cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of sterilization of endodontic files after autoclaving in a synthetic sponge.

Summary A common way of sterilizing endodontic files for clinical use is to insert them into synthetic sponges. The files are sterilized in the sponge, and the sponge is then used on the patient tray for ease of file retrieval. The ability to sterilize the files in a sponge has been questioned. The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the sterility of files and spore strips following autoclaving in a sponge. Commercial spore strips and contaminated endodontic files were inserted into sponges, sealed in sterilization pouches and autoclaved. The spore strips and the files were removed from the sponge and cultured for growth of microorganisms. Results show that no microbes were cultured from spore strips or contaminated files after autoclaving them in the sponges sealed in autoclave pouches. These results indicate that the insertion of files into the sponges used in this study does not obstruct the autoclaving process.
Ordered (3 × 4) High-Density Phase of Methylthiolate on Au(111)

The formation of ordered phases of dimethyl-disulfide on the Au(111) surface has been investigated by means of low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), and state-of-the-art density-functional theory (DFT) periodic supercell calculations. The LEED diffraction pattern, obtained after a production method that includes two-step dosing and prolonged postdeposition annealing, unambiguously corresponds to a novel phase that consists of (3 × 4) domains coexisting with the as-deposited (√3 × √3)R30° structure. XPS measurements indicate that the coverage of the new (3 × 4) superstructure is the same as that of the (√3 × √3)R30° phase. In both phases, the binding energy of the S 2p3/2 core-level peak is found to be 162.2 eV, corresponding to the formation of a thiolate layer. The DFT calculations allow us to identify a viable metastable (3 × 4) structure where the S headgroups of the CH3S radicals select distinct adsorption sites; three quarters of them adsorb at bridge sites a...
Women's Employment History and Their Post-Retirement Health and Resources

The purpose of this study is to assess the degree to which the advantages apparently accruing to employed women are maintained into the post-retirement years. That is, do women who were employed cany with them into the retirement years more social and fmancial resources and do they maintain better health than women who remained largely outside the work force? The importance of this issue increases as greater numbers of women enter and remain in the work force and as our population ages. The study uses a longitudinal cohort design and employs the data from the National Center for Health Statistics' Longitudinal Study on Aging. This analysis uses the core questions from the 1984 National Health Interview Survey, the Supplement on Aging questions from 1984 and the follow-up data on mortality from the National Death lndex from 1984-1990. The data include the 4667 female respondents who were 70 years or older in 1984. Overall, the results suggest that women who have more recent paid employment have better heal...
The optimality and feasibility of uniform air pollution controls

Abstract An optimal control problem is developed which minimizes both the social damages of pollution concentrations and the private costs of emission abatement subject to a differential equation relating emissions and concentrations. A specific use of the model is to analyze the optimality and feasibility of uniform controls on emissions and concentrations across an air shed.
Risk and Home-Pesticide Users:

Four hundred and fifteen California residents responded to a ques tionnaire that examined their in-home uses of pesticides, sources of pesticide information, precautions taken, and knowledge of the...
Renal Cavernous Hemangioma in a Patient with the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

We describe a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who presented with a malignant appearing renal mass. Exploration and radical nephrectomy ultimately revealed benign cavernous hemangioma. The diagnosis of benign lesions can be challengmg when malignancy and infection are highly suspected, as in patients with AIDS. To our knowledge we report the first case of renal cavernous hemangioma associated with AIDS.
The role of pragmatics in the development of Russian aspect

We report three experiments on the development of Russian aspect in children from 3;0 to 6;5 (and some data on 14-year-olds) which show that Russian children have a good deal of knowledge of aspect...
Diabetic Muscle Infarction of the Forearm in a Patient with Long-Standing Type 1 Diabetes

ABSTRACT Objective To describe a case of diabetic muscle infarction affecting an upper extremity in a patient with long-term poorly controlled diabetes. Methods A case report of a patient with diabetes who presented with pain and swelling of his left arm is described, including clinical, laboratory, and radiologic findings. The results of pathologic examination are also illustrated. Moreover, we review the literature in a discussion of the evaluation, pathogenesis, and treatment of diabetic muscle infarction. Results A 41-year-old man with type 1 diabetes presented with a 1-week history of painful swelling of the left forearm. The leukocyte count and creatine kinase levels were normal. Magnetic resonance imaging of the left forearm revealed extensive deep tissue edema and an increase in T2 signal in the involved muscles. The patient was initially treated for cellulitis with intravenously administered antibiotics for 3 weeks without improvement. Muscle biopsy revealed skeletal muscle with prominent muscle fiber degeneration, myophagocytosis, and fibrosis, consistent with the diagnosis of diabetic muscle infarction. Once this diagnosis was made, antibiotic therapy was discontinued, and the condition was managed with narcotics and aggressive insulin therapy. Eight weeks after initial presentation, the patient reported complete resolution of symptoms. Conclusion Diabetic muscle infarction is a rare but underrecognized complication of diabetes. To our knowledge, we present only the second such reported case of upper extremity involvement in the literature. The results of pathologic examination interpreted in the context of the patient’s clinical history were consistent with the diagnosis. (Endocr Pract. 2006;12:188-192)
An Algorithm for Calculating Coefficients Required for Trend Analysis

