cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of computerized and paper versions of the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) Index

Background The Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC) is commonly used in orthopedic research to assess the effect of a rotator cuff injury. Questions in the WORC are presented in a visual analog scale format, which requires patients to place a pencil mark along a 10-cm line indicating their responses. The purpose of our study was to determine if a computerized version of a visual analog scale requiring patients drag a cursor along a line was comparable to data collected using the standard paper version of the WORC. Materials and methods Administration of the WORC was randomized, with the first version given in the waiting room before the office visit, and the second immediately after the office visit, to ensure the participant's shoulder function had not significantly changed. Results Thirty-five patients with rotator cuff injury completed the paper and computerized versions of the WORC. There was no significant difference in mean scores for the WORC between the paper (1040.3) and computerized versions (1021.2, P = .488). The intraclass correlation coefficient for the 2 versions was 0.94. Similarly, there were no significant differences in scores between the subset of scores within the WORC (Physical Activity, Work, Sports, Lifestyle, and Emotion, P > .05), and each subset was highly correlated (intraclass correlation coefficient >0.80). Conclusions There was no significant difference in scores for the WORC index when administered in a computerized format vs a paper format.
Drug education: solution or problem?

Relationships between drug knowledge and use of 7 different drugs—alcohol, amphetamines, barbiturates, heroin, LSD, marihuana, and tobacco—by a random sample of 300 12th-grade students from large, ...
Biaxial failure properties of planar living tissue equivalents

Quantification of the mechanical properties of living tissue equivalents (LTEs) is essential for assessing their ultimate functionality as tissue substitutes, yet their delicate nature makes failure testing problematic. For this study, we evaluated the validity of using an inflation device for quantifying the biaxial tensile failure properties of extremely delicate fibroblast-populated collagen gels (CGs) and fibrin gels (FGs). Small samples were circularly clamped and then inflated until rupture. Each sample assumed an approximately spherical shape and burst at its center indicating effective clamping. After two weeks in culture, all LTEs tested were fragile, but the FGs were significantly stronger and more extensible than the CGs (ultimate tensile strength 6.0 kPa ± 2.0 kPa vs. 2.8 kPa ± 0.7 kPa; failure strain 3.5 ± 0.9 vs. 0.26 ± 0.05, n = 4). After an additional 11 days of culture, the strength of the FGs increased significantly (26.5 kPa ± 12.7 kPa), and the extensibility decreased (1.9 ± 0.8, n = 3). This study demonstrates that subtle differences in the properties of LTEs can be measured using inflation methods with minimal sample handling and without having to grow the tissues into anchors or cut the specimens. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 73A: 182–191, 2005
Dynamical role of phosphorylation on serine/threonine-proline Pin1 substrates from constant force molecular dynamics simulations.

Cis-trans isomerization of peptidyl-prolyl bonds of the protein backbone plays an important role in numerous biological processes. Cis-trans isomerization can be the rate-limiting step due its extremely slow dynamics, compared to the millisecond time scale of many processes, and is catalyzed by a widely studied family of peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase enzymes. Also, mechanical forces along the peptide chain can speed up the rate of isomerization, resulting in “mechanical catalysis,” and have been used to study peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerization and other mechanical properties of proteins. Here, we use constant force molecular dynamics simulations to study the dynamical effects of phosphorylation on serine/threonine-proline protein motifs that are involved in the function of many proteins and have been implicated in many aberrant biological processes. We show that the rate of cis-trans isomerization is slowed down by phosphorylation, in excellent agreement with experiments. We use a well-grounded theory to describe the force dependent rate of isomerization. The calculated rates at zero force are also in excellent agreement with experimentally measured rates, providing additional validation of the models and force field parameters. Our results suggest that the slowdown in the rate upon phosphorylation is mainly due to an increase in the friction along the peptidyl-prolyl bond angle during isomerization. Our results provide a microscopic description of the dynamical effects of post-translational phosphorylation on cis-trans isomerization and insights into the properties of proteins under tension.
Senescence and tumour clearance is triggered by p53 restoration in murine liver carcinomas

Although cancer arises from a combination of mutations in oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes, the extent to which tumour suppressor gene loss is required for maintaining established tumours is poorly understood. p53 is an important tumour suppressor that acts to restrict proliferation in response to DNA damage or deregulation of mitogenic oncogenes, by leading to the induction of various cell cycle checkpoints, apoptosis or cellular senescence. Consequently, p53 mutations increase cell proliferation and survival, and in some settings promote genomic instability and resistance to certain chemotherapies. To determine the consequences of reactivating the p53 pathway in tumours, we used RNA interference (RNAi) to conditionally regulate endogenous p53 expression in a mosaic mouse model of liver carcinoma. We show that even brief reactivation of endogenous p53 in p53-deficient tumours can produce complete tumour regressions. The primary response to p53 was not apoptosis, but instead involved the induction of a cellular senescence program that was associated with differentiation and the upregulation of inflammatory cytokines. This program, although producing only cell cycle arrest in vitro, also triggered an innate immune response that targeted the tumour cells in vivo, thereby contributing to tumour clearance. Our study indicates that p53 loss can be required for the maintenance of aggressive carcinomas, and illustrates how the cellular senescence program can act together with the innate immune system to potently limit tumour growth.
In vivo 1H NMR spectroscopy of the human brain at 7 T.

