cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Encapsidation of genetically engineered poliovirus minireplicons which express human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Gag and Pol proteins upon infection.

Abstract The use of recombinant viruses for the expression of a wide array of foreign proteins has become commonplace during the last few years. Recently, we have described the construction and characterization of chimeric human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-poliovirus genomes in which the gag and pol genes of HIV-1 have been substituted for the VP2 and VP3 capsid genes of the P1 capsid precursor region of poliovirus. Transfection of these RNAs into tissue culture cells results in replication of the RNA genome and expression of HIV-1-P1 fusion proteins (W. S. Choi, R. Pal-Ghosh, and C. D. Morrow, J. Virol. 65:2875-2883, 1991). Here we report on the encapsidation and amplification of the minireplicons to obtain sufficient quantities for biological characterization. To do this, HIV-1-poliovirus minireplicon genomes containing the gag or pol gene were transfected into cells previously infected with a recombinant vaccinia virus (VV-P1) which expresses the poliovirus capsid precursor protein, P1 (D. C. Ansardi, D. C. Porter, and C. D. Morrow, J. Virol. 65:2088-2092, 1991). The chimeric minireplicons replicated and expressed the appropriate HIV-1-P1 fusion proteins as determined by immunoprecipitation with HIV-1-specific antibodies. The encapsidated genomes were isolated by ultracentrifugation. Reinfection of cells with the encapsidated chimeric RNA genomes resulted in expression of the HIV-1-Gag-P1 or HIV-1-Pol-P1 fusion protein. Serial passaging of the encapsidated chimeric HIV-1-poliovirus genomes was accomplished by coinfecting cells with the encapsidated minireplicons and VV-P1, resulting in stocks of the encapsidated minireplicons. Northern (RNA) blot analysis of passaged material revealed that no detectable deletions of the chimeric genomes occurred during 14 serial passages. Infection of cells by the encapsidated minireplicons was blocked by antipoliovirus antibodies. Coinfection of cells with encapsidated minireplicons and type 1 Sabin poliovirus resulted in encapsidation of the chimeric genomes by wild-type poliovirus as measured by immunoprecipitation of the HIV-1-P1 fusion proteins with HIV-1-specific antibodies. The results of this study demonstrate the encapsidation of poliovirus minireplicons which express foreign proteins and point to the future use of this system as a potential vaccine vector.
Quantitative Chromatographic Studies on Urinary Amino Acid Excretion A New Method of Representation

Amino acid excretions of 82 individuals were quantitatively determined by ion-exchange chromatography. The results are expressed as µmoles amino acid per day, divided by milligrams α-amino acid nitrogen per day. This index is independent of age and provides a more useful method of representation than those presently employed in the literature.
Multicenter COPD registry for quality improvement and comparative effectiveness research

RATIONALE: Studies evaluating quality, safety, effectiveness, and costs of care using registries linking Electronic Health Records from diverse healthcare settings are attracting increasing interest because they can provide information more applicable to 9real-world9 patients and clinicians. METHODS: The COPD Outcomes-based Network for Clinical Effectiveness and Research Translation (CONCERT) developed a multicenter COPD registry ( COPD DataHub ) linking 8 U.S. academic healthcare institutions. Inclusion criteria were based on age (>40 yrs), ICD-9 billing codes, problem lists, medications, or spirometry from 2006 to 2010. The prevalence of Charlson comorbid conditions was estimated. An in-person study visit was used to collect additional information, including height, weight, smoking status, symptoms, and lung function. Preliminary findings are presented here. RESULTS: In 226,261 patients, the five most common co-morbid conditions (hospital and outpatient encounters) were diabetes (32 and 23%), heart failure (26 and 11%), renal disease (20 and 9%), malignancy (20 and 12%), and peripheral vascular disease (16 and 8%). In 1,216 patients who completed the study visit, 73% were overweight or obese, 84% were ever smokers, 44% smoked >40 pack-years, 34% had chronic bronchitis symptoms, and 54% had fixed airflow obstruction (post-BD FEV 1 /FVC CONCLUSIONS: Quality improvement and comparative effectiveness research in COPD should 1) include lung function testing to confirm the diagnosis, and 2) address a range of comorbid conditions, including overweight or obese body habitus and smoking-related behaviors. Given the high levels of comorbidity, heterogeneous treatment effects appear likely.
Image-guided multipolar radiofrequency ablation of liver tumours: initial clinical results.

