cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ethical Considerations during the Informed Consent Process for Acute Ischemic Stroke in International Clinical Trials

ABSTRACT Introduction Obtaining informed consent from acute ischemic stroke patients poses many challenges, especially in the context of a research setting. Specifically, consenting for alternative acute ischemic stroke treatments to the standard of care, Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA), can cause delays leading to increased time to reperfusion and worse outcomes. Objectives We sought to investigate the experiences of researchers in existing active-control trials in acute ischemic stroke comparing investigational therapy to tPA in order to identify the approaches and challenges in obtaining informed consent in this unique patient population. Methods Out of 401 articles evaluated, 14 trials met inclusion criteria of patients receiving IV tPA vs alternative treatment within 4.5 hours of onset of symptoms for acute ischemic stroke. Trial representatives were emailed by the study team with a request for a copy of their patient consent form, other documents related to informed consent, and to complete a survey concerning aspects of the consent process. Results Of the 6 trials conducted across 6 continents that completed the survey in its entirety, 2 were ongoing, 4 were published between 2009 and 2016, and the median NIHSS for each published trial was at least an 8. All published trials in the sample stated that informed consent was obtained, but only half reported involvement of a research ethics committee. Although 3 trials performed in Europe or Asia reported directly consenting 75-100% of enrolled patients, the median NIHSS for these trials represented a moderate stroke. Trials with 75-100% of patients directly consented had shorter door to treatment (DTT) times than trials that directly consented less than 50% of enrolled patients. 5 trials allowed consent by proxy, but only 2 of those trials also required patient assent. 4 trials had translators available and translated consent documents, and these trials had longer DTT times. All trials relied on experienced providers or dedicated research coordinators to obtain informed consent; however, only 2 of 6 trials mentioned specific training with regards to informed consent skills. Conclusions The current informed consent process is not transparent and poses challenges to investigators in the USA directly comparing tPA to an alternative treatment. International differences in the standards of informed consent, such as deferred consent, may have allowed more patients with moderate strokes to provide direct consent after treatment administration without delaying DTT time. While targeted and innovative approaches for informed consent are needed to improve patient outcomes, we must balance protecting the autonomy of individuals whose willing involvement enables such pivotal discoveries. The stroke community must aim for efficiency, transparency, and inclusion of patients of diverse backgrounds in the informed consent process so that therapeutic advances are possible.
Understanding racism in physical (biological) anthropology

The mainstream of American physical anthropology began as racist and eugenical science that defended slavery, restricted "non-Nordic" immigration, and justified Jim Crow segregation. After World War II, the field became more anti-racial than anti-racist. It has continued as a study of natural influences on human variation and thus continues to evade the social histories of inequitable biological variation. Also reflecting its occupancy of white space, biological anthropology continues to deny its own racist history and marginalizes the contributions of Blacks. Critical disciplinary history and a shift toward biocultural studies might begin an anti-racist human biology.
Recurrence of unusual dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumour with novel molecular features presenting 10 years after gross total resection.

A 16-year-old girl with a prior history of a dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumour (DNET) diagnosed at the age of 6 years, treated with a gross total resection and followed by serial imaging, who had been seizure-free, presented with a focal seizure. MRI revealed recurrence of a peripherally
Patients with Clinically Elevated Depressive Symptoms Report Improvements in Mood, Pain, and Functioning following Participation in Interdisciplinary Pain Rehabilitation.

Objective Chronic pain and depression frequently co-occur and exacerbate one another; therefore, it is important to treat both conditions to improve patient outcomes. The current study evaluates an interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation program (IPRP) with respect to the following questions: 1) How do clinically elevated depressive symptoms impact pain-related treatment outcomes? and 2) To what extent does IPRP participation yield reliable and clinically significant change in depressed mood? Methods Participants in this study included 425 adults who engaged in a 10-week IPRP and completed self-report measures of pain, mood, and functioning at intake and discharge. Participants were categorized into 4 groups based on self-reported depressive symptoms (PROMIS Depression): within normal limits (WNL; n = 121), Mild (n = 115), Moderate (n = 153), and Severe (n = 36). Results Participants reported significant improvement in pain, pain-related life interference, health-related quality of life, pain catastrophizing, and depressed mood regardless of initial symptom level. In addition, 43.4% of patients with Mild, Moderate, or Severe depressed mood reported reliable and clinically significant improvement in depressive symptoms and 30.3% were in remission at the end of treatment. Conclusions These findings support the assertion that IPRPs represent an effective treatment for patients with comorbid chronic pain and depression and that participation is associated with improvement in both conditions.
DNA-encoded chemistry technology yields expedient access to SARS-CoV-2 M pro inhibitors.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has killed more than 4 million humans globally, but there is no bona fide Food and Drug Administration-approved drug-like molecule to impede the COVID-19 pandemic. The sluggish pace of traditional therapeutic discovery is poorly suited to producing targeted treatments against rapidly evolving viruses. Here, we used an affinity-based screen of 4 billion DNA-encoded molecules en masse to identify a potent class of virus-specific inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) without extensive and time-consuming medicinal chemistry. CDD-1714, the initial three-building-block screening hit (molecular weight [MW] = 542.5 g/mol), was a potent inhibitor (inhibition constant [K i] = 20 nM). CDD-1713, a smaller two-building-block analog (MW = 353.3 g/mol) of CDD-1714, is a reversible covalent inhibitor of Mpro (K i = 45 nM) that binds in the protease pocket, has specificity over human proteases, and shows in vitro efficacy in a SARS-CoV-2 infectivity model. Subsequently, key regions of CDD-1713 that were necessary for inhibitory activity were identified and a potent (K i = 37 nM), smaller (MW = 323.4 g/mol), and metabolically more stable analog (CDD-1976) was generated. Thus, screening of DNA-encoded chemical libraries can accelerate the discovery of efficacious drug-like inhibitors of emerging viral disease targets.
Chapter 28 Neurometric studies of aging and cognitive impairment

