cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estimating progression-free survival in paediatric brain tumour patients when some progression statuses are unknown.

In oncology, progression-free survival time, which is defined as the minimum of the times to disease progression or death, often is used to characterize treatment and covariate effects. We are motivated by the desire to estimate the progression time distribution on the basis of data from 780 paediatric patients with choroid plexus tumours, which are a rare brain cancer where disease progression always precedes death. In retrospective data on 674 patients, the times to death or censoring were recorded but progression times were missing. In a prospective study of 106 patients, both times were recorded but there were only 20 non-censored progression times and 10 non-censored survival times. Consequently, estimating the progression time distribution is complicated by the problems that, for most of the patients, either the survival time is known but the progression time is not known, or the survival time is right censored and it is not known whether the patient’s disease progressed before censoring. For data with these missingness structures, we formulate a family of Bayesian parametric likelihoods and present methods for estimating the progression time distribution. The underlying idea is that estimating the association between the time to progression and subsequent survival time from patients having complete data provides a basis for utilizing covariates and partial event time data of other patients to infer their missing progression times. We illustrate the methodology by analysing the brain tumour data, and we also present a simulation study.
CDROM Interstation Pn Study Along the Rio Grande Rift

Upper mantle velocities in the regions of the Rio Grande rift and the Southern Rockies were investigated using Pn waves from the broadband seismic data obtained from the Continental Dynamics - Rocky Mountain (CDROM) experiment. A velocity of 7.8 +/- 0.1 km/s on the eastern flank of the Rio Grande rift in New Mexico was measured from epicentral distance vs. travel time data for ten Pn measurements from a south-western New Mexico earthquake that was in-plane with the southern CDROM line. Thirty-two interstation Pn measurements were made using eight western United States earthquakes. Using these measurements another bulk velocity estimate was made by solving for the best-fit velocity for interstation distances and travel times; this method also shows that the upper mantle beneath the Rio Grande rift has a slow velocity of 7.8 +/- 0.1 km/s. This low velocity is consistent with the high heat flow in the Rio Grande rift area and the evidence of modem rifting. Individual measurements made in the north end of the southern Rocky Mountains are near the global average Pn value of 8.1 km/s.
A Virtual Journey within the Rock-Cycle: A Software Kit for the Development of Systems-Thinking in the Context of the Earth's Crust

Developments in the last few years in earth science education can be characterized by a shift towards a systems approach to teaching and curriculum development. The software “A Virtual Journey within the Rock Cycle”, a microworld game, was developed in order to assist junior and senior high school students, who have already learned about the rock-cycle's processes and products, in developing a dynamic and cyclic understanding of the earth's crust system. Preliminary observations indicated that the software induced great enthusiasm, fostered collaborative group work and brought students to recall and reflect upon knowledge previously learned. Additionally, it was found that the teacher's role as a mediator was critical for enabling students to maximally benefit from the software.
Indications and Options for Surgery in Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis affects differing lengths of the colon and rectum. Surgical treatment is considered curative when the entire colon and rectum is removed. However, surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis should only be pursued for additional complicating factors of the disease. In addition, the current physiologic status as well as the patient's desire to retain intestinal continuity should be considered. This article outlines the current indications for surgical treatment in patients with ulcerative colitis, the various surgical options, and the techniques used to accomplish these goals.
Streaming OWL DL

A triple based approach to syntactically recognizing OWL DL files is described in detail. An incremental runtime refinement algorithm and two compile time algorithms are given. Many aspects of OWL DL syntax are addressed. These techniques are combined into a streaming OWL recogniser. This shows a threefold time and space improvement over abstract syntax tree based approaches.
Transversing the Vertical Case Study: A Methodological Approach to Studies of Educational Policy as Practice

How can scholars trace the global production and circulation of educational policies? The vertical case study incorporates three elements: “vertical” attention across micro-, meso-, and macro-levels, or scales; a “horizontal” comparison of how policies unfold in distinct locations; and a “transversal,” processual analysis of the creative appropriation of educational policies across time. The second half of the article draws upon an ethnographic study of learner-centered pedagogy in Tanzania to exemplify the vertical case study approach.
Effects of Nutrient Enrichment and a Rough Fish Population (Carp) on a Game Fish Population (Smallmouth Bass)

Abstract This experiment was conducted to test the effects of nutrient enrichment and a rough fish population, individually and in combination, on a game fish population. The rough fish and game fish species used were carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) and smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui Lacepede) respectively. Two fertility levels (low and high) were established in a series of artificial ponds. Low fertility ponds were undisturbed, while nitrogen and phosphorus were added biweekly (i.e., once every 2 weeks) to the high fertility ponds. Replicates of three fish population types were established at each fertility level: game fish only, rough fish only, and game and rough fish in combination. Physical, chemical and biological conditions in the ponds were measured regularly; the fish populations were censused after 15 months. Growth rate was used as an index of the status of the fish populations. The growth rate of each species was not significantly (p = 0.5) affected by species interactions at either fertilit...
Stabilization of Z DNA in vivo by localized supercoiling

