cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Convective-diffusive transport in protein crystal growth

Abstract Particular interest in the role of convection in protein crystallization has arisen since some protein single crystals of improved structural quality have been obtained under reduced gravity conditions. We have numerically modeled the time-dependent diffusive-convective transport in an isothermal protein crystal growth system at standard and zero gravity (1 g and 0 g ). In the 2D model used, a rectangular crystal of fixed dimensions 400 μ m × 600 μ m is positioned at the bottom of a 1 mm high and 6 mm wide growth cell. The aqueous solution contains protein and precipitant. For the dependence of the crystal growth rate on interfacial supersaturation, experimental data for lysozyme are used. The repartitioning of water and precipitant at the growing interface is based on experimental segregation data for lysozyme: NaCl, and on complete rejection for a fictitious system in which lysozyme and precipitant have the same diffusivity. The results show that even in the small cell employed, protein concentration nonuniformities and gravity-driven solutal convection can be significant. The calculated convection velocities are of the same order of magnitude as those found in earlier experiments. As expected, convective transport enhances the growth rates. However, even when diffusion dominates mass transport, i.e. at 0 g , lysozyme crystal growth remains kinetically limited. Irrespective of the diffusivity of the precipitant, due to the low growth rates, the precipitant distribution in the solution remains rather uniform even at 0 g , unless strong coupling between precipitant and protein fluxes is assumed. The salt distribution in the crystal is predicted to be non-uniform at both 1 g and 0 g , as a consequence of protein depletion in the solution.
Cytogenetic effects of environmental mutagens in mammalian cells and the extrapolation to man.

Summary In order to extrapolate from cytogenetic data obtained with laboratory animals, with the intention of making an estimate of the genetic hazard of ionizing radiation, and possibly chemical mutagens, to man, several factors have to be taken into consideration. This paper represents an attempt to account for such factors and to make such an estimate. It is shown, for the mouse, Chinese hamster, and marmoset, that the yield of chromosome aberrations induced in peripheral leukocytes by X-rays was the same whether the cells were exposed in vivo or in vitro . It is also demonstrated that the yield of dicentric aberrations (asymmetrical translocations) varied from species to species, and that the yield was proportional to the number of chromosome arms available for translocation production, such that man, with 81 chromosome arms, was twice as sensitive as the mouse, which has 40. The yield of deletions did not vary from species to species. The yield of reciprocal translocations induced in spermatogonial stem cells by X-rays, and observed in primary spermatocytes, was measured in the mouse, Chinese hamster, guinea pig, and marmoset. It was found that the yield of reciprocal translocations was 0.25–0.30 of that assumed to be induced in peripheral leukocytes. It was also noted that the yield was here also related to the effective chromosome arm number. Using these and other data, it is proposed that the dicentric yield in human leukocytes can be corrected by a factor of 0.03–0.04 in order to derive an estimate of the recovered reciprocal translocations in the F 1 of irradiated males.
A 77 GHz SiGe sub-harmonic balanced mixer

A novel SiGe 77 GHz sub-harmonic balanced mixer is presented with a goal to push the technology to its limit [SiGe2-RF transistor (f/sub T/=80 GHz)]. This new topology uses a compact input network not only to achieve high isolation between the LO and RF ports, but also to result in excellent 2LO-RF isolation. The measured results demonstrate a conversion gain of 0.7 dB at 77 GHz with an LO power of 10 dBm at 38 GHz, LO-RF isolation better than 30 dB, 2LO-RF isolation of 25 dB, and a P/sub 1dB/ of -8 dBm. The mixer core consumes 4.4 mA at 5 V. The circuit demonstrates that SiGe sub-harmonic mixers have comparable performance with GaAs designs, at a fraction of the cost.
Poetic Steps: Fusing African American Poetry and Choreography in Classroom Practice

ABSTRACT “Poetic Steps” represents a collaborative teaching experiment that recently took place between college students in a dance composition course and those in an African American poetry course. This article begins by tracing the historic intersections among African American choreographers, artists, and social activists. It continues by outlining the structure and planning that contributed to a shared course assignment, the authors' teaching and learning goals, and selected, student- group performance highlights. For three weeks, students from each course immersed themselves in an integrated, collaborative learning environment, where they bridged the intrinsic power of verse with the fluidity of a choreographic movement study. Students without experience in dance or choreography and those without expertise in poetic explication came together to create an interdisciplinary and meaningful integration between linguistic and physical worlds.
On the Lusternik–Schnirelmann category of Peano continua

Abstract We define the LS-category cat g by means of covers of a space by general subsets, and show that this definition coincides with the classical Lusternik–Schnirelmann category for compact metric ANR spaces. We apply this result to give short dimension theoretic proofs of the Grossman–Whitehead theorem and Dranishnikovʼs theorem. We compute cat g for some fractal Peano continua such as Menger spaces and Pontryagin surfaces.
Serotonin, 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid (5-HIAA), and Monoamine Oxidase in the Bovine Median Eminence and Pituitary Gland

