cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stress-induced ventricular arrhythmia after repair of tetralogy of Fallot.

The combination of ventricular arrhythmias found on routine electrocardiography at rest and elevated right ventricular pressures may be associated with sudden death in patients after repair of tetralogy of Fallot. In this study data were reviewed from 104 patients who underwent treadmill exercise testing with a modified Bruce protocol at a mean age of 13.8 years, an average of 7 years after repair of tetralogy of Fallot. The frequency and form of ventricular arrhythmias as manifested in an electrocardiogram at rest as well as before, during and after treadmill exercise tests were tabulated for each patient. Cardiac catheterizatlon was performed within 1 week of the treadmill test in 82 of the 104 patients and the right ventricular systolic pressure, right ventricular end-diastolic pressure, pulmonary arterial systolic pressure and pulmonary to systemic flow (QpQs) ratio were compared in patients with and without ventricular arrhythmias. In 15 (14 percent) of the 104 patients, ventricular arrhythmia was evident in the electrocardiogram at rest and in 31 (30 percent) it was induced by treadmill exercise; 5 of the 15 with arrhythmia at rest had no arrhythmia during exercise. Compared with the remaining 73 patients, the 31 patients who had ventricular arrhythmias during treadmill testing (1) were older (16.2 versus 12.8 years, p < 0.01, t test) and were tested at a longer interval after repair of tetralogy of Fallot, (2) had greater right ventricular systolic pressure (52.7 versus 41.3 mm Hg, p < 0.005), (3) had greater right ventricular end-diastolic pressure (8.0 versus 6.1 mm Hg, p < 0.001), and (4) had no difference in pulmonary arterial systolic pressure or QpQs ratio. Uniform premature ventricular complexes were found in 28 patients, multiform premature ventricular complexes in two and ventricular tachycardia in one. Patients whose ventricular arrhythmia appeared with exercise had similar hemodynamic findings to-those whose arrhythmia disappeared with exercise. Two patients, each with elevated right ventricular systolic pressure and multiform premature ventricular complexes, had cardiac arrest at home. It is concluded that (1) treadmill exercise testing is a sensitive method for detecting ventricular arrhythmia in patients after repair of tetralogy of Fallot; (2) ventricular arrhythmia during treadmill exercise is related to abnormal hemodynamic status; (3) multiform premature ventricular complexes, couplets or ventricular tachycardia with exercise testing are highly associated with abnormal hemodynamic status and sudden death; (4) suppression of ventricular arrhythmia with exercise is neither the characteristic nor necessarily the benign response in these patients; and (5) ventricular arrhythmia may be a late developing phenomenon and may increase with longer postoperative intervals. Patients after repair of tetralogy of Fallot should be treated for ventricular arrhythmia detected in the electrocardiogram at rest or during treadmill exercise testing.
On differentiation: a case study of the development of the concepts of size, weight, and density.

Abstract This paper presents a case study of 3- to 9-year-old children's concepts of size, weight, density, matter, and material kind. Our goal was to examine two claims: (1) that individual concepts undergo differentiation during development; and (2) that young children's concepts are embedded in theory-like structures. To make progress on the first issue, we needed to specify in representational terms what an undifferentiated concept is like and in what sense this undifferentiated concept is a parent of the more differentiated concepts. Our strategy was to use a model of conceptual differentiation suggested by the history of science to guide our search for evidence. In this model, undifferentiated concepts, like differentiated concepts, can be analyzed in terms of their component properties, features, or dimensions. The key difference is that an undifferentiated concept unites certain components which will subsequently be analyzed as components of distinct concepts, and that the undifferentiated concept is embedded in a different theoretical structure from the differentiated concepts. In our study, the same group of 78 children (18 3-year-olds, 18 4-year-olds, 18 5-year-olds, 12 6–7-year-olds, and 12 8–9-year-olds) were given a range of tasks probing their understanding of size, weight, and density; a subgroup of these children were given additional tasks probing their concepts of matter and material kind. We found that young children had a theoretical system which included distinct concepts of size, weight, and material kind and were beginning to form generalizations relating these concepts (e.g., size is crudely correlated with weight, steel objects are typically heavy). The core of their weight concept was felt weight, with density absent from their conceptual system; material kinds were defined in terms of properties which characterize large scale chunks of stuff. Slightly older children (5–7-year-olds) had made modifications to their concepts of weight and material kind. At these ages, their concept of weight now contained both the properties heavy and heavy for size (which we take as evidence of their having an undifferentiated weight/density concept) and they were coming to see weight differences as important in distinguishing whether large-scale objects were made of the same kind of stuff. However, the core of their weight concept was still felt weight and material kinds were still defined in terms of properties of large scale objects. Finally, still older children (8–9-year-olds) had a theoretical system in which weight and density were articulated as distinct concepts, material kinds were reconceptualized as the fundamental constituents of objects, and weight was seen as a fundamental property of matter. We conclude that children's concepts of weight and density do differentiate in development and that it does make sense to view children's concepts in the context of theory-like structures.
Clonal and selective propagation of tobacco from leaves

