cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Specimen radiography for nonpalpable breast lesions found by mammography: Procedures and results

As radiologic techniques have improved in the past decade an increasing number of nonpalpable breast lesions is being found by mammography. Specimen radiography is a simple procedure which can be incorporated into the routine activities of the pathology laboratory to facilitate the diagnosis of these minimal lesions. When calcifications are present they provide a useful marker that can be used to localize the lesions radiologically for histologic examination. Employing a team approach that involves radiologists, pathologists, and surgeons, we have developed an efficient procedure to perform specimen radiography of biopsies to confirm the excision of lesions that had been shown to contain calcifications by prior mammography, and to localize them for histologic study. In addition to a detailed description of a procedure for specimen radiography, this report presents the results of 125 consecutive biopsies that involved specimen radiography during surgery. Carcinoma was identified in 32 (25%). The benign lesions that most often suggested carcinoma because of calcification in the mammograms were papillomatosis and sclerosing adenosis.
Eastern Mississippi delta: late Wisconsin unconformity, overlying transgressive facies, sea level and subsidence

Abstract Analysis of 92 engineering core logs located in the Balize sector of the eastern Mississippi delta focuses on the late Wisconsin unconformity and lithofacies of strata lying immediately below and above this stratigraphic horizon. This major sequence boundary is a key feature used to correlate strata across shelf and slope to the basin. Observations emphasize lithofacies distributions of the latest Pleistocene sediments underlying the unconformity, the late Pleistocene to early Holocene transgressive facies, and the immediately overlying deltaic deposits. Maps and a cross-section compiled with this information highlight the critical relation between lithofacies distributions and late Wisconsin sea-level oscillations. Core analysis reveals that the transgressive facies comprises distinct environments of deposition, offshore to onshore. Findings identify criteria to determine the approximate position of the shoreline at the late Wisconsin maximum sea-level lowstand and at the extent of early Holocene maximum marine inundation in the Balize complex. Mapping of lithologies along the late Wisconsin unconformity serves to improve correlation of sediment facies with changes in acoustic response along high-resolution seismic profiles. An estimate of long-term averaged land subsidence suggests lowering of at least 1 mm/year near the shelfedge during the past ∼ 18 000 years. This mapping also refines sea-level response models for the Mississippi delta, including criteria to locate key paleogeographic features such as shelfedges and maximum flooding surfaces in other Recent marine deltas and in older, stacked deltaic sequences.
Complications of Bacteremia Due to Stomatococcus mucilaginosus in Neutropenic Children

Stomatococcus mucilaginosus, a normal inhabitant of the human oral cavity and upper respiratory tract, can cause fatal sepsis and meningitis in neutropenic patients. We identified eight cases of bacteremia due to S. mucilaginosus in children with cancer, of whom five developed complications despite receiving appropriate antibiotics. At the time cultures were positive, seven patients had profound neutropenia (< 100 neutrophils and band forms/mm3) and four had mucositis; five had central venous catheters. In two cases, there was unequivocal evidence of catheter-related sepsis. Bacteremia was eradicated in all patients within 48 hours after initiation of antibiotics. Despite prompt instigation of effective antibiotic therapy, the complication rates in this series were high: septic shock (50%), pneumonia (50%), dermatologic manifestations (38%), altered neurological status (25%), meningitis (13%), and adult respiratory distress syndrome (13%). No fatalities were attributable to S. mucilaginosus infection. These cases illustrate the virulence of S. mucilaginosus organisms in neutropenic children and suggest a substantial risk of sequelae even when adequate antibiotic therapy is given.
Enhanced extracellular matrix production and differentiation of human embryonic germ cell derivatives in biodegradable poly(ε-caprolactone-co-ethyl ethylene phosphate) scaffold

Abstract Extracellular environment regulates cell behavior and also influences the differentiation of stem cells. Two cell lines of pluriopotent human embryonic germ cell derivatives (EBD cells) were cultured on a biodegradable poly(e-caprolactone-co-ethyl ethylene phosphate) (PCLEEP) and non-degradable cellulose acetate scaffold. Their cell behaviors including proliferation, differentiation, cell distribution and extracellular matrix production were studied for 4 weeks and 10 months. The proliferation of the EBD cells was enhanced in both of the three-dimensional scaffolds in the first 5 weeks of culture, regardless of the material difference, compared to monolayer culture. While the gene expression profile remained multilineage for the EBD cells cultured in the cellulose acetate fibrous scaffold, much of the neuronal lineage markers were down-regulated in EBD cells cultured in the PCLEEP scaffold. On the other hand, extracellular matrix production was significantly enhanced in the PCLEEP scaffold. The study showed that the polymer substrate could influence the differentiation and growth of pluripotent stem cells in the absence of exogenous biochemical signals.
Thermodynamic stability measurements on multimeric proteins using a new H/D exchange- and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry-based method