Biological processes such as transcription may generate domains of supercoiling on a circular DNA. The existence of these domains in Escherichia coli was investigated by the ability of different lengths of (CG) tracts, cloned upstream or downstream from the tetracycline resistance gene (tet) of pBR322, to adopt the Z structure in vivo. Segments as short as 12 base pairs adopt the Z form when cloned upstream from the tet gene (Eco RI site), whereas no Z DNA was detected when this sequence was cloned downstream (Sty I site), even with a 74-base pair (CG) tract that requires less supercoiling than shorter tracts for the B-Z transition. Hence the localized supercoil density in pBR322 can be as high as -0.038 and as low as -0.021 at different loci. These data demonstrate the existence of the Z structure for commonly found natural sequences and support the notion of domains of negative supercoiling in vivo.
The Work Function of Lithium

Because they approximate their free electron models so closely, lithium and sodium are of exceptional importance in studies of the theory of the work function. For the purpose of supplementing theoretical calculations on these metals, a thorough experimental investigation of the work function of lithium has been carried out and the results, in combination with the calculations of Wigner and Bardeen, used to estimate the contribution of the surface double layer term to this work function.As in previous studies of this series, the work function was determined by measurement of the contact difference of potential of lithium with respect to a barium reference surface of known work function. The measured surfaces of both lithium and barium were prepared by condensation of their vapors on glass targets after each of the metals had been subjected to fractional and multiple distillation in the measuring tube itself. The time interval between deposition and measurement of the films was of the order of 30 seconds. The observed contact difference of potential is 0.03\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02 ev, lithium electro-positive to barium. This result assigns the value 2.49\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02 ev to the work function of lithium. The effect of gaseous contaminants is to lower the work function.The volume and surface double layer terms which determine the work function of lithium are of the order of 2.2 and 0.3 ev, respectively, a result which supports the conclusion that the surface double layer makes a relatively small contribution to the work functions of the alkali metals.
Scheduling from the perspective of the application

Metacomputing is the aggregation of distributed and high-performance resources on coordinated networks. With careful scheduling, resource-intensive applications can be implemented efficiently on metacomputing systems at the sizes of interest to developers and users. In this paper, we focus on the problem of scheduling applications on metacomputing systems. We introduce the concept of application-centric scheduling in which everything about the system is evaluated in terms of its impact on the application. Application-centric scheduling is used by virtually all metacomputer programmers to achieve performance on metacomputing systems. We describe two successful metacomputing applications to illustrate this approach, and describe AppLeS (Application-Level Scheduling) agents which generalize the application-centric scheduling approach. Finally, we show preliminary results which compare AppLeS-derived schedules with conventional strip and blocked schedules for a 2D Jacobi code.
Site Transformation of Polyisobutylene Chain Ends Into Functional RAFT Agents for Block Copolymer Synthesis

Block copolymers consisting of polyisobutylene (PIB) and either poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) or polystyrene (PS) block segments were synthesized by a site transformation approach combining living cationic and reversible addition−fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerizations. The initial PIB block was synthesized via quasi-living cationic polymerization using the TMPCl/TiCl4 initiation system and subsequently converted into a hydroxyl-terminated PIB. Site transformation of the hydroxyl-terminated PIB into a macro-chain-transfer agent (PIB−CTA) was accomplished by N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide/dimethylaminopyridine-catalyzed esterification with 4-cyano-4-(dodecylsulfanylthiocarbonylsulfanyl)pentanoic acid. Structure of the PIB-CTA was confirmed by both 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The PIB−CTA was then employed in a RAFT polymerization of either methyl methacrylate or styrene, resulting in PIB block copolymers with narrow polydispersity index and predetermined molecular weights confirmed by both 1H NMR a...
Jane Doe: A Cautionary Tale for Case Reports

Historically, clinical case reports have played an essential role in the professional communication of medical and psychiatric knowledge. Case reports continue to play important roles in the initial identification of new syndromes or unusual variants of established conditions. Case reports and case series also serve to alert clinicians to preliminary evidence of the efficacy of novel treatments or adaptations to new populations. The Jane Doe Case provides a seminal example of the ethical/medico-legal dilemma arising from a patient's right to confidentiality versus the principle of independent review/replication as a necessary requirement for scientific credibility. As a result of being the subject of dueling case reports concerning the validity of her delayed recall of childhood sexual abuse, Jane Doe's identity was revealed. Consequently, she suffered significant emotional distress, bankruptcy, and the end of her career as a naval officer and aviator. Current medical journal guidelines call for protection of confidentiality of the patient's identity; yet, scientific credibility requires the possibility of an independent outside review if there are legitimate reasons to question facts or claims advanced in a case report. A potential solution is proposed as a starting point for resolving the dilemma posed for case study subjects and authors by the conflicting requirements of patient confidentiality and, if warranted, the possibility of an independent scientific review.
Secondary nocturnal enuresis caused by central sleep apnea from Chiari malformation type 1