In vivo 1H NMR spectra from the human brain were measured at 7 T. Ultrashort echo-time STEAM was used to minimize J-modulation and signal attenuation caused by the shorter T2 of metabolites. Precise adjustment of higher-order shims, which was achieved with FASTMAP, was crucial to benefit from this high magnetic field. Sensitivity improvements were evident from single-shot spectra and from the direct detection of glucose at 5.23 ppm in 8-ml volumes. The linewidth of the creatine methyl resonance was at best 9 Hz. In spite of the increased linewidth of singlet resonances at 7 T, the ability to resolve overlapping multiplets of J-coupled spin systems, such as glutamine and glutamate, was substantially increased. Characteristic spectral patterns of metabolites, e.g., myo-inositol and taurine, were discernible in the in vivo spectra, which facilitated an unambiguous signal assignment.
Cyclooctatetraenes Tetrakis-Annelated with α-Dithio- or α-Diselenocarbonyl Groups: Diradicals Predicted To Have Ground States with 10 π Electrons in the Eight-Membered Ring and Two-Center, Three-Electron, σ Bonds between Two Pairs of Chalcogen Atoms

(U)B3LYP calculations with the 6-31+G(d) and 6-311+G(2df) basis sets have been carried out on cyclooctatetraenes 6 and 7, in which the COT ring is tetrakis-annelated with α-dithio- or α-diselenocarbonyl groups. Transferring two electrons from the high-lying b1g and eu σ MOs in 6 and 7 into the unoccupied, nonbonding, COT π orbital is computed to be energetically favorable. The lowest D4h electronic state is calculated to be 3Eu, which formally contains 10 π electrons in the eight-membered ring and has two unpaired electrons in σ MOs. The 3Eu state undergoes a first-order Jahn−Teller distortion to form 6d and 7d, in which the pair of one-electron holes in the σ MOs is stabilized by the formation of two, two-center, three-electron bonds between pairs of chalcogen atoms that are diagonally across the eight-membered ring from each other. The corresponding open-shell singlets are computed to be about 1 kcal/mol lower in energy than the Jahn−Teller distorted triplets. Molecules 6i and 7i, in which the C−C bond ...
The jejunal secretory response to Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin is prolonged in malnourished rats.

ABSTRACT: Undernutrition in human infants is associated with more prolonged episodes of diarrheal disease. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that malnutrition prolongs the duration of Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin-induced rat jejunal secretion. At weaning, rats were separated into two groups: malnourished rats were fed 50% of the previous day's intake of the fully fed control group. After approximately 2 wk of pair feeding, when malnourished rats weighed $$60$$ of the full fed control group, we measured the secretory response to heat-stable enterotoxin in ligated jejunal loops. Toxin-induced secretion was equal in both groups until 30 min incubation time, after which net secretion continued to increase in the malnourished group but decreased in the fully fed group. Jejunal brush border membranes prepared from malnourished and fully fed rats demonstrated similar heat-stable enterotoxin receptor density, avidity of binding and guanyl cyclase activation. In both groups, radiolabeled toxin injected into in situ jejunal loops was converted into an altered radioligand unable to bind to brush border membranes. However, in malnourished rats, there was both increased appearance of two additional radioligands that still retained their ability to bind to brush border membranes and persistence of biologically active unlabeled toxin as measured in the suckling mouse bioassay. Our studies demonstrate that reduced or delayed inactivation of heat-stable enterotoxin, with continued presence of active toxin species, may contribute to prolonged secretion in the jejunum of malnourished rats.
ONIOM investigation of nucleotide selectivity in phosphodiesterases 3 and 4

The cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are drug-targeted enzymes that down regulate cyclic nucleotide concentrations in the cell by catalyzing the hydrolysis of the O3′-phosphorous bond, yielding the noncyclic nucleotides. Selectivity for cAMP versus cGMP (cyclic 3′,5′-adenosine/-guanosine monophosphate) as the favored substrate is primarily attributed to the orientation of a conserved glutamine residue which binds to the adenine/guanine ring. We use ONIOM hybrid quantum methods to accurately describe substrate binding within the catalytic sites of the cAMP-specific PDE4 and the cGMP-inhibited, dual-specific PDE3 in order to understand subtle aspects of substrate selectivity. We estimate PDE4's net preference for cAMP binding to be about 16 kcal/mol; the cause of cAMP's known preference resides both in its fixed glutamine orientation (Gln 369 in PDE4D) and in the differential free energy of solvation, which disfavors the binding of cGMP relative to cAMP by about 15 kcal/mol. Also, we discuss the contributing role played by Asn 321, held in place by a partner Asp 167, in the deselection of cGMP by PDE4. PDE3's conserved glutamine (Gln 988 in PDE3B) is free to take on either a cGMP-favorable or cAMP-favorable orientation. We find that enthalpies of binding favor cGMP for PDE3, but only by the same amount as free energies of solvation disfavor cGMP binding. Comparison of the PDE3-cAMP and -cGMP complexes and energetics reveals cAMP to be more susceptible to the attack of the hydroxide nucleophile in PDE3. We identify a key threonine residue (Thr 952) as responsible for PDE3's kinetic relative disfavor of cGMP hydrolysis by causing Gln 988 to tilt out of cGMP's purine plane. Our results are consistent with the PDE3's kinetic specificity for cAMP hydrolysis and the known competitive inhibition of PDE3 by cGMP. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008
Long-Term Outcomes of Nephroureterectomy Versus Endoscopic Management for Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma

Purpose: We compared outcomes in patients treated with nephroureterectomy vs nephron sparing endoscopic surgery for upper tract urothelial carcinoma.Materials and Methods: Patients treated at our institution for upper tract urothelial carcinoma from 1996 to 2004 were monitored for upper tract and bladder recurrence, metastasis, and cancer specific and overall survival. Outcomes were compared between treatment groups by univariate and multivariate analyses based on pertinent pathological and demographic variables.Results: Of 96 renal units 62 underwent immediate nephroureterectomy and 34 were managed endoscopically. Median followup in all survivors was 77 months. Overall nephroureterectomy and endoscopy complication rates were 29% and 9.3%, respectively. In patients with low grade tumors the 5-year metastasis-free survival rate after nephroureterectomy and endoscopy was 88% and 94%. The corresponding 5-year cancer specific and overall survival rates were 89% vs 100% and 72% vs 75%, respectively. Of endosco...
Compositional gravity drainage 1. Equilibrium solutions and controlling Bond numbers for a two-phase, three-component system

The amount of wetting phase that is recovered by gravity drainage is determined by an interplay of gravitational and capillary forces. The relative importance of those forces is often expressed in terms of a Bond number. For compositional gravity drainage, where the initial and displacing fluids are not in chemical equilibrium, there is no single Bond number, as phases that form during a displacement will be associated with a different interfacial tension and density for each equilibrium tie line encountered as the compositions change during flow. We study vertical compositional displacements to determine how the Bond numbers of the initial and displacing fluids control the ultimate recovery. We find analytical solutions to the capillary/gravity equilibrium for a simplified model three-component, two-phase system. The equilibrium phase composition versus distance profiles are different than those predicted from standard viscous dominated displacements. We calculate the recovery as a function of the Bond numbers of the initial and displacing phases, and the degree of diffusion for this simple system. We discuss the important role of molecular diffusion in the ultimate recovery for condensing displacements. Finally, we find that the simple numerical average of the Bond numbers provides a reasonable estimate of an effective Bond number for calculating the retained wetting phase for many compositional gravity drainages.
Interactive effects of pesticide exposure and habitat structure on behavior and predation of a marine larval fish

Coastal development has generated multiple stressors in marine and estuarine ecosystems, including habitat degradation and pollutant exposure, but the effects of these stressors on the ecology of fishes remain poorly understood. We studied the separate and combined effects of an acute 4 h sublethal exposure of the pyrethroid pesticide esfenvalerate and structural habitat complexity on behavior and predation risk of larval topsmelt (Atherinops affinis). Larvae were exposed to four nominal esfenvalerate concentrations (control, 0.12, 0.59, 1.18 μg/L), before placement into 12 L mesocosms with a three-spine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) predator. Five treatments of artificial eelgrass included a (1) uniform and (2) patchy distribution of eelgrass at a low density (500 shoots per m2), a (3) uniform and (4) patchy distribution of eelgrass at a high density (1,000 shoots per m2), and (5) the absence of eelgrass. The capture success of predators and aggregative behavior of prey were observed in each mesocosm for 10 min of each trial, and mortality of prey was recorded after 60 min. Exposure to esfenvalerate increased the proportion of larvae with swimming abnormalities. Surprisingly, prey mortality did not increase linearly with pesticide exposure but increased with habitat structure (density of eelgrass), which may have been a consequence of compensating predator behavior. The degree of prey aggregation decreased with both habitat structure and pesticide exposure, suggesting that anti-predator behaviors by prey may have been hampered by the interactive effects of both of these factors.
Increasing pulse number during CO2 laser irradiation of dental enamel extends acid dissolution time

Several prior studies have shown that pretreatment of dental enamel by specific carbon dioxide laser conditions inhibited subsequent acid dissolution of the outer several μm of dental enamel. An initial low dissolution rate was followed by a return to the non-irradiated control dissolution rate from deeper regions. The aim of the present study was to examine the dissolution profiles following irradiation using 60 pulses per spot rather than the previously used 10 or 25. Bovine enamel blocks were irradiated at a wavelength of 9.6 μm at either 20 or 60 pulses per spot with a 20 μs pulse duration carbon dioxide laser using overlapping spots, and a fluence of 1.0 J/cm2. Dissolution profiles were measured in acetate buffer, versus non-irradiated controls. The higher number of pulses per spot produced a similar initial low dissolution rate, but the effect was deeper than with 20 pulses per spot. Supported by NIH/NIDCR grant DE 09958.© (2005) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
End group and carbohydrate analyses of equine LH.

