cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Decreased blood oxygen diffusion in hypercholesterolemia

Abstract Background: Improvement of angina pectoris symptoms after cholesterol lowering has raised questions as to the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Rabbit experiment: We compared arterial blood samples from New Zealand White cholesterol-supplemented rabbits (n = 6) with nonsupplemented rabbit samples (n = 4) in a closed-loop circulation diffusion system. The pH and partial pressures of oxygen (pO 2 ) and carbon dioxide (pCO 2 ) were measured continuously. The samples were first oxygen (O 2 ) saturated (pO 2 , 160 mm Hg; pCO 2 , 4 mm Hg) and then desaturated in 100% nitrogen. Cholesterol levels were determined in whole blood, plasma (P Chol), red blood cells (RBCs), and RBC membranes. Human experiment: We exposed quadruple desaturated venous blood samples (n = 4) with P Chol levels of 87 to 400 mg/dL in a gas exchanger to capillary gas conditions (pO 2 , 23 mm Hg; pCO 2 , 46 mm Hg). After 15 minutes we performed blood gas analyses and compared our results to baseline values. Results: In the rabbit experiment the cholesterol-supplemented group as compared to the control group showed higher plasma pO 2 levels during the saturation phase and lower plasma pO 2 levels during the desaturation phase. It also had a markedly increased RBC membrane cholesterol content: 121 ± 3 (standard error of the mean [SEM]) mg/dL versus 22 ± 1.7 mg/dL in the control group ( P 2 diffusion caused delayed O 2 entry into the RBCs during saturation, with a higher plasma pO 2 , and delayed O 2 release from the RBCs during desaturation, with a lower plasma pO 2 . In the human experiment the P Chol level was inversely correlated with the percentage change of O 2 content in milliliters of O 2 per deciliter of blood ( P Conclusions: Increased RBC membrane cholesterol in hypercholesterolemia appears to decrease the transmembrane O 2 diffusion rate. (Surgery 1998;124:692-8.)
Molecular chaperones: Clamps for the Clps?

Abstract The Clp/Hsp 100 molecular chaperones are unusual in their ability to tease apart protein aggregates and complexes. Recent results make a good case that these chaperones bind substrates via PDZ-like domains; this may reflect a general strategy for manipulating the assembly state of substrate proteins.
Phenoxyl radical-induced thiol-dependent generation of reactive oxygen species: implications for benzene toxicity.

Abstract Mechanisms of phenoxyl radical-induced generation of oxygen radicals potentially involved in toxicity of benzene were studied. We hypothesized that phenoxyl radical intermediates formed from phenolic metabolites of benzene by oxidative enzymes (e.g., peroxidases, tyrosinase) are able to damage biomolecules via (i) oxidation of low-molecular-weight thiols and protein thiols and (ii) thioI-dependent generation of oxygen radicals and subsequent oxidation of DNA. Phenoxyl radicals were generated by the oxidation of phenol by myeloperoxidase + H 2 O 2 , horseradish peroxidase + H 2 O 2 , or tyrosinase. The reaction of phenol-phenoxyl radicals with GSH and dihydrolipoic acid was studied. Our HPLC measurements showed that both thiols reduced the phenoxyl radical back to phenol. This reaction was accompanied by the formation of thiyl radicals (detected by ESR as 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline- N -oxide/glutathione thiyl radical spin adducts) and of superoxide radicals (measured by their chemiluminescence response in the presence of lucigenin). Hydroxylation of 2′-deoxyguanosine to 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′deoxyguanosine was demonstrated in the course of the tyrosinase-catalyzed oxidation of phenol in the presence of dihydrolipoic acid and Fe(III)-EDTA. Redoxcycling of phenoxyl radicals by thiols produces oxygen radicals which can be responsible for the oxidative damage of DNA by radical intermediates of benzene metabolism.
A comparison of some two-sample tests with interval censored data

Interval censored data arise naturally in large scale panel studies where subjects can only be followed periodically and the event of interest can only be observed between some time intervals. Peto and Peto's rank invariant tests, including the logrank test and their generalized Wilcoxon test, of comparing two survival curves for right censored data can be applied to interval censored data. Simulation studies are conducted to assess and compare their performance, along with that of Mantel's test and Petroni and Wolfe's IWD test. It seems that the logrank test is most sensitive to detect late differences of two distributions while the generalized Wilcoxon test works best in distinguishing early differences. Mantel's test seems to lie between them. The methods are illustrated by reanalyzing the Breast Cosmesis Study dataset.
The influence of platelet activating factor on the effects of platelet agonists and antiplatelet agents in vitro