Abstract Objective To report a novel cause of nocturnal enuresis (NE) and highlight the literature giving insight into this novel mechanism. Patient A 12-year-old morbidly obese female with 2-year history of nightly secondary monosymptomatic NE. Results On evaluation, a history of severe sleep disturbed breathing was elicited. Anticipating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), polysomnography was performed, detecting severe central sleep apnea (CSA) without OSA. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed severe Chiari malformation Type I (CM1) with abnormal cerebrospinal fluid dynamics. She had no other classic signs or symptoms of CM1. Neurosurgical decompression halted the NE and normalized nocturnal breathing and cerebrospinal fluid dynamics, confirming that the CSA was caused by the CM1 and resulted in the NE. A thorough literature review found no prior reports of CSA-induced NE. Since CSA and OSA differ by the absence of negative intrathoracic pressures in CSA, this case suggests that such pressures are not a key mechanistic component of SA-induced NE. Conclusion This first report of secondary NE caused by CSA from CM1 emphasizes obtaining a sleep history in the enuretic child, introduces a new cause of NE, and challenges hypotheses underlying SA-induced NE.
Preparation, single-crystal growth and characterization of anhydrous NaMnCl3

Abstract The formation of anhydrous TlMnCl 3 was confirmed. Single crystals of inch dimensions were grown by the vertical Bridgman method by utilization of the evacuated sealed ampoule technique. X-ray powder diffraction data obtained above 30°C indicate TlMnCl 3 to possess the cubic perovskite structure with a o = 5.01 ± 0.01 A . Below 30°C TlMnCl 3 becomes anisotropic and has been identified to have tetragonal symmetry with a o = 5.02 and c o = 5.04 ± 0.01 A .
Ultrastructural localization of matrix vesicles and alkaline phosphatase in the swarm rat chondrosarcoma: Their role in cartilage calcification

Although it is generally acknowledged that matrix vesicles and alkaline phosphatase are required for cartilage calcification, their precise role in initiation or propagation of mineralization remains controversial. We have investigated this problem in a neoplastic model of chondrogenesis, the Swarm rat chondrosarcoma. During serial transplantation these malignant chondrocytes fail to undergo terminal differentiation and do not calcify. To facilitate the study of maturational events in this neoplasm we have developed an intraperitoneal model which grows as discrete free floating tumor nodules. The youngest cells are those on the exterior and maturation progresses towards the center. Ultrastructural examination of the tumor reveals the presence of numerous matrix vesicles in the interterritorial matrix of immature and mature cells. Histochemical localization of alkaline phosphatase reveals a distribution of enzyme activity which varies with the state of maturation of the cells. The most immature cells express large amounts of enzyme on their plasmalemma and in inter-territorial matrix vesicles. The older cells lose membrane activity but maintain activity in their matrix vesicles. These results suggest that while matrix vesicles and/or alkaline phosphatase may be necessary for calcification to proceed, their mere presence is by itself insufficient to initiate or maintain the process.
An adaptive pseudo-spectral method for reaction diffusion problems

The spectral interpolation error was considered for both the Chebyshev pseudo-spectral and Galerkin approximations. A family of functionals I sub r (u), with the property that the maximum norm of the error is bounded by I sub r (u)/J sub r, where r is an integer and J is the degree of the polynomial approximation, was developed. These functionals are used in the adaptive procedure whereby the problem is dynamically transformed to minimize I sub r (u). The number of collocation points is then chosen to maintain a prescribed error bound. The method is illustrated by various examples from combustion problems in one and two dimensions.
Neutron Activation Analysis for Phosphorus in a Study of Development in a Beetle Wing.

Neutron activation analysis was used to measure phosphorus in individual beetle wings during pupal and early adult stages. By counting neutroninduced P32 radioactivity it was possible to measure 0.005 ± 0.001, µg of phosphorus. The phosphorus content of the wings rises to maximum at eclosion and subsequently decreases with loss of cells.
Local Crystal Structure Modifications in Pulsed Laser Deposited Colossal Magnetoresistive Oxide Thin Films

The local structure around the manganese atom is probed by extended x-ray absorption spectroscopy (EXAFS) measurements in pulsed laser deposited thin films of La1–xCaxMnO3 (x=0.12–0.53). The thin films were deposited on various single crystal oxide substrates. The effect of the lattice parameter of the substrate on the local structural modifications around Mn atom is investigated. All the x-ray absorption experiments were performed at the National Synchrotron Light Source of Brookhaven National Laboratory. By detailed EXAFS theoretical modeling for the possible local structures and the least square fitting to the EXAFS data using these models, the overall substrate and the Ca concentration effects are probed. The EXAFS results indicate a rigid Mn-O bonding, but response of the Mn-O-Mn bond angle upon variations of the substrate lattice constant and Ca substitution.
Macrophage-derived IL-18 and increased fibrinogen deposition are age-related inflammatory signatures of vascular remodeling

