cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of fenfluramine and phentermine (fen-phen) on dopamine and serotonin release in rat striatum: in vivo microdialysis study in conscious animals.

We measured the effects of acute or chronic administration of fenfluramine and phentermine, alone or in combination, on brain dopamine and serotonin release into striatal dialysates of freely moving rats. Samples collected every 30 min were assayed in a single run by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Acute or chronic administration of fenfluramine (1 mg/kg, i.p.) did not significantly change dopamine concentrations in rat striatal dialysates, but increased those of serotonin by 182% (acute) and 124% (chronic). Phentermine (2 mg/kg, i.p.), on the other hand, significantly increased dopamine concentrations by 52% (acute) and 80% (chronic) without affecting those of serotonin. Administration of the drugs in combination (fenfluramine 1 mg/kg and phentermine 2 mg/kg) amplified the effects of each, increasing striatal dopamine concentrations by 209% (acute) and serotonin concentrations by 330% (acute) and 299% (chronic).
Electronic medical record use and efficiency: A DEA and windows analysis of hospitals

Abstract We use data envelopment analysis (DEA) to examine the relationship between hospital electronic medical record (EMR) use and efficiency in a national sample of acute care hospitals. Data sources include the American Hospital Association (AHA), Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS), and Case Mix Index. Using two research approaches including a retrospective, cross-sectional design and a first differencing repeated measures design, we find limited evidence that EMRs can improve hospital efficiency. Small hospitals may benefit in the area of efficiency through EMR use, but medium and large hospitals generally do not demonstrate such a difference. Likewise, there does not appear to be a significant increase in efficiency over time associated with EMRs when compared to the efficiency of hospitals without such documentation.
Racial differences in perceptions of the severity of sanctions: A comparison of prison with alternatives

We survey adult probationers to examine racial differences in perceptions of the severity of alternative sanctions compared to imprisonment. Results show that blacks rate every alternative sanction as more punitive than do whites, a higher percentage of blacks than whites refuse to participate in each alternative and choose prison instead, and blacks identify more strongly with reasons to avoid alternatives. Furthermore, blacks and whites generate different rankings of the severity of criminal justice sanctions. This may be due to racial differences in the perceived severity of imprisonment, and/or racial differences in “risk assessments” associated with serving alternatives. Implications for rational choice/deterrence theories and correctional policy are discussed.
Surveillance of patients to detect recurrent thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of surveillance with annual whole-body iodine-131 (131I) scintigraphy for patients with recurrent thyroid carcinoma. METHODS The records of patients with thyroid carcinoma were reviewed. The 76 patients included in this study had undergone thyroidectomy and postoperative 131I therapy, and had at least 1 negative whole-body 131I scintigraphy 1 year after 131I therapy. There were 59 females and 17 males (age range, 12–74 years). Surgery consisted of a total thyroidectomy for 84% of patients and a subtotal thyroidectomy for 16%. 131I was administered within 1 month of thyroidectomy and annually thereafter until complete ablation of remaining thyroid tissue occurred. Annual follow-up diagnostic whole-body 131I scintigraphy was performed at Years 1 and 2, and then every 3–5 years. Some patients also had scintigraphy performed in Years 3, 4, and 5. RESULTS Patients received 1–4 annual administrations of 131I (median, 1). The administered activity per treatment was 30–211 mCi, and the total activity administered that was necessary to achieve complete ablation of functioning thyroid tissue ranged from 30 to 514 mCi (median, 100 mCi). The relapse free survival at both 5 and 10 years was 88%. By definition, all of these patients had a negative 131I scintigraphy at 1 year after their last therapeutic 131I administration. Seven patients had a positive 131I scintigraphy 1 year after the first negative scintigraphy. Two other patients had positive 131I images after 2 consecutive negative annual 131I scintigraphic studies. The predictive value for relapse free survival of 1 negative diagnostic 131I study of these patients was 91% (± 0.02), and for 2 consecutive annual negative 131I studies the value was 97% (± 0.02); these results were significantly different (P = 0.0197). A stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed in an effort to identify risk factors for disease recurrence after complete ablation. None of the variables assessed—age, gender, tumor histology, tumor size, vascular invasion, capsular invasion, surgical margin status, or lymph node status—was predictive of recurrence after complete ablation. CONCLUSIONS A single negative 131I scintigraphic study after complete ablation has a lower predictive value for relapse free survival than do two consecutive annual negative studies. Annual 131I imaging is recommended for surveillance until 2 consecutive annual negative studies are obtained, after which repeat imaging at 3–5 years appears to be satisfactory. Cancer 1999;85:945–51. © 1999 American Cancer Society.
Abstract 4234: A genome-wide RNAi screen implicates histone deacetylases as a therapeutic target for osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma, the most common primary malignancy of bone, is an aggressive cancer occurring predominantly in children and adolescents. Studies of familial cancer syndromes and sporadic cases have strongly implicated both p53 and pRb in osteosarcoma tumorigenesis. Thus, our lab created a fully penetrant mouse model of osteosarcoma based on the osteoblast-specific deletion of p53 and pRb. This model faithfully recapitulates the defining features of human OS, including pathology, metastatic behavior, and cytogenetic complexity and shares a transcriptional profile with the human disease. Using a genome-wide shRNA screen, we have identified gene products whose inhibition synergizes with p53 and pRb deletion to kill osteosarcoma cells. This screen identified genes that are required for proliferation and survival of osteosarcoma cell lines in an unbiased fashion. The screen identified a number of druggable gene products and pathways, including members of the HDAC family of histone deacetylases. Follow-up studies with selective chemical HDAC inhibitors and shRNAs against individual HDACs demonstrate that osteosarcoma cells are vulnerable to HDAC1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 inhibition. Selective inhibition of HDACs has emerged as a promising avenue toward cancer therapy, therefore we look to understand if and how HDAC inhibition can be used as a therapeutic approach to treating osteosarcoma. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4234. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4234
Infrastructure and Private Sector Investment in Pakistan