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the neurometric studies of aging and cognitive impairment. Neurometrics is used to study large populations of patients with different neurological and psychiatric disorders. Each disorder appears to be characterized by a distinctive pattern of deviant neurometric Z values, or standard scores, for particular descriptors. The anatomical pattern of the values of each descriptor is topographically mapped. The color coding of such maps reflects the probability that the observed value lies within the normal limits for a healthy person of the same age as the patient. The distinctive patterns of significantly deviant features are used to construct multiple discriminant functions that accurately classify patients with different diseases. Normal brain electrical activity––EEG (electroencephalography) or ERP (event-related potential)—are precisely characterized by quantitative descriptors. By statistical comparison of the features extracted from an individual against a normative database, clinically significant deviations are objectively identified. Neurometric methods are applied to the study of EEGs and ERPs in a large sample of elderly people with and without cognitive impairment, as well as to a group of normal subjects under age 55. All patients are assessed for the magnitude of cognitive decline stages from 1 to 7 on the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) for age-associated cognitive decline and primary degenerative dementia.
Retinal vascular alterations associated with dome-shaped and mushroom-shaped choroidal melanomas.

Purpose: Retinal vascular abnormalities are associated with choroidalmelanoma. Although tumor ischemia, resulting in soluble angiogenic factorproduction, is a proposed etiology of these abnormalities, other sources ofischemia may also contribute. Mushroom-shaped choroidal melanomas haveincreased loss of the overlying choriocapillaris and increased subretinal fluidwhen compared to dome-shaped tumors; factors that may result in outer retinalischemia, angiogenic factor production and resultant retinal vascular abnormalities.The differing amounts of retinal vascular abnormalities overlying dome-shapedcompared to mushroom-shaped melanomas were determined to evaluate thishypothesis. Methods: Retinal vascular abnormalities observed on fluoresceinangiograms of eyes with choroidal melanoma were compared to the tumor configuration and presence of subretinal fluid. Results: 23 eyes of 22 patients were included in the study. Retinal vascular abnormalities observed included dilated capillaries, telangiectatic capillaries, capillary nonperfusion, microaneurysms, neovascularization, lipid exudation and late staining of dye within the retina. Retinal vascular abnormalities were present in 4 of 14 eyes with dome-shaped tumors (29%) and in 8 of 9 eyes with mushroom-shaped tumors (89%). (Fisher's Exact Test, p=0.009). Retinal vascular abnormalities were present in 2 of 10 eyes without subretinal fluid (20%) and in 10 of 13 eyes with subretinal fluid (77%). (Fisher's Exact Test, p = 0.012). Conclusions: Retinal vascular abnormalities are associated with mushroom-shaped choroidal melanomas more commonly than dome-shaped tumors. Outer retinal ischemia may result from choriocapillaris loss or the presence of subretinal fluid, contributing to soluble angiogenic factor production and resultant retinal vascular abnormalities in these eyes. Summary statement: Retinal vascular abnormalities are associated with mushroom-shaped choroidal melanomas more commonly than dome-shaped tumors. These retinal vascularabnormalities may be related to an increase in outer retinal ischemia associated withmushroom-shaped tumors.
Scalability of selectorecombinative genetic algorithms for problems with tight linkage

Ensuring building-block (BB) mixing is critical to the success of genetic and evolutionary algorithms. This study develops facetwise models to predict the BB mixing time and the population sizing dictated by BB mixing for single-point crossover. The population-sizing model suggests that for moderate-to-large problems, BB mixing - instead of BB decision making and BB supply - bounds the population size required to obtain a solution of constant quality. Furthermore, the population sizing for single-point crossover scales as O (2km1.5), where k is the BB size, and m is the number of BBs.
Risky behavior among Black Caribbean and Black African adolescents in England: How do they compare?

