cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Research on Operational Status and Evaluation Method for Aging Characteristics of Composite Insulators

The paper carries out the particular inspection about operational status and aging characteristics of composite insulators of 110 kV and 330 kV voltage level in Shaanxi grid at present,studies hydrophobicity performance,electrical performance,material capability and mechanical properties through related experiment,and analyzes the influence of multiple factors on the operational status.Based on which,this paper proposes evaluation indicators and its state classification,formulates grading standards and classification range for each composite insulator,and introduces weight to distribute different evaluation indicators.Indicators linear weighting method is applied in composite insulators comprehensive evaluation.Based on the results and operation condition,the paper formulates reasonable operation and maintenance strategy and provides a technical guidance and assistance for line management.
The Finite Difference Method

This chapter provides in-depth coverage of the finite difference method (FDM) in the context of elliptic boundary value problems. The general procedure for deriving difference approximations to spatial derivatives using Taylor series expansions is first presented. The error incurred in the approximation – the truncation or discretization error – is thoroughly analyzed, and the procedure to develop higher-order approximations to derivatives is outlined. The implementation of the three canonical types of boundary conditions, i.e., Dirichlet, Neumann, and Robin, is discussed. Presentation of the matrix form of the discrete equations is finally followed by extension of the FDM to multidimensional geometries, including those described by the cylindrical coordinate system, and generalized curvilinear coordinates (body-fitted mesh).
Book Review The Work-Family Interface, An Introduction Stephen Sweet. 2014. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. 176 pp. Price: $37.00; paperback.

Book Review The Work-Family Interface, An Introduction Stephen Sweet. 2014. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. 176 pp. Price: $37.00; paperback.
Effects of Health-Promoting Behaviors on the Subjective Well-being of Physical Therapists

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of health-promoting behaviors on the subjective well-being of a physical therapist. METHODS: Survey data were collected from 247 physical therapists in Daejeon city. The baseline for health-promoting behaviors was determined using Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP), subjective well-being was determined using Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), quality of life was measured using the SF-36 (Short-Form 36), and pain level was determined using the Quadruple Visual Analogue Scale (QVAS). Health-promoting behaviors and related factors were analyzed using an average comparative analysis (t-test), and the factors relevant to subjective well-being and health-promoting behaviors were evaluated using correlation analysis (Pearson`s correlation coefficient). Factors affecting health-promoting behaviors were evaluated using stepwise multiple regression analysis (stepwise multiple regression). RESULTS: The mean score for health-promoting behavior was 3.73, with emotional support having the highest score (3.90) and regular meals having the lowest score (3.16 points; p
GLOBAL LONGITUDINAL STRAIN PREDICTS SUSTAINED RECOVERY OF LV EJECTION FRACTION IN HEART FAILURE PATIENTS ON EVIDENCE BASED MEDICAL THERAPIES

Background: Recovered LVEF often returns sub-normal during follow up but there are no tools to stratify the risk of this event. We sought to characterize Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS) in patients with recovered LVEF and to test the hypothesis that GLS at the time of recovery might be able to risk
Cancer of unknown primary (CUP) with disseminated-lymphadenopathy presentation: Clinicopathological features, prognostic factors, and survival outcomes.

465Background: Aside from traditional favorable localized-nodal CUP (LNC) subsets including solitary nodal disease, women with isolated axillary adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of cervic...
The Absent Landscape in Xenophon’s Hiero

The treatment of space and place, a key issue in recent classical scholarship, has been neglected in previous discussions of Xenophon’s Hiero. While the setting of the dialogue between Simonides and Hiero receives little comment in the text, I argue that the absent landscape is essential to Xenophon’s conception of tyranny. Hiero’s efforts to sate his desires and to protect himself have obliterated the landscape of Sicily. As the tyrant devours and does violence to the landscape, he alienates his community and leaves himself vulnerable and exposed. When Simonides advises Hiero to preserve and beautify the city, he shows the tyrant how to gain his subjects’ devotion and thus how to securely place himself in the world he rules. By teaching the tyrant to rebuild his landscape, however, Simonides establishes an inescapable alternation between the tyrant’s violence and self-defeat and the ultimate restoration of tyrannical power.
Magnetic resonance imaging versus computed tomography to plan hemilaminectomies in chondrodystrophic dogs with intervertebral disc extrusion

