cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measuring quality of life among cervical cancer survivors: preliminary assessment of instrumentation validity in a cross-cultural study

With growing interest in cross-cultural and multicultural cancer-related quality of life studies, the need to assess reliability and validity of quality of life measures for linguistically and culturally diverse cancer survivors is pressing. Reliability and validity of the English and Spanish versions of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT)-G subscales were tested with a sample of English-speaking European American (n = 273) and ethnic minority American (n = 194), and Spanish-speaking Latina (n = 199) cervical cancer survivors in the U.S. Reliability coefficients (Cronbach’s alpha) were 0.76 or higher across ethnic/linguistic groups except for the emotional wellbeing subscale among Spanish-speaking Latinas (α = 0.64). Factor analyses demonstrated overall measurement equivalence across groups with some ethnic/linguistic variations: there were greater differences between linguistic groups than between ethnic groups. Additionally, the scale’s factor structure was less satisfactory for Spanish-speaking Latinas. The subscales had good concurrent validity with appropriate subscales of the Short Form (SF)-12 and Rand/SF-36 General Health subscale (Pearson’s r 0.53–0.66), suggesting each subscale was assessing its intended construct. The overall psychometric properties of the FACT-G were cross-culturally equivalent. However, more validation studies are needed for non-English speaking populations particularly with emotional wellbeing. In addition, disaggregated analyses on linguistic groups are recommended unless cross-cultural equivalence is established.
Cumulative Sperm Whale Bone Damage and the Bends

Diving mosasaurs, plesiosaurs, and humans develop dysbaric osteonecrosis from end-artery nitrogen embolism ("the bends") in certain bones. Sixteen sperm whales from calves to large adults showed a size-related development of osteonecrosis in chevron and rib bone articulations, deltoid crests, and nasal bones. Occurrence in animals from the Pacific and Atlantic oceans over 111 years made a pathophysiological diagnosis of dysbarism most likely. Decompression avoidance therefore may constrain diving behavior. This suggests why some deep-diving mammals show periodic shallow-depth activity and why gas emboli are found in animals driven to surface precipitously by acoustic stressors such as mid-frequency sonar systems.
1046 INNATE, INTERFERON (IFN) MEDIATED, CELLULAR RESISTANCE TO MOUSE CYTOMEGALOVIRUS (MCMV) DEMONSTRATED IN EMBRYO FIBROBLAST CULTURES (MECC)

Our goal was to help define host resistance to MCMV. MCMV killing of CBA, C3H, BALB/c and C57B16 weanlings was compared to MCMV multiplication in secondary MECC prepared from these mouse strains. We know that others have not found differences in MECC response to MCMV, and differences we saw were small. A 10% w/v salivary gland homogenate harvested from CD-1 weanling mice 3 wks after IP inoculation was utilized as MCMV. In a representative experiment 106 PFU MCMV IP killed none of the CBA and C3H mice, but 100% of BALB/c and 40% of C57′s. The number (av. of 10 plates) and size (av. of 50) of plaques produced on the various MECC were: CBA 77 plaques, av. size 0.3 mm; C3H 142, 0.3; C57B16 116, 0.5; BALB/c 150, 0.6. Several experiments comparing only CBA and BALB/c mice and MECC (the most and least resistant in vivo and in vitro) confirmed these results. MCMV growth was more (5 fold) in BALB/c than in CBA MECC and cytopathology was somewhat greater. The sensitivity of CBA and BALB/c MECC to IFN and an IFN inducer was then determined IFN (Cal Biochem) reduced MCMV growth slightly (3-10 fold) more in CBA than in BALB/c MECC. When Poly(I)·Poly(C) (P.L. Biochemicals) 10ug/dish was used to induce IFN, MCMV growth was reduced much more in CBA than in BALB/c MECC: 6 d post-inoc of 100 PFU, BALB/c had 55 × 103 PFU/ml and CBA 76 × 101. These results indicate that resistance to MCMV is conferred in part by an innate, probably genetically determined, non-immune cellular resistance which can be demonstrated by the capacity of fibroblast cultures to respond to IFN and an IFN inducer. (Supported by USPHS grant no. NS14763)
Molecular size affects urine excretion of pentosan polysulfate.

Purpose: In human subjects only a small percent of oral PPS is found in urine. Commercially available PPS is a heterogeneous mixture with varying molecular weights. Our hypothesis was that only the low molecular weight fraction reaches the urine.Materials and Methods: Urine was obtained from patients with IC who were chronically receiving PPS. The amount and molecular size of PPS in the urine were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and molecular sieve chromatography. PPS was purified from Elmiron® capsules and fractionated into LMW and HMW fractions. Urine recovery of PPS was measured in rabbits after oral or intravenous administration of unfractionated, LMW or HMW PPS.Results: The median urine PPS level in 34 patients with IC was 1.2 μg/ml (range 0.5 to 27.7). All PPS recovered from IC urine was LMW. After intravenous administration in rabbits the median recovery in urine was 47.2% (range 19.7% to 73.2%) for unfractionated PPS, 74.6% (range 31.4% to 96.3%) for LMW and 3.3% (range 2.5% to 5.0...
Dielectric Relaxation in BaTiO3–Bi(Zn1/2Ti1/2)O3 Ceramics

