cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The C-glycosyltransferase IroB from pathogenic Escherichia coli: identification of residues required for efficient catalysis.

Abstract Escherichia coli C-glycosyltransferase IroB catalyzes the formation of a C C bond between enterobactin and the glucose moiety of UDP-glucose, resulting in the production of mono-, di- and tri-glucosylated enterobactin (MGE, DGE, TGE). To identify catalytic residues, we generated a homology model of IroB from aligned structures of two similar C-glycosyltransferases as templates. Superposition of our homology model onto the structure of a TDP-bound orthologue revealed residue W264 as a possible stabilizer of UDP-glucose. D304 in our model was located near the predicted site of the glucose moiety of UDP-glucose. A loop containing possible catalytic residues (H65, H66, E67) was found at the predicted enterobactin-binding site. We generated IroB variants at positions 65–67, 264, and 304 and investigated variant protein conformations and enzymatic activities. Variants were found to have Tm values similar to wild-type IroB. Fluorescence emission spectra of H65A/H66A, E67A, and D304N were superimposable with wild-type IroB. However, the emission spectrum of W264L was blue-shifted, suggesting solvent exposure of W264. While H65A/H66A retained activity (92% conversion of enterobactin, with MGE as a major product), all other IroB variants were impaired in their abilities to glucosylate enterobactin: E67A catalyzed partial (29%) conversion of enterobactin to MGE; W264L converted 55% of enterobactin to MGE; D304N was completely inactive. Activity-impaired variants were found to bind enterobactin with affinities within 2.5-fold of wild-type IroB. Given our outcomes, we propose that IroB W264 and D304 are required for binding and orienting UDP-glucose, while E67, possibly supported by H65/H66, participates in enterobactin/MGE/DGE deprotonation.
Implicit contributions of context to recognition

Studies of the impact of context on remembering have not focused on the influence of contextual contingency on subsequent recognition in the condition in which the contingency cannot be verbalized. In two experiments, we analyzed the effect of an implicitly encoded position contingency involving location and semantic category on both hit and false alarm recognition judgments after 1 day and 1 week delays. We vigorously probed for what participants could say about the contingency. We found context effects for both hits and false alarms, whether or not participants could verbalize any knowledge they might have of contingency. These results suggest that people may use contextual information when making a recognition judgment even if they are not aware of this information.
Transient-State Kinetic Analysis of the RNA Polymerase I Nucleotide Addition Cycle

RNA polymerases (Pols) are a diverse class of enzymes that fulfill an array of biological requirements. In eukaryotes the task of nuclear RNA synthesis is apportioned among three distinct Pols. Unlike all other cellular Pols, Pol I recognizes a single promoter and synthesizes a single target transcript. Pol I's RNA product is ultimately processed into the three largest RNAs of the ribosome. It has long been recognized that cellular protein synthetic capacity is linked to cell proliferation and transformation. In summary, Pol I is centrally located in a process requisite to tumorgenesis. Recently, the Pol I system has received attention as a target of chemotherapeutic intervention. Despite Pol I's involvement in cancer, there are no mechanistic data available to further its utility as a drug target. In addition, it is not clear why eukaryotes have evolved three distinct Pols to perform the task of nuclear RNA synthesis. A thorough understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing Pol I transcription will aid the development of Pol I - specific inhibitors as well as further our understanding of the necessity of three nuclear Pols.We have developed techniques that enable the reconstitution of Pol I elongation complexes from purified protein and nucleic acid components. Combining reconstituted elongation complexes with transient-state kinetic approaches we have characterized the Pol I nucleotide addition cycle and developed a minimal kinetic framework describing the reaction pathway. Combining these approaches with structure-based mutagenesis will enable elucidation of the molecular mechanisms governing Pol I - catalyzed RNA synthesis.
Head and Heart: An integrative conversation about prevention

Head and Heart are two strangers who live together and often have difficulty communicating with each other. They do agree that one of the highest priorities of prevention ought to be to help them understand each other. It is suggested that there are primary and secondary causes of difficulty in their thinking processes but that institutions which serve children could do a better job of helping overcome such deficiencies. Finally, the idea of a Child Growth Center is proposed as an initial step in the promotion of friendlier conversations between Heart and Head.
Simulation of Combustion and Thermal-Flow Inside a Petroleum Coke Rotary Calcining Kiln: Part 2—Analysis of Effects of Tertiary Airflow and Rotation