Objective To determine the influence of preoperative computed tomography (CT) versus magnetic resonance (MR) on hemilaminectomies planned to treat thoracolumbar (TL) intervertebral disc (IVD) extrusions in chondrodystrophic dogs. Study design Prospective clinical study. Sample population Forty chondrodystrophic dogs with TL IVD extrusion and preoperative CT and MR studies. Methods MR and CT images were randomized and reviewed by 4 observers masked to the dog's identity and corresponding imaging studies. Observers planned the location along the spine, side, and extent (number of articular facets to be removed) based on individual reviews of CT and MR studies. Intra-observer agreement was determined between overall surgical plan, location, side, and size of the hemilaminectomy planned on CT versus MR of the same dog. Results Similar surgical plans were developed based on MR versus CT in 43.5%-66.6% of dogs, depending on the observer. Intra-observer agreement in location, side, and size of the planned hemilaminectomy based on CT versus MR ranged between 48.7%-66.6%, 87%-92%, and 51.2%-71.7% of dogs, respectively. Observers tended to plan larger laminectomy defects based on MR versus CT of the same dog. Conclusion Findings from this study indicated considerable differences in hemilaminectomies planned on preoperative MR versus CT imaging. Surgical location and size varied the most; the side of planned hemilaminectomies was most consistent between imaging modalities.
Ending the Culture of Culture-Negative Sepsis in the Neonatal ICU.

* Abbreviations: CFU — : colony-forming unit IAP — : intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis Sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among infants in the NICU. Because septic infants present with nonspecific clinical findings, providers are justifiably concerned about missing sepsis. Blood cultures are the gold standard for diagnosis of sepsis, and when adequate volumes are obtained, cultures have excellent sensitivity even when the infant has very low levels of bacteremia.1 However, many providers view sterile culture results with skepticism, especially when the infant appears ill or received antibiotics before cultures were obtained. Therefore, we have developed a culture (no pun intended) of acceptance in treating “culture-negative” sepsis. Recent reports suggest that up to 10 times as much antibiotic is used for culture-negative sepsis as for culture-proven sepsis.2,3 This practice must stop. The evidence for unintended harm caused by prolonged or unnecessary antibiotic exposure continues to mount and includes increased risk for obesity, atopy, and, for preterm infants, necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and death.4 Why then do providers view sterile cultures with such skepticism? The first reason is that providers have all-too-frequent experiences with cultures that are obtained incorrectly. Blood cultures collected inappropriately cannot be trusted, but such cultures, unfortunately, are a common problem. The recommendation is that a minimum of 1 mL of blood, either in 1 culture or divided into 2 0.5 mL cultures, be obtained from infants … Address correspondence to Joseph B. Cantey, MD, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr, San Antonio, TX 78229. E-mail: cantey{at}uthscsa.edu
High somatic mutation and neoantigen burden are correlated with decreased progression-free survival in multiple myeloma

Tumor-specific mutations can result in immunogenic neoantigens, both of which have been correlated with responsiveness to immune checkpoint inhibitors in highly mutagenic cancers. However, early results of single-agent checkpoint inhibitors in multiple myeloma (MM) have been underwhelming. Therefore, we sought to understand the relationship between mutation and neoantigen landscape of MM patients and responsiveness to therapies. Somatic mutation burden, neoantigen load, and response to therapy were determined using interim data from the MMRF CoMMpass study (NCT01454297) on 664 MM patients. In this population, the mean somatic and missense mutation loads were 405.84(s=608.55) and 63.90(s=95.88) mutations per patient, respectively. There was a positive linear relationship between mutation and neoantigen burdens (R2=0.862). The average predicted neoantigen load was 23.52(s=52.14) neoantigens with an average of 9.40(s=26.97) expressed neoantigens. Survival analysis revealed significantly shorter progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with greater than average somatic missense mutation load (N=163, 0.493 vs 0.726 2-year PFS, P=0.0023) and predicted expressed neoantigen load (N=214, 0.555 vs 0.729 2-year PFS, P=0.0028). This pattern is maintained when stratified by disease stage and cytogenetic abnormalities. Therefore, high mutation and neoantigen load are clinically relevant risk factors that negatively impact survival of MM patients under current standards of care.
The obesity paradox and incident cardiovascular disease: A population-based study.