Objectives. Black Caribbean and Black African adolescents in England face academic and social challenges that might predisposition them to engaging in more risky behavior. This study explored the growth trajectories of risky behavior among adolescents in England over 3 years (14/15, 15/16, and 16/17 years of age) to determine the extent to which ethnic groups differed.Design. Data were taken from the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England database (N = 15,770). This database contained eight different ethnic groups. Risky behavior was defined by an 8-item scale that represented three classes of risky behavior. Individual theta scores for risky behavior were calculated for individuals at each time point and modeled over time. Interaction terms between sex, year, ethnicity, and class were also examined.Results. Findings confirmed previous research that showed ethnic group differences in means. They also demonstrated that there are differences in slopes as well, even after controlling for class. In fac...
Preventing heel ulcers: a comparison of prophylactic body-support systems.

Abstract Five commercially available body-support systems used in the prevention of decubitus heel ulcers were objectively compared for their capacity to dissipate or decrease pressure concentration at the most prominent posterior aspect of the heel in bedridden, insensate patients. The Foot Drop Stop, a foam heel suspender, completely eliminated contact between the heel and the bed, and it was the most successful in decreasing pressure concentration. The space boot and foam heel protectors were far more successful than sheepskin rugs or polyester heel protectors, which provided little protection to the prominent heel.
Adaptive beams for beamspace direction finding

Radio direction finding in the high-frequency band is challenging since the complex signal and noise environment is difficult to model, defeating the basis of most high-resolution techniques. Since fixed beams are ineffective with the small apertures common at HF, the authors propose a method for designing beams adaptively (i.e., in a data-dependent manner). Results based on both simulation and real HF field data show that adaptive-beamspace processing can be superior to either element-space or fixed-beamspace processing. >
Hormonal and Nutritional Regulation of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase mRNA Levels in Chicken Kidney

In chickens, the kidney possesses a distinct cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase activity which is not found in the liver. This activity is subject to long-term regulation by diet and changes in acid-base status. The activity is increased during starvation or metabolic acidosis. In addition, an unidentified component of some standard chicken diets results in altered activity. Using a specific cDNA probe the abundance of PEPCK mRNA has been determined in chicken kidney in vivo and in vitro. The abundance of PEPCK mRNA in chicken kidney increases during starvation and is rapidly decreased after refeeding carbohydrate. In isolated kidney tubules the abundance of the mRNA is increased after incubation with glucocorticoids, dibutyryl cAMP or hormones acting via changes in the concentration of cAMP (parathyroid hormone, epinephrine). Phorbol esters or hormones acting via calcium-dependent mechanisms were without effect. The results support the hypothesis that in the chicken the kidney is the major site of gluconeogenesis from substrates other than lactate and thus plays an important role in the maintenance of glucose homeostasis.
Relative equilibria of point vortices that lie on a great circle of a sphere

Relative equilibrium configurations of n point vortices lying on a great circle of the unit sphere are shown to satisfy a system of n polynomial equations. An upper bound for the number of relative equilibria is thereby obtained. The system can be reduced if some of the vortices have the same circulation. For identical vortices, computation of the relative equilibria reduces to finding the roots of a single polynomial in one complex variable. Several numerical examples are presented.
Break Out the Mint Juleps? Is New Hampshire the “Primary” Culprit Limiting Presidential Nomination Forecasts?

Previous research demonstrated the possibility of forecasting presidential nominations by using the results of public opinion polls and Federal Election Commission records regarding the money presi...
Paternity of offspring in multiply-mated, female crickets: the effect of nuptial food gifts and the advantage of mating first

The spermatophore transferred by male decorated crickets ( Gryllodes sigillatus ) includes a large gelatinous mass, the spermatophylax, that is consumed by the female after mating. This nuptial gift preoccupies the female while sperm are discharged from the remaining portion of the spermatophore, the sperm ampulla, into her reproductive tract. There is considerable variation in the mass of the spermatophylax, and about half of all males produce spermatophylaxes that are too small to ensure complete sperm transfer. We tested two hypotheses concerning the maintenance of this variation: (i) males trade–off investment in spermatophylaxes against copulation frequency; and (ii) males synthesize the largest spermatophylaxes of which they are physiologically capable. Males synthesizing large and small food gifts were permitted multiple mating opportunities with the same females, and allozyme markers were used to establish the paternity of offspring. There was a significant advantage to those males that mated first irrespective of gift size. This advantage probably arose, in part, because the sperm of first males would have had exclusive access to female9s eggs during the first 24 hours of oviposition, and underscores the benefits of matings with virgin females. The paternity of ‘small–gift’ males increased with gift mass, but there was no such increase in ‘large–gift’ males. This difference probably stems from the relationship between gift mass and sperm transfer: most of the gifts of the large–gift males would have been above the threshold needed to achieve complete inseminations, whereas those of small–gift males would have been below the threshold. Within mating–order positions, there was no significant difference in the paternity of large–gift and small–gift males, a result seemingly consistent with the ‘trade–off’ hypothesis. However, there was no correlation between spermatophylax mass and male mating frequency, so that the mechanism by which small–gift males offset their fertilization disadvantage remains unknown.
The in vitro permeability coefficient and short-term absorption rates for vinyl toluene using human cadaver skin mounted in a static diffusion cell model