We recently reported on a new H/D exchange- and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry-based technique, termed SUPREX, that removes several important limitations associated with measuring the thermodynamic stability of proteins. In contrast to conventional spectroscopy-based techniques for characterizing the equilibrium unfolding behavior of proteins, SUPREX is amenable to the thermodynamic analysis of both purified and unpurified proteins using mg to ng quantities of material. Here we report on the application of SUPREX to the analysis of multimeric protein systems. Included in this work are the SUPREX results we obtained in studies on six model multimeric proteins including the GCN4p1 dimer, the coil-VaLd trimer, the 4-oxalocrotonate tautomerase (4-OT) hexamer, the Trp repressor (TrpR) dimer, the Arc repressor (ArcR) dimer, and an ArcR mutant (the (DOA20)ArcR) dimer which contained two destabilizing mutations including an Asp to Ala mutation at position 20 and an amide to ester bond mutation between amino acid (aa) residues 19 and 20. As part of the work described here, we present a new method for the analysis of SUPREX data that is generally applicable to both monomeric and multimeric protein systems. Our results on the model proteins in this study indicate that this new method can be used to determine folding free energies for proteins with the accuracy and precision of conventional spectroscopy-based methods.
Between Difference and Alternity: Engagements with Edward Soja’sThirdspace

Forum on: Thirdspace: Journeys to Los Angeles and Other Real-and-Imagined Places, by Edward W. Soja
Avian nest predation by a semi-captive collared lemur (Lemur fulvus collaris)

A lemur (Lemur fulvus collaris) in a semi-captive group of six animals at the Duke University Primate Center (DUPC) was observed eating an egg from the nest of a mourning dove (Zenaida macroura). The manner in which the animal had been foraging prior to this incident, and the fact that wild birds at the DUPC frequently direct antipredator behaviors, such as mobbing toward thisL. f. collaris group, suggest that nest predation is part of normal foraging behavior in these animals.
Interactions of the vitamin D receptor with the corepressor hairless: analysis of hairless mutants in atrichia with papular lesions.

Atrichia with papular lesions (APL) and hereditary vitamin D-resistant rickets have a similar congenital hair loss disorder caused by mutations in hairless (HR) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) genes, respectively. HR is a VDR corepressor, and it has been hypothesized that VDR·HR suppress gene expression during specific phases of the hair cycle. In this study, we examined the corepressor activity of HR mutants (E583V, C622G, N970S, V1056M, D1012N, V1136D, and Q1176X) previously described as the molecular cause of APL as well as HR variants (P69S, C397Y, A576V, E591G, R620Q, T1022A) due to non-synonymous polymorphisms in the HR gene. We found that the corepressor activities of all but one of the pathogenic HR mutants were completely abolished. HR mutant E583V exhibited normal corepressor activity, suggesting that it may not be pathogenic. In co-immunoprecipitation assays, all of the pathogenic HR mutants bound VDR but exhibited reduced binding to histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1), suggesting that the impaired corepressor activity is due in part to defective interactions with HDACs. The HR variants exhibited two classes of corepressor activity, those with normal activity (C397Y, E591G, R620Q) and those with partially reduced activity (P69S, A576V, T1022A). All of the variants interacted with VDR and HDAC1 with the exception of P69S, which was degraded. When coexpressed with VDR, all of the HR pathogenic mutants and variants increased the level of VDR protein, demonstrating that this function of HR was not impaired by these mutations. This study of HR mutations provides evidence for the molecular basis of APL.
Low temperature specific heat and magnetoresistance of the ferromagnetic semiconductor UFe4P12

Abstract Low temperature (T) specific heat and magnetoresistance measurements have been performed on the ferromagnetic semiconducting compound UFe4P12 in the vicinity of its Curie temperature Tc=3.15 K. The specific heat data reveal a pronounced peak near Tc. The magnetoresistance above Tc is large and negative, whereas near Tc, it is initially positive, passes through a maximum, then decreases and becomes large and negative.
Methods of Smoothing Double-Entry Expectancy Tables Applied to the Prediction of Success in College.

The probability that an individual will attain a certain level of success is often the measure of primary interest in guidance and placement decisions and in the selection of qualified applicants. Expectancy tables display students' likelihood of success on a criterion measure for various levels on one or more predictors. The concern of this paper is with situations in which it may be presumed that two predictors have a monotonic nondecreasing relationship with the criterion and with each other. This seems reasonable for tables reflecting achievement test scores and/or high school grades used to estimate the probability of attaining certain grade-average levels in college. When expectancy tables are constructed using the observed relative frequencies, some cells in the resulting tables contradict the assumption of a monotonic nondecreasing function. These contradictions are presumably a result of chance irregularities (Anastasi, 1976) arising from small cell frequencies. When such apparent contradictions occur, it is desirable to "smooth" the expectancy table to remove the logical inconsistencies. Perrin and Whitney (1976) studied a number of methods for smoothing single-entry expectancy tables and concluded that the resulting gains in accuracy warranted their use in tables used for college admissions, guidance, or planning purposes. When two (or more) predictors are available, a composite can be formed and used to develop a single-entry expectancy table. The methods recommended by Perrin and Whitney (1976) can then be applied to good advantage. There are, however, situations in which it might be considered too complex or time-consuming to compute a composite predictor and for which double-entry tables may be preferred. (For example, in written materials prepared for unaided use by high school students, a "composite" predictor might prove confusing. If the composite involves non-linear transformations of the original predictors, this would be especially true.) This study was specifically intended to address issues in the accuracy of expectancy tables used in such situations. In this paper a number of methods are examined that can be used to smooth double-entry expectancy tables.'
The use of synthetic peptide combinatorial libraries for the determination of peptide ligands in radio-receptor assays: Opioid peptides