Summary The terminal amino acid residues and carbohydrate composition of a highly purified equine luteinizing hormone (LH) preparation were determined. The N-terminal amino acids were serine and phenylalanine while the C-termini were determined to be serine and isoleucine. The carbohydrate analyses showed high amounts of sialic acid.
On certain properties of solutions of second-order linear differential equations

For a second-order linear differential equation with coefficients in a differential fieldL of meromorphic functions, a classical result of C. L. Siegel states that if the logarithmic derivative of every nontrivial solution is transcendental overL, then no nontrivial solution can satisfy a first-order algebraic differential equation overL. In Part 1, we consider a situation for the equation (*)w¨″+A(z)w=0 where Siegel's condition is violated, namely where the logarithmic derivative of a nontrivial solution belongs toL. In this case, we obtain a representation for any solution of (*) which satisfies a first-order algebraic differential equation overL, and we illustrate our result with examples for various choices ofA(z) andL. In Part 2, we treat the question of determining when all solutions of (*) satisfy first-order algebraic differential equations overL, and in Part 3, we obtain a refinement of Siegel's classical theorem on Bessel's equation.
Whitman and the Commonwealth

Presents a neglected article from the April 10, 1863, issue of the Commonwealth advocating Whitman's work; describes Whitman's relation to publishers Thayer and Eldridge and other abolitionists including John Townsend Trowbridge, William Douglas O'Connor and Franklin Benjamin Sanborn.
Women and Law in Colonial India: A Social History

Book reviewed in this article: Women and Law in Colonial India: A Social History, by Srimati Basu.
Effect of Spark-Ignition on Combustion Periods during Spark-Assisted Compression Ignition

Previous works employed pressure-based heat release analysis, spark-discharge current/voltage measurements, and cycle-resolved combustion imaging to identify four periods of stratified-charge spark-assisted compression ignition: spark discharge, early kernel growth (EKG), flame propagation, and compression ignition. While it was found that variability in the EKG, and not the spark discharge, influenced combustion phasing, the influence of the spark discharge on the EKG could not be assessed because the imaging system was incapable of recording both the spark discharge and the flame development from the same cycle. This limitation has been overcome here by recording images of both the spark discharge and combustion chemiluminescence during each engine cycle. Additionally, the spark discharge plasmas were recorded from two nearly-orthogonal views to assure that out-of-plane excursions were measured; such are not available from a single view. The results in this study demonstrate that the spark discharge eve...
The dynamic three-tier protocol: an access remedial scheme for DQDB Metropolitan Area Networks

This paper addresses the unfairness problems of a DQDB network through a structured access remedial scheme, namely the Dynamic Three-Tier protocol. At low load domains, it retains the original 802.6 (no Bandwidth Balancing Mechanism, (BWB) protocol performance. At heavy loads, it activates a dynamic bandwidth control mechanism, called the Alpha Tuning Mechanism. With the right choice of the @a parameter, the match of the service pattern (rendered by the proposed protocol) and the actual demand (or traffic) pattern in the network is achieved. Between these domains, at normal loads, it uses an anticipatory demand function (@D) to address latency-related unfairness. The proposed protocol's performance is investigated over different load types and load values, with single- and multiple-packet-sized messages. In each scenario, the proposed protocol is capable of delivering better performance over the current 802.6 (with BWB) standard. Its effectiveness and dynamic capabilities are very impressive.
A control algorithm for hybrid compensation of Fast Varying Loads

A control algorithm for hybrid compensation of fast varying loads (FVLs) is presented in this paper. Compensators of FVLs should reduce the variation of power in distribution systems and should reduce bursts of waveform distortion. These two requirements are substantially different. Thus it should have a hybrid structure. Therefore compensator of FVLs should be built of two separate compensators; one for the compensation of power variation and the other for compensation of the distorted component. The compensator for the power variation (CPV) can use a Flywheel Energy Storage System (FESS). In the compensator discussed in this paper a Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Motor/Generator is used as the driving machine. The FESS is supplied from a PWM-based Inverter. A PWM inverter-based switching compensator is used for compensation of waveform distortion. A complete model of the integrated control of the compensator is discussed in this paper. The Current Physical Components (CPC) theory is used as the basis for generating reference signals for the hybrid compensator under discussion.
Optical properties of spectrally selective anodically coated electrolytically colored aluminum surfaces

Abstract Optical properties of solar absorbing surface coatings made by electrolytic coloration of anodically oxidized aluminum have been investigated. It was found that the surfaces colored with Ni, Sn and Cu were spectrally selective absorbers and that their optical properties were a function of oxide thickness and concentration of coloration metal. The values of α s obtained were in the range of 0.90–0.95 and ϵ was in the range of 0.1–0.3. The surfaces colored with Ni were stable up to 400°C under infrared (oven) heating conditions as well as under concentrated solar irradiation. Surfaces colored with Sn and Cu were less stable. AES and SEM measurements were used to generate a microstructural model for the coating.
The role of exchange and interest risk in equity valuation: A comparative study of international stock markets

Abstract This paper examines the impact of exchange rate fluctuations and interest rate risk on equity valuation in Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Our estimations indicate significant cross-sectional variations in the currency exposure of U.S. industries and interest rate exposure of Japanese industries. Exchange risk is priced in the United States for the overall period, and in the Japanese and the U.K. markets during the second subperiod. Interest rate risk is not priced in any of the markets during the overall sample period.
Percutaneous transcatheter closure of the native aortic valve to treat de novo aortic insufficiency after implantation of a left ventricular assist device.