Background Prior work suggests that obesity may confer a survival advantage among persons with cardiovascular disease (CVD). This obesity "paradox" is frequently studied in the context of prevalent disease, a stage in the disease process when confounding from illness-related weight loss and selective survival are especially problematic. Our objective was to examine the association of obesity with mortality among persons with incident CVD, where biases are potentially reduced, and to compare these findings with those based on prevalent disease. Methods We used data from the Health and Retirement Study, an ongoing, nationally representative longitudinal survey of U.S. adults age 50 years and older initiated in 1992 and linked to Medicare claims. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the association between weight status and mortality among persons with specific CVD diagnoses. CVD diagnoses were established by self-reported survey data as well as Medicare claims. Prevalent disease models used concurrent weight status, and incident disease models used pre-diagnosis weight status. Results We examined myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, stroke, and ischemic heart disease. A strong and significant obesity paradox was consistently observed in prevalent disease models (hazard of death 18-36% lower for obese class I relative to normal weight), replicating prior findings. However, in incident disease models of the same conditions in the same dataset, there was no evidence of this survival benefit. Findings from models using survey- vs. claims-based diagnoses were largely consistent. Conclusion We observed an obesity paradox in prevalent CVD, replicating prior findings in a population-based sample with longer-term follow-up. In incident CVD, however, we did not find evidence of a survival advantage for obesity. Our findings do not offer support for reevaluating clinical and public health guidelines in pursuit of a potential obesity paradox.
Sources of Variation in Anesthetic Drug Costs.

BACKGROUND:Increasing attention has been focused on health care expenditures, which include anesthetic-related drug costs. Using data from 2 large academic medical centers, we sought to identify significant contributors to anesthetic drug cost variation.METHODS:Using anesthesia information managemen
Analysis of Inverted Rotors in Multirotor Aerial Vehicles With VTOL

This correspondence paper explores the efficiency of common propulsion systems present in electric multirotors or drones with normal (tractor) and inverted (pusher) configuration rotors. The work fills the gap in the literature by providing extensive data on such configurations with combination of different brushless dc motors and propellers. The results will inform the development of electric multirotors that are more efficient by changing the propulsion system type.
Role of Multinational Corporations in Financial Globalization

We present a selective review of the financial globalization literature with a specific focus on the role of multinational corporations (MNCs). Foreign direct investment (FDI) has been one of the important conduits of the globalization process and most of the FDI is undertaken by MNCs. We describe both macro- and microevidence not only on the determinants of FDI but also on the effects of FDI on economic growth. In light of the previous emerging market and the recent global financial crisis, we also describe the literature on financial integration, volatility, and financial crises.
Depolarization and Calcium Entry

In presenting this lecture on the occasion of the 80th birthday of Kenneth S. Cole, I am reminded of the fact that he and I (I always think of him as K. C.) have had many conversations about the subject of what is the proper external medium with which to bathe the squid axon. Conventionally, electrophysiologists use seawater but I am sure that they recognize that this is not necessarily an ultrafiltrate of squid blood. When we first started working on the movement of calcium across the membrane of the squid axon, this question of what was the proper external calcium concentration arose once again. Now, the analysis of both seawater and squid blood yields values of about 10 mM for calcium (Shoukimas, Adelman and Sege, 1977) but there are ample reasons for supposing that neither in squid blood nor in seawater does the activity of calcium approach the value of 10mM. This is so because in seawater there are large concentrations of sulfate, and CaS04 is a poorly dissociated substance, in addition to being rather insoluble. In blood, one has binding to a variety of proteins and one has a rather high concentration of sulfates, both organic and inorganic. It was for reasons such as these that Blaustein (1974) calculated that the activity of calcium ion (Ca++) was something like 4 m M around the squid axon.
Understanding Psychosocial Adjustment to Disability: An American Perspective