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to assess the role played by infrastructure in Pakistan's economic expansion. Specifically, analysis is focused on the manner in which the expansion in various types of infrastructural facilities interact with private sector investment, and whether there is a long run equilibrium between infrastructure, private investment, and GDP. The main findings suggest that infrastructure's role in this model is not as straightforward as might appear at first. On one level, it appears that in the case of Pakistan the expansion of public infrastructure has played a rather passive role in the country's development. That is public facilities have largely expanded in response to the needs created by private sector investment in manufacturing, rather than strongly initiating private capital formation. However, from another perspective, because infrastructure has responded to tangible needs created by private sector expansion it has, no doubt, been very effective in alleviating real bottlenecks.
Actual and perceived intrafamilial attitudes of late adolescents and their parents.

The present study assessed the comparability of adolescents' (N=184), their mothers' (N=184), and their fathers' (N=184) attitudes toward contemporary societal issues, as well as each familial group's perceptions of the other two groups' attitudes. Results of multivariated analyses of variance indicated that while there were significant overall differences between adolescents' and either parent's self-ratings for the 36 questionnaire items (dealing with such topics as drug use, sexuality, and dress codes), major (i.e., 2-scale-point) differences between generational groups existed on only about 20% of the items. However, as predicted, both adolescents and parents misperceived the extensiveness of the divisions between them. Adolescents significantly overestimated the number of major differences between themselves and their mothers and fathers, while these two parental groups significantly underestimated such divisions. These distortions in perceived attitudes were also reflected in the results of correlational analyses assessing intrafamilial attitude consistencies and inconsistencies across the 36 items. Self-alternative-family-members' perceived attitudes correlations showed greater consistency than existed in the self-alternative-family-members' actual attitudes correlations. Moreover, both analyses of variance and correlational analyses indicated that there was greater similarity between the actual attitudes of the mothers and fathers than between either parental group and their children. These results are discussed in terms of the cognitive and emotional significance of the intrafamilial attitudes of adolescents and parents.
Pharmacokinetic Effects of Coadministration of Lersivirine with Raltegravir or Maraviroc in Healthy Subjects

Lersivirine (UK-453,061) is a new nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor currently being developed as a treatment for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection. Lersivirine shows potent activity against wild-type and clinically relevant drug-resistant strains. Previous studies have demonstrated that lersivirine is metabolized by glucuronidation via UGT2B7 and by cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4). Lersivirine is also a weak inducer of the CYP3A4 enzyme. Therefore, coadministered lersivirine could potentially affect the pharmacokinetics of maraviroc, a CCR5 antagonist metabolized by CYP3A4, and raltegravir, an integrase inhibitor metabolized by glucuronidation. Two open-label studies assessed the pharmacokinetics of raltegravir and of maraviroc when they were coadministered with lersivirine and the pharmacokinetics of lersivirine when it was coadministered with raltegravir. Minor, clinically nonsignificant effects on the pharmacokinetics of raltegravir coadministered with lersivirine were observed at steady state for raltegravir, with estimated mean changes of −15%, −29%, and +25% in the area under the concentration-time profile from time zero to the end of the dosing interval (AUCtau), maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), and concentration observed 12 h postdose (C12), respectively. There were no clinically relevant effects of steady-state raltegravir on lersivirine AUCtau, Cmax, or concentration observed 24 h postdose (C24) (estimated mean changes of −2 to +5%). Coadministration of lersivirine at steady state with maraviroc resulted in no clinically relevant effects on maraviroc AUCtau, Cmax, or C12 (estimated mean changes of +3.4 to +8.6%). Lersivirine appeared to be generally well tolerated in these studies and appears to be suitable for coadministration with raltegravir or maraviroc without the need for dose modification.
Mars meteorology - Three seasons at the surface

We summarize some meteorological results from Viking for northern summer, autumn and winter. Little Sol-to-Sol meteorological change was observed during summer, except for secular pressure change. However, a regular sequence of weather disturbances, interpreted as baroclinic waves, appeared primarily at VL-2 during autumn and winter. The number of Rossby waves present at a given instant is calculated to be 4 and 6 for these seasons. The extreme regularity and low wave number make these systems closely resemble the baroclinic waves of rotating annulus experiments.
Analysis of the Hot Stellar Population of the Globular Cluster ω Centauri