Abstract Clones of haploids and diploidized haploids are obtained when tobacco leaves are planted after treatment with 0.5% indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in talcum. Immature haploid tobacco leaves (from the upper third of the plant) consistently produced haploid shoots, and diploid leaves produced diploids. Rooted leaves from mericlinal and periclinal plastid chimeras or cytochimeras produced homogeneous (non-chimerical) adventitious shoots. Leaves of colchicine induced haploid/diploid cytochrmeras produced either haploid or diploid shoots. Although diploid cells in otherwise haploid leaf tissue are normally excluded from use for breeding, the formation of adventitious diploid shoots from rooted leaves permits induced diploidy to be transmitted by self-pollination. The separation of the different tissues from chimerical plants into their non-chimerical (homogeneous) components and their recovery as diploids from cytochimerical segments of leaves offer important advantages for breeding and genetic studies.
γ-Carboxyglutamate analysis by selective anion exchange elution and fluorescent detection

Abstract A rapid, sensitive method for the determination of free γ-carboxyglutamic acid (γ-CG) in urine and in the alkaline hydrolysates of proteins is presented. An aliquot of urine or protein hydrolysate containing added γ-[ 14 C]CG is chromatographed on Dowex 1 employing stepwise treatments in N -(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine- N′ -2-ethanesulfonic acid buffers and final selective elution of γ-CG with MgCl 2 . Aliquots of the eluted γ-CG fractions are counted to determine percentage recovery and assayed for γ-CG content by fluorescence employing o -phthalaldehyde. This procedure correlates well with direct determination of γ-CG by the established procedure of automatic amino acid analysis.
Downstaging in pancreatic cancer: a matched analysis of patients resected following systemic treatment of initially locally unresectable disease.

Patients with locally unresectable pancreatic cancer (AJCC stage III) have a median survival of 10–14 months. The objective of this study was to evaluate outcome of initially unresectable patients who respond to multimodality therapy and undergo resection. Using a prospectively collected database, patients were identified who were initially unresectable because of vascular invasion and had sufficient response to nonoperative treatment to undergo resection. Overall survival (OS) was compared with a matched group of patients who were initially resectable. Case matching was performed using a previously validated pancreatic cancer nomogram. A total of 36 patients with initial stage III disease were identified who underwent resection after treatment with either systemic therapy or chemoradiation. Initial unresectability was determined by operative exploration (n = 15, 42%) or by cross-sectional imaging (n = 21, 58%). Resection consisted of pancreaticoduodenectomy (n = 31, 86%), distal pancreatectomy (n = 4, 11%), and total pancreatectomy (n = 1, 3%). Pathology revealed T3 lesions in 26 patients (73%), node positivity in 6 patients (16%), and a negative margin in 30 patients (83%). The median OS in this series was 25 months from resection and 30 months since treatment initiation. There was no difference in OS from time of resection between the initial stage III patients and those who presented with resectable disease (P = .35). In this study, patients who were able to undergo resection following treatment of initial stage III pancreatic cancer experienced survival similar to those who were initially resectable. Resection is indicated in this highly select group of patients.
Water metabolism after cardiac operations involving a Gibbon-type pump-oxygenator. II. Benign forms of water loss.

Each of 21 patients was noted to have a low concentration of water in the serum immediately after whole-body perfusion. This indicated a loss of water either by the patient or the pump-oxygenator. Investigation suggested that the patient, and not the pump-oxygenator, was the source of water loss. Two of the 21 patients had a profuse, short-lived solute diuresis in the immediate postperfusion period. These phenomena are apparently benign and they require no specific treatment.
The energy-environment nexus: aerosol science and technology enabling solutions

Energy issues are important and consumption is slated to increase across the globe in the future. The energy-environment nexus is very important as strategies to meet future energy demand are developed. To ensure sustainable growth and development, it is essential that energy production is environmentally benign. There are two temporal issues—one that is immediate, and needs to address the environmental compliance of energy generation from fossil fuel sources; and second that is the need to develop newer alternate and more sustainable approaches in the future. Aerosol science and technology is an enabling discipline that addresses the energy issue over both these time scales. The paper is a review of aspects of aerosol science and engineering that helps address carbon neutrality of fossil fuels. Advanced materials to meet these challenges are discussed. Future approaches to effective harvesting of sunlight that are enabled by aerosol studies are discussed.
A SIMULATION OF INTERACTIVE MAINTENANCE DECISIONS

In this day of automation, effective maintenance decisions are a legitimate concern. This paper broadens the traditional concept of maintenance to include any policies which tend to reduce the frequency or severity of failures. A simulation model is used to demonstrate the inter-relatedness of multiple maintenance policies for a truck depot. It is demonstrated that the proper selection of a maintenance policy set should consider the variability of the system outputs due to the daily dynamics, as well as the transient behavior of the system. It is also shown that the choice of an appropriate maintenance policy should recognize the distribution of total annual costs and should not base the analysis solely upon average total annual costs.
Evaluating FDG uptake changes between pre and post therapy respiratory gated PET scans

