cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Feasibility and effectiveness of a brief meditation-based stress management intervention for patients diagnosed with or at risk for coronary heart disease: A pilot study

Extensive research has led to the development of a psychobiological model of cardiovascular disease. This model suggests that psychological factors such as depression, anxiety, hostility, and stress may affect the development and progression of coronary heart disease (CHD). Recent studies have also demonstrated that meditation-based stress reduction programs are useful interventions for patients with various medical and psychological symptoms. The objective of this pilot study was to gather preliminary information regarding the feasibility of implementing a brief meditation-based stress management (MBSM) program for patients with CHD, and those at high risk for CHD, at a major metropolitan hospital that serves a predominately non-local patient population. The secondary aim of this study was to investigate the possibility that such an intervention might reduce depression, as well as perceived stress, anxiety, and hostility, while improving general health scores. The overall feasibility results indicate that this MBSM intervention was highly feasible with regard to both recruitment and retention of participants. In fact, 40% of patients requested further training. In addition, after completion of the 4-week intervention, participants reported significant reductions in depression and perceived stress. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that the brief meditation-based stress management program was well-received by patients and can successfully be used as a supportive program for patients at risk or diagnosed with CHD.
Catalytic partial oxidation of n-tetradecane using Rh and Sr substituted pyrochlores: Effects of sulfur

Abstract The presence of high levels of organosulfur compounds hinders the catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) of logistic fuels into a H 2 -rich gas stream for fuel cells. These species poison traditional supported metal catalysts because the sulfur adsorbs strongly to electron dense metal clusters and promotes the formation of carbon on the surface. To minimize deactivation by sulfur, two substituted lanthanum zirconate (LZ) pyrochlores (La 2 Zr 2 O 7 ), identified in a previous study [D.J. Haynes, D.A. Berry, D. Shekhawat, J.J. Spivey, Catal. Today 136 (2008) 206], were investigated: (a) La–Rh–Zr (LRZ) and La–Sr–Rh–Zr (LSRZ). Using unsubstituted lanthanum zirconate and a conventional 0.5 wt% Rh/γ-Al 2 O 3 as comparisons, these four catalysts were exposed to a feed containing 1000 ppmw dibenzothiophene (DBT) in n -tetradecane (TD). DBT rapidly deactivated both the 0.5 wt% Rh/γ-Al 2 O 3 and LZ. The LRZ catalyst experienced a gradual deactivation, suggesting that Rh substitution into the pyrochlore structure, by itself, cannot completely eliminate deactivation by sulfur. However, the additional substitution of Sr stabilized yields of H 2 and CO in the presence of DBT at levels only slightly below those observed without sulfur in the feed. After sulfur was removed from the feed, each catalyst was able to recover some activity. The recovery appears to be linked to carbon formed on active sites. The 0.5 wt% Rh/γ-Al 2 O 3 , LZ, and LRZ all had comparable amounts of carbon formed on the surface: 0.90, 0.80 and 0.86 g carbon /g cat , respectively. Of these three catalysts, only the LRZ was able to recover a significant portion of initial activity, suggesting that the carbon formed indiscriminately on the surface, and not solely on the active sites. LSRZ was able to regain almost its initial activity once sulfur was removed from the feed, and had the least amount of carbon on the surface (0.30 g carbon /g cat ). It is hypothesized that oxygen-ion mobility, which results from Sr substitution, reduces carbon formation and the deactivation by sulfur.
A LONGITUDINAL EXAMINATION OF CONCOMITANT CHANGES IN TEAM LEADERSHIP AND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

For each of three 1-year time periods, we examined the relationship between changes in the team leadership of branch managers (as measured by employee ratings) and concomitant changes in customer satisfaction for branches of a regional bank. Specifically, for the time period 2001–2002, we examined concomitant changes in team leadership and customer service satisfaction with 68 branch managers; between 2002–2003 and 2003–2004 we examined these relationships for 46 and 40 of the remaining 68 branch managers, respectively. We expected that improvements (declines) in team leadership ratings would be accompanied by concomitant changes (i.e., improvement or decline) in customer satisfaction ratings. We found that, in 2 of the 3 time periods we examined, improvements (declines) in team leadership were related to improvements (declines) in customer satisfaction. We interpret these findings using the service climate literature.
Atypical mechanism of NF-κB activation by TRE17/ubiquitin-specific protease 6 (USP6) oncogene and its requirement in tumorigenesis