A dramatic improvement in the dielectric and electrical properties has been observed in ceramics of 0.8BaTiO3–0.2Bi(Zn1/2Ti1/2)O3 through the introduction of Ba vacancies. It possesses a high relative permittivity (er > 1150) along with a low dielectric loss (tan δ 255°C), a complex plane analysis of Z″ versus Z′ and the frequency dependence of Z″ suggests an electrically inhomogeneous microstructure for the stoichiometric composition. The stoichiometric composition exhibited activation energies of ~1 eV which suggests an extrinsic conduction mechanism. However, the introduction of Ba vacancies resulted in electrically homogeneous microstructure. An overlap of the Z″ and M″ peaks in the frequency domain and much larger activation energies were observed, on the order of half of the band gap, suggesting an intrinsic conduction mechanism. A more detailed analysis of the data reveals insights into the physical mechanisms underpinning the dielectric and ac conductivity.
A behavioural and sensory analysis of host-seeking behaviour in the diapausing mosquito Culex pipiens

Abstract Diapausing Culex pipiens females maintained in diapause-inducing conditions fail to exhibit host-seeking behaviour for at least 30 days after adult emergence. This behavioural hiatus is characterized by the absence of high-sensitivity antennal receptor responses to the host attractant lactic acid. Non-diapausing females readily exhibit host seeking and invariably have antennal receptors with high lactic acid sensitivity. This difference in receptor sensitivity may be restricted to the lactic acid-sensitive receptors as other antennal receptors (specifically, those sensitive to putative oviposition-site attractants) are unaffected by the diapause state.
Classification of visual signs in abdominal CT image figures in biomedical literature

“Imaging signs” are a critical part of radiology’s language. They not only are important for conveying diagnosis, but may also aid in indexing radiology literature and retrieving relevant cases and images. Here we report our work towards representing and categorizing imaging signs of abdominal abnormalities in figures in the radiology literature. Given a region-of-interest (ROI) from a figure, our goal was to assign a correct imaging sign label to that ROI from the following seven: accordion, comb, ring, sandwich, small bowel feces, target, or whirl. As training and test data, we created our own “gold standard” dataset of regions containing imaging signs. We computed 2997 feature attributes to represent imaging sign characteristics for each ROI in training and test sets. Following feature selection they were reduced to 70 attributes and were input to a Support Vector Machine classifier. We applied image-enhancement methods to compensate for variable quality of the images in radiology articles. In particular we developed a method for automatic detection and removal of pointers/markers (arrows, arrowheads, and asterisk symbols) on the images. These pointers/markers are valuable for approximately locating ROIs; however, they degrade the classification because they are often (partially) included in the training ROIs. On a test set of 283 ROIs, our method achieved an overall accuracy of 70% in labeling the seven signs, which we believe is a promising result for using imaging signs to search/retrieve radiology literature. This work is also potentially valuable for the creation of a visual ontology of biomedical imaging entities.
State-level and value-level simulations in data refinement

Simulations are a popular way to show data refinement. Simulations that have been proposed are either state-level, relating concrete to abstract states in a given state space, or value-level, relating individual concrete to abstract values and hence holding for all state spaces. Value-level simulations are less complex and easier to use, but the extent of their completeness has not been well studied. We show that in fact known value-level simulations are in general incomplete but are complete when operations are limited to a single argument.
Escherichia coli deletion mutants illuminate trade-offs between growth rate and flux through a foreign anabolic pathway.

Metabolic engineers strive to improve the production yields of microbial fermentations, sometimes by mutating the genomes of production strains. Some mutations are detrimental to the health of the organism, so a quantitative and mechanistic understanding of the trade-offs could inform better designs. We employed the bacterial luciferase operon (luxABCDE), which uses ubiquitous energetic cofactors (NADPH, ATP, FMNH2, acetyl-CoA) from the host cell, as a proxy for a novel anabolic pathway. The strains in the Escherichia coli Keio collection, each of which contains a single deletion of a non-essential gene, represent mutational choices that an engineer might make to optimize fermentation yields. The Keio strains and the parental BW25113 strain were transformed with a luxABCDE expression vector. Each transformant was propagated in defined M9 medium at 37°C for 48 hours; the cell density (optical density at 600 nanometers, OD600) and luminescence were measured every 30 minutes. The trade-offs were visualized by plotting the maximum growth rate and luminescence/OD600 of each transformant across a “production possibility frontier”. Our results show that some loss-of-function mutations enhance growth in vitro or light production, but that improvement in one trait generally comes at the expense of the other.
Three-Dimensional Corotational Framework for Elasto-Plastic Analysis of Multilayered Composite Shells