A computational model is established to simulate the combustion and thermal-flow behavior inside a petcoke rotary calcining kiln. The results show that peak temperature is located at the tertiary air zone and a cold region that exists between the natural gas combustion zone and the tertiary air zone causes the coke bed to lose heat to the gas stream. The cold tertiary air injections reduce the gas temperature inside the kiln, so preheating the tertiary air using extracted gas or other waste energy is essential to saving energy. The devolatilization rate and location have a pronounced effect on the simulated temperature distribution. As the calcining kiln rotates, the tertiary air injection nozzles will move relative to the coke bed and exert cyclic air-bed interactions. At zero angular position, the air injection nozzles are diametrically located away from the bed, so the interactions between the tertiary air jets and coke bed are minimal. As the kiln rotates to a 180-degree position, the stem of the air injection nozzles are actually buried inside the coke bed with the nozzles protruding outward from the bed. At this position, the tertiary air jets will provide a fresh layer of air just above the coke bed, and the interaction between the air flow and coke bed becomes strong. The 45° rotational angle case shows a better calcination with a 100 K higher bed surface temperature at the discharge end compared to the rest of rotational angles. Without including the coke fines combustion and the coke bed, the lumped gas temperature for the rotational cases shows a peak temperature of 1,400 K at Z/D = 2, which is due to natural gas combustion; the lowest temperature is around 1,075 K at two locations, Z/D = 4 and 8, respectively. The exhaust gas temperature is approximately 1,100K.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
The acquisition of tone in Mandarin-speaking children

Until now, although there has been research on the acquisition of intonation and stress, there has been no systematic study of the acquisition of lexical tone. Based on data collected during eight months of field work with 17 children of Mandarin-speaking families in Taipei, we have found that (1) tone acquisition is accomplished within a relatively short period of time; (2) mastery of tones occurs well in advance of mastery of seg-mentals; (3) the Mandarin high-level and falling tones are acquired before the rising and dipping tones; (4) the rising and dipping tones are substituted for each other throughout the tone acquisition process; (5) unstressed syllables are treated as if they were stressed, the tone assigned to them being an approximation of the phonetically conditioned pitch which they carry; (6) the tone sandhi phenomena associated with the dipping tone in Mandarin are acquired with very little error as soon as propositional utterances begin to be created. Explanations for these facts can be given in terms of the relative ease of learning to control glottal pitch as opposed to articulatory mechanisms, the relative difficulty of rising pitch, and the relative salience of tone in Mandarin.
Use of primary care teams by HMOS for care of long-stay nursing home residents.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the use of formal primary care programs by health maintenance organizations (HMOs) for their members who are long-stay residents of nursing homes. DESIGN: Using mail survey techniques, 34 Medicare risk-contracting HMOs with the largest Medicare beneficiary enrollments were asked to complete a written questionnaire. HMOs were asked how they evaluate care in nursing home settings and whether they operate a formal primary care program for members who are long-stay nursing home residents. Those reporting they had programs were asked about the program features, participation in the program, roles performed by clinical practitioners, and clinical caseloads. Surveys were completed by 21 (61.8%) of the HMOs. PARTICIPANTS: HMO management personnel who know the primary care programs the HMOs operate in affiliated nursing homes. MEASUREMENTS: Descriptive summaries of the HMOs' responses to the survey questions were generated. For HMOs with primary care programs, caseloads of physicians and nurse practitioners were estimated using survey data reported by the HMOs. RESULTS: Eight (38.1%) of the responding HMOs operate formal primary care programs in affiliated nursing homes. HMOs with programs consider more factors than non-program HMOs in evaluating care for nursing home residents. Reasons cited most frequently for not having a program are costs and too few nursing home residents. The most common primary care program features are designated physicians and use of physician extenders. CONCLUSIONS: Survey findings point to the potential importance of formal HMO primary care programs for long-term nursing home residents, which may expand with growth in the older population and Medicare-managed care. Program adoption, however, may depend on sufficient resident participation to be financially feasible. J Am Geriatr Soc 47:139–144, 1999.
Inhibition of Citric Acid Synthesis in vivo by X-irradiation.

SummaryThe technic of Potter(5) for measuring the effects of toxic agents on citrate accumulation in vivo was applied to studies on X-irradiation. Lethal doses of X-ray (800 r) markedly inhibited citrate accumulation in spleen, thymus, ileum, pancreas and testes of fluoroacetate-treated rats but exerted no significant effect on brain and heart. Sublethal doses of X-ray markedly inhibited citrate accumulation in spleen and thymus. The extent of inhibition was dependent upon the dose of X-ray and was reversible after sublethal doses and irreversible when lethal doses were given. Accumulation of citrate occurred in the livers of irradiated rats following fluoroacetate treatment in contrast to the inability of livers of normal male rats to accumulate citrate following fluoroacetate treatment.
Fluid load support during localized indentation of cartilage with a spherical probe