A closed-form algorithm is derived for calculating the coefficients required for trend analysis procedures used in the analysis of variance. The algorithm allows for equal or unequal intervals as well as for equal or unequal sample sizes. A simple FORTRAN program is provided for calculating all trend coefficients given the values of the quantitative independent variable and the cell sample sizes.
Label-free quantitation of peptide release from neurons in a microfluidic device with mass spectrometry imaging

Microfluidic technology allows the manipulation of mass-limited samples and when used with cultured cells, enables control of the extracellular microenvironment, making it well suited for studying neurons and their response to environmental perturbations. While matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) provides for off-line coupling to microfluidic devices for characterizing small-volume extracellular releasates, performing quantitative studies with MALDI is challenging. Here we describe a label-free absolute quantitation approach for microfluidic devices. We optimize device fabrication to prevent analyte losses before measurement and then incorporate a substrate that collects the analytes as they flow through a collection channel. Following collection, the channel is interrogated using MS imaging. Rather than quantifying the sample present via MS peak height, the length of the channel containing appreciable analyte signal is used as a measure of analyte amount. A linear relationship between peptide amount and band length is suggested by modeling the adsorption process and this relationship is validated using two neuropeptides, acidic peptide (AP) and α-bag cell peptide [1–9] (αBCP). The variance of length measurement, defined as the ratio of standard error to mean value, is as low as 3% between devices. The limit of detection (LOD) of our system is 600 fmol for AP and 400 fmol for αBCP. Using appropriate calibrations, we determined that an individual Aplysia bag cell neuron secretes 0.15 ± 0.03 pmol of AP and 0.13 ± 0.06 pmol of αBCP after being stimulated with elevated KCl. This quantitation approach is robust, does not require labeling, and is well suited for miniaturized off-line characterization from microfluidic devices.
The onset of three-dimensionality in an oscillating flow past a fixed circular cylinder

A computational study of the sinusoidally oscillating flow past a fixed circular cylinder has been performed to examine the viscous transition from 2D to 3D in the wake of the cylinder, i.e., the Honji instability. The primitive variables form of the Navier–Stokes equations was used with the discretization in the form of a combined finite-difference/spectral-method. Numerical results were obtained at a frequency parameter value of 196 and for a range of Keulegan–Carpenter (KC) numbers from 1 to 4. The calculations agreed quite well with experimental results. At KC=1, the wake is 2D; spanwise structures begin to appear at KC=2; separation has occurred by KC=3.2; and the vortex structures have become chaotic by KC=4. Calculated values of the force coefficients also agree extremely well with the experimental values. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Deviation from the static model for meson-baryon scattering

In order to test the deviation from theS-matrix theory version of the static model for a specific example, we consider the exchange of the Σ-particle in the reaction π+Λ→π+Λ for the statesl=1 andJ=1/2, 3/2. The Σ-pole when projected into the above states produces a short cut which is then approximated by a pseudopole. The residue of the pseudopole has a simple numerical value only in the static limit. We first show that the static-limit value does not depend on the Σ—Λ mass difference; this is a feature one would expect for any example of meson-baryon scattering. We then show explicitly how the residue of the pseudopole deviates from its static-limit value formπ=1 andMΣ—MΛ=1/2. For the example considered the residue of the pseudopoleincreases for the stateJ=1(+)/2 anddecreases from the stateJ=3(+)/2; the deviation from the static-limit values is quite substantial. Hence the static modelover-estimates the Σ-exchange force in theJ=3(+)/2 state of the πΛ system andunderestimates the force in theJ=1(+)/2 state. There seems to be no simple rule to determine a priori which situation will prevail for a given meson-baryon system.
Comparison of Abdominal Muscle Activities with Vaginal Pressure Changes in Healthy Women

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of a Pelvic Floor Muscle exercise program by comparing muscle activities at different ages, using biofeedback to regulate vaginal pressure. [Subjects] Two groups of female participants without medical history of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction were evaluated. The mean age of Group I was 33.5 years and that of Group II 49.69 years. [Methods] Participants were instructed to perform the pelvic floor muscle exercise. Biofeedback was given for vaginal pressure of the pelvic floor muscles, and we measured the activities of the rectus abdominis, external oblique, and internal oblique muscles by electromyogram at 5 different levels of vaginal pressure. [Results] In Group II, as the vaginal pressure increased, the internal oblique values showed significant differences. When the vaginal pressure was 20 cmH2O, 30 cmH2O, and Maximum, the muscle activities of Group II increased significantly more than in Group I. [Conclusion] When the pelvic floor muscles were contracted, Group I showed greater differences in the internal oblique muscle activity than Group II.
Talking to Visitors about Conservation: Exploring Message Communication through Docent–Visitor Interactions at Zoos

