cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The acetylcholinesterase defect in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: evidence that the enzyme is absent from the cell membrane

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a myelodysplastic disease characterized by erythrocytes that show abnormally increased sensitivity to complement-mediated lysis. Complement-sensitive PNH erythrocyte membranes have previously been shown to lack acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity, but the molecular basis of this deficiency has been unclear. We have used monoclonal antibodies to four different epitopes on the AchE molecule to show that abnormal PNH erythrocytes failed to bind these antibodies. Moreover, abnormal PNH erythrocytes contained no protein immunoprecipitable by these antibodies, while normal complement-insensitive erythrocytes from PNH patients showed normal amounts of immunoprecipitable AchE which had normal electrophoretic mobility. These data suggest that abnormal PNH erythrocytes lack AchE enzyme activity due to the absence of the AchE molecule from the cell membrane.
Cross-layer optimization of the reservation channel in a pseudocellular network: mobile-centric fast handoffs via multiuser detection

In this paper, we have shown in recent work that joint optimization of the physical (PHY) and medium access control (MAC) layers enables rapid, contention-based reservations in pseudocellular wireless networks. The use of a suitable adaptive multiuser detection scheme at the access point enables multiple reservations in a reservation slot, while eliminating the need for coordination between the mobiles and the access point. In this paper, we build upon this PHY/MAC scheme to provide methods for supporting different priority classes, allowing faster reservations for real-time and high-mobility applications. The feasible operating regions are determined in terms of system parameters such as the processing gain of the direct sequence signaling employed, the arrival rates for various priority classes, the number of reservation slots per frame, and the reservation deadlines for the priority classes.
Comparison of attitude changes elicited by live and videotape classroom presentations

As interest in the factors contributing to similarities and differences in the effectiveness of live and video classroom presentations increases, the need for general explanatory concepts becomes more critical. One approach which may contribute to a more general understanding is the investigation of perceptual processes involved in information processing. Forgus (~966) defines perception as an information extraction process. Information is gained from various cues in the given situation. If more cues are available more information can be gained. Information is broadly defined here as being more than just an array of verbalizable facts. Such information would include undefined impressions, attitudes, etc. In two similar settings then, if more cues are available in one, it should provide a richer amount of information. For example, if exactly the same verbal presentation is made in two situations with varying amounts of cues available, the one with the greater number of cues should yield a greater information acquirement on the
Vectors and Vector Spaces

In nearly all of the discussion to follow we shall deal with the set of real numbers. Occasionally, however, we shall deal with complex numbers as well. In order to avoid cumbersome repetition we shall denote the set we are dealing with by F and let the context elucidate whether we are speaking of real or complex numbers or both.
NUCLEAR LIMITS ON PROPERTIES OF PULSARS AND GRAVITATIONAL WAVES

Pulsars are among the most mysterious astrophysical objects in the Universe and are believed to be rotating neutron stars formed in supernova explosions. They are unique testing grounds of dense matter theories and gravitational physics and also provide links among nuclear physics, particle physics and General Relativity. Neutron stars may exhibit some of the most extreme and exotic characteristics that could not be found elsewhere in the Universe. Their properties are largely determined by the equation of state (EOS) of neutron-rich matter, which is the chief ingredient in calculating neutron star structure and properties of related phenomena, such as gravitational wave emission from deformed pulsars. Presently, the EOS of neutron-rich matter is still very uncertain mainly due to the poorly known density dependence of the nuclear symmetry energy especially at supra-saturation densities. Nevertheless, significant progress has been made recently in constraining the density dependence of the nuclear symmetry energy mostly at sub-saturation densities using terrestrial nuclear reactions. While there are still some uncertainties especially at supra-saturation densities, these constraints could provide useful information on the limits of the global properties of pulsars and the gravitational waves to be expected from them. Here we review our recent work on constraining properties of pulsars and gravitational radiation with data from terrestrial nuclear laboratories.
Endotoxin and NO Induce MIP-1γ Gene Transcription in ANA-1 Murine Macrophages

Abstract The host response to gram-negative endotoxin is characterized by an influx of inflammatory cells into host tissues, mediated in part by localized production of chemokines. In this study, using subtractive suppression hybridization analysis, we demonstrate that ANA-1 murine macrophages produce the CC chemokine, MIP-1γ, in response to LPS-mediated NO production. Gene transcription and protein translation are upregulated in the setting of LPS-induced NO synthesis. However, NO alone is a necessary but insufficient cofactor for induction of MIP-1γ protein expression; an NO-independent LPS signalling pathway is also required. This study suggests a novel mechanism by which NO modulates the host inflammatory response to endotoxin.
ELECTROPHORETIC PATTERNS OF NORMAL AND PATHOLOGICAL HUMAN BLOOD SERUM AND PLASMA