Abstract Interstitial fluid pressurization, a consequence of a biphasic tissue structure, is essential to the load bearing and lubrication properties of articular cartilage. Focal tissue degradation may interfere with this protective mechanism, eventually leading to gross degeneration and osteoarthritis. Our long-term goal is to determine whether local contacts can be used as a means to probe local tissue integrity and functionality. In the present work, Hertzian rate-controlled microindentation was used as a model of the more complicated sliding system to directly determine the effects of contact radius and deformation rate on interstitial load support. During localized contact between a steel spherical probe and bovine articular cartilage, the equilibrium and non-equilibrium responses were well-fit by the Hertz model ( R 2 >0.998) with a mean equilibrium contact modulus of 0.93 MPa. The effective contact modulus and fluid load fraction were independent of indentation depth, contact radius, and normal force; both increased monotonically with indentation rate. At 21 μm/s indentation rate, the cartilage was effectively stiffened by 6-fold with the fluid pressure supporting 85% of the contact force. The results motivated a simple analytical model that directly links the tribomechanical response (including fluid load support) and the Peclet number to measurable material properties and controllable experimental variables. This paper demonstrates that tribological contacts can be used to probe local functional properties. Such measurements can add important insights into the roles of focal tissue damage and impaired local functionality in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.
Financial intermingling in small family businesses

Abstract This study examines financial intermingling in small family businesses. We define a family business as one in which at least two family members work and the business is owned and managed by one of the family members. This study compares the determinants of intermingling in family and non-family businesses. The empirical results show that family businesses are not significantly different from non-family businesses in terms of intermingling once other business and household characteristics are controlled for. For both family and non-family businesses, differences in financial intermingling are primarily characterized by differences in business characteristics and household net worth. We conclude that intermingling of household and business financial resources are probably more influenced by business characteristics and household net worth than by other household characteristics or whether a business is a family business.
The rearrangement mechanism of η3-allyliron tricarbonyl halides

Spin saturation transfer and lanthanide shift reagent studies demonstrate that the endo conformer is stable in solution. The predominant mode of conformer interconversion is proven to be rotation rather than a σ\gp interconversion
Creep and the corrosion characteristics of Incoloy Alloy 800 in molten nitrate salts

The effects of deformation on the corrosion resistance of Incoloy Alloy 800 in sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate salt mixtures have been studied. Hollow tube specimens filled with the salt mixture (60 pct NaNO340 pct KNO3) were tested in constant load tension creep at elevated temperatures (550 °C≤ T≤ 670 °C). Depending on the temperature and initial stress, fracture times (and therefore salt exposure times) ranged between 300 and 1000 h. While the fracture strain of specimens tested to failure was only slightly reduced when exposed to the salt environment, metallographic observations of polished crosssections revealed severe surface oxidation. In order to characterize the effect of total imposed strain on oxide morphology a number of creep tests were terminated prior to fracture. Increasing deformation resulted in a more extensively damaged surface oxide as well as a more rapid rate of corrosion. EDX analysis revealed that the oxide was multiphase, with a near surface, iron rich oxide above a chromiumrich oxide layer. Beiow 630 °C the oxidemetal interface was more diffuse with fine oxide intrusions growing into the base metal and small particles of the alloy visible in the oxide near the base metal interface.
Prion-like Polymerization Underlies Signal Transduction in Antiviral Immune Defense and Inflammasome Activation

Pathogens and cellular danger signals activate sensors such as RIG-I and NLRP3 to produce robust immune and inflammatory responses through respective adaptor proteins MAVS and ASC, which harbor essential N-terminal CARD and PYRIN domains, respectively. Here, we show that CARD and PYRIN function as bona fide prions in yeast and that their prion forms are inducible by their respective upstream activators. Likewise, a yeast prion domain can functionally replace CARD and PYRIN in mammalian cell signaling. Mutations in MAVS and ASC that disrupt their prion activities in yeast also abrogate their ability to signal in mammalian cells. Furthermore, fibers of recombinant PYRIN can convert ASC into functional polymers capable of activating caspase-1. Remarkably, a conserved fungal NOD-like receptor and prion pair can functionally reconstitute signaling of NLRP3 and ASC PYRINs in mammalian cells. These results indicate that prion-like polymerization is a conserved signal transduction mechanism in innate immunity and inflammation.
An Exploratory Study of Inhalers and Injectors who Used Black Tar Heroin

Abstract Aims: To undertake an exploratory study to examine the characteristics of patients in narcotic treatment programs who started their use of black tar heroin either as inhalers or as injectors and to compare them with those who started as inhalers but shifted to injecting. Other studies in this area have used subjects using other forms of heroin more amenable to inhaling. Participants, Design, and Measurement: A purposive sample of 199 patients in 6 methadone programs in Texas were interviewed in 2002–2003 using a structured instrument. Findings: At admission to treatment, those who were heroin inhalers were more likely to be African American, to live with their families, to have income from wages, and to report fewer days of problems on most of the ASI measures. Those who shifted from inhaling to injecting were more likely to be Hispanic and to have had mental health problems that interfered with their lives and to have had less nurturing while growing up. Injectors were older at this treatment ad...
PPAR-γ Decreases Endometrial Stromal Cell Transcription and Translation of RANTES in Vitro