Abstract Purpose Whole body (3D) and respiratory gated (4D) FDG-PET/CT scans performed pre-radiotherapy (pre-RT) and post-radiotherapy (post-RT) were analyzed to investigate the impact of 4D PET in evaluating 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake changes due to therapy, relative to traditional 3D PET. Methods and materials 3D and 4D sequential FDG-PET/CT scans were acquired pre-RT and approximately one month post-RT for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The lesions of high uptake targeted with radiotherapy were identified on the pre-RT scan of each patient. Each lesion on the 3D and each of the five phases of the 4D scan were analyzed using a region of interest (ROI). For each patient the ROIs of the pre-RT scans were used to locate the areas of initial FDG uptake on the post-RT scans following rigid registration. Post-RT ROIs were drawn and the FDG uptake was compared with that of the pre-RT scans. Results Sixteen distinct lesions from 12 patients were identified and analyzed. Standardized uptake value (SUV) maxima were significantly higher ( p -value p -value=0.07). Conclusions Signal recovery with 4D PET results in higher SUVs when compared to standard 3D PET. Consequently, differences in the evaluation of SUV changes between pre and post-RT plans were observed. Such difference can have a significant impact in PET-based response assessment.
The ret-Activating Ligand GDNF Is Differentiative and Not Mitogenic for Normal and Neoplastic Human Chromaffin Cells In Vitro.

Activating mutations of the receptor tyrosine kinase,ret, are associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN-2A). However, the mechanisms leading to tumor development are unclear. Glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) activates wild-typeret via interaction with a second receptor, GFR α-1. We have utilized GDNF to stimulate normal and neoplastic chromaffin cells in order to ask whetherret activation is mitogenic. Cells from three normal adult adrenal medullas, one sporadic pheochromocytoma, and three MEN-2A pheochromocytomas were labeled with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) for 12 d in the presence or absence of GDNF or nerve growth factor (NGF), which is known to stimulate neurite outgrowth, but not proliferation in human chromaffin and pheochromocytoma cell cultures. Responses to GDNF and NGF were comparable, except for two MEN-2A pheochromocytomas that responded minimally to GDNF and robustly to NGF. These tumors responded to GDNF biochemically, as measured by phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kineses, despite their weak morphological responses. Our findings suggest that activation ofret may not be sufficient to produce chromaffin cell hyperplasia or neoplasia directly by stimulating cell proliferation. However, the possibility that altered cell-cell or cell-substrate interactions might cause responses to become differentiative rather than proliferative in vitro has not been ruled out. We also demonstrate, for the first time, that at least some human pheochromocytomas with an MEN-2Aret mutation respond to a normalret ligand. This responsiveness could be mediated by a remaining normalret allele or by other mechanisms.
Photic Driving of EEG Alpha Activity in Recovering Cocaine-Dependent and Alcohol-Dependent Patients

Electroencephalographic (EEG) activity was evaluated in nine cocaine-dependent and five alcohol-dependent patients after 1, 3, and 12 weeks of verified abstinence. A group of 15 non-drug-dependent control subjects were evaluated after comparable intervals. The EEG was recorded from posteriorleadsites during an eyes-open resting condition and during square-wave photic stimulation delivered at two different intensities. The stimulation rate was set relative to each subject's dominant alpha frequency at rest. Analyses revealed no significant group differences in resting EEG activity in the standard frequency bands. However analyses of power at the dominant alpha frequency revealed a reliable increase as stimulus intensity was increased, but only in the control group. The cocaine-dependent and alcohol-dependent groups exhibited no evidence of a photic driving response at any of the three time points.
Loss of entrainment of high-frequency plasma insulin oscillations in type 2 diabetes is likely a glucose-specific β-cell defect

Spontaneous high-frequency insulin oscillations are easily entrainable to exogenous glucose in vitro and in vivo, but this property is lost in type 2 diabetes (2-DM). We hypothesized that this lack...
Conservative management of renal carbuncles in children.

Abstract Renal carbuncles have traditionally been treated with surgical drainage and appropriate antibiotic therapy. Recently, 2 pediatric patients with well-documented renal carbuncles were treated with antibiotic therapy alone. Close follow-up documented complete resolution in both eases. Late .studies showed do evidence of renal scarring or functional compromise.
Mechanism-Based Treatments in Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Fragile X Syndrome

Abstract Background Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common identifiable genetic cause of intellectual disability and autistic spectrum disorders. Recent major advances have been made in the understanding of the neurobiology and functions of fragile X mental retardation protein, the FMR1 gene product, which is absent or reduced in FXS, largely based on work in the fmr1 knockout mouse model. FXS has emerged as a disorder of synaptic plasticity associated with abnormalities of long-term depression and long-term potentiation and immature dendritic spine architecture, related to dysregulation of dendritic translation typically activated by group I mGluR and other receptors. This work has led to efforts to develop treatments for FXS with neuroactive molecules targeted to pathways dysregulated in the absence of fragile X mental retardation protein. Conclusion These agents have been shown to rescue molecular, spine, and behavioral phenotypes in the FXS mouse model, and clinical trials are underway to translate findings in animal models of FXS to humans, raising complex issues about trial design and outcome measures to assess disease-modifying changes that might be associated with treatment. Genes known to be causes of autistic spectrum disorders interact with the translational pathway defective in FXS and it is likely that there will be substantial overlap in molecular pathways and mechanisms of synaptic dysfunction. Thus targeted treatment and clinical trial strategies in FXS may serve as a model for ASD and other cognitive disorders.
Hot spotting and second breakdown effects on reverse I-V characteristics for mono-crystalline Si Photovoltaics