Acontinuum basedlayerwiseshear-deformablee niteelementformulationispresentedforelasto ‐plasticanalysis oflayered compositesshells. Theproposed formulationiscast in a corotationalcone guration for e nitedeformation analysis. The elasto ‐plastic constitutive equations that are based on rate-independent deviatoric plasticity are also written in the corotational kinematic framework. Issues of covariance and spatial invariance are addressed, and an appropriate stress updating strategy is proposed. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the range of applicability of the proposed framework for bending-dominated response of elasto ‐plastic layered composite shells. Nomenclature b = body force vector C e = fourth-order elastic modulus tensor c (i) n + 1 = tangent modului consistent with the radial return algorithm d p = plastic strain rate tensor e = deviatoric strain tensor ¯ e p = equivalent plastic strain ¯ Fn + 1 = incremental deformation gradient Ft(X) = deformation gradient f (ae, q) = von Mises pressure-insensitive yield condition a (¯ e p ) = hardening rule for back stress I = identity matrix
Alcohol and caffeine use by social phobics: an initial inquiry into drinking patterns and behavior

Social phobics are often fearful that their anxiety symptoms will cause them embarrassment and lead to negative evaluation from others. Thus, it was hypothesized that they might attempt to control the intake of substances such as alcohol and caffeine that may affect their anxiety in social situations. The current investigation sought to determine, via a self-report questionnaire, whether the alcohol and caffeine consumption patterns of social phobics differ from those of community controls in terms of typical and greatest weekly quantities and how social phobics differ from controls in alcohol and caffeine use in a variety of socially threatening and nonthreatening situations. Social phobics reported less typical weekly beverage consumption than community subjects. Specifically, social phobics reported less consumption of wine and liqueur than community subjects but did not differ from community subjects in typical weekly consumption of caffeinated beverages. Further, social phobics reported a significantly greater intent to drink alcohol while in social situations involving strangers and significantly less intent to drink caffeinated coffee in meetings than did community subjects. Finally, a number of gender differences were found for both alcohol and caffeine consumption in specific situations, and the implications of these findings are discussed.
A phase I trial of docetaxel/estramustine/imatinib in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

Abstract Background Docetaxel/estramustine was a commonly used regimen to treat metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Imatinib inhibits the platelet-derived growth factor receptor that is expressed in prostate cancer and is synergistic with taxanes in preclinical prostate cancer models. Patients and Methods A phase I trial of docetaxel/estramustine/imatinib was undertaken to determine the safety and maximum tolerated dose of this combination. Patients with progressive, metastatic, hormone-refractory prostate cancer were treated every 21 days with fixed doses of estramustine (280 mg orally 3 times a day on days 1-5), imatinib (400 mg orally daily on days 1-21), dexamethasone (8 mg orally twice daily on days 1-3), and prophylactic warfarin (2 mg orally daily on days 1-21). Cohorts of 3-6 patients were enrolled to receive escalating doses of docetaxel on day 2 from 50 mg/m 2 to 60 mg/m 2 to 70 mg/m 2 . Thirteen patients were treated. Results On dose level 3 (docetaxel 70 mg/m 2 and imatinib 400 mg daily), 2 patients experienced grade 3 elevations in prothrombin time, attributed to the interaction between imatinib and warfarin. The protocol was amended to include an intermediate dose level (docetaxel 60 mg/m 2 and imatinib 300 mg daily). However, in the overall study, there were 5 unacceptable toxicities (2 cerebrovascular accidents, 1 myocardial infarction, 1 mesenteric ischemia, and 1 deep venous thrombosis) in 13 patients; 2 of those toxicities resulted in death. The study was closed early to further accrual. Conclusion The high incidence of thromboembolic events observed when imatinib was combined with docetaxel/estramustine precludes further exploration of this regimen.
Coupling between ATP Binding and DNA Cleavage by DNA Topoisomerase II A UNIFYING KINETIC AND STRUCTURAL MECHANISM

DNA topoisomerase II is a molecular machine that couples ATP hydrolysis to the transport of one DNA segment through a transient break in another segment. To learn about the energetic connectivity that underlies this coupling, we investigated how the ATPase domains exert control over DNA cleavage. We dissected the DNA cleavage reaction by measuring rate and equilibrium constants for the individual reaction steps utilizing defined DNA duplexes in the presence and absence of the nonhydrolyzable ATP analog 5′-adenylyl-β,γ-imidodiphosphate (AMPPNP). Our results revealed the existence of two enzyme conformations whose relative abundance is sensitive to the presence of nucleotides. The predominant species in the absence of nucleotides binds DNA at a diffusion limited rate but cannot efficiently cleave DNA. In the presence of AMPPNP, most of the enzyme is converted to a state in which DNA binding and release is extremely slow but which allows DNA cleavage. A minimal kinetic and thermodynamic framework is established that accounts for the cooperativity of cleavage of the two DNA strands in the presence and absence of bound AMPPNP and includes conformational steps revealed in the kinetic studies. The model unifies available kinetic, thermodynamic, and structural data to provide a description for the reaction in terms of the order and rate of individual reaction steps and the physical nature of the species on the reaction path. Furthermore, this reaction framework provides a foundation for a future in-depth analysis of energy transduction by topoisomerase II, for guiding and interpreting future structural studies, and for analyzing the mechanism of drugs that convert topoisomerase into a cellular poison.
The QOS Tools

This chapter contains sections titled: Classifiers and Classes of Service Metering and Coloring – CIR/PIR Model The Policer Tool The Shaper Function Comparing Policing and Shaping Queue The Scheduler The Rewrite Tool Example of Combining Tools Delay and Jitter Insertion Packet Loss Conclusion Reference
Identity affirmation through `signature style': A study of toy car designers