We analyze the far-UV and Str?mgren u photometric data of the globular cluster ? Cen presented in an earlier paper. The color-magnitude diagram of the cluster from these two bands shows that ? Cen's horizontal-branch (HB) consists of a group of cooler intermediate blue HB (IBHB) and a group of extreme HB (EHB) stars, together with a large population of post-HB stars. Unexpected features in the diagram are a discontinuity between the EHB and IBHB objects lying at (FUV - 3500)0 ~ -1.5, an unusually large population of stars below the EHB, and a number of sources bluer than an infinite temperature blackbody. No adjustment of the assumed reddening or distance modulus parameters satisfactorily explains either the sub-HB or very hot star components observed. The radial distributions of the IBHB and EHB subpopulations are similar after corrections for completeness and crowding are made. This result, as well as the fact that ? Cen's core is not dynamically evolved, implies that dynamical effects are not required for the production of EHB stars in globular clusters. To compare the observations to theory we use Hess diagrams, which describe the density distribution of stars in the color-magnitude diagram. To simulate the known abundance spread in ? Cen, we use image-processing morphing techniques to create a composite Hess diagram for [Fe/H] = -2.2, -1.5, and -0.5. We populate the zero-age HB (ZAHB) in our simulations assuming either flat or Gaussian distributions in total stellar mass or, alternatively, distributions in the red giant branch mass-loss efficiency parameter ? in Reimers's formula. Our ZAHB's extend to the lowest possible ZAHB mass as determined by evolving models along the red giant branch with extreme mass-loss rates. Neither flat nor Gaussian distributions in ZAHB mass reproduce the observed HB gap or the sub-HB population. However, the ? distribution models can crudely reproduce the gap as well as the sub-HB population while simultaneously fitting the rest of the HB and post-HB population.
Prescriptive group leadership

Abstract Variable group leadership functions are needed to address the specific needs of different client populations and to adapt to the demands of different clinical settings. The four leadership functions described by Lieberman, Yalom, and Miles (1973) are described, and a prescriptive implementation of their use is suggested.
Decomposition and decentralization techniques in relaxation labeling

Abstract The problem of assigning names to objects in a scene is central in image analysis. Relaxation labeling techniques provide ways of taking into account contextual information and evolve from decisions based upon local measurements only to decisions based also on a given “world model”. When the number of objects and the number of possible names grows larger as it does in practice these techniques become more and more difficult to use (the curse of dimensionality). In this paper we propose two classes of algorithms that reduce this difficulty. The main idea is to replace a “global” problem of large dimensionality with a series “local” problems of smaller dimensionality while insuring that the solutioos of the “local” problems are the same as those of the “global” ones. The notion of coordinability is central to this approach. The behavior of these algorithms is presented in a simple example.
Diminished sweat pores in hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia: a new method for assessment.

A new method for evaluation of hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, consisting ofdirect visual assessment of epidermal ridge sweat pores is described. The present study, carried out in 6 families with this condition, showed a total absence of epidermal ridge sweat pores as a consistent feature in affected male subjects and paucity of such pores as the most common phenotypic expression in the heterozygous female subject.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND THE POWER SECTOR

(1994). ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND THE POWER SECTOR. Impact Assessment: Vol. 12, No. 3, pp. 275-304.
The ontogeny of the rabbit brain glucose transporter.

We investigated the presence of three specific types of glucose transporters (GT) within the rabbit central nervous system during various developmental stages. Employing the Hep G2/brain-type insulin-insensitive and the insulin-responsive (IRGT; adipocyte/skeletal muscle type) GT antibody and cDNA, we studied protein and mRNA within the whole brain (25-, 27-, and 30-day-old fetus; 1-, 5-, 10-day-old neonate; and adult), using cultured neuronal and glial cells, by Western and Northern blot analysis. Similarly, using the insulin-insensitive human fetal skeletal muscle-type (GLUT-3) GT cDNA, we characterized this mRNA by Northern blot analysis. Additional confirmation of cell specificity was sought by performing immunohistochemical staining on the neuronal and glial cells to detect the specific type of GT protein. We observed a developmental regulation of brain-type GT within the whole brain, the peak abundance of protein and mRNA occurring in the adult, followed next by the fetus. No IRGT was detected withi...
Reproducibility of thrombelastometry (ROTEM®): Point-of-care versus hospital laboratory performance