An important step in the monthly turnover of the endometrial lining during the menstrual cycle is the cyclical recruitment and activation of inflammatory cells. Regulated Upon Activation Normal T Cell Expressed and Secreted (RANTES) has been shown to mediate inflammatory cell chemotaxis. This study investigated the effect of PPAR-γ ligands upon transcription and translation of RANTES in human endometrial stromal cells. First, the expression of endogenous PPAR-γ was confirmed in endometrial stromal cells. The human RANTES promoter was searched to identify likely PPAR response elements (PPREs), in which three putative sites were found. The effect of PPAR-γ ligands upon RANTES promoter activity and protein production was analyzed. In cells transfected with RANTES promoter vectors containing 958 bp and 3 PPREs, the addition of PPAR-γ ligands inhibited promoter activity by 60% (P < 0.01) and 48% (P < 0.02), respectively. Truncation of the gene promoter to delete all putative PPREs abrogated the ligand-induced ...
The conspectus: A collection analysis and development success

L'A. presente de maniere tres favorable l'outil de gestion des collections des bibliotheques : le RLG (Research Library Group) Conspectus. Sont presentes l'historique, son fonctionnement, les avantages et les barrieres de son utilisation. Est decrit le cas de la bibliotheque de l'Illinois
Perceived Discrimination and Social Support: The Influences on Career Development and College Adjustment of LGBT College Students

The experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) college students have been an increasing area of interest in the realm of career development in recent years. Although career theorists have posited the importance of considering context when examining career development, the specific variables related to LGBT individuals' experiences warrant further investigation. The aim of this study was to examine how the perception of discrimination and social support related to career development and college adjustment in an LGBT undergraduate student sample. Two multiple regression analyses demonstrated that perceived discrimination and social support contribute to vocational indecision and college adjustment. The implications for career counselors and other professionals working with this student group are discussed.
Observations and modeling of the April 10–12, 1997 ionospheric storm at Millstone Hill

The Millstone Hill Ionospheric Model is used to simulate the April 10–12, 1997 ionospheric storm. For the first time determinations of the height-varying wind from incoherent scatter radar measurements are used to simulate the ionospheric plasma. Results indicate that the observed dusk effect is due to a rise in HmF2 combined with an enhanced downward flux of ionization, associated with an altitude variation in the neutral wind. The negative phase on April 11 is fully explained by increased recombination due to the increased neutral composition ratios N2/O and O2/O given by the MSIS model, except that reproduction of the observed G-condition during the morning hours requires these ratios to be larger than those in MSIS-86. This is consistent with the concept of a composition disturbance zone rotating into the morning sector following a storm which commenced during the nighttime hours.
Interdisciplinary perceptions of the social work role in hospice: building upon the classic Kulys and Davis study.

This national survey found that hospice directors (n = 43) considered social workers most qualified, and most involved, in 12 of 24 interventions considered by social workers to define their role. This is a change from Kulys and Davis’ (1986, 1987) findings of a more limited social work role in hospice. The results of the current study provide new information about director attitudes, social work involvement, and the impact of efforts to develop the hospice social work field. Social work education should incorporate more end-of-life care content to continue this progress, and hospice social workers should continue to document their effectiveness on the hospice team.
In-line monitoring of chemical-mechanical polishing processes

We present an overview of in-line monitoring of chemical- mechanical polishing (CMP) processes. We discuss the technical challenges and review many of the approaches that have been published. Several methods are currently under investigation including optical, thermal (pad temperature), friction (torque motor current), electrochemical, and acoustic (vibration).
Women's risk perception and sexual victimization: A review of the literature

Abstract This article reviews empirical and theoretical studies that examined the relationship between risk perception and sexual victimization in women. Studies examining women's general perceptions of risk for sexual assault as well as their ability to identify and respond to threat in specific situations are reviewed. Theoretical discussions of the optimistic bias and cognitive–ecological models of risk recognition are discussed in order to account for findings in the literature. Implications for interventions with women as well as recommendations for future research are provided.
THE RED SEA--GULF OF ADEN: HYDROCARBON EVALUATION OF MULTINATIONAL SEDIMENTARY BASINS The methodology of regional cooperation

Successful hydrocarbon exploration in frontier basins of the developing world is mutually beneficial to the oil industry, and for the economic development of the country concerned. Exploration has proved to be difficult when the basin is overlain by two or more countries. A market survey of the petroleum industry indicated that, to be successful, promotional efforts should include the entire frontier basin rather than one part of it. The Red Sea/Gulf of Aden Basin was chosen by the World Bank as a prototype of regional basin promotion for reasons both of geology and economic development.
Native grasses collected from invasions demonstrate invasion resistance.