Vinyl toluene is one of several methylstyrene monomers that provide improved performance in resins for specialty paints, hydrocarbon resins for adhesives, specialty polymers, and unsaturated polyes...
Problems with in vitro production of spores of Bacillus popilliae for use in biological control of the japanese beetle

Abstract Bacillus popilliae spores have been used in the United States for the biological control of the Japanese beetle for over 50 years. Lack of efficient sporulation in vitro has been a major limiting factor in expanding the use of this bacterium. Previously, commercial spore powders were produced by maceration of milky disease infected larvae containing large numbers of spores. Recently, (since 1985) a commercially available spore powder produced by a patented in vitro procedure has been marketed. However, most batches of the in vitro spore powder and primary fermentation products that we examined contained a bacterium identified as Bacillus polymyxa, but no B. popilliae. We also examined four cultures submitted to the American Type Culture Collection (Rockville, MD) at the time of patent application as representative sentative of the strains of B. popilliae produced in vitro . One of these, referred to as the preferred strain, was identified as B. polymyxa. The other ATCC strains were identical in their characteristics to Bacillus amylolyticus. Both B. polymyxa and B. amylolyticus spores, and in vitro -produced milky disease spore powder containing these bacteria rather than B. popilliae, caused no milky disease in Japanese beetle larvae. The patented procedure should be reexamined since there is no evidence that it is effective in producing infective B. popilliae spores.
Helium ICP-AES: effects of induction frequency and forward power on plasma formation and analytical and fundamental properties

Abstract Helium inductively coupled plasmas (He ICPs), formed at 6.8, 27.1 and 40.7 MHz with a single generator, were investigated at power levels of up to 2.5 kW for atomic emission spectrometry (AES). A 27.1-MHz generator and an impedance matching network were modified for operation at the cited frequencies. Detection limits for Br I (827.2 nm), Cl I (837.5 nm), II (804.3 nm), and S I (921.2), excitation and rotational temperatures, and electron number densities were measured. In addition, spectral features of He ICPs at atmospheric and reduced pressure were compared for the wavelength range between 200 and 600 nm for the 27.1 MHz plasmas. For the reduced-pressure He ICP, the series limit of He (3S-3P) was used to estimate electron number densities in the energy addition region. At higher operation frequencies, detection limits were improved by approximately a factor of 3 for the 1.5-kW atmospheric-pressure plasmas (2, 3 and 9 μg ml for Br, Cl and I, respectively), while no significant change in excitation and rotational temperatures and electron number densities were noted. Operation of a 27.1-MHz He ICP at 2.5 as compared to 1.5 kW, increased electron number density and rotational temperature by approximately a factor of 2 and 400 K, respectively. However, no significant change in detection limits or excitation temperature were noted at the higher power. These results were compared to data obtained for a 1.1-kW, 27.1-MHz Ar ICP.
Rupture of the bronchus

Abstract Traumatic rupture of the left main bronchus in an 11-year-old boy, with pneumothorax and recurrent lung collapse was verified by bronchoscopy and bronchography. On the fourteenth day after injury, the stenosed, perforated, and inflamed zone of bronchus was excised and end-to-end anastomosis accomplished. Complete recovery has been maintained through a 2-year follow-up. This case confirms the consensus of published reports concerning early repair.
Alternative base‐calling algorithm for DNA sequencing based on four‐label multicolor detection

A simple base-calling scheme based on four-label multicolor detection is suggested for DNA sequencing. The entire spectra of the dye labels were used for identification. Specifically, the maxima of the emission spectra rather than the intensity ratios at selected wavelengths are used to provide excellent discrimination. Capillary gel electrophoresis was used for the separation of DNA fragments. Data acquisition and analysis compatible with fast and high-throughput imaging detection was accomplished. The accuracy of base calling of PGEM/U DNA from the raw data obtained with 5 nm and 7 nm spectroscopic resolution were 98.4% for 386 bases and 98.4% for 385 bases. Base calling of M13mp18 DNA showed 98.3% accuracy for 420 bases.
Epitaxial Growth of Large Pentacene Crystals on Si(001) Surfaces Functionalized with Molecular Monolayers

The nucleation and growth of pentacene thin films are controlled largely by the energies associated with the interfaces. We have used low-energy electron microscopy (LEEM) and photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM) to investigate the nucleation and growth of pentacene thin films on Si(001) surfaces modified with two different molecular monolayers. Clean Si(001)-(2 × 1) surfaces were modified with either 1,5-cyclooctadiene or 1-dodecene prior to pentacene growth to study the effects of exposed π bonds at the interface, orientation of those π bonds relative to each other, and rigidity of the molecular layer on pentacene nucleation, growth, and crystalline orientation. Both molecular monolayers weaken the substrate−pentacene interaction sufficiently to allow for low pentacene nucleation density and good pentacene diffusion, leading to the growth of pentacene grains as large as 100 μm. Pentacene grows epitaxially on both functionalized surfaces, adopting an orthorhombic unit cell that follows the orientatio...
Oxygen isotopic composition of chondritic interplanetary dust particles: A genetic link between carbonaceous chondrites and comets

