cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The “growing teratoma syndrome” in primary mediastinal nonseminomatous germ cell tumors: Criteria based on current practice

Objective Criteria for the growing teratoma syndrome in patients with primary mediastinal nonseminomatous germ cell tumors have not been well established according to current practice. Methods An institutional database identified 188 patients who underwent postchemotherapy surgery for primary mediastinal nonseminomatous germ cell tumors from 1981 to 2009. We reviewed the subset of patients who underwent urgent surgery for tumor growth resulting in cardiopulmonary deterioration secondary to mediastinal compression precluding safe completion of 4 cisplatin-based chemotherapy cycles with rapidly declining serum tumor markers. Results Five men (2.6%) with an average age of 25.8 years were identified. All patients initially presented with a large symptomatic anterior mediastinal mass and elevated serum tumor markers. Patients received an average of 2.4 chemotherapy cycles of a scheduled 4 courses before cardiopulmonary deterioration. Pathology of the resected specimens demonstrated mature teratoma in all patients; however, it was admixed in 4 patients with foci of immaturity (n = 1), malignant transformation of teratoma to sarcoma (n = 2), and nonseminomatous germ cell tumor (n = 2). There was 1 operative death. Three of the 4 operative survivors subsequently completed a total of 4 cycles of chemotherapy after recovery. Two patients are alive and well after an average of 14 years. Two patients died of metastatic disease. Conclusions The growing teratoma syndrome should be defined not only as a growing mediastinal mass but also with secondary cardiopulmonary deterioration precluding safe completion of planned chemotherapy in the presence of declining serum tumor markers. Prompt recognition of this syndrome, discontinuation of chemotherapy, and surgical intervention can result in cure.
Commonalities in grief responding across bereavement and non-bereavement losses

Abstract Background Despite implications for theory and treatment, commonality in responding to non-bereavement and bereavement losses are not well explicated. Method This study identified the factor structure of the three most common responses to bereavement, prolonged grief, posttraumatic stress, and major depression in a bereaved community sample ( n =151, 59% female, 68% white) from the U.S. recruited from Amazon’s MTurk using a cross-sectional survey design, then cross-validated the structure in samples where people had lost other potentially self-defining roles; one’s employment ( n =157, 47% female, 69% white) and one’s marriage ( n =116, 62% female, 80% white). Results Results indicated that symptoms of prolonged grief, posttraumatic stress, and major depression were distinct factors in the bereaved sample, the three-factor solution was a good fit for the job-loss and divorce samples, and levels of grief in each sample appeared to be best predicted by time since loss and centrality of the loss to one’s identity. Limitations Limitations include potential sample bias due to convenience sampling, and the cross-sectional design did not allow examination of the stability of factors over time. Conclusions These results suggest that grief is not a unique response to loss of loved one but instead may be a common phenomenology across types of loss. This implies that facilitating meaningful engagement in self-defining activities that compensate for the disrupting loss might be efficacious in promoting grief resolution without the need for working through individuals’ emotional attachment to a specific individual or processing one’s emotional responses to the loss.
Morphine-3-glucuronide: hyperglycemic and neuroendocrine potentiating effects

The greater potency of morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) as well as the inactivity of morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G) with respect to the antinociceptive effects of the parent molecule, morphine (MOR), have been well established. It has been suggested that M3G is an antagonist of MOR's antinociceptive and respiratory depressive effects. The present study addressed the central nervous system (CNS) interaction of these opiate metabolites on their metabolic and hormonal effects. Whole body glucose kinetics were assessed on conscious, chronically catheterized, unrestrained rats. M3G (5 μg) or H2O (5 μl) was injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) 15 min prior to the bolus administration of H2O (5 μl), M6G (1 μg), or MOR (80 μg). i.c.v. M3G (5 μg) resulted in behavioral excitation, hyperglycemia (+50%), stimulation of glucose rate of appearance (Ra; +100%), glucose rate of disappeaance (Rd; +70%), and metabolic clearance rate (MCR; +33%) within 30 min after injection with no alterations in hormone concentrations. i.c.v. M6G and MOR produced progressive hyperglycemia with significantly high catecholamine and corticosterone levels. M3G pretreatment resulted in enhanced elevations in plasma glucose levels (+52% and +18%), plasma lactate (+138% and +108%), norepinephrine (+96% and +30%), and epinephrine (+62% and +67%) in response to both i.c.v. MOR and M6G administration. These findings suggest a non-opiate and non-hormonal mechanism for M3G-induced hyperglycemia. In contrast, the metabolic and hormonal responses to i.c.v. M6G and MOR are associated with elevations in catecholamine and corticosterone levels, which are remarkably enhanced by M3G pretreatment, most likely through accelerated catecholamine release. Our findings suggest a modulatory role for MOR glucuronidation, not only by rendering it inactive, as in the case of M3G, but by an interplay of the metabolic effects of the parent molecule and its metabolite
Hypothalamic and limbic system activation during salt arousal of drinking

An attempt was made with reasonable success to record multiunit neural activity chronically from rat hypothalamus and various limbic structures during the salt arousal of drinking. Increases in activity which were usually recorded occurred in the hypothalamus, medial habenular nucleus, lateral septal nucleus, diagonal bands of broca, cingulate cortex, caudate nucleus, fornix, and thalamus.
Spontaneous, oscillatory liquid transport in surface tension-confined microfluidics

A unique, spontaneous, oscillatory flow phenomenon driven by the Marangoni effect on a heterogeneous surface can be used for passive microfluidic pumping.
Perceptions of weight gain and bipolar pharmacotherapy: results of a 2005 survey of physicians in clinical practice.