The local effectiveness and clinical usefulness of multipolar radiofrequency (RF) ablation of liver tumours was evaluated. Sixty-eight image-guided RF sessions were performed using a multipolar device with bipolar electrodes in 53 patients. There were 45 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) and 42 metastases with a diameter 5 cm (n = 3); 26 nodules were within 5 mm from large vessels. Local effectiveness and complications were evaluated after RF procedures. Mean follow-up was 17 +/- 10 months. Recurrence and survival rates were analysed by the Kaplan-Meier method. The primary and secondary technical effectiveness rate was 82% and 95%, respectively. The major and minor complication rate was 2.9%, respectively. The local tumour progression at 1- and 2-years was 5% and 9% for HCC nodules and 17% and 31% for metastases, respectively; four of 26 nodules (15%) close to vessels showed local progression. The survival at 1 year and 2 years was 97% and 90% for HCC and 84% and 68% for metastases, respectively. Multipolar RF technique creates ablation zones of adequate size and tailored shape and is effective to treat most liver tumours, including those close to major hepatic vessels.
The use of forced flexion/extension views in the obtunded trauma patient.

Abstract Objective. To determine whether forced flexion/extension (F/E) films for "clearing" the cervical spine in unconscious or semiconscious patients are useful or actually dangerous. Design and patients. Of 810 patients admitted for blunt trauma over a 5-year period, 479 patients whose films and charts were available received passive F/E film views of the cervical spine . Of these, 447 were reviewed retrospectively in masked fashion for any exacerbation of neurological changes subsequent to the procedure and with respect to the final neurological status at discharge. Results. Twenty-nine patients (6%) had various abnormalities including fractures and ligamentous injuries seen on the initial films. Following forced F/E films no change was made in the diagnosis of 23 patients. Of the remaining six patients, two required no treatment, two only required the use of a collar but two did have surgical intervention, this decision being based on the findings seen in the initial films. However, 285 films (59%) were judged inadequate due either to inadequate F/E (150 patients, 31%) or poor visualization (194 patients, 40%). There were three false positives all subsequently cleared by other studies and there were no false negatives. From the chart review, there were no complications or deaths attributable to the procedure. Conclusion. Although we were unable to find any complication or deaths directly attributable to the procedure, the clinicians abandoned passive F/E views in obtunded patients on the grounds of expense. Our present method of "clearing" a cervical spine in an obtunded patient is a cross-table lateral radiograph followed by a high-resolution thin-slice CT scan with sagittal and coronal reconstruction. We are against the use of routine MRI studies and of a forced F/E view in these patients.
Lactate shuttles in Nature

Once thought to be the consequence of oxygen lack in contracting skeletal muscle, the glycolytic product lactate is formed and utilized continuously under fully aerobic conditions. "Cell-cell" and "intracellular lactate shuttle" concepts describe the roles of lactate in the delivery of oxidative and gluconeogenic substrates, as well as in cell signalling. Examples of cell-cell shuttles include lactate exchanges between white-glycolytic and red-oxidative fibres within a working muscle bed, between working skeletal muscle and heart, and between tissues of net lactate release and gluconeogenesis. Lactate exchange between astrocytes and neurons that is linked to glutamatergic signalling in the brain is an example of a lactate shuttle supporting cell-cell signalling. Lactate uptake by mitochondria and pyruvate-lactate exchange in peroxisomes are examples of intracellular lactate shuttles. Lactate exchange between sites of production and removal is facilitated by monocarboxylate transport proteins, of which there are several isoforms, and, probably, also by scaffolding proteins. The mitochondrial lactate-pyruvate transporter appears to work in conjunction with mitochondrial lactate dehydrogenase, which permits lactate to be oxidized within actively respiring cells. Hence mitochondria function to establish the concentration and proton gradients necessary for cells with high mitochondrial densities (e.g. cardiocytes) to take up and oxidize lactate. Arteriovenous difference measurements on working cardiac and skeletal muscle beds as well as NMR spectral analyses of these tissues show that lactate is formed and oxidized within the cells of formation in vivo. Glycolysis and lactate oxidation within cells permits high flux rates and the maintenance of redox balance in the cytosol and mitochondria. Other examples of intracellular lactate shuttles include lactate uptake and oxidation in sperm mitochondria and the facilitation of beta-oxidation in peroxisomes by pyruvate-lactate exchange. An ancient origin to the utility of lactate shuttling is implied by the observation that mitochondria of Saccharomyces cerevisiae contain flavocytochrome b(2), a lactate-cytochrome c oxidoreductase that couples lactate dehydrogenation to the reduction of cytochrome c. The presence of cell-cell and intracellular lactate shuttles gives rise to the notion that glycolytic and oxidative pathways can be viewed as linked, as opposed to alternative, processes, because lactate, the product of one pathway, is the substrate for the other.
Bilateral proximal radial and scaphoid fractures in a child

A 13-year-old boy fell and suffered concomitant bilateral fractures of the proximal radius and scaphoid. Ipsilateral fractures of the proximal radius and scaphoid have been reported only once previously in a child, and never bilaterally. This article reviews paediatric proximal radial fractures and scaphoid fractures and their associated injuries. This report underlines the importance of examining for other injuries when a child presents with an apparently isolated upper extremity fracture.
Comparison of output order in free recall

Two measures of output order in free recall were examined and shown to vary with characteristics of recall unrelated to output order. The output location of a subset of items in recall, using the standard recall rank measure and the “observed minus expected” score, varied both with number of items in the subset and total number of items recalled. A new measure of output order (the relative index of priority or RIP score) was proposed that is invariant with these characteristics of recall, providing an uncontaminated empirical index of the output location of a subset of items in the recall sequence.
Matrix Programming with Set-Inclusive Constraints and Objective Set

Abstract A maxmin problem with decision matrix variable and constraints involving collection of matrices included in a given collection is studied. Weak and strong duality relations are established with the help of an auxiliary problem. A complementary slackness type principle is also established.
Loss of control over eating, adiposity, and psychopathology in overweight children.