Hot spots are a common problem in photovoltaic (PV) panels that accelerate cell degradation and reduce system performance. Hot spots occur when a cell is reversed biased, sinks power, and heats the cell. At a certain threshold, the PV p-n junction goes into second breakdown and heats a small portion of the cell to very high temperatures. This study experimentally tests mono-crystalline Si cells as they hot spot at different power levels. Heating effects on the I-V characteristics during hot spotting and permanent changes after seven days of hour-long hot spot tests are observed and analyzed. I-V characteristics are significantly affected under second breakdown, which is observed when cells are reverse-biased above two times the rated maximum power level.
Induction of interferon in L cells by defective-interfering (DI) particles of vesicular stomatitis virus: Lack of correlation with content of [±] snapback RNA

Abstract The ability of defective-interfering (DI) particles of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) to induce interferon was studied in relation to the amount of snapback [±] double-stranded sequences in their RNA. Five DI particles propagated in BHK-21 cells were analyzed: two DI particles generated by undiluted passages of cloned wild-type VSV (Indiana); two DI particles generated by serial undiluted passages of culture fluid from L cells persistently infected with VSV; and DI-011, a DI particle with [±] snapback RNA, which is known to be a potent inducer of interferon. Induction of interferon in L cells by these DI particles was not proportional to the amount of [±] sequences in their RNA. DI-011 (26 to 37% [±] RNA sequences) induced a significant amount of interferon at a multiplicity of infection of one DI particle per cell. In contrast, the two DI particles from wild-type VSV (43 to 54% [±] RNA sequences) were 20- to 30-fold less efficient inducers of interferon than DI-011. Furthermore, the two DI particles (1 to 4% [±] RNA sequences) generated from L cell carrier cultures were only slightly less efficient inducers of interferon than the wild-type DI particles. The data also indicate that a population of DI particles which contains [±] RNA is not selected in L cells persistently infected with VSV.
A new model for electron flow during anaerobic digestion: direct interspecies electron transfer to Methanosaeta for the reduction of carbon dioxide to methane

Anaerobic conversion of organic wastes and biomass to methane is an important bioenergy strategy, which depends on poorly understood mechanisms of interspecies electron transfer to methanogenic microorganisms. Metatranscriptomic analysis of methanogenic aggregates from a brewery wastewater digester, coupled with fluorescence in situ hybridization with specific 16S rRNA probes, revealed that Methanosaeta species were the most abundant and metabolically active methanogens. Methanogens known to reduce carbon dioxide with H2 or formate as the electron donor were rare. Although Methanosaeta have previously been thought to be restricted to acetate as a substrate for methane production, Methanosaeta in the aggregates had a complete complement of genes for the enzymes necessary for the reduction of carbon to methane, and transcript abundance for these genes was high. Furthermore, Geobacter species, the most abundant bacteria in the aggregates, highly expressed genes for ethanol metabolism and for extracellular electron transfer via electrically conductive pili, suggesting that Geobacter and Methanosaeta species were exchanging electrons via direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET). This possibility was further investigated in defined co-cultures of Geobacter metallireducens and Methanosaeta harundinacea which stoichiometrically converted ethanol to methane. Transcriptomic, radiotracer, and genetic analysis demonstrated that M. harundinacea accepted electrons via DIET for the reduction of carbon dioxide to methane. The discovery that Methanosaeta species, which are abundant in a wide diversity of methanogenic environments, are capable of DIET has important implications not only for the functioning of anaerobic digesters, but also for global methane production.
Selective expansion of specific T cell receptors in the inflamed colon of Crohn's disease

To identify disease-specific T cell changes that occur in Crohn's disease (CD), the T cell receptor BV repertoires of lamina propria lymphocytes (LPL) isolated from both the inflamed and "disease-inactive" colons of seven CD patients were compared by the quantitative PCR and DNA sequence analysis. It was observed that the BV repertoires of LPL isolated from the disease-active and disease-inactive parts of the colon from the same individual were very different. Furthermore, nearly all of the differences occurred in CD4+ LPL, with very few differences in the CD8+ population of LPL. Although the pattern of BV segments that was increased in disease-active tissue relative to disease-inactive tissue was different for all seven CD patients, there were several BV segments that increased uniformly in the disease-active tissue of all seven individuals. CDR3 length analysis and DNA sequencing of these BV segments revealed that in six of the seven CD patients there was a striking degree of oligoclonality that was absent from disease-inactive tissue of the same individual. These observations suggest that at least some of the inflammation in CD is the result of responses by CD4+ T cells to specific antigens. The isolation of such inflammation-specific CD4+ T cells may make it possible to identify the antigens that are responsible for the inflammatory process in CD and provide a better understanding of its pathogenesis.
FREE TRANSIT FOR LOW-INCOME YOUTH: EXPERIENCE IN SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, CALIFORNIA