I describe findings from a qualitative study of toy car designers that shows how creative workers may develop and express `signature styles' through their work. The display of these signature styles — that were not advertised, stamped on products, or even recognized in official corporate marketing communications — allowed designers to affirm their creative, professional identities while designing commodity products within the practical constraints of a corporate context. Findings further revealed that creative workers used signature styles, primarily, to affirm the identity categorizations of `idealistic' and `independent'. I discuss how these findings extend our understanding of `identity work' among creative workers, and may improve our ability to effectively manage these workers in corporate settings.
Managing user trust for self-adaptive ubiquitous computing systems

Ubiquitous computing systems can cause serious problems for user trust. In particular if the system is self-adaptive and situations appear which are poorly self-explanatory. In this paper we aim at the trust management of adaptive systems. We present a user study that covers the correlation of trust dimensions and user feelings on user trust. As results of this study, a Bayesian Network is introduced that, at the design time and runtime of the system, provides knowledge about the interplay between a truster's disposition, system events and actions, trust dimensions, user trust and user response.
Orbital wall fracture repair using Seprafilm.

Purpose: Seprafilm is a hybrid product of carboxymethylcellulose and sodium hyaluronate that can act as an absorbable barrier to decrease the formation and severity of postoperative adhesions in abdominal, thoracic, and pelvic surgeries. The authors report their experience with use of Seprafilm in “trap door” orbital wall fracture repair. Methods: Retrospective case series of 4 consecutive patients with trap door orbital wall fractures secondary to blunt trauma with entrapped orbital soft tissue who underwent surgical repair with placement of Seprafilm implant in 2008. Orbitotomy was performed via standard transconjunctival and/or transcaruncular approaches with release of entrapped tissues, and placement of Seprafilm implant over the fracture site without fixation. Patients were followed for at least 6 months. Ophthalmic and orbital examinations, including ocular motility and Hertel exophthalmometry measurements, were recorded. Results: All 6 orbital wall fractures (4 floor, 2 medial wall) were successfully corrected with resolution of restrictive motility in the follow-up period (average 10 months; range 6 months to 1.5 years). Mean patient age was 13.5 years (range, 9–20 years). Two of the 4 patients had 2 separate fractures. There were no complications and no need for reoperation. Conclusions: Seprafilm may have a role in reconstruction of the “trap door” type of orbital wall fractures. The ease of use, lack of fixation, and absorbable properties without inflammation are encouraging for further study.
OPA1 disease alleles causing dominant optic atrophy have defects in cardiolipin-stimulated GTP hydrolysis and membrane tubulation

The dynamin-related GTPase OPA1 is mutated in autosomal dominant optic atrophy (DOA) (Kjer type), an inherited neuropathy of the retinal ganglion cells. OPA1 is essential for the fusion of the inner mitochondrial membranes, but its mechanism of action remains poorly understood. Here we show that OPA1 has a low basal rate of GTP hydrolysis that is dramatically enhanced by association with liposomes containing negative phospholipids such as cardiolipin. Lipid association triggers assembly of OPA1 into higher order oligomers. In addition, we find that OPA1 can promote the protrusion of lipid tubules from the surface of cardiolipin-containing liposomes. In such lipid protrusions, OPA1 assemblies are observed on the outside of the lipid tubule surface, a protein-membrane topology similar to that of classical dynamins. The membrane tubulation activity of OPA1 is suppressed by GTPgS. OPA1 disease alleles associated with DOA display selective defects in several activities, including cardiolipin association, GTP hydrolysis and membrane tubulation. These findings indicate that interaction of OPA1 with membranes can stimulate higher order assembly, enhance GTP hydrolysis and lead to membrane deformation into tubules.
Temperature selective deposition of Parylene-C

A method for selectively depositing conformal, biocompatible coatings of Parylene-C on implantable integrated circuit structures is described. The technique consists of using thin film or diffused resistors to electrically heat the area where an opening in the Parylene is desired. Theoretically predicted and actual Parylene-C thicknesses are compared. >
Integrating published data and citizen science to describe bird diversity across a landscape

Summary 1. Knowledge of species diversity across a landscape is essential for answering ecological questions and developing conservation and management goals and protocols. However, data on species occurrence are often limited, with the consequence that species lists are incomplete. 2. As a means to develop a complete species occurrence list for an urbanizing landscape in south-eastern Michigan, USA, all bird species accounts from four public and private organizations were integrated, and all officially documented rare birds added. A citizen science approach was then used to develop an independent species list from c. 1700 landowner surveys. 3. The specific goals of the research were to: (i) develop a complete list of species occurrence across a landscape; (ii) ascertain what percentage of the total species pool landowners could collectively identify; (iii) identify species that had not been noted in the census data sets but could be corroborated; (iv) compare the percentage overlap among different bird censuses; and (v) assess the potential value of casual (i.e. citizen science) records to bird distribution studies. 4. The resulting list comprised 318 individual bird species, which was 8·5% greater than any of the individual lists. Landowners identified 171 bird species ( c. 54%) and had > 50% overlap with all existing databases. In addition, landowners identified 10 species noted only in a single database of rare or vagrant species. The percentage overlap of species across the five different lists ranged from 35% to 66%, with the differences stemming largely from different protocols. Subsetting the data for one county within the landscape reduced the unique species to 294, which was approximately equivalent to the existing county species list. 5. Synthesis and applications . The findings highlight the value of surveying private landowners as a means of detecting species presence/absence in numerous inaccessible locations, and the important role landowners can play in providing species occurrence information. Similarly, the results indicate the need to use multiple data sources for establishing a list of potential species occurrence for the conservation and management of biological resources.
Electrohydrodynamic stability: effects of charge relaxation at the interface of a liquid jet