Objective To investigate the relationship between loss of control over eating, adiposity, and psychological distress in a nontreatment sample of overweight children. Method Based on self-reports of eating episodes, 112 overweight children, 6–10 years old, were categorized using the Questionnaire of Eating and Weight Patterns–Adolescent Version into those describing episodes of loss of control over eating (LC), and those with no loss of control (NoLC). Groups were compared on measures of adiposity, dieting, and eating behavior, and associated psychological distress. Results LC children (33.1%) were heavier and had greater amounts of body fat than NoLC children. They also had higher anxiety, more depressive symptoms, and more body dissatisfaction. 5.3% met questionnaire criteria for BED. Episodes of loss of control occurred infrequently, were often contextual, and involved usual meal foods. Discussion As in adults, overweight children reporting loss of control over eating have greater severity of obesity and more psychological distress than those with no such symptoms. It remains unknown whether children who endorse loss of control over eating before adolescence will be those who develop the greatest difficulties with binge eating or obesity in adulthood. © 2002 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 31: 430–441, 2002.
Micro- and Sub-Micromachining of Type IIa Single Crystal Diamond Using a Ti:Sapphire Femtosecond Laser

A 200-fs pulsed Ti:Sapphire laser was used to micromachine Type IIa single crystal diamond. The effects of pulse energy and exposure time were investigated. Both blind and through holes were generated by trepanning and percussion modes. Trenches were produced by the direct-writing mode. Scanning electron and atomic force microscopy analysis revealed that the holes are in the range 0.65-100 μm and are free from taper. In addition, there was little recast layer around the holes. The damage threshold was approximately 4 J/cm 2 , which is smaller than those obtained from other lasers. A two-temperature model was used to establish the electron temperatures and to predict the ablation depth per pulse. It is evident from this work that femtosecond lasers are capable of producing micron and sub-micron structures with very high precision.
Upper airway segmentation and measurement in MRI using fuzzy connectedness

The purpose of this work is to build a computerized system for the delineation of upper airway structures via MRI and to evaluate its effectiveness for routine clinical use in aiding diagnosis of upper airway disorders in children. We use two MRI protocols, axial T1 and T2, to gather information about different aspects of the airway and its surrounding soft tissue structures including adenoid, tonsils, tongue and soft palate. These images are processed and segmented to compute the architectural parameters of the airway such as its surface description, volume, central (medial) line, and cross-sectional areas at planes orthogonal to the central line. We have built a software package based on 3DVIEWNIX and running on a 450 MHz Pentium PC under Linux system (and on a Sun workstation under Unix) for the various operations of visualization, segmentation, registration, prefiltering, interpolation, standardization, and quantitative analysis of the airway. The system has been tested utilizing 40 patient studies. For every study, the system segmented and displayed a smooth 3D rendition of the airway, its central line and a plot of the cross-sectional area of the airway orthogonal to the central line as a function of the distance from one end of the central line. The tests indicate 97% precision and accuracy for segmentation. The mean time taken per study is about 4 minutes for the airway. This includes operator interaction time and processing time. This method provides a robust and fast means of assessing the airway size, shape, and places of restriction, as well as providing a structural data set suitable for use in modeling studies of airflow and mechanics.
Changing times? The effect of The New York Times on college students' political information and behavior

This study examines the impact of daily newspaper reading on college students' political beliefs, behavior, and opinions. Data were obtained from an experiment conducted at the University of Texas ...
Covalent functionalization of single walled carbon nanotubes with peptide nucleic acid: Nanocomponents for molecular level electronics