We assessed the effect of the intercellular mediator of inflammation, platelet activating factor (PAF), on platelet function. The interaction between PAF and the platelet agonists ADP, thrombin and convulxin was analyzed in vitro in whole blood with the use of flow cytometry and was further characterized with the use of receptor antagonists to PAF (ABT-491), P2Y1 (MRS-2179), and P2Y12 (cangrelor) as well as a monoclonal anti-PSGL-1 antibody (anti-CD162). Low concentrations of PAF (0.1 nM) synergistically augmented platelet activation induced by other agonists (P 99% inhibition of P2Y receptor-mediated platelet activation, greater than additive activation was still observed with the combination of ADP plus PAF. Accordingly, PAF synergistically augments platelet activation in response to ADP and thrombin, and the extent of inhibition exerted by P2Y receptor antagonists is decreased in the presence of PAF.
The Economics of Agency Law and Contract Formation

This article addresses issues that arise in agency law when agents make contracts on behalf of principals. The main issue is whether the principal should be bound when the agent makes a contract with some third party on his behalf which the principal would immediately wish to disavow. The resulting tradeoffs resemble those in tort law, so the least-cost-avoider principle is useful for deciding when contracts are valid and may be the underlying logic behind a number of different legal doctrines applied to agency cases. In particular, an efficiency explanation can be found for the undisclosed principal rule, which says that the principal is generally bound even when the third party is unaware that the agent is acting as an agent for him.
Adrenergic control of lipolysis in women compared with men.

Data suggest women are more sensitive to the lipolytic action of epinephrine compared with men while maintaining similar glucoregulatory effects (Horton et al. J Appl Physiol 107: 200–210, 2009). T...
Radar resource management for mechanically rotated, electronically scanned phased array radars

A key feature (in ballistic missile defence and intelligence gathering radars) is the formulation of the turret control policy and its feedback relationship to radar activity planning. The radar resource management process is discussed. The results of the radar planning algorithm, referred to as the radar plan, are provided to the turret policy control algorithm to formulate the sequence of turret pointing directions, referred to as the turret trajectory. The turret control policy algorithm functions as a feedback controller to the radar planning algorithm in that the radar plan is continually adjusted to account for the scan losses and field-of-view constraints of the current turret trajectory. Candidate turret control algorithms are considered. The radar scheduler generates the sequences of commands for controlling the radar and turret subsystems. A detailed simulation of the proposed architecture including time-ordered planning and priority-based linear quadratic tracking provides the preliminary results on which the discussion is based. >
Improving PTSD/Substance Abuse Treatment in the VA: A Survey of Providers

We surveyed 205 Veterans Affairs (VA) staff on treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use disorder (SUD), and the combination (PTSD/SUD). The survey was anonymous and VA-wide. PTSD/SUD was perceived as more difficult to treat than either disorder alone; gratification in the work was stronger than difficulty (for PTSD, SUD, and PTSD/SUD); and difficulty and gratification appeared separate constructs. Respondents endorsed views that represent expert treatment for the comorbidity; however, there was also endorsement of "myths." Thus, there is a need for more training, policy clarifications, service integration, and adaptations for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Limitations are described.
FUNCTIONAL p53 MUTATION AS A MOLECULAR DETERMINANT OF PACLITAXEL AND GEMCITABINE SUSCEPTIBILITY IN HUMAN BLADDER CANCER

Purpose: Paclitaxel and gemcitabine are promising new agents for treatment of human bladder cancer. We determine how the presence or absence of p53 function impacts the cytotoxic effects of these chemotherapeutic agents in human bladder cancer.Materials and Methods: The J82 human bladder cancer (TCC) cell line was transfected with a temperature sensitive p53 (tsp53) mutant that functions as mutated p53 at 37C but functions as wild-type (normal) p53 at 32C. Susceptibility of these inducible p53 TCC cells to paclitaxel and gemcitabine induced cytotoxicity was evaluated and kill significance determined between sub-lethal and lethal doses.Results: Significant paclitaxel dose dependent cytotoxicity was observed in J82 TCC cells lacking normal p53 and tsp53 transfected cells at 37C, which was the mutant p53 temperature in transfectants between maximal and minimal kill concentrations for either (p <0.001). Likewise, significant cytotoxicity was observed in parental J82 TCC at 32C (p <0.001), while restoration of...
Universal Constructions in Category-Theoretic Terms

Here we study systematically the category-theoretic concepts corresponding to universal constructions: initial and terminal objects, representable functors, adjoint functors and limits and colimits; how one of these constructions can often be expressed in terms of another, and when such constructions exist. We prove such results as that limits always “respect” other limits, and colimits other colimits, and also examine special but important situations where limits and colimits respect one another. (For instance, in the category of sets, though not in a general category, direct limits respect finite products. This is why, given a directed system of finitary algebras, one gets an induced algebra structure on the direct limit of their underlying sets.)
Attitudes of Southern Democratic Party Activists Toward Jesse Jackson: The Effects of the Local Context