Aging has been associated with pathological vascular remodeling and increased neointimal hyperplasia. The understanding of how aging exacerbates this process is fundamental to prevent cardiovascular complications in the elderly. This study proposes a mechanism by which aging sustains leukocyte adhesion, vascular inflammation, and increased neointimal thickness after injury. The effect of aging on vascular remodeling was assessed in the rat balloon injury model using microarray analysis, immunohistochemistry, and LINCOplex assays. The injured arteries in aging rats developed thicker neointimas than those in younger animals, and this significantly correlated with a higher number of tissue macrophages and increased vascular IL-18. Indeed, IL-18 was 23-fold more abundant in the injured vasculature of aged animals compared with young rats, while circulating levels were similar in both groups of animals. The depletion of macrophages in aged rats with clodronate liposomes ameliorated vascular accumulation of IL-18 and significantly decreased neointimal formation. IL-18 was found to inhibit apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and macrophages, thus favoring both the formation and inflammation of the neointima. In addition, injured arteries of aged rats accumulated 18-fold more fibrinogen-γ than those of young animals. Incubation of rat peritoneal macrophages with immobilized IL-18 increased leukocyte adhesion to fibrinogen and suggested a proinflammatory positive feedback loop among macrophages, VSMC, and the deposition of fibrinogen during neointimal hyperplasia. In conclusion, our data reveal that concentration changes in vascular cytokine and fibrinogen following injury in aging rats contribute to local inflammation and postinjury neointima formation.
Acute effects of epinephrine and acetylcholine on the electrocardiogram of the dog.

Abstract The injection of 2 or 5 μg. of epinephrine into the coronary artery of anesthetized dogs produced an elevation in the S-T segment and a deepening of an already negative T wave in lead aVF. With a dose of 10 μg., the QRS complex became deformed, resembling the pattern of left bundle block. With these doses of epinephrine, the P wave was consistently affected, most frequently involving inversion with a shortening of the P-R interval. This finding suggested abnormal atrial activation attributable to a nodal or low left atrial rhythm. The administration of acetylcholine produced electrocardiographic changes similar to those seen following epinephrine injection, except that the P wave was unaffected. The similarity between the effects on the T wave, S-T segment, and QRS complex indicated that perhaps acetylcholine induced these changes through a release of myocardial catecholamines. The failure, however, to induce P wave changes is difficult to explain based on this interpretation.
Radiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx: an alternative to surgery.

Background The purpose of this article is to present the results of radiotherapy with or without neck dissection for squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx at the University of Florida and to compare these data with those obtained after conservation surgery. Methods Continuous-course radiotherapy alone or combined with a planned neck dissection was used to treat 209 patients with 211 supraglottic carcinomas between 1964 and 1992; all patients had follow-up for > or = 2 years. Results The 5-year rates of local control after radiotherapy were as follows: T1, 100%; T2, 83%; T3, 68%; and T4, 56%. Tumor volume, as calculated on pretreatment computed tomography (CT) scan, and vocal cord mobility influenced the likelihood of local control. Conclusions Based on our data and the literature, early or moderately advanced supraglottic carcinomas may be treated successfully with either supraglottic laryngectomy or radiotherapy. Supraglottic laryngectomy probably produces a higher initial local control rate but, based on anatomic and coexisting medical constraints, is suitable for a smaller subset of patients and has a higher risk of complications compared with radiotherapy.
Estimating ROI activity concentration with photon-processing and photon-counting SPECT imaging systems

Recently a new class of imaging systems, referred to as photon-processing (PP) systems, are being developed that uses real-time maximum-likelihood (ML) methods to estimate multiple attributes per detected photon and store these attributes in a list format. PP systems could have a number of potential advantages compared to systems that bin photons based on attributes such as energy, projection angle, and position, referred to as photon-counting (PC) systems. For example, PP systems do not suffer from binning-related information loss and provide the potential to extract information from attributes such as energy deposited by the detected photon. To quantify the effects of this advantage on task performance, objective evaluation studies are required. We performed this study in the context of quantitative 2-dimensional single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging with the end task of estimating the mean activity concentration within a region of interest (ROI). We first theoretically outline the effect of null space on estimating the mean activity concentration, and argue that due to this effect, PP systems could have better estimation performance compared to PC systems with noise-free data. To evaluate the performance of PP and PC systems with noisy data, we developed a singular value decomposition (SVD)-based analytic method to estimate the activity concentration from PP systems. Using simulations, we studied the accuracy and precision of this technique in estimating the activity concentration. We used this framework to objectively compare PP and PC systems on the activity concentration estimation task. We investigated the effects of varying the size of the ROI and varying the number of bins for the attribute corresponding to the angular orientation of the detector in a continuously rotating SPECT system. The results indicate that in several cases, PP systems offer improved estimation performance compared to PC systems.
Use of modern infrared thermography for wildlife population surveys