The interactions between electrical tractions at the interface of a liquid jet and instability phenomena are studied with emphasis on effects due to interfacial charge relaxation. Charge relaxation causes the oscillatory growth of a perturbation. When viscous effects are small, small fields tend to decrease the growth rate of the axisymmetric mode, up to a point, and precipitate instability of the non-axisymmetric modes. Still larger field strengths increase the growth rates of asymmetric as well as axisymmetric modes. Instabilities characterized by highfrequency oscillations appear to persist even though the charge relaxation phenomena may be quite rapid. When, on the other hand, viscous effects predominate the only unstable disturbance form is the axisymmetric one, although the manner of growth may be oscillatory.
Multichannel Detection for Wideband Underwater Acoustic CDMA Communications

Direct-sequence (DS) code-division multiple access (CDMA) is considered for future wideband mobile underwater acoustic networks, where a typical configuration may include several autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) operating within a few kilometers of a central receiver. Two receivers that utilize multichannel (array) processing of asynchronous multiuser signals are proposed: the symbol decision feedback (SDF) receiver and the chip hypothesis feedback (CHF) receiver. Both receivers use a chip-resolution adaptive front end consisting of a many-to-few combiner and a bank of fractionally-spaced feedforward equalizers. In the SDF receiver, feedback equalization is implemented at symbol resolution, and receiver filters, including a decision-directed phase-locked loop, are adapted at the symbol rate. This limits its applicability to the channels whose time variation is slow compared to the symbol rate. In a wideband acoustic system, which transmits at maximal chip rate, the symbol rate is down-scaled by the spreading factor, and an inverse effect may occur by which increasing the spreading factor results in performance degradation. To eliminate this effect, feedback equalization, which is necessary for the majority of acoustic channels, is performed in the CHF receiver at chip resolution and receiver parameters are adjusted at the chip rate. At the price of increased computational complexity (there are as many adaptive filters as there are symbol values), this receiver provides improved performance for systems where time variation cannot be neglected with respect to the symbol rate [e.g., low probability of detection (LPD) acoustic systems]. Performance of the two receivers was demonstrated in a four-user scenario, using experimental data obtained over a 2-km shallow-water channel. At the chip rate of 19.2 kilochips per second (kc/s) with quaternary phase-shift keying (QPSK) modulation, excellent results were achieved at an aggregate data rate of up to 10 kb/s
An integrated system for design of mechanisms by an expert system: DOMES

Le systeme expert developpe: 1) peut apprendre et raisonner, par analogie, sur un nouveau probleme sur la base de son experience passee; peut etendre sa base de connaissances de criteres de rejet; 2) peut selectionner l'ensemble de criteres de rejet adaptes au probleme traite
Unusual Development of Motor Skills in a Child with Trisomy‐18

SUMMARY A child with trisomy—18 is reported who had by the age of four years developed motor skills considerably more advanced than any abilities previously noted in other children with this disorder. It is not possible to demonstrate how far this improvement was due to natural development, to physiotherapy, to the parents' handling or to other causes. However, if the degree of parental understanding, stimulation and participation in treatment has a significant effect on a child's progress, then further attempts to assess the value of physiotherapy for children should take this factor into consideration. RESUME Developpement inhabhuel de l'habilete motrice chez un enfant porteur de trisomie 18 Les auteurs rapportent le cas d'un enfant porteur d'une trisomie 18 qui, a l'âge de quatre ans, presentait une habilete motrice bien plus elevee que celle anterieurement notee chez d'autres enfants presentant le meme trouble. Il n'est pas possible de demontrer dans quelle mesure cette evolution favorable est le fait de la nature, de la reeducation, de l'attitude parentale ou d'autres facteurs. Il est suggere que si le degre de comprehension parentale, de stimulation et de participation au traitement a un effet significatif sur les progres de l'enfant, les efforts faits pour apprecier l'emcacite de la reeducation doivent tenir compte de ces facteurs. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Die auβergewohnliche Entwicklung motorischer Fahigkeiten bei einem Kind mit Trisomie 18 Es wird uber ein Kind mit einer Trisomie 18 berichtet, das im Alter von vier Jahren eine motorische Fahigkeit entwickelt hatte, die betrachtlich fortgeschrittener war als die Moglichkeiten, die vorher jemals bei anderen Kindern mit dieser Misbildung berichtet wurden. Es ist nicht moglich zu zeigen, wie weit diese Verbesserung bedingt war durch die Natur. die Physiotherapie, die Behandlung durch die Eltern oder andere Faktoren. Es wird vermutet, das, wenn das Ausmas elterlichen Verstandnisses, Anregung und Teilnahme an der Behandlung einen signifikanten Effekt auf die Fortschritte eines Kindes besitzen, dann weitere Versuche, den Wert der Physiotherapie fur Kinder zu beurteilen, diesen Faktor mit berucksichtigen sollten. RESUMEN Desarrollo no habitual de destrezas matrices en un nino con trisomia 18 Se aporta el caso de un nino con trisomia 18 que a la edad de cuatro anos hapia desarrollado destrezas motrices considerablemente mas avanzadas que cualquier habilidad notada previamente en otros ninos con esta enfermedad. No es posible demostrar hasta que punto esta mejoria era debida a la naturaleza, a la fisioterapia, a la accion de los padres o a otros factores. Se sugiere que en el grado de entendimiento paterno, las estimulaciones y la participation en el tratamiento tienen un efecto sianificativo sobre el progreso del nino. Por lo tanto, en las futuras tentativas de valorar el papel de la fisioterapia en los ninos, se debe tener en cuenta este factor.
Atmospheric Rivers, Floods and the Water Resources of California