Serotonin, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid /5-HIAA/ and monoamine oxidase in bovine pituitary organ and median eminence
Quantitative Determination of Cyclobenzaprine in Human Plasma by High Pressure Liquid Chromatography

Abstract A method is presented for the analysis of cyclo-benzaprine in human plasma utilizing high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection at 230 nm. Plasma, adjusted to pH 10.5, was extracted with methylene chloride:pentane 30:70 (v/v). Nortriptyline was employed as the internal standard, and chromatographic separation was achieved with a normal-phase column. Standard curves were linear over the concentration range 1.0 ng/ml to 49.0 ng/ml. The method was utilized to assay plasma samples from 24 humans given a 20 mg oral dose of cyclobenzaprine.
Testosterone levels and mental rotation performance in Chinese men

Males achieve markedly higher scores than females on mental rotation tests (MRTs). Therefore, it might be hypothesized that, within groups of males, testosterone levels modulate MRT performance. However, studies of this relationship have yielded inconsistent results. Notably, a recent study of 28 American men, using the computerized Shepard and Metzler MRT (SM), found significant associations between salivary testosterone levels and the intercepts of the functions relating response time and error rate to the angular disparity between comparison objects. Conversely, a study of 35 British men, using the same methodology, found no such associations. We attempted a cross-cultural replication of these studies, in which we obtained salivary testosterone levels, together with performance measures on the SM, from 92 heterosexual right-handed men, aged 21-38, in Beijing, China. We hypothesized that Chinese men might perform more slowly and carefully than Western men on this test (which imposes no time limitations), but that associations of testosterone levels with performance, if real, should nevertheless be detectable across cultures. We found that the Chinese men indeed displayed significantly longer response times than the American men, although the Chinese men were equally accurate. Interestingly, testosterone was significantly associated with the slope of the response time function in Chinese men, whereas the earlier American study had found that testosterone was associated with the intercept, but not the slope, of this function. These observations suggest that differing cultural values regarding speed and accuracy may influence MRT performance--and that these values must be considered in future studies of testosterone and MRT measures.
A new lower bound construction for commutative thue systems with applications

For n >=1, d >= 2, we describe a commutative Thue system that has ~2n variables and O(n) rules, each rule of size d + O(1) and that counts to d^2^n in a certain technical sense. This gives a more ''efficient'' alternative to a well-known construction of Mayr and Meyer. Using this construction, we sharpen the known double-exponential lower bounds for the maximum degrees D(n, d), I(n, d), S(n, d) associated (respectively) with Grobner bases, ideal membership problem and the syzygy basis problem: D(n,d)>=S(n,d)>=d^2^^^m,I(n,d)>=d^2^^^m, where m~n/2, and n, d sufficiently large. For comparison, it was known that D(n, d) @? d^2^n and I(n, d) @? (2d)^2^n.
Abstract 2897: Profiling lipoxygenase metabolism in specific steps of colorectal tumorigenesis

Lipoxygenases (LOXs) are key enzymes for the oxidative metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids into products that influence cell signaling, structure, and metabolism. Previous data on comparative levels of various LOX products in human tumorigenesis are limited primarily to retrospectively collected surgical samples from cancer patients. Therefore, we examined LOX product profiles by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry in the major steps of colorectal tumorigenesis (normal, polyp, and cancer) in a clinical study of 125 subjects (49 with a normal colon, 36 with colorectal polyps, and 40 with colorectal cancer) who underwent prospective colorectal biopsies to control for various potential confounding factors (e.g. diet, medications). Mean 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-HODE) levels were significantly higher in normal colons (mean = 36.11 ng/mg protein, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 31.56-40.67) than in paired colorectal cancer mucosa (mean = 27.01 ng/mg protein, 95% CI: 22.00-32.02; P = 0.0002) and in normal colons (mean = 37.15 ng/mg protein, 95% CI: 31.95-42.34) than in paired colorectal polyp mucosa (mean = 28.07 ng/mg protein, 95% CI: 23.66-32.48; P 4 (LTB 4 ) levels were detected between normal, polyp and cancer mucosa. Downregulation of 15-LOX-1 expression, the rate limiting enzyme for 13-HODE production, in human colorectal neoplastic mucosa was confirmed by quantitative real time PCR in a subset colorectal cancer patients for whom samples with adequate RNA quality were available. This study establishes that reduced 13-HODE levels are a specific alteration in the LOX product profile associated with human colorectal tumorigenesis. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2897.
Decrease in acetaminophen toxicity in mice treated with metyrapone