A commercially available thermal-infrared scanning system was used to survey populations of several wildlife species. The system's ability to detect species of different sizes in varying habitats relative to conventional survey methods, to differentiate between species in the same habitat, and the influence of environtmental factors on operational aspects of employing this technology in the field were evaluated. Total costs for the surveys were approximately $0.36/ha. There were marked discrepancies in the counts of untrained observers and those from trained analysis. Computer-assisted analysis of infrared imagery recorded 52% fewer deer than were estimated from drive counts, and densities of moose were five times those estimated from conventional aerial methods. By flying concentric circles and using telephoto, detailed counts of turkeys and deer were possible. With the aid of computer-assisted analysis, infrared thermography may become a useful wildlife population survey tool. More research is needed to verify the actual efficiency of detection by combining aerial scans with ground truthing for a variely of species and habitals.
Comparisons of methods for linkage analysis and haplotype reconstruction using extended pedigree data

We compare and contrast the performance of SIMPLE, a Monte Carlo based software, with that of several other methods for linkage and haplotype analyses, focusing on the simulated data from the New York City population. First, a whole-genome scan study based on the microsatellite markers was performed using GENEHUNTER. Because GENEHUNTER had to drop individuals for many of the pedigrees, we performed a follow-up study focusing on several regions of interest using SIMPLE, which can handle all pedigrees in their entirety. Second, 3 haplotyping programs, including that in SIMPLE, were used to reconstruct haplotypic configurations in pedigrees. SIMPLE emerges clearly as a preferred tool, as it can handle large pedigrees and produces haplotypic configurations without double recombinant haplotypes. For this study, we had knowledge of the simulating models at the time we performed the analysis.
Perspectives of light-front dynamics in few-body systems

Abstract The light-front dynamics (LFD) plays an important role in the analyses of few-body systems as evidenced from the recent phenomenology covering both inclusive and exclusive processes. We discuss a few fundamental issues of LFD that should be taken into account for the phenomenological applications. Using distinguished features of LFD, we obtain completely model-independent constraints for the light-front helicity amplitudes and present the consequences of these constraints in typical spin-system analyses such as in the elastic deuteron form factors and the N-Δ transition form factors. We also note the possible zero-mode complication in the form factor calculation of few-body systems and present a way of avoiding such complications.
Every amino acid matters: essential contributions of histone variants to mammalian development and disease

Despite a conserved role for histones as general DNA packaging agents, it is now clear that another key function of these proteins is to confer variations in chromatin structure to ensure dynamic patterns of transcriptional regulation in eukaryotes. The incorporation of histone variants is particularly important to this process. Recent knockdown and knockout studies in various cellular systems, as well as direct mutational evidence from human cancers, now suggest a crucial role for histone variant regulation in processes as diverse as differentiation and proliferation, meiosis and nuclear reprogramming. In this Review, we provide an overview of histone variants in the context of their unique functions during mammalian germ cell and embryonic development, and examine the consequences of aberrant histone variant regulation in human disease.
EAR: An Energy and Activity-Aware Routing Protocol for Wireless Sensor Networks in Smart Environments

Sensor network, unlike traditional communication network, is deeply embedded in physical environments and its operation is mainly driven by the event activities in the environment. In long-term operations, the event activities usually show certain patterns which can be learned and exploited to optimize network design. However, this has been underexplored in the literature. One work related to this is using ATPG for radio duty cycling ([1]). In this paper we present a novel Energy and Activity aware Routing (EAR) protocol for sensor networks. As a case study, we have evaluated EAR with the data trace of real Smart Environments. In EAR an Activity Transition Probability Graph (ATPG) is learned and built from the event activity patterns. EAR is an online routing protocol, which chooses the next-hop relay node by utilizing: activity pattern information in the ATPG graph and a novel index of energy balance in the network. EAR extends network lifetime by maintaining an energy balance across the nodes in the network, while meeting application performance with desired throughput and low data delivery latency. We theoretically prove that: (a) the network throughput with EAR achieves a competitive ratio (i.e., the ratio of the performance of any offline algorithm that has knowledge of all past and future packet arrivals to the performance of our online algorithm) which is asymptotically optimal, and (b) EAR achieves a lower bound in network lifetime. Extensive experimental results from: (a) 82 node Motelab sensor network testbed [2] and (b) varying size network (20-100) in sensor network simulator TOSSIM, validate that EAR outperforms the existing methods both in terms of network performance (network lifetime, network energy consumption) and application performance (low latency, desired throughput) for an energy-constrained sensor network.
Action of N‐bromosuccinimide on some indolizidine and quinolizidine systems

