cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chapter 13 – Evolution and Genetic Engineering

How a cell is altered? How can a cell turn into a desired machine? A cell’s genotype represents the cell’s genetic potential, whereas its phenotype represents the expression of a culture’s potential. The genotype of a cell can be altered by mutations. The rate of mutation can be enhanced by the addition of chemicals called mutagens or by radiation. Auxotrophs are of particular use in genetic analysis. Another useful class of mutants is conditional mutants. Gene transfer from one cell to another augments genetic information in ways that are not possible through mutation only. Genetic recombination of different DNA molecules occurs within most cells. Genetic information transferred from another organism may become a permanent part of the recipient cell. The three primary modes of gene transfer in bacteria are transformation, transduction, and conjugation. We can use gene transfer in conjunction with restriction enzymes and ligases to genetically engineer cells. in vitro procedures that recombine isolated donor DNA gens with vector DNA (eg, plasmids, temperate phages, or modified viruses) are called recombinant DNA techniques. The application of recombinant DNA technology at the commercial level requires a judicious choice of the proper host-vector system. Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pichia stipitis, and Bacillus are commonly selected as hosts because of their unique properties. Animal cell culture is required when posttranslational modifications are essential. The vector must be designed to optimize a desired process. One must be aware of the regulatory constraints on the release of cells with recombinant DNA. These are particularly relevant in plant design, where guidelines for physical containment must be met. Two increasingly important applications of genetic engineering are: metabolic or pathway engineering for the production or destruction of nonproteins and protein engineering for the production of novel or specifically modified proteins.
Genome Sequencing of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates That Harbor the FOX-5 β-Lactamase Gene.

ABSTRACT We generated draft genome assemblies of three Escherichia coli and seven Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates that harbor the FOX-5 β-lactamase-encoding gene.
What Causes the Most Stress in Breast Radiology Practice? A Survey of Members of the Society of Breast Imaging

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the major stressors affecting practicing breast radiologists. Methods: All members of the Society of Breast Imaging within the United States received an email invitation to complete an anonymous survey evaluating stressors that may contribute to physician burnout. Stressors evaluated included pace at work, work-life balance, care of dependents, job security, financial strain, decreasing reimbursement, new regulations, delivering bad news, fear of getting sued, and dealing with difficult patients, radiologists, and administrators. Results: The overall response rate was 13.5% (312/2308). For those who opened the email, response rate was 24.6% (312/1269). The most prevalent stressors reported were working too fast (222/312, 71.2%), balancing demands of work with personal life (209/312, 70.0%), fear of getting sued (164/312, 52.6%), and dealing with difficult administrators (156/312, 50%). Prevalence of stress related to new regulation requirements, job security, financial strain, decreased reimbursement, dependent care, call, delivering bad news, and dealing with difficult patients, difficult referrers, and difficult radiologists were present in fewer than 50% of respondents. Conclusion: The most prevalent sources of stress in breast imaging radiologists relate to working too fast and balancing demands of work with time needed for personal life.
Adjuvant treatment for patients with stage IIIB endometrioid endometrial cancer following hysterectomy

Objectives: Given its rarity, the optimal management of patients with endometrial cancer extending to the parametria, vagina or pelvic sidewall in the absence of lymph node metastasis is not well defined. We aimed to investigate the outcomes of patients with stage IIIB endometrioid cancer following hysterectomy based on different adjuvant treatment strategies. Methods: Patients with no history of another tumor diagnosed between 2004 and 2015 with stage IIIB endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterus who underwent primary hysterectomy, had negative lymph nodes and at least one month of follow-up were selected from the National Cancer Database. Overall survival between patients who were observed or received chemotherapy-only (CT), radiotherapy-only (RT) and chemoradiation (CRT) were compared with the log-rank test after generation of Kaplan-Meier curves. A Cox multivariate model was constructed to control for confounders. Results: A total of 717 patients with a median age of 64 years who met the inclusion criteria were identified. Radical hysterectomy was performed for 17% of cases. Data on margin status was available for 638 cases; 73.5% had negative margins. Tumor was extending to the parametria for 239 (33.3%) patients, to the vagina for 235 (32.8%) cases, to the pelvic sidewall for 102 (14.2%) cases, and was abutting bladder/colon (without invasion) for 55 cases (7.7%) while 86 patients (12%) had stage IIIB not otherwise specified. A total of 147 (20.5%) patients did not receive adjuvant treatment, while 118 (16.5%) received chemotherapy-alone, 206 (28.7%) received radiotherapy-alone and 246 (34.3%) received chemoradiation. Tumor grade and presence of comorbidities was comparable between the groups. Five-year OS rates for patients who did not receive adjuvant treatment was 49.8% compared to 56% for those who had chemotherapy-alone, 60% for those who had radiotherapy-alone and 76.2% for those who received chemoradiation, p Conclusions: Chemoradiation is associated with better survival outcomes for patients with stage IIIB endometrial cancer
Price Determinants of Sulfur Dioxide Market