Oxygen isotopes were measured in four chondritic hydrated interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) and five chondritic anhydrous IDPs including two GEMS-rich particles (Glass embedded with metal and sulfides) by a combination of high precision and high lateral resolution ion microprobe techniques. All IDPs have isotopic compositions tightly clustered around that of solar system planetary materials. Hydrated IDPs have mass-fractionated oxygen isotopic compositions similar to those of CI and CM carbonaceous chondrites, consistent with hydration of initially anhydrous protosolar dust. Anhydrous IDPs have small 16O excesses and depletions similar to those of carbonaceous chondrites, the largest 16O variations being hosted by the two GEMS-rich IDPs. Coarse-grained forsteritic olivine and enstatite in anhydrous IDPs are isotopically similar to their counterparts in comet Wild 2 and in chondrules suggesting a high temperature inner solar system origin. The small variations in the 16O content of GEMS-rich IDPs suggest that most GEMS either do not preserve a record of interstellar processes or the initial interstellar dust is not 16O-rich as expected by self-shielding models, although a larger dataset is required to verify these conclusions. Together with other chemical and mineralogical indicators, O isotopes show that the parent-bodies of carbonaceous chondrites, of chondritic IDPs, of most Antarctic micrometeorites, and comet Wild 2 belong to a single family of objects of carbonaceous chondrite chemical affinity as distinct from ordinary, enstatite, K- and R-chondrites. Comparison with astronomical observations thus suggests a chemical continuum of objects including main belt and outer solar system asteroids such as C-type, P-type and D-type asteroids, Trojans and Centaurs as well as short-period comets and other Kuiper Belt Objects.
Univariate analysis of dichotomous or ordinal data from twin pairs: A simulation study comparing structural equation modeling and logistic regression

The univariate analysis of categorical twin data can be performed using either structural equation modeling (SEM) or logistic regression. This paper presents a comparison between these two methods using a simulation study. Dichotomous and ordinal (three category) twin data are simulated under two different sample sizes (1,000 and 2,000 twin pairs) and according to different additive genetic and common environmental models of phenotypic variation. The two methods are found to be generally comparable in their ability to detect a "correct" model under the specifications of the simulation. Both methods lack power to detect the right model for dichotomous data when the additive genetic effect is low (between 10 and 20%) or medium (between 30 and 40%); the ordinal data simulations produce similar results except for the additive genetic model with medium or high heritability. Neither method could adequately detect a correct model that included a modest common environmental effect (20%) even when the additive genetic effect was large and the sample size included 2,000 twin pairs. The SEM method was found to have better power than logistic regression when there is a medium (30%) or high (50%) additive genetic effect and a modest common environmental effect. Conversely, logistic regression performed better than SEM in correctly detecting additive genetic effects with simulated ordinal data (for both 1,000 and 2,000 pairs) that did not contain modest common environmental effects; in this case the SEM method incorrectly detected a common environmental effect that was not present.
An integrated methodology for the dynamic performance and reliability evaluation of fault-tolerant systems

We propose an integrated methodology for the reliability and dynamic performance analysis of fault-tolerant systems. This methodology uses a behavioral model of the system dynamics, similar to the ones used by control engineers to design the control system, but also incorporates artifacts to model the failure behavior of each component. These artifacts include component failure modes (and associated failure rates) and how those failure modes affect the dynamic behavior of the component. The methodology bases the system evaluation on the analysis of the dynamics of the different configurations the system can reach after component failures occur. For each of the possible system configurations, a performance evaluation of its dynamic behavior is carried out to check whether its properties, e.g., accuracy, overshoot, or settling time, which are called performance metrics, meet system requirements. Markov chains are used to model the stochastic process associated with the different configurations that a system can adopt when failures occur. This methodology not only enables an integrated framework for evaluating dynamic performance and reliability of fault-tolerant systems, but also enables a method for guiding the system design process, and further optimization. To illustrate the methodology, we present a case-study of a lateral-directional flight control system for a fighter aircraft.
NEST REUSE BY EASTERN KINGBIRDS: ADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR OR ECOLOGICAL CONSTRAINT?