Abstract A synthetic peptide combinatorial library (SPCL) was prepared, composed of 52,128,400 L-amino acid hexapeptides, which was used with an iterative selection process to determine peptides capable of inhibiting binding of [3H] [D-Ala2,MePhe4,Gly-ol5]enkephalin (DAGO) to crude rat brain homogenates. The first five residues corresponded exactly to the naturally occurring opioid peptide sequences of methionine and leucine enkephalin.
Convergent evolution of gene circuits

Convergent evolution is a potent indicator of optimal design. We show here that convergent evolution occurs in genetic networks. Specifically, we show that multiple types of transcriptional regulation circuitry in Escherichia coli and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have evolved independently and not by duplication of one or a few ancestral circuits.
Mortality attributed to respiratory problems among finisher pigs in the United States.

In the 1995 National Swine Study of the United States National Animal Health Monitoring System, producers identified respiratory problems as the leading cause of death in pigs during the grower/finisher phase of production. Over a six-month period, 61.7±4.1% (mean±SEM) of operations reported at least one death attributed to respiratory problems among finisher pigs (based on 388 operations representing operations with ≥300 finisher pigs in 16 states). Mean mortality attributed to respiratory problems was 0.9±0.1% of finisher pigs per operation. Stepwise logistic regression (using SAS) was used to identify factors associated with operations attributing at least one death to respiratory problems, and to identify factors associated with reporting ≥2% mortality attributed to respiratory problems. Final models were run with SUDAAN to account for the sampling strategy. Attributing at least one death to respiratory problems was associated with having ≥3000 pigs enter the grower/finisher unit over a six-month period; diagnosis of Haemophilus (or Actinobacillus) in the past 12 months; and keeping pigs in the grower/finisher unit >120 days (as compared to <100 days). Not having a farrowing facility, mean weaning age <28 days, and <50% of finisher pigs on solid concrete only were associated with reporting ≥2% mortality attributed to respiratory problems.
An axisymmetric Neumann potential problem for the circular annulus

Abstract In this note we consider an axisymmetric three-part mixed boundary value problem wherein a Neumann condition is prescribed over a plane circular annulus and over the remainder of the plane of the annulus Dirichlet conditions are imposed. The problem is reduced to a problem of solving an infinite system of algebraic equations. Expressions are derived for the quantities of interest and some numerical results are given.
Usability, user preferences, effectiveness, and user behaviors when searching individual and integrated full-text databases: implications for digital libraries

This article addresses a crucial issue in the digital library environment: how to support effective interaction of users with heterogeneous and distributed information resources. In particular, this study compared usability, user preference, effectiveness, and searching behaviors in systems that implement interaction with multiple databases through a common interface, and with multiple databases as if they were one (integrated interaction) in an experiment in the Text REtrieval Conference (TREC) environment. Twenty-eight volunteers were recruited from the graduate students of the School of Communication, Information, & Library Studies at Rutgers University. Significantly more subjects preferred the common interface to the integrated interface, mainly because they could have more control over database selection. Subjects were also more satisfied with the results from the common interface, and performed better with the common interface than with the integrated interface. Overall, it appears that for this population, interacting with databases through a common interface, is preferable on all grounds to interacting with databases through an integrated interface. These results suggest that: (1) the general assumption of the information retrieval (IR) literature that an integrated interaction is best needs to be revisited; (2) it is important to allow for more user control in the distributed environment; (3) for digital library purposes, it is important to characterize different databases to support user choice for integration; and, (4) certain users prefer control over database selection while still opting for results to be merged.
Enzymatic determination of betaine in rat tissues.

