cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pregnancy and birth complications in autism and liability to the broader autism phenotype.

ABSTRACT Objective To understand better the relationship between pregnancy and birth complications and genetic factors in autism. Method The sample included 78 children with an autism spectrum disorder and 88 unaffected siblings. A standardized interview was used to ask mothers about the pregnancy and birth of each child, and an overall index reflecting freedom from complications (termed “optimality”) was determined. The presence of autism-like traits (termed the “broader autism phenotype”) in second- and third-degree relatives was ascertained by reports from multiple informants. The proportion of relatives with the broader autism phenotype, corrected for degree of relation, was used as an index of family loading. Results Children with autism spectrum disorders have lower optimality (higher rates of complications) than unaffected siblings. High family loading for the broader autism phenotype is associated with higher rates of complications in unaffected siblings. Family loading was not significantly associated with complications in affected siblings in this sample. Overall, these findings argue against complications being a direct cause of autism, as one would expect to find the most complications in sporadic cases (i.e., in children without a positive family history). Conclusion Increased rates of birth and pregnancy complications are likely secondary to familial factors associated with autism.
Scedosporium apiospermum otomycosis

We present a case of Scedosporium apiospermum otomycosis in an immunocompetent 62-year-old woman presumably inoculated as a child in Vietnam. She had life-long recurrent symptoms of chronic otomastoiditis and otorrhea. The organism was identified in an unexpected wound infection after a modified radical mastoidectomy done for chronic otitis media. Treatment consisted of local debridement of necrotic tissue, topical wound care, and long-term systemic antifungals.
Effects of Tobacco and P. gingivalis on Gingival Fibroblasts

Cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) is the particulate matter of cigarette smoke. Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is an opportunistic pathogen involved in periodontitis. It was hypothesized that the combination of CSC and P. gingivalis would increase the collagen-degrading ability of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs). In this study, HGFs were exposed to CSC, P. gingivalis supernatant, and CSC plus P. gingivalis supernatant. The collagen-degrading ability and protein/mRNA levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) of HGFs were examined. The combined treatment increased collagen degradation, protein levels of active forms of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, and MMP-14 in conditioned media, and the low-molecular-weight fragment of MMP-14 in membrane extracts, as well as mRNA levels of MMP-1, MMP-2, and MMP-14. In conclusion, the combined effects of CSC and P. gingivalis increased HGF-mediated collagen degradation by destroying the balance between MMPs and TIMPs at multiple levels.
Majusculoic acid, a brominated cyclopropyl fatty acid from a marine cyanobacterial mat assemblage.

The novel antifungal compound majusculoic acid was isolated from a cyanobacterial mat microbial community. The structure of majusculoic acid was solved by interpretation of mass spectrometric and NMR data and conversion to the corresponding methyl ester. Majusculoic acid exhibits antifungal activity against Candida albicans ATCC 14503 (MIC 8 μM).
Pathophysiologic mechanisms in analgesic-induced papillary necrosis

The nonnarcotic analgesics have been implicated as a significant cause of chronic renal failure worldwide. Epidemiologic studies of habitual abuse and necropsy studies show a strong relationship between the two. Animal studies designed to elucidate underlying mechanisms have been hampered because the lesion occurs infrequently and only after very high doses are given for prolonged periods; however, the Fischer 344 and Wistar rats appear to be more sensitive, and substantial new information should be forthcoming. In this review, some of the evidence for the possible mechanisms of papillary necrosis are presented: prostaglandin inhibition, reduction or redistribution of renal blood flow, direct cellular injury, free radical formation, and immunologic injury. At present, most data support prostaglandin inhibition and reduction or redistribution of renal blood flow, but direct cellular injury also appears to be very important.
Endocrine Therapy in the Preoperative Setting and Strategies to Overcome Resistance

Endocrine therapy remains the mainstay for treatment of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer in both adjuvant and metastatic settings. Due to the cytostatic property of endocrine therapy, cytotoxic chemotherapy is more commonly used for cytoreduction in preoperative setting to promote breast-conserving surgery. Nevertheless, recent clinical trials demonstrated that preoperative endocrine therapy can also be used to facilitate breast conservation in patients with locally advanced breast cancer, particularly in postmenopausal women with low proliferative tumors. Multiple markers have been shown to be predictive of endocrine responsiveness, including estrogen and progesterone receptor expression as well as other molecular profiles such as the 21-gene recurrence score assay and PAM-50 assay. The preoperative setting offers a unique situation to rapidly prioritize novel treatment combination and to identify the mechanisms of resistance. Several strategies to overcome resistance, including co-targeting other signaling pathways, particularly human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGF), and PI3K/Akt/mTOR, are discussed in this review article.
Pirate modernity: Delhi's media urbanism

Pirate modernity: Delhi's media urbanism, by Ravi Sundaram, Abingdon, Routledge, 2010, 228 pp., ISBN 978-81-89643-07-2 In the preface of the book, Ravi Sundaram writes, ‘(r)ather than media analysi...
An affordable physician- and consumer-friendly health care system: 2008 democratic and republican presidential candidates' views.