The exponential increase of emissions linked to industrialization released into the air has been a developing concern. Since the early 1960s the United States and other countries have begun recognizing the impacts of acid precipitation, a result of emitted sulfur dioxide reacting with water molecules in the atmosphere to produce harmful acid. Many researchers, climate policy makers, and government officials actively tried to mitigate the origins and effects of acid precipitation, but little was accomplished the U.S. Congress passed and President Carter signed the Acid Precipitation Act of 1980. This piece of legislation allocated resources from the United States Government to allow a 10 year assessment of the causes and consequences of acid precipitation with hopes of developing options for reducing known effects. Although this was a meaningful step forward, few reform proposals have successfully negotiated the trepid path from theory to implementation. A successful program must be realistic. The most conceivable idea of climate reform is not about how to stop the output of SO2, but about how to control it. The SO2 allowance market, one of the most successful climate policy instruments, was put into action in 1995. By providing economic incentives to firms with lower emissions, it effectively limited the amount of harmful sulfur dioxide that was emitted into the atmosphere while introducing fully marketable commodities—allowances—into the market. This paper focuses the factors that determines the price for these allowances and discharge permits and assesses the economic impacts of this incentive program. This article is available in The Park Place Economist: http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/parkplace/vol23/iss1/8
Joint Super Resolution and Denoising From a Single Depth Image

This paper describes a new algorithm for depth image super resolution and denoising using a single depth image as input. A robust coupled dictionary learning method with locality coordinate constraints is introduced to reconstruct the corresponding high resolution depth map. The local constraints effectively reduce the prediction uncertainty and prevent the dictionary from over-fitting. We also incorporate an adaptively regularized shock filter to simultaneously reduce the jagged noise and sharpen the edges. Furthermore, a joint reconstruction and smoothing framework is proposed with an L0 gradient smooth constraint, making the reconstruction more robust to noise. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed algorithm compared to previously reported methods.
Tribasic integrals and identities of Rogers-Ramanujan type

Some integrals involving three bases are evaluated as infinite products using complex analysis. Many special cases of these integrals may be evaluated in another way to find infinite sum representations for these infinite products. The resulting identities are identities of Rogers-Ramanujan type. Some integer partition interpretations of these identities are given. Generalizations of the Rogers-Ramanujan type identities involving polynomials are given again as corollaries of integral evaluations.
Nerve growth factor for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy: what went wrong, what went right, and what does the future hold?

Abstract Since their discovery in the 1950s, neurotrophic factors have raised expectations that their clinical application to neurodegenerative diseases might provide an effective therapy for what are now untreatable conditions. Nerve growth factor (NGF) was the first neurotrophic factor to be discovered and was one of the earliest to proceed to clinical trials. NGF, which is selectively trophic for small fiber sensory and sympathetic neurons, was selected as a potential therapy for diabetic polyneuropathy because of the serious consequences associated with degeneration of those neuronal populations in this condition. In addition, evidence shows that reduced availability of NGF may contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy, and animal models of neuropathy respond to the exogenous administration of NGF. Two sets of phase II clinical trials suggested that recombinant human NGF (rhNGF) administration was effective at ameliorating the symptoms associated with both diabetic polyneuropathy and HIV related neuropathy. These early studies, however, revealed that painful side effects were dose limiting for NGF. A large-scale phase III clinical trial of 1019 patients randomized to receive either rhNGF or placebo for 48 weeks failed to confirm the earlier indications of efficacy. Among the explanations offered for the discrepancy between the two sets of trials was a robust placebo effect, inadequate dosage, different study populations, and changes to the formation of rhNGF for the phase III trial. As a result of the phase II outcome, Genentech has decided no to proceed with further development of rhNGF.
Random matrices, Frobenius eigenvalues, and monodromy

Statements of the main results Reformulation of the main results Reduction steps in proving the main theorems Test functions Haar measure Tail estimates Large $N$ limits and Fredholm determinants Several variables Equidistribution Monodromy of families of curves Monodromy of some other families GUE discrepancies in various families Distribution of low-lying Frobenius eigenvalues in various families Appendix AD: Densities Appendix AG: Graphs References.
Detection and localization of Epstein-Barr viral genomes in angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy and angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy- like lymphoma

We studied 23 cases of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy (AILD) and AILD-like lymphoma for evidence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and in situ hybridization studies. EBV nucleic acid sequences were found by either PCR or in situ hybridization in 96% of the cases. There was a wide range in the number of EBV-positive cells among the different cases as detected by in situ hybridization. The EBV-positive cells most often possessed nuclei of intermediate to large size. Double-labeling immunohistochemistry/in situ hybridization studies demonstrated that most of the EBV-positive cells expressed the B-lineage antigen CD20 (as detected by L26), with a minority of the EBV-positive cells stained for the T-lineage associated antigen, CD43 (as detected by Leu 22). The abnormally high amounts of EBV found in AILD and AILD-like lymphoma may be a reflection of decreased immunocompetence in these patients. The presence of EBV- positive B cells may explain the presence of B-cell clones found by others as well as the paradoxical occurrence of B-cell lymphoma in a primary T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder.
Bacteriologic aspects of ulcerative colitis.