Abstract Imparting molecular recognition to carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by conjugating them with bio-molecules has been an area of great interest as the resulting highly functionalized CNT-bioconjugates find their applications in various fields like molecular level electronics, pharmaceuticals, drug delivery, novel materials and many others. In this work we demonstrate the synthesis of functionally engineered single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs)-peptide nucleic acid (PNA) conjugates especially for nanoelectronic applications. Here we exploited the exceptional structural and chemical advantages of PNA (an artificial analogue of DNA) to join SWNTs ropes. SWNT–PNA–SWNT conjugates were synthesized using carbodiimide coupling chemistry and characterized by host of techniques like scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results from different techniques confirm the formation of these conjugates. Theoretical analysis of molecular orbitals obtained by quantum mechanical simulations show that the highest occupied molecular orbital is located on the glutamate linker and that this interface state will align closely to the valence band of the extended SWNT facilitating charge transfer. The unique electrical and structural properties of these conjugates make them a potential candidate for application in CNT based nanodevices.
Cholesterol and apolipoprotein E in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in North America and Europe. The incidence of the disease rises dramatically with age. AD is a complex multifactorial disorder that involves numerous susceptibility genes, but the exact pathogenesis and biochemical basis of AD is not well understood Cholesterol is receiving a great deal of attention as a potentially crucial factor in the etiology of AD. Almost all cholesterol in the brain is synthesized in the brain. Cholesterol exits the brain through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in the form of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) or by first being converted to a more polar compound, 24(S)-hydroxycholesterol, which is elevated in individuals with AD. The key event leading to AD appears to be the formation and aggregation in the brain of amyloid beta (Abeta) peptide, a proteolytically derived product of amyloid precursor protein (APP). Cholesterol has been demonstrated to modulate processing of APP to Abeta. High levels of cholesterol are associated with increased risk of AD. Patients taking cholesterol-lowering statins have a lower prevalence of AD. ApoE, which transports cholesterol throughout the brain, exhibits an isoform-specific association with AD such that the E4 isoform, by unknown mechanisms, shifts the onset curve toward an earlier age.
Effect of plasmapause on the generation of ultra low frequency (ULF) waves

We report two ULF wave events associate the evolution of plasmapause. In the first event on 29 May 2007, THEMIS and LANL satellites observed strong poloidal ULF waves around plasmapause. Multi-satellite observations provide information of the temporal evolution and spatial structure of the ULF waves. It is found that the movement of plasmapause leads to fast decay of ULF waves in the region outside of the plasmapause. In the second event, we observed ULF wave generation clearly associated with the formation of a plasmasphere boundary layer (PBL) based on THEMIS-D measurements of subsequent outbound passes. On 13 September 2011, THEMIS observed a sharp plasmapause at L=3.4. The plasmasphere started to expand and continued to be refilled on 14 September. On 15 September, a PBL was formed with two density gradients at L=4.4 and 6.5, respectively. Within the two density gradients, strong radial magnetic field and azimuthal electric field oscillations were observed, suggesting poloidal ULF waves. Based on the phase delay between magnetic and electric field signals, as well as the comparison between the observed wave frequency and predicted harmonic eigenfrequency, we find that the observed oscillations are second harmonic poloidal waves. Further investigation shows that the observed waves are likely generated by drift-bounce resonance with ‘bump-on-tail’ plasma distributions at ∼10keV. We demonstrate that the waves are excited within the PBL where the eigenfrequency is close to the bounce frequency of these hot protons, but not outside the PBL where the eigenfrequency deviates from the bounce frequency. Finally, we suggest that cold plasma density seems to be a controlling factor for ULF wave generation as well, in addition to the ‘bump-on-tail’ energy source, by altering eigenfrequency of the local field lines.
A Measure of Staff Perceptions of Quality-Oriented Organizational Performance: Initial Development and Internal Consistency

Abstract The present study originated from a university's effort to develop a Total Quality Management (TQM) system for improving the quality of staff services. This extends TQM into a major service sector, higher education, which has only recently begun to explore TQM applications. Integral to this effort was the development of an instrument for assessing service quality based on staff perceptions. The instrument was based on a core set of dimensions identified as common to the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award, and the psychology and management literatures. Initial support for this instrument came from high reliability coefficients for each of the component scales. Recommendations for further validation efforts and potential practical applications are also discussed.
The utility of astrometry as a precursor to direct detection

A recent source of debate in the exoplanet community has been the question of whether an astrometry 'precursor' mission is required in order for a direct detection mission to succeed. Using an existing framework for the evaluation of direct detection missions, we address this question by incorporating data which may be generated by an astrometry mission. We present results for cases where the astrometry mission is able to resolve which target stars have planets, where it is able to fit a subset of the orbital parameters of discovered planets, and where the astrometric data is good enough to fit complete orbits. Each of these is evaluated assuming perfect performance on the part of the astrometric instrument, and with varying levels of error.
Encountering Carl Rogers: His Views on Facilitating Groups

Carl Rogers's views on facilitating groups are presented as expressed in a telephone dialogue seminar with graduate students in the Counselor Education Division at North Texas State University.
Characterization of a Gene for Spinach CAP160 and Expression of Two Spinach Cold-Acclimation Proteins in Tobacco