This article examines the effect of the racial composition of the local context on the attitudes of southern Democratic Party activists toward the 1984 Jesse Jackson presidential candidacy. Relying on a survey of delegates to the 1984 North Carolina Democratic Party state convention, the analysis finds that white activists were more likely to have a negative attitude toward the Jackson candidacy when they were from a county that had a higher proportion of blacks. This relationship occurs because the racial composition of the local context affects both the conservatism of white activists, especially on racially related issues, and the assessment these activists have of the likely effects of the Jackson candidacy. Most important are beliefs that white activists have about the impact of the Jackson candidacy on the mobilization of black voters and on the generation of intra-party conflict.
Establishment of an intestinal rehabilitation program in an international tertiary care center.

tion and support preoperatively, dietary modification postoperatively, and HPN temporarily, if required. Thus, there is improved continuity of care across the continuum of care. Although long-term parenteral nutrition has been used safely for about three decades, intestinal transplantation and intestinal rehabilitation each for a decade, the concept of offering patients all three therapies in one center is a new one. The primary goal of the intestinal rehabilitation program is to restore nutritional status through the safest, most physiologic technique compatible with the patient’s lifestyle and wishes. There are three main therapies involved in the management of these complex patients: 1) intestinal rehabilitation, 2) long-term parenteral and enteral nutrition, and 3) intestinal and multivisceral transplantation. The first priority of patient care is determination of gastrointestinal anatomy, length of bowel, and presence or extent of disease. This can be very difficult, time consuming, and complicated. Many of these patients have had multiple surgical procedures in many different institutions, but this point is crucial in determining the appropriate therapy for the patient. The severity of the metabolic consequences and
The WAIS-R Comprehension and Picture Arrangement Subtests as Measures of Social Intelligence: Testing Traditional Interpretations

This study tested the hypothesis that the WAIS-R Comprehension (C) and Picture Arrangement (PA) subtests measure social intelligence. Fifty subjects' C, PA, and estimated Full Scale IQ scores were compared to scores on the Chapin Social Insight Test (SIT) and the Interpersonal Perception Task (IPT). C scores did not significantly predict social information-processing abilities. Regression results supported the notion that PA scores reveal information about subjects' ability to interpret the nonverbal behavior of others. However, further analysis cautioned against interpreting PA as a measure of social intelligence. Sample size and participant characteristics may limit the generalizability of the study; recommendations for future studies are briefly mentioned.
Partitioning of Dietary Metal Intake—A Metal Dietary Exposure Screening Tool

Detection of heavy metals at trace or higher levels in foods and food ingredients is not unexpected given the widespread unavoidable presence of several metals in nature, coupled with advancement in analytical methods and lowering limits of detection. To assist risk managers with a rapid risk assessment when facing these situations, a metal dietary exposure screening tool (MDEST) was developed. The tool uses food intake rates based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005–2010 consumption data for the U.S. population two+ years and up and for infants age six months to <two years based on the Nestl´ e Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study, and existing exposure limits for several frequently detected metals (e.g., inorganic arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury). The tool has data entry fields for detected concentrations and includes algorithms that combine metal levels with consumption data to generate screening-level exposure estimates, which it then compares to MDEST assigned default portions of the exposure limits in the risk characterization module. As a screening-level tool, the risk assessment output is intentionally conservative, public health protective, and useful for a rapid assessment to set aside issues that are not of concern. Issues that cannot be readily resolved using this screening tool will need to be further evaluated with more refined input data that are tailored to the specific question or situation under consideration.
Abolition of cyclic activity changes following amygdaloid lesions in rats

During extinction of a runway response, the activity levels of normal rats rise above, fall below, and finally return to baseline values in a regular sequence. In the present experiment amygdaloid lesions abolished these sequential activity changes. The results suggest that amygdaloid lesions abolish both the frustrational and depressional components of experimental extinction.
A new index of interspecific competition for replacement and additive designs

The literature is reviewed to summarize the major indices of interspecific competition used in De Wit replacement experiments. Of the many indices that have been defined, some are less than clear as to their meaning, so interpretations are often difficult to make. In an effort to explore the performance of individual indices and to permit cross-correlation among indices, a series of hypothetical results in different competition scenarios is created. A standardized notation for all indices is also provided, along with equations and proofs. Nine indices are reviewed and analyzed for their behavior under the hypothetical scenarios and a new index that provides increased clarification and interpretability over other indices is proposed. Relative Yield Total, Aggressivity, and Relative Replacement Rate were shown to be poor measures of competition. Relative Crowding Coefficient has many restrictions to its use. The clearest index that includes two or more species is Relative Yield of Mixture. Indices that describe single species accurately were found to be Relative Yield (RY) and Relative Competition Intensity (RCI), both of which are mathematically convertible. An index introduced here, Change in Contribution (CC), is a single species index that differs from RY and RCI because it takes into account the overall biomass each species contributes.
Low-loss, submicron chalcogenide integrated photonics with chlorine plasma etching