The fact that the lesions of ulcerative colitis occur in an area of the body normally inhabited by a large population of various types of bacteria has led to consideration of the possibility that these agents may play some role in the pathogenesis of this disorder. Although this facet of the disease has received the close attention of a number of investigators for many years, the causal relationship to ulcerative colitis of bacteria in general, or specific species in particular, still remains to be established. It is the purpose of this paper to review briefly some of the data that have been presented in support of the etiologic role of bacteria and to point out the difficulties associated with implicating microorganisms in the etiology of this disease. In the early part of this century, various investigators attempted to incriminate members of the normal intestinal microflora in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis. Thus, it was suggested that such organisms as Escherichia coli, Aerobacter aerogenes, Proteus, Alcaligenes fecalis, the Friedlander bacillus, staphylococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and fecal streptococci might play a role in this disease. The evidence in support of this thesis has been indirect, circumstantial, and has not stood up under critical study. The possibility that the intestinal bacterial flora as a whole, rather than any single organism, might be involved was suggested by Seneca and Henderson. I They found that the mean total bacterial count of wet feces was 1.4 X 1013 and the mean coliform count 6 X 1012 in some cases of ulcerative colitis. This, they thought, represented an 85-fold increase over the normal in total number of organisms and a
Misconceptions about the Urban Poor and the Dynamics of Housing Policy Evolution

This paper identifies five common misconceptions about the urban poor in Third World cities and traces their affect on housing policy. Prospects for a successful housing strategy are suggested.
Acute hemodynamic effects of nitroprusside in children with isolated mitral regurgitation

The acute hemodynamic responses to nitroprusside during cardiac catheterization were evaluated in 12 children with isolated mitral regurgitation (MR) of congenital origin. The patients were classified into 2 groups. Group I consisted of 5 patients who received digitalis or diuretic drugs and group II consisted of 7 patients who received no medication. Hemodynamic measurements were performed using a multisensor catheter system during infusion of nitroprusside at a dose of 2.0 micrograms/kg/min. With nitroprusside, the mean right atrial pressure decreased an average of 50% in group I (from 6 +/- 1 to 3 +/- 1 mm Hg) and 75% in group II (from 4 +/- 1 to 1 +/- 1 mm Hg), and the mean decrease of pulmonary artery wedge pressure was 50% in group I (from 14 +/- 3 to 7 +/- 3 mm Hg) and 56% in group II (from 9 +/- 2 to 4 +/- 1 mm Hg). Administration of nitroprusside also caused a significant reduction in systemic vascular resistance by 40% in both groups (from 25 +/- 6 to 15 +/- 5 U/m2 in group I and from 25 +/- 2 to 15 +/- 3 3 U/m2 in group II), whereas forward cardiac output increased markedly, by an average of 48% in group I (from 3.3 +/- 0.5 to 4.9 +/- 0.9 liters/min/m2) and 58% in group II (from 3.3 +/- 0.3 to 5.2 +/- 0.8 liters/min/m2). No significant differences in hemodynamic response between groups I and II were noted.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Changes in reports and incidence of child abuse following natural disasters.

Abstract %Objective: The aim of this research was to investigate if there is a higher incidence of child abuse following major natural disasters. Methodology: Child abuse reports and substantiations were analyzed, by county, for 1 year before and after Hurricane Hugo, the Loma Prieta Earthquake, and Hurricane Andrew. Counties were included if damage was widespread, the county was part of a presidential disaster declaration, and if there was a stable data collection system in place. Results: Based on analyses of numbers, rates, and proportions, child abuse reports were disproportionately higher in the quarter and half year following two of the three disaster events (Hurricane Hugo and Loma Prieta Earthquake). Conclusions: Most, but not all, of the evidence presented indicates that child abuse escalates after major disasters. Conceptual and methodological issues need to be resolved to more conclusively answer the question about whether or not child abuse increases in the wake of natural disasters. Replications of this research are needed based on more recent disaster events.
Relationship of Psychiatric Diagnosis and Weight Loss Maintenance in Obese Breast Cancer Survivors

Objective: Obese breast cancer survivors are a unique population for weight loss counseling because both obesity and a diagnosis of breast cancer can increase the risk of depression. In this pilot study, weight loss maintenance was examined in obese breast cancer survivors with relationship to psychiatric diagnosis. Research Methods and Procedures: Forty-eight subjects were enrolled. The intervention, which used individualized counseling for diet and exercise, lasted 24 months. After a 6-month period of no contact with study subjects, a follow-up body weight was obtained at 30 months. Results: The nine subjects who dropped out of the study before 12 months all failed to complete a structured psychiatric interview. Of the remaining 39 subjects, 9 had major depressive disorder, and 10 had a definable psychiatric disorder of lesser severity such as adjustment disorder. Subjects with any type of psychiatric diagnosis displayed significantly less weight loss at the 12-month time-point than those with no diagnosis (6.3% vs. 12.6% loss of baseline weight, respectively). At the 30-month follow-up visit, subjects with any psychiatric disorder had a mean weight loss of 1.2% of baseline weight compared with 7.8% weight loss in subjects with no diagnosis. Discussion: These results suggest that the presence of psychiatric disorders can interfere with weight loss. Therefore, recognition and treatment of psychiatric disorders may be important in attempts at weight reduction, and this will be especially important in populations such as cancer survivors, who seem to have higher rates of depression and other disorders than the general population.
Use of the light/dark test for anxiety in adult and adolescent male rats.