In August 2002, AC Transit—the principal bus operator serving the eastern shore of the San Francisco Bay—began distributing free bus passes to low-income middle school and high school students in the transit service district. The program developed in response to grassroots community activism and growing political pressure to remove the burden of school transportation costs from low-income households. Advocates argued that school transportation costs were a barrier that prevented poor children from participating in after-school activities and, in severe cases, led to missed days of school. Funding for a pilot bus pass program was provided by the transit agency, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, local agencies, and several nonprofit organizations. The University of California, Berkeley, was funded to carry out an evaluation of the program during the first year of the program. Before-and-after travel and activity surveys, interviews, focus group meetings, and analysis of attendance data were used i...
Does the Tumescent Technique Require Tumescence

Abstract The “tumescent technique” developed by Klein is a lipoplasty technique characterized by the infusion of large volumes of dilute lidocaine and epinephrine solution into the subcutaneous space of the treatment area. Klein recommended infusing this solution until the tissue became “swollen and firm,” hence the name, “tumescent.” Less blood loss has been reported with this technique than with earlier “wet” techniques, including those also using epinephrine in the subcutaneous infusate solution. In his published experience with the tumescent technique, Samdal concluded that this decreased blood loss was related more to subcutaneous vascular compression from the infusate volume than to the vasoconstrictive effect of the dilute (1:1,000,000) epinephrine. This study compares blood loss among three comparable lipoplasty patient populations, groups A, B, and C, after each group received a different volume range of infused anesthetic solution. Each patient in group A received an infusate volume of 100% to 199% of the estimated volume (Estvol) of fat to be removed. Patients in group B received 200% to 299%, and patients in group C received 300% to 400%. Blood loss was assessed using hematocrit determinations preoperatively and postoperatively on days 1, 5, and 10 for each patient. At day 1 and 5, the mean hematocrit difference between any of the three groups was less than 1.5%. At day 10, this difference was less than 1%. Statistical analysis failed to demonstrate a correlation between the volume of infusate and the decrease in hematocrit at 1, 5, or 10 days postoperatively. In this study, the anesthetic solution infused into the subcutaneous space in a volume of approximately 1.5 times the Estvol was as effective in decreasing blood loss as were volumes greater than three times the Estvol. The study suggests that decreased blood loss with the tumescent technique is a result of the remarkable vasoconstrictive effect of very dilute epinephrine solution bluntly infused uniformly through both the deep and superficial subcutaneous spaces. Effective vasoconstriction from this solution can be achieved with much less volume than that required to cause the tissues to become “swollen and firm.” The requirement to produce marked “tumescence” appears to be unnecessary.
Four spectral classes of cone in the retinas of birds

The spectral sensitivity of 15 species of birds has been measured by recording transretinal voltages from opened eyecups. With suitable combinations of colored adapting lights, we find that a variety of passerines have four peaks of photopic sensitivity, with maxima at 370, 450, 480, and 570 nm. Additional sensitivity maxima at 510 nm are found in some species. The spectral sensitivity functions are not altered by bathing the retinas in 50 mM sodium aspartate, suggesting that they reflect the properties of cones and do not result from inhibitory interactions between retinal interneurons. Comparison of the results with a general mathematical model that describes spectral sensitivity functions recorded extracellularly from populations of receptors in different states of adaptation (Goldsmith 1986) shows that the retinal spectral sensitivity functions are consistent with the presence of (at least) four types of cone, but indicate as well that many of the cones that are maximally sensitive in the blue and violet likely contain oil droplets that attenuate the deep violet and near uv.
Offset rotating plates in a uniformly rotating fluid

The flow identified by Berker (Encyclopedia of Physics, Springer, Berlin, 1963) on the motion induced between two parallel infinite plates rotating at angular velocity Ω with offset centers of rotation was solved by Abbot and Walters (J Fluid Mech 40:205–213, 1970). Here, we consider the same problem in a fluid uniformly rotating at angular velocity ω. The flow is then governed by a Reynolds number R and σ = ω/Ω which represents the ratio of Coriolis to inertial forces. As in the original problem, the loci of centers of rotation projected onto the mid-plane form logarithmic spirals. Sample similarity profiles at fixed R and σ are given in graphical form. Features of the logarithmic spirals in both the inertial and rotating frames of reference are also presented in graphical form.
Mechanisms structuring stream fish assemblages: Are there lessons from introduced species?