Winter issues of The American Heart Hospital Journal traditionally focus on health care policy issues. As health care reform in the United States is a topic of major importance in the upcoming presidential election, we invited Dr Regina E. Herzlinger, the Nancy R. McPherson Professor of Business Administration at Harvard University and a noted expert in the field, to provide an analysis of the major proposals currently under debate by the candidates. We invite your comments in the coming months as the field of candidates narrows and the focus on reform sharpens.—Sylvan Lee Weinberg, Editor in Chief
Lattice Monte Carlo simulations of phase separation and micellization in supercritical CO2/surfactant systems: effect of CO2 density.

Lattice Monte Carlo simulations are used to study the effect of nonionic surfactant concentration and CO2 density on the micellization and phase equilibria of supercritical CO2/surfactant systems. The interaction parameter for carbon dioxide is obtained by matching the critical temperature of the model fluid with the experimental critical temperature. Various properties such as the critical micelle concentration and the size, shape, and structure of micelles are calculated, and the phase diagram in the surfactant concentration−CO2 density space is constructed. On increasing the CO2 density, we find an increase in the critical micelle concentration and a decrease in the micellar size; this is consistent with existing experimental results. The variation of the micellar shape and structure with CO2 density shows that the micelles are spherical and that the extension of the micellar core increases with increasing micellar size, while the extension of the micellar corona increases with increasing CO2 density. ...
The Santa Claus problem

We consider the following problem: The Santa Claus has n presents that he wants to distribute among m kids. Each kid has an arbitrary value for each present. Let pij be the value that kid i has for present j. The Santa's goal is to distribute presents in such a way that the least lucky kid is as happy as possible, i.e he tries to maximize mini=1,...,m sumj ∈ Si pij where Si is a set of presents received by the i-th kid.Our main result is an O(log log m/log log log m) approximation algorithm for the restricted assignment case of the problem when pij ∈ pj,0 (i.e. when present j has either value pj or 0 for each kid). Our algorithm is based on rounding a certain natural exponentially large linear programming relaxation usually referred to as the configuration LP. We also show that the configuration LP has an integrality gap of Ω(m1/2) in the general case, when pij can be arbitrary.
The effect of carbon dioxide, lidoflazine and deferoxamine upon long term survival following cardiorespiratory arrest in rats

Abstract This study examined the effect of carbon dioxide, lidoflazine and deferoxamine therapy upon the 10-day survival incidence and subsequent neurologic function of rats subjected to 7 min of cardiorespiratory arrest with resuscitation. Cardiac arrest (asystole) was induced at time zero by injection of cold, 1% KCl into the left ventricle of ketamine-anesthetized rats pretreated with succinylcholine. Positive pressure ventilation was discontinued at time zero. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was begun at 7 min, and animals with return of spontaneous circulation were entered into the study. Twenty treated rats were ventilated for 1 h with 7% carbon dioxide-93% oxygen and given lidoflazine (2.0 mg/kg, i.v.) and deferoxamine (50 mg/kg, i.v.) 5 min after CPR. Twenty control rats were ventilated for 1 h with 100% oxygen and given lidoflazine vehicle and deferoxamine vehicle. Lidoflazine treatment (1.0 mg/ kg) for the treated group, or lidoflazine vehicle for the control group, was repeated at 8 h postresuscitation. At 2 days postresuscitation, 75% of treated rats vs. 25% of control rats were alive (CHI 2 = 10.0, d.f. = 1, P 2 = 5.01, d.f. = 1, P
Slowed decay of the monkey's cone receptor potential by intense stimuli, and protection from this effect by light adaptation

Abstract Decay of the late RP (receptor potential) becomes very slow when the stimulus intensity for saturating amplitude of the late RP is exceeded. In macaque monkey this was shown earlier for the rod late RP, and is now shown at higher stimulus intensities for the cone late RP. These slowly decaying responses to “overdriving” stimuli are referred to, respectively, asrod andcone aftereffects. Since these aftereffects greatly prolong the response to a given stimulus, they must degrade the ability of the visual system to resolve stimuli in the time domain. For the rod late RP our preceding paper shows that this problem is handled by suppression of the rod late RP at photopic intensities, apparently by a cone-initiated pathway acting through the horizontal cell as inhibitory interneuron. In this paper we show that the cone aftereffect, which occurs only at high photopic intensities, is quickly dissipated by light adaptation at those intensities. In other words, light adaptation is highly effective in protecting against the cone aftereffect. The cones are thus capable of resolving stimuli in the time domain at considerably higher stimulus intensities than would otherwise be possible. This provides a significant upward extension of the intensity range of useful vision.
On-Line Optimization of Switched-Mode Dynamical Systems