The light/dark (LD) test is a commonly used rodent test of unconditioned anxiety-like behavior that is based on an approach/avoidance conflict between the drive to explore novel areas and an aversion to brightly lit, open spaces. We used the LD test to investigate developmental differences in behavior between adolescent (postnatal day (PN) 28–34) and adult (PN67–74) male rats. We investigated whether LD behavioral measures reflect anxiety-like behavior similarly in each age group using factor analysis and multiple regression. These analyses showed that time in the light compartment, percent distance in the light, rearing, and latency to emerge into the light compartment were measures of anxiety-like behavior in each age group, while total distance traveled and distance in the dark compartment provided indices of locomotor activity. We then used these measures to assess developmental differences in baseline LD behavior and the response to anxiogenic drugs. Adolescent rats emerged into the light compartment more quickly than adults and made fewer pokes into the light compartment. These age differences could reflect greater risk taking and less risk assessment in adolescent rats than adults. Adolescent rats were less sensitive than adults to the anxiogenic effects of the benzodiazepine inverse agonist N-methyl-β-carboline-3-carboxamide (FG-7142) and the α2 adrenergic antagonist yohimbine on anxiety-like behaviors validated by factor analysis, but locomotor variables were similarly affected. These data support the results of the factor analysis and indicate that GABAergic and noradrenergic modulation of LD anxiety-like behavior may be immature during adolescence.
Nanoband electrodes for electrochemical stripping measurements down to the attomole range

Abstract Small-volume measurements of lead and cadmium have been accomplished using a mercury-coated nanoband electrode. The band electrodes are fabricated from ultrathin carbonized polyacrylonitrile films. The coupling of the inherent sensitivity of stripping analysis, with submicroliter sample volumes and enhanced plating efficiency (due to enhanced diffusional flux) results in remarkably low detection limits of 100 femtograms (5 × 10−16 mole) lead. To our knowledge, this detection limit is significantly lower than previously reported values for electrochemical stripping work. Air-saturated quiescent sample droplets can thus be assayed by the square-wave or potentiometric stripping modes. Variables influencing the stripping response are explored and the stripping performance is characterized. Applicability to direct measurement of lead in microliter blood samples is illustrated.
Sodium pentobarbital-induced cross-tolerance to ethanol is learned in the rat

Initially, rats were trained to walk on a treadmill to avoid footshock. Subsequently, rats given additional practice while pentobarbital-intoxicated became cross-tolerant to ethanol. However, rats given equivalent doses of pentobarbital after practice did not become cross-tolerant, nor did saline-vehicle controls. These results challenge the theories of cross-tolerance which are based exclusively upon cellular adaptations to pharmacological stimulation of drug-responsive neurons. That all of the cross-tolerance measured was attributable to the intoxicated practice suggests that this observed cross-tolerance was mediated by some form of learning.
Success in College: The Role of Personal Qualities and Academic Ability

(1987). Success in College: The Role of Personal Qualities and Academic Ability. The Journal of Higher Education: Vol. 58, No. 1, pp. 120-122.
Comments, with reply, on "Electric field sensors in electromagnetic sounding" by Wu Xiao Wu and David V. Thiel

The conclusion by W.X. Wu and D.V. Thiel (see ibid., vol.27, p.24-27, Jan. 1989) that a horizontal, insulated, ungrounded antenna is a dependable probe for the horizontal E fields is questioned. It is shown that the horizontal insulated antenna should be grounded at the end points to provide a reliable measurement of the actual surface impedance in conjunction with the measurement of the horizontal magnetic field. Wu and Thiel's experimental data supports this contention. In their first reply the original authors offer arguments and counterexamples to further support their case. In further comments J.R. Wait states that he has not altered his views on the matter as expounded in the letter. In a second reply Wu and Thiel elaborate on experimental details omitted in the original work, which it is hoped will clarify the previous explanations they presented. >
Excitotoxic injury stimulates glial fibrillary acidic protein mRNA expression in perinatal rat brain.