California's highly variable climate and growing water demands combine to pose both water-supply and flood-hazard challenges to resource managers. Recently important efforts to more fully integrate the management of floods and water resources have begun, with the aim of benefitting both sectors. California is shown here to experience unusually large variations in annual precipitation and streamflow totals relative to the rest of the US, variations which mostly reflect the unusually small average number of wet days per year needed to accumulate most of its annual precipitation totals (ranging from 5 to 15 days in California). Thus whether just a few large storms arrive or fail to arrive in California can be the difference between a banner year and a drought. Furthermore California receives some of the largest 3-day storm totals in the country, rivaling in this regard the hurricane belt of the southeastern US. California's largest storms are generally fueled by landfalling atmospheric rivers (ARs). The fractions of precipitation and streamflow totals at stations across the US that are associated with ARs are documented here and, in California, contribute 20-50% of the state's precipitation and streamflow. Prospects for long-lead forecasts of these fractions are presented. From a meteorological perspective, California's water resources and floods are shown to derive from the same storms to an extent that makes integrated flood and water resources management all the more important.
Identification of Testosterone-Regulated Genes in Testes of Hypogonadal Mice Using Oligonucleotide Microarray

FSH and testosterone (T) are required for normal spermatogenesis in mammalian males. These hormones regulate the function of Sertoli cells, which in turn support the differentiation of germ cells in the seminiferous tubules. The molecular targets for these hormones in the testis remain elusive. In this study, we have used hypogonadal (hpg) mice as an in vivo model to examine the actions of T on gene expression in murine testis. This expression pattern was analyzed using Affymetrix Murine GeneChip U74v.2 A, B, C (36,899 transcripts) along with Microarray Suite version 5.0, GeneSpring software, and real-time PCR. hpg mice aged 35–45 d were injected sc with 25 mg testosterone proprionate (TP) in 100 ml of sesame oil, and the animals were killed 4, 8, 12, or 24 h after TP treatments. Untreated hpg mice were used as controls. Gene expression from testes of hpg mice treated with TP was compared with that of testes of untreated hpg mice. At all experimental time points earlier than 24 h, there were more mRNAs wi...
Commentary: Psychotherapy in a Forensic Hospital

Very little is written in American forensic journals about psychodynamic psychotherapy for patients committed to forensic hospitals. Relatively little is known of the process of helping these patients cope with their mental illnesses, to gain insight into their crimes and their unconscious dynamics, or simply to cope with the dreary landscape of the forensic maximum‐security institution. In this commentary, the author hopes to shed light on some of those processes.
Exploring the similarities between potential smoothing and simulated annealing

Simulated annealing and potential function smoothing are two widely used approaches for global energy optimization of molecular systems. Potential smoothing as implemented in the diffusion equation method has been applied to study partitioning of the potential energy surface (PES) for N-Acetyl-Ala-Ala-N-Methylamide (CDAP) and the clustering of conformations on deformed surfaces. A deformable version of the united-atom OPLS force field is described, and used to locate all local minima and conformational transition states on the CDAP surface. It is shown that the smoothing process clusters conformations in a manner consistent with the inherent structure of the undeformed PES. Smoothing deforms the original surface in three ways: structural shifting of individual minima, merging of adjacent minima, and energy crossings between unrelated minima. A master equation approach and explicit molecular dynamics trajectories are used to uncover similar features in the equilibrium probability distribution of CDAP minima as a function of temperature. Qualitative and quantitative correlations between the simulated annealing and potential smoothing approaches to enhanced conformational sampling are established. c 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 21: 531-552, 2000
Ribosomal protein L24 defect in Belly spot and tail (Bst), a mouse Minute

Ribosomal protein mutations, termed Minutes , have been instrumental in studying the coordination of cell and tissue growth in Drosophila . Although abundant in flies, equivalent defects in mammals are relatively unknown. Belly spot and tail ( Bst ) is a semidominant mouse mutation that disrupts pigmentation, somitogenesis and retinal cell fate determination. Here, we identify Bst as a deletion within the Rpl24 riboprotein gene. Bst significantly impairs Rpl24 splicing and ribosome biogenesis. Bst /+ cells have decreased rates of protein synthesis and proliferation, and are outcompeted by wild-type cells in C57BLKS↔ROSA26 chimeras. Bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) and cDNA transgenes correct the mutant phenotypes. Our findings establish Bst as a mouse Minute and provide the first detailed characterization of a mammalian ribosomal protein mutation.
Bilateral macular atrophy in blue cone monochromacy (BCM) with loss of the locus control region (LCR) and part of the red pigment gene

