire pond and therefore no stocking should be done. As the impounded waters increase in age, an improvement in chemical conditions is noted, but this improvement usually involves only the surface layer of water. Stocking must hence be limited to species tolerant of warm surface temperatures. The colder bottom-waters rarely...
X-Ray spectroscopy of the photosynthetic oxygen-evolving complex.

Water oxidation to dioxygen in photosynthesis is catalyzed by a Mn4Ca cluster with O bridging in Photosystem II (PS II) of plants, algae and cyanobacteria. A variety of spectroscopic methods have been applied to analyzing the participation of the complex. X-ray spectroscopy is particularly useful because it is element-specific, and because it can reveal important structural features of the complex with high accuracy and identify the participation of Mn in the redox chemistry. Following a brief history of the application of X-ray spectroscopy to PS II, an overview of newer results will be presented and a description of the present state of our knowledge based on this approach.
Low Energy Socially Cognizant Routing for Delay Tolerant Mobile Networks

Many message delivery services are based on publish-subscribe systems designed to distribute updates through centralized infrastructures requiring active Internet connections. For mobile devices, individual nodes should have the ability to propagate messages to interested users over ad-hoc wireless connections thereby removing the dependence on Internet and centralized servers. These nodes are sometimes stationary, but are often mobile, creating intermittent networks of nodes that tend to be socially related. In this paper, we propose LESC, a delay-tolerant message delivery protocol, which facilitates efficient message dissemination in a decentralized, ad-hoc fashion and can be implemented using a commodity mobile communication technology such as Bluetooth LE. By leveraging the frequent collocation of socially related peers, nodes strategically become information carriers with the ability to propagate messages to out of range nodes in the future. We design a discrete event simulator that utilizes actual traveling paths derived from Google Maps. The simulator emulates LESC and the epidemic routing protocol to determine if we can achieve reasonable performance. Related works have approached the problem of publish-subscribe systems on mobile devices, but to the best of our knowledge, have not shown the feasibility of a protocol that can directly be implemented over current commodity wireless technologies. We simulate the protocol in Matlab and allow nodes to have multiple publications and subscriptions simultaneously.
A shallow high-resolution seismic reflection study of Dudley Ridge, south-east Missouri

Abstract Dudley Ridge is an arcuate, north-trending terrace remnant of Wisconsinan (late Quaternary) outwash in the Western Lowlands of southeast Missouri. The ridge, an elongate topographic bulge, is approximately 12 km long and 2 km wide with up to 5 m of relief. Previous workers have attributed the ridge to fluvial erosion, or to a combination of fluvial erosion and tectonic deformation during the late Quaternary. The Commerce geophysical lineament, which is a major northeast-trending basement feature, is located a few kilometers to the southeast, and swarms of paleoliquefaction and possible neotectonic deformations have been reported in nearby areas of the Western Lowlands. To test the tectonic hypothesis, in 1994 and 1995 we acquired two west–east high-resolution seismic reflection profiles along the crest and western flank of Dudley Ridge to determine whether Paleozoic, Cretaceous and shallow Quaternary strata are faulted or folded. Profile SPB-1 shows several near-vertical faults indicative of at least three periods of movement: Paleozoic to middle Mesozoic; late Cretaceous to Tertiary; and early to late Wisconsinan (late Quaternary). Profile SPB-2 shows three ambiguous fault-like features which cut Cretaceous and Quaternary reflectors, but cannot be interpreted unequivocally to extend down into the Paleozoic section. These new seismic reflection data are interpreted to show that at least three major periods of faulting have disrupted Paleozoic, Cretaceous and Quaternary strata beneath Dudley Ridge, with the most recent faulting being early to late Wisconsinan in age and producing about 6–8 m (8–10 ms) of near-vertical displacement. Because Quaternary reflectors cannot be resolved above about 30–40 ms, the seismic data alone do not reveal whether or not the Wisconsinan deformation affected the surface of Dudley Ridge or whether the faults may have died out as they propagated up through the soft, saturated Wisconsinan outwash. However, the presence of the Farmdale Geosol beneath lower terraces adjacent to Dudley Ridge and the geosol’s apparent absence, or near-total truncation, beneath modern soils on Dudley Ridge suggest that one or more periods of tectonic bulging and accelerated erosion may have occurred between the Farmdale Interstadial and the Holocene about 25,000–10,000 years before present.
Thresholds in the Response of Free-Floating Plant Abundance to Variation in Hydraulic Connectivity, Nutrients, and Macrophyte Abundance in a Large Floodplain River