Oxidation of the alkaloids (-)tylocrebrine, (-)septicine and (±)canadine by N-bromosuccinimide gave the corresponding tetradehydroiminium salts in which the six-membered heterocyclic rings were aromatized. Evidence was provided for the preferred path of the two available alternatives. Reduction of these salts with sodium borohydride regenerated the starting bases but without the optical activity. In contrast to the simpler 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines, hydrastine gave a brominated isoquinolinium salt with the loss of dimethoxy phthalide anion. A discussion of the stoichiometry and a probable mechanism is presented.
ACTIVATION AND POSSIBLE ROLE OF THE “FOOD‐BODIES” OF SAUROMATUM (ARACEAE)

SUMMARY In the inflorescence of the voodoo lily (Sauromatum guttatum Schot), the spectacular thermogenic respiration which manifests itself in the so-called appendix on the first day of flowering (“D-day”) is coupled with unfolding of the spathe and is synchronized with a mild respiratory climacteric and fragrance-production in the yellow, club-shaped organs placed on the central floral axis just above the pistillate (“female”) flowers. The agent (or mixture of agents) responsible for triggering these three coordinated events originates in the primordia (buds) of the staminate (“male”) flowers, from which it begins to emigrate about one day before D-day. The present report is specifically concerned with the club-shaped organs, hitherto almost completely neglected: their structure, the fragrance they produce, the chemical nature and mobilization of the reserve material they contain, and the nature of the respiratory process to which they fall prey. The results, placed in the framework of certain literature-data, allow speculation as to their biological function, which may well be the stimulation of mating in visiting beetles, i.e., extension of the span of time these potential pollinators spend in the inflorescences. The possibility that in addition the club-shaped organs serve as food for the beetles cannot be excluded.
The Effects of a Three-Dimensional, Saddle-Shaped Annulus on Anterior and Posterior Leaflet Stretch and Regurgitation of the Tricuspid Valve

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is present in trace amounts or more in 82–86% of the population and is greater than mild in 14% of the population. In severe cases, it can contribute to right heart failure and adversely affect mitral valve repair durability. One major cause of TR is the dilation of the tricuspid annulus, which alters the geometry of the annulus from a saddle-shape to a more planar profile. Another cause of TR is the displacement of the papillary muscles (PMs), which results from right ventricular dilation. The objective of this study was to identify the effect of a saddle-shaped annulus on native tricuspid leaflet stretch mechanics and TR. In addition, the effects of geometric alterations, including annular dilatation and PM displacement, on leaflet stretch was investigated. Fresh porcine tricuspid valves (TVs) (n = 8) were excised and sutured to an adjustable three-dimensional annulus plate (allowing for dilatation and saddle-shape) and three PM attachment rods. The valve was then placed in the in vitro Georgia Tech right heart simulator. Dual-camera photogrammetry, was used to quantify the stretch ratio experienced by the valve leaflets at peak systole for the following conditions: physiologically normal, 100% annular dilatation, displaced PMs, and a combination of annular dilatation and PM displacement. In addition, a saddle and flat annulus were implemented for each of the four conditions. PM displacement was simulated by displacing all PMs by 10 mm in all directions (laterally, apically, posteriorly/anteriorly). The physiologically normal condition—normal annulus area, saddle-shaped annulus with PMs in a normal position, was used as a control. The results showed that the posterior leaflet exhibited significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher major and areal stretch ratios as compared to the anterior leaflet at peak systole for all conditions tested. No significant difference was seen in stretch when a flat annulus was compared to saddle for the anterior or posterior leaflet for normal or disease conditions. Investigation of the impact of disease found a significant increase (p ≤ 0.10) in stretch in the posterior leaflet with a combination of annular dilatation and PM displacement (2.01 ± 0.68) as compared to the normal condition with a saddle annulus (1.43 ± 0.20). In addition displacement of the PMs resulted in a significant (p ≤ 0.01) reduction in TR, although the actual volume reduced was minimal (1.2 mL). Stretch values were measured for the anterior and posterior leaflet under both physiologic and pathologic conditions for the first time. Further, these results provide an understanding of the effects of geometric parameters on valve mechanics and function, which may lead to improved TV repairs.
Collaborations Between Drug Courts and Service Providers: Characteristics and Challenges

Abstract Addressing the multiple treatment needs of drug-involved offenders can enhance outcomes including sobriety and recidivism. Meeting drug court offenders' needs requires collaborative linkages between courts and providers of treatment and other services; however, there has been limited research on linkages. Using semi-structured interview data collected from administrators of fourteen drug courts and providers of services to offenders in those drug courts, this study described collaborative linkages and the challenges involved in fostering them. Although results suggest a moderate to strong level of linkage as perceived by both drug court administrators and service providers, services other than substance abuse treatment were sparsely provided through the drug courts. Limitations in funding, management information systems, and staffing were perceived as barriers to linkage. Results offer directions for enhancing linkages between drug courts and service providers and should be of value in improving quality of drug court treatment and offender outcomes.
Headache studies; statistical data. II. Headache patterns.

