Sudden infant death and liver phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase analysis

In an effort to substantiate the impaired gluconeogenesis-terminal hypoglycemia hypothesis of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), 52 infants ranging from 3 weeks to 7 months of age which had been brought to autopsy were studied. The stomach contents, vitreous humor glucose concentrations, hepatic glycogen content and hepatic phospho-enolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) activity were measured as part of the laboratory component of the postmortem investigation. The stomach contents, vitreous humor glucose concentrations and liver glycogen content were similar in SIDS/and non-SIDS victims. PEPCK activity was, however, significantly lower in SIDS (p < 0.001) victims and in SIDS with other findings (p < 0.01) victims when compared to non-SIDS victims. Despite the fact that SIDS victims had lower hepatic PEPCK activity and hence potentially lower gluconeogenic capacity, terminal hypoglycemia could not be demonstrated in this group as compared to the SIDS with other findings and the non-SIDS infants. The impaired gluconeogenesis-terminal hypoglycemia hypothesis thus could not be substantiated.     

Attracting federal research funds: Why so much from so many goes to so few

This paper addresses the question of the distribution of federal research funds. It is noted that the top five institutions in terms of federal funding occupy very stable and extremely high rankings in terms of the quality of their academic programs in a variety of fields. It is suggested that this is part of their overall strategy for achieving organizational effectiveness. The implications for technology generation and transfer are discussed. In view of the various theories of organizational effectiveness, it is noted that research oriented universities that consistently win in the quest for federal research funds have developed both the structure and atmosphere necessary for responding to external groups.