Abstract We have developed a sensitive and specific assay for the content of betaine in animal tissues. The method depends on the methylation of homocysteine by [14CH3]betaine in the presence of the enzyme betaine: homocysteine methyltransferase. Dilution of the radioactive substrate by the betaine contained in processed extracts reduces the specific activity of the products. Since the reciprocal of product radioactivity is a linear function of the amount of betaine in this sample, the latter can be determined.
Depressive Symptoms and Cardiovascular Health by the American Heart Association’s Definition in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study

Background Depressive symptoms are associated with increased incident and recurrent cardiovascular events. In 2010, the American Heart Association published the Life's Simple 7, a metric for assessing cardiovascular health as measured by 4 health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, body mass index, diet) and 3 biological measures (cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose). The association between depressive symptoms and the Life's Simple 7 has not yet been explored. Methods Data from 20,093 participants ≥45 years of age who enrolled in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study between 2003 and 2007 and who had complete data available on Life's Simple 7 components were used for these analyses. The prevalence of ideal, intermediate, and poor health on each Life's Simple 7 component and total Life's Simple 7 scores were compared between participants with and without depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms were measured using the 4-item Centers for Epidemiologic Studies of Depression scale. Results Participants with depressive symptoms were more likely to have poor levels on each of the Life's Simple 7 components other than cholesterol [adjusted prevalence ratios (95% CI): smoking 1.41 (1.29-1.55); physical activity 1.38 (1.31-1.46); body mass index 1.09 (1.04-1.15); diet 1.08 (1.06-1.10); blood pressure 1.11 (1.02-1.21); glucose 1.24 (1.09-1.41)]. There was a graded association between increasing depressive symptoms and lower total Life's Simple 7 score. Conclusion Depressive symptoms are associated with worse cardiovascular health on the overall Life's Simple 7 and on individual components representing both health behaviors and biological factors.
Posteromedial elbow impingement: magnetic resonance imaging findings in overhead throwing athletes and results of arthroscopic treatment.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to define the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pattern and assess the results of arthroscopic treatment of posteromedial elbow impingement in overhead throwers. Methods Over an 8-year period, 9 throwing athletes diagnosed with posteromedial elbow impingement were retrospectively identified. All patients had either a noncontrast or direct arthrogram–MRI study that was reviewed by a single, fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologist blinded to the clinical diagnosis. Arthroscopic treatment included debridement of posteromedial synovitis, loose body removal, and excision of the olecranon spur. All patients underwent a physical examination and completion of the Andrews-Carson scale at a mean of 68 months (range, 25 to 112 months). Results All patients were male, with a mean age of 21.0 years (range, 17 to 34 years). The dominant arm was affected in all patients. The mean length of symptoms before surgery was 9 months (range, 5 to 24 months). At MRI, a reproducible pattern of pathology was noted. All patients had pathology at the articular surfaces of the posterior trochlea and the anterior, medial olecranon. The findings ranged from abnormal edema-like signal in the hyaline cartilage to cartilage defects and subjacent, subchondral bone marrow edema. Findings at surgery included posteromedial synovitis and olecranon spurring in all patients and loose bodies in 3 patients. On the basis of the Andrews-Carson scale, the subjective and objective outcome was considered excellent in 7 patients and good in 2. Conclusions Posteromedial elbow impingement is a source of disability in the overhead throwing athlete. Correlation of history and physical examination with imaging findings is essential to confirm the diagnosis. This study indicates that MRI identifies a reproducible pattern of pathology in throwing athletes with this disorder. These MRI findings correlate highly with arthroscopic evaluation. Arthroscopic debridement, olecranon spur excision, and loose body removal allow return to throwing sports and reliable subjective and objective results in carefully selected patients. Level of Evidence Level IV, therapeutic case series.
pH profiles indicative of rate-limiting nucleophilic displacement in thioltransferase catalysis.

The apparent pKa for the active site thiol of human thioltransferase (TTase) is about 3.5, but the pH dependence of TTase-catalyzed rates of glutathione (GSH)-dependent reduction of disulfide substrates displays an inflection point near pH 8.5. The similarity of the pH-rate profile with the titration of the GSH thiol moiety suggested rate-limiting nucleophilic attack by the glutathionyl thiolate species to regenerate reduced TTase from the TTase-SSG intermediate. To test this hypothesis pH-rate profiles for TTase-catalyzed dethiolation of the glutathionyl mixed disulfide of bovine serum albumin ([35S]BSA-SSG) were measured according to release of radiolabeled GS-equivalents. Various thiol compounds, whose thiol pKa values range on both sides of the pKa of GSH (pKa = 8.7), were used as reducing substrates, e.g., trifluoroethanethiol (pKa = 7.5) and 3-mercaptopropionic acid (pKa = 10.3). The pH-rate profiles paralleled the titration of the respective thiol groups of the reducing substrates, consistent with the hypothesis. In addition, second-order rate constants (k) were determined for the nonenzymatic and TTase-catalyzed reactions of the various thiols with BSA-SSG. A simple linear free energy relationship (log k vs pKa) was displayed for the nonenzymatic reactions. In contrast, the relationship for the enzymatic reactions revealed GSH to be different from the other thiol substrates, i.e., GSH gave a second-order rate constant greater than expected for its thiol pKa. This result suggests a special interaction of GSH with the TTase enzyme in the transition state that enhances the nucleophilicity of GSH.
Extracting salient contours for target recognition: algorithm and performance evaluation