Abstract In the total number of individuals in the survey (4,634), various types of headaches were found in the following percentages. Migraine (broadly defined)8.6Migraine (rigidly defined)3.3Histamine Cephalaigia0.1Frontal Headache47.1Occipital or neck pain10.1
Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) affects development of acoustico-vestibular neurons in the chick embryo brain in vitro

The effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) on presumptive auditory and vestibular neurons from the medulla were studied in primary cell cultures. The part of the rhombic lip that forms nucleus magnocellularis (homologue of the mammalian anteroventral cochlear nucleus) was explanted from white leghorn chicken embryos at Hamburger-Hamilton stage 28 (E5.5), the time when precursors of the magnocellularis bushy cells migrate and begin to differentiate in situ. In vitro the neuroblasts migrated onto 2-D substrates of purified collagen, differentiated, and expressed neuronal markers. One-half of the cultures were supplemented with human recombinant FGF-2 (10 ng/ml daily) for 5-7 days; the others, with fetal bovine serum. FGF-2 more than doubled the length of neurite outgrowth during the first 3 day treatment compared to serum, but the number of migrating neuroblasts was unaffected. Although neurites attained greater lengths in FGF-2, they usually degenerated after 4-5 days; in serum their growth continued for several weeks. Differentiation of neuronal structure, including axons and dendrites, began within 1-2 days in bFGF but required at least 5-7 days in serum. Histochemical observations in vitro and in situ with antibodies to FGF receptor demonstrated immunopositive patches on acoustico-vestibular neuroblasts at stage 28, when they are migrating and first forming their axons. The findings suggest that FGF-2 stimulates neurite outgrowth in the cochlear and vestibular nuclei. FGF-2 may accelerate cell death by overstimulating neuroblasts, but other factors are needed to sustain their further development.
Conservative treatment of the scoliotic and kyphotic patient. Brace treatment and other modalities.

Although various forms of nonoperative treatment have been applied to spinal deformities over the centuries, it was the development of the original Milwaukee brace, a cervicothoraciclumbosacral orthosis (CTLSO),by Blount and Schmidt1in the middle 1940s that heralded a new era of nonoperative treatment and that has led to much of the success we enjoy with nonoperative treatment today. Furthermore, as our understanding of the natural history of scoliosis has grown and our recognition of the specific genetic, curvature-related, or neurophysiological factors that predispose patients to curvature progression has improved, so has our ability to successfully treat patients by nonoperative means. Although there continue to be some authors who voice skepticism over the efficacy of bracing for idiopathic scoliosis,2it remains the only nonoperative modality consistently shown to alter the natural progression of these curvatures. The recent report by Nachemson and Peterson3of the results of a prospective,
Bit cutter-on-rock tribometry: Analyzing friction and rate-of-penetration for deep well drilling substrates

Abstract In this paper, techniques for studying the tribology of rock cutting were developed using bit cutter-on-rock tribometry (B-CORT). Tribological testing was carried out on water-jet fabricated rock disks representative of those found during deep well drilling. The tribometer was also retrofitted with a variable radius cutter assembly, and a system for the capture of in situ rate-of-penetration (ROP). Results include in situ coefficient of friction (COF) and ROP for O1 tool steel cutters on Carthage Marble rock disks. Additionally, this work includes validation of the DOC measurement system with optical interferometry. The interdependence of interfacial cutting friction, ROP, and disk speed are discussed and qualitatively validated against existing studies.
New directions in medical education related to psychiatry.

AbstractThe 100-year anniversary of the Flexner report provides an opportunity to reflect on the future of medical education. We will consider the legacy of the original report, the centenary follow up to that report and consider how these, in concert with emerging learning theories, will influence medical education. We first provide a brief overview of the original Flexner report and review the recommendations of the 2010 centenary follow up to the report. We then discuss some of the major developments in learning theory and consider how they have influenced medical education. In general, there has been a gradual shift from passive to active methods, spurred in part by constructivist theories of learning. Many of the attitudes and skills required are particular strengths of the psychiatrist, making psychiatric educators particularly suitable to lead curricular change. Although much literature is devoted to determining the ‘best’ educational method, we take an ecumenical approach, suggesting that the vari...
Stroke in children.