The NF-κB transcription factor has a central role in diverse processes, including inflammation, proliferation and cell survival, and its activity is dysregulated in diseases such as autoimmunity and cancer. We recently identified the TRE17/ubiquitin-specific protease 6 (USP6) oncogene as the first de-ubiquitinating enzyme to activate NF-κB. TRE17/USP6 is translocated and overexpressed in aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC), a pediatric tumor characterized by extensive bone degradation and inflammatory recruitment. In the current study, we explore the mechanism by which TRE17 induces activation of NF-κB, and find that it activates the classical NF-κB pathway through an atypical mechanism that does not involve IκB degradation. TRE17 co-precipitates with IκB kinase (IKK), and IKK activity is augmented in stable cell lines overexpressing TRE17, in a USP-dependent manner. Optimal activation of NF-κB by TRE17 requires both catalytic subunits of IKK, distinguishing its mechanism from the classical and non-canonical pathways, which require either IKKβ or IKKα, respectively. TRE17 stimulates phosphorylation of p65 at serine 536, a modification that has been associated with enhanced transcriptional activity and nuclear retention. Induction of S536 phosphorylation by TRE17 requires both IKKα and IKKβ, as well as the IKKγ/NEMO regulatory subunit of IKK. We further demonstrate that TRE17(long) is highly tumorigenic when overexpressed in NIH3T3 fibroblasts, and that inhibition of NF-κB significantly attenuates tumor formation. In summary, these studies uncover an unexpected signaling mechanism for activation of classical NF-κB by TRE17. They further reveal a critical role for NF-κB in TRE17-mediated tumorigenesis, and suggest that NF-κB inhibitors may function as effective therapeutic agents in the treatment of ABC.
Relationships between the fan Allele and Agronomic Traits in Soybean

Normal levels of linolenic acid (70-80 g kg -1 ) in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] oil adversely affect oil flavor and stability. The mutation-induced line C1640 has half the normal level of linolenic acid (37 g kg -1 ), but is 24% lower yielding than «Century», from which it was selected. This study was conducted to determine if there are genetic relationships between agronomic traits and the fan allele for low linolenic acid identified in C1640. Century and «Harper», both with the FanFan alleles for normal 18:3, were crossed with C1640 containing the fanfan alleles for low 18:3 (.)
Two-Part Models for Analysis of Agatston Scores with Possible Proportionality Constraints

Logit-linear and probit-linear two-part models can be used to analyze data that are a mixture of zeros and positive continuous responses. The slopes in the linear part of a model can be constrained to be proportional to the slopes in the logit or probit part. In this article, it is shown that implementing such a constraint will decrease (in Loewner ordering) the asymptotic covariance matrix of the maximum likelihood estimates. A case study is provided using coronary artery calcification data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.
Global and selectivity analysis of periodically operated chemical reactors square-wave and sine-wave control of feed concentration in an isothermal CSTR with Van de Vusse kinetics

Abstract An isothermal, homogeneous CSTR with a Van de Vusse kinetics under forced square-wave and sine-wave controls of feed concentration is examined. Analytic or semi-analytic expressions for the time behavior of species concentrations are derived. For both square-wave and sine-wave control modes, the reacting system approaches a unique limit cycle. The time average selectivity of the products favors the side product under both control modes, when compared to steady state mode.
Raising teachers’ awareness about corrective feedback through research replication

This article reports on a case study that examined the evolving thoughts and beliefs about corrective feedback of graduate students in applied linguistics, who were enrolled in a semester- long second language acquisition (SLA) course. W orking in groups, the graduate students (students in an MA-TESL program, and doctoral students in a related program; a combination of practicing and prospective language teachers), conducted a partial replication of Lyster and Ranta's (1997) study of corrective feedback in some of their own ESL classes. The present study was designed to discover the extent to which graduate students' participation in this classroom-based research replication would contribute to a re-examination of their ideas, thoughts, or beliefs about corrective feedback. The replication project was conceptualized by the researchers as serving as a bridge between formal research and practical inquiry (Richardson, 1994). Analysis of multiple data sources (e.g. questionnaires, journal entries, a group interview) indicated that a number of students' ideas about error correction shifted throughout the semester. In particular, after participating in the research replication project, many students' comments revealed a decreased emphasis on the affective dimension of error correction, and a more sophisticated understanding of corrective feedback, as well as an appreciation for the relationship between corrective feedback, student uptake, and error type. In addition to themes of shifts in awareness about the complex nature of corrective feedback, the analysis further identified possible changes in future teaching practice, different attitudes toward research, and the appropriation of terminology pertaining to teaching.
Diverse effects of vascular endothelial growth factor on human pulmonary endothelial barrier and migration

Increased endothelial permeability is involved in the pathogenesis of many cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a permeability-increasing cytokine. At...
Electronic Effects on the rate of Oxidation of Substituted Phenanthroline Complexes of Copper(I) by Molecular Oxygen

Abstract Reactions of molecular oxygen with copper(I) complexes are of interest partly as a result of the observation that certain marine life utilize a copper based oxygen transport system, hemocyanin, and that copper has been proposed as an active site for the disproportionation of superoxide by the enzyme superoxide dismutase.2,3 Additional interest arises from a general study of the mechanism of autoxidation of transition metal complexes. A limited number of studies have been made on the kinetics of autoxidation of various cuprous complexes.4–13 We wish to report here on the influence of electronic effects on the autoxidation kinetics of a series of substituted phenanthroline complexes of copper(I). The ligands investigated are 5,6-dimethyl-,5-chloro-, 5-nitro-, and unsubstituted 1,10-phenanthroline.14 Electron withdrawing or releasing substitutents were used at the 5 or the 5 and 6 positions to give maximum variation in electronic effects while keeping the ligand donor atom and stereochemistry consta...
Phenylalanine-508 mediates a cytoplasmic–membrane domain contact in the CFTR 3D structure crucial to assembly and channel function