Stream fish faunas are being increasingly subjected to non-native fishes. Successful establishment of non-native forms varies widely between geographic regions (38–77%), but is generally greater in areas that are either altered by man or initially depauperate in fish species. While such introductions have generally had undesirable effects on native fish species, they show no signs of decreasing. Thus, this essay is an attempt to determine if the introduction of non-native fishes may provide insights into processes structuring stream fish assemblages. There are, unfortunately, few detailed ecological studies documenting the response of stream fish assemblages to introduced fishes. Of the 31 studies included in my analysis, the majority (77%) documents a decline in native fishes following the introduction of exotic or transplanted forms. Only 10 studies examined shifts in resource use, of which 5 documented or suggested shifts in habitat. Overall, the responses of native stream fish assemblages to non-native fishes suggest that biotic interactions are important in structuring the impacted assemblages, being implicated in 62% of the studies. Proposed or demonstrated mechanisms are divided equally between competition and predation. Unfortunately, pre-disturbance data are generally lacking so that processes important in structuring native fish assemblages cannot be determined.
The Market Valuation and Trading Volume Effects of the Creation of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund on Property‐liability Insurers

The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund was officially created in November, 1993. This study analyzes investor reactions during the creation of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. We find significant share price reactions for four of six legislative events consistent with the predictions of the theory outlined. We use both a generalized least squares portfolio approach and Corrado's (1989) rank statistic, a nonparametric event study methodology, to arrive at our findings. Empirical analysis of trading volume corroborates the findings involving share price reactions. We also find that the market is able to discriminate between property-liability insurers on the basis of hurricane exposure and firm size.
Respiration of the bathypelagic fish Cyclothone acclinidens

The respiration of 3 adult females of Cyclothone acclinidens was measured in situ. These numerically dominant fish of the meso- and bathypelagic zones were individually captured off southern California at a depth of 1300 m using a multiple-chambered slurp-gun respirometer operated from the submersible “Alvin”. Continuous oxygen consumption measurements of each fish were made at the capture depth for about 28 h, spanning an interval from late morning to the following mid-afternoon. Nocturnal rates of respiration of these fish were 3 to 5 times higher than diurnal rates, suggesting a daily thythm in this non-migratory midwater species. Environmental factors such as tides, light, and food could serve to synchronize the observed respiration fluctuation.
Lapse in embryo transfer training does not negatively affect clinical pregnancy rates for reproductive endocrinology and infertility fellows

Objective To compare rates of clinical pregnancy (CPR) and live birth (LBR) following embryo transfer (ET) performed by reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) fellows before and after a prolonged lapse in clinical training due to an 18-month research rotation. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Not applicable. Patient(s) All women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and IVF–intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles with ET performed by REI fellows from August 2003 to July 2012. Intervention Eighteen-month lapse in clinical training of REI fellows. Main Outcome Measure(s) CPR and LBR before and after the lapse in clinical training were calculated and compared per fellow and as a composite group. Alternating logistic regression models were used to calculate the odds of clinical pregnancy and live birth following transfers performed before and after the lapse in training. Result(s) Unadjusted odds of clinical pregnancy and live birth were similar between the two time periods both for individual fellows and for the composite group. Alternate logistic regression analysis revealed no significant difference in CPR (odds ratio [OR] 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.83–1.07) or LBR (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.94–1.18) after the lapse in training compared with before. Conclusion(s) A research rotation is common in REI fellowship training programs. This prolonged departure from clinical training does not appear to negatively affect pregnancy outcome following fellow ET.
Contraception and inhibition of ovulation by minipump infusion of the luteinizing hormone releasing hormone, active analogs and antagonists.

The effects of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) and its active analogs and antagonists on ovulation and serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were studied in male and female rats. When the antagonist (D-Phe(2)Pro(3)D-Trp(6))-LH-RH was infused sc at the rate of 375 mcg/day for 4 days by a subcutaneous osmosis-driven minipump ovulation was inhibited and serum levels of LH were decreased in castrated male rats. (D-Phe(2)Leu(3)D-Trp(6))-LH-RH was not as effective in suppressing ovulation but did lower LH levels in castrated animals. Infusion of 375 mcg/day LH-RH for 4 days in combination with ca. 6 mcg/day for 4 days of the highly active analog (D-Ala(6)des-Gly(10)-LH-RH completely abolished the uterine implantation sites of mated rats. The LH-RH antagonists were ineffective. It appears that the mechanisms of action of LH-RH and its superactive analogs which cause postcoital contraception and the mechanisms of antagonists of LH-RH which prevent ovulation are different.
Access to therapy in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study, 1989-1992.