Cerebral vascular events are rare in children. Twenty-four to 72 hours usually elapse between the onset ofsymptoms and diagnosis [1,2]. This delay reflects the lack ofawareness ofchildhood stroke in the general public and the healthcare community. Additionally, the causes ofpediatric stroke are diverse, unlike adults in whom hypertension and atherosclerosis predominate [3]. Large multicenter clinical trials on childhood cerebral vascular disorder are therefore difficult to perform, given the relative infrequency of the event and the diversity ofrisk factors. Although the standard care and evaluation ofthe pediatric stroke victim is not well described in the literature, this article attempts to summarize the available data and review the management ofstroke in children and young adults.
Degenerate four-wave mixing spectrum of C60 between 0.74 and 1.7 um

Abstract We have extended the wavelength range of our previous study1 (740 nm - 880 nm)of the third order nonlinear optical susceptibility tensor x(3)(co, o, w,—.o) of a thin C60film to 1 .7 tim. We use time-resolved degenerate four-wave-mixing with femtosecondpulses to measure both the phase and magnitude of ii i . Our data are well defined interms of a single two-photon resonance at a fundamental wavelength of 930 nm. From ourfit parameters, we predict for in the zero-frequency limit a value of (9±3)x 1013 esu and at the resonance maximum a value of i(3.9±0.6)X 1012 esu. Keywords: C60, fullerenes, degenerate four-wave-mixing, nonlinear optical spectroscopy 2. Introduction The electronic part of the nonlinear optical susceptibility of fullerenes in the near infrared has been explored with a variety of techniques, including third harmonic generation (THG), electric-field-induced second-harmonic generation, and degenerate four- wave mixing (DFWM). To date the greatest range of wavelength tunability for
Virus-specific T cell responses in macaques acutely infected with SHIVsf162p3

Abstract CD4 + T helper and CD8 + cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses are believed to play an important role in the control of primary HIV and SIV infection. However, the role of these cells in macaques acutely infected with SHIV sf162p3 has not been well characterized. In this study, ten adult rhesus macaques were intravaginally infected with SHIV sf162p3 , and antigen-specific cytokine responses to SHIV-Tat, Nef, Gag and Env peptide pools were examined through 70 days post inoculation (p.i.) using ELISPOT and/or cytokine flow cytometry (CFC). Peak plasma viral replication occurred between 14 and 21 days p.i. followed by low to undetectable plasma viremia by 70 days of infection in most macaques. Although some animals had strong virus-specific cellular immune responses, many had weak or minimal responses that did not correlate with the post peak decline in plasma viremia.
Is sovereign risk related to the banking sector

Abstract We examine whether the banking sector within a nation is related to sovereign risk. We hypothesize that more competitive and sophisticated financial systems are less prone to panics or bank runs, and consequently will be associated with superior sovereign credit ratings. Using Ordered Probit with Aggregate Time Effects methodology, our results show that banking sector characteristics such as concentration in the banking system, liquidity of bank assets, and size of financial system are significantly related to sovereign credit ratings. Since the use of these sovereign ratings is ubiquitous in international finance in varied applications such as determination of the cost of international borrowing by governments, international cost of capital for FDI, and others, the relationships identified in this paper have important public policy implications.
Haber’s rule: a special case in a family of curves relating concentration and duration of exposure to a fixed level of response for a given endpoint

The concept that the product of the concentration (C) of a substance and the length of time (t) it is administered produces a fixed level of effect for a given endpoint has been ascribed to Fritz Haber, who was a German scientist in the early 1900s. He contended that the acute lethality of war gases could be assessed by the amount of the gas in a cubic meter of air (i.e. the concentration) multiplied by the time in min that the animal had to breathe the air before death ensued (i.e. C x t=k). While Haber recognized that C x t=k was applicable only under certain conditions, many toxicologists have used his rule to analyze experimental data whether or not their chemicals, biological endpoints, and exposure scenarios were suitable candidates for the rule. The fact that the relationship between C and t is linear on a log-log scale and could easily be solved by hand, led to early acceptance among toxicologists, particularly in the field of entomology. In 1940, a statistician named Bliss provided an elegant treatment on the relationships among exposure time, concentration, and the toxicity of insecticides. He proposed solutions for when the log-log plot of C and t was composed of two or more rectilinear segments, for when the log-log plot was curvilinear, and for when the slope of the dosage-mortality curve was a function of C. Despite the fact that Haber's rule can underestimate or overestimate effects (and consequently risks), it has been used in various settings by regulatory bodies. Examples are presented from the literature of data sets that follow Haber's rule as well as those that do not. Haber's rule is put into perspective by showing that it is simply a special case in a family of power law curves relating concentration and duration of exposure to a fixed level of response for a given endpoint. Also shown is how this power law family can be used to examine the three-dimensional surface relating C, t, and varying levels of response. The time has come to move beyond the limited view of C and t relationships inferred by Haber's rule to the use of the broader family of curves of which this rule is a special case.
Advances made in determining magnetospheric current systems

One of the important purposes of the discipline of geomagnetism is to determine how the electric current systems that cause geomagnetic disturbances develop and understand their driving processes, in terms of the solar wind-magnetosphere interaction. Researchers in geomagnetism have made important progress by combining ground-based and satellite-based observations with associated computer modeling efforts. In particular, we are now able to infer the changing distribution of electric currents on the equatorial plane within about 10 Earth radii with a time resolution of 5–10 min.