Duckweed and other free-floating plants (FFP) can form dense surface mats that affect ecosystem condition and processes, and can impair public use of aquatic resources. FFP obtain their nutrients from the water column, and the formation of dense FFP mats can be a consequence and indicator of river eutrophication. We conducted two complementary surveys of diverse aquatic areas of the Upper Mississippi River as an in situ approach for estimating thresholds in the response of FFP abundance to nutrient concentration and physical conditions in a large, floodplain river. Local regression analysis was used to estimate thresholds in the relations between FFP abundance and phosphorus (P) concentration (0.167 mg l−1), nitrogen (N) concentration (0.808 mg l−1), water velocity (0.095 m s−1), and aquatic macrophyte abundance (65 % cover). FFP tissue concentrations suggested P limitation was more likely in spring, N limitation was more likely in late summer, and N limitation was most likely in backwaters with minimal hydraulic connection to the channel. The thresholds estimated here, along with observed patterns in nutrient limitation, provide river scientists and managers with criteria to consider when attempting to modify FFP abundance in off-channel areas of large river systems.
Metasim, a general purpose metabolic simulator for studying cellular transformations

Abstract A computer program for the simulation of in vivo multi-enzyme reaction system is described. The program was designed to facilitate the study of metabolic transformations such as occur in cytodifferentiation, ageing or cancer. The program is self contained and is designed to be used by biochemists without extensive programming or mathematical experience. Features are included which allow the user to segment and study a particular portion of a metabolic system. The program contains 17 built-in enzyme kinetic mechanisms from which the user can choose for each reaction. The program contains extensive data checking facilities.
A preliminary geoid chart of Australia

Abstract The Department of National Development of the Commonwealth of Australia kindly made available to us a list of astrogeodetic deflections of the vertical at about 600 stations in Australia, referred to the Australian Geodetic Datum. The latter is defined by the Australian National Spheroid (a = 6378160m, f = 1/298·25) and the co-ordinates of Johnston Geodetic Station (25° 56′ 54″·5515 S., 133° 12′ 30″·0771 E., height 571·2m).(1)
Nonsampling errors in surveys - a review

Response errors have become extremely important in increasingly complex surveys and a review of the ever expanding literature on the subject was judged necessary. The emphasis here is on models for response and nonresponse errors the most recent ones incorporating the concept of response probabilities.
Arguing Tropical Forest Conservation: People versus Parks

As Terborgh (this issue) points out, the controversy that is the topic of this exchange is not parks. We all agree that nature reserves with minimal human influence are an important component of any conservation strategy in any country. Rather, the point of controversy is how best to achieve a much broader, more comprehensive conservation of nature in a region such as Amazonia, where four-fifths of the forest are still standing. In this setting, it is counterproductive to insist that the only nature worth preserving is pristine, with no human influence, as Terborgh (this issue) and Redford & Sanderson (this issue) seem to be saying. To pursue this narrow interpretation of nature conservation is to ignore the scale and timing of human threats to this forest. By the end of the 1997-1998 El Ninio episode, for example, 1.5 million km2 of Amazon forest-a third of the forest remaining in Amazonia-was desiccated to the point of flammability. Most of the forest didn't catch fire because it is far from the agricultural frontier. With the paving of >4000 km of highway into the core region of Amazonia, large-scale forest burning will follow, as will 100,000-180,000 km2 of additional deforestation (Instituto de Pesquisa Ambiental na Amazonia and Instituto Socioambiental 2000; Nepstad et al. 2000). This scale of threat to Amazonia and other large tropical forest formations must frame our approach to conservation. Even if, for the sake of ar-
Cytokinin activity in Citrus jambhiri Lush. seedlings colonized by vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

The influence of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis on cytokinin activity in Citrus jambhiri Lush, seedlings was investigated. C. jambhiri inoculated with cultures of Glomus caledonium (Nicol. and Gerd.), G. epigaeum (Dan. and Trappe), G. etunicatum (Becker and Gerd.), G. fasciculatum Thaxt. (Gerd, and Trappe) or G. mosseae (Nicol and Gerd.) was grown from seed for 105 days in a glasshouse. Cytokinin activity in roots and leaves of seedlings was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry and a bioassay. Seedling leaf tissue had greater cytokinin activity than root tissue. Zeatin, zeatin riboside, and their dihydro- and glucoside derivatives were isolated from leaves of 105-day-old seedlings inoculated with G. fasciculatum and G. mosseae. Cytokinin activity in roots and leaves was associated with differences in seedling total dry weight and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization. The ribose moiety and the saturated side chain apparently influence cytokinin transport and physiological activity in Citrus seedlings.
Association of murine leukemia virus gag antigen with extracellular matrices in productively infected mouse cells.