The electrophoretic patterns of a series of normal and pathological human sera and plasmas have been obtained using the schlieren scanning method. From these patterns the mobilities and concentrations of the electrophoretically distinct protein components have been computed. The mobilities fall into five well defined groups corresponding to albumin, alpha, beta, and gamma globulins, and fibrinogen. The concentrations of the different components in pathological sera have been compared with those in normal sera, and the following tentative generalizations may be made. The albumin/globulin ratios for pathological sera have been consistently lower than those for normal sera. The values of the alpha globulin/albumin ratio for the sera of the febrile patients studied were high, the average value being over twice the normal value. The gamma globulin/albumin ratios for aplastic anemia and rheumatic fever sera were also above normal. Certain pathological conditions, notably nephrosis, were accompanied by large increases in a gamma globulin. There is evidence that, in part at least, this consists of a labile lipo-protein.
Density functional theory investigations of NiN2S2 reactivity as a function of nitrogen donor type and N–H···S hydrogen bonding inspired by nickel-containing superoxide dismutase

Density functional theory calculations on a series of six square-planar NiN2S2 complexes have been performed. The nitrogen donor type was varied from diamino in Ni(bme-dmed), 1, to amino-amido in [Ni(mama)]−, 2, to diamido in [Ni(ema)]2−, 3. The sulfur-oxygenated derivative Ni(bme-O2-dmed), 4, and hydrogen-bonded derivatives (5 and 6) of 2 and 3 were also studied. Full geometric optimization and subsequent population analyses were performed using the 6–311g(d,p) basis set. The frontier molecular orbitals for all complexes contain significant nickel and sulfur character. Molecular electrostatic potentials show that amido nitrogen donors increase electron density at nickel relative to sulfur. Sulfur modification further shifts electron density away from the ligand towards the metal. It is proposed that the nitrogen donor type and sulfur modification may regulate sulfur-site reactivity in nickel-containing superoxide dismutase.
Security checking in relational database management systems augmented with inference engines

In this paper we will discuss the notion of multilevel security and the difficulties encountered in designing an implementation scheme for a security policy for a multilevel secure database management system (MLS/DBMS). We will then describe how these difficulties may be overcome in augmenting a database with an inference engine so that it functions like a knowledge based system.
Resistance in Stenotaphrum to the sting nematode

Host resistance would be a valuable defense against the sting nematode, Belonolaimus longicaudatus Rau, a pathogen of many crops, including turfgrass. Sting nematode damage and host suitability were compared among diploid and polyploid Stenotaphrum genotypes. A time-course experiment compared diploid (2n=18) 'FX-313' and polyploid (2n=30) 'FX-10' St. Augustinegrasses [Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walter) Kuntze], planted in pots with 250 mL Margate fine sand (siliceous, hyperthermic Mollic Psammaquent) (.)
Puberty and Chronic Kidney Disease

Puberty is a period of dramatic physiologic changes when children become adults. Chronic kidney disease (CKD), like many disorders, may delay or blunt the onset and outcomes of puberty. These include attainment of adult height and reproductive capacity. Although nutrition and treatment effects may contribute to these phenomena, increasing evidence supports direct biological effects of CKD on the neurohypophyseal axis that controls these systems. Although CKD affects puberty, this life period also impacts the progression of CKD. Diabetes mellitus, posterior urethral valves, reflux nephropathy, and hypoplasia all appear to accelerate with sexual maturation. Potential mechanisms include increases in blood pressure and body size as well as altered endocrine physiology. Better understanding of the interactions of puberty and CKD may lead to better outcomes for children with CKD as well as longer preservation of native kidney function.
Corn and soybean response to rotation sequence, row spacing, and tillage system

Row spacing less than 76 cm for corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. .] is becoming more common. However, little information is available on row spacing in different rotation sequences. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of rotation sequence, row spacing, and tillage system on corn and soybean yield. Corn and soybean were planted in 19-, 38-, and 76-cm row spacing in conventional tillage and no-tillage systems. Both crops were compared in seven rotation sequences. Few interactions were found between row spacing and tillage or between row spacing and rotation sequence for corn or soybean yield. Corn grain yield decreased 11% using the 19-cm row spacing compared with the 38- and 76-cm row spacings. Corn grain yield decreased 5% using the no-tillage system compared with the conventional tillage system. Corn rotated annually with soybean and first-year corn after 5 yr of consecutive soybean yielded 15% more than continuously grown corn. Soybean yield was not affected by row spacing. No-tillage soybean yield was 6% higher than the conventional tillage system. First-year soybean after 5 yr of consecutive corn yielded 8% more than the other six rotation sequences. We concluded that corn-soybean cropping history and tillage system were not important for determining optimum row-spacing system for corn or soybean. The use of a row-spacing system less than 76 cm was not beneficial for either crop.
Hypoxia and HIF-1α expression in the epiphyseal cartilage following ischemic injury to the immature femoral head