Abstract Metyrapone, an inhibitor of cytochrome P-450, was administered to mice to determine the effects on acetaminophen toxicity. Metyrapone increased the acetaminophen LD-50 by 30%. Hepatic glutathione depletion was significantly less in the metyrapone-treated mice while the time to maximum depletion was delayed. Histological studies showed a significant decrease in the hepatic necrosis in mice receiving metyrapone after acetaminophen compared to mice receiving acetaminophen alone.
CAPITAL RATIONING UNDER RISK: A CHANCE CONSTRAINED APPROACH USING UNIFORMLY DISTRIBUTED CASH FLOWS AND AVAILABLE BUDGETS

ABSTRACT This paper presents pure capital rationing and selection of the best capital project mix when cash flows and available budgets are uniformly distributed random variables. Chance-constrained programming is used by approximating uniformly distributed random variables into normally distributed ones. Thus, a methodology is proposed to handle uniformly distributed random variables in capital rationing. The accuracy of the results is checked using the Monte-Carlo simulation technique. A literature review on the inclusion of risk into capital investment decisions using chance-constrained programming is also provided.
Current and future aims of lipid-lowering therapy: changing paradigms and lessons from the heart protection study on standards of efficacyand safety

Lipid-lowering guidelines continue to evolve toward the use of (1) global risk assessment, (2) lipid measures other than or in addition to low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in assessment of risk and treatment benefit, and (3) recommendations for more aggressive lipid lowering. Findings in the Heart Protection Study (HPS) indicate that high-risk patients benefit from statin therapy initiated at a dose that provides aggressive lowering of LDL cholesterol. Statin treatment in this trial provided consistent benefits in reducing major vascular events among a wide variety of high-risk patients, including those beginning treatment with LDL cholesterol levels <100 mg/dL. The HPS findings therefore suggest that the optimal LDL cholesterol level is well below current target levels. In addition, they provide reassurance that aggressive statin therapy is safe. Frequently, current targets for LDL cholesterol are not achieved in clinical practice, particularly among those patients who have coronary artery disease or are at high risk of disease. More intensive lipid lowering than that currently practiced is necessary to achieve current goals and to provide the aggressive reduction of LDL cholesterol shown to improve outcomes in clinical trials. New statins, such as rosuvastatin, offer the prospect of improved lipid-lowering therapy.
Psychometric Evaluation of the Employer Support for Breastfeeding Questionnaire (ESBQ)

The purpose of this descriptive methodological study was to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Employer’s Support for Breastfeeding Questionnaire (ESBQ). The convenience sample...
Effects of multilure components on twig-crotch feeding by European elm bark beetles

The three components of the European elm bark beetle pheromone dispensed from polyethylene vials attached to the boles of healthy juvenile elms affected the rates of beetles landing and twig feeding on the baited trees. Maximum attraction to the tree occurred when all three pheromone components were presented together in a ratio of 1∶1∶8 for 4-methyl-3-heptanol (H), α-multistriatin (M), and α-cubebene (C). M released either alone or in excess of its natural ratio with H and C induced twig-crotch feeding. H presented alone had no effect on attraction or twig-crotch feeding, but in combination with M it induced landing on and boring into the tree bole. We concluded that the ratio of M and H being released influenced incoming beetles either to land on and colonize the bole or to feed in twig crotches. M in excess of H, known to occur when most females are mated, terminates colonization and deflects incoming beetles to crowns of elms.
Cell cycle kinetics and commitment in newborn, adult, and tumoral astrocytes

In terms of cell cycle phases, mammalian astrocytes maintain the capacity to leave G0/G1 and enter S phase in response to brain injury or due to neoplastic transformation. This report compares proliferative behavior in vitro, particularly departure from G0, in three types of rat astroglial cells-newborn astrocytes, astrocytes from gelatin implants into the traumatized striata of adults, and astrocytoma cells (C6 glioma). Newborn and adult astrocytes demonstrated nearly identical proliferation kinetics as determined by peaks in cell number and rates of DNA synthesis. C6 glioma (C6G) proliferated more rapidly. Exit from G0 was examined by shift-down of serum from 10 to 0.1% for 48 h, followed by return to 10% at time 0. Synchronization of newborn and adult astrocytes in this way resulted in a 12 h lag phase (G0/G1) followed by a 6-10-fold surge in DNA synthesis and a corresponding increase in S-phase nuclei from 70%. Timing of S-phase commitment was established in late G1 by resistance to the inhibitors cycloheximide and mevinolin. Decay of commitment was assessed by addition of hydroxyurea (HU) at 10 h to cause accumulation at the G1/S boundary. Removal of HU after an additional 14, 16, and 20 h resulted respectively in these percentages of maximal S-phase DNA synthesis in newborn and adult astrocytes: 75 +/- 9, 60 +/- 8, 23 +/- 3, and 87 +/- 20, 62 +/- 7, 34 +/- 5. In contrast, synchronization of C6G resulted in a 6 h lag before a surge in DNA synthesis and an increase in S-phase nuclei from < 20% to 100%. Cell cycle commitment occurred earlier with C6G, and decay of commitment was not observed, even after 20 h of HU treatment. Thus, these in vitro techniques for cell cycle analysis are applicable to astrocytes obtained from developing and adult brain, and to at least some astroglioma cells. Furthermore, this comparative study showed that important cell cycle parameters differ markedly in the non-tumoral astrocytes and glioma cells. These differences could lead to strategies for selective targeting of the proliferation of neoplastic astroglia.
Inclusive inelastic neutral-current neutrino reactions in 12C and the charged-current reaction