Abstract The gag gene of murine leukemia virus (MuLV) encodes a nonstructural glycosylated polyprotein which appears at the cell surface, in addition to the polyprotein precursor for the virion internal structural proteins. The surface localization of gag nonstructural protein is reported here. Immunofluorescent staining of unfixed monolayers of Moloney MuLV-infected NIH/3T3 cells using anti-p30 serum as the primary antibody revealed an unusual pattern of gag antigen at the attached cell surface: highly organized cable-like structures. Stained cable-like structures were also observed in regions lacking cells or cell processes, which suggested that extracellular gag antigen may be associated with extracellular matrices. This was supported by the fact that detergent treatment of cell monolayers in a manner designed to removed intact cells but preserve extracellular matrices did not affect the cable-like anti-p30 staining patterns. Immunofluorescent staining with anti-gp70 serum revealed a different pattern than the anti-p30 staining, which indicates that surface gag antigen and envelope glycoprotein are not physically associated at the cell surface. Similar staining patterns were observed in mouse cells productively infected with a different strain of MuLV (AKR), and in mink cells productively infected with a mink cell focus-inducing (MCF) derivative of Rauscher MuLV.
First-Year College Student Affect and Alcohol Use: Paradoxical Within- and Between-Person Associations

Based on 10 weekly telephone interviews with first-year college students (N=202; 63% women; M=18.8 years, SD=.4), within- and between-person associations of positive and negative affect with alcohol use were examined. Multi-level models confirmed hypothesized within-person associations between weekly positive affect and alcohol use: Higher positive affect weeks had greater alcohol consumption, more drinking and heavy drinking days in the same week, and less plans to drink the following week. However, between-person, average positive affect did not predict individual differences in alcohol use. The negative affect—alcohol use association was complex: Within-person, higher negative affect was associated with less drinking days but between-person, with more drinking days; lability in negative affect was associated with greater average alcohol use and more drinking and heavy drinking days. Health promotion efforts for late adolescent and emerging adult students are advised to recognize these paradoxical effects (e.g., promoting dry celebratory campus-events, strategies to manage negative mood swings).
Incorporation of Uridine-H3 into Nuclei of Virus-Infected Tobacco

Tritiated uridine is selectively incorporated into the nucleus and nucleolus of tobacco leaf discs infected with tobacco mosaic virus that has been treated with actinomycin D. Such incorporation did not occur in noninfected tobacco treated with actinomycin D. Nontreated, infected, and healthy tobacco incorporated substantially more tritiated uridine.
Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: Initial 70 cases at a U.S. University Medical Center

Abstract Objectives To report our experience with the first 70 cases of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Radical retropubic prostatectomy is an accepted therapy for the management of locally confined prostate cancer. Recently, laparoscopic prostatectomy has been introduced as a minimally invasive alternative to open radical prostatectomy. Several published series from Europe have demonstrated that laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is a safe and feasible approach to the management of localized prostate cancer. Methods From May 2000 to May 2001, transperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy was performed on 70 men, aged 40 to 76 years, who were appropriate candidates for radical retropubic prostatectomy. Patient characteristics, surgical statistics, and pathologic results were prospectively collected. Results The mean preoperative prostate-specific antigen level was 6.6 ng/mL (range 1.5 to 20.7). The preoperative Gleason sum was 6 in 53 patients (75.7%), 7 in 16 (22.9%), and 8 in 1 patient (1.4%). The mean operating time was 274 minutes (range 165 to 495). The estimated blood loss averaged 449 mL (range 50 to 2750), and 4 patients (5.7%) required blood transfusions. In 1 case, we converted to a standard retropubic approach. Two intraoperative (2.9%) and 14 (20%) overall postoperative complications occurred. Positive surgical margins were reported in 8 specimens (11.4%). At a minimum of 3 months’ follow-up, 85% reported use of 0 or 1 pad per day. The operative times, amount of blood loss, and complication rate decreased dramatically with experience. Conclusions Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is a technically demanding procedure that is a feasible option for the surgical treatment of localized prostate cancer. The morbidity of this operation is significantly less than that of radical retropubic prostatectomy. The laparoscopic approach shows significant promise for reducing surgical morbidity and improving the anatomic radical prostatectomy.
Postmodernism and Philosophy of Science A Critical Engagement