Deletion of phenylalanine-508 (Phe-508) from the N-terminal nucleotide-binding domain (NBD1) of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), a member of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter family, disrupts both its folding and function and causes most cystic fibrosis. Most mutant nascent chains do not pass quality control in the ER, and those that do remain thermally unstable, only partially functional, and are rapidly endocytosed and degraded. Although the lack of the Phe-508 peptide backbone diminishes the NBD1 folding yield, the absence of the aromatic side chain is primarily responsible for defective CFTR assembly and channel gating. However, the site of interdomain contact by the side chain is unknown as is the high-resolution 3D structure of the complete protein. Here we present a 3D structure of CFTR, constructed by molecular modeling and supported biochemically, in which Phe-508 mediates a tertiary interaction between the surface of NBD1 and a cytoplasmic loop (CL4) in the C-terminal membrane-spanning domain (MSD2). This crucial cytoplasmic membrane interface, which is dynamically involved in regulation of channel gating, explains the known sensitivity of CFTR assembly to many disease-associated mutations in CL4 as well as NBD1 and provides a sharply focused target for small molecules to treat CF. In addition to identifying a key intramolecular site to be repaired therapeutically, our findings advance understanding of CFTR structure and function and provide a platform for focused biochemical studies of other features of this unique ABC ion channel.
RECEPTOR ASSOCIATED PHOSPHORYLATION FOLLOWING MONOCLONAL, ANTIBODY OR SYNTHETIC PEPTIDE BINDING TO NONSPECIFIC CYTOTOXIC CELLS

AbstractWe have previously shown that crosslinkage of a receptor protein on catfish nonspecific cytotoxic cells (NCC) with anti-receptor monoclonal antibody or with a synthetic peptide activates cytotoxicity and initiates signalling responses. Receptor linked signalling was associated with the production of increased levels of expression of 50-60 and 20-30 kDa phosphoproteins determined by immunoprecipitation with anti-phosphoserine and anti-phosphotyrosine mabs. These proteins are components of a macromolecular protein complex (>200 kDa) determined by reducing and nonreducing SDS-PAGE. The calcium ionophore A23187 treatment produced the same pattern of phosphoprotein expression as peptide or mab. Maximum phosphoserine expression occurred at 15′-30′ post-mab binding. We now show that synthetic peptide or mab treatment initiated the same serine and tyrosine phosphorylation profiles. The PKC specific inhibitor MDL 29,152 produced 50% inhibition of NCC lysis of IM-9 target cells, and completely inhibited ser...
Cross-presentation of IgG-containing immune complexes

IgG is a molecule that functionally combines facets of both innate and adaptive immunity and therefore bridges both arms of the immune system. On the one hand, IgG is created by adaptive immune cells, but can be generated by B cells independently of T cell help. On the other hand, once secreted, IgG can rapidly deliver antigens into intracellular processing pathways, which enable efficient priming of T cell responses towards epitopes from the cognate antigen initially bound by the IgG. While this process has long been known to participate in CD4+ T cell activation, IgG-mediated delivery of exogenous antigens into a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I processing pathway has received less attention. The coordinated engagement of IgG with IgG receptors expressed on the cell-surface (FcγR) and within the endolysosomal system (FcRn) is a highly potent means to deliver antigen into processing pathways that promote cross-presentation of MHC class I and presentation of MHC class II-restricted epitopes within the same dendritic cell. This review focuses on the mechanisms by which IgG-containing immune complexes mediate such cross-presentation and the implications that this understanding has for manipulation of immune-mediated diseases that depend upon or are due to the activities of CD8+ T cells.
Perivalvular fibrosis and monomorphic ventricular tachycardia: toward a unifying hypothesis in nonischemic cardiomyopathy.

The basis for arrhythmogenesis in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy and ventricular tachycardia (VT) needs further elucidation. Cardiac arrest and/or nonsustained VT are common arrhythmia presentations in the setting of nonischemic cardiomyopathy, with sustained monomorphic VT being relatively uncommon.1,2 Importantly, bundle-branch reentrant VT is identified as the VT mechanism in a significant percentage of patients with monomorphic VT in the setting of nonischemic cardiomyopathy.3,4 However, even in patients with nonischemic left ventricular (LV) or right ventricular (RV) cardiomyopathy, the majority of VT appears to originate from the myocardium and is not due to bundle-branch reentry.4–11 Detailed substrate, activation, and entrainment mapping has begun to provide some valuable clues related to the mechanism and pathophysiology of scar-based VT in the setting of nonischemic cardiomyopathy resulting from a variety of causes.4–11 Although not focusing on VT after valve surgery, these data have been helpful in identifying likely regions of origin for VT and facilitating ablative therapy in other nonischemic settings. Article p 2005 When dealing with uncommon disease processes, one looks to centers with sizable clinical experience to review their results and provide important insight. In this issue of Circulation , the report by Eckart and colleagues12 answers that charge. Six years of clinical experience with VT ablation resulted in the identification of 20 patients who developed VT after prior cardiac valve surgery and underwent catheter ablative therapy. Importantly, most of the patients demonstrated mildly to moderately depressed LV function with a median LV ejection fraction of 45%. Characterization of the substrate, mechanism, and outcome of ablative therapy provides important insight in terms of pathogenesis. Such detailed information should be compared with findings at the time of VT ablation in a variety of other nonischemic cardiomyopathies to attempt to identify common and potentially important pathophysiological links.4–11 Indeed, …
Impact of IS alignment strategies on organizational perceptions of quality