Native grasses can persist in areas dominated by invasive species, yet resistance to invasion by the selected remaining natives is largely unknown. We examine native grass lineages differing in history of survival within invasions, when transplanted into association with 2 invasive perennials. Invaded plants were collected from Russian knapweed ( Rhaponticum repens ) invasions, and non-invaded plants were collected outside invasions. We assess growth and reproduction of alkali sacaton ( Sporobolus airoides ) in the presence of Russian knapweed (the original invader) and Canada thistle ( Cirsium arvense ), an invasive species to which the grasses lacked exposure. On 2 field sites (Crowheart, WY and Cheyenne, WY) and in an environmentally controlled lab at the University of Wyoming, we monitored plant growth (longest leaf, basal circumference, and tiller production) of grass lineages from the 2 histories with and without the presence of the invaders. We monitored invasive species recruitment, grass seedling germination, and grass seedling establishment to determine grass fecundity and resistance to invasive encroachment. At Crowheart, when competing with Russian knapweed, invaded plants were larger than non-invaded plants, irrespective of sampling date. At Cheyenne, invaded plants competing with Canada thistle grew larger than non-invaded grasses irrespective of sampling date. In the controlled growth chamber, growth of the 2 histories differed on few dates, yet non-invaded lineages had greater leaf growth, and seedling germination was greater for invaded grasses. Lines of native grasses collected from within historic invasions display competitive growth traits in field transplants that may be useful for reclamation.
Quantitative Proteomic Analysis Revealed N′-Nitrosonornicotine-induced Down-regulation of Nonmuscle Myosin II and Reduced Cell Migration in Cultured Human Skin Fibroblast Cells

The association of tobacco smoke with decreased cell motility and wound healing is well documented; however, the cellular mechanisms and specific toxic tobacco constituents responsible for this effect are not well understood. Tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines (TSNAs) are among the most important classes of carcinogens found in tobacco products. The TSNA N′-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) is present at relatively high levels in tobacco and its smoke, as well as second- and third-hand smoke. To investigate the cellular pathways that are perturbed upon NNN exposure, we employed a quantitative proteomic approach, utilizing stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture and mass spectrometry, to assess the NNN-induced alteration of protein expression in GM00637 human skin fibroblast cells. With this approach, we were able to quantify 2599 proteins, 191 of which displayed significantly changed expression following NNN exposure. One of the main findings from our proteomic analysis was the down-regulation of six d...
Mechanisms of Mechanochemical Transduction in Vascular Cells

Mechanical stimuli can modulate vascular functions by activating sequentially the mechanosensors, intracellular signaling pathways, specific transcription factors, and gene and protein expressions. We found that receptor tyrosine kinases on the luminal side of endothelial cells (ECs) and integrins on the abluminal side can serve as mechanosensors. The activation of these mechanosensors leads to the phosphorylation cascade of signaling molecules. For example, the Ras-MEKK-JNK signaling pathway mediates the transient MCP-1 expression induced by laminar shear stress. Long-term laminar shear stress downregulates MCP-1 and activates other genes, including those causing cell cycle arrest. This may provide a molecular basis for the anti-atherogenic function of long-term laminar shear stress in the straight part of the arterial tree. The complex flow pattern in branch points, including the flow reattachment area that has a low shear stress and a high shear stress gradient, was simulated in a step-flow channel. In the flow reattachment area, the atherogenic genes are not downregulated, and EC mitosis and apoptosis are accelerated, contributing to the preferential localization of atherosclerosis at branch points. The effects of mechanical stimuli on signal transduction and gene expression play significant roles in the regulation of vascular functions in health and disease.
Highly (≥98 %) Selective Trisubstituted Alkene Synthesis of Wide Applicability via Fluoride-Promoted Pd-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Alkenylboranes

(Z)-β-bromo-1-propenyl(pinacol)borane (4), recently made available in 85 % yield as a ≥98 % isomerically pure compound via bromoboration of 1-propyne, has been converted to β-alkyl-, aryl-, and alkenyl-substituted (Z)-2-methyl-1-alkenyl(pinacol)boranes (2a) in ca. 75 % yield based on propyne via Pd-catalyzed Negishi alkenylation with suitable organozinc bromide. The previously sluggish and modest-yielding Suzuki alkenylation of β,β-disubstituted alkenylboranes has been significantly promoted by fluorides, especially nBu4NF(TBAF) or CsF, to give trisubstituted alkenes, i.e., (Z)-β-Me-substituted 3-i–3-xi and (E)-β-Ph-substituted 2b–i and 2b–ii. In all cases, each alkene product was formed in a ≥98 % stereoselectivity. The propyne-based protocol nicely complements the widely used Zr-catalyzed alkyne methylalumination–Pd-catalyzed alkenylation by providing a highly stereoselective(≥98 %) route to (Z)-Me-substituted alkenes.
Steady‐state transport in diluted catalysts