Abstract The reuse of old nests by open-cup nesting passerines is a seemingly rare but potentially adaptive behavior if, as a consequence, females begin to breed earlier, lay larger clutches, or fledge more young. We report an unusually high rate of nest reuse (~10% of 341 nests) for Eastern Kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus) breeding at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon. We found no difference in availability of nesting habitat or food abundance in territories in which nests were and were not reused. We also found no support for the hypotheses that kingbirds benefited from nest reuse by breeding earlier, laying larger clutches, or fledging more young, and, contrary to expectations, females that reused nests laid significantly smaller eggs than females who built their own nests. Nest reuse was independent of age: a roughly equal number of females for which we had multiple years of data both reused nests and built new nests, but at different points in their lives. Competition for nest sites seems high at...
Medical therapy: Options and uses

Since the initial use of medical treatment for acromegaly, several advances have been made in the understanding of the pathophysiology of growth hormone producing tumors, resulting in the development of multiple medical options and novel treatments. Currently there are three major classes of medication available for the treatment of acromegaly: somatostatin receptor ligands, growth hormone receptor antagonists, and dopamine agonists. Somatostatin receptor ligands are the treatment of choice for acromegaly due to their effectiveness in controlling growth hormone excess in approximately 60% of patients and their beneficial effects on tumor volume. Clinical trials have demonstrated efficacy of pegvisomant in up to 97% of patients, but long term data and safety have yet to be established. Dopamine agonists are inexpensive, but their use is hampered by their lack of efficacy compared to other medications. Medical therapy has an established role as adjuvant therapy after non-curative surgery, as well as primary therapy for selected patients unsuitable for surgical resection. Medical treatment to control growth hormone hypersecretion is often needed after radiation therapy until the effects are evident. Preliminary data suggest a potential role for medical treatment prior to surgical resection, surgical debulking to improve medical efficacy, and combination therapy with multiple medications from the three classes. More studies are required, however, to validate the utility of these approaches in treating acromegaly. With the available therapies, disease control can be achieved in nearly all patients with acromegaly.
Buoyant surface jet analysis of the Yukon River

Thermal infrared satellite imagery of the discharge from the Yukon River obtained on July 5, 1985 was compared with hydraulic theory for the dilution of buoyant surface jets. In a crossflow, the theory predicts that the plume will follow an x exp 1/3 trajectory where x is distance alongshore, and that the plume temperature will decay according to x exp - 1/6 due to mixing with the receiving water. Measurements of the Yukon River discharge indicate very good agreement with the predicted trajectory, and less, but acceptable, agreement with the predicted dilution. Large scale thermal fronts are also observable in the thermal imagery; the fronts may be associated with excursions of the plume due to tidal currents.
Traumatic brain injury, paraquat exposure, and their relationship to Parkinson disease

ABSTRACT Objectives: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) increased risk of Parkinson disease (PD) in many but not all epidemiologic studies, giving rise to speculations about modifying factors. A recent animal study suggested that the combination of TBI with subthreshold paraquat exposure increases dopaminergic neurodegeneration. The objective of our study was to investigate PD risk due to both TBI and paraquat exposure in humans. Methods: From 2001 to 2011, we enrolled 357 incident idiopathic PD cases and 754 population controls in central California. Study participants were asked to report all head injuries with loss of consciousness for >5 minutes. Paraquat exposure was assessed via a validated geographic information system (GIS) based on records of pesticide applications to agricultural crops in California since 1974. This GIS tool assesses ambient pesticide exposure within 500 m of residences and workplaces. Results: In logistic regression analyses, we observed a 2-fold increase in risk of PD for subjects who reported a TBI (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.28–3.14) and a weaker association for paraquat exposures (AOR 1.36, 95% CI 1.02–1.81). However, the risk of developing PD was 3-fold higher (AOR 3.01, 95% CI 1.51–6.01) in study participants with a TBI and exposure to paraquat than those exposed to neither risk factor. Conclusions: While TBI and paraquat exposure each increase the risk of PD moderately, exposure to both factors almost tripled PD risk. These environmental factors seem to act together to increase PD risk in a more than additive manner.
Accelerated hepatitis C virus kinetics but similar survival rates in recipients of liver grafts from living versus deceased donors.

This study tested the hypothesis that hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA and core antigen levels rise more rapidly after liver transplantation (LT) in recipients of grafts from living donors (LD) versus deceased donors (DD). Eleven consecutive LD and 15 DD recipients were followed prospectively. Before LT, median HCV RNA levels were similar: 5.42 (LDLT) and 5.07 (DDLT) log10 IU/mL (P = NS). During the first 7 hours after LT a trend toward a greater HCV RNA decrease in LDLT patients was seen, although they received fewer blood replacement products during surgery. HCV RNA levels rose more rapidly in LDLT patients between days 1 and 3 (P = .0059) and were higher in this group on days 2, 3, 4, and 5. Core antigen levels were significantly higher in LDLT patients on days 3 and 5, although they were similar before LT (P = NS). Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values were higher among LDLT patients from 8 to 14 days and from 4 to 24 months. Two-year graft and patient survival were 73% for LDLT patients and 80% for DDLT patients (P = NS). In conclusion, viral load rose more rapidly in LD recipients and reached higher levels shortly after surgery. Greater ALT elevations were evident in the LDLT group, but survival rates were similar. The trend toward a greater initial viral load decrease in patients with LD grafts and the significantly sharper increase suggest that the liver plays a predominant role in both HCV clearance and replication. (HEPATOLOGY 2005;42:1420–1428.)
Transfer facial expressions with identical topology