ABSTRACTObjective: To assess the perceptions of clinicians in the psychiatric community about pharmacotherapy and its impact on weight gain and adverse metabolic effects in patients with bipolar disorder.Methods: In November 2005, self-administered questionnaires were sent to 7000 psychiatrists who treat bipolar disorder in their clinical practice. An additional mailing of these questionnaires was sent in January 2006 to a different group of 7000 psychiatrists who treat bipolar disorder in their clinical practice. The first 298 completed surveys were analyzed.Results: Almost half of the respondents (48%) were psychiatrists in individual private practice and 32% were in community mental health centers. About two-thirds of respondents reported that 30–60% of their bipolar patients were overweight. Thirty-eight percent of respondents reported metabolic syndrome present in 20–40% of their patients. Almost all respondents (96%) reported a 20 lb increase in patients’ weight as a troublesome potential adverse ev...
Molecular mechanism of hydrocarbons binding to the metal-organic framework

Abstract The adsorption and diffusivity of methane, ethane, n-butane, n-hexane and cyclohexane in a metal organic framework (MOF) with the organic linker tetrakis[4-(carboxyphenyl)oxamethyl]methane, the metal salt, Zn2+, and an organic pillar, 4,4′-bipyridin was studied using molecular dynamics simulations. For the n-alkanes, the longer the chain, the lower the free energy of adsorption, which was attributed to a greater number of contacts between the alkane and MOF. Cyclohexane had a slightly higher adsorption free energy than n-hexane. Furthermore, for cyclo- and n-hexane, there were no significant differences in adsorption free energies between systems with low to moderate loadings. The diffusivity of the n-alkanes was found to strongly depend on chain length with slower diffusion for longer chains. Cyclohexane had no effective diffusion, suggesting the selectivity the MOF towards n-hexane over cyclohexane results from kinetics instead of thermodynamics.
Pronounced matrix effect in YbMo2Al4-type Ca(AuxZn2−x)Au4 (x=0.09–0.89)

Electron-poor polar intermetallics Ca(Au{sub x}Zn{sub 2−x})Au{sub 4} have been synthesized through fusion of stoichiometric metals in sealed tantalum tubes at 800 °C and annealing at 400 °C for one week. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses reveal that this phase belongs to the YbMo{sub 2}Al{sub 4}-type structure (I4/mmm, Pearson symbol tI14), a≈6.943–7.017 A, c≈5.278–5.286 A, Z=2, with homogeneous composition range of x=0.09(1)–0.89(1). The structure exhibits a three-dimensional framework of (Au{sub 8}){sub 1/2} featuring square and octagonal channels extending in c, in which Ca and the infinite linear chains of [(Au,Zn){sub 2}]{sub 1/2} are located, respectively. Mulliken population analyses demonstrate that Zn prefers to form the linear chains in the whole homogeneous composition range, consistent with experimental observations. Crystal orbital Hamilton population (COHP) analyses reveal that the channel-to-chain Au–Zn contact has strong bonding interactions regardless of its large interatomic distance (∼2.85 A), a signature of pronounced matrix effect. The last mentioned effect in YbMo{sub 2}Al{sub 4}-type structures is expected in case the linear chains are defined by small size atoms. - Graphical abstract: Pronounced matrix effect incurred by Au–Au bonding within the gold substructure in Ca(Au{sub x}Zn{sub 2−x})Au{sub 4} results in an elongation of the channel-to-chain Au–Zn interatomic distance without weakening bondingmore » interactions. - Highlights: • The complete solid solution of Ca(Au{sub x}Zn{sub 2−x})Au{sub 4} was accomplished. • Site preference was explained by “coloring” analyses. • Abnormally large Au–Zn distance but with strong bonding was observed. • Pronounced matrix effect incurred by Au–Au bonding in gold substructure was found.« less
Transformational Learning Theory and Implications for Human Resource Development

The problem and the solution. Unprecedented problems, which appear to resist solution by traditional and modern methods, demand new approaches. The field of human resource development (HRD) has primarily concerned itself with learning and change that contribute to but do not challenge the status quo within organizations. During the 1970s, theorists in various fields began to develop a new genre of learning and change theory, which, rather than advocating adaptive change within existing systems, focused on changing basic elements of the systems themselves. Transformative learning theory in adult education provides a significant contribution to this endeavor.
Dynamics of High Frequency Synchronization During Seizures