This paper considers an optimization problem in the setting of switched-mode hybrid dynamical systems, where the control variable (independent variable) consists of the mode-switching times, and the performance criterion is a cost functional defined on the system's state trajectory. The system is deterministic, nonlinear, and autonomous, and its state variable cannot be measured and hence it has to be estimated. We propose an on-line, Newton-like optimization algorithm that recomputes the control variable by attempting to optimize the cost-to-go at equally-spaced epochs. The main result concerns the algorithm's convergence rate, which can vary from sublinear to quadratic depending on its computing rate and the state estimation error.
Measurement of axial injection displacement with trim coil current unbalance

The Dee probe used for measuring internal radial beam intensity shows large losses inside the radius of 20 cm of the 88 in. cyclotron. The current of the top and bottom innermost trim coil 1 is unbalanced to study effects of the axial injection displacement. A beam profile monitor images the ion beam bunches, turn by turn. The experimental bunch center of mass position is compared with calculations of the magnetic mirror effect displacement and shows good agreement.
Steroid-hormone rapid actions, membrane receptors and a conformational ensemble model.

Steroid hormones can act as chemical messengers in a wide range of species and target tissues to produce both slow genomic responses, and rapid non-genomic responses. Although it is clear that genomic responses to steroid hormones are mediated by the formation of a complex of the hormone and its cognate steroid-hormone nuclear receptor, new evidence indicates that rapid responses are mediated by a variety of receptor types associated with the plasma membrane or its caveolae components, potentially including a membrane-associated nuclear receptor. This review summarizes our current knowledge of membrane-associated steroid receptors, as well as details of structure–function relationships between steroid hormones and the ligand-binding domains of their nuclear and membrane-associated receptors. Furthermore, a new receptor conformational ensemble model is presented that suggests how the same receptor could produce both rapid and genomic responses. It is apparent that there is a cornucopia of new drug development opportunities in these areas.
Preventive treatment of headaches

Purpose of reviewTo review recent advances in preventive headache treatment.Recent findingsMigraine may be a progressive disorder. Aggressive treatment may stop progression. Propranolol, the β-blocker, and the anticonvulsant topiramate are effective for migraine prevention. Feverfew, montelukast and
Volumetric image compression by 3D discrete wavelet transform (DWT)

The newly developed discrete wavelet transform (DWT) compression method is far superior to previous full frame discrete cosine transform (FFDCT) as well as industrial standard JPEG. Due to its localization properties both in spatial and transform domain, the quantization error introduced in DWT will not propagate globally as in FFDCT. Also DWT transform is a global technique that avoids the JPEG type block artifacts. As in all techniques, correlation among pixels makes compression possible. In volumetric image sets, such as CT and MR, inter-slice correlation can be exploited in addition to in-slice correlation. In this 3D DWT study, inter- slice correlation has also been investigated for CT and MR image set. Different numbers of slices are grouped together to perform wavelet transform in the transaxiale direction as a mean of testing relationship between correlation and compression efficiency. The 3D DWT is developed on UNIX platform. Significant higher compression ratio is achieved by compressing CT data as a volume versus one slice at a time. DWT is an excellent technique for exploiting inter-slice correlation to gain additional compression efficiency.
A brief guide to understanding patentability and the meaning of patents.

This author provides a brief overview to the U.S. patent system with respect to DNA-based or gene patents, examines the statutory requirements for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and its processes of review, and explains how this system is implemented in the issue or decline of a patent. The author describes the important role played by the courts in their continuing reinterpretation and application of the patent law. He notes that many issues raised in discussions about the perceived benefits to society or general concerns arising from the patenting of gene sequences actually pertain to matters of enforcement and licensing of patents. These aspects, the author notes, lie outside of the USPTO's purview. Social questions about access to patented subject matter-such as the practice of patented gene-based diagnostic tests-must be addressed in other forums.
COMET D/1819 W1 (BLANPAIN): NOT DEAD YET

We present a new observation that conclusively reveals the cometary nature of the planet-crossing asteroid 2003 WY25 through the detection of a weak optical coma. This observation strongly supports the identification of 2003 WY25 with the lost comet D/1819 W1 (Blanpain) made previously on the basis of dynamical similarity. It also shows that 2003 WY25 is a continuing but weak source of particles for the Phoenicid meteor stream with a mass injection rate into the stream of ~10-2 kg s-1. This is too small to supply the estimated 1011 kg stream mass on any plausible timescale, suggesting that the mass injection into the stream may be episodic and/or involve additional sources. We estimate a nucleus radius near 160 m and find that, consistent with estimates for other meteor streams, the ratio of the nucleus mass to the stream mass is of order unity. We find that 2003 WY25 is the smallest cometary nucleus yet observed.
Geochemical Mobility and Bioavailability of Heavy Metals in a Lake Affected by Acid Mine Drainage: Lake Hope, Vinton County, Ohio