The cDNA sequence for CAP160, an acidic protein previously linked with cold acclimation in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), was characterized and found to encode a novel acidic protein of 780 amino acids having very limited homology to a pair of Arabidopsis thaliana stress-regulated proteins, rd29A and rd29B. The lack of similarity in the structural organization of the spinach and Arabidopsis genes highlights the absence of a high degree of conservation of this cold-stress gene across taxonomic boundaries. The protein has several unique motifs that may relate to its function during cold stress. Expression of the CAP160 mRNA was increased by low-temperature exposure and water stress in a manner consistent with a probable function during stresses that involve dehydration. The coding sequences for CAP160 and CAP85, another spinach cold-stress protein, were introduced into tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) under the control of the 35S promoter using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-based transformation. Tobacco plants expressing the proteins individually or coexpressing both proteins were evaluated for relative freezing-stress tolerance. The killing temperature for 50% of the cells of the transgenic plants was not different from that of the wild-type plants. As determined by a more sensitive time/temperature kinetic study, plants expressing the spinach proteins had slightly lower levels of electrolyte leakage than wild-type plants, indicative of a small reduction of freezing-stress injury. Clearly, the heterologous expression of two cold-stress proteins had no profound influence on stress tolerance, a result that is consistent with the quantitative nature of cold-stress-tolerance traits.
Proposed adjustments to pathologic staging of epithelial malignant pleural mesothelioma based on analysis of 354 cases.

BACKGROUND: Several pathologic staging systems for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) have been published, but none of them provide optimal survival stratification or stage distribution among patients treated with surgery. Interpretation of prior studies that correlate pathologic factors with outcome has been confounded by the inclusion of patients undergoing differing surgical procedures and with varied tumor histology. METHODS: We examined pathologic characteristics, previously included in published studies, and explored correlations with outcome among patients with epithelioid MPM who underwent extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH). Comparisons of survival among patients with and without each tumor or lymph node feature guided adjustments to the American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC)/International Union Against Cancer (UICC) classification criteria. Proportional hazards modeling of TN combinations guided adjustments to stage groupings. RESULTS: Three hundred fifty-four patients were resectable by EPP and had complete pathologic data. Overall median survival was 18 months from surgery. By AJCC/UICC criteria, 233 (66%) patients were stage III, whereas by BWH criteria, 194 (55%) patients were stage III. T classification criteria were adjusted based on prevalence and relation to survival. N status correlated significantly with survival. Regrouping of TN combinations based on relative hazard and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis resulted in improved stage distribution (stage I-IV: 8%, 43%, 33%, 16%, respectively) and survival stratification (51, 26, 15, 8 months, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Proposed adjustments to TNM staging criteria improved outcome stratification of patients with epithelial tumor histology who received surgical therapy by EPP and complete pathologic assessment. Determining relevance to other treatment or staging modalities will require verification in additional cohorts. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Infant‐directed media: an analysis of product information and claims

Infant DVDs typically have titles and even company names that imply some educational benefit. It is not known whether these educational claims are reflected in actual content. The present study examined this question. Of 686 claims (across 58 programs) listed on packaging, websites and promotional materials, implicit claims were most frequent (37%) followed by uncodable/vague claims (25%), a list of included content (24%), and explicit claims (14%). The most frequently targeted educational domain was general knowledge claim (32%), followed by language/literacy claim (29%), social–emotional claim (15%), physical claim (12%), and cognitive development claim (12%). Number of claims in a domain was positively associated with the percentage of scenes featuring that domain content (Mean r = 0.52), indicating a moderate degree of match between claims and DVD content. Overall, both claims and content were disproportionately targeted to language and general knowledge content areas, relative to social, physical and cognitive domains. Even when claims are developmentally appropriate, there is some difficulty in translating of producer claims into educational DVD content. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structural and Electronic Study of Nanoscrolls Rolled up by a Single Graphene Sheet

With special topology differing from nanotubes, carbon nanoscrolls (CNSs) rolled up by a single graphene sheet show unique properties and have potential applications in hydrogen storage and energy storage. We studied various types of nanoscrolls by using first principle calculation. The minimum innermost radius of armchair-type nanoscrolls is achieved. The electronic structures of nanoscrolls are greatly related to chirality (n,m). Armchair nanoscrolls are metallic or semimeatllic depending on their sizes and those metallic ones have larger density of states at the Fermi level than metallic single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs). Zigzag nanoscrolls are semiconductors with energy gaps much smaller than corresponding zigzag SWNTs; moreover, they get small gaps at (16,0) and (19,0), while zigzag SWNTs have small gaps at (3n,0).
Symptom improvement from prokinetic therapy corresponds to improved quality of life in patients with severe dyspepsia.