Pathological synchronization of neuronal firing is considered to be an inherent property of epileptic seizures. However, it remains unclear whether the synchrony increases for the high-frequency multiunit activity as well as for the local field potentials (LFPs). We present spatio-temporal analysis of synchronization during epileptiform activity using wide-band (up to 2,000 Hz) spectral analysis of multielectrode array recordings at up to 60 locations throughout the mouse hippocampus in vitro. Our study revealed a prominent structure of LFP profiles during epileptiform discharges, triggered by elevated extracellular potassium, with characteristic distribution of current sinks and sources with respect to anatomical structure. The cross-coherence of high-frequency activity (500–2,000 Hz) across channels was reduced during epileptic bursts compared with baseline activity and showed the opposite trend for lower frequencies. Furthermore, the magnitude of cross-coherence during epileptiform activity was dependent on distance: electrodes closer to the epileptic foci showed increased cross-coherence and electrodes further away showed reduced cross-coherence for high-frequency activity. These experimental observations were re-created and supported in a computational model. Our study suggests that different intrinsic and synaptic processes can mediate paroxysmal synchronization at low, medium, and high frequencies.
Non-specific effect of naltrexone on ethanol consumption in social drinkers.

Rationale: Clinical studies have shown that the opioid antagonist naltrexone is effective in the treatment of alcoholism. However, the mechanism by which it produces this effect is not understood. Objective: This study was designed to investigate the effect of acute naltrexone on consumption of ethanol in healthy, non-problem social drinkers. Methods: Subjects (n=24) participated in an eight-session, within-subject, placebo-controlled choice procedure which measured ethanol preference and consumption. The procedure consisted of two blocks of four sessions in which subjects received either naltrexone (50 mg oral) or placebo 1 h before consuming an ethanol or placebo beverage. On the first two sessions of each block, subjects received a color-coded beverage containing ethanol (0.75 g/kg) or placebo, in five equal portions at 15-min intervals. On the next two sessions of each block, subjects chose which beverage they preferred (i.e., placebo or ethanol) and how much they wished to take, in unit doses (placebo or ethanol 0.15 g/kg/dose). The primary behavioral measures were (1) the number of times subjects chose ethanol over placebo, and (2) the number of doses they consumed. Subjects rated their mood states and subjective drug effects at regular intervals during each session. Results: Naltrexone did not alter the frequency of ethanol (versus placebo) choice. Although naltrexone did decrease the total number of ethanol doses subjects took (mean 2.7 doses after naltrexone; 3.4 doses after placebo), it also decreased the number of placebo ”doses” subjects took on sessions when they chose the placebo beverage (mean 1.6 placebo doses after naltrexone; 2.8 doses after placebo). Ethanol produced its prototypic subjective effects (e.g., increased ratings of ”feel drug”, ”like drug” and ”high”), and these effects were not altered by naltrexone. Naltrexone produced mild sedative-like effects, and several subjects reported adverse effects such as nausea. Conclusions: These findings show that naltrexone reduces ethanol consumption in healthy volunteers, as it does in alcoholics. However, this reduction was not specific to alcohol; subjects also consumed less of a non-alcoholic, placebo beverage. These findings suggest that naltrexone may reduce alcohol consumption by a non-specific mechanism.
Altered vascular expression of EphrinB2 and EphB4 in a model of oxygen-induced retinopathy.

EphrinB2 ligands and EphB4 receptors are expressed on endothelial cells (EC) of arteries and veins, respectively, and are essential for vascular development. To understand how these molecules regulate retinal neovascularization (NV), we evaluated their expression in a model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). EphrinB2 and EphB4 were expressed on arterial and venous trunks, respectively, and on a subset of deep capillary vessels. EphB4 expression was reduced following hyperoxia, while ephrinB2 expression remained unaltered. In addition, a subset of EphB4-positive veins regressed in a caspase-3-dependent manner during hyperoxia. Arteriovenous malformations were also observed with loss of arterial-venous boundaries. Finally, both ephrinB2 and EphB4 were expressed on a subset of neovascular tufts following hyperoxia. These data confirm the contribution of ECs from both venous and arterial origins to the development of retinal NV. Developmental Dynamics 239:1695–1707, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Assessment of asthma using automated and full-text medical records

Automated medical records systems are used to study clinical outcomes and quality of care, but this requires accurate disease identification and assessment of severity. We sought to determine the reliability of identifying asthmatics through automated medical and pharmacy records, and the adequacy of such data for severity assessment. All adult health maintenance organization (HMO) members who received at least one asthma drug and an asthma diagnosis between April 1988 and September 1991 were identified. Records of a random sample were reviewed to validate the diagnosis and extract clinical information. Asthma drugs were dispensed to 15,491 individuals; 7583 (49%) also received an asthma diagnosis. Asthma drug use was three times greater for persons with diagnosed asthma compared to those with no diagnosis. Record review revealed that a coded asthma diagnosis had a positive predictive value of 86%. Nearly 4000 ambulatory encounters were reviewed, 10% of which were for asthma; the median number of encounters was two. Asthma symptoms were mentioned in 9% of all encounters; wheezing was most common. Peak flow and spirometry were measured in 4% and 1% of encounters, respectively. Records from recipients of asthma drugs who lacked an asthma diagnosis showed that 79% did not have asthma. Automated medical and pharmacy records from an HMO were relatively accurate when used to identify individuals with asthma. Similarly, most asthma drug recipients who lacked a coded diagnosis of asthma did not have asthma. However, conventional full-text records usually do not contain sufficient information to assess asthma severity, limiting the utility of such records for research and quality improvement.
Comparative Inactivation of Enteroviruses and Adenovirus 2 by UV Light