PURPOSE To describe unusual macular abnormalities in a family with blue cone monochromacy (BCM, or X-linked incomplete achromatopsia) and deletion of about 9.5 kb comprising part of the red pigment gene and the region upstream of the red pigment gene. METHODS The molecular structure of the red and green pigment genes and the locus control region (LCR) upstream of the red gene were studied for deletions, rearrangements and point mutations by Southern blot analysis and PCR. Four affected males (ages 33, 45, 51, and 59) and a carrier female (age 58) were examined by funduscopy and fluorescein angiography. Extensive color vision testing as well as rod and cone electroretinography (ERG) were performed on two of them. RESULTS Analysis showed that the 6 kb proximal red gene region, exon 1 and about 3.1 kb of intron 1 of the red gene are deleted in this family. Exons 2-6 of the red gene, all the exons of the green gene and the Tex 28 gene were present. Four affected males had bilateral macular changes, including three with overt atrophy. All had visual acuity of 20/200 and their color vision was typical for BCM, with the absence of long- and middle-wavelength sensitive cone function. The ERG showed normal rod responses, whereas the photopic cone and 30-Hz flicker responses were >95% reduced. CONCLUSIONS We report the unusual association between macular atrophy and BCM resulting from the loss of an approximately 9.5 kb region encompassing the LCR, proximal red gene promoter elements and exon 1 of the red gene. However, loss of the LCR and promoter is not sufficient to explain the phenotype since we have observed other BCM families with similar deletions who do not exhibit macular changes.
Suppression of pervasive noncoding transcription in embryonic stem cells by esBAF

Approximately 75% of the human genome is transcribed, the majority of which does not encode protein. However, many noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are rapidly degraded after transcription, and relatively few have established functions, questioning the significance of this observation. Here we show that esBAF, a SWI/SNF family nucleosome remodeling factor, suppresses transcription of ncRNAs from ∼57,000 nucleosome-depleted regions (NDRs) throughout the genome of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). We show that esBAF functions to both keep NDRs nucleosome-free and promote elevated nucleosome occupancy adjacent to NDRs. Reduction of adjacent nucleosome occupancy upon esBAF depletion is strongly correlated with ncRNA expression, suggesting that flanking nucleosomes form a barrier to pervasive transcription. Upon forcing nucleosome occupancy near two NDRs using a nucleosome-positioning sequence, we found that esBAF is no longer required to silence transcription. Therefore, esBAF's function to enforce nucleosome occupancy adjacent to NDRs, and not its function to maintain NDRs in a nucleosome-free state, is necessary for silencing transcription over ncDNA. Finally, we show that the ability of a strongly positioned nucleosome to repress ncRNA depends on its translational positioning. These data reveal a novel role for esBAF in suppressing pervasive transcription from open chromatin regions in ESCs.
Increased rotational mobility and extractability of band 3 from protein 4.2-deficient erythrocyte membranes: evidence of a role for protein 4.2 in strengthening the band 3-cytoskeleton linkage

Band 3 (anion-exchange protein 1-[AE1]) is the major integral membrane protein of human erythrocytes and links the membrane to the underlying cytoskeleton via high-affinity binding to ankyrin. It is unclear whether other cytoskeletal proteins participate in strengthening the ankyrin-band 3 linkage, but a putative role for protein 4.2 (P4.2) has been proposed based on the increased osmotic fragility and spherocytic morphology of P4.2-deficient red blood cells (RBCs). The present study was designed to investigate the hypothesis that P4.2 has a direct role in strengthening the band 3-cytoskeleton linkage in human RBCs, by measuring independent features of this interaction in normal and P4.2-deficient RBCs. The features examined were the rotational mobility of band 3 assayed by time-resolved phosphorescence emission anisotropy (TPA), and the extractability of band 3 by octyl-beta-glucoside, the latter being a nonionic detergent that selectively extracts only band 3 that is not anchored to the cytoskeleton. We find that the amplitude of the most rapidly rotating population of band 3 (correlation time, approximately 30 to 60 microseconds) is increased 81% and 67% in P4.2-deficient ghosts (P4.2NIPPON and band 3MONTEFIORE, respectively) compared with control ghosts. The amplitude of the intermediate speed rotating population of band 3 (correlation time, approximately 200 to 500 microseconds) is increased 23% and 8% in P4.2-deficient ghosts (P4.2NIPPON and band 3MONTEFIORE, respectively) compared with control ghosts, at the expense of the slowly rotating component (correlation time, approximately 2,000 to 3,000 microseconds, amplitude decreased 43% and 39% in P4.2NIPPON and band 3MONTEFIORE, respectively) and immobile component (immobile on this experimental time scale; amplitude decreased 26% and 10% in P4.2NIPPON and band 3MONTEFIORE, respectively) of band 3. These results demonstrate that P4.2 deficiency partially removes band 3 rotational constraints, ie, it increases band 3 rotational mobility. The nonionic detergent octyl-beta-glucoside, which does not disturb band 3-cytoskeleton associations, ie, it extracts only band 3 that is not attached to the cytoskeleton, extracted 30% and 61% more band 3 from P4.2NIPPON and band 3MONTEFIORE ghost membranes, respectively, compared with control ghosts. The octyl-beta-glucoside ghost extracts from both P4.2-deficient phenotypes were enriched in band 3 oligomeric species (tetramers, higher-order oligomers, and aggregates) compared with controls. Since band 3 oligomers selectively associate with the cytoskeleton, these results are consistent with a weakened band 3-cytoskeleton linkage in P4.2-deficient RBC membranes. P4.2 deficiency does not affect band 3 anion transport activity, since uptake of radiolabeled sulfate was similar for control and P4.2-deficient RBCs. Thus, we propose that P4.2 directly participates in strengthening the band 3-cytoskeleton linkage.
Abcg2-Labeled Cells Contribute to Different Cell Populations in the Embryonic and Adult Heart