ABSTRACT Education personnel, both paid staff and volunteers, are often used at zoos and other museums as a channel to disseminate educational messages. This exploratory study examined the use of zoo docents to communicate key conservation messages from the zoo to visitors. The study was conducted in 2 phases using an emergent design with mixed methods. The findings suggest that visitors perceive docents to be an important source for conservation messages even though observed message communication through docent–visitor interactions was very limited. Docents view themselves as “facilitators for learning”, but their limited awareness of the institution's messages inhibits their ability to communicate these messages to visitors. Other factors that influence incidence of message communication are duration of the interaction, nature of the exhibit/region, and group composition. In this study, signage was found to be an effective channel for building cognitive awareness of messages among visitors.
the Hawaiian kapu abolition of 18191

The abolition of the kapu (tabu) system of Hawaii after the death of Kamehameha I in 1819 has been a continuing source of interest as a problem in the explanation of culture change. Divine intervention, church-state conflict, cultural fatigue, women's liberation, cultural imperialism, socioeconomic evolution, and the politics of state formation have been offered as explanations. The cultural revolution is here reexamined from the integrative framework of “political culture.”
Effects of High Energy Ion Irradiation on Crystallization of Amorphous Germanium Films Deposited on Calcium Fluoride Substrates

Amorphous (a-) Ge films were deposited on air-cleaved CaF2 (111) substrates at different deposition temperatures (Td). The films were irradiated with 0.9 MeV Ge or Si ions at low ion current intensity (1 c ) l00nA/cm 2 . Their structural changes were studied by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) -channeling technique and thin film x-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement. It was found that the films were epitaxially crystallized by Ge and Si ion irradiation although they included randomly oriented grains. Ge ion irradiation was more effective for the crystallization than Si ion irradiation. However, the amount of the randomly oriented grains was slightly higher when using Ge ions. On the other hand, ion irradiation to the films prepared at high Td also exhibited higher incidence of randomly oriented grains.
The crystal structure of BRAF in complex with an organoruthenium inhibitor reveals a mechanism for inhibition of an active form of BRAF kinase.

Substitution mutations in the BRAF serine/threonine kinase are found in a variety of human cancers. Such mutations occur in ∼70% of human malignant melanomas, and a single hyperactivating V600E mutation is found in the activation segment of the kinase domain and accounts for more than 90% of these mutations. Given this correlation, the molecular mechanism for BRAF regulation as well as oncogenic activation has attracted considerable interest, and activated forms of BRAF, such as BRAFV600E, have become attractive targets for small molecule inhibition. Here we report on the identification and subsequent optimization of a potent BRAF inhibitor, CS292, based on an organometallic kinase inhibitor scaffold. A cocrystal structure of CS292 in complex with the BRAF kinase domain reveals that CS292 binds to the ATP binding pocket of the kinase and is an ATP competitive inhibitor. The structure of the kinase−inhibitor complex also demonstrates that CS292 binds to BRAF in an active conformation and suggests a mechani...
Growth of the Udders of Dairy Heifers as Measured by Milk Yield and Desoxyribonucleic Acid

Summary In support of the theory that lobule-alveolar mammary gland growth was stimulated to varying degrees by recurring estrous cycles, yearling, 2-yr, and 3-yr-old nulliparous heifers were brought into lactation by the daily injection of 0.3 mg of estradiol benzoate/100 lb body weight for 14 days. The daily milk yield at the maximum indicates the extent of gland development present in these animals. Three yearlings produced a mean of 5.2 lb of milk; five 2-yr-olds, a mean of 7.7 lb of milk; and seven 3-yr-olds a mean of 15.0 lb of milk. A group of 3-yr-olds ovariectomized before lactation was induced to produce a mean of 5.8 lb of milk. Decreasing levels of progesterone and increasing levels of estradiol benzoate were then administered for 9 wk and lactation reinitiated. The yearlings then yielded a mean maximum of 12.8 lb per day, a 146% increase, the 2-yr-olds yielded 19.5 lb per day, a 153% increase, and the ovariectomized heifers yielded 18.2 lb, a 198% increase. The 3-yr-old heifers were sacrificed and the two halves of the udders were dried and fat extracted by two methods before determining the total DNA by halves. The right half of a normal and of two ovariectomized heifers were surgically removed and total DNA determined. Six months later the left halves were removed and total DNA determined. The DNA of the left half of the normal animal increased 21%, that of the ovariectomized animal without treatment, 4%, and the animal injected with ovarian hormones 222% over the right halves.
Early events in myofibrillogenesis and innervation of skeletal, sound-generating muscle in a teleost fish.

