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Impact of asthma varies by race, with Black individuals experiencing higher hospitalization and mortality rates than Whites. We evaluated strategies to increase diversity (Black/African American, Hispanic, and Asian) in an asthma clinical trial to maximize benefits for all.

Three south-London hospital trusts undertook a feasibility study, comparing data from 93 patients who received the 14-day adhesive ambulatory electrocardiography (ECG) patch Zio XT with retrospective data from 125 patients referred for 24-hour Holter for cryptogenic stroke and transient ischaemic attack following negative 12-lead ECG. As the ECG patch was fitted the same day as the clinical decision for ambulatory ECG monitoring was made, median time to the patient having the monitor fitted was significantly reduced in all three hospital trusts compared with 24-hour Holter being ordered and fitted. Hospital visits reduced by a median of two for patients receiving Zio XT. This project supports that it is feasible to use a patch as part of routine clinical care with a positive impact on care pathways.

In facilitating prosocial identity formation and preventing recidivism among adjudicated youth upon reentry to school and community, one key issue to address is the confidentiality of juvenile records. Educators can support young offenders by teaching youth to problem-solve the disclosure of past juvenile involvements. This article discusses two lessons that aim to help adjudicated youth take responsibility for past mistakes, use discretion when discussing their history, and communicate future goals to potential employers.

The c-MYB transcription factor is a key regulator of hematopoietic cell proliferation and differentiation, and dysregulation of c-MYB activity often associates with various hematological disorders. Yet, its pathogenic role remains largely unknown due to lack of suitable animal models. Here, we report a detail characterization of a c-myb-gfptransgenic zebrafish harboring c-Myb hyperactivity (named c-mybhyper). This line exhibits abnormal granulocyte expansion that resembles human myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) from embryonic stage to adulthood. Strikingly, a small portion of c-mybhyperadult fish develops acute myeloid leukemia-like or acute lymphoid leukemia-like disorders with age. The myeloid and lymphoid malignancies in c-mybhyperadult fish are likely caused by the hyperactivity of c-myb, resulting in the dysregulation of a number of cell-cycle-related genes and hyperproliferation of hematopoietic precursor cells. Finally, treatment with c-mybtarget drug flavopiridol can relieve the MDS-like symptoms in both c-mybhyperembryos and adult fish. Our study establishes a zebrafish model for studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying c-Myb-associated leukemogenesis as well as for anti-leukemic drug screening.

Although the majority of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) initially respond to chemotherapy, many of them subsequently relapse, and the mechanistic basis for AML persistence following chemotherapy has not been determined. Recurrent somatic mutations in DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A), most frequently at arginine 882 (DNMT3AR882), have been observed in AML and in individuals with clonal hematopoiesis in the absence of leukemic transformation. Patients with DNMT3AR882AML have an inferior outcome when treated with standard-dose daunorubicin-based induction chemotherapy, suggesting that DNMT3AR882cells persist and drive relapse. We found that Dnmt3a mutations induced hematopoietic stem cell expansion, cooperated with mutations in the FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 gene (Flt3ITD) and the nucleophosmin gene (Npm1c) to induce AML in vivo, and promoted resistance to anthracycline chemotherapy. In patients with AML, the presence of DNMT3AR882mutations predicts minimal residual disease, underscoring their role in AML chemoresistance. DNMT3AR882cells showed impaired nucleosome eviction and chromatin remodeling in response to anthracycline treatment, which resulted from attenuated recruitment of histone chaperone SPT-16 following anthracycline exposure. This defect led to an inability to sense and repair DNA torsional stress, which resulted in increased mutagenesis. Our findings identify a crucial role for DNMT3AR882mutations in driving AML chemoresistance and highlight the importance of chromatin remodeling in response to cytotoxic chemotherapy.

This exploratory study investigated linkages between parent, peer, teacher, and mentor relationships and adjustment among adolescents with disabilities. The sample included 228 high school students with disabilities (65% male, 50% White) across four states. Overall findings indicate that students’ social relationships were significantly associated with life satisfaction, problem behaviors, and school bonding and that teacher–student relationships contributed significant unique variance to these outcomes over and above influences of parents and peers. An analysis of specific dimensions of relationships indicated that trust and alienation in teacher–student relationships were particularly strong predictors of adjustment. Mentors also contributed significantly to the life satisfaction of youth. Collectively, our findings indicate that nonfamilial adults significantly contributed to the overall well-being of youth with disabilities.

In this article, the author discusses the challenges of spiritual and religious development at mid-life. The author cites reference of Carl Tung, a psychologist of religion and faith development. The author also mentions that Jung has proposed three main things which makes people's perception which includes conscious, personal unconscious, and collective unconscious.