The transport in composite media obtained by dispersing a porous active catalyst inside an inert porous medium has been considered here. Since such systems show a wide variety of advantages, it is necessary to obtain the correct transport equations. Very dilute systems are considered (volume fraction of catalysts ≪ 1/3), a condition that any one dispersed catalyst microsphere cannot feel the influence of others arises. An averaged conservation equation at steady state is obtained under the above condition as well as the condition that any one microsphere can be randomly placed in the medium. Similarly, an effective diffusion coefficient has been obtained. The results differ from the ones previously in use. The enhancement in the reaction rate on diluting a catalyst is seen to be much less than the values previously suggested although a qualitative similarity exists.
Power management solutions for computer systems and datacenters

The growing power and cooling requirements of high-density computing systems pose significant challenges for the design and operation of computers and their facilities. The rising operating expenses for datacenters demand the implementation of energy-efficient technologies and the best power management solutions. This tutorial addresses power management and cooling solutions from the individual computer system level to the datacenter. The audience will learn about the fundamental nature of the problems, approaches to developing solutions, available commercial solutions, and current research directions.
Letter to the Editor: Response to letter on randomized controlled study on the use of multiple-dose activated charcoal in patients with supratherapeutic phenytoin levels

To the EditorAs noted, one of the biggest limiting factors in our study1 was the low sample size of eligible patients. An increase in patient enrollment may have had the benefit of including female...
PROSPECTIVE LONGITUDINAL EVALUATION OF MEN WITH INITIAL PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN LEVELS OF 4.0 NG./ML. OR LESS

AbstractPurpose: We evaluated the 3-year longitudinal changes in serial serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels in men with an initial PSA of 4.0 ng./ml. or less and no suspicion of prostate cancer.Materials and Methods: A total of 760 men with an initial PSA of 4.0 ng./ml. or less plus a normal or suspicious digital rectal examination and a benign prostate biopsy was enrolled into an every 4-month PSA monitoring study.Results: Of the 559 men with an initial PSA of 2.0 ng./ml. or less only 3 (0.5%) had a persistently abnormal PSA for 3 years and 1 cancer (0.2%) was detected, and 48 men had a PSA velocity of 0.8 ng./ml. per year or more at year 1 but only 1 (2%) had a persistent rate of increase (2.4 ng./ml. per year) at 3 years. Of the 201 men with a PSA of 2.1 to 4.0 ng./ml. 85 had an abnormal PSA but only 37 (43%) met the criteria for biopsy. Only 8 of 23 biopsies (35%) revealed cancer. Of the 201 men 24 had a PSA velocity of 0.8 ng./ml. per year or more at year 1 but only 4 had persistence for 3 y...
Optical properties of hot-pressed B 4 C in the extreme ultraviolet

Hot-pressed B(4)C is found to have a high normal reflectance in the extreme-UV spectral region above 49 nm. This reflectance is comparable with or higher than chemical-vapor-deposited SiC in the spectral region from 49 to 92 nm. Reflectance measurements as a function of the angle of incidence yielded the optical constants of B(4)C in the spectral range 49-121.6 nm.
Engineering Assessment of a National High-power Advanced Torus Experiment (NHTX)

A major challenge facing fusion development is the high heat flux power handling of plasma exhaust, for which a defining parameter is P/R, the ratio of exhaust power P to the radius R at which the divertor is located. Preliminary studies indicate that a compact, cost effective device can be constructed at PPPL exploiting existing infrastructure which could operate at P/R ~50, well in excess of levels available elsewhere and including future ITER operations. The mission for a National High-power Advanced Torus Experiment (NHTX) would be to study the integration of a high P/R plasma-boundary interface with high-confinement, high-beta, non-inductive plasma operation.
Capacitively averaged multi-phase LC oscillators

This paper addresses the improvement of phase noise and phase accuracy in coupled rings of LC oscillators. A new method incorporating coupling both with capacitors and transistors is presented. A number of 4 GHz, coupled, three stage LC oscillator rings were fabricated in 0.18 /spl mu/m CMOS. The measured rms jitter and phase noise of a capacitively averaged ring are 1.183 ps, and -133.67 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset, respectively.
Title IX: Consequences for Gender Relations in Sport

Legal interventions have succeeded in creating new opportunities for female athletes, but some argue that this is at the expense of opportunities for male athletes. In this review, we examine the consequences of a particular legal intervention in sport, the US education law Title IX, for female athletes, male athletes, and the construction of gender. Research indicates that sport participation is linked to important attainment outcomes, such as completing education and receiving higher salaries, for both male and female athletes. In addition, playing sports has several protective effects for women’s and girls’ mental and physical health. While positive effects for male athletes are important, courts’ interpretations of Title IX do not require the elimination of men’s opportunities but also do not protect those opportunities in current enforcement. Legal interventions that assure female sports participation also challenge the ways sport is used to create and reproduce definitions of masculinity, exposing dangerous emphases on toughness, aggressiveness, and heterosexual conquest that are damaging to both female and male athletes.
What Difference Does Diversity Make in Managing Student Employees