AbstractThrombelastometry (ROTEM®) has gained wide acceptance in detecting and tailoring acquired hemostatic changes in adults and children. We investigated in this observational trial whether the reproducibility of this point-of-care testing was influenced by performance at the bedside or in the hospital laboratory. In addition, difference in time of performance between both measurements was compared. Perioperative blood samples obtained during major pediatric surgery were run in duplicate on two different ROTEM® devices located in the OR and in the hospital laboratory. The Bland-Altman test was used to compare differences of both measurements. ROTEM® measurements of 90 blood samples obtained from 24 children showed no overall clinically meaningful differences, whether they were performed bedside or in the hospital laboratory. Minor differences were found for the InTEM clot formation time (CFT) showing a mean bias of 10.79 seconds. Time saving was 11 minutes (8–16 minutes) if ROTEM® measurements were per...
Influence of functional development on susceptibility to convulsions from paralytic shellfish poison

Abstract Rats, hamsters, rabbits, and mice, species which are born functionally immature, have brain amine levels at birth which are lower than those of adults. The reason for the inability of these newborns to respond with a convulsive seizure to lethal doses of paralytic shellfish poison may be that their central nervous systems are less sensitive to anoxia than those of older animals. This lesser sensitivity to oxygen lack and the minimal oxygen requirement result in a longer survival time. In contrast, the newborn guinea pig and chick, which are born functionally mature, respond with convulsions to a lethal dose of paralytic shellfish poison and survive for only a short time. The brain amine levels of the newborn guinea pig are similar to those of the adults. In the newly hatched chick the norepinephrine levels are high, whereas the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine are low compared to those of adults.
Tree encoding of Gaussian sources

Tree codes are known to be capable of performing arbitrarily close to the rate-distortion function for any memoryless source and single-letter fidelity criterion. Tree coding and tree search strategies are investigated for the discrete-time memoryless Gaussian source encoded for a signal-power-to-mean-squared-error ratio of about 30 dB (about 5 binary digits per source output). Also, a theoretical lower bound on average search effort is derived. Two code search strategies (the Viterbi algorithm and the stack algorithm) were simulated in assembly language on a large digital computer. After suitable modifications, both strategies yielded encoding with a signal-to-distortion ratio about 1 dB below the limit set by the rate-distortion function. Although this performance is better than that of any previously known instrumentable scheme, it unfortunately requires search computation of the order of l0^5 machine cycles per source output encoded.
Atractyloside inhibition of adenine nucleotide transport in mitochondria from plants

Abstract Atractyloside completely inhibits the 2,4-dinitrophenol-stimulated ATPase activity of respiratory-primed cauliflower mitochondria, but has no effect on sonicated preparations or on the endogenous activity associated with intact mitochondria. Atractyloside also blocked the shrinkage and State 3 respiration initiated by ADP in intact mitochondria. The data indicate the presence in cauliflower mitochondria of an adenine nucleotide translocator similar to that described for animal mitochondria.
Demarketing as a differentiation strategy

Demarketing discourages consumers from buying. This paper shows that demarketing can be a profitable alternative when differentiation through product improvements is not cost effective. The impact of differentiating demarketing on profit, market share, consumers, and total welfare is investigated.
Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in children with early chronic kidney disease.

Objective To assess the prevalence of abnormal vitamin D status in children and adolescents with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Study design This was an outpatient cross-sectional, retrospective study of 258 patients, mean age 12.3 ± 5.2 years, with an average estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 106 ± 51 mL/min/1.73 m 2 (range, 0 to 220 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ). Serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D [25(OH)D], calcium, phosphorus, and parathyroid hormone levels, as well as selected anthropometric variables, were analyzed. Results Reduced 25(OH)D concentrations ( P = .03) and displayed more prominent hyperparathyroidism. Suboptimal vitamin D status was similar in males and females, but was significantly more prevalent in older ( P P P = .02) patients. Patients with early-stage CKD (eGFR > 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ) and with vitamin D deficiency were significantly shorter than their counterparts with 25(OH)D levels > 20 ng/mL ( P = .02). Conclusions Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency are very prevalent in pediatric patients across all stages of CKD, particularly in non-Caucasian and obese patients, and may contribute to growth deficits during the earliest stages of CKD.
Large format long-wavelength infrared narrow-band, multi-band, and broad-band QWIP focal plane arrays

A 640x512 pixel, long-wavelength cutoff, narrow-band (Δλ/λ~10%) quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) focal plane array (FPA), a four-band QWIP FPA in 4-16 μm spectral region, and a broad-band (Δλ/λ~42%) QWIP FPA having 15.4 μm cutoff have been demonstrated. In this paper we discuss the detector designs, dark currents, quantum efficiencies, responsivities, detectivities, noise equivalent differential temperatures (NEDTs), the effect of FPA nonuniformity on performance, and the operabilities of these QWIP FPAs. In addition, we discuss the development of a very sensitive (NEDT~10.6 mK) 640x512 pixel thermal imaging camera having 9 μm cutoff.
Hepatic Steatosis as a Marker of Metabolic Dysfunction