Abstract HIF-1α has been shown to be a central mediator of cellular response to hypoxia. The role it plays after ischemic injury to the immature femoral head is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the region of the femoral head affected by hypoxia following ischemic injury to the immature femoral head and to determine the site of HIF-1α activation and revascularization. We hypothesize that the epiphyseal cartilage, rather than the bony epiphysis, is the site of HIF-1α activation following ischemic osteonecrosis and that the epiphyseal cartilage plays an important role in the revascularization process. Materials and methods Femoral head osteonecrosis was surgically induced in 56 immature pigs. Hypoxyprobe staining, cell viability assay, HIF-1α western blot, RT-qPCR of HIF-1α, VEGF, VEGFR2, and PECAM, and micro-CT assessments of microfil-infused femoral heads were performed. Results Severe hypoxia was present in the bony epiphysis and the lower part of the epiphyseal cartilage following ischemia. In the bony epiphysis, extensive cell death and tissue necrosis was observed with degradation of proteins and RNAs which precluded further analysis. In the epiphyseal cartilage, the loss of cell viability was limited to its deep layer with the remainder of the cartilage remaining viable. Furthermore, the cartilage from the ischemic side showed a significant increase in HIF-1α protein level and HIF-1α expression. VEGF expression in the cartilage was dramatically and significantly increased at 24 h, 2 and 4 weeks ( p Conclusions Acute ischemic injury to the immature femoral head induced severe hypoxia and cell death in the bony epiphysis and the deep layer of the epiphyseal cartilage. Viable chondrocytes in the superficial layer of the epiphyseal cartilage showed HIF-1α activation and VEGF upregulation with subsequent revascularization occurring in the cartilage.
Tribology and surface mechanical properties of the oxide film formed by excimer laser surface treatment of AISI 304 stainless steel

Abstract The surface hardness and tribological properties of the surface oxide formed by excimer laser surface processing of AISI 304 stainless steel have been examined. It is found that laser processing initially anneals the stress-induced martensite on the surface of the stainless steel, resulting in a softening of the surface. After more than 100 cycles of melting and resolidification, a surface oxide film develops which is harder than the austenite of the annealed substrate and comparable in hardness to the stress-induced martensite. The thickness of the oxide film is dependent on the number of laser pulses, so that arbitrarily thick films can be produced. The dry-sliding friction of the oxide film against a steel pin is substantially lower than that of the untreated polished surface with only the native oxide film and there is substantially less damage in both the wear track and the pin. The hard surface oxide is underlain by relatively soft austenite. The tribological behavior is thus not obviously the result of the surface mechanical properties of the film-substrate combination but is ascribed to changes in the chemical interaction between the pin and the disk.
Thermal expansivity in superionic RbAg4I5

Abstract We have measured the length of a RbAg4I5 crystal in the temperature range between 130 K and 300 K using a fused silica LVDT dilatometer system. The expansivity is a smooth, nearly linear function of temperature. There is no anomaly such as a kink, discontinuity, or critical behavior at Tc = 209 K where the superionic β to superionic α phase transition occurs.
Emotional and learning disorders in 6-12-year-old boys attending special schools.

In two referral schools serving children aged 6–12 in a large metropolitan area, one a special school for learning disability (LD) and the other a special school for severely emotionally disturbed (ED), the Edelbrock and Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist-Teacher's Report Form was completed by the primary teacher on male students 4 weeks before the end of the school term to determine the prevalence and pattern of behavioral and emotional disorder in the two settings. Behavioral profiles were similar; students in the ED school, however, had statistically higher total scores ( p p p p p p
Atmospheric water vapor and geoid measurements in the open ocean with GPS

[1] We have conducted two experiments to determine precipitable water vapor (PWV) and sea surface heights from a cruising ship in the open ocean. During the first experiment (July 7–13, 02) GPS and radiosonde PWV agreed at the 2 mm rms level. During the second experiment (Aug 23–30, 03) GPS compared at 1.5 mm rms (1.1 mm GPS high bias) with eight ship-launched radiosondes and at 2.8 mm rms (1.2 mm GPS high bias) to a ship-based water vapor radiometer (WVR). We estimate that the vertical position of the GPS antenna in the open ocean was determined to better than 10 cm rms. After correcting for ocean tides GPS estimated sea surface heights from the second cruise compared to the CARIB97 geoid at the 32 cm level in the vertical. Because space based observations of PWV over the oceans generally require cloudless conditions and are accurate to about 5–10% we conclude that ship based GPS observations can provide additional useful meteorological information. Based on the 10-cm vertical position rms and the high horizontal resolution of ship-based positions we further conclude that useful geodetic information can be obtained from high accuracy GPS observations from ships in the open oceans.
Characterization of amyloid deposits in biopsies of 15 patients with “sporadic” (non-familial or plasma cell dyscrasic) amyloid polyneuropathy