This essay examines critically two related claims: first, that postmodernism and philosophy of science depend on each other in a manner similar to the Enlightenment and Romanticism, that is, they respond and dispute each other's claims; and second, that what underlies and emanates from both postmodernism and philosophy of science is a political perspective and commitment. These claims suggest not only the possibility of translating from one area to the other when they are critically engaged with each other but also the potential for using both areas simultaneously to transform and possibly improve the human condition. By emphasizing the similarities between science/philosophy of science and postmodernism the essay explores the ways in which these two enterprises or groups of people can learn from one another and benefit from each other's insight.
Reinduced Wnt signaling limits regenerative potential of sensory axons in the spinal cord following conditioning lesion

Conditioning lesion of the peripheral branch of dorsal column axons is a well-known paradigm enabling the central branch to regenerate after injury to the spinal cord. However, only a small number of regenerating axons enter grafted substrates, and they do not grow beyond the lesion. We found that conditioning lesion induces, in addition to growth-stimulating genes, related to receptor tyrosine kinase (Ryk), a potent repulsive receptor for Wnts. Wnts are expressed around the site of spinal cord injury, and we found that grafted bone marrow stromal cells secreting the Wnt inhibitors secreted frizzled-related protein 2 or Wnt inhibitory factor 1 enhanced regeneration of the central branch after peripheral conditioning lesion. Furthermore, we found that Wnt4-expressing grafts caused dramatic long-range retraction of the injured central branch of conditioned dorsal root ganglion neurons. Macrophages accumulate along the path of receding axons but not around Wnt4-expressing cells, suggesting that the retraction of dorsal column axons is not a secondary effect of increased macrophages attracted by Wnt4. Therefore, Wnt-Ryk signaling is an inhibitory force co-induced with growth-stimulating factors after conditioning lesion. Overcoming Wnt inhibition may further enhance therapies being designed on the basis of the conditioning-lesion paradigm.
Design of ruthenium-cytochrome c derivatives to measure electron transfer to cytochrome c peroxidase

Abstract A new technique has been introduced to measure interprotein electron transfer which involves photoexcitation of a tris(bipyridine)ruthenium (Ru) complex covalently attached to one of the proteins. Four different strategies have been developed to specifically attach Ru to protein lysine amino groups, histidine imidazole groups, and cysteine sulfhydryl groups. These strategies have been used to prepare more than 20 different singly-labeled Ru-cytochrome c derivatives. The new ruthenium photoexcitation technique has been used to study the mechanism for electron transfer between cytochrome c and cytochrome c peroxidase. Laser excitation of a complex between Ru-cytochrome c and cytochrome c peroxidase compound I results in formation of Ru(II ∗ ) which is a strong reducing agent, and rapidly transfers an electron to heme c Fe(III) to form Fe(II). The heme c Fe(II) then rapidly transfers an electron to the Trp-191 radical cation in CMPI. The rate constant for this reaction is 6 × 10 4 s −1 for a horse Ru-cytochrome c derivative labeled at lysine 27, and greater than 10 6 s −1 for yeast Ru-cytochrome c derivatives. A second laser flash results in electron transfer from heme c to the oxyferryl heme in cytochrome c peroxidase compound II with a rate constant of 350 s −1 . The ruthenium photoreduction technique has been used to study the interaction domain between the two proteins, the pathway for electron transfer to the radical cation and the oxyferryl heme, and the specific residues in the heme crevice which control the electron transfer properties of the Trp-191 radical cation and the oxyferryl heme.
Gradient chromatofocusing-mass spectrometry: a new technique in protein analysis.