To achieve robust and efficient object recognition, particularly from real outdoor images, we must develop methods to reduce clutter and extract salient information of objects. Toward this end, we present a technique to rank and extract salient contours from a 2-D image acquired by a passive sensor. The goal is to find important contours corresponding to possible objects. Our method starts with edge pixels, or edgels, from an edge detector and assigns a saliency measure to linked edgels (contours) based on length, smoothness, and contrast. For length we use the number of edgels in the contour, for smoothness we use average change of curvature, and for contrast we use the edge magnitude. Contours are ranked by saliency, and the more salient contours are selected. We test this method on several real outdoor images of objects in cluttered and occluded conditions and obtain excellent results. We evaluate the performance of this technique in the context of a recognition system that matches 2-D image corners with 3-D model vertices. We present graphs, using corners on the object of interest and clutter, to demonstrate the appropriateness of saliency ranking. We plot curves displaying the percentage of object corners to all image corners for the top few salient contours. We conclude by observing that extracting the more salient contours increases the ratio of image corners on the object to all image corners, reducing the search space for the corner matching step in recognition.
Whither Monetary Economics

I argue that monetary economics should be pursued by applying implementation theory to models which contain explicit frictions that make money essential. The argument has two parts. First, I argue that models in which real balances are assumed to be productive—models with money in utility or production functions or with cash-in-advance constraints—contain hidden inconsistencies. Second, I argue that the approach advocated is capable of providing new insights about some of the main issues in monetary economics: the effects of monetary shocks, the welfare cost of inflation, and the roles of inside and outside money.
Comparison of several learning subspace methods for classification

Several competition-based methods for classification are compared. Special attention is paid to subspace methods which are based on computing the projections of the patterns on the principal component vectors of the correlation matrices that span the pattern subspaces. A decision learning rule which updates the correlation matrices can be used to adjust the class boundary and improve the performance of the classification. A learning subspace method is proposed, and some other classification methods are reviewed. In this comparison, all of the methods are applied to a texture classification problem and the performance results are presented. >
Nurse practitioner-led multidisciplinary teams to improve chronic illness care: the unique strengths of nurse practitioners applied to shared medical appointments/group visits

Purpose: To describe the roles of nurse practitioners (NPs) in a novel model of healthcare delivery for patients with chronic disease: shared medical appointments (SMAs)/group visits based on the chronic care model (CCM). To map the specific skills of NPs to the six elements of the CCM: self-management, decision support, delivery system design, clinical information systems, community resources, and organizational support. Data sources: Case studies of three disease-specific multidisciplinary SMAs (diabetes, heart failure, and hypertension) in which NPs played a leadership role. Conclusions: NPs have multiple roles in development, implementation, and sustainability of SMAs as quality improvement interventions. Although the specific skills of NPs map out all six elements of the CCM, in our context, they had the greatest role in self-management, decision support, and delivery system design. Implications for practice: With the increasing numbers of patients with chronic illnesses, healthcare systems are increasingly challenged to provide necessary care and empower patients to participate in that care. NPs can play a key role in helping to meet these challenges.
Activity and N2 Selectivity of Sol–Gel Prepared Pt/Alumina Catalysts for Selective NOx Reduction

Abstract We prepared 1 and 2 wt% Pt/Al 2 O 3 catalysts by a single-step sol–gel process and tested their activity and N 2 selectivity for NO x reduction with propene. Our results show that when compared to the impregnation catalysts, the single-step sol–gel catalysts have superior N 2 selectivity both in terms of percentage of NO converted to N 2 (∼70% or greater) and comparable activity. All of the catalysts tested show a minimum in N 2 selectivity at the point of maximum NO x conversion. Both the value of the minimum selectivity and the NO x conversion are functions of oxygen concentration in the feed. The N 2 selectivity at peak conversion exhibits a minimum at ∼6.8% O 2 . Increasing the feed oxygen concentration beyond 6.8% has many beneficial effects including broadening of the temperature window, suppression of NO 2 formation and increasing the N 2 selectivity without significantly changing the maximum NO x conversion. The sol–gel catalysts show remarkable robustness after exposure to high temperatures, SO 2 , and long time exposure to reactants.
Substance use and misuse in the aftermath of terrorism. A Bayesian meta-analysis.