Abstract The inclusive neutral-current cross section for the process v e + 12 C → v e + X is calculated for energies from threshold to 100 MeV. Averages for the cross section over the Michel spectrum are also obtained. The relationship between this cross section and the charged-current cross section for the reaction ν e + 12 C → e − + X is also discussed.
Cancellation over commutative rings of dimension one and two

All rings in this paper are commutative and Noetherian, and all modules are finitely generated. We will study the question: If A @ C z B @ C, is A z B? (Here A, B and C are modules over a ring R.) In 1962 Chase [4] gave an affirmative answer for R = k[X, Y], the polynomial ring in two variables over an algebraically closed field k, provided A and B are torsionfree and char(k)trank(A). In the first section of this paper we extend Chase’s result to include all two-dimensional regular affine k-domains. Most of the paper deals with one-dimensional rings. In Section 2 we prove some general results, which we hope will eventally lead to some sort of structure theory for torsionfree modules over one-dimensional reduced rings with finite normalization. In this context we show that one can cancel from projectives (that is, the answer is “yes” when A and B are projective) if and only if Pit R = Pit z, where g is the normalization. When A and B are assumed to be merely torsionfree, the problem is more subtle, but we have some partial results. The last three sections deal with three naturally occurring examples of one-dimensional rings: coordinate rings of curves, quadratic orders and integral group rings of finite abelian groups. In each of these cases we are able to give a fairly complete answer to the cancellation problem for torsionfree modules. Many of the ideas in this paper are the direct or indirect results of innumerable conversations with Raymond Heitmann and Lawrence Levy. In particular, Levy discovered a serious error in the proof of the main theorem of an earlier version, and Heitmann showed by example that the statement itself was incorrect. I am extremely grateful to both of them for their interest and insight.
On the problem of incoherent subtractions in production processes from nuclei

Abstract The question of the contribution of incoherent events to small angle nuclear production cross sections is discussed. It is shown that the correct treatment of such events can be important in the determination of unstable particle-nucleon cross sections. The examples of vector meson photoproduction and elastic scattering are calculated.
Statistical study of genotype assignment (carrier detection) in hemophilia B.

Abstract Statistical studies were made of laboratory data obtained from obligatory carriers of hemophilia B and normal women belonging to reference groups assembled separately in California and North Carolina. Values for factor IX activity (IX:C) and factor IX antigen (IX:Ag) were available on 29 carriers of CRM − hemophilia B, 18 carriers of CRM + hemophilia B and 20 normal women from California, and IX:C levels were available on 24 carriers and 33 normal female North Carolinians. Ages to the nearest year were available on all of the women. A significant increase of IX:C with age was present in one sub-group of normal women from California but not in two other subgroups of normals nor any of the carriers. There was not an increase of IX:Ag with age in any group. Each variable was examined individually for its utility in carrier detection, and the utility of using both variables simultaneously was assessed by discriminant analysis, both linear and quadratic. The analyses showed that the most efficient (and cost-effective) method of classifying CRM − carriers was univariate discrimination based upon assay of IX:Ag alone. For CRM + carriers, bivariate linear discrimination utilizing both IX:C and IX:Ag assays was preferable in the particular body of data examined. Quadratic discrimination was actually more efficient in identifying CRM + carriers, but a statistical peculiarity makes this conclusion suspect.
Electrochemical investigations of oligomers and polymers containing ruthenium- and iron-arene complexes

Cyclic voltammetry was employed to investigate the electrochemical behavior of numerous cyclopentadienyliron (CpFe + ) and pentamethyl-cyclopentadienylruthenium (Cp*Ru + ) coordinated oligomers and polymers. The electrochemical behavior of the iron systems indicated the cyclopentadienyliron complexes had isolated redox centers and that changes in the reversibility of the redox couple occurred with changes in solvent and temperature. In contrast, the monometallic ruthenium systems showed large peak separations that suggested slow kinetics on the CV timescale. The cyclic voltammograms of the larger ruthenium-containing oligomers and polymers showed multiple redox steps indicating complex electrochemical behavior.
A novel method for endoscopic perforation management by using abdominal exploration and full-thickness sutured closure