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the liver manifestation of the complex metabolic derangements associated with obesity. NAFLD is characterized by excessive deposition of fat in the liver (steatosis) and develops when hepatic fatty acid availability from plasma and de novo synthesis exceeds hepatic fatty acid disposal by oxidation and triglyceride export. Hepatic steatosis is therefore the biochemical result of an imbalance between complex pathways of lipid metabolism, and is associated with an array of adverse changes in glucose, fatty acid, and lipoprotein metabolism across all tissues of the body. Intrahepatic triglyceride (IHTG) content is therefore a very good marker (and in some cases may be the cause) of the presence and the degree of multiple-organ metabolic dysfunction. These metabolic abnormalities are likely responsible for many cardiometabolic risk factors associated with NAFLD, such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia. Understanding the factors involved in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of NAFLD will lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the metabolic complications of obesity, and hopefully to the discovery of novel effective treatments for their reversal.
Nitric Oxide, Myocardial Oxygen Consumption, and ATP Synthesis

NO is a free radical gas, NO•, in equilibrium with the closely related redox forms NO− and NO+. With a molecular weight of only 30 Da/mol (for reference, molecular oxygen is 32 Da/mol), NO is readily diffusible. The half-life of NO is 0.1 to 5 seconds. NO synthesis is catalyzed by a family of proteins, NO synthases (NOSs). The NOS originally described as the source of NO in conduit vessel endothelial cells (eNOS or NOS3) has been found in the endothelium of the endocardium and the coronary vasculature, in atrial and ventricular myocytes, and in conduction cells of the heart.1 2 3 Because NO is readily diffusible, it can affect many molecular targets. Molecular oxygen is itself a target, forming NO2, which in turn forms NO2−, and NO3−. NO reacts with the free radical superoxide O2− to form the highly reactive species peroxynitrite ONOO−. NO also reacts with iron to form Fe2+NO complexes and with amino, thiol, diazo, and tyrosyl groups in proteins. On the basis of this chemistry, the macromolecular targets of NO and its derivatives in cells can be understood. For example, activation of the signal transduction protein guanylyl cyclase occurs via NO binding to its heme. Inhibition of creatine kinase and some of the glycolytic proteins, including GAPDH, by NO occurs by binding to labile reactive −SH groups. Thus, NO functions to alter macromolecular function in 2 distinct ways: by direct chemical modification and by activation of the guanylyl cyclase signaling pathway. NO plays …
IV.—Hamster Remains from the Norfolk Forest Bed

Mr. A. Savin, of Cromer, has been kind enough to send me for examination a large number of small vertebrate remains which he has recently collected from the Upper Freshwater Bed of the Norfolk Forest Bed Series at West Runton. Among these there is one little specimen which deserves to be recorded, as it represents a genus not hitherto recognized in the ‘Forest Bed’. The specimen is a right maxilla with three grinders in place, indubitably belonging to the genus Cricetus ; in size it is distinctly larger than the common Hamster Cricetus vulgaris (= C. frumentarius ), which is the largest species of the genus living at the present day. Only once before has Cricetus been recognized in Britain, W. A. Sanford having identified from the Hutton Cave, Mendip Hills, remains of a small mouse-like species which he referred to Cricetus songarus .
Compressive Stress for Large‐Pore Removal in Sintering

The compressive stress for the shrinkage of a large pore during sintering has been analyzed by combining the effects of the pore size, the ratio of pore size to grain size, and the coordination number of the pore. Alumina has been selected to illustrate this model. The result shows that the compressive stress is a positive and increasing quantity during the sintering process with an increasing value depending on the rate of grain growth and pore shrinkage.
Enabling network-aware applications

Many high-performance distributed applications use only a small fraction of their available bandwidth. A common cause of this problem is not a flaw in the application design, but rather improperly tuned network settings. Proper tuning techniques, such as setting the correct TCP buffers and using parallel streams, are well-known in the networking community, but outside this community they are infrequently applied. In this paper, we describe a service that makes the task of network tuning trivial for application developers and users. Widespread use of this service should virtually eliminate a common stumbling block for high-performance distributed applications.
Framing the Initiation of Analyst Coverage on IPOs

Using a large sample of recommendations from 1997 to 2007, this article shows that analysts often downgrade a seasoned stock prior to initiating research coverage on an initial public offering (IPO). Downgrades are more likely to occur if the analyst's investment bank has no underwriting relationship with the seasoned firm. From 1997 to 2001, I find some evidence supporting the hypothesis of strength of analyst coverage: downgrades by analysts affiliated with the IPO lead manager were negatively associated with the IPO's price performance after the offering day. Analysts were likely to downgrade a seasoned stock prior to promoting a cold IPO, underwritten by their investment bank. Since 2002, when new rules on analyst independence were adopted, downgrades of seasoned stocks have become unrelated to the price performance of IPOs.
The incidence of inflammatory papillary hyperplasia

The incidence of a type of lesion of the palatal tissues, Inflammatory papillary hyperplasia, is discussed. In a study of 892 patients who wore dentures, a high correlation was found between the incidence of inflammatory papillary hyperplasia and the amount of time that the dentures were worn by the patient. Proper instructions to the denture wearer should be given by the dentist, including an explanation of why it is necessary to keep one’s dentures out of the mouth for a part of each day.
Adrenal histologic findings show no difference in clinical presentation and outcome in primary hyperaldosteronism