Prokinetic therapy has been shown to improve patients' symptoms associated with gastrointestinal motility disorders and quality of life. This study investigated the correlation between clinical improvement and quality of life after 12 months of treatment with cisapride or domperidone in patients with severe dyspepsia. Psychological and quality-of-life measures were assessed at baseline and after 12 months of therapy using three patient-administered, standardized questionnaires: the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, the Millon Behavioral Health Inventory, and the Sickness Impact Profile. Changes in clinical symptoms were correlated with changes in these measures. Twenty-seven patients with symptoms of severe dyspepsia were treated with cisapride or domperidone (60–80 mg/day) for 12 months. Symptoms and quality-of-life measures were improved at the end of therapy. There were significant correlations between improvement in clinical symptoms and improvement in quality of life parameters. Patients with more marked symptom improvement had more significant improvements in quality of life measures. We conclude that prokinetic therapy improved symptoms and quality of life. Standardized questionnaires can be used to quantify response to prokinetic therapy and to individualize treatment regimens for patients with dyspepsia who have specific psychologic or behavioral characteristics.
A Single-Amino-Acid Change in Murine Norovirus NS1/2 Is Sufficient for Colonic Tropism and Persistence

Human norovirus (HuNoV) is the major cause of acute nonbacterial gastroenteritis worldwide but has no clear animal reservoir. HuNoV can persist after the resolution of symptoms, and this persistence may be essential for viral maintenance within the population. Many strains of the related murine norovirus (MNV) also persist, providing a tractable animal model for studying norovirus (NoV) persistence. We have used recombinant cDNA clones of representative persistent (CR6) and nonpersistent (CW3) strains to identify a domain within the nonstructural gene NS1/2 that is necessary and sufficient for persistence. Furthermore, we found that a single change of aspartic acid to glutamic acid in CW3 NS1/2 was sufficient for persistence. This same conservative change also caused increased growth of CW3 in the proximal colon, which we found to be a major tissue reservoir of MNV persistence, suggesting that NS1/2 determines viral tropism that is necessary for persistence. These findings represent the first identified function for NoV NS1/2 during infection and establish a novel model system for the study of enteric viral persistence.
Spin vector alignment of Koronis family asteroids.

Studies of asteroid families—groups of asteroids that formed from the fragmentation of larger bodies—are of broad interest to solar system researchers because they can provide insights into collisional processes, as well as the interior structures, strengths, and compositions of asteroids. It is generally accepted that members of the Koronis family were created by collisional disruption of a homogeneous parent body1 and therefore share the same formation age and subsequent collisional history. The temporal variations in observed brightnesses of the Koronis family members (a consequence of their rotation) are, however, larger than expected2. Preferential alignment of spin vectors had been proposed2 as a possible explanation, but recent modelling3 predicted that family formation yields random spin vectors among the resulting fragments. Both hypotheses have been untested by observations. Here I show that the actual distribution of spin vectors among the largest members of the Koronis family falls within markedly nonrandom ‘spin clusters’. Reconciling models of family formation and evolution with the unexpected alignments of spin obliquities and correlations with spin rates presents a new challenge in understanding asteroid collisional processes.
The effects of depression upon responses to the California Psychological Inventory

Studied the effect of depression on responses to the California Psychological Inventory (CPI). Data were collected from a volunteer sample of 33 males and 32 females using the CPI scales, clinical ratings of depression, and the scores from two widely-used measures of depression: The Beck Inventory and the MMPI-D scale. Depression was found to significantly decrease scores on a majority of the CPI scales. For males, the CPI scales which were the best discriminators of depression were SY, SO, and IE. For females, the best discriminators were the same scales except for WB in place of SY. Overall, the results indicate that when SY, SO, WB, and IE are more then one standard deviation below the mean, depression is likely. The implication of these findings for the interpretation of the CPI and its use as a screening device are discussed.
Assessing compliance with national quality measures to improve colorectal cancer care at the VA.

Abstract Background The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Quality and Performance's July 2009 report detailed the quality of VA colorectal cancer (CRC) care on the basis of 10 quality indicators (QIs). Of 21 Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs), the authors' VISN ranked last or near last on more than half of the QIs. The aim of this study was to compare a national-level assessment of performance with an institutional-level clinical review. Methods The authors reabstracted all patients seen at surgical hospitals within their VISN during the time period of the Office of Quality and Performance report and reanalyzed their performance on the 10 QIs. A number of quality improvement efforts were also implemented to further boost performance, including the creation of a computerized patient record system CRC order set and quarterly surveillance meetings. Results After reanalysis of the VISN's QI performance for CRC patients during the time period of the OQP report, the VISN performed 18% better than reported and 2% better than the national average. Since that time, a multidisciplinary CRC committee has implemented quality improvement measures that have further improved QI performance. Conclusions There is variability between administrative quality assessments and clinically abstracted data. Care must be taken when analyzing QIs at the national level.
Vitamin E in macular and peripheral tissues of the human eye