A 54-year-old female with a HeartMate II (Thoratec, Pleasanton, California) left ventricular assist device (LVAD) presented 3 months after implantation with new-onset severe aortic insufficiency (AI) and cardiogenic shock. A reoperation for surgical aortic valve closure was too high risk, so the
The Effect of Respiration on the Performance of the Total Artificial Heart

: An electromechanical driven pusher plate type total artificial heart (TAH) has been developed in the Department of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. The control of this TAH is based upon Frank-Starling's law, and the output is likely to be affected by the respiration cycle. The necessity of an averaging system for the pumping to avoid this drifting of the output has been discussed in several papers. In this study, the effect of respiration on the performance of the TAH was evaluated in both in vitro and in vivo conditions. This TAH was driven without an averaging system in its control system. The results indicated that the mean output pressure was stable with minute changes in both the heart rate and outflow. This verifies that the electromechanical driven pusher plate type TAH, which is under development in our laboratory, compensated for the effect of respiration without an averaging system.
Disturbance detection, identification, and recovery by gait transition in legged robots

We present a framework for detecting, identifying, and recovering within stride from faults and other leg contact disturbances encountered by a walking hexapedal robot. Detection is achieved by means of a software contact-event sensor with no additional sensing hardware beyond the commercial actuators' standard shaft encoders. A simple finite state machine identifies disturbances as due either to an expected ground contact, a missing ground contact indicating leg fault, or an unexpected “wall” contact. Recovery proceeds as necessary by means of a recently developed topological gait transition coordinator. We demonstrate the efficacy of this system by presenting preliminary data arising from two reactive behaviors — wall avoidance and leg-break recovery. We believe that extensions of this framework will enable reactive behaviors allowing the robot to function with guarded autonomy under widely varying terrain and self-health conditions.
The opposite effect of temperature on polyethylene glycol-based aqueous biphasic systems versus aqueous biphasic extraction chromatographic resins

Variation in operational temperatures has revealed differences in the partitioning behavior of probe solutes between the phases in aqueous biphasic systems (ABS) and the related aqueous biphasic extraction chromatographic resin (ABEC). This difference has been studied using the hydrophobic anion, 99TcO4-, as a probe and (NH4)2SO4 as the kosmotropic salt. Distribution of the hydrophobic anion 99TcO4- to the PEG-rich phase in a MePEG-5000/(NH4)2SO4 ABS increases with increasing temperature, but decreases are observed in batch uptakes of this anion to ABEC resins from (NH4)2SO4 solutions. Phase diagrams were constructed at five different temperatures from 10 to 50 degreesC using cloud point titration for the ABS and a correlation between the phase divergence, measured in terms of tie line length (TLL), and the temperature of the partitioning system was verified. Thermodynamic parameters (deltaHdegrees,deltaSdegrees, deltaGdegrees, ) as a function of temperature were calculated for the various systems studied and the results imply thermodynamic differences between partitioning in ABS versus ABEC.
The changing ratio of bioactive to immunoreactive luteinizing hormone (LH) through puberty principally reflects changing LH radioimmunoassay dose-response characteristics

The ratio (B/I) of bioactive to immunoreactive LH in plasma varies during pubertal maturation. To elucidate the basis for these changes, we compared the dose-response characteristics of LH standards to those of plasma LH before and after GnRH infusion in normal males at various pubertal stages and girls with Turner's syndrome. We used a human LH (hLH) RIA modified to optimize specificity for LH bioactivity by employing a hLH tracer maximally bioactive in the rat interstitial cell testosterone production (RICT) bioassay. The pituitary hLH standards LER-907, NHPP I-1, and NHPP I-2 were not parallel to one another in the RIA, but were parallel in the RICT. Their relative slopes in the RIA were 1:1.35:1.49, respectively. The B/I for immunoreactive LH in these standards were 1 (LER-907):3 (I-1):5 (I-2). Dose-response characteristics varied greatly by patient category in the RIA. In contrast to the RICT, in which plasma from all subject groups, except the prepubertal basal group, gave parallel dose-response slopes, the groups differed in the steepness of their plasma LH RIA dose-response curves in the following order: adult post-GnRH congruent to adult basal congruent to pubertal post-GnRH greater than pubertal basal congruent to prepubertal post-GnRH congruent to prepubertal basal greater than Turner's syndrome. Prepubertal basal samples most closely resembled LER-907 in dose-response characteristics, while adult samples were most similar to NHPP I-1 and I-2. These characteristics were not related to the absolute LH concentration. Although the RIA dose-response characteristics of plasma LH changed during puberty, the B/I of basal LH did not increase through puberty using the modified hLH RIA, although B/I still rose in GnRH-stimulated samples during puberty. Our data demonstrate that the principal cause of variability in B/I is the changing dose-response characteristics of plasma LH in the RIA. We suggest that the source of this variability is a change in the molecular characteristics of LH in different states of pubertal maturation and gonadal function. The results imply that better ways of assaying LH are needed.
A Composite Forecasting Methodology for Manpower Planning Utilizing Objective and Subjective Criteria