Abstract To study the molecular mechanisms contributing to glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) accumulation after neuronal injury in the developing brain, we used a reproducible and pharmacologically modifiable model of excitotoxic injury, intracerebral injection of N -methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) in Postnatal Day 7 rats. Injection of NMDA into the posterior striatum elicits dose-dependent ipsilateral injury to striatum, hippocampus, and overlying cortex; treatment with the noncompetitive NMDA antagonist MK-801 is neuroprotective. To examine regionally specific changes in GFAP mRNA expression after lesioning, GFAP mRNA content was assayed, by Northern analysis, in pooled tissue samples of striatum, hippocampus, and cortex, derived from the injected and contralateral hemispheres of animals killed 1-16 days after lesioning with NMDA (12.5 nmol), and in samples derived from lesioned animals and littermates treated with MK-801. In addition, in situ hybridization assays were done to visualize the anatomic distribution of GFAP mRNA expression in NMDA-lesioned ( n = 5) and lesioned/MK-801-treated animals ( n = 3) 5 days postinjection. There was a marked rise in GFAP mRNA in lesioned cortex within 24 h, and increases were sustained over the next 2 weeks. In contrast, in striatum and hippocampus, in which severe histologic damage evolves, at 24 h postlesioning there was little stimulation of GFAP mRNA expression. Subsequently, 5-16 days postinjury increases in GFAP mRNA were detected in both brain regions. In animals examined 5 days postlesioning, MK-801 treatment markedly attenuated stimulation of GFAP mRNA expression. In situ hybridization assays revealed a marked increase in GFAP mRNA unilaterally, in cortex, hippocampus, and striatum; in similarly lesioned animals treated with MK-801, there was no evidence of tissue injury, and no increase in GFAP mRNA was apparent. Thus, in perinatal rodent brain, focal excitotoxic injury predictably stimulates GFAP mRNA expression in a temporally and regionally specific fashion.
The mechanism of action of BAS 145 138 as a safener for chlorimuron ethyl in corn: Effect on hydroxylation, glutathione conjugation, glucoside conjugation, and acetolactate synthase☆

Abstract BAS 145 138 (1-dichloroacetylhexahydro-3,3,8α-trimethylpyrrolo[1,2-α]pyrimidin-6-(2 H -one)) protected corn from injury due to low levels of chlorimuron ethyl ( N -[4-chloro-6-methoxy-pyrimidin-2-yl]- N′ -[2-ethoxycarbonylbenzenesulfonyl]urea). Inhibition of root growth was used to monitor injury. BAS 145 138 did not affect uptake, but it caused a ca. two-fold increase in the rate of chlorimuron ethyl metabolism in corn roots and shoots. The increase in chlorimuron ethyl metabolism was correlated positively to growth. Routes of metabolism that were accelerated in response to BAS 145 138 included hydroxylation of chlorimuron ethyl at the 5-position of the pyrimidine ring, the formation of the corresponding glucoside, the formation of two glutathione conjugates, and the formation of two unidentified metabolites. The most dramatic of these effects was on the formation of the glucoside of 5-hydroxychlorimuron ethyl. In the roots, the level of this metabolite was increased ca. six-fold in response to BAS 145 138. Part of this increase was due to an elevation in the in vivo rate of glucosylation of 5-hydroxychlorimuron ethyl. BAS 145 138 did not alter the qualitative routes of chlorimuron ethyl metabolism, nor did it appear to affect the levels or catalytic properties of acetolactate synthase, the target enzyme of chlorimuron ethyl. 5-Hydroxychlorimuron ethyl was 152 times less effective as an inhibitor of acetolactate synthase than chlorimuron ethyl. The glucoside of 5-hydroxychlorimuron ethyl was hydrolyzed during the acetolactate synthase assay; therefore, an I 50 value for this metabolite was not obtained.
Reliability of preoperative assessment of cerebrospinal fluid pressure in the management of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leaks and encephaloceles.

Background The association of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks with increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is well-documented. Accurate assessment of CSF pressure is paramount to optimal long-term outcomes, as failure of surgical repair or recurrent leaks may be associated with untreated intracranial hypertension. Many surgeons utilize a single opening pressure measured at the onset of the surgical procedure to determine if long-term acetazolamide or shunt placement will be necessary. However, preoperative measurement of CSF pressure may be inaccurate secondary to active drainage. The purpose of this study is to determine the accuracy of preoperative CSF pressure measurement in the setting of active CSF rhinorrhea. Methods Retrospective review of 65 cases of endoscopic repair of active spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea performed at a tertiary care institution from 2002 to 2009. A total of 16 cases in which reliable preoperative opening pressure and 48-hour to 72-hour postoperative CSF pressures were recorded were included in the analysis. Cases in which measurements were potentially unreliable or in which acetazolamide therapy was used were excluded from analysis. Results The average preoperative measurement was 26 ± 11 cm H20, and the average postoperative measurement was 15 ± 6 cm H20. The average change in CSF pressure from preoperative to postoperative was −10 ± 11 cm H20. Student paired t test was used to confirm statistical difference between the 2 sets of measurements. Conclusion Our results suggest that a single preoperative measurement of CSF pressure in patients with active CSF rhinorrhea may not be sufficiently reliable to make subsequent long-term clinical decisions. © 2011 ARS-AAOA, LLC.
Thermodynamics of formation of Y-Co alloys

The Gibbs free energies, enthalpies, and entropies of phase formation were determined for nine Y-Co intermediate phases from electromotive force measurements. Solid CaF2 was employed as the electrolyte, and emf measurements were made over the temperature range 850 K to 1200 K. The data indicate that the Gibbs free energies of formation per mole of Y reactant are nearly constant for the four Y-poor phases. Such behavior is associated with the close structural similarity of these phases. The present experimental Gibbs energy data at 973 K are compared with those of the Th-Fe, Th-Co, Th-Ni, La-Co, La-Ni, and Y-Fe systems. It was observed that the Gibbs free energy of formation can be empirically correlated with the total number of valence electrons in these alloy systems. The enthalpy of formation of an equiatomic Y-Co alloy was determined to be −27.1 kJ/mole atoms. This experimental value is in good accord with the theoretical predictions of the Miedema and Watson-Bennett models.
Anionic solution copolymerization of α-methylstyrene with conjugated dienes above the ceiling temperature of α-methylstyrene