The doses of UV irradiation necessary to inactivate selected enteric viruses on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Contaminant Candidate List were determined. Three-log reductions of echovirus 1, echovirus 11, coxsackievirus B3, coxsackievirus B5, poliovirus 1, and human adenovirus type 2 were effected by doses of 25, 20.5, 24.5, 27, 23, and 119 mW/cm2, respectively. Human adenovirus type 2 is the most UV light-resistant enteric virus reported to date.
Preterm Birth and Random Plasma Insulin Levels at Birth and in Early Childhood

Importance Although previous reports have linked preterm birth with insulin resistance in children and adults, it is not known whether altered insulin homeostasis is detectable at birth and tracks from birth through childhood. Objective To investigate whether preterm birth is associated with elevated plasma insulin levels at birth and whether this association persists into early childhood. Design, Setting, and Participants A prospective birth cohort of 1358 children recruited at birth from 1998 to 2010 and followed-up with prospectively from 2005 to 2012 at the Boston Medical Center in Massachusetts. Main Outcomes and Measures Random plasma insulin levels were measured at 2 time points: at birth (cord blood) and in early childhood (venous blood). The median age was 1.4 years (interquartile range [IQR], 0.8-3.3) among 4 gestational age groups: full term (≥39 wk), early term (37-38 wk), late preterm (34-36 wk), and early preterm ( Results The geometric mean of insulin levels at birth were 9.2 µIU/mL (95% CI, 8.4-10.0) for full term; 10.3 µIU/mL (95% CI, 9.3-11.5) for early term; 13.2 µIU/mL (95% CI, 11.8-14.8) for late preterm; and 18.9 µIU/mL (95% CI, 16.6-21.4) for early preterm. In early childhood, these levels were 11.2 µIU/mL (95% CI, 10.3-12.0) for full term; 12.4 µIU/mL (95% CI, 11.3-13.6) for early term; 13.3 µIU/mL (95% CI, 11.9-14.8) for late preterm; and 14.6 µIU/mL (95% CI, 12.6-16.9) for early preterm. Insulin levels at birth were higher by 1.13-fold (95% CI, 0.97-1.28) for early term, 1.45-fold (95% CI, 1.25-1.65) for late preterm, and 2.05-fold (95% CI, 1.69-2.42) for early preterm than for those born full term. In early childhood, random plasma insulin levels were 1.12-fold (95% CI, 0.99-1.25) higher for early term, 1.19-fold (95% CI, 1.02-1.35) for late preterm, and 1.31-fold (95% CI, 1.10-1.52) for early preterm than those born full term. The association was attenuated after adjustment for postnatal weight gain and was not significant after adjustment for insulin levels at birth. Infants ranked in the top insulin tertile at birth were more likely to remain in the top tertile (41.2%) compared with children ranked in the lowest tertile (28.6%) in early childhood. Conclusions and Relevance There was an inverse association between gestational age and elevated plasma insulin levels at birth and in early childhood. The implications for future development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes warrant further investigation.
Resonance raman and infrared spectra of ClO3 radicals in electron irradiated NaClO3

Abstract Resonance Raman and infrared absorption spectra of ClO 3 radicals have been observed from measurements of crystalline NaClO 3 irradiated at 77 K with 1.5 MeV electrons. The ClO 3 radicals occupy two sets of nonequivalent sites; radicals at one site are observed from resonance scattering using 6328 A excitation while those at the other site are observed from resonance scattering with 5145 A excitation. The red sensitive radicals decompose at 77 K with a half-life of ≈29 min while the green sensitive radicals are more stable at this temperature.
Changing trends in surgical treatment of carotid disease in Ireland (1996-2003).

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is a well-established method of stroke prevention in patients with symptomatic, high-grade internal carotid artery stenosis. To assess the change in carotid surgery practice in health board regions in Ireland over two different time periods in the past 11 years (1996–1998/2001–2003). Numbers of discharges of patients with a procedure code CEA (38.12) between 1996–1998 and 2001–2003 were obtained from the Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE) database maintained by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). Population data was obtained from national censuses. There has been considerable change in the level of carotid surgery activity in specific health board regions between the two periods. Still no region comes close to achieving levels of CEA recommended by population studies. This is important in the context of the MRC asymptomatic carotid surgery trial (ACST), as the numbers suitable for CEA will probably increase further in the future.
Explaining the Politicization of Monetary Policy in Japan