Review of the clinical and laboratory findings of 39 patients with amyloid polyneuropathy (AP) showed 12 cases to be hereditary and 12 to be associated with plasma cell dyscrasia (PCD). The remaining 15, termed "sporadic" AP, had neuropathy clinically indistinguishable from the other two groups but without a clinicopathologically identified PCD or positive family history. In an attempt to identify the type of amyloid in "sporadic" AP, the immunoreactivity of amyloid deposits was investigated using specific antisera raised against the following different chemical types of amyloid fibril proteins: variable regions of amyloid light chains kappa (A kappa) and lambda (A lambda), amyloid protein AA, and prealbumin. It was found that the amyloid in "sporadic" AP had A lambda antigenic determinants in ten cases, A kappa in one and prealbumin in three; in one case, the A lambda nature of amyloid was confirmed biochemically on the extracted amyloid fibrills. Thus, the most common type of AP in our population appears to be the "sporadic" form. In "sporadic" AP, the amyloid is most commonly of immunoglobulin light chain origin, even in the absence of overt PCD, and it can be rapidly categorized immunocytochemically to determine therapeutic directions or provide genetic guidance.
Circulating CD8+CD56−perforin+ T cells are increased in multiple sclerosis patients

Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), secondary progressive (SP)MS and primary progressive (PP)MS patients showed higher percentages of circulating CD8+CD56-perforin+ T cells than controls whereas only relapsing RRMS and PPMS patients showed higher perforin expression in CD8+CD56- T cells than controls. MS patients with EDSS ≥3 showed higher percentage of CD8+CD56-perforin+ T cells than patients with EDSS <3 and controls whereas patients with EDSS <3 showed higher percentage of this T cell subpopulation than controls. Our data show that MS is characterized by a dysregulation of CD8+CD56-perforin+ T cells that may play a role in the development of disability.
Ammoniacal silver staining of degenerating axons.

Degenerating axons in the central nervous system can be selectively stained by ammoniacal silver nitrate and citric acid-formalin reducer (after Nauta and Gygax, 1954) alone. This selective staining can be obtained without any type of pretreatment. It has been found that if the tissue sections are treated first with various lipid solvents (e.g. acetone, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform-methanol, etc.) and then stained by ammoniacal silver nitrate and citric acid-formalin reducer, degenerating axons are still selectively stained. These results are discussed in relation to earlier histochemical work on the Nauta and Gygax (1954) and Nauta (1957) methods.
A model for fad-containing monooxygenas: the oxidation of thioanisole derivatives by an isoalloxazine hydroperoxide

Abstract A 4a-isoalloxazine hydroperoxide oxidizes thioanisole derivatives to the corresponding sulfoxides by a mechanism which involves nucleophilic attack of sulfur on electrophilic oxygen.
Risk and Effectiveness in the Use of Agonistic Displays By American Goldfinches

In aggressive contests over access to feeders, American goldfinches (Carduelis tristis) appeared to be using displays based on their risk and effectiveness. Display types varied in both their effectiveness and the risk of their use. The effectiveness of using a display was positively related to the risk of using that display. When the value of the resource under dispute was increased individuals used more of the riskier yet more effective displays. Associated with the increased use of the riskier displays was a greater number of encounters ending in fights. Individuals also used each display type with different frequency depending on the relative dominance status of their opponent. Bluffing may have been kept at low levels among the goldfinches by the ease of detecting bluffing, due to individual recognition, and by the costs of being detected.
Wedge Pressure Measurement in Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Mean pulmonary capillary wedge absolute pressures relative to atmosphere were compared with effective wedge pressures in 19 patients with respiratory failure secondary to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to determine whether a mean wedge or effective wedge pressure provided the most useful diagnostic information when intrathoracic pressure changes were great. The effective wedge pressure was determined by subtraction of the esophageal pressure from the measured wedge pressure. In 16 of 19 patients the actual or estimated difference between the mean wedge and effective wedge pressure ranged within ±3 mm Hg. In three patients, however, all with intrathoracic pressure changes of greater than 20 mm Hg, the mean wedge elevated (range=+6 to +17 mm Hg) in relation to the effective wedge pressure. In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with loss of lung recoil and airways obstruction, a simple mean of the wedge pressure can be elevated secondary to positive intrathorack pressures which are generated during expiration and influence the recorded absolute wedge pressure. However, in most patients, the use of the electrical mean appears to be a useful method to compensate for respiratory fluctuations in wedge pressure.
Delayed HBsAg clearance in chronic hepatitis B viral infection

Seven patients are described in whom HBsAg persisted for 13 to 98 months after acute viral hepatitis B and then became nondetectable. All patients subsequently developed anti-HBs. During the period of HBs-antigenemia, liver biopsies in five patients showed persistent viral hepatitis. Retrospectively, impending negativity of HBsAg was predictable in five patients by a decrease in HBsAg titer, and in four patients by persistent normalization of serum alanine aminotransferase. Although delayed clearance of HBsAg in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection is uncommon, it appears to be predictable.
Prognostic usefulness of marginal troponin T elevation.