Background Perforation of the GI tract during endoscopy can result in significant morbidity and mortality. Early recognition and immediate management of endoscopic perforation are essential to optimize outcome. Larger perforations, defects with complex geometry, and those complicated by leakage of luminal contents have traditionally required surgical management. Objective To assess the feasibility of a new method for managing complex perforations that incorporates abdominal exploration and endoscopic sutured closure. Design Case series. Setting Tertiary care center. Patients Two patients with large, complicated perforations and peritoneal contamination. Interventions Endoscopic exploration of abdomen with angiocatheter placement under direct visualization, management of leaked luminal contents, and full-thickness sutured defect closure. Results Endoscopic abdominal exploration through the perforation site allowed safe placement of an angiocatheter for management of pneumoperitoneum, inspection for injury that may warrant surgical management, and removal of leaked luminal contents. Endoscopic sutured closure allowed safe and robust perforation management. Repair of gastrojejunal anastomotic perforation required 2 sutures and 63 minutes. Repair of gastric perforation required 4 sutures and 48 minutes. Patients had successful endoscopic defect closure confirmed by an upper GI series and were discharged 1 day later. Limitations Report of a new method in 2 patients performed at tertiary care center. Conclusions We demonstrate successful management of complex perforations with peritoneal contamination by incorporating endoscopic exploration and sutured closure with standard treatment measures. Traditional practice would have directed these patients to surgical management, which introduces additional morbidity and cost. A means for safe and broad implementation of these techniques should be evaluated.
Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis of a Missile with Grid Fins

An approach for using viscous computational e uid dynamic simulations to calculate the e owe eld and aerodynamic coefe cients for a missile with grid e ns is presented. A grid e n is an unconventional lifting and control surfacethatconsists of an outer frame supporting an inner grid of intersecting planar surfaces ofsmall chord. The calculations were made at a Mach number of 2.5 and several angles of attack fora missile without e ns, with planar e ns, and with grid e ns. Comparing the computed aerodynamic coefe cients for the missile and individual grid e ns against wind-tunnel measurement data validated the results. Very good agreement with the measured data was observed forall cone gurations investigated. Forthegrid e n case, the aerodynamiccoefe cients werewithin 6.5% of the wind-tunnel data. The normal force coefe cient on the individual grid e ns was within 11% of the test data. The nonlinear behavior of the normal force on the leeward e n at higher angles of attack was also accurately predicted. Nomenclature A = cell face area, m 2 Cm = pitching moment coefe cient based on missile base area and diameter Cp = pressure coefe cient Cx = axial force coefe cient based on missile base area Cz = normal force coefe cient based on missile base area
State institutions, risk, and lending in global capital markets

Abstract This paper examines one component of the expansion of global capitalism, the lending of capital across national borders and the affect of national political institutions and arrangements upon that lending. Global capital markets expanded rapidly during the latter part of the twentieth century, prompting discussions about the role of mobile capital. This contribution makes three key points to the understanding of globalization, its impacts, its causes, and its relationship to the nation-state, business and development. First, globalization is an uneven, bifurcated, phenomenon. Only a select group access these global capital markets, while many watch from the sidelines. Second, national political arrangements help us understand systematic disparities in access to global capital. National and local public policies, national political institutions, and other local activities prove instrumental in affecting access to global capital. Democracy and regulatory stability matter as they provide information to international investors about the risk to investments from local arenas. Third, the data presents a methodological obstacle in understanding how politics affects access to global capital. The structure of the data’s distribution can hide real relationships and pervert substantive interpretations if not managed. Without addressing the statistical concerns presented by the data the results would at worst be little more than garbage in, garbage out, and at best misleading.
Talc Emboli and Retinal Neovascularization in a Drug Abuser

A 38-year-old male drug abuser had multiple emboli in the retinal circulation of the posterior pole of both eyes. He showed widespread peripheral retinal capillary nonperfusion and neovascular proliferation at the junction of perfused and nonperfused retina. The emboli were considered to be talc particles from the intravenous administration of suspensions of oral medications. The presumed mechanism of development of neovascularization in this case was the filtering out of the particles by the retinal vasculature with vaso-occlusion, ischemia and subsequent retinal neovascularization.
Loss of NADPH during assays of HMG-CoA reductase: implications and approaches to minimize errors.

In assays of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutary coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase activity, preincubation of isolated washed microsomes with NADPH led to a time- and protein concentration-dependent, loss of enzyme activity. This occurred despite the presence of an NADPH regenerating system. Addition of fresh NADP, glucose 6-phosphate and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase restored activity. Of the individual components, only NADP was effective. Errors due to loss of NADPH are most pronounced in assays using high microsomal protein, low NADPH levels and preincubation with NADPH and when glutathione rather than dithiothreitol is present. To minimize the effects of NADPH depletion, it is recommended that (i) NADP and NADPH not be present during the preincubation period; (ii) incubation periods be relatively short; (iii) microsomal protein concentrations be less than 1 mg; and (iv) NADPH concentrations be 1 to 2 mM.
Impact of Aortic Aneurysm on Hospitalizations in Patients with Marfan Syndrome: A Multi-Institutional Study