Japan adopted central bank independence (CBI) over a decade ago, but politicians have tried to influence monetary policy through the power of appointments, threats of legal reform, and public suasion virtually ever since. This article examines the escalation of these efforts over the past several years, paying particular attention to the activities of the Democratic Party of Japan’s (DPJ) ‘Anti-Deflation League’ and party leaders. It outlines how emerging fiscal, regulatory, electoral, and administrative conditions created incentives for backbenchers in particular to actively challenge the Bank of Japan’s (BOJ) monetary policy authority, even though their proposals for reform were largely ignored by party leaders until very recently. This increased politicization and the central bank’s response to it have created in Japan a politics of central banking that currently sustains the BOJ’s de jure independence, but also demands greater central bank accommodation. These challenges to monetary policy authority in Japan serve as a cautionary tale for governments facing similar fiscal and political constraints and suggest that the domestic conditions that facilitated the cross-national adoption of CBI just a decade ago may be less robust than previously recognized.
Coenzyme Q10 administration and its potential for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is an essential cofactor of the electron transport chain as well as an important antioxidant. Previous studies have suggested that it may exert therapeutic effects in patients with known mitochondrial disorders. We investigated whether it can exert neuroprotective effects in a variety of animal models. We have demonstrated that CoQ10 can protect against striatal lesions produced by both malonate and 3-nitropropionic acid. It also protects against MPTP toxicity in mice. It extended survival in a transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We demonstrated that oral administration can increase plasma levels in patients with Parkinson's disease. Oral administration of CoQ10 significantly decreased elevated lactate levels in patients with Huntington's disease. These studies therefore raise the prospect that administration of CoQ10 may be useful for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Growth law dynamics in a phase separating fluid

Abstract From a molecular dynamics experiment of an unstable two-dimensional fluid undergoing phase separation, we observe two principal growth regimes; (1) spinodal decomposition with a wavelike morphology followed by (2) a transition to cluster formation and growth due to atomic condensation and cluster coagulation. In the second regime the growth law is t 1 2 . This dependence arises from the isothermal growth law for vapor accretion on two-dimensional clusters in a ‘onerd component supersaturated vapor. The details of theoretical analysi that leads to t 1 2 growth law are presented.
Rocket Spectroheliograph for the Mg II Line at 2802.7 A.

A rocket-borne spectroheliograph designed to take monochromatic pictures of the sun in the Mg ii line at 2802. 7 A is described in detail. The photographic system consists of a Questar telescope, a Solc type birefringent filter, and an automatic Robot camera. The double Solc filter has a spectral bandwidth of 3.5. A. The two units in the double filter have been thoroughly tested and are compared with theoretically calculated transmission curves. Two new types of linear film polarizers for the uv region have been tested and used in the filter. A temperature control unit was developed which stabilized the filter temperature in flight to within ±0.2°C. The instrument has been tested in vacuum and to the Aerobee 150 vibration specifications. It has been flown and successfully recovered three times and performed excellently during each flight.
Evidence-Based Practice and Policy: Choices Ahead

Choices about how to view evidence-based practice (EBP) are being made by educators, practitioners, agency administrators, and staff in a variety of organizations designed to promote integration of research and practice such as clearinghouses on EBP. Choices range from narrow views of EBP such as use of empirically based guidelines and treatment manuals to the broad philosophy and evolving process of EBP, envisioned by its originators, that addresses evidentiary, ethical, and application issues in a transparent context. Current views of EBP and policy are reviewed, and choices that reflect the adopted vision and related indicators are described. Examples include who will select the questions on which research efforts are focused, what outcomes will be focused on, who will select them and on what basis, how transparent to be regarding the evidentiary status of services, how clients will be involved, and whether to implement needed organizational changes. A key choice is whether to place ethical issues fron...
Cardiac biopsy evidence for a cardiomyopathy associated with symptomatic mitral valve prolapse

Right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy was performed in 14 patients with mitral valve prolapse to determine the existence of an associated cardiomyopathic process. All 14 patients had echocardiographic, angiographic or auscultatory evidence of mitral valve prolapse, and all were symptomatic. The group had a high incidence rate of conduction system abnormalities (50 percent) and arrhythmias (64 percent), but only one patient had a significant hemodynamic abnormality. Light microscopy revealed an increase in endocardial and interstitial fibrosis in eight patients (57 percent). Electron microscopy, performed in 11 patients, showed mitochondrial degenerative changes in all 11. Nuclear chromatin clumping, intracell edema and myocyte degeneration were frequently present. It is concluded that endomyocardial and myocardial abnormalities exist in some symptomatic patients with idiopathic mitral valve prolapse.
Tick-Borne Transmission of Two Genetically Distinct Anaplasma marginale Strains following Superinfection of the Mammalian Reservoir Host