An approach to manpower planning is developed using objective analysis of the past and subjective analysis of the future. The techniques of exponential smoothing and regression analysis provide the...
Glutamate dehydrogenase requirement for apoptosis induced by aristolochic acid in renal tubular epithelial cells

Ingestion of aristolochic acids (AA) contained in herbal remedies results in a renal disease and, frequently, urothelial malignancy. The genotoxicity of AA in renal cells, including mutagenic DNA adduct formation, is well-documented. However, the mechanisms of AA-induced tubular atrophy and renal fibrosis are largely unknown. Epithelial cell death is a critical characteristic of these pathological conditions. To elucidate the mechanisms of AA-induced cytotoxicity, we explored AA-interacting proteins in tubular epithelial cells (TEC). We found that AA interacts with a mitochondrial enzyme glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) and moderately inhibits its activity. We report that AA induces cell death in GDH-knockdown TEC preferentially via non-apoptotic means, whereas in GDH-positive cells, death was executed by both the non-apoptotic and apoptotic mechanisms. Apoptosis is an energy-reliant process and demands higher adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) consumption than does the non-apoptotic cell death. We found that, after AAI treatment, the ATP depletion is more pronounced in GDH-knockdown cells. When we reduced ATP in TEC cells by inhibition of glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration, cell death mode switched from apoptosis and necrosis to necrosis only. In addition, in cells incubated at low glucose and no glutamine conditions, oxaloacetate and pyruvate reduced AAI-induced apoptosis our data suggest that AAI-GDH interactions in TEC are critical for the induction of apoptosis by direct inhibition of GDH activity. AA binding may also induce changes in GDH conformation and promote interactions with other molecules or impair signaling by GDH metabolic products, leading to apoptosis.
Bibliographic Utilities in the 1980's

The major bibliographic utilities in North America were established in the 1970s. What role are they playing in the 1980s? This select bibliography provides a synopsis of what is happening in the world of bibliographic utilities.
Markov Chain Model to Explain the Dynamics of Human Depression

Depression is one of the major concerns of the present generation. A Markov chain model has been used to portray and investigate this curse. Long-term behaviour of the model has been discussed. Different types of treatment strategies have been considered in this paper to identify the most powerful measure of keeping this disease from its spread in the society. This paper also focuses on the usefulness of the drugs available at present for the treatment of this disease.
Distinct regions within fibulin-1D modulate interactions with hemicentin

Fibulins are evolutionarily conserved extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins that assemble in elastic fibers and basement membranes. Caenorhabditis elegans has a single fibulin gene that produces orthologs of vertebrate fibulin-1 C and D splice forms. In a structure-function analysis of fibulin-1 domains, a series of deletion constructs show that EGF repeats 4 and 5 are required for the hemicentin-dependent assembly and function of fibulin-1D in native locations. In contrast, constructs missing the second EGF repeat of fibulin-1D (EGF2D) assemble in ectopic locations in a hemicentin dependent manner. Constructs that contain EGF2D are cleaved into two fragments, but constructs with EGF2D missing are not, suggesting that a protease binds and/or cleaves fibulin-1D at a site that is likely within EGF2D. Together, the data suggests that EGF repeats 4 and 5 promote interaction with hemicentin while a region within EGF2D suppresses ectopic interactions with hemicentin and this suppression may be protease dependent.
Enthalpy of formation of cubic yttria-stabilized zirconia

Oxide melt solution calorimetric measurements were made to determine the enthalpy of formation of cubic-yttria-stabilized zirconia (c-YSZ) with respect to the oxides m-ZrO2 and C-type YO1.5. The enthalpy of formation can be fit either by a quadratic equation or by two straight line segments about the minimum near x = 0.40. The quadratic fit gives a strongly negative interaction parameter, Ω=−93.7 ± 12.0 kJ/mol, but does not imply regular solution behavior because of extensive short-range order. In this fit, the enthalpy of transition of m-ZrO2 to c-ZrO2, 9.7 ± 1.1 kJ/mol, is in reasonable agreement with earlier estimates and that of C-type to cubic fluorite YO1.5, 24.3 ±14.4 kJ/mol, is consistent with an essentially random distribution of oxide ions and anion vacancies in the high-temperature fluorite phase. The two straight-line segments give 6.1 ± 0.6 kJ/mol and 5.5 ± 2.5 kJ/mol for these transitions, respectively. The latter value would imply strong short-range order in cubic fluorite YO1.5. Clearly more complex solution thermodynamic descriptions need to be developed. The enthalpy of transition from the disordered c-YSZ phase to the ordered δ-phase at 25 °C was also measured and was 0.4 ± 1.6 kJ/mol. No energetic difference between the disordered c-YSZ phase and the ordered δ-phase underscores the importance of short-range order in c-YSZ. Enthalpy data were combined with Gibbs free energy data to calculate entropies of mixing. Using the quadratic fit, negative excess entropy of mixing in the cubic solid solution, relative to a system with maximum randomness on cation and anion sublattices, was found and was another indication of extensive short-range order in c-YSZ.
Utility of cardiopulmonary stress testing in assessing disease severity in children with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