Aim To conduct a comprehensive analysis of the conflicting evidence on substance use and misuse following mass traumas such as terrorist incidents. Methods We reviewed and synthesized evidence from 31 population-based studies using Bayesian meta-analysis and meta-regression.Results The majority of the studied were conducted in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. Controlling for exposure, type of incident and time since the event occurred, 7.3% [95% credible interval (CrI) 1.1‐32.5%] of a population can be expected to report increased alcohol consumption in the first 2 years following a terrorist event. There is, however, a 20% probability that the prevalence will be as high as 14%. The unadjusted prevalence of increased cigarette smoking following a terrorist event is 6.8% (95% Cr I 2.6‐16.5%). Unadjusted reports of mixed drug use (including narcotics and prescription medications) was 16.3% (95% Cr I 1.3‐72.5%). Conclusions These results underscore the potentially pervasive behavioral health effects of mass terrorism, and suggest that public health interventions may usefully consider substance use as an area of focus after such events.
Evaluating Fish–Habitat Relationships for Refining Regional Indexes of Biotic Integrity: Development of a Tolerance Index of Habitat Degradation for Maryland Stream Fishes

Abstract I present tolerance values of stream fishes to specific characteristics of habitat quality in an effort to refine mid-Atlantic regional indices of biotic integrity. Species presence and abundance data were examined within ranges of habitat quality variables to reveal normalized habitat tolerance characteristics for 54 species found in nontidal streams of Maryland. Development of a fish habitat tolerance index (FHTI) provided information on the overall susceptibility of individual species to habitat degradation. Designations of intolerant, moderately intolerant, and tolerant were assigned to all species individually and compared across three regional strata (Coastal Plain, Eastern Piedmont, Highlands). Family Cyprinidae (minnows) contributed the five most intolerant species. Omnivores and invertivores contributed the top 10% of species, showing general intolerance to declining habitat quality. Candidate fish habitat metrics derived from FHTI values were evaluated and compared with selected core me...
Melatonin rhythms and pineal structure in a tropical bat, Anoura geoffroyi, that does not use photoperiod to regulate seasonal reproduction

It has been hypothesized that pineal structure and function might differ between temperate zone and tropical species of mammals because of lower amplitudes of seasonal change in photoperiod and, in some areas, less seasonal climatic variation. Anoura geoffroyi produce a single offspring in November or December of each year on the Caribbean island of Trinidad, at 10 degrees N latitude in the deep tropics. Previous work has shown that this population lacks reproductive responses to photoperiod, and must be enforcing seasonal breeding using a non-photoperiodic cue. Anoura geoffroyi have a minute, thin, and rod-like pineal gland. Throughout much of its length, the pineal courses irregularly within the ventrolateral wall of the great cerebral vein. This intimate relationship may have functional implications. Despite having a very small pineal gland, this species produced a nocturnal rise in serum melatonin. Serum melatonin levels in most individuals were below or near undetectable levels during the light period and rose to a peak averaging 100 pg/ml in the last third of the dark period. Our results indicate that, although the pineal gland of A. geoffroyi is extremely small, serum melatonin levels are comparable to those of other mammals.
The Zebrafish Information Network: the zebrafish model organism database

The Zebrafish Information Network (ZFIN) is a web based community resource that serves as a centralized location for the curation and integration of zebrafish genetic, genomic and developmental data. ZFIN is publicly accessible at http://zfin.org. ZFIN provides an integrated representation of mutants, genes, genetic markers, mapping panels, publications and community contact data. Recent enhancements to ZFIN include: (i) an anatomical dictionary that provides a controlled vocabulary of anatomical terms, grouped by developmental stages, that may be used to annotate and query gene expression data; (ii) gene expression data; (iii) expanded support for genome sequence; (iv) gene annotation using the standardized vocabulary of Gene Ontology (GO) terms that can be used to elucidate relationships between gene products in zebrafish and other organisms; and (v) collaborations with other databases (NCBI, Sanger Institute and SWISS-PROT) to provide standardization and interconnections based on shared curation.
Improving the management of warfarin may be easier than we think.

Performance variation is easy to find—all one needs to do is to look for it. We have long known that some nations achieve better control of hypertension than others,1 some hospitals have shorter door-to-balloon times than others,2 and some cardiac surgeons have better risk-adjusted mortality after coronary artery bypass graft surgery than others.3 In fact, it is difficult to recall an instance when performance was found not to vary. Given that performance variation is ubiquitous, it is no longer shocking to find it; the more interesting question is why performance varies so much. The answer to this question would likely be a key step along the pathway to improving performance. Article see p 2309 It is rather uncommon to find a single answer to the question of why performance variation exists. However, in the current issue of Circulation , Van Spall and colleagues4 have found an unusually straightforward explanation for performance variation, at least in the context of the management of warfarin. The authors found that site-level adherence to a relatively simple algorithm regarding when to change the dose of warfarin and when not to change the dose predicted fully 87% of between-center variance. Adding patient-level clinical variables (ie, risk-adjustment), center-level variables, and country-level variables only increased the amount of explained variation to 89%. In short, management of warfarin doses appeared to be almost deterministic regarding the anticoagulation control that was achieved. Remarkably, the authors also found that greater adherence to the algorithm also predicted a reduced rate of the combined primary end point of stroke, major hemorrhage, or death at the site level. For each 10% increase in algorithm-consistent dosing at the center level, the annual rate of the combined end point was 8% lower, even after adjusting for a host of patient-level predictors. The …
Experimental Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Formation Is Mediated by IL-17 and Attenuated by Mesenchymal Stem Cell Treatment