Strain superinfection affects the dynamics of epidemiological spread of pathogens through a host population. Superinfection has recently been shown to occur for two genetically distinct strains of the tick-borne pathogen Anaplasma marginale that encode distinctly different surface protein variants. Superinfected animals could serve as a reservoir for onward transmission of both strains if the tick vector is capable of acquiring and transmitting both strains. Whether competition among strains during development within the tick vector, which requires sequential invasion and replication events, limits colonization and subsequent transmission to a single strain is unknown. We tested this possibility by acquisition feeding Dermacentor andersoni ticks on a reservoir host superinfected with the genetically distinct St. Maries and EMPhi strains. Although the St. Maries strain consistently maintained higher bacteremia levels in the mammalian host and the EMPhi strain had an early advantage in colonization of the tick salivary glands, individual ticks were coinfected, and there was successful transmission of both strains. These results indicate that a genetically distinct A. marginale strain capable of superinfecting the mammalian host can subsequently be cotransmitted and become established within the host population despite the presence of an existing established strain.
Practical reliability testing of structures under road loadings

In today's global environment, accelerated life testing is becoming a competitive advantage when time spent from conceptual stage to the final product development needs to be minimized (project costs and development time) in order to be successful. Using accelerated life testing techniques for mechanical an d structural applications have strong challenges when defining the loading but also the fatigue life to represent actual field performance. Such common problems as well as some helpful strategies using accelerated life testing are presented for faster planning of structural testing. Examples from the transport refrigeration industry are used to demonstrate the utility of this strategy. Loading and test fixtures were designed as needed to simulate the normal operating levels and to accelerate specific failure modes while replicating field performance. In conclusion the test and analysis were effectively used to increase the degree of reliability improvements and to reduce the total number of test hours resulting in a shorter design cycle.
Program comprehension as a learning process

The paper describes the process of program comprehension from the point of view of constructivist theory of learning. According to this view, program comprehension starts with existing knowledge and continues through processes of assimilation and adaptation. Assimilation means that the facts encountered in the program are either added to the knowledge or rejected. Adaptation means that the existing knowledge is reorganized in order to absorb new facts. These processes are illustrated by a case study where the knowledge of the program is represented by UML class diagrams.
Power in Work Groups: Team Member's Perspectives

Power and restrictive participation are often identified as primary issues which can retard the productivity of work groups. The study describes team member responses to a questionnaire regarding bases of social power used within 19 interdisciplinary clinical team meetings and their relationship with team decision-making style, participation in team decisions, and team meeting productivity. Physicians were found to effect almost all treatment decisions, and autocratic decision making was found to be more prevalent than consensual decision making. It is suggested that the generally held belief that the interdisciplinary team approach is equivalent with shared decision making and broad-based participation needs careful re-examination. Implications of the findings for shared decision making in health care teams and work groups in general are discussed. The importance for managers and team leaders to understand and appropriately facilitate the dynamics of power in work groups is emphasized.
Fetal liver very small embryonic/epiblast like stem cells follow developmental migratory pathway of hematopoietic stem cells.

Fetal liver (FL) has been described as a source of both hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic stem cells. Recently we have purified from murine adult bone marrow (BM) a population of CXCR4 + Oct-4 + SSEA-1 + Sca-1 + Lin ― CD45 ― very small embryonic/epiblast-like stem cells (VSELs). By employing several complementary imaging and molecular strategies, we report in this study that VSELs, like hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), are highly enriched in murine FL during the second trimester of gestation. Subsequently, at the beginning of the third trimester of gestation their number decreases, which corresponds to the time when HSCs egress FL and follow the stromal derived factor-1 (SDF-1) gradient in order to colonize developing BM. Thus, our data support the hypothesis that VSELs are a mobile pool of primitive stem cells that respond to similar chemotactic gradients as HSCs and follow their developmental migratory route.
Low-power high-accuracy timing systems for efficient duty cycling

Time keeping and synchronization are important services for networked and embedded systems. High quality timing information allows embedded network nodes to provide accurate time-stamping, fast localization, efficient duty cycling schedules, and other basic but essential functions - all of which are required for low power operation. In this paper we present a new type of local clock source called Crystal Compensated Crystal based Timer (XCXT) and a number of novel algorithms that effectively utilize it to achieve low power consumption in wireless sensor networks. The XCXT has timing accuracies similar to timers based on temperature compensated crystal oscillators (TCXO) but has a lower implementation cost and requires less power. Our initial 8 MHz prototype unit, using the simplest algorithm, achieves an effective frequency stability of ±1.2 ppm and consumes only 1.27 mW. On the other hand, commercially available TCXOs with similar stability can cost over 10 times as much and consume over 20 mW. In addition to the prototype, we will present algorithms that will improve the XCXT's power consumption by at least 48%, depending on application and environmental conditions. We will also show how XCXT's power efficiency can be improved even further by employing clocks at different frequency when different time granularities are required by an application.
Anomaly observed in spectral data recorded on a hypersensitized film.