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominant connective tissue disorder affecting 1 in 3,000 people. Cardiovascular involvement is a prominent feature of MFS, with aortic dissection and/or rupture being the leading cause of death. Advances in the medical and surgical care of patients with MFS have improved survival. Hospital resource utilization and outcomes have not been evaluated in a large population of patients with MFS. We sought to analyze pediatric hospital resource utilization and outcomes in patients with MFS. Nationally distributed data from 43 pediatric hospitals in the 2004–2011 Pediatric Health Information System database were used to identify patients admitted to the hospital with International Classification of Diseases-9th Revision codes for a diagnosis of MFS. Aortic aneurysm (AA) with or without dissection, length of stay (LOS), and hospital charges were determined. During the study period, there were 1,978 admissions in 1,228 patients with MFS. AA was present in 217 (11 %) admissions in 188 (15 %) patients (63 % male). Mean age of patients with AA was 13.8 ± 5.9 years. Aortic dissection or rupture was present in 15 (7 % with AA) admissions in 15 (8 % with AA) patients (mean age 15.7 ± 5.2 years). Other cardiac diagnoses occurred more commonly in the AA cohort (p < 0.0001), regardless of the reason for admission. Cardiothoracic surgical procedures were performed in 116 AA admissions (53 %). Mean LOS, hospital charges per admission, and charges per day were significantly higher in AA cohort compared to those without AA. In-hospital mortality for AA was 2 %. The presence of AA in patients with MFS increases hospital resource utilization. Cardiothoracic surgeries are commonly performed in this cohort. Other cardiovascular diagnoses are more prevalent in patients with AA suggesting a more severe phenotype.
Role of allelopathy in hay-scented fern interference with black cherry regeneration

Black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) seedlings survive and grow poorly under dense hay-scented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula Michx.) ground cover in the understory of partially cut Allegheny hardwood stands. Previous field studies showed that there were about 80% fewer black cherry seedlings where fern was present than where it was absent. Allelopathic interference with black cherry seed germination, seedling survival, and growth by hay-scented fern foliage leachates, root washings, and soil transformation products was evaluated in a series of field, greenhouse, and laboratory experiments. Black cherry seeds germinated as well in the presence of hay-scented fern or its leachates as when they were absent in both the laboratory and the field. Fern foliage leachates and root washings did not affect black cherry growth in sand or natural soil cores in the greenhouse. There also was no evidence that hay-scented fern natural products or their soil transformation products built up in the soil. A two-year manipulative field experiment to separate effects of hay-scented fern foliage shade from foliar leaching showed that foliage shade significantly reduced black cherry seedling survival and growth; foliage leachates had no effect. Results of the studies led to the conclusion that allelopathy does not play a direct role in hay-scented fern interference with black cherry seedling establishment in partially cut Allegheny hardwood stands.
Can employers exclude women to protect children

SHOULD an employer be able to require that a woman be sterile to qualify for a production job in a lead-battery plant? The Supreme Court is poised to answer this question in International Union v Johnson Controls . 1 The key legal issue is whether this policy violates Title VII, the federal antidiscrimination statute applicable to employment. To date, six cases raising this issue or similar issues have reached federal or state courts of appeals. 2 In two of these cases, hospitals fired pregnant roentgenogram technicians, causing them to lose income and possible medical insurance. The courts decided in favor of the pregnant technicians, finding that the decisions to terminate employment were a form of sexual discrimination because the employers had not explored alternatives less restrictive than firing pregnant workers. 3 In the other four cases, employers hired women for certain jobs only if they could not bear children. These cases
Association of Reelin gene polymorphisms with autism

Abstract Genome scans indicate a linkage of autism to the chromosome 7q21–q36 region. Recent studies suggest that the Reelin gene may be one of the loci contributing to the positive linkage between chromosome 7q and autism. However, these studies were relatively small scale, using a few markers in the gene. We investigated 34 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the Reelin gene with an average spacing between the SNPs of 15 kb for evidence of association with autism. There were significant differences in the transmission of the alleles of exon 22 and intron 59 SNP to autistic subjects. Our findings support a role for the Reelin gene in the susceptibility to autism.
Identification of putative polymerase gene product in cells infected with murine coronavirus A59

Abstract The virion RNA of mouse hepatitis virus, strain A59 (MHV-A59) is believed to be the mRNA for the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. The cell-free translation of virion RNA results in the synthesis of two predominant products p220 and p28 (M. R. Denison and S. Perlman, 1986, J. Virol. 60, 12–18). p28 is a basic protein and is readily detected by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. When infected cells and isolated virions were assayed for this protein by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, p28 could be detected in infected cells labeled at late times after infection, but not at early times or in purified virions. p28 represents the first protein product of the putative coronavirus polymerase gene to be identified in infected cells.
A Rationale and Strategy for Adapting Dialogic Reading for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: RECALL