Marginal elevations of troponin T among patients with chest pain are often considered to be insignificant. We sought to define the prognostic value of marginal troponin T elevations in patients presenting to the emergency department with suspected myocardial ischemia. Four hundred twenty-eight consecutive patients presenting to the emergency department with ongoing chest pain were evaluated, followed through their hospital course, and contacted for follow-up 4 months after discharge. Two hundred ninety-nine patients had undetectable troponin T levels (<0.01 μg/L), 76 had marginal troponin T elevations (0.01 to 0.09 μg/L), and 53 had frank troponin T elevations (≥0.1 μg/L). Patients with either marginally or frank elevated troponin levels were older and more likely to be men, but did not differ from patients with undetectable troponin levels with regard to the prevalence of coronary artery disease risk factors, history of coronary disease, or race. While in the hospital, the undetectable and marginal troponin groups were referred for cardiac testing in equal proportions (58% and 59%, respectively), whereas 87% of the elevated group underwent further testing. After adjustment for possible confounders, a significantly increased rate of death/myocardial infarction/revascularization was observed in the marginal troponin group compared with the undetectable troponin group (p = 0.004). Marginal elevations of troponin T identified a currently underevaluated high-risk subgroup of patients with suspected myocardial ischemia who are more likely to have adverse clinical outcomes than those with undetectable troponin levels.
Distributed programming and consistency: principles and practice

In recent years, distributed programming has become a topic of widespread interest among developers. However, writing reliable distributed programs remains stubbornly difficult. In addition to the inherent challenges of distribution---asynchrony, concurrency, and partial failure---many modern distributed systems operate at massive scale. Scalability concerns have in turn encouraged many developers to eschew strongly consistent distributed storage in favor of application-level consistency criteria [5, 10, 18], which has raised the degree of difficulty still further.
Management and prognosis of adenocarcinoma of the appendix.

PURPOSE: Adenocarcinoma of the appendix is a rare neoplasm, and controversies persist regarding management. The purpose of this study was to identify prognostic factors and define management strategies for patients with adenocarcinoma of the appendix. METHODS: A retrospective case series was conducted at three medical school teaching hospitals over a 20-year period from 1972 to 1992. Overall survival was determined by the actuarial life table method. Comparisons of prognostic factors were made using exact nonparametric log-rank tests. RESULTS: Thirteen patients were diagnosed during the study period. Median age was 62 years. There were five males and eight females. The disease swas not suspected in any patient preoperatively. Seventyseven percent of patients had metastatic disease at presentation. Second primary malignancies were found in 15 percent of patients. Thirty-eight percent of female patients had synchronous ovarian lesions. Median survival was 22 months, with an estimated five-year survival of 43 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 22–84 percent). Patients with colonic histology had significantly worse survival than patients with mucinous histology (tP=0.0093). Patients with carcinomatosis had a significantly worse survival than noncarcinomatosis patients (tP=0.0078). Patients who underwent right hemicolectomy had a better prognosis for survival than appendectomy patients, but the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Carcinoma of the appendix is very difficult to diagnose preoperatively, and most patients are not identified until disease is advanced. Good prognostic factors include mucinous histology and the absence of carcinomatosis. Right hemicolectomy appears to be a reasonable option, although its superiority to appendectomy alone has not been definitively proven. High frequency of ovarian metastases in women suggests a role for bilateral oophorectomy. In addition, a complete work-up of the patient for a synchronous malignancy, especially in the gastrointestinal tract, should be considered.
Trustworthiness in conflict of interest

The question of the circumstances under which a conflict of interests is morally blameworthy is an important one in what has indeed been a somewhat emotional debate so far. As Brody (2011) points o...
ParCYCLIC: finite element modelling of earthquake liquefaction response on parallel computers

This paper presents the computational procedures and solution strategy employed in ParCYCLIC, a parallel non-linear finite element program developed based on an existing serial code CYCLIC for the analysis of cyclic seismically-induced liquefaction problems. In ParCYCLIC, finite elements are employed within an incremental plasticity, coupled solid–fluid formulation. A constitutive model developed for simulating liquefaction-induced deformations is a main component of this analysis framework. The elements of the computational strategy, designed for distributed-memory message-passing parallel computer systems, include: (a) an automatic domain decomposer to partition the finite element mesh; (b) nodal ordering strategies to minimize storage space for the matrix coefficients; (c) an efficient scheme for the allocation of sparse matrix coefficients among the processors; and (d) a parallel sparse direct solver. Application of ParCYCLIC to simulate 3-D geotechnical experimental models is demonstrated. The computational results show excellent parallel performance and scalability of ParCYCLIC on parallel computers with a large number of processors. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of atomic crack tip geometry on local stresses