Sandy Run (Vinton County, southeastern Ohio, USA) is a stream receiving acid mine drainage (AMD) from an abandoned coal mine complex. This stream has been dammed to form Lake Hope. The heavy metal composition of waters (benthic and pore), sediments, and macroinvertebrates in the lake reservoir sediments were analyzed. Lake waters contained Mn as the heavy metal present in higher concentrations followed by Fe, Al, and Zn. Depletion of Fe and Al occurred from precipitation of less soluble Fe and Al oxides and hydroxides along Sandy Run before entering the lake, producing a high Mn water input into the reservoir. Concentrations of heavy metals in the sediments increased toward the dam area. Sequential extraction of metals in the sediments showed that the highest fractions of metals corresponded to the detrital fraction or eroded material from the watershed and metals associated with iron and manganese hydroxides. Heavy metals in the organic sediment fraction were low. Heavy metals from the AMD source, as well as sediments rich in heavy metals eroded from the watershed, were transported to the downstream dam area and stored at the bottom, producing the observed chemistry. Heavy metals in benthic waters also were sourced from the diffusion of ions from sediments and lake waters as variation in pH and redox conditions determined the flux at the sediment–water interface. Metal concentrations were measured within two deposit feeders, oligochaetes and chironomids, and compared to trends in physical metal concentration across the lake. For the four heavy metals with higher concentration in both benthic animals, the concentrations followed the trend: Fe > Al > Mn > Zn, which were similar to the bioavailable metals in the sediments rather than the pore or the benthic water where Mn was the most abundant heavy metal. Ingestion of sediment, not exposure to pore or benthic waters, appeared to be the main transfer mechanism for metals into the biota. Trends and patterns in animal metal concentrations across the lake were probably a complex process controlled by metabolic needs and metallic regulation and tolerance. Even when Mn was the highest concentration heavy metal in the pore waters, it was the lowest to bioconcentrate in the organisms. In comparison, Cd, the lowest concentration metal in the sediments, presented one of the highest bioaccumulation factors.
Automatic derivative spectrophotometric titration of excess EDTA in the determination of cobalt, copper or iron

Summary The metalfluorechromic indicator Calcein W is used as an absorption indicator at 500 mμ for the automatic titration of excess EDTA with copper titrant in the “Spectro-Electro” derivative titrator. Copper, iron or cobalt are determined by adding a small excess of standard EDTA, as visually indicated in the titrator by the fluorescence of Calcein W, with the subsequent automatic titration of excess EDTA. The intense colors of the EDTA complexes of these cations do not cause any difficulty by the automatic spectrophotometric method, and macro as well as micro quantities of the metals can be determined with relative errors of 0.1% or less.
Effects of Surface Water Spray, Diet, and Phase Feeding on Swim Bladder Inflation, Survival, and Cost of Production of Intensively Reared Larval Walleyes

Abstract Three experiments were conducted to determine the effects of a surface water spray and diet on survival and swim bladder inflation of intensively reared larval walleyes. Survival and swim bladder inflation were determined at 30 d posthatch. In each experiment, 275-L cylindrical tanks were stocked with 20 fry/L. In experiment 1, a spray of water was applied to the surface of three tanks, and three additional tanks received no surface spray. BioKyowa FFK-B diet was fed to fish in all tanks. Survival of fish with the spray (11.8%) and without the spray (9.1%) was not significantly different, but the incidence of swim bladder inflation was higher with (98.4%) than without the spray (51.7%). In experiment 2, larval walleyes were fed one of three commercially available larval feeds—FFK-B, San Francisco Bay Brand EPAC, and Zeigler Larval AP200—and all tanks received a surface spray. Only the fish fed FFK-B had reasonable 30-d survival (33.1%) and swim bladder inflation rates (95.6%). In experiment 3, ph...
The MIT Dice project

A computer-based architecture program called the Distributed and Integrated Environment for Computer-Aided Engineering (Dice), which provides cooperation and coordination among multiple designers working in separate engineering disciplines, is described. Dice uses knowledge to estimate interface conditions between disciplines, records who used any piece of design data created by others and how such data were used, and checks for conflicts among disciplines, manufacturability, and manufacturing cost and schedule effects of design decisions. >
New method for detection of Borrelia burgdorferi antigen complexed to antibody in seronegative Lyme disease

Serologic tests for Lyme disease are problematic. Because of cross-reactive antigens Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) shares with other organisms, Lyme disease can be overdiagnosed. However, in addition to specificity problems, serologic tests for early Lyme disease can be falsely negative due to lack of sensitivity of ELISAs and Western blots. Most routine antibody tests are designed to detect free antibodies, and in early, active disease, circulating antibodies may not be free in serum but sequestered in complexes with the antigens which originally triggered their production. This difficulty may be overcome by first isolating immune complexes (IC) from the serum and using this fraction for testing. Free Borrelia-specific antibodies can then be liberated from the immune complexes which may enhance test sensitivity in patients with active disease. We developed a technique that captures the antibody component of IC on immunobeads, and subsequently releases the antigen component of IC. Immunoblotting with monoclonal antibody detected at least one antigen to be OspA, thus definitively demonstrating a Borrelia-specific antigen in circulating IC in early Lyme disease. This test is also useful in demonstrating Bb antigen in otherwise seronegative Lyme disease patients.
Hedonic scaling of sugars using concurrent operant schedules with dogs