Abstract The successful copolymerization of α-methylstyrene with conjugated dienes such as 1,3-butadiene, isoprene and/or styrene was achieved by anionic solution polymerization in hexane using formulated catalyst systems at the ceiling temperature of α-methylstyrene. This polymerization is unique, since α-methylstyrene cannot homopolymerize above its equilibrium ceiling temperature of 60 °C. Anionic copolymerization of 1,3-butadiene and α-methylstyrene was first performed in hexane at 65 °C using 2/2/1 molar ratio of three different types of catalyst systems; cesium 2-ethylhexoxide (CsOR)/dibutylmagnesium (Mg(Bu)2)/N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylene diamine (TMEDA), CsOR/TMEDA/n-butyl lithium (n-BuLi), and potassium amylate (KOAm)/TMEDA/Mg(Bu)2. Polymers produced from the CsOR-based system showed faster incorporation rates of α-methylstyrene than the KOAm-based system, resulting in the composition of α-methylstyrene as high as 50% compared to a maximum of approximately 25% for the KOAm. Very little or no α-methylstyrene blocks were present in the polymer chains. Copolymerizations have also been successfully carried out using CsOR/TMEDA/n-butyl lithium (n-BuLi), although other n-BuLi containing systems were not successful. Other monomers such as isoprene and styrene can be used with the CsOR/TMEDA/Mg(Bu)2 catalyst system to produce randomly α-methylstyrene incorporated multiblock diene copolymers. In α-methylstyrene/styrene/butadiene and α-methylstyrene/isoprene/butadiene/styrene polymerizations, the styrene reacted significantly faster than 1,3-butadiene and α-methylstyrene, while isoprene reacted much slower. This would indicate that a styrene block grows at the beginning of the polymerization, followed by random incorporation of α-methylstyrene, and then a tapered isoprene tail grows at the end of the polymerization.
Efficacy and safety of ephedra and ephedrine for weight loss and athletic performance: a meta-analysis.

ContextEphedra and ephedrine sometimes are used for weight loss or enhanced athletic performance, but the efficacy and safety of these compounds are uncertain.ObjectiveTo assess the efficacy and safety of ephedra and ephedrine used for weight loss and enhanced athletic performance.Data SourcesWe searched 9 databases using the terms ephedra, ephedrine, adverse effect, side effect, efficacy, effective, and toxic. We included unpublished trials and non–English-language documents. Adverse events reported to the US Food and Drug Administration MedWatch program were assessed.Study SelectionEligible studies were controlled trials of ephedra or ephedrine used for weight loss or athletic performance and case reports of adverse events associated with such use. Eligible studies for weight loss were human studies with at least 8 weeks of follow-up; and for athletic performance, those having no minimum follow-up. Eligible case reports documented that ephedra or ephedrine was consumed within 24 hours prior to an adverse event or that ephedrine or an associated product was found in blood or urine, and that other potential causes had been excluded. Of the 530 articles screened, 52 controlled trials and 65 case reports were included in the adverse events analysis. Of more than 18 000 other case reports screened, 284 underwent detailed review.Data ExtractionTwo reviewers independently identified trials of efficacy and safety of ephedra and ephedrine on weight loss or athletic performance; disagreements were resolved by consensus. Case reports were reviewed with explicit and implicit methods.Data SynthesisNo weight loss trials assessed duration of treatment greater than 6 months. Pooled results for trials comparing placebo with ephedrine (n = 5), ephedrine and caffeine (n = 12), ephedra (n = 1), and ephedra and herbs containing caffeine (n = 4) yielded estimates of weight loss (more than placebo) of 0.6 (95% confidence interval, 0.2-1.0), 1.0 (0.7-1.3), 0.8 (0.4-1.2), and 1.0 (0.6-1.3) kg/mo, respectively. Sensitivity analyses did not substantially alter the latter 3 results. No trials of ephedra and athletic performance were found; 7 trials of ephedrine were too heterogeneous to synthesize. Safety data from 50 trials yielded estimates of 2.2- to 3.6-fold increases in odds of psychiatric, autonomic, or gastrointestinal symptoms, and heart palpitations. Data are insufficient to draw conclusions about adverse events occurring at a rate less than 1.0 per thousand. The majority of case reports are insufficiently documented to allow meaningful assessment.ConclusionsEphedrine and ephedra promote modest short-term weight loss (≈0.9 kg/mo more than placebo) in clinical trials. There are no data regarding long-term weight loss, and evidence to support use of ephedra for athletic performance is insufficient. Use of ephedra or ephedrine and caffeine is associated with increased risk of psychiatric, autonomic, or gastrointestinal symptoms, and heart palpitations.
Transformation-induced faulting requires an exothermic reaction and explains the cessation of earthquakes at the base of the mantle transition zone