Background—Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) formation is characterized by inflammation, smooth muscle activation and matrix degradation. This study tests the hypothesis that CD4+ T-cell–produced IL-17 modulates inflammation and smooth muscle cell activation, leading to the pathogenesis of AAA and that human mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) treatment can attenuate IL-17 production and AAA formation. Methods and Results—Human aortic tissue demonstrated a significant increase in IL-17 and IL-23 expression in AAA patients compared with control subjects as analyzed by RT-PCR and ELISA. AAA formation was assessed in C57BL/6 (wild-type; WT), IL-23−/− or IL-17−/− mice using an elastase-perfusion model. Heat-inactivated elastase was used as control. On days 3, 7, and 14 after perfusion, abdominal aorta diameter was measured by video micrometry, and aortic tissue was analyzed for cytokines, cell counts, and IL-17–producing CD4+ T cells. Aortic diameter and cytokine production (MCP-1, RANTES, KC, TNF-α, MIP-1α, and IFN-γ)...
Morphology of an inland population of the keeled earless lizard (Holbrookia propinqua)

Abstract We studied the morphological characters of the keeled earless lizard, Holbrookia propinqua, in Guadalupe County, Texas, near its type locality (Wilson County, Texas) and at the northern extension of its range. Adults of this population were similar to those of other mainland populations but significantly smaller than adults of coastal island populations. Juveniles of the population in Guadalupe County and a coastal population showed no significant differences in size. Tail length of males did not differ among mainland populations but differed significantly from those of the island populations.
High prevalence of nasopharyngeal colonization by Staphylococcus aureus among children with HIV-1 infection in extreme southern Brazil.

OBJECTIVES: To compare nasopharyngeal colonization between children with HIV-1 infection and those without HIV-1 infection with special emphasis on nasopharyngeal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus. METHODS: This hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out in the Paediatric Day Hospital of a teaching hospital. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected in 93 children aged up to 18 years old born to HIV-positive mothers (31 children with HIV-1 infection and 62 age-matched non-infected children). RESULTS: The prevalence of nasopharyngeal colonization by S. aureus was higher among children with HIV-1 infection compared with those without HIV-1 infection (45.16% vs. 12.9% p = 0.001). After adjusting all potential confounders HIV-1 infection was an independent risk factor for nasopharyngeal colonization by S. aureus with a prevalence ratio of 4.29 (95% confidence interval: 1.72-10.70). CONCLUSION: Children with HIV-1 infection had a higher prevalence of nasopharyngeal colonization by S. aureus than children without HIV-1 infection. Most of the isolated strains of S. aureus were methicillin-susceptible.
Regional effects of selective pharyngeal muscle activation on airway shape.

Pharyngeal airway fiberoptic imaging was performed in 10 decerebrate cats to determine the effect of selective pharyngeal muscle activation on airway shape. At intraluminal pressures from 6 to −6 cm H2O, maximum anteroposterior and lateral diameters were measured in the rostral oropharynx, caudal oropharynx, and velopharynx with and without bilateral stimulation of the medial hypoglossus (HG), lateral HG, whole HG, glossopharyngeus, and pharyngeal branch of vagus nerves. At all three airway levels without nerve stimulation, the increase in diameter with increasing pressure was greater in the lateral than anteroposterior dimension. Stimulation of the hypoglossal and glossopharyngeus nerves caused greater increases in lateral than anteroposterior diameter in all three regions with different effects across nerves and regions. Stimulation of these four nerves frequently caused greater increases in both diameters, as the airway cross-sectional area was decreased by lowering airway pressure. Stimulation of the ...
Gender and self in children's autobiographical narratives

In this study, we examined relations among gender, self-concept and children's autobiographical narratives. Twenty-two white middle-class children 8 years of age (50% female) were administered the Children's Self-View Questionnaire (CSVQ). In addition, children were asked to recall a specific experience associated with each of the nine self-concept dimensions assessed by the CSVQ, including Achievement, Alienation, and Social Closeness. Consistent with previous research with adults, girl's autobiographical narratives were longer, more coherent and more detailed than were boys' narratives. Girls were also more likely to place their autobiographical narratives in a social context, to refer to more affiliative themes, and to mention more people and more emotions than were boys. In all these ways, girls' narratives were more socially contexted and relational than were those of boys. However, no relations were found between specific dimensions of self-understanding and children's autobiographical narratives. Theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.
Ecological implications of limb apraxia: Evidence from mealtime behavior

Humans learn skilled acts in order to effectively interact with their environment. A loss of the ability to perform skilled acts is termed apraxia. Apraxia has been thought to be of theoretical interest, but the ecological implications of apraxia are controversial and have not been fully studied. We examined ten patients with unilateral left hemisphere cerebral infarctions (eight of whom were apraxic) and compared their mealtime eating behavior to a group of neurologically normal, age-matched controls. The stroke patients were less efficient in completing the meal. They made more action errors and were less organized in the sequencing of mealtime activities. Because the patients made more errors while using tools than when performing nontool actions, their deficit could not be accounted for by an elemental motor deficit. A positive relationship was found between mealtime action errors and the severity of apraxia. These findings suggest that limb apraxia may adversely influence activities of daily living. (JINS, 1995, I, 62–66.)
Receiver jitter tracking characteristics in high-speed source synchronous links