Abstract An experiment is reported with 5 beagles in which the concurrent operants procedure was used to scale glucose and fructose against a “standard” sugar, sucrose. The sugars were in solution and the dogs were required to lever-press to obtain access to the solutions. In the first part of the experiment, the dogs chose between fructose and sucrose, and between glucose and sucrose, in a series of tests where different volumes of the two sugars were available for pressing the two levers. This arrangement made it possible to construct an empirical function for each pair of sugars showing the relation between relative strength of responding on the levers and the relative volumes of fluids obtained. From these functions it was possible to predict the ratio of fluid-volumes that would render hedonic equivalence. The data supported the prediction, indicating the ability of the concurrent schedules procedure to scale qualitatively different food-items in dogs.
Mineral metabolism of rats fed various levels of aluminum hydroxide

The effect of ingesting nutritionally complete diets with added aluminum hydroxide (257 μg Al/g diet in study A and 1075 μg Al/g diet in study B) was assessed in two 67-d studies. Rats fed either 257 or 1075 μg Al/g diet accumulated significantly greater amounts of aluminum in their tibias, kidneys, and livers than control animals. However, the rats fed 1075 μg Al/g diet did not accumulate more aluminum in these tissues than rats fed 257 μg Al/g diet. After consuming the diets for 30–39 d, the rats fed 257 μg Al/g diet absorbed calcium, magnesium, and copper significantly less efficiently, and the rats fed 1075 μg Al/g diet absorbed phosphorus and calcium significantly less efficiently than control animals. After the rats had consumed the diets for 62–65 d, the additional aluminum hydroxide no longer affected the apparent absorption or tissue concentrations of phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, zinc, or iron. Rats fed 1075 μg Al/g diet had significantly higher concentrations of copper in their tibias, but significantly less total calcium, magnesium, and zinc in their tibias and livers and less total iron in their tibias than control animals. The reduced breaking strength of bones from the animals fed 1075 μg Al/g diet may reflect their slightly smaller size.
770-4 Single Channel Characteristics of Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Release Channels from Normal and Failed Human Myocardium

Ryanodine receptors or sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca-release channels playa key role in normal cardiac muscle excitation-contraction coupling. The single channel behavior of the Ca++-release channel in failing human hearts has not been investigated. We compared characteristics of normal and heart failure cardiac SR calcium channels, using the planar lipid bilayer technique. Membrane vesicles were prepared from freshly explanted human hearts either prior to transplantation, or from organ donors with normal hearts not accepted for transplantation (because of the age of the donor). 1.0 μg/ml of membrane protein was used in asymmetric bath solutions: CIS (125 mM TRIS; 250 mM HEPES; 2 uM free calcium) TRANS (250 mM HEPES; 50 mM BaCI2). Lipid bilayers were formed with 5:3 ratio of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine. Data were digitized and analyzed with PCLAMP6 software. Normal heart SR Ca release channels exhibited a slope conductance of 153 pS over the range of voltages from 0 to -60 mV SR Ca release channels from failing hearts exhibited multiple conductance states. the main state had a slope conductance of 500 pS, and a subconductance of 300 pS over the same voltage range. Normal heart open probability range was 0.05–01. In heart failure open state probability was increased. ranging from 0.1–0.5. Single channel properties of SR Ca release channels from the failing hearts are significantly different than normal hearts. This work is the first attempt to investigate the possible role of SR Ca channel derangements in human heart failure.
Discourse analysis in classrooms: approaches to language and literacy research

by David Bloome, Stephanie Power Carter, Beth Morton Christian, Samara Madrid, Sheila Otto, Nora Shuart‐Faris, and Mandy Smith, New York, NY, Teachers College Press, 2008, v + 166 pp., US$25.95 (pa...
New model for frost growth rate

Abstract Many models have been published to predict frost growth. These may be divided into empirical and theoretical models. All prior theoretical models assume the water vapor is saturated at the interface between the air stream and frost layer. This paper provides a new theoretically based numerical model of frost deposition and growth. The present model: (1) uses supersaturated water vapor at the frost surface, which is fundamentally correct; (2) improved correlations for frost thermal conductivity; (3) uses a rationally based tortuosity factor; and (4) calculates the local frost density variation. For numerical simulation of the frost growth rate, the measured thermal conductivity was used. Frost growth rate on a cold surface was measured, and the experimental data were compared to the numerical model and agreed within 15%. The proposed supersaturation model was also compared to previous investigators’ experimental data, and it was found that the supersaturation model is superior to analytical or numerical models that assume the water vapor at the frost surface to be saturated.
Ignitability of Fabrics and Fabric/Cushion Systems:

The ignition characteristics of furniture upholstery fabrics appear to be influenced by fabric variables, test condi tions, and substrate as much as by the chemical composition of the fiber.
Effects of meal frequency and snacking on food demand in mice

Ad libitum feeding patterns in mice show substantial differences between laboratories, in addition to large individual and time-of-day differences. In the present study, we examine how mice work for food when access to food is temporally restricted and so they are forced to take discrete meals. In a first experiment, separate groups of ICR:CD1 mice were given access to food for 4, 8 or 16 opportunities or meals per day, with the duration of access at each opportunity adjusted reciprocally so that the total time of availability was 160 min per day in all three conditions. During the periods of availability, mice were able to earn food pellets by nose poke responses, according to an incrementing series of fixed unit prices (FUP: 2, 5, 10, 25) with each schedule in force for 3-4 days. Total food intake was similar in all three groups, indicating that mice generally were able to adjust their intake to a range of temporal availabilities. In each group, food demand fell as FUP increased. In the 8 and 16 meal groups, no food was eaten in many of the opportunities. Within an opportunity, the rate of intake generally declined with time, indicative of satiation. At low FUPs, later opportunities in each day were associated with smaller meals than earlier opportunities; in contrast, at high FUPs the first opportunity was also a small meal. Collectively, these results show that mice eat less at higher costs but not because of time constraints of the schedule: instead, they exhibit an elective anorexia. In the second experiment, we examined whether snacking between imposed meals would affect subsequent meal(s). Mice were adapted to the foregoing 8 opportunity protocol. Then, half the mice received free snacks of sugar cubes after the 3rd, 4th and 5th meal opportunities and the intakes of sugar and pellets were examined at low and high unit costs for pellets (FUP2 and 25). At FUP2, mice decreased demand for pellets and compensated energetically for the sugar they consumed. At FUP25, mice also decreased demand, but by less than the energy obtained from sugar. These data show that choice for pellets over a free palatable snack, and subsequent compensation of energy intake, is modified by effort and demand.
Vitrectomy for macular traction caused by incomplete vitreous separation

• Pars plana vitrectomy was performed in 16 eyes to release vitreomacular traction. All patients had a symptomatic preoperative decrease in visual acuity, most often to 20/200. Partial detachment of the posterior vitreous surface was associated with vitreoretinal attachment remaining in the area of the macula and sometimes to the optic nerve head. The posterior vitreous traction on the macula was released by tangential traction on the posterior vitreous surface, causing it to separate from the retina. The postoperative vision was the same or improved in each case. No operative complications occurred, but progressive nuclear sclerosis developed postoperatively in five of the 15 phakic eyes.
Unsteady unidirectional flows of second grade fluids in domains with heated boundaries

The thermal convection of a second grade fluid is studied within the context of unidirectional flows. Stokes' first problem in finite and infinite domains as well as pulsating Poiseuille flow in a pipe are analyzed. Due to the special nature of the flow, both the balance of linear momentum and the energy equation can be solved exactly.
Management of cystic lesions of the pancreas.

Pancreatic cystic lesions are being increasingly identified. Clinical decision making is driven by the differential diagnosis of the cyst and, for the asymptomatic patient, its likelihood of causing harm. The fundamental issue is whether the cyst is neoplastic, and, if so, what is its risk for malignant degeneration. High-resolution computed tomography provides detailed information about cyst structure and may facilitate differentiation from mucin-secreting tumors of the pancreas. Magnetic resonance imaging has the potential added advantage of determining communication between the cyst and pancreatic duct. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) imaging provides additional characterization of the lesion. While EUS morphology alone has limitations regarding definitive diagnosis, aspiration, and characterization of cyst, fluid contents may provide incremental information. Aspiration is well tolerated and safe, with a complication rate of less than 1%. In the absence of a history of pancreatitis, pseudocyst is quite unlikely, and the concern of a cystic neoplasm is paramount. In general, all symptomatic lesions should proceed to appropriate surgical resection. If preoperative characterization of the lesion will change management, EUS + FNA for cytology and fluid analysis (CEA) may characterize the lesion as mucinous, although cytology alone is rarely definitive. For those patients with benign-appearing lesions, such as classic appearance of a serous cystadenoma, observation alone seems appropriate. In some circumstances, EUS + FNA confirmation of a negative cytology and low fluid CEA can further provide evidence to support a monitoring approach and deferral of surgical intervention.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/Parkinsonism Dementia Complex: Transgenic Mice Provide Insights into Mechanisms Underlying a Common Tauopathy in an Ethnic Minority on Guam