Abstract The results of a molecular dynamic investigation, designed to explore the sensitivity of the crack tip stress distribution to changes in crack length and crack tip geometry (shape) on the atomic scale, are described. The simulation was carried out on a two-dimensional sample of 10704 atoms arranged in a triangular lattice and interacting with a Lennard-Jones (6–12) or a Johnson potential. Surprisingly, no significant difference in the stress distribution was observed between narrow (sharp) and wide (blunt) cracks. However, wide cracks with irregularly shaped tips (termed the wide jagged crack) displayed appreciably lower stresses in the near tip region. The magnitude of the maximum stress concentration (at the tip, i.e. at r = 0) was about a factor of ten lower than that predicted by classical continuum treatments of elliptically shaped cracks. For cracks of length 2a at distances r from the crack tip the results of the simulations in the 0.1 r a range are in good agreement with stresses predicted by the continuum elastic theory of elliptical cracks. The lack of variation in the stress distribution in going from narrow to wide cracks suggests that there is an effective radius of the crack tip controlling the magnitude of the stresses. The simulation results indicate that the discreteness of the lattice limits the degree of geometric blunting—at least within the size scale readily accessible with the present simulations. Conventional continuum analysis was found to account for the functional dependence of stress on crack length but not the magnitude of the stresses, whereas the nonlocal theory of Eringen was found to account for the order of magnitude of the stresses but not the functional dependence.
Risk factor correlates of coronary calcium as evaluated by ultrafast computed tomography

Coronary artery calcium is invariably associated with atherosclerosis and has been linked to an increased risk of coronary events. Ultrafast computed tomography (CT) was recently used to document the presence and relative quantity of coronary calcium. The use of the self-reported coronary risk factors to identify persons with coronary calcium as documented by ultrafast CT screening was examined in 458 men and 139 women aged 26 to 81 years (88% asymptomatic). All subjects underwent ultrafast CT scanning, and received a questionnaire and underwent an interview regarding medical and risk factor history. Total calcium score was calculated as the sum of lesion-specific scores, each calculated as the product of density > or = 130 Hounsfield units and area > or = 0.51 mm2. The prevalence of coronary calcium increased significantly (p < 0.01) by age group, and the greater the number of risk factors present, the greater the likelihood of calcium. From multiple logistic regression, age (p < 0.01), male sex (relative risk [RR] 3.03; p < 0.01), and history of smoking (RR 1.85; p < 0.01) and hypertension (RR 1.65; p < 0.05) were independently associated with the probability of detectable calcium. Among asymptomatic subjects, an association with hypercholesterolemia was also seen (RR 1.56; p < 0.05). The results demonstrate that cardiovascular risk factors can help in identifying the likelihood of coronary calcium.
Sundowning syndrome in aging and dementia: Research in mouse models

Both normal aging and dementia are associated with altered circadian regulation of physiology and behavior. Elderly individuals and dementia patients commonly experience disrupted sleep-wake cycles, which may lead to psychomotor agitation, confusion, and wandering. These behaviors are disruptive to both patients and caregivers. Sundowning syndrome, which encompasses many of these behaviors, is characterized by a temporal pattern in the severity of symptoms, usually expressed as worse during the late afternoon or evening. Other than antipsychotic medications, off-label medications, and restraint, few treatment options are available. The aim of this paper is to review mouse studies of circadian behavioral disturbances relevant to sundowning, in order to determine potential models for studying the mechanisms of sundowning syndrome. The emergence of a useful mouse model should facilitate the development of novel therapeutic approaches.
Introduction: a fresh look at monoamine oxidase inhibitors for depression.

From the Department of Pharmacotherapy, the Department of Health Policy and Administration, and the Pharmacoeconomics and Pharmacoepidemiology Research Unit, Washington State University College of Pharmacy, Spokane (Drs Cohen and Sclar); the Washington Institute for Mental Health Research and Training, Spokane (Drs Cohen and Sclar); and the Department of Pharmacotherapy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth (Dr Cohen). This article is derived from the planning teleconference series “A Fresh Look at Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors for Depression,” which was held December 2011 through February 2012 and supported by an educational grant from Mylan Specialty L.P. (formerly known as Dey Pharma, L.P.). Dr Cohen is a consultant for Dey and has received honoraria from and is a member of the speakers/advisory boards for Sunovion and Merck. Dr Sclar is a consultant for and has received grant/research support and honoraria from Eli Lilly, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Forest, Dey, and Bristol-Myers Squibb and is a member of the speakers/advisory board for Eli Lilly. Corresponding author: Lawrence J. Cohen, PharmD, BCPP, FASHP, FCCP, FCP, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107 (lawrence-cohen@att.net).
Dynamics and metamorphosis of an identifiable peptidergic neuron in an insect