A chlorine plasma etching-based method for the fabrication of high-performance chalcogenide-based integrated photonics on silicon substrates is presented. By optimizing the etching conditions, chlorine plasma is employed to produce extremely low-roughness etched sidewalls on waveguides with minimal penalty to propagation loss. Using this fabrication method, microring resonators with record-high intrinsic Q-factors as high as 450 000 and a corresponding propagation loss as low as 0.42 dB/cm are demonstrated in submicron chalcogenide waveguides. Furthermore, the developed chlorine plasma etching process is utilized to demonstrate fiber-to-waveguide grating couplers in chalcogenide photonics with high power coupling efficiency of 37% for transverse-electric polarized modes.
Neisseria gonorrhoeae Recombinant Strains Expressing Hybrid Serological Reactivities of Outer Membrane Proteins IA and IB

The inheritance of epitopes of protein I, the principal protein of the outer membrane of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, was investigated by DNA-mediated transformation. Protein I transformants were isolated by selection for the linked spectinomycin-resistance determinant. Twelve monoclonal antibodies used in coagglutination tests identified epitopes of the two forms of protein I (P.IA and P.IB). A given gonococcal culture from patients expresses epitopes of either P.IA or P.IB and rarely, if ever, exhibits hybrid P.IA/P.IB reactivities. Nevertheless, we found 35 P.IA/P.IB recombinants among 1506 transformants. Transmission by DNA of the hybrid reactivities and the apparent molecular mass characteristic of a given P.IA/P.IB species verified the genetic basis of the phenotypic changes. A recombinant that expressed six P.IA and two P.IB epitopes is of interest as a possible component of a gonococcal vaccine, because one or more of these epitopes are shared with 99.8% of a worldwide collection of 1858 clinical strains.
Computing with heterogeneous parallel machines: advantages and challenges

Discusses the advantages of computing with heterogeneous parallel machines, and examines the research challenges for automating the use of such systems. One type of heterogeneous computing system is a mixed-mode machine, where a single machine can operate in different modes of parallelism. Another is a mixed-machine system, where a suite of different kinds of parallel machines are interconnected by high-speed links. To exploit such systems, a task must be decomposed into subtasks, where each subtask is computationally homogeneous. The subtasks are then assigned to and executed with the machines (or modes) that will result in a minimal overall execution time. Typically, users must specify this decomposition and assignment. One long-term pursuit in heterogeneous computing is to do this automatically. An overview of a conceptual model of what this involves is given. As an example of the research in this area, a genetic-algorithm-based approach to the subtask assignment and scheduling problem is explored. Open problems in heterogeneous computing are described.
Visualizing Attribute Interdependencies Using Mutual Information, Hierarchical Clustering, Multidimensional Scaling, and Self-organizing Maps

Data pre-processing tends to be the most critical and time-consuming step during data mining processes. Understanding the inter dependencies among the attributes is especially important for attribute selection and model structure design. Correlation measures, such as Pearson correlation coefficient, have been typically used to measure attribute dependencies. Correlation is useful for capturing linear dependency among quantitative attributes, and is invariant under linear transformations of the variables only. More recently, mutual information has been used to measure interdependencies among attributes measured in continuous scale. Mutual information is applicable to quantitative and categorical variables, captures any type of functional dependency between variables, and is invariant under one-to-one transformations. In this paper, we employ mutual information as a unified measure of interdependencies among attributes, by extending it to accommodate attributes measured in continuous and categorical scales. We further visualize the attribute interdependencies using a host of techniques, including hierarchical clustering, multidimensional scaling, and self-organizing maps. The use of mutual information permits identification of some salient interdependencies between attributes. We demonstrate the utility of the proposed methodology using real data mining applications
Affective Education and the Learning Disabled Student

Professionals in the field of learning disabilities have developed an extensive list of characteristics to describe the population. Among them there can usually be found some reference to poor self-concept or some statement referring to inadequate social or emotional development. A variety of teaching techniques and programs has been developed to ameliorate the various academic difficulties of learning disabled children. Considerably less attention has been given to the development of programs or techniques to enhance the social and emotional development of the learning disabled.This month, a guest writer, Marian Shelton, PhD, shares our column and focuses on six components necessary for planning a successful program for affective education. Following her contribution, the editors examine four programs and materials designed to enhance the self-concept and general social and emotional growth in children. Though none of the materials reviewed in this column were developed specifically for the learning disa...
Human Somatomedin, the Growth Hormone-Dependent Sulfation Factor, Is Anti-Lipolytic

ABSTRACT A partially purified, insulin-free preparation of human somatomedin, the newly proposed designation for the growth hormonedependent plasma sulfation factor, produced profound inhibition of in vitro glycerol release in epinephrine-stimulated rat epididymal fat pad segments. The log-dose response curves for inhibition of epinephrine-stimulated glycerol release by somatomedin and crystalline insulin were parallel. In this system, one unit of human somatomedin was equivalent to 120 μU of porcine insulin in anti-lipolytic activity. The ip administration of somatomedin to rats 4 hr before sacrifice resulted in the in vitro inhibition of epinephrine-stimulated glycerol release. Demonstration of the anti-lipolytic, insulin-like effects of somatomedin lends support to the possibility that sulfation/thymidine factor activity and non-suppressible insulin-like activity are resident in the same molecular species.
Clues to Cardiac Diagnosis from the General Examination