Abstract Intracytoplasmic filamentous tau inclusions are neuropathological hallmarks of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/parkinsonism–dementia complex (ALS/PDC) of Guam and the defining lesions of other neurodegenerative disorders known as tauopathies. Here we review current insights into the cell and molecular neuropathology of ALS/PDC, a common tauopathy in the Chamorro population on Guam. We also summarize recent advances in understanding this disorder through studies of transgenic (Tg) mouse models of this tauopathy. Briefly, overexpression of human tau isoforms in the central nervous system of Tg mice resulted in a neurodegenerative tauopathy with a phenotype similar to ALS/PDC. Specifically, argyrophilic, congophilic, and tau immunoreactive inclusions accumulated with age in cortical and brainstem neurons of these mice, but they were most abundant in spinal cord neurons, and the inclusions contained 10- to 20-nm tau-positive straight filaments. There also was extensive gliosis in spinal cord associated with axonal degeneration in the ventral roots, while remaining axons in spinal nerves showed a loss of microtubules and reduced fast axonal transport. With advancing age, these Tg mice showed increasing motor weakness, and this was accompanied by a progressive increase in the phosphorylation and insolubility of brain and spinal cord tau proteins. Thus, tau Tg mice recapitulate key phenotypic features of ALS/PDC neuropathology in an ethnic minority on Guam, and these animal models provide new opportunities to discover novel therapies for this and related tauopathies.
Understanding Kidney Disease: Toward the Integration of Regulatory Networks Across Species

Animal models have long been useful in investigating both normal and abnormal human physiology. Systems biology provides a relatively new set of approaches to identify similarities and differences between animal models and human beings that may lead to a more comprehensive understanding of human kidney pathophysiology. In this review, we briefly describe how genome-wide analyses of mouse models have helped elucidate features of human kidney diseases, discuss strategies to achieve effective network integration, and summarize currently available web-based tools that may facilitate integration of data across species. The rapid progress in systems biology and orthology, as well as the advent of web-based tools to facilitate these processes, now make it possible to take advantage of knowledge from distant animal species in targeted identification of regulatory networks that may have clinical relevance for human kidney diseases.
Annual transpiration in subalpine forests: Large differences among four tree species

Abstract A canopy transpiration mode, RM-CWU, was used to estimate transpiration of subalpine forest trees. Calculations indicate a threefold difference in annual transpiration among species in the central Rocky Mountains. Ratios of annual transpiration for stands of equal basal area are 3.2:2.1:1.8:1 for Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir, lodgepole pine, and aspen, respectively. Species differences may be attributed to differences in leaf conductance, leaf-air temperature difference, leaf area index, and length of the transpiration season. The large range of annual transpiration suggests that manipulation of stand composition and density is a viable approach to influence water yield from subalpine watersheds.
Functional Alterations in Alzheimer's Disease: Diminution of Cytochrome Oxidase in the Hippocampal Formation

In Alzheimer's disease, the relationship between structural alterations such as neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques and neuronal function is unknown. Cytochrome oxidase, the terminal enzyme of the electron transport, is a marker of neuronal functional activity. Its activity is diminished in experimentally deafferented neurons. Based on evidence that the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus is deafferented in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer's disease, we hypothesized that cytochrome oxidase activity would be diminished in this region secondary to reduced glutamatergic input. Using cytochrome oxidase histochemistry, we found a change in the distribution of cytochrome oxidase in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus and a decrease in activity in both the dentate gyrus and hippocampal subfields in Alzheimer's disease. In contrast, we found relatively little structural pathology in the dentate gyrus, CA4, and CA3 in these individuals. These results suggest that neurons that remain structurally intact in Alzheimer's disease may nonetheless undergo changes in metabolic function as neural systems fail.
Are Pubertal Changes in Girls Before Age 8 Benign

Objective. The Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society recently issued new recommendations for the age at which puberty should be considered precocious, lowering the prevailing standards from 8 years to 7 years for white girls and to 6 years for black girls. The new recommendations were based on a single epidemiologic study that focused on the conditions of premature thelarche and premature adrenarche (both characterized by a single sign of puberty). Although the data were available, the authors did not comment on the low incidence of true precocious puberty (characterized by breast and pubic hair development) in their population. The hypothesis for the present study is that the new recommendations lead to underdiagnosis of endocrine pathology Methods. Using 29 International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes for diagnoses known to be associated with precocious puberty, we identified 1570 patient visits to our outpatient pediatric endocrinology clinic of white girls aged 7 to 8 and black girls aged 6 to 8 during a 5-year period Results. Of the 1570 patient visits, 223 unique patients were identified as having been referred for the sole finding of precocious pubertal development. These 223 patients carried no other endocrine diagnoses. Eleven patients (4.9%) were found to have no true breast buds and no terminally differentiated pubic hair. A total of 105 (47.1%) of 223 patients were found to have 2 signs of puberty, consistent with true precocious puberty according to the conventional guidelines of precocity of 8 years in girls. Overall, 12.3% of patients also had diagnoses of other endocrine conditions that included congenital adrenal hyperplasia, McCune-Albright syndrome, growth hormone deficiency, hypothyroidism, hyperinsulinism, pituitary adenoma, and neurofibromatosis. A total of 35.2% of girls with true precocious puberty exhibited bone ages >3 standard deviations above the mean, indicating markedly diminished growth potential Conclusions. We conclude that signs of puberty in 6- to 8-year-old girls should not be considered normal or benign. Implementation of the new guidelines for the evaluation of puberty will result in failure to identify conditions that respond to early intervention.
Reinterpreting edge energies calculated from crystal growth experiments