ATP-binding cassette transporter subfamily G member 2 (Abcg2)-expressing cardiac-side population cells have been identified in the developing and adult heart, although the role they play in mammalian heart growth and regeneration remains unclear. In this study, we use genetic lineage tracing to follow the cell fate of Abcg2-expressing cells in the embryonic and adult heart. During cardiac embryogenesis, the Abcg2 lineage gives rise to multiple cardiovascular cell types, including cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, and vascular smooth muscle cells. This capacity for Abcg2-expressing cells to contribute to cardiomyocytes decreases rapidly during the postnatal period. We further tested the role of the Abcg2 lineage following myocardial injury. One month following ischemia reperfusion injury, Abcg2-expressing cells contributed significantly to the endothelial cell lineage, however, there was no contribution to regenerated cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, consistent with previous results showing that Abcg2 plays an important cytoprotective role during oxidative stress, we show an increase in Abcg2 labeling of the vasculature, a decrease in the scar area, and a moderate improvement in cardiac function following myocardial injury. We have uncovered a difference in the capacity of Abcg2-expressing cells to generate the cardiovascular lineages during embryogenesis, postnatal growth, and cardiac regeneration.
The practice of obstetrics in Mongolia

Sponsored by the US Department of State and the US Army Pacific as part of a Medical Readiness Training Exercise 17 physicians from Tripler Army Medical Center traveled to Outer Mongolia during September 1995 to examine the practice of medicine in the country. The obstetrical care observed was delivered at Third Womens Hospital in Ulanbataar. Prenatal care in Mongolia is provided mainly by family physicians with the family doctor visiting each pregnant patient every month for the first 5 months increasing to weekly visits at 7 months. The patient is taken to an obstetrical or womens and childrens hospital when she reaches term or goes into labor. The staff at Third Womens Hospital deliver approximately 2000 babies annually and perform approximately 1000 pregnancy terminations through sharp curettage. The cesarean section rate is reported to be 10%. The hospital has no laboratory or X-ray capability but can send out for such tests on rare occasions. During labor patients are fully ambulatory on an as-needed basis. Fetal monitoring is not routinely available except for occasional auscultation patients in labor were not given IV fluid delivery rooms were bleak and with only antiquated equipment lighting was poor and gloves were reused until they were too tattered for reuse. The authors discuss their experience with 3 cesarean sections and 1 ectopic pregnancy performed while in the country.
Efficient Simulation of Transient Electromagnetic Measurements in the Presence of a Metal Mandrel

Summary Many wireline induction and logging while drilling (LWD) resistivity tools basically comprise transmitter and receiver coils wound over a metal mandrel/pipe. Transient electromagnetic (EM) LWD measurements have excellent potential in proactive geosteering with look-ahead capability. Additionally, borehole transient EM measurements are extremely promising for monitoring oilwater fronts in the reservoir from a single well. These applications also involve the use of wire coils in the presence of metal collars/casing. The design and analysis of such instruments involves extensive modeling and 3D simulation of transient fields because of EM diffusion in the vicinity from a step excitation of the transmitter. The simulation of EM fields is complicated by the presence of the metal mandrel, which is typically more than 10 6 times more electrically conductive than the surrounding formation. The finite element method (FEM) is a popular technique for the numerical solution of Maxwell’s equations, especially to account for minute details of the sensor design. The mesh size in any material medium is governed by the skin depth of that material for a given frequency of excitation. Analogously, for transient simulations, the required mesh size depends on the diffusion distance in the medium. The metal mandrel has extremely small skin depth compared to the size of the computational domain, owing to its extremely large conductivity. Conventional application of the finite element method in this case leads to an intractable problem because of the huge number of nodes. This paper presents a novel technique for efficient use of the finite element method for 3D simulation of the transient EM diffusion process in the presence of a metal mandrel and other highly conductive objects. The technique exploits time-harmonic solutions at a number of frequencies, with (1) coarse mesh and computation of fields both outside and inside the mandrel at low frequencies, and (2) fine mesh and computation of fields outside the mandrel only at high