The plainfin midshipman, Porichthys notatus, generates acoustic communication signals through the rapid contraction of a pair of vocal (sonic) muscles attached to the walls of the swimbladder. Light and electron microscopic methods were used to study two aspects of sonic muscle ontogeny: (1) the development and transformation of myotubes into muscle fibers and (2) innervation, including the formation of sonic neuromuscular junctions and the myelination of sonic motor axons. Sonic motor axons are associated with sonic mesenchyme during its initial migration away from occipital somites. However, myofibrillogenesis, the formation of neuromuscular junctions, and axon myelination do not occur until sonic mesenchyme reaches its final destination (i.e., the swimbladder). A continuum of developing myotubes is present rather than two temporally distinct populations of primary and secondary myotubes as observed for skeletal muscles in mammalian and avian species. Potential reasons for the lack of primary and secondary myotubes are considered, including the functional homogeneity of the sonic motor system and the sonic muscle's unique architecture, namely its direct attachment to the wall of the swim-bladder. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Familial Hemiplegic Migraine With Crossed Cerebellar Diaschisis and Unilateral Meningeal Enhancement

A 6-year-old boy with a family history of hemiplegic migraine had a hemiplegic migraine lasting for 6 days complicated by prolonged fever, lethargy, and two brief focal seizures. An acute single photon emission computerized tomogram (SPECT) demonstrated decreased blood flow in the symptomatic cerebral hemisphere as well as crossed cerebellar diaschisis not previously documented in migraine. Another unique finding was the MRI with enhancement of the meninges and pial vessels over the symptomatic cerebral hemisphere. These findings suggest cerebellar and extra-axial involvement as components of hemiplegic migraine.
Effects of a vocally fatiguing task and systemic hydration on phonation threshold pressure

Summary Phonation threshold pressure (PTP), effort for speaking, and vibratory closure pattern were assessed in 4 women with normal untrained voices after 2 hours of loud reading. PTP generally increased after this vocally fatiguing task at conversational pitch and 10%, 50%, and especially 80% of the pitch range. Increased systemic hydration by drinking water appeared to attenuate and/or delay the elevation of PTP for 3 subjects, at least at the highest pitch tested. Effort for speaking increased consistently throughout the loud reading task and subsequently decreased after 15 minutes of vocal silence. Upon videostroboscopic examination of the larynx, 3 subjects demonstrated spindle-shaped vibratory closure patterns on occasion after loud reading. The results provide preliminary support for increasing water consumption to reduce or delay some vocal-function changes after prolonged loud phonation in untrained speakers.
Resistance to paraquat in Hordeum glaucum is temperature dependent and not associated with enhanced apoplasmic binding

Summary Response to paraquat was investigated in two Hordeum glaucum Steud. (wall barley) biotypes grown at warm (30^C) and cool (15^C) temperatures. Paraquat-resistant (R) plants were nearly seven-fold more tolerant when grown at 15^C than when grown at 3CPC. In contrast, there was a tendency for susceptible (S) plants to be more tolerant when grown at the higher temperature. The difference in response between the two biotypes grown at 30^ and 15^C increased from 3- to >40-fold. Forty-eight hours after foliar application, 62% less radiolabelled paraquat had translocated basipetally in the R compared with the S biotype. In addition, 26% more herbicide was retained within the treated zone of R compared with S plants. Thus, paraquat movement was restricted in the R biotype. It has been postulated that reduced mobility of the herbicide in the R plants is due to enhanced apoplasmic binding. In this study, paraquat binding to the cell walls and its release into the external solution was investigated in roots of R and S biotypes of H. glaucum grown under warm or cool conditions. No significant differences between the two biotypes were measured at either growth temperature. We propose that the mechanism of resistance to paraquat may involve a temperature-dependent alteration in symplasmic transport of the herbicide.
Most corals may not change their symbionts

Many corals (stony corals and octo- corals) rely on their symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) for survival. Under stress, zooxanthellae are ex- pelled, resulting in coral bleaching. The hypothesis that corals may survive climate change by ex- changing algal types is shown here to be potentially applicable only to a minority of corals. Data on 442 coral species from 43 studies reveal that only a few coral species may be able to change their symbionts. The ability to change symbionts seems to be linked to whether a coral species can host multiple zooxanthella clades, either at different depths on the same reef, on different reefs or at different geographic locations, or concurrently within the same colony. The combined data set shows that only 23% of coral species host multiple zoo- xanthella clades. Most coral species (77%) exhibit fidelity to a narrow subset of a single zooxanthella clade, some even to specific algal genotypes within a clade. These specific algal genotypes in coral species hosting a single algal clade do not change over time. Furthermore, no algal change occurs when a coral colony is either transplanted to differ- ent environments, or subjected to stressors such as disease or increased temperatures. For the majority of corals, therefore, algal switching does not appear to occur. These coral species will survive only if the existing host-symbiont combination withstands the changing conditions. If climate warming con- tinues, coral reefs may undergo a change in bio- diversity such that only a subset of symbiotic corals may persist.
Cholesterol homeostasis: a role for oxysterols.