This survey research focused on approaches used to align organizations' IS application development activities to internal line business unit needs. Relationships between use of alignment approaches and IS product/service quality were examined. Two separate views of quality were measured: that of the IS producer unit, and that of the IS customer unit. Alignment approaches studied included: dispersal of responsibility for IS activities to line business; and use of coordination mechanisms (e.g., JAD's) to bring customers and producers together in face-to-face project planning and shared action. 34 subunits of US and Canadian organizations participated in the study providing data on actual IS application development/support efforts. IS coordination mechanism use was found to correlate with improvement in Customer, but not Producer, perceptions of IS quality. >
The Mef/Elf4 Transcription Factor Fine Tunes the DNA Damage Response

The ATM kinase plays a critical role in initiating the DNA damage response that is triggered by genotoxic stresses capable of inducing DNA double strand breaks. Here, we show ELF4/MEF, a member of the ETS family of transcription factors, contributes to the persistence of γH2AX DNA damage foci, and promotes the DNA damage response leading to the induction of apoptosis. Conversely, the absence of Elf4 promotes the faster repair of damaged DNA and more rapid disappearance of γH2AX foci in response to γ-irradiation, leading to a radio-resistant phenotype despite normal ATM phosphorylation. Following γ-irradiation ATM phosphorylates ELF4, leading to its degradation; a mutant form of ELF4 that cannot be phosphorylated by ATM persists following γ-irradiation, delaying the resolution of γH2AX foci and triggering an excessive DNA damage response. Thus, although ELF4 promotes the phosphorylation of H2AX by ATM, its activity must be dampened by ATM dependent phosphorylation and degradation, to avoid an excessive DNA damage response.
Beam anisotropy effect on Alfvén eigenmode stability in ITER-like plasmas

This work studies the stability of the toroidicity-induced Alfv´ en eigenmodes (TAE) in the proposed ITER burning plasma experiment, which can be driven unstable by two groups of energetic particles, the 3.5 MeV α-particle fusion products and the tangentially injected 1 MeV beam ions. Both species are super-Alfv´ enic but they have different pitch angle distributions and the drive for the same pressure gradients is typically stronger from co-injected beam ions as compared with the isotropically distributed α-particles. This study includes the effect of anisotropy of the beam ion distribution function on TAE growth rate directly via the additional velocity space drive and indirectly in terms of the enhanced effect of the resonant particle phase space density. For near parallel injection TAEs are marginally unstable if the injection aims at the plasma centre, where the ion Landau damping is strong, whereas with the off-axis neutral beam injection the instability is stronger with the growth rate near 0.5% of the TAE mode frequency. In contrast, for perpendicular beam injection TAEs are predicted to be stabilized in nominal ITER discharges. In addition, the effect of TAEs on the fast ion beta profiles is evaluated by introducing a fast ion redistribution toy model based on a quasi-linear diffusion theory, which uses analytic expressions for the local growth and damping rates. These results illustrate the parameter window that is available for plasma burn when TAE modes are excited.
FamLBL: detecting rare haplotype disease association based on common SNPs using case-parent triads.

Motivation: In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in using common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) amassed in genome-wide association studies to investigate rare haplotype effects on complex diseases. Evidence has suggested that rare haplotypes may tag rare causal single-nucleotide variants, making SNP-based rare haplotype analysis not only cost effective, but also more valuable for detecting causal variants. Although a number of methods for detecting rare haplotype association have been proposed in recent years, they are population based and thus susceptible to population stratification. Results: We propose family-triad-based logistic Bayesian Lasso (famLBL) for estimating effects of haplotypes on complex diseases using SNP data. By choosing appropriate prior distribution, effect sizes of unassociated haplotypes can be shrunk toward zero, allowing for more precise estimation of associated haplotypes, especially those that are rare, thereby achieving greater detection power. We evaluate famLBL using simulation to gauge its type I error and power. Compared with its population counterpart, LBL, highlights famLBL’s robustness property in the presence of population substructure. Further investigation by comparing famLBL with Family-Based Association Test (FBAT) reveals its advantage for detecting rare haplotype association. Availability and implementation: famLBL is implemented as an R-package available at http://www.stat.osu.edu/~statgen/SOFTWARE/LBL/. Contact: ude.uso.tats@ilihs Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
The past, present, and future of lung transplantation