Most campuses in this country have made a commitment to increase the diversity of their student population. This presents opportunities and challenges for library staff as they supervise a more diverse group of student employees. The opportunities include employees who can serve as sources of information and who can contribute their perspectives about what might make the library more inclusive in the types of services it offers. The challenges are that library staff must rethink the way they select, train, supervise, and evaluate a more diverse work force. This article suggests some of the methods to adapt each of these dimensions of management as student employee diversity increases.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement: current perspectives and future implications

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) or transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has emerged as an attractive treatment strategy for the treatment of patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS), particularly those who are inoperable or at high risk for surgical aortic valve replacement. Several multicentre registries and randomised trials have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of this technology in improving the survival as well as functional capacity of patients with AS. Most of the elderly patients with severe AS have multiple non-cardiac comorbidities, which might limit survival and impede the improvement in functional capacity afforded by TAVR. Therefore, optimal patient selection based on precise risk assessment is currently the cornerstone of evaluation of patients for TAVR. Due to the need for a multifaceted approach in patient evaluation, procedural conduct as well as postprocedure management, multidisciplinary heart valve teams have assumed a paramount role in the TAVR process. This review presents the current perspectives in patient selection, risk assessment, procedural considerations and outcomes following TAVR, along with implications for the future.
Assisted mechanical ventilation: the future is now!

Assisted ventilation is a highly complex process that requires an intimate interaction between the ventilator and the patient. The complexity of this form of ventilation is frequently underappreciated by the bedside clinician. In assisted mechanical ventilation, regardless of the specific mode, the ventilator’s gas delivery pattern and the patient’s breathing pattern must match near perfectly or asynchrony between the patient and the ventilator occurs. Asynchrony can be categorized into four general types: flow asynchrony; trigger asynchrony; cycle asynchrony; and mode asynchrony. In an article recently published in BMC Anesthesiology, Hodane et al. have demonstrated reduced asynchrony during assisted ventilation with Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NAVA) as compared to pressure support ventilation (PSV). These findings add to the growing volume of data indicating that modes of ventilation that provide proportional assistance to ventilation – e.g., NAVA and Proportional Assist Ventilation (PAV) – markedly reduce asynchrony. As it becomes more accepted that the respiratory center of the patient in most circumstances is the most appropriate determinant of ventilatory pattern and as the negative outcome effects of patient-ventilator asynchrony become ever more recognized, we can expect NAVA and PAV to become the preferred modes of assisted ventilation!
Whos Running Corporate America? A Study Of S&P 500 CEOs In 2005

Spencer Stuart Research & Insight is one of the world’s leading executive search consulting firms. The firm was founded in 1956, is privately owned and operates 50 offices in 26 countries around the world. Clients range across industries and size from start-ups to the world largest firms. Spencer Stuart gathered and published raw data on the educational backgrounds of CEO’s of S&P 500 companies in 2005. (See spencerstuart.com/research/articles/936) This paper draws on that data and compiles it in summary fashion to provide an overview of the persons serving in the role of CEO of S&P 500 corporations. Particular attention is given to the educational background of the CEO’s.
The Internet Marketing of Disney Theme Parks

1. Carol J. Auster[1][1] 2. Margaret A. Michaud[1][1] 1. 1Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA, USA 1. Carol J. Auster, Department of Sociology, Franklin & Marshall College, Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003, USA. Email: causter{at}fandm.edu The purpose of this study was to analyze the portrayal of gender and race in the images on the official Disney websites used to market five theme parks: the Disneyland Parks in California, Paris, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, and the Magic Kingdom in Florida. This is important because of the growth of e-commerce, Disney’s global influence, and the potential impact on those who view the images. The 452 images that had Disney human characters, human-like characters, animals, cast members, or guests were coded for gender. The main gender hypothesis, that the percentage of male-dominated images would exceed the percentage of female-dominated images, was tested using gender disparity values , which measured the gap between the percentage of male-dominated and female-dominated images. The hypothesis tended to be supported overall, and for most of the resorts (e.g., Florida), lands (e.g., Adventureland), and activities (attractions, entertainment, dining) for human characters, human-like characters, animals, and cast members, but not for guests. Furthermore, the hypotheses that gender disparity values would be highest for images of animals and lowest for images of guests was supported for all five resorts, six of eight lands, and all three activities. Additional analysis also revealed the preponderance of same-sex pairings in parent–child combinations in the images. With regard to race, while the images of some theme parks displayed more racial diversity among their guests than others, in some images, individuals of different races were shown interacting whereas in others they were not. Explanations for these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed. [1]: #aff-1
THE NORMAL AND PATHOLOGICAL PHYSIOLOGY OF THE NUCLEUS PULPOSUS OF THE INTERVERTEBRAL DISC