This study was undertaken to investigate the distribution of vitamin E in the macular and peripheral regions of the human retina, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and choroid as a function of age. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to measure alpha- and gamma-tocopherol levels quantitatively using tocol as an internal standard. In 57 out of 70 donor eyes (ages 9-104) the macular region was isolated and the tocopherols analyzed. The conventional brush method and a new vortex method were used to isolate the retinal pigment epithelium cells. Similar trends for the vitamin E levels (increase to the 5th decade, decrease after 7th decade) were found for the macular and peripheral retina and for the macular RPE. In the peripheral RPE a slight continuous increase with age was found. The vitamin E levels are higher in the RPE than in the retina, for both macular and peripheral regions. The amounts of vitamin E/mg protein are lower in the macular retina than in the peripheral retina, whereas in the RPE there is no difference in vitamin E content between macular and peripheral regions. A simple method based on a gentle vortex step was found to offer several advantages over the more generally used isolation of RPE cells based on brushing, and there was no difference in recovery of vitamin E in RPE cells when they were isolated by either isolation technique. It was also found that denominators, used to express the values of vitamin E in tissues should, be used with care since age dependent trends in parameters/denominators could be caused by trends in the denominators only.
Metabolic Studies on Retinal Tissue from a Donor with a Dominantly Inherited Chorioretinal Degeneratlon Resembling Sectoral Retinitis Pigmentosa

Protein synthesis, glycosylation, RNA synthesis, and neurotransmitter uptake were monitored using biochemical and autoradiographic techniques following in vitro labeling of retinal tissue from a 79-year-old female with sectoral retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Comparisons were made between degenerate and non-degenerate regions of the RP retina, and normal retinal tissues from an age- and postmortem-matched donor. Autoradiographs of non-degenerate retina from the RP eye following 3H-uridine incubation revealed virtually identical silver grain density over nuclei in all retinal strata as compared to normal control retinas. In contrast, a photoreceptor-specific reduction in silver grain density in the non-degenerate RP retina was noted following 3H-leucine incubation. In the normal retina, rod photoreceptor labeling with 3H-mannose was always greater than cone photoreceptor labeling. This pattern of incorporation was reversed in the non-degenerate region of the RP retina where rod photoreceptor labeling was less pronounced than that observed for cone photoreceptors. In non-degenerate regions of the RP retina, a marked accumulation of 3H-GABA by the Muller's cells was observed. Few cells exhibited selective uptake of 3H-muscimol, a GABA analog, indicating that few GABAergic neurons remained in the degenerate retina. 3H-dopamine-accumulating cell terminals were observed in the usual positions in the non-degenerate RP retina. In the degenerate region of the RP retina, heavy and diffuse uptake of 3H-GABA and 3H-muscimol, respectively, into broad cellular processes were noted, whereas 3H-dopamine was accumulated by only a few punctate terminals.
Impact of a pharmacist-driven protocol to improve drug allergy documentation at a university hospital.

BackgroundAn internal evaluation of the inpatient pharmacy order entry database (WORx) at a university hospital revealed that the nature of the reaction was documented for only 47% of patients with...
Livability of Spermatozoa in Diluters with Citrate and Bicarbonate Buffers and Yolk

Summary Three experiments on livability of spermatozoa are reported. The first demonstrated that livability of spermatozoa in yolk-glucose-bicarbonate is inferior to that in yolk-citrate, when spermatozoa are at a concentration of 15×10 6 per milliliter. The second showed that there was no such difference with a dilution of 1:9, which gave an average of 180×10 6 spermatozoa per milliliter. With the lower number of spermatozoa in yolk-glucose-bicarbonate, the pH remained above 7:00, but with a dilution level of 1:9, the pH after storage for ten days was 6.81. In the third experiment, survival of spermatozoa in yolk-glucose-bicarbonate with sulfanilamide and with 15×10 6 spermatozoa per milliliter was equal to that in yolk-citrate. It is hypothesized that metabolism of spermatozoa at the lower concentration in yolk-glucose-bicarbonate is stimulated by the high pH, but that sulfanilamide reduces or prevents this stimulation.
Failure and its Relationship to the Social Facilitation Effect: Evidence for a Learned Drive Interpretation of the Social Facilitation Effect:

Social facilitation theory states that an audience functions as a conditioned stimulus for generalized drive and that this drive effect is learned through classical conditioning. In the present stu...
Interrelationship of triglycerides with lipoproteins and high-density lipoproteins

Triglycerides are transported by the largest and most lipid-rich of the lipoprotein particles, namely, chylomicrons and very low density lipoproteins (VLDL). These particles are buoyant because of the high triglyceride content, which makes up approximately 90% by weight of the chylomicron and 70% by weight of the VLDL. The chylomicron transports exogenous or dietary fat and cholesterol, whereas VLDL transports endogenous triglyceride and cholesterol in lipoproteins synthesized and secreted by the liver. Both chylomicrons and VLDL are hydrolyzed at the capillary surface by the enzyme lipoprotein lipase. Lipoprotein lipase catalyzes the hydrolysis of triglyceride in the lipid core of these particles, producing smaller particles known as remnants. We currently believe the remnants are atherogenic and that this is one reason why hypertriglyceridemia may predispose to coronary artery disease. Chylomicron remnants are recognized and removed by hepatic receptors that contain apolipoprotein (apo) E. The rate of clearance of remnant particles depends on which subfraction of apo E is present. Particles containing apo EII are removed more slowly than those with apo EIII and EIV. The dietary cholesterol from the chylomicron remnant particles is thought to down-regulate the hepatic low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors. VLDL remnants, also called intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL), contain apo E and may be removed by the liver through the LDL or B/E receptor. The decrease in activity of these receptors results in apparent oversynthesis of LDL, the end-product of VLDL and IDL metabolism. LDL is the major cholesterol carrier, followed by high-density lipoprotein (HDL).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Implementing multilevel queries in a database environment for vision research