The aim of this study was to compare the reproducibility, agreement, and sensitivity of pulsed-wave Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) versus spectral Doppler assessment of right ventricular (RV) myocardial performance index (MPI) in midgestation fetuses in both a normal and a disease state.

Even though various wireless Network Access Technologies (NATs) with different specifications and applications have been developed in the recent years, no single wireless technology alone can satisfy the anytime, anywhere, and any service wireless-access needs of mobile users. A real seamless wireless mobile environment is only realized by considering vertical and horizontal handoffs together. One of the major design issues in heterogeneous wireless networks is the support of Vertical Handoff (VHO). VHO occurs when a multi-interface enabled mobile terminal changes its Point of Attachment (PoA) from one type of wireless access technology to another, while maintaining an active session. In this paper we present a novel multi-criteria VHO algorithm, which chooses the target NAT based on several factors such as user preferences, system parameters, and traffic-types with varying Quality of Service (QoS) requirements. Two modules i.e., VHO Necessity Estimation (VHONE) module and target NAT selection module, are designed. Both modules utilize several “weighted” users' and system's parameters. To improve the robustness of the proposed algorithm, the weighting system is designed based on the concept of fuzzy linguistic variables.

The differentiation of myeloid progenitors to mature, terminally differentiated cells is a highly regulated process. Here, we showed that conditional disruption of the c-mybproto-oncogene in adult mice resulted in dramatic reductions in CMP, GMP and MEP myeloid progenitors, leading to a reduction of neutrophils, basophils, monocytes and platelets in peripheral blood. In addition, c-mybplays a critical role at multiple stages of myeloid development, from multipotent CMP and bipotent GMP to unipotent CFU-G and CFU-M progenitor cells. c-mybcontrols the differentiation of these cells and is required for the proper commitment, maturation and normal differentiation of CMPs and GMPs. Specifically, c-mybregulates the precise commitment to the megakaryocytic and granulo-monocytic pathways and governs the granulocytic-monocytic lineage choice. c-mybis also required for the commitment along the granulocytic pathway for early myeloid progenitor cells and for the maturation of committed precursor cells along this pathway. On the other hand, disruption of the c-mybgene favors the commitment to the monocytic lineage, although monocytic development was abnormal with cells appearing more mature with atypical CD41 surface markers. These results demonstrate that c-mybplays a pivotal role in the regulation of multiple stages in adult myelogenesis.

Methods and techniques used to detect apoptosis have benefited from advances in technologies such as flow cytometry. With a large arsenal of lasers, fluorescent labels, and readily accessible biological targets, it is possible to detect multiple targets with unique combinations of fluorescent spectral signatures from a single sample. Traditional flow cytometry has been limited as a screening tool as the sample throughput has been low, whereas the data analysis and generation of screening relevant results have been complex. The HTFC Screening System running ForeCyt software is an instrument platform designed to perform high-throughput, multiplexed screening with seamless transformation of flow cytometry data into screening hits. We report the results of a screen that simultaneously quantified caspase 3/7 activation, annexin V binding, cell viability, and mitochondrial integrity. Assay performance over 5 days demonstrated robustness, reliability, and performance of the assay. This system is high throughput in that a 384-well plate can be read and fully analyzed within 30 min and is sensitive with an assay window of at least 10-fold for all parameters and a Z′ factor of ≥0.75 for all endpoints and time points. From a screen of 231 compounds, 11 representative toxicity profiles highlighting differential activation of apoptotic pathways were identified.

The RAFT polymerization of styrene in the presence of benzyl aryl trithiocarbonate RAFT agents Z′SCSSR has been studied. The values of the apparent transfer constants $\left( {C_{{\rm tr}}^{{\rm app}} } \right)$of the benzyl aryl trithiocarbonates 0.029 M in bulk styrene polymerization at 110 °C fall within the range 10–25 depending on substituents on the aryl ring Z′ and are higher than that of benzyl dodecyl trithiocarbonate 1for which $C_{{\rm tr}}^{{\rm app}}$was determined to be 9.4. There is a trend for higher transfer constant, lower dispersity product and better control over polymerization with more electronwithdrawing substituents with the most active in the series studied being the 3,5bistrifluoromethylphenyl derivative.