The purpose of this article is to present a primer regarding some of the major concepts taught in rehabilitation counseling education programs in the United States relevant to psychosocial adjustment to disability. The literature review provides a summary of proposed explanations of adjustment to disability, a complicated and individual process. A major emphasis of the paper is discussion of determinants of psychosocial adjustment and adjustment theories. Finally, we discuss some implications with the intent that all rehabilitation professionals need to reflect on their own views of individual psychosocial adjustment to disability.
Atrial Abnormalities and Atrial Septal Defects

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) allows for a comprehensive assessment of atrial chamber and interatrial septal anatomy. Due to the posterior position of the probe and its proximity to atrial structures, high resolution imaging of the atria and atrial septum represent a particular strength of this modality. Combined with color flow mapping and spectral Doppler interrogation, TEE is able to characterize communications at the atrial level, anatomic variants of the atria, and pathologic conditions that may affect these structures. This chapter focuses on the role of TEE in the characterization of atrial septal defects and atrial abnormalities such as juxtaposition of the atrial appendages and cor triatriatum.
Making climate science accessible in Toledo: The linked boundary chain approach

Abstract For many cities throughout the world, climate change not only presents challenges in the form of new risks and expenses, but also opportunities to connect work around climate change to other development and environmental initiatives. This study presents the City of Toledo in the heart of America’s Rust Belt as a case study of the policy process that gives rise to proactive action on climate change. Using thick description, we trace Toledo’s adaptation policy process through the lens of Kingdon’s “multiple streams” model to identify factors that have shaped the emergence of climate adaptation work around water management in Toledo. Through doing so, we give particular attention to the knowledge resources that those in the City have relied on, especially its boundary chain connection with two supporting boundary organizations: GLAA-C and GLISA. Policy entrepreneurs pushing for climate adaptation around water policy in Toledo emerged around two separate pieces of the policy process. The first entrepreneur was involved with raising general awareness about sustainability and climate change in the City’s problem stream, and the other was specifically involved with integrating climate change information into a particular aspect of the City’s policy stream, water management. While these relationships were important for mainstreaming climate change adaptation into efforts to address existing challenges, they were also representative of the City’s ability to cultivate broader partnerships around climate adaptation. Toledo’s polycentric climate change network ultimately helped the City sustain its adaptation work as it weathered its own period of internal transition.
Precision Medicine for Clinicians: The Future Begins Now.

This issue includes the first articles in a series on clinical application of precision medicine that Annals is publishing in collaboration with Columbia University. The editorialists discuss the n...
Preclinical toxicity evaluation of JD5037, a peripherally restricted CB1 receptor inverse agonist, in rats and dogs for treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Abstract JD5037 is a novel peripherally restricted CB1 receptor (CB1R) inverse agonist being developed for the treatment of visceral obesity and its metabolic complications, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and dyslipidemia. JD5037 was administered by oral gavage at 10, 40, and 150 mg/kg/day dose levels for up to 34 days to Sprague Dawley rats, and at 5, 20, and 75 mg/kg/day dose levels for 28 consecutive days to Beagle dogs. In rats, higher incidences of stereotypic behaviors were observed in 10 mg/kg females and 40 mg/kg males, and slower responses for reflex and sensory tests were observed only in males at 10 and 40 mg/kg during neurobehavioral testing. Sporadic minimal incidences of decreased activity (males) and seizures (both sexes) were observed in rats during daily clinical observations, without any clear dose-relationship. Male dogs at 75 mg/kg during treatment period, but not recovery period, had an increased incidence of gut associated lymphoid tissue hyperplasia and inflammation in the intestine. In both species, highest dose resulted in lower AUCs indicative of non-linear kinetics. Free access to food increased the plasma AUC∞ by ~4.5-fold at 20 mg/kg in dogs, suggesting presence of food may help in systemic absorption of JD5037 in dogs. Based on the study results, 150 mg/kg/day in rats, and 20 and 75 mg/kg/day doses in male and female dogs, respectively, were determined to be the no-observed-adverse-effect-levels (NOAELs).
Knowledge-Guided Biclustering via Sparse Variational EM Algorithm