Abstract The surface energies of terraces, edges and kink sites are crucial parameters in the predictive application of crystal growth and nucleation theories. Due to the dimensions, O ( 1 ) nm, of edges and kink sites, the traditional contact angle measurements which have been used extensively to the determine surface energies of bulk phases are infeasible; instead these energies have been determined through correlations with the critical lengths/radii of edges formed by spirals or two-dimensional (2D) nuclei or their growth rates. The correlation between critical length and edge energy has been made on the basis of the Gibbs–Thomson law; the applicability of which for the spiral growth of crystals with low kink densities has recently been questioned by Chernov et al. [Fluctuations and Gibbs–Thomson law—the simple physics, J. Optoelectron. Adv. Mater. 9 (5) (2007) 1191–1197]. Furthermore, edge energies calculated on this basis have been found to result in unreasonable free energies of formation for critical 2D nuclei ( ≳ 500 k b T when classical nucleation theory was applied) at supersaturations where they have been directly observed. In light of these observations, a reinterpretation of the edge energies listed by Land and De Yoreo [The evolution of growth modes and activity of growth sources on canavalin investigated by in situ atomic force microscopy, J. Cryst. Growth 208 (1–4) (2000) 623–637] was conducted. The edge energies determined from this reinterpretation result in reasonable ( ∼ 60 k b T ) energies of formation for critical 2D nuclei at supersaturations where growth by 2D nucleation was observed.
Perceptions in Curriculum Review

ABSTRACT There has been considerable interest in the use of school‐based curriculum review as a means to encourage development and improvement in schools. This paper explores some of the issues involved in such reviews and presents a case study of a review undertaken in a 13–18 upper school. The process is explored partly through the considerable body of documentation which was produced during the review and also through the perceptions of those taking part. For those considering undertaking such a review there are a series of questions which might act as a check‐list as the review proceeds.
Key Determinants of Mothers’ Decisions to Allow Visits with Non-Custodial Fathers

Increases in single-parent households, often involving never married couples, have heightened the urgency to understand decisions parents make about parent-child relationships after separation. This qualitative study provides a descriptive analysis of the concerns of mothers in non-marital relationships that may affect their decisions regarding visitation and clarifies the relationship between visitation and paying child support. Weighing the benefits versus the costs, most mothers were willing to allow visitation even if the father did not pay child support, recognizing the importance of father-child relationships. It is imperative to make parenting plans and visitation as important as payment of child support. Funding for fathering programs and creation of father-friendly environments are essential to increase involvement of non-custodial fathers.
Supervised classification in the presence of misclassified training data: a Monte Carlo simulation study in the three group case.

Statistical classification of phenomena into observed groups is very common in the social and behavioral sciences. Statistical classification methods, however, are affected by the characteristics of the data under study. Statistical classification can be further complicated by initial misclassification of the observed groups. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of initial training data misclassification on several statistical classification and data mining techniques. Misclassification conditions in the three-group case will be simulated and results will be presented in terms of overall as well as subgroup classification accuracy. Results show decreased classification accuracy as sample size, group separation and group size ratio decrease and as misclassification percentage increases with random forests demonstrating the highest accuracy across conditions.
Trace element and major ion concentrations and dynamics in glacier snow and melt: Eliot Glacier, Oregon Cascades

We present concentrations of environmentally available (unfiltered acidified 2% v/v HNO3) As, Cu, Cd, Pb, V, Sr, and major ions including Ca2+, Cl−, and SO42− in a July 2005 and a March 2006 shallow snow profile from the lower Eliot Glacier, Mount Hood, Oregon, and its proglacial stream, Eliot Creek. Low enrichment factors (EF) with respect to crustal averages suggests that in fresh March 2006 snow environmentally available elements are derived primarily from lithogenic sources. Soluble salts occurred in lower and less variable concentrations in July 2005 snow than March 2006. Conversely, environmentally available trace elements occurred in greater and more variable concentrations in July 2005 than March 2006 snow. Unlike major solutes, particulate-associated trace elements are not readily eluted during the melt season. Additionally, elevated surface concentrations suggest that they are likely added throughout the year via dry deposition. In a 1-h stream sampling, ratios of dissolved (<0·45 µm) V:Cl−, Sr:Cl−, and Cu:Cl− are enriched in the Eliot Stream with respect to their environmentally available trace element to Cl− ratios in Eliot Glacier snow, suggesting chemical weathering additions in the stream waters. Dissolved Pb:Cl− is depleted in the Eliot Stream with respect to the ratio of environmentally available Pb to Cl− in snow, corresponding to greater adsorption onto particles at greater pH values. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.