A new analytical technique, gradient chromatofocusing-mass spectrometry (gCF-MS), was developed employing ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) interfaced to an electrospray-quadrupole mass spectrometer in the determination of proteins. There have been few reports, if any, of a HPLC-MS technique for proteins in which the ion-exchange column is directly interfaced to the mass spectrometer. The employment of a linear pH gradient elution scheme directly interfaced to mass spectrometry is also unique in the present work. The technique was demonstrated by the separation of six proteins (carbonic anhydrase II, enolase, β-lactoglobulin A, lactoglobulin B, soybean trypsin inhibitor, and amyloglucosidase) employing a descending linear pH gradient from pH 9 to 2.6 on a 50 mm × 2.1 mm DEAE HPLC column using volatile buffer components. A signal enhancement solution consisting of 8% formic acid in acetonitrile was pumped post-column and was mixed 1:1 with column effluent and then directed on-line into the mass spectrometer. Molecular masses of the proteins were determined within ±0.010% to 0.033% (±100 to 330 ppm) with peak height total ion current detection limits of 4 to 78 pmol of injected amounts (S/N=3). This technique is applicable to the analysis of proteins and other charged molecules.
Electrocardiographic Changes in Clinically Normal Older Men Following Near Maximal and Maximal Exercise

This study was undertaken to compare the incidence of electrocardiographic abnormalities associated with a near maximal and a maximal exercise test, because of previous reports of high incidence of such abnormalities among older men. One hundred fourteen male volunteers ranging in age from 40 to 75 years were studied by both near maximal and maximal exercise testing. All subjects were considered normal by history and physical examination. Electrocardiographic responses to exercise testing were monitored by telemetered bipolar leads during and immediately after exercise and by standard electrocardiographic leads made during the recovery period between 30 seconds and 5 minutes after the termination of exercise. Both near maximal and maximal exercise testing were accomplished without significant complication. The incidence of segmental ST depression following the near-maximal test was less than 1%. The incidence of segmental ST depression following the maximal exercise test was 5.2% (6-114). Only one of the five abnormalities detected during or after maximal exercise persisted for more than 30 seconds after the conclusion of exercise. Since such changes occur in a high percentage of patients with heart disease, such changes appear to have a high degree of specificity for some form of cardiac abnormality.
Ticks in australia.

Ticks are blood-sucking parasites of vertebrates that may embed in human skin and are therefore of clinical relevance to dermatologists and their medical colleagues. Depending on the species involved, consequences of tick attachment vary from minor local reactions to significant systemic sequelae. It is possible to minimize morbidity by removing the tick in its entirety as soon as it is detected. Some techniques to achieve this are described. This review will aid clinicians in the recognition and practical management of tick bites in Australia.
STUDIES ON IMMUNOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THE PNEUMOCOCCI : V. ANAPHYLAXIS AND PRECIPITATION BETWEEN ANTIGENS AND ANTISERA OF YEAST OF TYPE II PNEUMOCOCCI.

This paper reports inter-reactions of anaphylaxis and precipitation between antigens and antisera derived from the Type II variety of pneumococcus and from one variety of yeast. That the reactions occurred only with Type II and not with Types I and III is proof that the pneumococcus antigen responsible for the anaphylaxis of the antiyeast sensitized animals was the type-specific carbohydrate (S). Pronounced differences in respect to reactivity with the pneumococcus antigen were found between individual antiyeast sera that were of equal potency in respect to reactivity with the yeast antigen. This fact emphasizes the desirability of the use of antisera from a large number of individual animals in the study of microbial inter-relationships.
Effect of murine interferon α/β on tumor-induced suppressor function

T-lymphocyte-mediated immunosuppression has been described in several animal models and in man. In animal models, T-cell-mediated immunosuppression can hasten the development of cancers, permit the growth of tumors in immunocompetent hosts, and inhibit otherwise effective antitumor immunotherapy. Cyclophosphamide can abrogate the T-cell-mediated immunosuppression. However, inappropriately administered cyclophosphamide can adversely affect antitumor immunity. On the basis of data showing that interferon α/β (IFNα/β) and IFNβ selectively abrogate the T-cell-mediated dinitrofluorobenzene-specific suppressor function, we investigated the efficacy of purified murine IFNα/β in manipulating tumorinduced T-cell-mediated immunosuppression in the wellcharacterized P815 mastocytoma model. In this model, generation of cytotoxicity in vitro and its inhibition by T cells correlates with antitumor immunity in vivo. We report that IFNα/β selectively diminishes the generation of tumor-induced suppressor activity.
Minimum wage regulation and economic growth

Abstract This paper investigates the long-run growth implications of minimum wage regulation (MWR) enforced nationally using a familiar aggregate growth model. The paper shows that MWR, if it is effective, always lowers the rate of growth, and that the minimum wage floor, if it is sufficiently high, causes the economy to decay all the way toward the origin. The effects of a “wage-mark-up” policy, a variation of MWR, are also examined.
Understanding and Responding to Hazardous Substances at Mine Sites in the Western United States. Jerome V. Degraff, Editor. Pp. 180. The Geological Society of America. Reviews in Engineering Geology, Vol 17. 2007. ISBN 978081371178. Price member $42, non-member $60.