Background Primary hyperaldosteronism is most commonly due to a solitary cortical adenoma. Thus, some surgeons have suggested a subtotal adrenalectomy is a reasonable approach when a mass can be identified. On the other hand, adrenal vein sampling (AVS) is being used more frequently to distinguish patients with unilateral disease for adrenalectomy, even if a discrete mass is not identified on axial imaging. In these cases, surgical pathology may reveal a cortical adenoma, a cortical adenoma with hyperplasia, or cortical hyperplasia. The goal of this study was to compare the presentation and outcome among patients undergoing adrenalectomy and found to have different histologic features.
Growth of Psychrotolerant Pseudomonads and Achromobacter on Chicken Skin

Abstract INTRODUCTION SPOILAGE of fresh refrigerated poultry is ordinarily caused by psychrotolerant bacteria growing on exposed surfaces (skin, muscle and gut-cavity lining), yet definite information on many of the physical and chemical factors that affect rates of growth is scarce. Results of published work are often conflicting and difficult to interpret because experiments were made with birds contaminated naturally during processing or handling and thus under conditions not controlled as to type and amount of inoculum. Comparative testing with controlled inoculation is required to determine the relative growth rates of the principal spoilage organisms and the extent to which these rates are affected by processing and storage conditions. Work has been undertaken, therefore, to study factors which affect the growth of pseudomonads and achromobacter (the two principal groups of bacteria responsible for low-temperature spoilage of poultry (Ayres et al., 1950; Thornley et al., 1960: Walker and Ayres, 1956)) on the surface . . .
Persistent Progenitors at the Retinal Margin of ptc+/- Mice

The hedgehog signaling pathway is a key regulator of neural development, affecting both proliferation and differentiation of neural progenitors. Sonic hedgehog (Shh) is a mitogenic factor for retinal progenitors in vitro. To determine whether this signaling system is important in vivo for regulating retinal progenitor proliferation, we analyzed mice with a single functional allele of the Shh receptor patched (ptc). We found that ptc+/- mice had increased numbers of neural progenitors at every stage of retinal development that we examined. In addition, these mice had persistent progenitors at the retinal margin for up to 3 months of age, reminiscent of the ciliary marginal zone of lower vertebrates. To test whether the progenitors at the retinal margin of ptc+/- mice could be induced to regenerate retinal neurons in response to damage, we bred ptc+/- mice onto a retinal degeneration background (pro23his rhodopsin transgenic) and labeled newly generated cells with combined immunohistochemistry for bromodeoxyuridine and retinal neuron and photoreceptor-specific markers. We found newly generated neurons and photoreceptors at the retinal margin in ptc+/-;pro23his mice. We propose that the Shh pathway may act as a regulator of both prenatal and postnatal retinal growth.
A Cluster-Analytic Investigation of Subtypes of Adult Career Counseling Clients: Toward a Taxonomy of Career Problems.

Two hundred and seventy-eight adults who ranged in age from 18 to 69 years and were voluntarily in career counseling completed measures pre- and postcounseling to assess career-related variables (e...
Ethnic/Racial Attitudes and Self-Identification of Black Jamaican and White New England Children:

A total of 411 children from urban and rural areas of Jamaica and from rural New England were examined by both White and Black interviewers for their skin color and body size preferences and for se...
Internal structure of carbonized wheat ( Triticum spp.) grains: relationships to kernel texture and ploidy

The identification of wheat grains to the species level is problematic in many archaeobotanical samples, yet this is key to better understanding wheat phylogeny and agricultural trajectories. This study was conducted to see if the pronounced differences in kernel texture (grain hardness) which exist among einkorn (very soft), emmer/durum (very hard), and bread wheat/spelt (soft) would manifest themselves after charring (carbonization). Grains of these three species were either broken and then charred, or charred and then broken (charring at 250, 270 and 400 °C). All specimens were then examined using field emission scanning electron microscopy. At 250 °C, grains broken before charring showed distension across the broken exposed endosperm surface. In the two soft wheats (Triticum monococcum, T. spelta; einkorn and spelt), starch granules were still evident, whereas in T. dicoccum, emmer, the fracture surface was nearly smooth. When charring occurred before breaking, a flat fracture face resulted. At 270 °C, distension increased for grains broken before charring whereas in those broken after charring, the fracture plane was again perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and was present as an open sponge-like topography. At 400 °C, distension was pronounced and represented “puffing” in grains that were broken before charring. Those that were charred and then broken produced a markedly open porous structure, but again with aspects of an angular fracture plane. In conclusion, several morphological features related to grain hardness, and therefore ploidy and genus were present at the lower charring temperatures. These differences largely disappeared at 400 °C. Characteristics of the carbonized grains provide some diagnostic features as to possible food processing or damage during recovery.
Epistatic effects between two genes in the renin-angiotensin system and systolic blood pressure and coronary artery calcification