Abstract Recent experiments have identified LXR α , a nuclear hormone receptor that binds oxysterols, as a key regulator of hepatic cholesterol homeostasis.
Relationship of the Scores on the Tolerance Scale of the Jackson Personality Inventory to those on Rokeach's Dogmatism Scale

The purpose of the present investigation was to ascertain the degree of relationship between the scores on the Tolerance Scale of the Jackson Personality Inventory and those on Rokeach's Dogmatism Scale. The sample was comprised of 39 undergraduate students, of whom 32 were females and 7 were males, from an Adolescent Psychology class at Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, Tennessee.It was hypothesized that a significant but inverse relationship existed between tolerance and dogmatism. A correlation coefficient of -.575, which was significant beyond the .01 level, was found between the two measures.
Duchenne's cardiomyopathy in a canine model: electrocardiographic and echocardiographic studies.

Thirteen dogs affected with X-linked Duchenne9s muscular dystrophy and 11 female carrier dogs were studied by electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiography. Twelve of the affected dogs were studied as immature animals and followed at 1 to 6 month intervals until they were 7 to 46 months of age. Compared with control dogs, affected dogs had significantly increased (p 2 years. The PR intervals were significantly shorter (p Two-dimensional echocardiography revealed distinctive hyperechoic lesions in 12 of the 13 affected dogs and in 6 of the 11 carrier dogs. Hyperechoic lesions corresponded to calcified myocardium and surrounding dense connective tissue. This study establishes the dog affected with Duchenne9s muscular dystrophy as an animal model of Duchenne9s cardiomyopathy and demonstrates that the heart in carrier dogs is affected by the dystrophic process.
Using a modified genetic algorithm to find feasible regions of a desirability function

The multi-response optimization (MRO) problem in response surface methodology is quite common in applications. Most of the MRO techniques such as the desirability function method by Derringer and Suich are utilized to find one or several optimal solutions. However, in fact, practitioners usually prefer to identify all of the near-optimal solutions, or all feasible regions, because some feasible regions may be more desirable than others based on practical considerations. In this paper, with benefits from the stochastic property of a genetic algorithm (GA), we present an innovative procedure using a modified GA (MGA), a computational efficient GA with a local directional search incorporated into the GA process, to approximately generate all feasible regions for the desirability function without the limitation of the number of factors in the design space. The procedure is illustrated through a case study. The MGA is also compared with other commonly used methods for determining the set of feasible regions. Using Monte Carlo simulations with two benchmark functions and a case study, it is shown that the MGA can more efficiently determine the set of feasible regions than the GA, grid methods, and the Nelder–Mead simplex algorithm. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
QUANTITATIVE STUDIES OF SULFONAMIDE RESISTANCE

1. In vitro experiments were performed with E. coli, using a method designed for the quantitative study of various aspects of sulfonamide resistance. 2. Resistance was found to be a gradually developing process, and was demonstrated for all four drugs tested, sulfanilamide, sulfapyridine, sulfathiazole, and sulfadiazine. 3. It was shown that the degree of resistance developed was correlated with the bacteriostatic potency of the sulfonamides, and that organisms resistant to certain bacteriostatic concentrations of one sulfonamide were equally resistant to similar bacteriostatic concentrations of the other sulfonamides. 4. These observations were interpreted as indicating that the development of sulfonamide resistance represents an interaction between the organisms and the one common structural unit of all the sulfonamides, namely, the p-amino nucleus. It is also suggested that this interaction may involve the same enzyme system (or systems) as those concerned in the antagonism of the sulfonamides by para-aminobenzoic acid. 5. The relation of these findings to the broader aspects of sulfonamide resistance is discussed, and it is postulated that, despite reports to the contrary, all organisms susceptible to the bacteriostatic action of the sulfonamides are capable of becoming resistant to all of the sulfonamides.
Fate of functional mitral regurgitation and predictors of persistent mitral regurgitation after isolated aortic valve replacement.

Background There are no clear guidelines in regard to optimal management of functional mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR). This study evaluated changes in functional MR and determined predictors of persistent MR after isolated AVR. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 118 consecutive patients with functional MR at the time of isolated AVR from January 2000 to December 2009. We collected preoperative and postoperative echocardiographic data to determine the degree of change in MR after AVR. Patients were divided into those without (n = 71) and those with persistent MR (n = 42). Late follow-up echocardiography was completed in 95% (113/118) of patients. The mean follow-up duration was 56.7 ± 35.3 months. Results Mitral regurgitation improved in 72% (81/113), was unchanged in 25% (28/113), and worsened in 3% (4/113) of patients. There were no differences in 10-year survival rates among groups based on preoperative MR status (grade I, 93.1%; grade II, 85.4%; grade III, 80%; p = 0.432). However, there was a significant difference in postoperative survival between patients without and with persistent MR (93.1% versus 77.8% respectively, p = 0.036). Predictors of persistent MR by univariate analysis included higher left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), higher right ventricular (RV) systolic pressure, decreased left ventricular end systolic dimension (LVESD), and decreased left ventricular end diastolic dimension (LVEDD). In multivariate analysis, only RV systolic pressure was identified as an independent risk factor predicting persistent MR ( p = 0.035; odds ratio [OR], 1.037; confidence interval [CI], 1.003 to 1.072). Conclusions Functional MR improved in most patients after AVR alone. Postoperative persistent MR affects long-term survival in functional MR. Preoperative RV systolic pressure is an independent risk factor predicting persistent MR.
Inhibition of myogenic differentiation in proliferating myoblasts by cyclin D1-dependent kinase