This volume is a collection of papers resulting from a symposium titled, “Addressing Hazardous Waste and Contamination Issues at Abandoned Mines in the Western United States,” held at the 2002 Annual Meeting of the Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists in Reno, Nevada. A suitable subtitle for the book might have been “Case Studies in Site Characterization,” as the majority of the chapters present stand-alone hydrogeochemical studies of select sites. However, given the variety of localities and approaches taken, I suspect this book will find wide appeal with the target audience—primarily land and resource managers, geologists, and engineers working with abandoned mines or modern site remediation efforts. The introductory chapter provides a brief overview of some …
Rethinking the P-type ATPase problem

There are very good reasons to stop thinking about the molecular mechanism of the P-type ion-translocating ATPases in terms of the traditional E1E2 model and to start thinking about it in more progressive ways. This makes it possible to see the ion-transport cycle as a rational series of discrete steps with well defined driving forces, including the crucial energy transduction step, where the chemical energy of ATP hydrolysis is exchanged for the osmotic energy of an ion gradient. Importantly, although major enzyme conformational changes accompany each of these steps, none of them drive the energy coupling reaction. Thus, neither the E1E2 model nor conformational energy coupling, the cornerstones of traditional thinking about the P-type ATPases, are reliable paradigms for future efforts to understand how these transporters work. Alternatives must be seriously considered.
Cytologic manifestations of the phagocytosis of L1210 chromosomes by L1210 cells in culture

Abstract Mouse leukemia L1210 cells in culture phagocytized from 1–20 sterile homologous L1210 chromosomes per cell. These were seen in close proximity to the nuclear membrane, both during interphase and when the cell was approaching mitosis. Chromosome-like inclusions persisted in the cytoplasm for days after phagocytosis. Pronounced cytotoxic effects and prolonged cytologic changes, such as, vacuolated cells, micronuclei, chromatin and chromosome-like inclusions were observed. It is suggested that intact homologous chromosomes from drug resistant sublines may be used in studies dealing with genetic transformations of mouse leukemia cells.
GNNQQNY—Investigation of Early Steps during Amyloid Formation

Protein aggregation has been implicated in the pathology of several neurodegenerative diseases, and a better understanding of how it proceeds is essential for the development of therapeutic strategies. Recently, the amyloidogenic heptapeptide GNNQQNY has emerged as a molecule of choice for fundamental studies of protein aggregation. A number of experimental and computational studies have examined the structure of the GNNQQNY aggregate. Less work, however, has been aimed at understanding its aggregation pathway. In this study, we present a detailed computational analysis of such a pathway. To that end, transition path sampling Monte Carlo simulations are used to examine the dimerization process. A statistical analysis of the reaction pathways shows that the dimerization reaction proceeds via a zipping mechanism, initiated with the formation of distinct contacts at the third residue (N). Asparagine residues are found to play a key role in the early stages of aggregation. And, contrary to previous belief, it is also shown that the tyrosine terminal group is not required to stabilize the dimer. In fact, an asparagine residue leads to faster aggregation of the peptide.
Solar power from satellites

Microwave beaming of satellite-collected solar energy to earth for conversion to useful industrial power is evaluated for feasibility, with attention given to system efficiencies and costs, ecological impact, hardware to be employed, available options for energy conversion and transmission, and orbiting and assembly. Advantages of such a power generation and conversion system are listed, plausible techniques for conversion of solar energy (thermionic, thermal electric, photovoltaic) and transmission to earth (lasers, arrays of mirrors, microwave beams) are compared. Structural fatigue likely to result from brief daily eclipses, 55% system efficiency at the present state of the art, present projections of system costs, and projected economic implications of the technology are assessed. Two-stage orbiting and assembly plans are described.
Some Effects of Rice Varieties on the Biology of the Angoumois Grain Moth, Sitotroga cerealella

The number of rice grains with gaping or broken palea and lemma was found to correlate significantly with the number of emerging Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier). There were significantly fewer moths and larvae found in varieties having relatively few unsound seeds. There was no significant varietal effect on the time required to complete 1 generation. Five varieties of rice were investigated.
Mass and bond density measurements for PECVD a-SiCx:H thin films using Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy

Abstract The absolute concentration of chemical bonds in Plasma Enhanced Chemically Vapor Deposited (PECVD) a-SiC x :H thin films have been determined via combining transmission Fourier-Transform Infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy with X-ray Reflectivity (XRR) and Rutherford Backscattering (RBS) mass density and composition measurements. Specifically, we demonstrate in this paper that the integrated absorbance for the Si–C stretch in FTIR is linearly proportional to the mass density of PECVD a-SiC x :H films as determined by XRR and RBS. This linear relationship allows us to accurately determine the IR absorption cross section for the Si–C stretch. Using these cross sections in combination with IR proportionality constants/cross sections published by other researchers, we demonstrate that mass densities in agreement with XRR and RBS can be calculated from the integrated absorbances of the Si–C, Si–H, and C–H stretches in FTIR spectra. From additional mass balance relationships, we further demonstrate that the full elemental and bond concentrations can be determined. This analysis reveals the presence of significant Si–Si and C–C bonding in the a-SiC x :H films that was not clearly identified in previous FTIR investigations due to the low IR activity for these homopolar bonds. The bond and mass density calculations are demonstrated for both 3C-SiC and a-SiC x :H thin films with mass density values ranging from 1 to 3.2 g/cm 3 .
Method for measuring the light output of scintillating glass shards

Abstract In order to determine the physical processes that govern the production of light in scintillating glasses, it is necessary to work with as-produced samples which have not been subjected to heat treatment, polishing, or other preparation. A combination of an optical system, which is insensitive to sample size and shape, and a Compton backscatter coincidence technique provides a method which gives precise and reproducible results when working with such samples.
Role of Mesalazine in Acute and Long-Term Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis and Its Complications

Background : Sulfasalazine, consisting of 5-aminosalicylic acid bound to sulfapyridine by a diazo bond, was first used for treatment of ulcerative colitis in the early 1940s and later found effective in placebo-controlled trials for acute disease and for long-term maintenance of remission. Later studies found that the active moiety is 5-ASA (mesalazine, mesalamine) and the sulfapyridine moiety acts as a carrier molecule but causes many of the symptomatic adverse reactions. Methods : Review of the literature. Results : The finding that 5-ASA in the active motility led to the development of mesalazine prodrugs, olsalazine (Dipentum ® ) and balsalazide (Colazide ® Colazal ® ), and targeted release mesalazine preparations, such as Asacol ® Pentasa ® and Salofalk ® as well as enemas and suppository preparations for distal disease. Most patients with adverse effects from sulfasalazine will tolerate mesalazine. Mesalazine has been shown equivalent or superior to sulfasalazine, and superior to placebo, with a dos...
Intervening with homeless youths: Direct practive without blaming the victim

Homeless adolescents present with an array of difficulties, being perhaps the neediest group of youths in the U.S. While policy and programmatic needs of this population are often discussed, their clinical needs can be overlooked for fear of “implied victin blaming”. This paper examines characteristics of homeless youths, diverse practice methods that have been applied to this population, and related theories. Three models of practice are descibed, with examples, as potentially applicable to indiidual and family intervention with this population.
The removal of Escherichia coli-bacteriophage T7 by magnetic filtration

Abstract Magnetic filtration effectively removed bacteriophage T 7 from water. The removal was undertaken by adsorbing the virus onto magnetite in the presence of calcium chloride and by passing the mixture through a filter placed in a magnetic field.
Genomic screen for loci associated with alcohol dependence in Mission Indians

Alcohol dependence is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Native Americans, yet biological factors underlying the disorder in this ethnic group remain illusive. This study's aims were to map susceptibility loci for DSM-III-R alcohol dependence and two narrower alcohol-related phenotypes in Mission Indian families. Each participant gave a blood sample and completed an interview using the Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism (SSAGA) that was used to make alcohol dependence diagnoses and the narrower phenotypes of withdrawal, and drinking severity. Genotypes were determined for a panel 791 microsatellite polymorphisms. Analyses of multipoint variance component LOD scores for the dichotomous DSM-III-R phenotype revealed no peak LOD scores that exceeded 2.0 at any chromosome location. Two chromosomes, 4 and 12, had peak LOD scores that exceeded 2 for the alcohol use severity phenotype and three chromosomes 6, 15, 16 were found to have peaks with LOD scores that exceeded 2 for the withdrawal phenotype. Evidence for linkage to chromosomes 4 and 15, and 16 have been reported previously for alcohol related phenotypes whereas no evidence has as yet been reported for chromosomes 6 and 12. Combined linkage and association analysis suggest that alcohol dehydrogenase 1B gene polymorphisms are partially responsible for the linkage result on chromosome 4 in this population. These results corroborate the importance of several chromosomal regions highlighted in prior segregation studies in alcoholism and further identify new regions of the genome that may be unique to either the restricted phenotypes evaluated or this population of Mission Indians. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Equilibria and dynamics of a neural network model for opponent muscle control