This study sought to assess the safety of cardiopulmonary stress testing in 40 children with pulmonary arterial hypertension and to compare exercise responses in this patient cohort with those of a healthy control population. Patients with pulmonary hypertension had significant impairment in aerobic capacity, with a peak oxygen consumption of 20.7 ± 6.9 versus 35.5 ± 7.4 ml/kg/min in healthy controls (p
Formation of Phenoxy and Cyclopentadienyl Radicals from the Gas-Phase Pyrolysis of Phenol

The formation of radicals from the gas-phase pyrolysis of phenol over a temperature range of 400-1000 degrees C was studied using the technique of low temperature matrix isolation electron paramagnetic resonance (LTMI EPR). Cooling the reactor effluent in a CO2 carrier gas to 77 K produces a cryogenic matrix that exhibits complex EPR spectra. However, annealing by slowly raising the matrix temperature yielded well-resolved, identifiable spectra. All annealed spectra over the temperature range of 700-1000 degrees C resulted in the generation of EPR spectra with six lines, hyperfine splitting constant approximately 6.0 G, g = 2.00430, and peak-to-peak width approximately 3 G that was readily assignable, based on comparison with the literature and theoretical calculations, as that of cyclopentadienyl radical. Annihilation procedures along with microwave power saturation experiments helped to clearly identify phenoxy radicals in the same temperature region. Conclusive identifications of cyclopentadienyl and phenoxy radicals were based on pure spectra of these radicals under the same experimental conditions generated from suitable precursors. Cyclopentadienyl is clearly the dominant radical at temperatures above 700 degrees C and is observed at temperatures as low as 400 degrees C. The low-temperature formation is attributed to heterogeneous initiation of phenol decomposition under very low pressure conditions. The high cyclopentadienyl to phenoxy ratio was consistent with the results of reaction kinetic modeling calculations using the CHEMKIN kinetic package and a phenol pyrolysis model adapted from the literature.
Use of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) and poly(vinyl alcohol) for cryoultramicrotomy

Specimens infused with or suspended in a mixture of 10–30% poly(vinylpyrrolidone) and 2.07–1.61m sucrose can often be more easily frozen-sectioned than those infused with sucrose alone. The pH of such a mixture can be efficiently adjusted to neutrality by using Na2CO3. Use of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) causes little or no increase in the background level of immunolabelling. Adsorption staining of ultrathin frozen sections with a mixture of uranyl acetate and poly(vinyl alcohol), i.e. a simple thin-embedding of the sections in such a mixture, produces positive staining effects that are often enough to delineate structures of many organelles. When OsO4-treated frozen sections are stained with uranyl acetate and further adsorption-stained with a mixture of lead citrate and poly(vinyl alcohol), the overall staining effects are similar to those observed in double-stained conventional sections.
Id-1 as a molecular target in therapy for breast cancer cell invasion and metastasis

Mammary epithelial cells constitutively expressing Id-1 protein are unable to differentiate, acquire the ability to proliferate, and invade the extracellular matrix. In addition, Id-1 is aberrantly over-expressed in aggressive and metastatic breast cancer cells, as well as in human breast tumor biopsies from infiltrating carcinomas, suggesting Id-1 might be an important regulator of breast cancer progression. We show that human metastatic breast cancer cells become significantly less invasive in vitro and less metastatic in vivo when Id-1 is down-regulated by stable transduction with antisense Id-1. Expression of the matrix metalloproteinase MT1-MMP is decreased in proportion to the decrease in Id-1 protein levels, representing a potential mechanism for the reduction of invasiveness. Further, to more accurately recapitulate the biology of and potential therapeutic approaches to tumor metastasis, we targeted Id-1 expression systemically in tumor-bearing mice by using a nonviral approach. We demonstrate significant reduction of both Id-1 and MT1-MMP expressions as well as the metastatic spread of 4T1 breast cancer cells in syngeneic BALB/c mice. In conclusion, our studies have identified Id-1 as a critical regulator of breast cancer progression and suggest the feasibility of developing novel therapeutic approaches to target Id-1 expression to reduce breast cancer metastasis in humans.
Local correction of extreme stomal prolapse following transverse loop colostomy

Abstract Background Stomal prolapse is a common complication of transverse loop colostomies. Although rarely required, surgical correction is associated with potential morbidity. We describe a novel surgical approach to repair stomal herniation that aims to decrease perioperative morbidity. Case A 57 year-old patient with stage IVB adenocarcinoma of the cervix underwent a transverse loop colostomy for palliation of a rectovaginal fistula. Several months later, she presented with a large symptomatic stomal prolapse and elected local surgical correction. Under general anesthesia, we performed a revision of the colostomy with a stapling device. Conclusion Although long-term data are lacking, this approach is easy, safe, and a reasonable alternative for palliative revision of a prolapsed colostomy stoma.
A Role for Nuclear Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Kinase in Transcriptional Control