In this paper, we present a new approach to the combinatorial discovery of amphiphilic maleic anhydride copolymers which can be used as a generic method for the optimization and control of hydrophobic nanoparticle phase transfer into the aqueous phase. This combinatorial multiwell chemical screening process resulted in the discovery of ‘hit’ polymer ring opened chemistries that allow the spontaneous and highly efficient phase transfer of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles into water under ambient conditions. Effective polymer−SPIO materials were screened for magnetic properties via a high-throughput (HT) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique and nanoparticles were successfully tested for stability in buffer. It was found that the water-soluble SPIO nanoparticles could be tuned somewhat in terms of their MRI relaxivities via the specific ring-opening molecules used. To impart effective charge and steric stability of the water-soluble nanoparticles in buffer, the molecular weight, and chemistry of any given maleic anhydride copolymer was critical. Particle sizing via dynamic light scattering and cryo-transmission electron microscopy analysis showed significant discrepancies in the mean particle sizes obtained. This HT approach and the new amphiphilic polymers discovered have potential for use in various nanotechnology applications.

The rapid development of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) led to the introduction and establishment in postmortem investigations. The objectives of this preliminary study were to describe the imaging appearances of the early postmortem changes of blood after cessation of the circulation, such as sedimentation, postmortem clotting, and internal livores, and to give a few first suggestions on how to differentiate them from other forensic findings. In the Virtopsy project, 95 human corpses underwent postmortem imaging by CT and MRI prior to traditional autopsy and therefore 44 cases have been investigated in this study. Postmortem alterations as well as the forensic relevant findings of the blood, such as internal or subcutaneous bleedings, are presented on the basis of their imaging appearances in multislice CT and MRI.The rapid development of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) led to the introduction and establishment in postmortem investigations. The objectives of this preliminary study were to describe the imaging appearances of the early postmortem changes of blood after cessation of the circulation, such as sedimentation, postmortem clotting, and internal livores, and to give a few first suggestions on how to differentiate them from other forensic findings. In the Virtopsy project, 95 human corpses underwent postmortem imaging by CT and MRI prior to traditional autopsy and therefore 44 cases have been investigated in this study. Postmortem alterations as well as the forensic relevant findings of the blood, such as internal or subcutaneous bleedings, are presented on the basis of their imaging appearances in multislice CT and MRI.

The three-dimensional structure of the antibiotic 6-O-methylerythromycin in water was determined via constrained molecular mechanics using constraints derived from NMR spectra. The NMR structure is compared with its crystal structure and the structures of other derivatives of erythromycin. Distance constraints were obtained from NOESY, ROESY and GOESY spectra and torsional constraints from proton–proton and proton–carbon vicinal coupling constants. The modeling calculations employed Version 6.5 of SYBYL and the 1994 release of the Merck Molecular Force Field. The three-dimensional structure is defined by four structures that minimize the energy and satisfy all the experimental NMR data. It has the following characteristics: the macrolide ring adopts a folded-out conformation, the cladinose and desosamine rings adopt chair conformations, the cladinose ring is parallel to the plane of the macrolide ring and the desosamine ring is perpendicular to the macrolide ring. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

In this investigation we dissected 3 cadavers with the lateral cervical approach to assess the usefulness of the transverse process of the atlas (TPA) as a reference guide in the upper lateral neck. Our results indicate that all the important structures in this space can be identified systematically. Lateral to the TPA sits the posterior belly of the digastric muscle, the stylohyoid muscle, and the occipital artery. Anterior to the TPA, the styloid process can be exposed. The internal jugular vein and cranial nerves X, XI, and XII sit between the styloid process and the TPA. Superior to the TPA, tracing the carotid sheath upward, the carotid canal and jugular foramen can be reached. Anteroinferior to the jugular foramen, the hypoglos-sal nerve emerges from the cranial cavity through the hypoglossal canal. Posterior to the TPA, the sub-occipital triangle can be recognized. Within the triangle, the vertebral artery and its accompanying venous complex can be identified.

Direct measurement of the precursor frequency of alloreactive CD4+T cells has been impossible due to the lack of a specific means of determining the absolute number of daughter cells generated with each division in a repertoire of stimulated T cells.

B lymphocytes are required for diabetogenesis in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. The complement component of the innate immune system regulates B cell activation and tolerance through complement receptors CR1/CR2. Thus, it is important to assess the contribution of complement receptors to autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice. Examination of the lymphoid compartments of NOD mice revealed striking expansion of a splenic B cell subset with high cell surface expression of CR1/CR2. This subset of B cells exhibited an enhanced C3 binding ability. Importantly, long-term in vivoblockade of C3 binding to CR1/CR2 prevented the emergence of the CR1/CR2hiB cells and afforded resistance to autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice. These findings implicate complement as an important regulatory element in controlling the T cell-mediated attack on islet β cells of NOD mice.