Although the myogenic regulator MyoD is expressed in proliferating myoblasts, differentiation of these cells is limited to the G0 phase of the cell cycle. Forced expression of cyclin D1, but not cyclins A, B, or E, inhibited the ability of MyoD to transactivate muscle-specific genes and correlated with phosphorylation of MyoD. Transfection of myoblasts with cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitors p21 and p16 augmented muscle-specific gene expression in cells maintained in high concentrations of serum, suggesting that an active cyclin-Cdk complex suppresses MyoD function in proliferating cells.
Computationally exploitable structure of covariance matrices and generalized convariance matrices in spatial models

Many spatial analyses based on random field models, as varied as kriging, likelihood-based estimation of autocovariance functions, and optimal design of spatial experiments, require the repeated evaluation of a covariance matrix V or a kth-order generalized covariance matrix K and its subsequent inversion. This is generally a formidable computing problem for moderate and large data sets. In this article, however, it is shown that under certain model assumptions, V (or K) possesses one of several types of patterned structure that, if exploited, can significantly reduce the computational burden of the analysis. These patterned structures are characterized, and their implications for matrix evaluation and inversion are considered. The usefulness of the results is illustrated with a soil pH data set
Hematite-bearing materials surrounding Candor Mensa in Candor Chasma, Mars: Implications for hematite origin and post-emplacement modification

Abstract The Valles Marineris canyon system on Mars is of enduring scientific interest in part due to the presence of interior mounds that contain extensive layering and water-altered minerals, such as crystalline gray hematite and hydrated sulfates. The presence of hematite and hydrated sulfate minerals is important because their host rock lithologies provide information about past environments that may have supported liquid water and may have been habitable. This work further defines the association and relationship between hematite-bearing materials and low albedo (presumably aeolian) deposits and layered materials, identifies physical characteristics that are strongly correlated with the presence of hematite, and refines hypotheses for the origin and post-emplacement modification (including transport) of these hematite-bearing and associated materials. There are only three regions surrounding Candor Mensa where hematite has been identified, even though morphologic properties are similar throughout the entire mensa. Three possible explanations for why hematite is only exposed in these regions include: (1) the topographic structure of the mensa walls concentrates hematite at the base of the layered deposits, influencing the ability to detect hematite from orbit; (2) the presence of differing amounts of “dark mantling material” and hematite-free erosional sediment; (3) the potential fracturing of the mensa and the influence of these structures on fluid flow and subsequent digenesis. The observations of hematite-bearing materials in this work support the hypothesis that hematite is eroding from a unit in the Candor Mensa interior layered deposits (ILD) and is being concentrated as a lag deposit adjacent to the lower layers of Candor Mensa and at the base in the form of dark aeolian material. Due to the similar geologic context associated with hematite-bearing and ILD materials throughout the Valles Marineris canyon system, the insight gained from studying these materials surrounding Candor Mensa can likely be applicable to similar layered deposits throughout Valles Marineris.
Evaluating the effect of gap size in a single function mathematical programming model for the three-group classification problem

This study examines the impact that the size of the classification gap can have on the classificatory performance of a mathematical programming based discriminant model. In mathematical programming based models that project the discriminant scores onto a line, the discriminant score of an observation may fall into the gap between adjacent group intervals; thus there is no clear cut way to determine the group in which the observation should be classified. We examine a procedure that we refer to as the split gap approach. The split gap approach is defined as a strategy of estimating the performance of a mathematical programming based model using a nonzero gap size to separate group intervals and then splitting the gap between adjacent group intervals to classify future observations. Studies that propose models with a classification gap generally do not assess the effect of the gap on the performance of the model. This paper investigates this effect. A theoretical assessment and a Monte Carlo simulation are used to determine the impact of different gap sizes on a mixed integer programming model using a single function classification model for the three-group case.
Predictive Ability and Stability of Adolescents’ Pregnancy Intentions in a Predominantly Latino Community

Using data from a prospective cohort of 555 adolescent girls and boys from a predominantly Latino neighborhood of San Francisco, we examined how well four survey questionnaire items measuring pregnancy intentions predicted the incidence of pregnancy. We also compared consistency of responses among items and assessed how intentions fluctuated over time. Girls experienced 72 pregnancies over two years (six-month cumulative incidence = 8 percent), and boys reported being responsible for 50 pregnancies (six-month cumulative incidence = 10 percent). Although the probability of becoming pregnant generally increased with higher intention to do so, the risk of becoming pregnant was elevated only at the highest response categories for each item. Most pregnancies occurred among teenagers reporting the lowest levels of intention: for instance, 73 percent of pregnancies occurred among girls who reported that they definitely did not want to become pregnant. Considerable change in respondents’ intentions were found over short periods of time: 18 percent and 41 percent of responses to the wantedness and happiness items, respectively, changed between six-month survey visits. The development of appropriate strategies to reduce pregnancy among adolescents would benefit from a more nuanced understanding of how teenagers view the prospect of pregnancy and what determines whether they actively protect themselves from unintended pregnancy.
Thomas Church: The Modernist Years