1. The assumption of von Luschka and of later embryologists that the intervertebral nucleus pulposus is a vestigial remnant of the notochord has been disproved. It is a highly specialized structure. 2. The nucleus pulposus is not formed from degeneration of the annulus fibrosus fibers as postulated by Virchow and Dursy. 3. This anatomical entity is formed by the proliferation and mucoid degeneration of the notochord cells, followed by a fibrocartilaginous invasion derived from the original mesenchymal intervertebral cells, which form a fibrocartilage envelope. 4. The cartilage plate and the epiphyseal ring are genetically one structure and are comparable to the epiphyses of the long bones. 5. The nuclei pulposi are essential for the normal physiological functions of the spine. 6. Loss of nucleus pulposus material as a result of trauma or disease is probably one of the frequent etiological factors associated with pain in the back and disability. 7. Clinical and experimental evidence has been presented to indicate that degenerative, hypertrophic arthritis of the spine may result from the loss of the intervertebral shock absorber and hydrodynamic ball bearing of the spine, the nucleus pulposus. 8. If the cartilage plate of the intervertebral disc of a dog is injured by a scalpel or drill, nuclear material prolapses into spongiosa and a cartilage nodule forms. 9. If the nuclear material is allowed to escape, the rest of the disc becomes thinned out and the margins of the adjacent vertebrae become sclerosed with subsequent marginal lipping.
Neurocutaneous disease: Neurocutaneous dysesthesias

Dysesthesia is a generic term for a cutaneous symptom--such as pruritus, burning, tingling, stinging, anesthesia, hypoesthesia, tickling, crawling, cold sensation, or even pain--without a primary cutaneous condition in a well-defined location that is often caused by nerve trauma, impingement, or irritation. There are multiple types of dysesthesias depending on the body location and the nerves involved. While location, exact symptoms, and etiologies might vary, the underlying theme is that these conditions are of neurologic origin and have dermatologic consequences. For many of these conditions, the symptoms are localized to the skin, and patients frequently present to the dermatologist; it is important for dermatologists to be knowledgeable about these symptoms and their underlying causes. In part II of this continuing medical education review, the primary diagnoses associated with underlying cutaneous dysesthesias will be explored, including scalp dysesthesia, trigeminal trophic syndrome, meralgia paresthetica, notalgia paresthetica, and brachioradial pruritus. The typical demographics in terms of symptoms, location, and patient populations will be discussed in addition to the specific etiologies, workups, and possible treatment options.
Lack of transfer of morphine tolerance by administration of rat cerebral homogenates.

SummaryTransfer of tolerance to the analgesic effects of morphine to mice by injection of cerebral homogenates from morphine-tolerant rats was studied. After such pretreatment the mice were injected with a test dose of morphine and then tested for analgesia using the hot plate method. Neither the dose-response curve nor the mean increase in reaction time was significantly altered by pretreatment with the cerebral homogenate from morphine-tolerant rats. The possible reasons for the lack of confirmation of results obtained by other workers were discussed.
Study design and rationale of the heterotopic implantation of the Edwards-Sapien XT transcatheter valve in the inferior VEna cava for the treatment of severe tricuspid regurgitation (HOVER) trial.

Background Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is an under treated disease. Although surgery for TR remains an effective therapy, many patients are considered to be at a high risk or otherwise inoperable. Caval valve implant (CAVI) offers an alternative to surgery in these patients. Trials assessing the safety and efficacy of caval valve implant are lacking. Methods: The Heterotopic Implantation Of the Edwards-Sapien XT Transcatheter Valve in the Inferior VEna cava for the treatment of severe Tricuspid Regurgitation (HOVER) trial is an FDA approved, physician initiated, prospective, non-blinded (open label), non-randomized safety and feasibility study to determine the safety and efficacy of the heterotopic implantation of the Edwards-Sapien XT valve in the inferior vena cava for the treatment of severe TR in patients who are at high risk or inoperable. Patients with severe TR in the absence of severe pulmonary hypertension will be recruited. They will be evaluated by a multi-disciplinary team who will agree by consensus that the patients’ symptoms are from TR. They will undergo imaging to assess the size of the inferior vena cava (IVC) to determine feasibility of the procedure. If patients meet the inclusion criteria and are free from exclusion criteria, after informed consent they will be eligible for enrollment in the study. A total of 30 patients will be enrolled. The primary objective of the study will be to demonstrate procedural success at 30-days and patient success at 1-year. Conclusion: Caval valve implant may present an alternative for patients who are at high risk or inoperable for tricuspid valve surgery (TVS) for TR. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Continuous Quantum Nondemolition Measurement of the Transverse Component of a Qubit.

The transverse component of a superconducting qubit is continuously measured for the first time, showing quantum jumps between its eigenstates.
Journey into the unknown. First Vice-Presidential address to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Surgical site infections can complicate orthopaedic procedures and contribute to morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. Extensive literature has been published on this topic; however, the quality of data using standards of evidence-based medicine is variable with a lack of well-controlled studies. A review of the literature concerning measures to prevent surgical site infections in the operating room environment may be helpful in preventing such infections.