Abstract The study aims were (i) to describe secular trends in the utilization of antiretrovirals, antivirals, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) prophylaxis, and antifungal prophylaxis and (ii) to determine whether factors such as clinical status, health services utilization, insurance status, income, education and race were associated with access to therapy. Data on utilization of therapy, health services utilization, income and insurance status were collected semiannually from October 1990 through March 1992 from 1415 homosexual/bisexual HIV-1 seropositive men in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS). Prevalence of therapy use according to level of immunosuppression was determined at each study visit. Clinical AIDS was defined using the 1987 CDC definition. Factors associated with use of antiretroviral therapy and PCP prophylaxis were assessed using multiple logistic regression with robust variance techniques to adjust variance estimates and significance levels for within-person correlations of drug use over time. Prevalence of zidovudine use remained relatively constant throughout the study period. In contrast, use of didanosine (21–34%), acyclovir (23–34%) and dideoxycytidine (zalcitabine) (8–25%) increased in participants with clinical AIDS. Similar trends were seen for combination antiretroviral therapy, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, dapsone, ketoconazole and fluconazole. However, reported use of aerosolized pentamidine fell. After adjusting for CD4+ lymphocyte count and HIV-1 symptoms, previous HIV-related hospitalization (OR = 1.52; 95% CI = 1.22–1.91), outpatient visit (OR = 2.83; 95% CI = 2.12–3.78), having insurance (OR = 1.32; 95% CI = 1.01–1.75), college education (OR = 1.42; 95 % CI = 1.13–1.80) and white race (OR = 1.58; 95% CI = 1.21–2.07) were all associated with being on antiretroviral therapy in persons without clinical AIDS. In persons with clinical AIDS, having insurance (OR = 2.89; 95% CI = 1.04–8.02) and a previous outpatient visit (OR = 11.69; 95% CI = 1.77–77.30) were the significant variables. Factors significantly associated with being on PCP prophylaxis in multivariate models were previous hospitalization, previous outpatient visit, and college education (for subjects without clinical AIDS).
Rare gases in Samoan xenoliths

The rare gas isotopic compositions of residual harzburgite xenoliths from Savai'i (SAV locality) and an unnamed seamount south of the Samoan chain (PPT locality) provide important constraints on the rare gas evolution of the mantle and atmosphere. Despite heterogeneous trace element compositions, the rare gas characteristics of the xenoliths from each of the two localities are strikingly similar. SAV and PPT xenoliths have ^3He/^4He ratios of 11.1 ± 0.5 R_A and 21.6 ± 1 R_A, respectively; this range is comparable to the ^3He/^4He ratios in Samoan lavas and clearly demonstrates that they have trapped gases from a relatively undegassed reservoir. The neon results are not consistent with mixing between MORB and a plume source with an atmospheric signature. Rather, the neon isotopes reflect either a variably degassed mantle (with a relative order of degassing of Loihi < PPT < Reunion < SAV < MORB), or mixing between the Loihi source and MORB. The data supports the conclusions of Honda et al. that the ^(20)Ne/^(22)Ne ratio in the mantle more closely resembles the solar ratio than the atmospheric one. ^(40)Ar/^(36)Ar ratios in the least contaminated samples range from 4,000 to 12,000 with the highest values in the 22 R_A PPT xenoliths. There is no evidence for atmospheric ^(40)Ar/^(36)Ar ratios in the mantle source of these samples, which indicates that the lower mantle may have ^(40)Ar/^(36)Ar ratios in excess of 5,000. Xenon isotopic anomalies in ^(129)Xe and ^(136)Xe are as high as 6%, or about half of the maximum MORB excess and are consistent with the less degassed nature of the Samoan mantle source. These results contradict previous suggestions that the high ^3He/^4He mantle has a near-atmospheric heavy rare gas isotopic composition.
One-year outcome after combined coronary artery bypass grafting and transmyocardial laser revascularization for refractory angina pectoris

Abstract Long-term outcomes after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) plus transmyocardial revascularization (TMR) are largely unknown. We report the results of 30-day and 3-, 6-, and 12-month clinical follow-up after CABG plus TMR in a consecutive series of patients with refractory angina pectoris and ≥1 myocardial ischemic area not amenable to CABG. All patients who underwent CABG plus TMR (n = 169) (mean age 63 ± 10 years, 70% men, 51% with previous CABG, 82% were deemed inoperable at other heart surgery centers due to small vessels or diffuse disease) between March 1996 and February 2000 were clinically followed and end points of interest (survival, stroke, acute myocardial infarction, and revascularization) and angina class were recorded at 30 days and 3, 6, and 12 months after CABG. At 1 year, actuarial survival and event-free survival were 85% and 81%, respectively. At the end of the first year after the procedure, 7 patients (4%) had angina class III/IV versus 152 patients (90%) at baseline (p
Planet formation: Compositional mixing and lunar compositional anomalies

Abstract Significant fractions of each planet's late-accreted mass originated not at its own distance from the Sun, but from a neighboring planet's orbit, according to results that follow from calculations by Wetherill (1975) . “Late-accreted” refers to a loosely defined period after planets acquired most of their present mass. In an idealized model, Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars received 47, 45, 37, and 52% of their late-accreted mass from planetesimals formed closer to other planets. Resulting compositional anomalies in outer parts of early planets could be significant; atmospheric tests of Lewis's predicted S deficiency on Venus may be inconclusive. The Moon's orbit around Earth puts it in a special category: sorting occurs between Moon-impacting and Earth-impacting material according to approach velocity. In the above model, the moon receives 60% of its late-accreted mass from planetesimals formed near Venus' orbit. Distant planetesimals could be perturbed into the Earth-Moon system and cause major changes in the Moon's composition with only minor effect on Earth. The entire lunar bulk composition anomaly could be explained by plausible reservoirs of distant low-density material.
Development of an Intervention for Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Young Adults: An Open Pilot Trial.