Elliptical patterns on emission lines of argon plasma jets attributed to antihalation backing during hypersensitization of film
Imaging the Dynamics of Endocytosis in Live Mammalian Tissues

In mammalian cells, endocytosis plays a pivotal role in regulating several basic cellular functions. Up to now, the dynamics and the organization of the endocytic pathways have been primarily investigated in reductionist model systems such as cell and organ cultures. Although these experimental models have been fully successful in unraveling the endocytic machinery at a molecular level, our understanding of the regulation and the role of endocytosis in vivo has been limited. Recently, advancements in intravital microscopy have made it possible to extend imaging in live animals to subcellular structures, thus revealing new aspects of the molecular machineries regulating membrane trafficking that were not previously appreciated in vitro. Here, we focus on the use of intravital microscopy to study endocytosis in vivo, and discuss how this approach will allow addressing two fundamental questions: (1) how endocytic processes are organized in mammalian tissues, and (2) how they contribute to organ physiopathology.
Is the postanesthesia care unit becoming an intensive care unit

The increasing number of critically ill patients requiring prolonged lengths of stay in the surgical intensive care unit has led hospitals to examine ways of using the PACU as a short-term area for critically ill patients. This article identifies common problems associated with this situation, and offers suggestions/guidelines to facilitate a smooth transition and ensure competent care of these patients. This article will not focus on financial issues related to patient charges. The criteria established in this article are based on personal experience.
Laryngeal and diaphragmatic muscle activities after central nervous system lesions in cats.

AIM: To examine the central control and coordination of respiratory pump muscles and laryngeal valve muscles by systematic decerebration (DECER), cerebellectomy (CBELL), pontine respiratory group lesioning (PRG) and pontomedullary section (PMED). METHODS: Activities of posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA), thyroarytenoid (TA) and diaphragm (D) muscles and their responses to inspiratory (I) and expiratory (E) total occlusions were determined in 10 adult cats. RESULTS: INTACT anesthetized cats (n = 6) exhibited inspiratory PCA (PCA(I)) and D activities. Expiratory PCA (PCA(E)) was present but TA activity was absent. It was found that successive DECER, CBELL and PRG lesions attenuated PCA(E), the intact pattern being noted in 7/10, 4/10 and 0/6 cats, respectively. After PMED, variable PCA, TA and continuous D activities occurred only with blood gas abnormalities. Augmented PCA and D responses to I- and E-loads occurred after PRG lesions: the I-load PCA(I) and D responses resembled apneusis and the E-load PCA(E) and D responses resembled central apnea. CONCLUSION: The decreasing PCA(E) activity observed with successive DECER, CBELL and PRG lesions suggests that these areas influence laryngeal abductor control of glottic size. The synchronous activities after PMED transection suggest a role for more rostral structures in coordinating laryngeal and diaphragmatic muscle activities.
Alcohol consumption and domestic violence against mothers.

Background: A recent high-profile murder case and the passage of the Unborn Victims of Violence Act have focused policymakers’ attention on domestic violence against pregnant women and new mothers. The link between men’s alcohol consumption and spousal abuse has led some to suggest that more stringent alcohol regulations could ameliorate domestic violence. Aim of Study: (i) To examine the correlation between men’s alcohol consumption and domestic violence against new mothers and test how sensitive the correlation is to assumptions about unobserved heterogeneity, (ii) To test whether higher liquor taxes and more stringent alcohol control regulations are associated with a lower incidence of domestic abuse. Methods: Using the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, I estimate ordinary least squares, bivariate probit, two-stage least squares, and fixed effects models to test the relationship between alcohol consumption and domestic violence. Results: My findings suggest that while there is a strong positive association between men’s alcohol consumption and the commission of domestic violence against new mothers, this correlation is highly sensitive to assumptions about unobservables. There is little evidence that higher liquor taxes or more stringent alcohol regulations will significantly reduce domestic violence. Discussion and Limitations: The empirical results suggest evidence for an ‘‘unobserved bum hypothesis.’’ That is, unobservable characteristics of the father may be correlated with both the likelihood that he abuses pregnant women (or new mothers) and that he drinks heavily. While the findings of this paper cannot rule out the possibility that men’s alcohol consumption has some effect on domestic violence, there is little evidence to suggest that the impact is large in magnitude. Moreover, there is little evidence that higher liquor taxes or stricter alcohol supply regulations reduce the incidence of domestic abuse. However, greater policy heterogeneity across states and over time would be beneficial in further exploring this issue. Implications for Health Policy: Alcohol regulations, such as higher liquor taxes, are rather ineffective policies at reducing domestic violence against pregnant women and new mothers. Moreover, because policies that regulate alcohol availability or tax its consumption will harm non-violent drinkers, such policies may also be target inefficient. Rather than using non-credible, indirect mechanisms such as alcohol regulation, increasing criminal penalties for harming pregnant women or their unborn children may be a more direct method reducing domestic violence. Implications for Further Research: Future research that attempts to estimate the impact of alcohol consumption on the likelihood of domestic violence must carefully consider how unobservables may impact both drinking and abuse. Future work should utilize a longer panel dataset with greater within-state alcohol policy variation to allow for more robust tests of the impact of alcohol regulations on the prevalence of domestic violence.
A high-performance parallel mode EBCOT encoder architecture design for JPEG2000