This chapter deals with the general physical findings in cardiac patients. Detailed findings of specific diseases are given in the chapters dealing with those conditions.
The Wada Test: Current Perspectives and Applications

The Wada test has been an integral part of the preoperative evaluation for epilepsy surgery since the 1950s. Originally designed to establish cerebral language laterality, it was subsequently modified by including a memory component to estimate postoperative risk to recent memory function following unilateral temporal lobe resection. This chapter will briefly review the use of Wada testing, discuss the various approaches used to transiently anesthetize brain regions prior to cognitive assessment, and conclude with the specific methods developed at the Medical College of Georgia (MCG). The Wada test is not only employed to predict postoperative risks of language and memory deficits but is also a marker of temporal lobe dysfunction and as such should be sensitive to seizure-onset laterality in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. Wada test results should always be interpreted within the context of other clinical and diagnostic test findings. The lessons learned from pitfalls in Wada testing should be carefully considered in the development and application of other techniques to assess focal cerebral function/dysfunction.
Complement as a mediator of inflammation in acute gouty arthritis. I. Studies on the reaction between human serum complement and sodium urate crystals.

Abstract The acute inflammatory response in gouty arthritis is induced by sodium urate crystals (NUC), but the mechanism of this reaction has not been established. Experiments presented in this report indicate that complement (C) may be one of the systems which mediate the acute inflammatory response in gout. C activation was initiated by incubating NUC in human serum and activation was manifested by a consumptive depletion of C. The loss of C activity was related to the time and temperature of incubation and crystal concentration. C depletion was inhibited by raising the ionic strength and by the absence of Ca2 2+ and Mg 2+ . C activity was not diminished in serum incubated with either calcium pyrophosphate crystals or heated NUC 200 °C. for 2 hours; however, C activity was diminished in serum incubated with preparations of either sodium orotate or sodium hypoxanthinate crystals. The hemolytic activity of C1 was minimally decreased in serum incubated with NUC, but the hemolytic activities of C4, C2, C3, and C5 were markedly diminished. Properdin and Hageman factor were not required for the activation of C by NUC. A serum factor that could not be identified with either IgA, IgG, or IgM appeared to be necessary for the reaction between NUC and C.
An Overview of U.S. EPA Research on Remote Monitoring and Control Technologies for Small Drinking Water Treatment Systems

There are approximately 160,000 small community and non-community drinking water treatment systems in the United States. According to recent estimates, small systems contribute to 94% of the Safe Drinking Water Act violations annually. A majority of these are for microbiological MCL violations. Small drinking water system research is being conducted at the U.S. EPA’s Test & Evaluation (T&E) Facility in Cincinnati, Ohio with an emphasis on “package plants” for biological, physical, and chemical treatment of drinking water sources. Research studies are designed to provide guidance to operators of small Public Water Systems to ensure compliance with current regulations including the Surface Water Treatment Rule and the Groundwater Rule. Several U.S. EPA studies have focused on packaged filtration and disinfection systems equipped with remote telemetry units and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. SCADA systems are commonly used by large (not small) water utilities to control and monitor their operations. However, the constant monitoring requirements for small system operators in remote locations can incur substantial costs in time and travel. Remote monitoring and control systems offer a cost-effective way to reduce manpower requirements by providing real-time monitoring of water quality, continuous control of operating conditions, and the reporting of information electronically from a “centralized” location. Disclaimer This paper has been reviewed in accordance with the EPA's peer and administrative review policies and approved for presentation and publication. The mention of trade
Numerical Study of Finite Aspect Ratio Perching Wings

The perching maneuver is a complex motion involving fast change of angle of attack and wing deformation. The salient aerodynamic features can be observed in a simple pitch-up motion coupled with a streamwise deceleration. Parametric experimental study has been performed based on a wall-to-wall mounted flat plate to understand the role of pitch rate, streamwise deceleration, and the blockage effect at a Reynolds number of 20,000. In this paper we study the aerodynamics of finite aspect ratio wings at a low Reynolds number of 500. At this Reynolds number viscosity plays a more important role. The objectives of this paper are (1) to extend the perching wing study to a lower Reynolds number region in which small insect size MAVs operate, (2) to understand the impact of aspect ratio on the perching wing aerodynamics, and (3) to quantify the role of perch rate. The flow field is described by solving the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations on overlapping grids. The wing kinematics is represented by a series of transformation matrices. Comparisons are made between finite aspect ratio wings and 2D simulation. Pitch-up cases without streamwise deceleration are studied. Various reduced frequencies are tested. It was found that as the aspect ratio increases, both the lift curve slope and peak force increase, but the stall angle decreases. At the start of the pitch-up, force histories without streamwise deceleration are very similar; however, force histories deviate from each other when past stall angles. The formation of tip vortices was found to delay the leading edge vortex development. Increasing the pitch rate will delay the formation of tip vortices. Nomenclature
SURGICAL TREATMENT OF DUODENAL ULCER.