As the number of children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) continues to rise, more children with ASD are accessing early childhood services. Early childhood educators need strategies that benefit a variety of learners served in these settings including those diagnosed with ASD. Shared reading is one routine that is typically used in early childhood settings. This article aims to provide a rationale for adapting an established shared reading intervention (dialogic reading) to enhance language/emergent literacy skills of children with ASD. The proposed shared reading intervention, Reading to Engage Children with Autism in Language and Learning (RECALL), combines dialogic reading and evidence-based strategies shown to support young learners with ASD to specifically target additional skills young children with ASD inherently have difficulty acquiring
Signal classification by probabilistic reasoning

Much of the work into developing environmental and network awareness for cognitive radios has been focused on developing new metrics to identify the modulation schemes in use by neighboring radio nodes. Unfortunately, the metrics are used to derive only hard decisions which are often threshold-based and therefore unable to assign a measure of likelihood to the candidate modulation schemes. Bayesian Networks are a graphical representation of a joint probability distribution for a set of variables, but have been investigated for the task of classification of an unknown and unobservable variable whose related variables can be observed and measured. Bayesian Network Classifiers (BNC) are an exciting approach to the problem of using a set of observable features to infer the distribution of a class variable like the modulation scheme. BNCs are especially attractive because they are agnostic to the types of features which are observed and because they give a measure of probability that the classification is correct as well as the probabilities for the alternatives. In this work, we extend a previous effort [1] to explicitly investigate the potential use of BNC for classification in cognitive radio applications. We present some preliminary results using a simple set of metrics to demonstrate signal classification using a Naive BNC. We show how performance can be improved with a more complex BNC known as a Tree-Augmented Bayesian Network Classifier (TAN). Finally, we show how easily the soft, probabilistic outputs of the Bayesian classifier can greatly improve performance.
Cytology of germ cell tumors: extragonadal, extracranial masses and intraoperative problems.

BACKGROUND Germ cell tumors (GCTs) and their metastases may be found in numerous sites that are accessible to cytologic sampling, and many are responsive to chemotherapy. METHODS The authors reviewed 20 examples of GCT cytology from 16 males and 3 females ranging in age from 1.5 to 61 years (median, 34 years). With two exceptions, one benign cystic ovarian teratoma in which intraoperative cytology was used to diagnose an associated adult-type carcinoma and one undescended testis in which seminoma presented as an abdominal mass, the material reviewed included no examples of primary gonadal GCT. RESULTS The authors studied 7 primary and 13 metastatic GCTs; these studies were based on 13 in vivo aspirations, 4 intraoperative preparations, and 3 samples of body cavity fluids. All samples were correctly interpreted as malignant, and only one was incorrectly classified as a non-GCT malignancy. CONCLUSIONS Clinical and cytologic findings are useful in the diagnosis of GCTs and their metastases. Incorrect interpretation of these neoplasms as poorly differentiated malignancies of other types may deprive the patient of effective chemotherapy. Air-dried, Romanowsky-stained smear material and cell block sections may contribute to the resolution of diagnostic dilemmas. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 1997; 81:220-7. © 1997 American Cancer Society.
Atomistic and Coarse-grained Analysis of Double Spectrin Repeat Units: The Molecular Origins of Flexibility

Spectrin is an ubiquitous protein in metazoan cells, and its flexibility is one of the keys to maintaining cellular structure and organization. Both α-spectrin and β-spectrin polypeptides consist primarily of triple coiled-coil modular repeat units, and two important factors that determine spectrin flexibility are the bending flexibility between two consecutive repeat units and the conformational flexibility of individual repeat units. Atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are used here to study double spectrin repeat units (DSRUs) from the human erythrocyte β-spectrin (HEβ89) and the chicken brain α-spectrin (CBα1617). From the results of MD simulations, a highly conserved Trp residue in the A-helix of most repeat units that has been suggested to be important in conferring stability to the coiled-coil structures is found not to have a significant effect on the conformational flexibility of individual repeat units. Characterization of the bending flexibility for two consecutive repeats of spectrin via atomistic simulations and coarse-grained (CG) modeling indicate that the bending flexibility is governed by the interactions between the AB-loop of the first repeat unit, the BC-loop of the second repeat unit and the linker region. Specifically, interactions between residues in these regions can lead to a strong directionality in the bending behavior of two repeat units. The biological implications of these finding are discussed.
Automated design of self-adjusting pipelines

We propose a self-adjusting pipeline structure to enhance chip performance and robustness considering the effects of process variations. We achieve this by introducing delay sensors to monitor internal timing violations within a pipeline stage and variable clock skew buffers to adjust the timing of the pipeline stage based on the feedback from the delay sensors. Furthermore, we formulate the delay sensor insertion and variable clock skew configuration problem as a stochastic mixed-integer programming problem and propose a simulated-annealing based algorithm to solve it. A comparison between the designs with and without the self-adjusting enhancement reveals that, we are able to improve the average performance of a batch of chips by 9.5%.
Free-standing quantum dots for electronic applications