One of the advantages of biological skeleto-motor systems is the opponent muscle design, which in principle makes it possible to achieve facile independent control of joint angle and joint stiffness. Prior analysis of equilibrium states of a biologically-based neural network for opponent muscle control, the FLETE model, revealed that such independent control requires specialized interneuronal circuitry to efficiently coordinate the opponent force generators. In this chapter, we refine the FLETE circuit membrane equations and update the equilibrium analysis. We also incorporate additional neuronal circuitry that ensures efficient opponent force generation and velocity regulation during movement.
A quality initiative of postoperative radiographic imaging performed on mastectomy specimens to reduce histology cost and pathology report turnaround time

Breast pathology relies on gross dissection for accurate diagnostic work, but challenges can necessitate submission of high tissue volumes resulting in excess labor, laboratory costs, and delays. To address these issues, a quality initiative was created through implementation of the Faxitron PathVision specimen radiography system as part of the breast gross dissection protocol; this report documents its impact on workflow and clinical care. Retrospective data from 459 patients who underwent simple or modified radical mastectomy at our institution between May 2012 and December 2014 were collected. Comparison was made between the mastectomy specimen control group before radiography use (233 patients, 340 breasts) and Faxitron group that underwent postoperative radiography (226 patients, 338 breasts). We observed a statistically significant decrease in mean number of blocks between control and Faxitron groups (47.0 vs 39.7 blocks; P<.0001), for calculated cost savings of US $146 per mastectomy. A statistically significant decrease in pathology report turnaround time was also observed (4.2 vs 3.8days; P=.038). Postoperative mastectomy specimen radiography has increased workflow efficiency and decreased histology costs and pathology report turnaround time. These findings may underestimate actual benefits and highlight the importance of quality improvement projects in anatomical pathology.
Evaluation of the Dexamethasone Suppression Test for the Diagnosis of Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism

Glucocorticoid-remediable aldosteronism (GRA) is a rare form of inherited hypertension caused by a characteristic gene duplication. With the advent of definitive genetic testing for GRA, the performance of the traditional screening test for GRA, the dexamethasone suppression test (DST), can be evaluated. We compared the DST to direct genetic testing in 24 patients referred for genetic screening for GRA (12 GRA positive and 12 GRA negative) based on clinical and biochemical findings, DST, and family history. Plasma aldosterone was measured before and after oral dexamethasone administration to determine the extent to which aldosterone was suppressed by glucocorticoids in each patient group. The results of the DST in these subjects were also compared to those in 19 historical patients with primary aldosteronism [4 bilateral hyperplasia and 15 aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA)] reported previously. The DST differentiated GRA-positive from GRA-negative patients with 92% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Cutoffs based on the post-DST plasma aldosterone level ( 80%) were equally effective in correctly diagnosing GRA (only one GRA-positive patient would have been incorrectly diagnosed). However, DST in 15 APA patients revealed that 33% had greater than 80% suppression of aldosterone, and 1 had aldosterone levels below 4 ng/dL. We conclued that a post-DST aldosterone level below 4 ng/dL will correctly diagnose GRA patients with high sensitivity and specificity. Suppression compared to baseline can be misleading, as evidenced by the results in APA patients and referred subjects who genetically screened negative.
Detecting Integrity Attacks on SCADA Systems

Ensuring security of systems based on supervisory control and data acquisition is a major challenge. The goal of this paper is to develop the model-based techniques capable of detecting integrity attacks on the sensors of a control system. In this paper, the effect of integrity attacks on the control systems is analyzed and countermeasures capable of exposing such attacks are proposed. The main contributions of this paper, beyond the novelty of the problem formulation, lies in enumerating the conditions of the feasibility of the replay attack, and suggesting countermeasures that optimize the probability of detection by conceding control performance. The methodologies are shown and the theoretical results are validated using several sets of simulations.