The position of subtotal gastrectomy as the procedure of choice for the surgical treatment of duodenal ulcer has been challenged by two maneuvers involving division of the vagus nerves: vagotomy with hemigastrectomy or antrectomy and vagotomy with pyloroplasty or gastroenterostomy. Personal experience and the reports of many workers suggest that the combination of hemigastrectomy and vagotomy produces the best over-all results in terms of operative mortality, recurrent ulceration, and distressing side effects. Evaluation of “selective gastric vagotomy” must await further studies.
A Comprehensive Guide on Restoring Grasp Using Tendon Transfer Procedures for Ulnar Nerve Palsy

Ulnar nerve paralysis results in classic stigmata, including weakness of grasp and pinch, poorly coordinated flexion, and clawing of digits. Restoration of grasp is a key portion of the reconstructive efforts after loss of ulnar nerve function. Improving flexion at the metacarpophalangeal joint can be done by static and dynamic means, although only the latter can improve interphalangeal extension. Deformity and digital posture are more predictably corrected with surgical intervention. Loss of strength from intrinsic muscle paralysis cannot be fully restored with tendon transfer procedures. Preoperative patient education is paramount to success if realistic expectations are to be met.
Enhancing Post-evaluation for Government Invested Agricultural Project

The post-evaluation for government invested agricultural project means after the agricultural project,which is entire invested by government or partial invested by government,go into production and operation for a period,a objective,impartial and scientific conclusion should be conducted to evaluate it whether success or not.The post-evaluation for government invested agricultural project benefits to strengthening the supervision of project decision-making,ensuring the benefit of invested project,perfecting decision-making method and evaluating index system and pointing the outlet for difficult implementing project.In order to enhancing post-evaluation for government invested agricultural project,it should establish post-evaluation system,reasonably choose post-evaluation method and key point,train qualified personnel of post-evaluation and pay attention to application of post-evaluation achievements.
Cloning of LDC gene and its expression analysis under several adversity stresses from Cucumis sativus L.

The open reading frame(ORF)of lysine decarboxylase(LDC)was isolated and identified from chilling tolerance cucumber'Chipper'using RT-PCR technique,named as CsLDC.The accession number was KC202438 in GenBank.The gene had an ORF of 645 bp encoding a protein of 215 amino acids,had a relative molecular mass of 23 625.2,and its isoelectric point was 5.99.The putative amino acid sequence only contained LDC conserved sequence,and shared high identity with LDC in Popilus trichocarpa.CsLDC had the nearest genetic relationship with Petunia × hybrida by phylogenetic tree analysis.The predicted protein had no signal peptide,but had an obvious transmembrane domain and multifunction site.The similartity of forecasting 3D structure of CsLDC with SWISS-MODEL and that of 2a33 encoded by AtLDC(At2G37210)was 88.89%.The responses of CsLDC expression to low temperature and salt stress was quick by quantitative real-time PCR,and the expression of CsLDC under treatments for 4 h reached the peak,which were 4.07 and 2.03 times of that controls,then dropped to the previous levels and maintained stable.But CsLDC was inhabited by drought,and got back the original when treated for 24 h.It was speculated that the CsLDC gene might be involved in the defence against low temperature and salt resistance in cucumber seedling.
Estimating the voice source in noise.

Estimation of the glottal source has applications in many areas of speech processing. Therefore, a noise-robust automatic source estimation algorithm is proposed in this paper. The source signal is estimated using a codebook search approach. The glottal area waveforms extracted from high-speed recordings of the glottis is converted to the glottal flow signals in order to evaluate the performance of the proposed source estimation algorithm. Results in clean and noisy conditions, on average, show that the proposed algorithm provides more accurate estimation than the software toolkit Aparat [1] as well as an earlier approach [2].
Blood transfusions and renal transplantation. Are pretransplant blood transfusions still needed in the cyclosporine era

,t blood transfusions could ,aft survival was appreor to that time, routine re withheld from patients lantation. This policy was based on the belief that transfusions would sensitize the potential recipient to common antigens present in the general population, thus precluding transplantation. The results of studies published after 1979, however, disclosed that patients who had received blood transfusions before transplantation had significantly prolonged graft survival rates compared with patients who had not. 3-5 Early observations indicated that the improvement in graft survival between transfused and non-transfused patients could be detected within the first three post-transplant months. Transfused patients experienced fewer and less severe acute rejection episodes during this period. 6 Better graft function appeared to correlate directly with the number of transfusions received 7 and was observed in living-related as well as in eadaverie recipients. 8 Once it became apparent that blood transfusions could enhance engraftment results in renal allograft recipients, several hypotheses were proposed to explain the mechanism(s) of this response. The transfusion effect appears to depend on the presence of white blood cells in the adminis te red product . 3,5,9 Frozen, washed blood (which is leukocyte poor) is less efficacious, and leukocyte-free blood is completely ineffective. 4 Data using platelet-derived products are less clear. 10 Leukocytes (or other antigen-bearing cells) probably mediate their effects on the immune system by one of two mechanisms: sensitization
Juries and American Revolutionary Jurisprudence