Background The history of lung transplantation from the first human transplant performed in 1963 to the present is reviewed with particular focus on the added challenges because of the contaminated bronchus, exposure of the graft to airborne organisms, the poor blood supply to the bronchus, and the problem of reperfusion pulmonary edema. Methods The technical aspects of single and double sequential lung transplantation are reviewed, as are the current indications for single, double sequential, and heart/lung transplantation. Criteria for lung transplant recipients, in addition to their primary disease are noted, as are absolute and relative contraindications. The standard criteria for donor selection are also reviewed. Results The results of single, double sequential, and heart-lung transplantation over the past 10 years as reported by the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation Database are reviewed. In addition, the statistics of the lung and heart-lung transplantation program at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center are reviewed, including the current immunosuppressive regimens and early and late monitoring for infection and rejection. This experience includes 3 early deaths in the first 53 patients for an operative mortality of 5.6%, with a 1-year actuarial survival of 90%. Conclusions During the past decade remarkable improvement in the result of single and double sequential lung transplantation have occurred. As 1-year, actuarial survival is now approaching 90% at some institutions. Living related lobar transplantation, new antirejection agents, chimerism, and xenograft transplantation are areas for continuing and future investigation. The shortage in donor organ supply continues to be a very significant factor in limiting human lung transplantation.
Substrate Degradation Kinetics, Microbial Diversity, and Current Efficiency of Microbial Fuel Cells Supplied with Marine Plankton

The decomposition of marine plankton in two-chamber, seawater-filled microbial fuel cells (MFCs) has been investigated and related to resulting chemical changes, electrode potentials, current efficiencies, and microbial diversity. Six experiments were run at various discharge potentials, and a seventh served as an open-circuit control. The plankton consisted of a mixture of freshly captured phytoplankton and zooplankton (0.21 to 1 mm) added at an initial batch concentration of 27.5 mmol liter(-1) particulate organic carbon (OC). After 56.7 days, between 19.6 and 22.2% of the initial OC remained, sulfate reduction coupled to OC oxidation accounted for the majority of the OC that was degraded, and current efficiencies (of the active MFCs) were between 11.3 and 15.5%. In the open-circuit control cell, anaerobic plankton decomposition (as quantified by the decrease in total OC) could be modeled by three terms: two first-order reaction rate expressions (0.79 day(-1) and 0.037 day(-1), at 15 degrees C) and one constant, no-reaction term (representing 10.6% of the initial OC). However, in each active MFC, decomposition rates increased during the third week, lagging just behind periods of peak electricity generation. We interpret these decomposition rate changes to have been due primarily to the metabolic activity of sulfur-reducing microorganisms at the anode, a finding consistent with the electrochemical oxidization of sulfide to elemental sulfur and the elimination of inhibitory effects of dissolved sulfide. Representative phylotypes, found to be associated with anodes, were allied with Delta-, Epsilon-, and Gammaproteobacteria as well as the Flavobacterium-Cytophaga-Bacteroides and Fusobacteria. Based upon these results, we posit that higher current efficiencies can be achieved by optimizing plankton-fed MFCs for direct electron transfer from organic matter to electrodes, including microbial precolonization of high-surface-area electrodes and pulsed flowthrough additions of biomass.
Cooperative interactions of p53 mutation, telomere dysfunction, and chronic liver damage in hepatocellular carcinoma progression.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is among the most common and lethal cancers in humans. Hepatocellular carcinoma is commonly associated with physical or functional inactivation of the p53 tumor suppressor, high levels of chromosomal instability, and disease conditions causing chronic cycles of hepatocyte death and regeneration. Mounting evidence has implicated regeneration-induced telomere erosion as a potential mechanism fueling genome instability. In mouse models of hepatocellular carcinoma, telomere dysfunction has been shown to enhance initiation of hepatic neoplasias yet constrain full malignant progression of these neoplasms possibly due to activation of a p53-dependent checkpoint and/or intolerable levels of genomic instability. Here, in a hepatocellular carcinoma–prone model brought about through toxin-induced hepatocyte injury and regeneration, we sought to determine the cooperative interactions of germ line p53 mutation and telomere dysfunction [produced by telomerase reverse transcriptase (mTERT) gene knockout]. In the setting of intact telomeres, p53 mutation had no effect on hepatocarcinogenesis, whereas in the setting of telomere dysfunction, p53 mutation enabled advanced hepatocellular carcinoma disease. Notably, there was no evidence of deletion or mutation of the wild-type p53 allele in the late generation mTert−/−p53+/− mice, suggesting that reduced levels of p53 potently enable hepatocellular carcinoma progression in the setting of telomere dysfunction. Thus, this study supports a model that, in the face of chronic liver damage, attenuated p53 function and telomere-induced chromosomal instability play critical and cooperative roles in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(9): 4766-73)
The internal flow of diesel fuel injector nozzles: A review:

AbstractDiesel fuel injector nozzles have a significant effect on the quality of spray and charge preparation. However, the mechanism and degree of this effect is unclear. The complexity of the internal nozzle flow has hindered the study of the fuel injection process. Diesel fuel injector nozzle flows are highly turbulent and usually two-phase. Several experiments have shown the presence of cavitation in the nozzles to be a dominating effect. Recent experimental work has revealed new qualitative details about the cavitation in fuel injector nozzles. The cavity tends to be smooth near the inlet, transitioning to a more ruffled appearance downstream. These flows are also strongly asymmetric in realistic geometries. Additionally, photographs have shown string cavitation inside the sac volume extending into the nozzles. The strings appear to be a form of stratified two-phase flow, like the cavities near the inlet corner. Like the cavities, the strings break down into bubbly flow near the exit of the nozzle. F...
The effect of substrates on the kinetics and the in vivo threshold activity of mutant HIV-1 proteases.