Eclosion hormone (EH) is a 7000 Da peptide that triggers ecdysis behavior in insects. In the moth, Manduca sexta, EH is found in two pairs of ventromedial (VM) cells in the brain which send their axons down the ventral nerve cord to a neurohemal site in the proctodeal nerve in the larva and pupa. During adult development, these cells send axon collaterals to the corpora cardiaca where they form a new release site used for adult eclosion. Studies of bioassayable peptide during the 5th larval instar and the larval-pupal transformation revealed that after depletion at ecdysis, the VM cells showed a transient increase in EH found in their cell bodies and axons. By contrast, their terminals in the proctodeal nerve showed a gradual accumulation of peptide followed by a release of over 90% of the stored material at pupal ecdysis. In situ hybridization analysis on whole mounts of the brains showed that the VM cells always contained EH mRNA with increased accumulation during the larval and pupal molting periods with a slight decline just before ecdysis. High levels of EH mRNA were found in brains of diapausing pupae. During the first two-thirds of adult development, mRNA accumulated to high levels, then slowly declined until ecdysis. EH mRNA levels then increased and remained at intermediate levels up to 3 days after adult eclosion. At no time was EH mRNA found in the lateral neurosecretory cell cluster previously reported to produce EH for adult eclosion.
Brief Report: Effect of Maternal Age on Severity of Autism

The etiology of autism is complex, consisting of unknown genetic and environmental factors. Previous studies have revealed that maternal age is increased in autism compared to controls, making it a possible risk factor. This study examined the effects of maternal age on autism severity using IQ as a measure of cognitive severity and selected subtests of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) as measures of social severity. A sample of 154 subjects with autism spectrum disorders was obtained from the Stanford Neuropsychiatry/Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) clinic. Results indicate that there is no relationship between IQ or selected CBCL subtests and maternal age, suggesting that maternal age does not influence the severity of autism as measured by these indicators.
Update in Cardiology: Evidence Published in 2010

This Update summarizes studies published in 2010 that the author considers highly relevant to the practice of cardiology. Topics include statins and primary prevention, treatment of stable coronary...
Relationships among polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-DNA adducts, proximity to the World Trade Center, and effects on fetal growth

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are toxic pollutants released by the World Trade Center (WTC) fires and various urban combustion sources. Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a representative member of the class of PAHs. PAH-DNA adducts, or BaP-DNA adducts as their proxy, provide a measure of chemical-specific genetic damage that has been associated with increased risk of adverse birth outcomes and cancer. To learn whether PAHs from the WTC disaster increased levels of genetic damage in pregnant women and their newborns, we analyzed BaP-DNA adducts in maternal (n = 170) and umbilical cord blood (n = 203) obtained at delivery from nonsmoking women who were pregnant on 11 September 2001 and were enrolled at delivery at three downtown Manhattan hospitals. The mean adduct levels in cord and maternal blood were highest among newborns and mothers who resided within 1 mi of the WTC site during the month after 11 September, intermediate among those who worked but did not live within this area, and lowest in those who neither worked nor lived within 1 mi (reference group). Among newborns of mothers living within 1 mi of the WTC site during this period, levels of cord blood adducts were inversely correlated with linear distance from the WTC site (p = 0.02). To learn whether PAHs from the WTC disaster may have affected birth outcomes, we analyzed the relationship between these outcomes and DNA adducts in umbilical cord blood, excluding preterm births to reduce variability. There were no independent fetal growth effects of either PAH-DNA adducts or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), but adducts in combination with in utero exposure to ETS were associated with decreased fetal growth. Specifically, a doubling of adducts among ETS-exposed subjects corresponded to an estimated average 276-g (8%) reduction in birth weight (p = 0.03) and a 1.3-cm (3%) reduction in head circumference (p = 0.04). The findings suggest that exposure to elevated levels of PAHs, indicated by PAH-DNA adducts in cord blood, may have contributed to reduced fetal growth in women exposed to the WTC event.
Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 transcription and chromatin-remodeling complexes

Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) encodes the viral protein Tax, which is believed to act as a viral transactivator through its interactions with a variety of transcription factors, including CREB and NF- B. As is the case for all retroviruses, the provirus is inserted into the host DNA, where nucleosomes are deposited to ensure efficient packaging. Previous studies using immunoprecipitation from Tax-expressing cells, 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and mass spectrometry analysis have identified the ATPase subunit BRG1 as a Tax-interacting protein. BRG1, is part of at least 8 complexes which include BAF and PBAF, as well as WINAC, NCoR, mSin3A/HDAC, and NUMAC. Nucleosomes act as roadblocks in transcription, making it difficult for RNA polymerase II (Pol II) to proceed toward the 3' end of the genome. Our results using HTLV-1 integrated chromatin indicate that the Tax-activated promoter utilized PBAF complex which appears to be responsible for nucleosome remodeling. Also, the promoter was assembled into an ordered array of translationally positioned nucleosomes. In contrast, the inactive promoter was relatively inaccessible to nuclease and was not assembled into a translationally positioned nucleosomal arrays.
The chronic illness problem inventory as a measure of dysfunction in chronic pain patients