We present a novel method to produce realistic expressions and animations by transferring existing expressions from a given facial model to a new facial model. The representation of the target model is first converted to make its topology the same as the source model. The radial basis function is employed to deform the template meshes to fit the target model. We then map all the vertices to the surface of the target model while preserving its spatial relationships with neighboring vertices. Therefore, facial expressions and motions can be faithfully transferred between models. With this method, a person can create many different models with the same animated expression even if these models have different topologies and, for any given model, a person can create many different expressions.
IMU-RGBD camera navigation using point and plane features

In this paper, we present a linear-complexity 3D inertial navigation algorithm using both point and plane features observed from an RGBD camera. In particular, we study the system's observability properties, and prove that: (i) When observing a single plane feature of known direction, the IMU gyroscope bias is observable. (ii) By observing a single point feature, as well as a single plane of known direction but not perpendicular to gravity, all degrees of freedom of the IMU-RGBD navigation system become observable, up to global translations. Next, based on the results of the observability analysis, we design a consistency-improved, observability-constrained (OC) extended Kalman filter (EKF)-based estimator for the IMU-RGBD camera navigation system. Finally, we experimentally validate the superiority of our proposed algorithm compared to alternative methods in urban scenes.
Connecting the Dots: Exploring Themes in Adoption Picturebooks.

Approximately 1.4 million school-aged children entered their families through adoption. As such, adoption represents a real and complex social issue with which young children—adopted or not—can grapple. Adoption picturebooks provide a medium by which children can explore this complicated concept. This manuscript analyzes a standard library collection of adoption picturebooks to explore the salient themes that arise throughout this body of children’s literature. Four major, yet overlapping themes emerged: the adopted child as “precious”, the search for identity, the pursuit of adoption, and the need to establish a sense of belonging. This study shows that the themes located within this subset of children’s literature are broad, fluid and often intricately woven together; a complexity that is mirrored through the same qualities in life. Through adoption picturebooks, children are provided with a terrain in which to explore the conceptual components that frame their identities and are presented with a space to examine the realities of adoption.
A storage-size selection problem

Le propos de cet article est d'observer que si un algorithme de «bin-packing» A peut garantir un rapport R du cas pire pour le probleme de «bin-packing» usuel, alors une version iteree A* peut etre utilisee pour achever une limite aussi fermee a R que desiree pour ce probleme de selection de taille
Psychopathy scores and violence among juvenile offenders: a multi-measure study.

This study examined the relations between psychopathy scores and violent behavior in 113 incarcerated adolescents. We compared the results of four different instruments designed to assess psychopathy features among juveniles—the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV), two versions of the Antisocial Processes Screening Device (APSD), and a Psychopathy Content scale on the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI). We found that PCLY:YV scores were significantly correlated with violent offense history, unadjudicated violence, and institutional violence, as well as measures of the severity and instrumentality of prior violence. Receiver operating characteristic analyses generated statistically significant effect sizes (AUC values) ranging from 0.64 to 0.79. The three other measures generated statistically significant correlations with one or more of the violence criteria, although correlations and effect sizes tended to be smaller in magnitude. Our results offer some support for the validity of these measures of psychopathic features, and the value of the PCL:YV in particular, with respect to short-term measures of violence outcome among juvenile offenders. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Density dependence in rangeland grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

We tested for the existence of density dependence in annual adult rangeland grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acrididae) data from Montana, USA (1951-1991). Statistical density dependence was, in the sense of a stochastic equilibrium or return tendency, detected in all of the grasshopper mean density time-series from the three major physiographic regions of the state, Northern Glaciated Plains, Southern Unglaciated Plains, and Western Mountains. Parameters were estimated for a model that described the stochastic equilibrium characteristics of regional mean densities. The analyses showed that rangeland grasshopper regional densities fluctuate according to gamma distribution with a mean of 6.1-6.3 grasshoppers per m2. Further, when regions exhibit outbreaks, the resulting infestation period (duration of outbreak) is short, spanning only a few generations.
A Comparative Analysis of Anterior Chamber, Iris-Supported, Capsule-Fixated, and Posterior Chamber Intraocular Lenses Following Cataract Extraction by Phacoemulsification

Representative lens styles of four different intraocular lens groups after cataract extraction by phacoemulsification are compared. Certain cases were excluded to minimize inconsistency. Postoperative visual acuities and complications of each lens type are compared.
On the fracture toughness of Douglas fir wood

Abstract The fracture toughness of Douglas fir was investigated by means of double edge notch, center notch, and double cantilever beam specimens. The fracture toughness was found to increase with increasing strain rate. Specimens with cracks in the radial-longitudinal plane gave much higher values of fracture toughness when the crack propagated in the radial as compared to the longitudinal direction. The results from double edge notch and double cantilever beam specimens showed poor agreement which could not be fully explained. The fracture toughness of specimens with ‘natural’ cracks (checks resulting from drying stresses) appeared to be greatly influenced by residual drying stresses.
Critical temperatures and pressures of ternary hydrocarbon mixtures: The ethane-propane-n-butane system