The major issues dealt with in this article are the possibility and principles of measuring multiple fabric properties with a single testing process, the fabric extraction method, which has been applied to handle measurement and evaluation. A theoretical model proposed by Alley is presented with some modifications to simulate the shape of the curve obtained using the fabric extraction method. Also, various approaches are used to explore the physical interpretations of the curve. Relations between fabric properties measured using the KES-F system and the data derived from the extraction curves are discussed so as to reveal specific practical meanings. An extraction curve can be characterized by five geometric features derived from that curve. These features can be treated as the indicators of fabric properties and are closely related to such properties as drape coefficient and crease recovery angle. The effects of fiber content and fabric construction on the shape of the curve are also demonstrated, indicating that the extraction method may be used for fabric identification or recognition.

Fabric handle evaluation can be reduced to a typical clustering problem, and fuzzy cluster analysis is applied to a practical example in this paper. For comparison, the same example is also tackled using hierarchical cluster methods of multivariate analysis. Both kinds of results have been found to be consistent. To determine the optimum group number gof clustering, Marriot's g2|W| criterion is suggested and the result is demonstrated as satisfactory; consequently it will be possible to use discriminant analysis to evaluate fabric handle.

The subject of fabric primary handle evaluation is discussed in this paper. Some problems existing in Kawabata's system for primary hand values are revealed, which are considered inevitable in an approach involving subjective sensory assessment. Based on the same theory introduced in Part I, a new proposal for the objective evaluation of primary handle is presented by which the necessary and sufficient number of primary handle terms and the corresponding primary handle values are obtained. The methods and results of determining and testing the physical meanings of these primary handle terms are also provided.

The existing problems of the current methods for fabric handle evaluation are analyzed and as an alternative, a new measure, the weighted Euclidean distance (WD)value, of total handle is proposed. Using this method, one can specify the preferences of fabric handle. The whole process for deriving and calculating this measure is also introduced. Through illustration and comparison with Kawabata's THV value, the advantages and applicability of the WDvalue to fabric handle evaluation are demonstrated.

Robust stability of a continuous-time system with coefficients of the characteristic polynomial varying in a diamond can be considered as a 'dual' problem to Kharitonov's theorem on interval polynomials. This paper aims at developing similar results for discrete-time systems. Specifically, it shows that stability of a family of polynomials, whose complex coefficients lie in a diamond of a transformed parameter space, can be determined by simply checking four (eight) extreme polynomials. This result can be viewed as a counterpart of Kharitonov's result (strong version) for discrete-time systems.

Genes for naphthalene metabolism are localized on nah7, an 83-kilobase (kb) plasmid, in two gene clusters under salicylate control. Polar mutations formed by insertion of the transposon Tn5 permit detection of the transcription direction and the gene organization within two approximately 10-kb DNA segments separated by a approximately 7-kb regulatory gene region. The gene cluster specifying conversion of naphthalene to salicylate lies near the left initiation of a 25-kb DNA fragment A released by EcoRI; that for the salicylate pathway via catechol meta-fission lies near the right terminus with extension into the adjoining 5.9-kb fragment C. The genetic organization and regulation resemble the tol plasmid-encoded "upper" and "lower" pathways of toluene/xylene oxidation in Pseudomonas putida mt2.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of salvage neck dissection as part of a multidisciplinary treatment approach in persistent or recurrent metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma, after failure of initial radiotherapy at the regional site. DESIGN: A retrospective study of 31 patients treated during a 14-year period from March 1981 through May 1995, with a maximum follow-up of 152 months. Factors evaluated include patients' sex, age, and initial stage of tumor, mobility and number of nodal recurrences, surgical and pathological findings, and postoperative irradiation. SETTING: Academic tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Twenty-six men and 5 women were studied; one patient had neck dissection to both sides of the neck on separate occasions, for a total of 32 operations. All patients had pathologically proved nasopharyngeal carcinoma and had been previously treated at the primary site and both sides of the neck with definitive radiotherapy. INTERVENTION: Patients underwent a radical, modified radical, or level I—sparing radical neck dissection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Surgical morbidity, time to recurrence at the regional site, and survival time. RESULTS: Clinically, there was a disease predilection of 81% at levels II and V. Surgical morbidity was minimal. Regional control was achieved in 20 (65%) of the patients, and the overall 5-year survival was 67%. Tumor involvement of the posterior triangle musculature and spinal accessory nerve was associated with failure to control neck disease. Extracapsular nodal extension correlated with a poor survival outcome. CONCLUSION: Control of regional disease by salvage neck dissection when radiotherapy has failed is both safe and effective in properly selected patients.Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1997;123:725-729