Abstract In many subduction zones, earthquakes occur continuously to the bottom of the mantle transition zone and stop abruptly at the endothermic phase change marking the top of the lower mantle, suggesting cause and effect. New experiments on polycrystals undergoing the ilmenite ↔ perovskite transformation show that transformation-induced faulting occurs only in the exothermic direction of the reaction. The close structural and thermodynamic analogies between the transformation studied here in CdTiO 3 and those expected in the silicates of the earth's mantle argue strongly that these results are relevant to transformations occurring in subducting lithosphere. Moreover, consideration of the thermodynamics of this asymmetry show that this result should be a general phenomenon. If so, it follows that faulting by this mechanism cannot occur in the lower mantle, providing a natural explanation for the termination of earthquakes just before 700 km depth. If a ‘wedge’ containing metastable olivine exists at depth in subduction zones and is necessary for deep earthquakes, our results remove the constraint that this ‘wedge’ must taper to zero where the deepest earthquakes occur. The characteristics of the large deep earthquakes of 1994 and their aftershocks show that deep earthquakes can propagate beyond the zone of previous hypocenters and trigger aftershocks there, providing important new information about the mechanism of deep earthquakes and pointing to the need for additional experiments.
Design Optimization of a Transimpedance Amplifier for a Fiber Optic Receiver

This paper presents the design of a framework for the optimization of a low-power, low-noise, broadband transimpedance amplifier to be used in a fiber optic transceiver. The design is implemented using a 180 nm six-metal-layer digital CMOS process with a 1.8V supply. The performances achieved are a gain of $$78.34\,\hbox { dB}\Omega $$78.34dBΩ, a bandwidth of 2.21 GHz, an input referred current noise of $$11.91\,\hbox { pA/Hz}^{1/2}$$11.91pA/Hz1/2, and a power dissipation of 13.5 mW.
Temporal Effects of Compost and Fertilizer Applications on Nitrogen Fertility of Golf Course Turfgrass

Little information is available regarding the effects of compost topdressings on the fertility of low-cut fairway turfgrass. The objectives of this research were to assess: (i) the effects of compost and inorganic fertilizer applications on turfgrass color and growth, (ii) the duration and magnitude of compost topdressings on foliar N concentrations, and (iii) the interaction of compost and fertilizer applications on foliar N concentrations. Nitrogen was applied as inorganic fertilizer at rates of 96, 192, and 384 kg N ha -1 in 1997 and at 48, 96, and 192 kg N ha -1 in 1998 and 1999. Compost topdressings were applied every May and September from 1997 to 1999. Compost treatments consisted of: (i) 100% composted biosolids, (ii) a blend of composted biosolids and yard waste, and (iii) a nontopdressed control. Compost topdressings significantly increased turfgrass color, growth, and foliar N concentrations. Color enhancement lasted for up to 8 wk for plots receiving composted biosolids and for up to 5 wk for plots receiving the blend of composts. Composted biosolids increased foliar N concentrations for approximately 50 d following the May topdressings and for 26 d following the September topdressings. Foliar N concentrations following the May topdressings were increased by approximately 50% by the composted biosolids and by approximately 30% by the compost blend compared with the nontopdressed control. Differences in the duration of color enhancement brought about by the composts most likely can be explained by differences in N content of the composts used.
The Role of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription Factors in Leukemogenesis

Human leukemias are frequently associated with the aberrant expression of activated fusion tyrosine kinases or activated protein tyrosine kinases carrying insertional or point mutations. The activated kinase enzymes typically phosphorylate one or more signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) factors, which translocate to the cell nucleus and regulate the expression of genes associated with survival and proliferation. The phosphorylation and activation of STAT family members has been described in a wide range of human leukemias. Furthermore, animal models of leukemia have demonstrated the pivotal contribution of STAT activation to leukemic pathogenesis. This review discusses evidence for the functional importance of STAT activation in the biology of leukemia and current opportunities for modulating STAT proteins in the therapy of this group of diseases.
Authenticity of the Sign: Travels of a Lahu Song

This is a paper about a song which requires rather complex semiotic operations to be Lahu. The Wedding Oath song indexes, in different contexts, a desirable modern quality in a pre-modern society, a connection between an ethnic minority group and the modern state which implies obligations toward that ethnic group, and the positive quality of cosmopolitanism as a characteristic of a modern nation state. The nature of authenticity as a feature of these indexical relationships creates the possibility that one might extend Mendoza-Denton’s (2011) concept of “semiotic hitchhiker” to incorporate a non-material feature of a discursive performance.
The anatomy of the Nuremberg trials : a personal memoir