This paper proposes a new architecture for embedded block coding with optimized truncation (EBCOT) encoder in JPEG2000. As part of a JPEG2000 encoder embedded system under development, it is a parallel mode coder utilizing both code-block and bit-plane parallelisms. In low bit-rate lossy coding, the proposed architecture is roughly two times faster than the fastest existing EBCOT encoder in literature at similar hardware cost and also shows its advantages on memory efficiency, bandwidth requirement and scalability.
Using computer-related technology for assessment activities: ethical and professional practice issues for school psychologists

Abstract School psychologists have an ethical imperative to consider appropriate uses of computer technology within their assessment practices, given the potential for this technology to improve effectiveness and efficiency. Psychologists hold a parallel responsibility to consider the implications of using computer-related technology vis a vis professional practice concerns related to assessment. Many aspects of computers that render them most helpful—power, speed, flexibility, storage capacity, data manipulation capabilities—also render them most vulnerable to ethical violations and professional practice conundrums. Fundamental ethical and professional practice principles apply to the use of computer-related technology as to any professional work. Technological advancements that affect the assessment practices of school psychologists bring with them a concomitant need for scrutiny and ongoing vigilance.
Blau syndrome: a new kindred.

Abstract Blau syndrome is a rare condition typically defined by granulomatous arthritis, skin eruption, and uveitis occurring in the absence of lung or other visceral involvement. Other characteristic physical findings include synovial cysts and camptodactyly. We describe a new kindred demonstrating autosomal dominant inheritance and anticipation.
American Crystal Sugar: Genetically Enhanced Sugarbeets? *

Biotechnology affords new risks and opportunities for food processing firms. This decision case involves a cooperative that is considering whether to allow members to grow sugarbeet varieties that are genetically enhanced for herbicide tolerance. Sugarbeet farmer-members of American Crystal Sugar Company support the use of genetically enhanced (GE) varieties. However, there are risks for the cooperative, especially related to market acceptability of sugar and by-products. The cooperative's competitive environment is analyzed as a part of the decision-making process. The key decision turns on how approving the use of genetically enhanced sugarbeet varieties would impact the cooperative, its partners and competitors, and participants throughout the marketing channel. im Horvath, President and Chief Executive Officer of American Crystal Sugar Company boarded the plane in Tokyo for his fourteen-hour journey home. He was leaving after a meeting with Japanese buyers of American Crystal sugarbeet pulp. Jim felt that the meeting had been very fruitful even though the Japanese had seemed uneasy when discussion turned to genetically enhanced (GE) sugarbeets. It reminded him that, although producers may prefer the opportunity to raise GE crops, consumer acceptability is an issue. Some early decisions about GE corn and soybeans were still negatively affecting Monsanto in the press. Jim shuddered to think of American Crystal dealing with such publicity. However, he has never been one to sit back and watch others take the lead. Jim knows there are advantages to being a first mover, but he is concerned that this situation might be different.
Predictions for the Heat Transfer and Boundary Layer Growth in the Radiatively Driven Hypersonic Wind Tunnel and Comparisons with Experiment at Ultra High Reynolds Number (Invited)

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics For permission to copy or to republish, contact the copyright owner named on the first page. For AIAA-held copy-right, write to AIAA Permissions Department, 1801 Alexander Bell Drive, Suite 500, Reston, VA, 20191-4344. 22 AIAA Aerodynamic Measurement Technology and Ground Testing Conference 24-26 June 2002 / St. Louis, MO AIAA-2002-3128 Predictions for the Heat Transfer and Boundary Layer Growth in the Radiatively Driven Hypersonic Wind Tunnel and Comparisons with Experiment at Ultra High Reynolds Number (Invited)
TGF-β Signaling Regulates Neuronal C1q Expression and Developmental Synaptic Refinement

Immune molecules, including complement proteins C1q and C3, have emerged as critical mediators of synaptic refinement and plasticity. Complement localizes to synapses and refines the developing visual system through C3-dependent microglial phagocytosis of synapses. Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) express C1q, the initiating protein of the classical complement cascade, during retinogeniculate refinement; however, the signals controlling C1q expression and function remain elusive. Previous work implicated an astrocyte-derived factor in regulating neuronal C1q expression. Here we identify retinal transforming growth factor (TGF)-β as a key regulator of neuronal C1q expression and synaptic pruning in the developing visual system. Mice lacking TGF-β receptor II (TGFβRII) in retinal neurons had reduced C1q expression in RGCs and reduced synaptic localization of complement, and phenocopied refinement defects observed in complement-deficient mice, including reduced eye-specific segregation and microglial engulfment of RGC inputs. These data implicate TGF-β in regulating neuronal C1q expression to initiate complement- and microglia-mediated synaptic pruning.
Mapping multiple independent synchronous dataflow graphs onto heterogeneous multiprocessors

We detail a method to facilitate development of real-time applications on heterogeneous multiprocessors. We introduce a new model of computation that allows for nondeterminate communication between independent dataflow graphs. The graphs may communicate in a manner that does not introduce data dependencies between them. We examine the implications of this model, introduce the necessary communication actors, and discuss scheduling techniques for multiple independent graphs. We also illustrate this model with some examples of real-time systems that have been constructed in Ptolemy. >