The colonial judiciary and particularly the jury system have been neglected subjects of early American law. Yet, it is common knowledge that the American colonies won their independence at a time when the jury system was being acclaimed as a fundamental guarantor of individual liberty. When colonial intractability was first displayed over the Sugar Act of 1764, the issue was not simply one of taxation, but, as Burke recognized, principally one of the power of Parliament to set aside trial by jury in an effort to enforce vastly unpopular legislation. By this act … so construed and so applied, almost all that is substantial and beneficial in a trial by jury is taken away from the subject in the colonies. A person is brought hither in the dungeon of a ship’s hold; thence he is vomited into a dungeon on land, loaded with irons, unfurnished with money, unsupported by friends, three thousand miles from all means of calling upon or confronting evidence, where no one local circumstance that tends to detect perjury can possibly be judged of; — such a person may be executed according to form, but he can never be tried according to justice.1 The British insistence on trying offenders in hated Admiralty courts was precisely a heavy-handed attempt to preclude the registering of popular sentiment with regard to these laws through jury trials. Colonials held tightly to the institution of trials by jury and lashed out at any attempt to curtail or circumvent it.2
Simultaneous Fiducial Generalized Confidence Intervals for Ratios of Means of Lognormal Distributions

In this paper, we construct Fiducial Generalized Confidence Intervals (FGCI) for ratio of means of two lognormal distributions based on independent observations from the two distributions. We compared the proposed method with another method, the Z-Score method. A simulation study showed that the FGCI method performs much better than the Z-Score method, especially for small and medium samples. We also prove that the confidence intervals constructed using FGCI method have correct asymptotic coverage. In this paper we propose a new method for constructing simultaneous confidence intervals for all pairwise ratios of means of lognormal distributions. Our approach is based on Fiducial Generalized Pivotal Quantities (FGPQ) for vector parameters. Simulation studies show that the constructed confidence intervals have satisfactory small sample performance. We also prove that they have correct asymptotic coverage. The result has applications in bioequivalence studies for comparing three or more drug formulations.
Synopsis of the mosses of Wyoming

A revised list of the mosses of the State of Wyoming is presented. Recorded are 315 species and varieties.
Rationale and design of Family-based Approach in a Minority community Integrating systems-biology for promotion of health (FAMILIA).

Background The 2020 American Heart Association Impact Goal aims to improve cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20% while reducing deaths from cardiovascular disease and stroke by 20%. A large step toward this goal would be to better understand and take advantage of the significant intersection between behavior and biology across the entire life-span. In the proposed FAMILIA studies, we aim to directly address this major knowledge and clinical health gap by implementing an integrated family-centric health promotion intervention and focusing on the intersection of environment and behavior, while understanding the genetic and biologic basis of cardiovascular disease. Methods We plan to recruit 600 preschool children and their 600 parents or caregivers from 12-15 Head Start schools in Harlem, NY, and perform a 2:1 (2 intervention/1 control) cluster randomization of the schools. The preschool children will receive our intensive 37-hour educational program as the intervention for 4 months. For the adults, those in the "intervention" group will be randomly assigned to 1 of 2 intervention programs: an "individual-focused" or "peer-to-peer based." The primary outcome in children will be a composite score of knowledge (K), attitudes (A), habits (H), related to body mass index Z score (B), exercise (E), and alimentation (A) (KAH-BEA), using questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. For adults, the primary outcome will be a composite score for behaviors/outcomes related to blood pressure, exercise, weight, alimentation (diet) and tobacco (smoking; Fuster-BEWAT score). Saliva will be collected from the children for SNP genotyping, and blood will be collected from adults for RNA sequencing to identify network models and predictors of primary prevention outcomes. Conclusion The FAMILIA studies seek to demonstrate that targeting a younger age group (3-5 years) and using a family-based approach may be a critical strategy in promoting cardiovascular health across the life-span.
Hematologic, hepatic, and renal function changes in hospitalized patients with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus.