A history of the Nuremberg war-crimes trials by one of the key participants, Telford Taylor, the distinguished American lawyer who was a member of the prosecution staff and eventually became chief counsel. His legal expertise is complemented by an intimate knowledge of what took place outside the courtroom before and during the trials, which began in November 1945. Taylor reveals details of fierce infighting and personal vendettas among the Allied representatives; the prosecutors brilliance and their astonishing blunders; the judges private observations on the daily proceedings; and the negotiations that preceded the sentencing. This book makes clear the magnitude of the clashes that took place between those determined to secure justice and those bent solely on retribution. No less riveting are the author's portrayals of Goering, Hess, Ribbentrop and Speer as the trials progressed. What unfolded in the courtroom exposed the full horror of the acts that had been committed. The chamber was reduced to silence when an SS officer recounted impassively how his troops had rounded up and killed 90,000 Jews; panic overcame the head of the German State Bank as it became apparent that he had knowingly received jewels and other valuables taken from the bodies of concentration camp victims; and the judges departed visibly shaken by the first public showing of films depicting the concentration camps and their inmates as they were when liberated. Taylor also provides new details regarding Goering's suicide.
Transmission Control Policy design for decentralized detection in sensor networks

A Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) deployed for detection applications has the distinguishing feature that sensors cooperate to perform the detection task. Therefore, the decoupled design approach typically used to design communication networks, where each network layer is designed independently, does not lead to the desired optimal detection performance. Recent work on decentralized detection has addressed the design of MAC and routing protocols for detection applications by considering independently the Quality of Information (QoI), Channel State Information (CSI), and Residual Energy Information (REI) for each sensor. However, little attention has been given to integrate the three quality measures (QoI, CSI, REI) in the complete system design. In this work, we pursue a cross-layer approach to design a QoI, CSI, and REI-aware Transmission Control Policy (TCP) that coordinates communication between local sensors and the fusion center, in order to maximize the detection performance. We formulate and solve a constrained nonlinear optimization problem to find the optimal TCP design variables. We compare our design with the decoupled approach, where each layer is designed separately, in terms of the delay for detection and WSN lifetime.
Moral outrage and pragmatism: Explanations for collective action ☆

Abstract Two explanations for collective behavior were contrasted. The first, exemplified by relative deprivation theory, stresses the importance of feelings of moral outrage and perceived economic injustice. The second focuses on more pragmatic considerations, such as the availability of resources for mobilization. The present study examines these explanations for collective behavior in a laboratory setting. Subjects were members of a disadvantaged group. In a 3 × 2 factorial design two independent variables were manipulated. The magnitude of pay inequality between the disadvantaged group and a more advantaged group was manipulated to be large, moderate, or small. Mobilization resources available to the disadvantaged group were manipulated to be either present or absent. In accord with predictions based on relative deprivation theory, as the magnitude of the inequality increased, stronger feelings of deprivation were expressed. However, contrary to relative deprivation theory, larger magnitudes of inequality and stronger feelings of deprivation were not associated with greater willingness to engage in legitimate or illegitimate forms of collective behavior. Instead, as predicted by some critics of relative deprivation theory, willinginess to engage in illegitimate forms of collective behavior was affected only by a gragmatic consideration: the presence or absence of mobilization resources.
Adoption of infant orphan chacma baboons

Abstract During a study of chacma baboons, Papio ursinus, in the Moremi Wildlife Reserve, Botswana, the mothers of 10 infants disappeared. Pre-reproductive males and females, all 4 to 5 years old, adopted nine natural orphans, and one older orphan was not adopted. Compared with other troop members, 4- and 5-year-old caregivers would incur the lowest costs of adoption in terms of interference with their direct reproductive potential. In the five instances in which relatedness of natural orphans could be assessed, caregivers were probably close relatives of orphans they cared for. By comparison, 5-year-old males immediately adopted two experimentally introduced orphans.
The Continuing Education Agency and Its Parent Organization.

An understanding of relationships between a continuing education agency and its parent organization can help an administrator develop effective strategies to increase organizational support.
Infants of diabetic mothers with accelerated fetal growth by ultrasonography: Are they all alike?

Abstract We studied longitudinal ultrasonographic growth patterns (abdominal circumference, biparietal diameter) initiated early in gestation in 52 pregnancies complicated by pregestational diabetes mellitus and 19 controls. Three predominant patterns of growth were ascertained including a heretofore unrecognized pattern characterized by accelerated abdominal circumference growth (>90th percentile) before 24 weeks' gestational age. Maternal and neonatal anthropometric and metabolic parameters were contrasted for the three patterns. The findings suggest that in some cases of diabetic macrosomia that can be recognized before 24 weeks' gestation, augmented growth may be influenced by factors other than fetal hyperinsulinism.
Dietary management of acute childhood diarrhea: Optimal timing of feeding and appropriate use of milks and mixed diets

Several recent clinical trials have examined the optimal timing of feeding and the appropriate foods for use in the dietary management of acute childhood diarrhea. Important methodologic issues relevant to these trials, such as the composition and masking of study diets, measurement of outcome variables, and assessment of nutritional status, are discussed. Available data suggest that feeding should be continued during diarrhea, although a small subgroup of patients receiving nonhuman milk exclusively may have an excess rate of complications. These children should be closely supervised or provided with alternative diets. By contrast, children receiving human milk, nonmilk formulas, and mixed diets are generally able to tolerate these foods and to benefit nutritionally from continued feeding.