Assessment of physical and psychosocial dysfunction is recognized as essential in chronic pain patient evaluation. One instrument, the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), has demonstrated good reliability and validity as a measure of dysfunction among chronic pain patients. An alternate measure, the Chronic Illness Problem Inventory (CIPI), is shorter and more easily scored than the SIP, but as yet has not been applied widely to chronic pain problems. In the present study, 95 chronic low back pain patients completed the SIP, the CIPI, activity diaries, the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale (CES-D), before participating in a chronic pain treatment study. Overt pain behaviors were also coded from videotapes of a standardized assessment protocol. Seventy-five subjects completed the measures post-treatment. The results indicate that although the SIP and the CIPI are significantly correlated and appear to be measuring similar constructs, there is also substantial unshared variance between them, suggesting that they may tap somewhat different aspects of dysfunction in chronic pain. The CIPI shows promise as a useful alternative measure of dysfunction in chronic low back pain patients, but requires further validation for this purpose.
Detecting errors in the Current Population Survey: a matching approach

Abstract This paper uses matched data sets to detect and correct some reporting and recording errors in the Current Population Survey (CPS). Previously, these errors were typically ignored.
Intermittent administration of parathyroid hormone (1-37) improves growth and bone mineral density in uremic rats

Intermittent administration of parathyroid hormone (1-37) improves growth and bone mineral density in uremic rats. Background Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is secreted in a pulsatile fashion. Continuous infusion of PTH(1-84) resulted in a net decrease in trabecular bone volume. Differential effects have been reported following an intermittent application of PTH. We investigated the effects of a continuous infusion and of an intermittent (2 times daily subcutaneously) administration of PTH(1-37) on growth and bone mineral density (BMD) in healthy and uremic rats. Methods Two-stage subtotal nephrectomy was performed on 130 g female Sprague-Dawley rats. PTH(1-37) or solvent was administered through minipumps in sham-operated and uremic rats (60 μg/kg × day for 2 weeks). The effect of intermittent administration was tested with a subcutaneous injection of solvent: 30 μg/kg PTH(1-37) two times per day, 100 pmol calcitriol (C)/kg two times per day, or both. The length (snout-tailtip) and BMD were measured at the start of uremia and at sacrifice. BMD was measured by peripheral quantitative computer tomography at the proximal tibia, 6 and 12 mm distal of the kneejoint space. Femur bone morphology was assessed by x-rays, and calcium content was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results Length gain was not altered by the continuous infusion of PTH. In contrast, it was significantly increased by intermittent PTH (control solvent 5.35 ± 0.37 cm vs. control PTH 6.19 ± 0.47 cm; uremia solvent 4.78 ± 0.20 cm vs. uremia PTH 6.17 ± 0.36 cm; P P P Conclusion Pulsatile administration of PTH does not adversely affect, but improves longitudinal growth independent of concomitant treatment with C. At the same time PTH increases BMD and the calcium content of bone.
The contribution of urethrocystoscopy to evaluation of lower urinary tract dysfunction in women

The aim of this study was to determine whether the evaluation of lower urinary dysfunction with urodynamics and urethrocystoscopy provides unique information that is missed by urodynamics alone. Eighty-four women underwent multichannel urodynamics and urethrocystoscopy. Retrospective analysis included evaluation of the relationships between lower urinary tract lesions and risk factors using χ2 and Fisher's exact tests. Urethrocystoscopic findings changed the diagnosis and managment in 6 patients. New urethrocystoscopic findings included papillary transitional-cell carcinoma, cystitis glandularis, an intravesical suture and a urethral diverticulum. Clinical parameters were not predictive of these findings. Urethrocystoscopic findings also contributed to the final diagnosis in 10 patients with intrinsic sphincter deficiency. Considered alone, maximum urethral closure pressure ≤20 cm H2O had a sensitivity of only 20% and a positive predictive value of 40% for this diagnosis. Urodynamics without urethrocystoscopy would have missed important diagnoses in 19% of women. Urethrocystoscopy and urodynamics complement one another, and both have a role in the evaluation of women with lower urinary tract dysfunction.
Activation of the JNK signaling pathway: breaking the brake on apoptosis

The JNK signaling pathway is involved in regulation of many cellular events, including growth control, transformation and programmed cell death (apoptosis). The role of JNK activation in apoptosis is highly controversial, being suggested to have a pro-apoptotic, anti-apoptotic or no role in this process. It appears that the JNK pathway functions in a cell-type and stimulus-dependent manner and its different components can sometimes play opposing roles in apoptosis. Recent studies reveal that the effect of JNK activation on apoptosis depends on the activity of other signaling pathways like the NF-κB pathway. Here we propose a model that can explain how activation of the JNK pathway “breaks the brake” on apoptosis, thereby regulating, but not initiating the apoptotic process. BioEssays 25:17–24, 2003. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.