SummaryBackground There are no longitudinal data on the changes in hematologic, hepatic, and renal function findings in patients with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study of 16 MERS-CoV patients, to describe the hematological, hepatic, and renal findings of patients with MERS-CoV. Results During the 21 days of observation, there was no significant change in the hepatic panel or creatinine tests. There was a significant increase in the mean ± SD of the white blood cell count from 8.3 ± 4.6 to 14.53 ± 7 (P value = 0.001) and an increase in mean ± SD of the absolute neutrophil count from 6.33 ± 4.2 to 12 ± 5.5 (P value = 0.015). Leukocytosis was observed in 31% (5/16) of the patients on day 1 and in 80% (4/5) on day 21. Transient leukopenia developed in 6% (1/16) of the patients on day 1 and in 13% (1/8) on day 8. None of the patients had neutropenia. Lymphopenia was a prominent feature with a rate of 44% (7/16) of the patients on day 1 and 60% (3/5) on day 21. Lymphocytosis was not a feature of MERS-CoV infection. Thrombocytopenia developed in 31% (5/16) of the patients on day 1 and 40% (2/5) on day 21. Thrombocytosis was not a prominent feature and was observed in 6% (1/16) of the patients on day 1 and 17% (1/6) on day 9. Conclusions Patients with MERS-CoV infection showed variable hematologic parameters over time. Lymphocytosis and neutropenia were not features of MERS-CoV infection.
The Esophageal Epithelial Barrier in Health and Disease

Dysfunction in the esophageal epithelial barrier function is a major source for morbidity. To better understand the pathophysiologic pathways of the diseases associated with barrier dysfunction, including gastroesophageal reflux disease, eosinophilic esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus, and obesity, it is important to understand the esophageal epithelial embryologic development, microscopic anatomy with a special focus on the barrier structure and function, extraepithelial defense mechanisms, and how these change in the diseased state. In recent years, significant progress has been made in elucidating the esophageal barrier structure and function both in vitro and in vivo. This has enhanced the understanding of mechanisms of disease, and may also allow identification of therapeutic targets that can help in the management of these diseases. This review provides a detailed discussion regarding the esophageal epithelial barrier structure and function, the current and historical techniques used to study the barrier, and how it is affected by common esophageal diseases.
Assessing intraductal proliferations in breast core needle biopsies

Abstract Intraductal proliferations of the breast comprise a heterogeneous group of epithelial proliferations confined to the ductal and lobular system of the breast parenchyma. The correct interpretation and categorization of such lesions can be challenging, especially on core needle biopsy, but are critical for appropriate clinical management as this determines whether surgical excision is or is not required. In this paper we aim to review the histologic criteria and terminology for the spectrum of intraductal proliferative lesions. We will discuss the key morphologic features and diagnostic mimics of usual ductal hyperplasia, atypical ductal hyperplasia, and ductal carcinoma in situ, and provide practical guidelines for interpretation in core needle biopsy specimens.
Ethical Veganism as Protected Identity: Constructing a Creed Under Human Rights Law

The Ontario Human Rights Commission’s 2015 policy on discrimination removes its previous exclusion of secular and ethical belief systems from legal protections afforded traditional religion. In this update, some activists see the potential for “ethical veganism” to be recognized under provincial human rights law as a creed. Reviewing similar cases in other jurisdictions, this essay considers the risks and benefits of pursuing such legal standing, the circumstances under which a vegan claim might succeed at court, and the obstacles that await it. It explores also the overlaps and divergences between the way the courts and the Religious Studies academy understand belief and practice. Can veganism stand on its own as a creed or is it protected only where it intersects with conventional religious belief?
Optimization of 16{alpha}-[18F]fluoroestradiol synthesis with optimal effective specific activity for small animal studies

460 Objectives Fluorine-18 16α-fluoroestradiol (FES) is a valuable tool to study the status of estrogen receptor (ER) in primary and metastatic breast cancers using positron emission tomography (PET). The FES synthesis has been improved by using 3-O-methoxymethyl-16, 17-O-sulfuryl-16-epiestriol as precursor for clinical use. For small animal studies, the effective specific activity (ESA) is critical because a high dose of FES with low ESA may saturate the ER and block the uptake. So far for this method, no ESA has been published, and variable radiochemical yields and specific activity have been reported. Our goal was to optimize the labeling process to achieve optimal ESA for FES. Methods The synthesis of [18F]FES was carried out under typical labeling conditions (K222, K2CO3) using as low as 0.3 mg of precursor in acetonitrile at 110 oC for 7 min, followed by acid hydrolysis using 100 µL 1 M H2SO4 and 400 µL acetonitrile at 110 oC for 10 min. [18F]FES was purified by a reversed phase HPLC system. SA and ESA were measured by HPLC and by using a receptor binding assay, respectively. Results Starting with 50 mCi [18F]fluoride (untreated), up to 70% (isolated, decay corrected) of [18F]FES was obtained within 90 min using only 0.3 mg substrate . The yield was highly reproducible when 1 M H2SO4 instead of 1 N HCl was used for the hydrolysis. H2SO4 also avoided the potential formation of chloro-analogue of FES. The HPLC parameters were chosen to avoid no major mass peaks eluting around FES. The ESA measured was up to 10,000 mCi/µmol, which matches the SA by HPLC. Administering high dose (300 µCi/dose) of FES to a 20 g tumor bearing mouse did not reduce the target uptake of the tracer. Conclusions We synthesized [18F]FES with optimal yields and ESA by using a minimal amount of substrate, H2SO4 hydrolysis and a careful HPLC purification. These improvements can be easily adapted to an automatic synthesizer. Research Support NIH U01CA141541-0