Abstract The frontispiece of the catalog that accompanied ‘Contemporary Landscape Architecture and its Sources’ — the first international exhibition of modem landscape architecture — was a curiously ambiguous drawing titled Holiday (figure 1).1 The joint authors of the project were architect William Wilson Wurster and landscape architect Thomas Dolliver Church, although the distinct contributions of either party — much less the exact boundaries between building and garden — were impossible to discern. To some extent, the design's visual ambivalence derived from the nature of the elegant and unmodeled drawing medium. But more critically, the unity of architecture and landscape embodied in the composition itself undermined the distinction between the constructed and natural worlds. The function, if there was one, was left unspecific. The project description cautioned that the design ‘might be a pavilion and beach in some mirage, with thought released from actualities and needs.’2 This was a rare admission o...
Protocol for the purification of proteins from biological extracts for identification by mass spectrometry

When a protein signal is selected by mass spectrometry as being a potential biomarker, it is necessary to formally identify it. This process involves separation of the protein in question and its identification by either peptide fingerprinting or tandem mass spectrometry sequencing. In the following pages, a simple and rapid protocol is described. Basically, the protocol consists of an initial rational selection of a few sorbents followed by alignment of these as a series of columns to obtain the purified target protein. This preparation is then submitted to electrophoresis, the band is excised and the trypsin digest is analyzed by either mass spectrometry (mass fingerprinting approach) or by LC-MS/MS (sequencing). The development of the process takes only a few days. Experimental data for the isolation and identification of proteins are discussed and two examples are shown.
Structure and alternative splicing of the gene encoding α1G, a human brain T calcium channel α1 subunit

The structure of CACNA1I, the gene encoding alpha1I, a human brain T Ca2+ channel alpha1 subunit, was determined by comparison of polymerase chain reaction-amplified brain cDNA and genomic sequences. The gene consists of at least 36 exons spanning at least 115,168 basepairs of chromosome 22q12.3-13.2. The predicted protein has 2016 amino acids and 28 potential phosphorylation sites. Alternative splicing of the gene occurs at two sites: cassette exon 9 and an alternative acceptor in exon 33. Molecular diversity generated by alternative splicing and post-translational modification of this and other members of the T alpha1 subunit gene family may account for the observed heterogeneity of T currents in central neurons.
IFN-gamma-dependent nitric oxide production is not linked to resistance in experimental African trypanosomiasis.

Abstract Resistance to African trypanosomes is dependent on B cell and Th1 cell responses to the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG). While B cell responses to VSG control levels of parasitemia, the cytokine responses of Th1 cells to VSG appear to be linked to the control of parasites in extravascular tissues. We have recently shown that IFN-γ knockout (IFN-γ KO) mice are highly susceptible to infection and have reduced levels of macrophage activation compared to the wild-type C57BL/6 (WT) parent strain, even though parasitemias were controlled by VSG-specific antibody responses in both strains. In the present work, we examine the role of IFN-γ in the induction of nitric oxide (NO) production and host resistance and in the development of suppressor macrophage activity in mice infected withTrypanosoma brucei rhodesiense.In contrast to WT mice, susceptible IFN-γ KO mice did not produce NO during infection and did not develop suppressor macrophage activity, suggesting that NO might be linked to resistance but that suppressor cell activity was not associated with resistance or susceptibility to trypanosome infection. To further examine the consequence of inducible NO production in infection, we monitored survival, parasitemia, and Th cell cytokine production in iNOS KO mice. While survival times and parasitemia of iNOS KO mice did not differ significantly from WT mice, VSG-specific Th1 cells from iNOS KO mice produced higher levels of IFN-γ and IL-2 than cells from WT mice. Together, these results show for the first time that inducible NO production is not the central defect associated with susceptibility of IFN-γ KO mice to African trypanosomes, that IFNγ-induced factors other than iNOS may be important for resistance to the trypanosomes, and that suppressor macrophage activity is not linked to either the resistance or the susceptibility phenotypes.
Fluoropolymers for 157/193nm Lithography: Chemistry, New Platform, Formulation Strategy, and Lithographic Evaluation

A copolymer of t-butyl 2-trifluoromethylacrylate (TBTFMA) and norbornene bearing hexafluoroisopropanol (NBHFA) as an acid group, which is prepared by radical copolymerization, is employed in our 157nm resist. The radical copolymerization of 2-trifluoromethylacrylic monomers with norbornene derivatives has been shown to follow the penultimate model much better than the commonly employed terminal model. These copolymers (containing >50mol% TBTFMA) are too lipophilic to provide good imaging. Blending a NBHFA homopolymer with an optical density (OD) of 1.7/μm at 157nm into the copolymers (OD=2.5-2.7/μm) results in increased hydrophilicity and reduced OD (2.2-2.0/μm) and provides high resolution images. A copolymer of TBTFMA with vinyl ethers has been identified as a new platform, which can be prepared facilely by common radical polymerization. Certain vinyl ether copolymers are also compatible with the NBHFA homopolymer and thus blending improves their OD and aqueous base development. Because these fluoropolymers are highly transparent at 193nm as well, they are evaluated as 157/193 dual wavelength resists.
T-cell depletion improves outcome after autologous stem cell transplant in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