The role of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease in the processing of gag and gag-pol polyproteins is essential for the maturation and the life cycle of the virus. The great potential of HIV protease as a therapeutic target for treating the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, AIDS, has now been confirmed by the recent success of HIV inhibitor drugs to suppress HIV propagation in clinical trials (Ho et al, 1995; Wei et al., 1995; Coffin, 1995). In spite of the success, a serious problem associated with the clinical use of HIV protease inhibitor drugs is the rapid development of drug resistance by HIV. The basis of this drug resistance is the rapid propagation of HIV in the human body and the selection of resistance strains of the virus containing mutant proteases in the presence of inhibitor drugs (Coffin, 1995). The molecular basis of the resistance, therefore, resides on the properties of mutant proteases of the resistant HIV strains, which must have sufficient catalytic activity to support the viral propagation, yet a reduced sensitivity toward the inhibitors. This separate modulation of catalytic and inhibition activities in mutant HIV-1 proteases have now been demonstrated in many laboratories.
Augmented central pain processing in vulvodynia.

Abstract Vulvodynia (VVD) is a chronic pain disorder wherein women display sensitivity to evoked stimuli at the vulva and/or spontaneous vulvar pain. Our previous work suggests generalized hyperalgesia in this population; however, little is known about central neurobiological factors that may influence pain in VVD. Here we investigated local (vulvar) and remote (thumb) pressure-evoked pain processing in 24 VVD patients compared to 13 age-matched, pain-free healthy controls (HCs). As a positive control we also examined thumb pressure pain in 24 fibromyalgia patients. The VVD and fibromyalgia patients displayed overlapping insular brain activations that were greater than HCs in response to thumb stimulation ( P P Perspective The presence of augmented brain responses to pressure stimuli remote from the vulva was observed in vulvodynia patients. These findings may guide treatment decisions for better response, as brain mechanisms may be a factor in some VVD patients.
Guidelines for design and analysis in agent-based simulation studies

Agent-based simulation (ABS) continues to grow in popularity and in its fast-expanding application in various fields. Despite the increased interest, however, a common protocol or standard curriculum for development and analysis of ABS models hardly exists. As originally discrete-event simulation (DES) modelers, self-taught and still new to the world of ABS modeling, we have occasionally observed a gap between traditional simulation theory and current practices of ABS in the literature. This points to great unevenness among existing ABS applications in terms of concepts and design, quantitative and computational techniques used in analysis of models, as well as domain-specific issues in different fields. In this paper, we review a number of important topics and issues in the design and analysis of ABS models that deserve attention. Our discussion is supported by some illustrative examples from ABS models of disease epidemics, but it's applicable to a fairly general class of ABS models.
A Comparison of Algorithms for Detecting Synchronous Digital Devices Using Their Unintended Electromagnetic Emissions

Electronically initiated explosives can have unintended electromagnetic emissions, which propagate through walls and unshielded containers. These emissions, if properly characterized, can be used to quickly detect explosive threats. In this paper, an analytic model is developed for the unintended emissions of clocked digital devices, such as microcontrollers, which can be used as initiators. It is demonstrated that these emissions are clock-dependent, periodic train of impulses. An autoregressive model of these clock emissions is developed, and the model is validated using measurements of an 8051 microcontroller. Existing algorithms, including pitch-estimation and the epoch-folding algorithm, are surveyed for detecting generic digital devices with unknown clock frequencies and emissions characteristics. A novel detection algorithm, which uses pitch estimation, is proposed. The model is used, in a simulated environment, to evaluate the noise performance of the proposed algorithms. Results indicate that the pitch-estimation techniques are robust against jitter and have a 4-dB sensitivity improvement over epoch-folding algorithms.
Mapping the Cost of a Balanced Diet, as a Function of Travel Time and Food Price

We present a new method for analyzing spatial variation in the cost of a balanced diet, as an alternative to food desert classification. Our specific hypothesis is that the cost of a balanced diet varies according to where one lives, as a function of travel and food item costs. We collected price data for the USDA Thrifty Food Plan from approximately 30 percent of food retail outlets of various kinds in the three Gulf Coast counties of Mississippi, and these prices were extrapolated to the remaining stores. Transportation costs were calculated for both driving by automobile and the combination of walking and public transportation by bus, accounting for both the shoppers' time and the cost of automobile mileage. We developed a "traveling purchaser problem" algorithm to estimate the lowest-cost combination of travel and food costs for purchasing all items in the Thrifty Food Plan for each residential parcel in the study area, and mapped the resulting costs and examined their variation. Estimated costs varied more because of transportation costs than food prices, and ranged from US$109 to US$215 for automobile travel and from US$111 to US$439 for a combination of walking and public transportation. In general, costs were lowest in the more populated areas near the coast and higher in more rural areas further inland. Results of this analysis demonstrate that the cost of acquiring a balanced diet varies considerably and more or less continuously. Food is not equally cheap for all; it depends on where one lives. For any given location, an estimate of the cost of a balanced diet, including both food price and transportation, is more useful than a classification as food desert or not in understanding access issues and needs. Furthermore, policy alternatives that are intended to influence access should be evaluated based on how much they influence costs, and for whom, depending on where people live.
Ploidy distribution of nuclei in rat liver following hypophysectomy.