Background: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is an important indicator of future coronary artery disease events. Since elevated blood pressure (BP) is an important predictor of CAC, genetic polymorphisms in the renin-angiotensin system and their interaction may play a role in explaining CAC quantity variation. Material/Methods: As part of the Epidemiology of Coronary Artery Calcification Study, 166 asymptomatic women and 166 asymptomatic men were genotyped for the insertion/deletion polymorphism in the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene and the -6 promoter polymorphism of the angiotensinogen (ACT) gene. We used a novel method to detect gene-gene interaction and compared it to the standard two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) method. Results: Based on a two-way ANOVA model, there was no evidence for epistasis for either systolic BP or CAC in either men or women. However, using a novel method, we found evidence of significant gene-gene interaction in systolic BP in men and gene-gene interaction in both systolic BP levels and CAC quantity in women. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that new methods of assessing epistasis maybe important in understanding the complex genetics of systolic blood pressure as well as subclinical coronary atherosclerosis.
Down-Regulation of Glucagon Receptors on the Surface of Broiler Adipocytes

Abstract A radioreceptor assay that specifically measures the affinity and concentration of glucagon receptors on the surface of broiler adipocytes was used to determine whether down-regulation of glucagon receptors is involved in the mechanism whereby glucagon induces desensitization of its ability to acutely stimulate lipolysis. Adipocytes from abdominal fat of 42- to 49-d-old female broilers were preincubated in vitro with 0 to 8 nM glucagon for 0 to 24 h before removal of glucagon by washing and assessment of lipolysis during a subsequent 1 h incubation at 37 C and binding of ([125I]iodo-Tyr10)glucagon during an ensuing 6 h incubation at 12 C. In Experiment 1, pretreatment of adipocytes with 0 to 8 nM glucagon for 24 h reduced lipolysis 70% with a preincubation dose of glucagon (ED50) of 0.4 ± 0.04 nM, whereas glucagon binding was decreased 75% with an ED50 of 0.7 ± 0.1 nM. In Experiment 2, pretreatment of adipocytes with 5.4 nM glucagon for 0 t o 2 h decreased lipolysis 60% with a time of preincubation with glucagon (T½) of
Construção da paz: A interface entre abordagens nacionais e internacionais

O artigo centra‑se no fosso existente entre entendimentos e abordagens nacionais e internacionais relativamente a construcao da paz e nos resultados mistos que caracterizam os atuais esforcos para ajudar os paises devastados pela guerra. Nele, defende‑se que a construcao da paz no pos‑Guerra Fria depende de um amplo leque de atores internacionais com interesses e mandatos diversos que nao estao necessariamente em linha com as realidades e necessidades locais. Com base na abundante bibliografia sobre o papel dos atores externos em zonas de conflito, analisa‑se a interface entre os atores nacionais e os internacionais atraves do conceito de ‘hibridismo’. Em seguida, examinam‑se dois mecanismos que visam nivelar o campo de atuacao entre os paises afetados pela guerra e os atores internacionais: a Comissao de Consolidacao da Paz das Nacoes Unidas e o Novo Acordo para o Envolvimento em Estados Frageis.
Low-complexity systolic V-BLAST architecture

In multiple-input multiple-output systems, an ordered successive interference canceller, termed the vertical Bell laboratories layered space-time (V-BLAST) algorithm, offers good performance. This letter presents a low-complexity V-BLAST scheme suited for parallel implementation. The proposed scheme, using a greedy ordering, can achieve a performance comparable to that of V-BLAST with optimum ordering, while its computational complexity is lower than a linear detector.
A comparative analysis of marine mammal tracheas

In 1940, Scholander suggested that stiffened upper airways remained open and received air from highly compressible alveoli during marine mammal diving. There are few data available on the structural and functional adaptations of the marine mammal respiratory system. The aim of this research was to investigate the anatomical (gross) and structural (compliance) characteristics of excised marine mammal tracheas. Here, we defined different types of tracheal structures, categorizing pinniped tracheas by varying degrees of continuity of cartilage (categories 1–4) and cetacean tracheas by varying compliance values (categories 5A and 5B). Some tracheas fell into more than one category along their length; for example, the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) demonstrated complete rings cranially, and as the trachea progressed caudally, tracheal rings changed morphology. Dolphins and porpoises had less stiff, more compliant spiraling rings while beaked whales had very stiff, less compliant spiraling rings. The pressure–volume (P–V) relationships of isolated tracheas from different species were measured to assess structural differences between species. These findings lend evidence for pressure-induced collapse and re-inflation of lungs, perhaps influencing variability in dive depth or ventilation rates of the species investigated.
Performance-Rate Functions for Dynamically Quantized Feedback Systems

This paper studies the performance of dynamically quantized feedback systems. In particular, we examine the relationship between the minimum summed squared quantization error and the rate at which feedback measurements are quantized. The closed loop system's performance can vary greatly for a given bit rate, depending on how the quantization bits are allocated. This paper derives the bit assignment policy that minimizes the summed squared quantization level achievable under a constant bit rate. The proof of the bit assignment's optimality allows us to identify "performance-rate" functions that bound the best achievable performance as a function of the bit rate.
PATTERNS OF ASSOCIATION, NESTEDNESS, AND SPECIES CO-OCCURRENCE OF HELMINTH PARASITES IN THE GREATER KUDU, TRAGELAPHUS STREPSICEROS, IN THE KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA, AND THE ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK, NAMIBIA