T-cell depletion improves outcome after autologous stem cell transplant in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Distributed storage systems with secure and exact repair — New results

Distributed storage systems (DSS) in the presence of a passive eavesdropper are considered in this paper. A typical DSS is characterized by 3 parameters (n, k, d) where, a file is stored in a distributed manner across n nodes such that it can be recovered entirely from any k out of n nodes. Whenever a node fails, d ϵ [k, n) nodes participate in the repair process. In this paper, we study the exact repair capabilities of a DSS, where a failed node is replaced with its exact replica. Securing this DSS from a passive eavesdropper capable of wiretapping the repair process of any l <; k nodes, is the main focus of this paper. Specifically, we characterize the optimal secure storage-vs-exact-repair-bandwidth tradeoff region for the (4, 2, 3) DSS when l = 1 and the (n, n - 1, n - 1) DSS when l = n - 2.
Replacement of aromatic fluorine by a methoxy group during reaction with methyl iodide in N,N-dimethylformamide solvent

The DNA base uracil was derivatized with pentafluorobenzoyl chloride, followed by methylation with methyl iodide in the presence of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). In addition to a 3-pentafluorobenzoyl-1-methyl derivative of uracil, GC/MS analysis of the reaction mixture revealed the formation of an unusual product, whose molecular weight was 12 U higher than that of the prior derivative. This unexpected product has been identified as the 3-(para-methoxytetrafluorobenzoyl)-1-methyl derivative of uracil. Isotopic labeling and related experiments have revealed that the DMF solvent contributes the oxygen atom of the methoxy group that replaces the para fluorine atom. This work allowed a single derivative to be obtained for the methylation reaction by changing the solvent to acetonitrile.
Improving the Quality of Nurse Assistants in Nursing Homes: Report of an Attending Physician Survey and an AMDA Symposium

Objectives To describe views of attending physicians regarding nurse assistants as part of a multidisciplinary seminar on nurse assistants at the 1997 American Medical Directors Association (AMDA) Annual Symposium. Design Mailed survey. Participants AMDA members. Measurements Attitudes regarding nurse assistants and the role of attending physicians with regard to enhancing the role of nurse assistants. Results Respondents rated the importance of quality nurse assistants with a mean of 4.85 and a mode of 5 (5 being very important). They also thought it was important for the medical director and attending physicians to support, train, or otherwise assist in the professional development of nurse assistants (mean 4.07, mode 5). Respondents recommended enhanced training, reduced workload, increased salary and benefits, and building more effective relationships as strategies for improving the quality of care provided by nurse assistants. Conclusion Physicians can be important in enhancing the role of the nursing assistant. Some activities may include acknowledging the nurse assistant, providing support and feedback, and supporting policy changes that enhance continuity, nonhierarchical management, and creative training programs.
A mouse model for mitochondrial myopathy and cardiomyopathy resulting from a deficiency in the heart/muscle isoform of the adenine nucleotide translocator

In an attempt to create an animal model of tissue-specif ic mitochondrial disease, we generated ‘knockout’ mice deficient in the heart/muscle isoform of the adenine nucleotide translocator (Ant1). Histological and ultrastructural examination of skeletal muscle from Ant1 null mutants revealed ragged-red muscle fibers and a dramatic proliferation of mitochondria, while examination of the heart revealed cardiac hypertrophy with mitochondrial proliferation. Mitochondria isolated from mutant skeletal muscle exhibited a severe defect in coupled respiration. Ant1 mutant adults also had a resting serum lactate level fourfold higher than that of controls, indicative of metabolic acidosis. Significantly, mutant adults manifested severe exercise intolerance. Therefore, Ant1 mutant mice have the biochemical, histological, metabolic and physiological characteristics of mitochondrial myopathy and cardiomyopathy.
DNA methylation analysis on a droplet-in-oil PCR array

We performed on-chip DNA methylation analysis using methylation-specific PCR (MSP) within an arrayed micro droplet-in-oil platform that is designed for more practical application of microfluidic droplet technologies in clinical applications. Unique features of this ready-to-use device include arrayed primers that are pre-deposited into open micro-reaction chambers and use of the oil phase as a companion fluid for both sample actuation and compartmentalization. These technical advantages allow for infusion of minute amounts of sample for arrayed MSP analysis, without the added complexities inherent in microfluidic droplet-based studies. Ease of use of this micro device is exemplified by analysis of two tumor suppressor promoters, p15 and TMS1 using an on-chip methylation assay. These results were consistent with standard MSP protocols, yet the simplicity of the droplet-in-oil microfluidic PCR platform provides an easy and efficient tool for DNA methylation analysis in a large-scale arrayed manner.