Phospholipase C and two inositol polyphosphate (IP) kinases constitute a signaling pathway that regulates nuclear messenger RNA export through production of inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6). The inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate kinase of this pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, designated Ipk2, was found to be identical to Arg82, a regulator of the transcriptional complex ArgR-Mcm1. Synthesis of inositol 1,4,5,6-tetrakisphosphate, but not IP6, was required for gene regulation through ArgR-Mcm1. Thus, the phospholipase C pathway produces multiple IP messengers that modulate distinct nuclear processes. The results reveal a direct mechanism by which activation of IP signaling may control gene expression.
Versatile multi-wavelength fiber-optic switch and attenuator structures using mirror manipulations

Abstract Compact frequency-selective fiber-optic switch (FOS) and attenuator structures are proposed based on the use of 2N hinge-type flapping micromirrors in a linear array geometry and piston-type micromirrors in a two dimensional (2D) array format. The flapping micromirrors are designed to be positioned in a compact low-loss in-line geometry that provides ease in optical alignment. The results of an experimental 4-wavelength proof of concept FOS using two macro-mirrors shows an average optical interchannel crosstalk of
Relationship between obesity and falls by middle-aged and older women.

Abstract Rosenblatt NJ, Grabiner MD. Relationship between obesity and falls by middle-aged and older women. It has been suggested that obesity increases fall risk, based on diminished static balance and increased fall-related injury risk. However, these findings only indirectly relate obesity and falls. The purpose of this study was to use existing data to directly explore the relationship between obesity and falls by community-dwelling women aged 55 years and older. Eighty-six subjects (42 obese) reported falls occurring during the previous year (retrospective falls), and over the following year responded to biweekly communications inquiring whether they fell or stumbled (prospective falls/stumbles). Because trips represent the largest fall cause by community-dwelling adults, we also analyzed outcomes and recovery strategies of 25 women (13 obese) after laboratory-induced trips. Obese and healthy weight women retrospectively reported similar fall rates (40.9% vs 40.5%; P =.97). Similar percentages of healthy weight and obese women prospectively fell (64.7% vs 64.3%; P =.98) and stumbled (38.9% vs 14.3%; P =.24). After laboratory-induced trips, 46.2% of obese verse 25.0% of healthy weight women fell ( P =.44). Unlike healthy weight fallers, most obese fallers failed to initiate or complete the recovery step before full-body harness support. Obesity does not appear to increase overall fall risk; although, fall rates after laboratory-induced trips were notably higher, potentially due to altered recovery responses. An incomplete recovery step could increase impact force with the ground, predisposing obese individuals to injury. The fact that there is concurrence between 4 independent outcomes strengthens the findings, suggesting that further, large-scale studies are warranted to inform future clinical practice regarding fall-risk assessment for obese older adults.
Cervical cancer screening among immigrant Hispanics: an analysis by country of origin.

As the largest and most diverse ethnic minority population in the U.S., it is important to examine differences in and correlates of Pap test adherence among Hispanics by country of origin. The data for these analyses are baseline responses from a Randomized Controlled Trial. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models were conducted among Hispanic immigrant women who identified as Mexican, Puerto Rican, Dominican, or Central/South American (n = 1,305). There were significant differences in Pap test adherence: Dominicans (81.6%), Mexicans (77.5%), Central/South Americans (71.2%), and Puerto Ricans (69.3%). In multivariable analyses, there were different correlates of Pap test adherence for each country of origin. For example, marriage status (P = .0001) and younger age (P = .006) were positively associated with adherence among Mexican women. This research provides insight into the variability that exists among Hispanics and can help improve understanding of important determinants that may influence Pap test screening among diverse Hispanics.
APPROXIMATING TOTAL CITATION COUNTS FROM FIRST AUTHOR COUNTS AND FROM TOTAL PAPERS

This paper is an attempt to improve on the approximation. First author citations (Cf)≈Total citations (Ct) of an author's publications without the work of making the complete citation count under the author and all co-author names.
Investigation of thiourea activated polyglutaraldehyde with bound Ag(I) or Pt(II) as an alternative to avidin for immobilizing biotin conjugates.

Pre-polymerized glutaraldehyde covalently linked to thiourea has been synthesized as a soluble polymer for immobilizing Ag(I) and Pt(II) and it has also been used for activating a polyacrylamide gel filtration media. The modified gel filtration media (Bio-Gel P-200) has a high capacity for Ag(I) (20 μm ol/ml) and Pt(II) (8 μm ol/ml) and has been shown to be stable and useful even in the presence of relatively high chloride (up to 1 M NaCl) and phosphate concentrations (0.25 M). The soluble polymer can have a Ag(I) capacity of between 2-11 mmol/g.Bio-Gel P-200 modified using glutaraldehyde/thiourea and in the Ag(I) and Pt(II) form selectively binds biotinylated BSA (b-BSA) over BSA. Using the Ag(I) form of the gel at pH 4.8 (0.05 M phosphate) only b-BSA binds and 30% can be eluted using 0.15 M NaCl, while no BSA binds to the column under these conditions. For the Pt(II) form of Bio-Gel P-200 at pH 4.8, none of the applied BSA binds to the modified resin while 40% of b-BSA does bind.