Summary1. Percentage of diploid nuclei observed in livers of young adult hypophysectomized rats is greater than that seen in control animals of comparable age and weight. 2. In the hypophysectomized rat there is a small but significant increase in percentage of binucleate liver cells. 3. Total reduction in mitotic index in 125–135 g rats is no greater in 21 days hypophysectomized rats than in the unoperated animals; however, rate of change may be more rapid in operated animals.
FUNCTIONAL DISEASE OF THE STOMACH. RECOGNITION AND TREATMENT.

While this year's functional illness may be next year's organic disease, it is reasonable at present to define illness as a reaction to stress, and functional illness as one in which the apparent and main source of stress is emotional or psychic. A careful history is critical in recognition of functional disease and may have great therapeutic value. Supportive measures give good results if the patient is capable of developing insight. In many cases if the physician can keep the patient at useful work and away from unnecessary surgery he is doing a commendable job.
Mapping of QTLs for Na~+ Content in Rice Seedlings under Salt Stress

Based on a recombinant inbred population consisting of 131 lines derived from a cross between two indica rice varieties,H359 and Acc 8558,and a corresponding genetic map comprising 147 RFLP and 79 SSR markers,QTL mapping was performed for salt tolerance in rice indicated by Na+ content in shoots of seedlings after treatment with 150 mmol/L NaCl by using the method of composite interval mapping.A total of 13 QTLs were detected on chromosomes 1,2,5,6,7 and 12,which could explain 60.88% of total phenotypic variance.Among the QTLs,qSC1b had the largest additive effect,explaining about 45% of the phenotypic variance.The QTLs identified in this study shared the same or similar regions with many salt-stress-related QTLs/genes reported previously.
A clinicopathologic correlation of the idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome. II. Clinical manifestations

The idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome, a disorder characterized by peripheral blood and bone marrow eosinophilia associated with single or multiple organ system dysfunction attributable to tissue invasion by eosinophils has, in the past, been associated with an extremely poor prognosis. Recently, we reported the favorable impact of a therapeutic protocol consisting of prednisone and/or hydroxyurea on the morbidity and mortality of this syndrome. We have reviewed the clinical and hematologic features upon admission and the subsequent clinical courses of 32 patients with this disease referred to the NIH between 1965 and 1979 in an effort to determine which features suggest a more rapidly progressive course. A grading system based on 22 clinical features involving the 8 organ systems commonly affected by the illness was devised. The disease followed a more aggressive course in patients with evidence of cardiac or neurologic dysfunction at the time of initial NIH evaluation. Although splenomegaly, in and of itself, caused little morbidity, splenic enlargement at presentation appeared to be a predictor of a more aggressive course. The clinical grading system accurately predicted which patients would require no specific antihypereosinophilic therapy, which patients would respond adequately to corticosteroids, and which patients would require therapy with cytotoxic agents. It is proposed that this clinical grading system, and the hematologic grading system outlined in the accompanying report be used as aids in the selection of initial therapy in this group of patients.
Evaluation of drug reviews

Drug reviews appearing in Clinical Pharmacy, Drug Intelligence and Clinical Pharmacy (DICP), Drugs, and Pharmacotherapy from January 1982 through December 1984 were evaluated for number, duplication among journals, timeliness, scope, and format. The design of this study was primarily quantitative rather than qualitative. Pharmacotherapy published the most reviews (49), followed by Drugs (43), Clinical Pharmacy (37), and DICP (29). Drugs and Pharmacotherapy published the largest number of unique reviews (agents not reviewed by the other journals during the study period), while Pharmacotherapy and Clinical Pharmacy published the most reviews on newly marketed drugs. Reviews of four drugs (acyclovir, moxalactam, ranitidine, and trazodone) were compared in terms of major sections, terminology and format, bibliography, use of tables and figures, scope of evaluative comments, and review process. Reviews in Drugs consistently contained the most references and tables and provided the most detail. Information was most accessible in Drugs, followed by Pharmacotherapy. Drugs used the largest panel of reviewers. All of the journals provided evaluative comments, although the scope varied. Continuing-education credit is available for review articles in Clinical Pharmacy and DICP. In selecting one or more of these journals, individuals or institutions should compare their needs with regard to the timeliness, scope, and format of the review articles in each journal.
Effect of craniectomy/durotomy alone and in combination with hyperventilation, diuretics, and corticosteroids on intracranial pressure in clinically normal dogs

OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of craniectomy and durotomy on intracranial pressure (ICP) in clinically normal dogs. DESIGN Two-part study (experiments A and B) involving craniectomy and durotomy, with and without treatments to lower ICP. ANIMALS Six (experiment A) and 7 (experiment B) healthy dogs. PROCEDURE In experiment A, craniectomy was performed in combination with durotomy, diuretic administration, methylprednisolone sodium succinate administration, and hyperventilation, and effect of these manipulations on ICP was determined. In experiment B, dogs had only craniectomy and durotomy without associated ICP-lowering treatments. During both experiments, ICP was monitored throughout the surgical procedure with a fiber optic ICP monitoring device. RESULTS Intracranial pressure decreased after the combination of craniectomy, durotomy, and other ICP-lowering treatments in dogs of experiment A. Similar magnitude of decrease in ICP was observed in dogs of experiment B after craniectomy and durotomy. CONCLUSIONS Comparison of these experiments indicate that surgical removal of overlying skull and incision of the dura mater can significantly decrease ICP in clinically normal dogs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Craniectomy and durotomy may be useful as an adjunct treatment for increased ICP.
Management of the Short Bowel Syndrome in the Pediatric Population

The short bowel syndrome in the pediatric popUlation most commonly results from neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis. Multiple remedial surgical procedures have been developed to manage the rapid intestinal transit, decreased mucosal surface area, ineffective peristalsis, and short intestinal length in these patients. Despite significant morbidity, the overall outcome is favorable and warrants aggressive nutritional support, medical management, and surgical intervention in selected patients.
T-Bet independent development of IFNγ secreting natural T helper 1 cell population in the absence of Itk

Th1, Th2, Th9 and Th17 cells are conventional CD4+ effector T cells identified as secretors of prototypical cytokines IFNγ, IL4, IL9, and IL-17A respectively. Recently, populations of natural Th17 and Th1 cells (nTh17 and nTh1) with innate-like phenotype have been identified in the thymus that are distinct from conventional Th17 and Th1 cells. The absence of the Tec family kinase Interleukin-2 inducible T cell kinase (Itk) results in T cell immunodeficiency in mice and humans. Here we show that Itk negatively regulates the development of nTh1 cells that express IFNγ in a Tbet independent manner, and whose expansion can be enhanced by IL4. Furthermore, we show that robust induction of IL4 responses during Trichinella spiralis infection enhance the presence of nTh1 cells. We conclude T cell receptor signaling via Itk controls the development of natural Th1 cells, which are expanded by the presence of IL4.
Cocaine and Butyrylcholinesterase Gene Therapy

This chapter briefly describes the promise of mutated versions of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), a metabolic enzyme altered to treat cocaine addiction. BChE has been engineered into a highly efficient cocaine hydrolase (CocH) that inactivates cocaine within seconds after its appearance in the bloodstream, thus barring drug access to brain reward centers. Studies in rodent models have shown that CocH not only prevents cocaine’s stimulant and rewarding effects but also averts seizures and death from normally lethal cocaine overdoses. CocH expressed by adenoviral gene transfer vector enables durable and effective levels of enzyme expression in liver and plasma. Recent efforts at the Mayo Clinic are focusing on accumulating preclinical evidence of safety and, ultimately, advancing this therapy into human trials.
Pneumothorax After Transbronchial Biopsy in Pulmonary Fibrosis: Lessons from the Multicenter COMET Trial.

Some patients with diffuse interstitial lung disease (ILD) undergo bronchoscopy with transbronchial biopsy (TBB) as part of their diagnostic evaluation. It is unclear what the incidence and risk factors for pneumothorax (PTX) following TBB are in this patient population. Ninety-seven subjects with pulmonary fibrosis who underwent a research bronchoscopy with TBB as part of the multicenter correlating outcomes with biochemical markers to estimate time-progression in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (COMET) trial were retrospectively reviewed. We compared subjects who developed a PTX during research bronchoscopy with TBB versus those who did not. Seven patients (7.2%) experienced a PTX during research bronchoscopy with TBB. Subjects who experienced PTX during TBB had significantly lower DLCO percent predicted (29 ± 8 vs. 45 ± 15, P = 0.006) and had lower resting room air saturation of peripheral oxygen (SPO2) on 6-min walk testing (91 ± 10 vs. 95 ± 3, P = 0.02). No differences between groups were found with respect to age, gender, race, BMI, HRCT characteristics, or the number of transbronchial biopsies performed. The incidence of PTX following research bronchoscopy with TBB in patients with pulmonary fibrosis was found to be 7.2% in this study. Patients who developed a pneumothorax had greater impairments in gas exchange at baseline evidenced by a lower DLCO % predicted and a lower resting room air SPO2 compared with subjects without PTX as a complication.
Pseudoaneurysm Treated with Stent Graft

This chapter discusses the case of a patient who had been on dialysis for 6 years who was referred to the vascular access center because of poor flow in his left upper arm loop arteriovenous graft (AVG). Part of the patent's problem was related to a large pseudoanerysm. This was successfully treated with a stent-graft.