Abstract Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a prevalent and dangerous behavior among young adults, but no treatments specific to NSSI have been developed for patients without borderline personality disorder. The purpose of this study was to develop and investigate a novel intervention for NSSI among young adults. The intervention is a 9-session behavioral treatment designed to decrease the frequency of NSSI behaviors and urges. Using an open pilot design, feasibility and acceptability were investigated in a small sample ( n = 12) over a 3-month follow-up period. A preliminary investigation of change in NSSI was also conducted. Feasibility and acceptability of the intervention were supported. Medium to large effect sizes were found for decreases in NSSI behaviors and urges over the follow up period. Results of this open pilot trial support the further evaluation of this intervention.
An immunohistochemical comparison between MiTF and MART-1 with Azure blue counterstaining in the setting of solar lentigo and melanoma in situ.

Background: Evaluation of cutaneous pigmented lesions can be diagnostically challenging and represents an activity often supplemented by immunohistochemistry. Immunohistochemical studies typically employ 3,3′-diaminobenzidine (DAB) resulting in brown staining of both melanocytes and melanin. Difficulty may thus arise in distinguishing different cell types in heavily melanized lesions. Azure blue counterstaining has been used in conjunction with melanoma antigen recognized by T-cells (MART-1) to differentiate melanocytes from melanin by highlighting the latter blue-green. Microphthalmia transcription factor (MiTF) represents an alternative immunomarker that shows nuclear reactivity, which facilitates ease of interpretation. Methods: Twenty examples of solar lentigo and melanoma in situ (MIS) were independently evaluated utilizing MiTF and MART-1/Azure blue for melanocyte quantification. Melanocyte counts were averaged over five high-power fields (×400) to obtain a mean melanocytic count. Results: There was no significant difference in the mean melanocytic count between MART-1/Azure blue and MiTF as assessed in the solar lentigo group and as assessed independently in the MIS group. MiTF nuclear staining facilitated interpretation and required less laboratory preparation, as an additional counterstain was not necessary. Conclusions: MiTF is as effective as MART-1/Azure blue in identifying melanocytes in the context of solar lentigo or MIS. On the basis of our results, we favor expanding the use of MiTF as an immunohistochemical marker, as it provides an efficient alternative to MART-1 with Azure blue counterstaining in the evaluation of cutaneous pigmented lesions. Hillesheim PB, Slone S, Kelley D, Malone J, Bahrami S. An immunohistochemical comparison between MiTF and MART-1 with Azure blue counterstaining in the setting of solar lentigo and melanoma in situ.
Risk factors for hemorrhage during microelectrode-guided deep brain stimulator implantation for movement disorders.

Objective Although hemorrhage is a well-known complication of microelectrode-guided deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery, risk factors for the development of hemorrhage have not been well defined. We analyzed the risk factors for symptomatic and asymptomatic hemorrhage in a large series of DBS implantations into the subthalamic nucleus, ventrolateral thalamus, and internal globus pallidus. Methods All DBS procedures performed by a single surgeon at our institution between June 1998 and May 2004 were included in this study. All patients had postoperative imaging (magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography) 4 to 24 hours after surgery. Hematomas were noted and scored as symptomatic or asymptomatic. Statistical correlation of factors affecting risk of hematoma formation was performed by use of logistic regression analysis. Results The total number of lead implantations was 481. There were 6 symptomatic hematomas and 10 asymptomatic hematomas. Three of the symptomatic hematomas resulted in permanent new neurological deficit. The risk of hematoma (of any type) per lead implantation was 3.3%, whereas the risk of permanent deficit from hematoma was 0.6%. Patients who developed hematomas had a slightly greater number of microelectrode recording penetrations than patients who did not have hematomas, but this difference did not reach statistical significance. There was not a statistically significant relationship between risk of hematoma and patient age or diagnosis. There was a significant effect of brain target (P = 0.001), with only 1 hemorrhage detected after thalamic DBS. Conclusion DBS is generally safe, with only 0.6% of implantations associated with permanent neurological deficit. The incremental risk of successive serial microelectrode penetrations is small.
The 9Be(3He,2α)α reaction from 12 to 24 MeV and coherent sequential decay

Abstract Coincidence cross sections for 9 Be( 3 He, 2α)α were measured from E He = 102 to 24 MeV. Sequential decays of all known α-emitting 8 Be levels were observed with about equal cross section. Coherent analysis of 8 Be(11.4 MeV) sequential decay into two different α-particle pairs was required to fit the peaks from this state. Upper limits on the cross section for the possible 3 He + 5 He → 2α quasifree reaction on 5 He clusters in 9 Be are about 0.05 and 0.2 mb/sr 2 at E 0 = 12 and 24 MeV, respectively; these are much smaller than those reported for such a process at E 0 = 4 MeV.