Free-Standing Quantum dots (FSQdot), also known as nano-crystals, are semiconductors composed of II-VI, III-V, or IV-VI materials. Ranging in size from 2-10 nanometers in diameter, these FSQdots have size-tunable band gaps. Unlike Qdots produced on semiconductor wafers, FSQdots can be manufactured using scalable colloidal solution chemistry. These FSQdots have high photo-luminescence quantum efficiencies, good thermal and photo-stability, narrow emission line widths (atom-like spectral emission), and are compatible with solution processing. Solution processable FSQdots can be modified using innovative surface functionalization schemes. Once appropriately functionalized, the FSQdots can be incorporated into printable inks and bound to surfaces. These capabilities unlock a realm of possibilities for producing novel commercial electronic products, from unique surface coatings to new display constructions.
Challenging the Validity of the EPO Index

Background: With use of recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) and intravenous iron, the majority of hemodialysis patients can achieve target hemoglobin concentrations. EPO resistance arises as a consequence of inflammation and other processes that can adversely affect survival. We hypothesized that the EPO dose–hematocrit (EPO/Hct) ratio, also known as the EPO index, may be a surrogate for inflammation and that greater EPO/Hct ratios would be associated with decreased survival. Methods: We used proportional hazards regression models and time-varying logistic models to analyze the association between EPO index and survival in US hemodialysis patients initiating hemodialysis therapy between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2000, and followed up for up to 3 years until December 31, 2001. Results: We found an unexpected and consistent association between greater EPO index and survival in all models. The associations of EPO/Hct ratio were most prominent at intermediate Hct values and with longer dialysis vintage. Iron administration was associated with a lower risk for death independent of Hct. Conversely, greater average prior EPO dose was associated with a greater risk for death. Conclusion: EPO resistance may be reflected better by total cumulative EPO dose than the EPO/Hct ratio. The mechanism(s) responsible for the association between a greater EPO/Hct ratio and survival remains to be established, but may be a result of nonerythrogenic effects of EPO.
Barrier metal effects on electromigration of layered aluminum metallization

An investigation was conducted of the electromigration (EM) in Al-1% Si, Al-1% Si-0.5% Cu, and Al-2% Cu films with Ti:W and CVD-W barrier metals. The EM test results indicate that the rough surface texture of the underlying CVD-W layer degrades the electromigration performance of the Al-1% Si and Al-1% Si-0.5% Cu films. However, the EM performance of Al-2% Cu multilayered metallization was found to be independent of the barrier metal type. The failure kinetics of multilayered metallization was studied by investigating the resistance rise mechanism. The resistance rise during EM testing of CVD-W/Al-1% Si-0.5% Cu and Ti:W/Al-1% Si-0.5% Cu seems to be well behaved and follows a power law dependence. >
Transoral and Transcervical Surgical Innovations in the Treatment of Glottic Cancer.

Transoral and transcervical surgery to treat glottic cancer has advanced substantially over the past decade. There have been considerable innovations that enhance vocal function for early disease and airway function for advanced disease. The fiber-based angiolytic 532 nm potassium titanyl phosphate laser has provided a new foundational strategy to maintain high cure rates with enhanced vocal outcomes for the treatment of early glottic disease. For advanced glottic cancer, transplanting cryopreserved aortic homograft to reconstruct wide-field laryngotracheal airway defects can provide an adequate airway caliber such that a long-term tracheotomy can frequently be avoided.
Physiological and Psychological Fatigue in Extreme Conditions: Overtraining and Elite Athletes

This article will review relevant mechanisms and markers associated with overtraining syndrome (OTS), and discuss signs and symptoms, differential diagnosis, and current assessment tools for fatigue within the context of overtraining. The findings are drawn from original research and review articles referenced by PubMed and ScienceDirect databases. Sources were selected for their contributions to the current knowledge of biological, psychological, and molecular mechanisms. Data were reviewed for relevance to OTS and then evaluated against criteria that included significant OTS outcomes and findings. Information was systematically analyzed to identify patterns, dependencies, connections, and causal factors. Comparative analysis was confounded by inconsistent metrics, terminology, and variable methodology; potential biomarkers, treatment and prevention approaches, and future research directions are identified. Diagnosing OTS is difficult because underlying cause(s) are unknown; one must exclude other factors that degrade performance and mood status. Many studies are confounded by inadequate experimental designs, poor measures of performance, and different methods for characterizing OTS. OTS is complex because the demands of excessive training in combination with other biologic, psychological, and social stressors are difficult to quantify. However, changes in mood are always noted. Interrelations among dietary patterns; social, psychological and physiological profiles; and the neuroendocrine, immune, and central nervous systems are complex and not adequately elucidated.