The helminth parasites of the greater kudu from the Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa, and the Etosha National Park (ENP), Namibia, were examined to determine the major patterns of spatial and demographic variation in community structure and to evaluate nonrandomness in parasite community assembly. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling ordination procedures were used to test for differences in parasite community composition between hosts of the 2 parks and between hosts of different demographic groups within KNP. Infracommunities within KNP were also examined for patterns of nonrandomness using 2 null models, i.e., nestedness and species co-occurrence. Infracommunities of KNP and ENP were significantly different from each other, as were infracommunities of different host demographic groups within KNP. Parasite species in the greater kudu from KNP displayed significant levels of nestedness and were found to co-occur less frequently than expected by chance; however, this lack of co-occurrence was significant only when all demographic groups were considered. When restricted to any particular age class, co-occurrence patterns could not be distinguished from random. Overall, these data suggest that biogeography and host demographics are important factors in determining community organization of helminth parasites in the greater kudu.
GaN and Related Materials for High Power Applications

Unique properties of GaN and related semiconductors make them superior for high-power applications. The maximum density of the two-dimensional electron gas at the GaN/AlGaN heterointerface or in GaN/AlGaN quantum well structures can reach 5x1013 cm-2, which is more than an order of magnitude higher than for traditional GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures. The mobility-sheet carrier concentration product for these two dimensional systems might also exceed that for GaAs/AIGaAs heterostructures and can be further enhanced by doping the conducting channels and by using “piezoelectric” doping, which takes advantage of high piezoelectric constants of GaN and related materials. We estimate that current densities over 20 A/mm can be reached in GaN-based High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMTs). These high current values can be combined with very high breakdown voltages in high-power HEMTs. These breakdown voltages are expected to reach several thousand volts. Recent Monte Carlo simulations point to strong ballistic and overshoot effects in GaN and related materials, which should be even more pronounced than in GaAs-based compounds but at much higher electric fields. This should allow us to achieve faster switching, minimizing the power dissipation during switching events. Selfheating, which is unavoidable in power devices, raises operating temperatures of power devices well above the ambient temperature. For GaN-based devices, the use of SiC substrates having high thermal conductivity is essential for ensuring an effective heat dissipation. Such an approach combines the best features of both GaN and SiC technologies; and GaN/SiC-based semiconductors and heterostructures should find numerous applications in power electronics.
Neural networks for computation: number representations and programming complexity.

Methods for using neural networks for computation are considered. The success of such networks in finding good solutions to complex problems is found to be dependent on the number representation schemes used. Redundant schemes are found to offer advantages in terms of convergence. Neural networks are applied to the combinatorial optimization problem known as the Hitchcock problem and signal processing problems, such as matrix inversion and Fourier transformation. The concept of programming complexity is introduced. It is shown that for some computational problems, the programming complexity may be so great as to limit the utility of neural networks, while for others the investment of computation in programming the network is justified. Simulations of neural networks using a digital computer are presented.
Voltage Sensitive Ca-Channels and the Transient Inward Current in Paramecium Tetraurelia

Transient inward currents across the membrane of P. tetraurelia are recorded upon step depolarizations with a voltage clamp in solutions where Ca 2+ is the only added inorganic cation. It is shown that the current is normally carried by Ca 2+ through the Ca-channels which activate and inactivate in time. The transient inward current is dependent on both the size of the depolarizing step and the holding level before the step. Maximum inward current ( I max ) occurs when the membrane is first held at the resting level (- 30 mV), then stepped to 0 mV in a solution containing 0.91 mM-Ca 2+ . The I max is smaller when the membrane is first held at depolarized level. This is due to the depolarization-sensitive inactivation of the Ca-channels. The I max is also smaller when the membrane is first held at a hyperpolarized level. This may be explained by the activation of hyperpolarization-sensitive K-channels known to exist in the Paramecium membrane. I max increases with concentration of Ca 2+ up to 0.9 mM. Further increase in the Ca 2+ concentration does not affect I max . This apparent saturation at 0.9 mM-Ca 2+ may reflect a rate-limiting step of Ca 2+ permeation. The increase in Ca 2+ concentration shifts the V-I peak curve in the direction of less sensitivity. This result is best explained as the effect of bound Ca 2+ on the surface potential of the Paramecium membrane. These results provide the first detailed description of the properties of the action current through the Ca-channel in Paramecium . They also define the conditions under which future voltage-clamp studies of wild-type and mutant membranes of P. tetraurelia should be performed, i.e. to maximize the resolution of the Ca-channel activity, the membrane should be held at or near the resting potential and there should be over 0.9 mM-Ca 2+ in the test solutions. The behaviour of the Paramecium Ca-channel and small I max in the presence of K + are discussed.