High-speed links which employ source synchronous clocking architectures have the ability to track correlated jitter between clock and data channels up to high frequencies. However, system timing margins are degraded by channel skew between clock and data signals and high-frequency loss. This paper describes how these key channel effects impact the jitter performance and influence the clocking architecture of high-speed source synchronous links. Tradeoffs in complexity and jitter tracking performance of common per-channel de-skew circuits are discussed, along with how band-pass filtering can be leveraged to provide additional jitter filtering at the receiver. Jitter tolerance analysis for a 10Gb/s system shows that a near all-pass delay-locked loop (DLL) and phase-interpolator- (PI-) based de-skew performs best under low skew conditions, while, at high skew, architectures which leverage band-pass clock filtering or a phase-locked loop (PLL) for increased jitter filtering are more suitable. De-skew based on injection-locked oscillators (ILOs) offer a reduced complexity design and competitive jitter tolerance over a wide skew range.
Optically controlled optical gate with an optoelectronic dual diode structure – theory and experiment

A low-power, surface-normal optically controlled optical gate that incorporates two stacked AlGaAs diodes has been tested using both picosecond and femtosecond pulses. The device opens and closes within 20 ps with a 30% reflectivity change. Repeated gating with 20 ps periods has been demonstrated – a repetition period significantly faster than the external RC time constant. A theory of the dynamics of optically induced voltage across multiple-layered structures is presented and has been incorporated into simulations, matching experimental results well. This theory also provides insight into both the form and possible improvement of the device recovery using multiple layers.
Discrepancies Between Implicit and Explicit Self-Esteem: Implications for Narcissism and Self-Esteem Instability

There appear to be two forms of high self-esteem: secure high self-esteem (which is often linked with psychological health) and fragile high self-esteem (which is generally associated with poor psychological adjustment and impaired interpersonal relationships). Discrepant high self-esteem is a form of fragile self-esteem characterized by high explicit self-esteem and low implicit self-esteem. The present study examined whether discrepant high self-esteem was associated with narcissism and self-esteem instability in an undergraduate sample. Using multiple measures of implicit self-esteem, two basic findings emerged from the present study. First, participants with discrepant high self-esteem possessed the highest levels of narcissism. Second, participants with high explicit self-esteem and high implicit self-esteem displayed the most stable self-esteem. Findings are discussed in terms of secure and fragile high self-esteem.
Occupational Channels for Mexican Migration: New Destination Formation in a Binational Context

In the 1990s, Mexican immigration dispersed spatially, leading to the emergence of many “new destinations,” in nonmetropolitan areas of the United States. Previous studies constrain the scope of the analysis to the United States, limiting our understanding of how new destinations are formed. We place new destination formation into a binational context and emphasize the role of supply-side immigration dynamics. We argue that occupations in Mexico provide ready-made paths, or “channels,” for economic incorporation into the United States and that these channels underlie the formation of many new destinations. Using a unique data set on Mexican migration, we estimate a multivariate model that tests for the presence of occupational channels linking analogous sectors of the U.S. and Mexican economies, focusing especially on the food-processing sector. The results demonstrate that Mexican migration is strongly channeled along occupational lines. There are occupational channels linking each of the major economic sectors in Mexico and the United States, but the effect of channeling is particularly strong in the food-processing sector. By empirically identifying the existence of occupational channels, this study uncovers a key explanation of new destination formation in many nonmetropolitan areas.
Relative quantitation of transfer RNAs using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry and signature digestion products

Transfer ribonucleic acids (tRNAs) are challenging to identify and quantify from unseparated mixtures. Our lab previously developed the signature digestion approach for identifying tRNAs without specific separation. Here we describe the combination of relative quantification via enzyme-mediated isotope labeling with this signature digestion approach for the relative quantification of tRNAs. These quantitative signature digestion products were characterized using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and we find that up to 5-fold changes in tRNA abundance can be quantified from sub-microgram amounts of total tRNA. Quantitative tRNA signature digestion products must (i) incorporate an isotopic label during enzymatic digestion; (ii) have no m/z interferences from other signature digestion products in the sample and (iii) yield a linear response during LC-MS analysis. Under these experimental conditions, the RNase T1, A and U2 signature digestion products that potentially could be used for the relative quantification of Escherichia coli tRNAs were identified, and the linearity and sequence identify of RNase T1 signature digestion products were experimentally confirmed. These RNase T1 quantitative signature digestion products were then used in proof-of-principle experiments to quantify changes arising due to different culturing media to 17 tRNA families. This method enables new experiments where information regarding tRNA identity and changes in abundance are desired.