The database environment for vision research (DEVR) is an entity-oriented scientific database system based on a hierarchical relational data model (HRS). This paper describes the design and implementation of the data definition language, the application programmer's interface, and the query mechanism of the DEVR system. DEVR provides a dynamic data definition language for modeling image and vision data, which can be integrated with existing image processing and vision applications. Schema definitions can be fully interleaved with data manipulation, without requiring recompilation. In addition, DEVR provides a powerful application programmer's interface that regulates data access and schema definition, maintains indexes, and enforces type safety and data integrity. The system supports multi-level queries based on recursive constraint trees. A set of HRS entities of a given type is filtered through a network of constraints corresponding to the parts, properties, and relations of that type. Queries can be constructed interactively with a menu-drive interface, or they can be dynamically generated within a vision application using the programmer's interface. Query objects are persistent and reusable. Users may keep libraries of query templates, which can be built incrementally, tested separately, cloned, and linked together to form more complex queries.
Ab initio-based Mercury Oxidation Kinetics via Bromine at Postcombustion Flue Gas Conditions

Because direct mercury measurements are difficult throughout the postcombustion flue gas environment, it is practical to use mercury reaction kinetics to theoretically determine mercury speciation based upon coal composition, plant equipment, and operating conditions. Elemental mercury cannot be captured in wet scrubbers; however, its oxidized forms can. Mercury−bromine oxidation kinetics have been studied with electronic structure calculations using a broad range of ab initio methods. Reaction enthalpies, equilibrium bond distances, vibrational frequencies, and rate constants have all been predicted using density functional theory as well as coupled cluster methods. Upon the basis of comparisons to available experimental and high-level theoretical data in the literature, quantum-based methods for the following Hg−Br reactions have been validated: Hg + Br ↔ HgBr, Hg + Br2 ↔ HgBr + Br, and HgBr + Br ↔ HgBr2. The use of these methods for predicting forward and reverse rate constants for the following Hg−Br ...
Galactan Isolated from the Midrib of the Leaves of Nicotiana tabacum

The structure of a galactan, obtained from the pectic polysaccharides of the midrib of the leaves of Nicotiana tabacum, was investigated by methylation analysis and partial acid hydrolysis. The galactan contained only d-galactose and was composed of a straight chain of β-(1→4)-linked d-galactopyranosyl residues.
Electron Spectroscopy Studies of the Surface Composition in the H2SO4/H2O Binary System

The surface composition of the H2SO4/H2O binary system in the temperature range (298−170 K) has been studied using differentially pumped Auger electron and X-ray photoelectron spectrometers designed to perform under equilibrium conditions (PH2O ≈ 10-6−10-4 Torr). Both spectroscopies have been calibrated on pure sulfuric acid solutions to illustrate their ability to provide accurate atomic stoichiometries within the near-surface region. In the case of AES this ability has also been extended as a tool for the study of the surface composition in the H2SO4/H2O binary system under equilibrium conditions. Compositional analysis of this acidified surface indicates that under these experimental conditions the chemical compositions of the bulk and near-surface region are equal within experimental error. Mass spectrometric analysis of the vapor composition indicates equilibration between the acid solution and D2O.
CD40/CD40L Interaction is Essential for the Induction of EAE in the Absence of CD28-Mediated Co-stimulation

CD28 provides a co-stimulatory signal critical for optimal T cell activation. We and others have shown that the B7/CD28 co-stimulatory pathway is a major regulatory pathway for the control of immune responses. Experimentally induced models of autoimmunity have been shown to be prevented or reduced in intensity in mice deficient for CD28. Here, we show that EAE and accompanying neuroantigen-specific immune responses are drastically reduced in the absence of CD28. However, we go on to show that EAE can be induced in CD28-deficient mice following two immunizations. After re-immunization, CD28-deficient mice develop severe EAE with myelin-specific responses equal to those of wildtype controls, and extensive demyelination in the spinal cord. Treatment of CD28-deficient mice with anti-CD40L at the time of immunization significantly reduced DTH responses and prevented the development of EAE following two immunizations, indicating a critical role for CD40/CD40L signaling in the absence of CD28. Taken together, our results indicate that CD28-mediated co-stimulation does not regulate immunological anergy. Instead, CD28 appears to adjust the threshold for activation and expansion of autoreactive cells.
Growth Hormone in Human Development

MANY investigators have established that changes occur in the structure of enzymes and other proteins during development. For example, Cahn et al. have shown changes in the isoenzymes of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH)1, and Korber was the first to recognize that foetal haemoglobin is more resistant to alkali than maternal haemoglobin2.