Utilising a visual PVT cell, experimental values have been established for the critical temperatures and critical pressures of five mixtures containing ethane, propane and n-butane, and of two mixtures containing propane and n-butane. The results are extended by use of experimental critical values reported in the literature for the ethane-propane, ethane-n-butane, and propane-n-butane binary systems; a unique graphical technique is applied to generate triangular composition diagrams containing parameters of critical temperature and pressure. These diagrams accurately establish the critical point of ethane-propane-n-butane mixtures over the entire composition range.
Mechanism for Superconductivity in Lanthanum and Uranium

A mechanism for superconductivity in La and U is proposed. This mechanism depends upon the existence of a low-lying virtual f level. A model for the excitation of the virtual f level is suggested. (C.E.S.)
Observations and simulations of snow surface temperature on cross-country ski racing courses

Fast skis are essential for an Olympic cross-country skiing athlete. Accurate and timely estimates of the snow surface conditions on a race course are needed to prepare race skis. For training purposes prior to the 2010 Winter Olympics, snow surface and snowpack observations were collected on the cross-country racing track at the Whistler Olympic Park, British Columbia during February 2008 and 2009. During periods with clear skies, snow surface temperatures varied by more than 10 °C around the course while temperatures in the stadium area increased by more than 16 °C from morning to early afternoon. Simulations using the SNOWPACK model of snow surface temperature were within 1 °C of those measured during a four day observation period in the stadium area. Idealized simulations were completed varying cloud cover, slope and aspect. These simulations provided realistic appearing changes in snow surface temperature as a function of time of day.
Generation Polymorphism in Neoaplectana Glaseri Steiner (Steinernematidae: Nematoda), Redescribed From Strigoderma Arboricola (Fab.) Scarabaeidae: Coleoptera) in North Carolina

Neoaplectana glaseri Steiner (Steinernematidae: Nematoda) is redescribed from material obtained from parasitized larvae of Strigoderma arboricola (Fab.) (Scarabaeidae: Coleoptera) in North Carolina. Naturally occurring xenic populations of this nematode were lost when the original cultures obtained from Japanese beetle larvae (Popillia japonica Newm.), were carried into axenic culture. An emended description of N. glaseri is given which illustrates both quantitative and qualitative differences between the first and second generation adults when reared in wax moth larvae [Galleria mellonella (L.)]. A symbiotic bacterium was discovered which is carried in the intestinal tract of the infective stage juveniles of N. glaseri and released when these juveniles enter the hemocoel of an insect host. It is now postulated that N. glaseri is a native parasite and was not introduced into North America with its type host, the Japanese beetle. N. glaseri is well adapted to soil conditions and now that xenic populations of this nematode, along with their symbiotic bacterium, have been re-discovered, investigations on their use against pest insects can be initiated.
Lubricant Behavior in Concentrated Contact—Some Rheological Problems

Several problems are reviewed concerning the flow behavior of lubricants under the high pressures and shear stresses which occur in the contact zones of ball bearings and gears. A description is given of experiments on this topic with a machine involving contact between cylindrical and spherical rollers. An ester-based lubricant under a mean Hertz pressure of 102,900 lb/in2 (7.1 × 109 dyn/cm2) is shown to behave under shear stresses below 108 dyn/cm2 as a liquid of great viscosity giving a film thickness proportional to rolling speed. At high rates of shear the ester behaves as a plastic solid. A silicone fluid shows no such viscous behavior and is presumed to lose viscosity or to undergo plastic shear under much lower shear stresses than the ester. Such rheological differences affect the load-carrying capacity of lubricants by determining both their film thickness and perhaps also their response to extreme-pressure additives. Contributed to the American Society of Lubrication Engineers by the Author.
The Human Glucocorticoid Receptor (GR) Isoform β Differentially Suppresses GRα-Induced Transactivation Stimulated by Synthetic Glucocorticoids

The β-isoform of human glucocorticoid receptor β (hGRβ) acts as a natural dominant negative inhibitor of hGRα-induced transactivation of glucocorticoid-responsive genes. We determined hGRβ ability to suppress hGRα transactivation that was induced by commonly used synthetic glucocorticoids. HepG2/C3A cells were transiently cotransfected with GR cDNA and a glucocorticoid-responsive promoter, luciferase (MMTV-luc). Transfected cells were incubated for 16 h with glucocorticoid and luciferase. For each compound, a dose-response curve was constructed, and half-maximal effective concentrations and maximal transcriptional activities were compared. hGRβ, at a 1:1 ratio to hGRα, differentially suppressed hGRα-induced maximal transcriptional activity stimulated by triamcinolone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, and betamethasone (by 96, 68, 62, and 49%, respectively) but not by methylprednisolone. The suppressive effect of hGRβ on hGRα-induced transactivation was stronger at lower concentrations of all tested glucocor...