A biclustering in the analysis of a gene expression data matrix, for example, is defined as a set of biclusters where each bicluster is a group of genes and a group of samples for which the genes are differentially expressed. Although many data mining approaches for biclustering exist in the literature, only few are able to incorporate prior knowledge to the analysis, which can lead to great improvements in terms of accuracy and interpretability, and all are limited in handling discrete data types. We propose a generalized biclustering approach that can be used for integrative analysis of multi-omics data with different data types. Our method is capable of utilizing biological information that can be represented by graph such as functional genomics and functional proteomics and accommodating a combination of continuous and discrete data types. The proposed method builds on a generalized Bayesian factor analysis framework and a variational EM approach is used to obtain parameter estimates, where the latent quantities in the loglikelihood are iteratively imputed by their conditional expectations. The biclusters are retrieved via the sparse estimates of the factor loadings and the conditional expectation of the latent factors. In order to obtain the sparse conditional expectation of the latent factors, a novel sparse variational EM algorithm is used. We demonstrate the superiority of our method over several existing biclustering methods in extensive simulation experiments and in integrative analysis of multi-omics data.
Marriage and Family in Turkey: Trends and Attitudes

This chapter provides a demographic look at both changing trends in family forms and attitudes towards marriage and family in Turkey, a country located between Europe and Asia with a predominantly Islamic population. While Turkish society is influenced by both European and Middle-Eastern values, 99% of Turkish individuals identify as Muslim. Although analyses on changes in family forms in Western societies have received significant attention in the past, demographic study of marriage and family in predominantly Muslim countries still remains an understudied phenomenon. Drawing from the demographic transition theory, this chapter explores changes in Turkish family forms. Moreover, it examines how attitudes toward marriage and family have been changing over time.
Aligning students and counseling centers on student mental health needs and treatment resources.

Objective: To recognize gaps between students' expectations of college counseling centers and centers' current practices and to identify strategies to improve care from both clinicians and students. Participants: As part of an ongoing study on mobile technologies for stress management, we gathered data from counseling center clinicians and students at two large Midwestern universities. Methods: Clinicians completed online questionnaires on their current practices and interest in digital mental health tools. Students and clinicians completed co-design workshops. In subsequent individual interviews, students identified barriers to care. Results: Both students and clinicians recognized a need for stress management and mental health support outside of counseling sessions. Conclusions: Students and clinicians recognize barriers to face-to-face therapy and are eager to collaborate to identify opportunities to address barriers to mental health services. We discuss digital mental health tools as a potential opportunity for support and benefits of including students in discussions of treatment resources.
Student Behaviors and Interactions Influence Group Discussions in an Introductory Biology Lab Setting

Past research on group work has primarily focused on promoting change through implementation of interventions designed to increase performance. Recently, however, education researchers have called for more descriptive analyses of group interactions. Through detailed qualitative analysis of recorded discussions, we studied the natural interactions of students during group work in the context of a biology laboratory course. We analyzed multiple interactions of 30 different groups as well as data from each of the 91 individual participants to characterize the ways students engage in discussion and how group dynamics promote or prevent meaningful discussion. Using a set of codes describing 15 unique behaviors, we determined that the most common behavior seen in student dialogue was analyzing data, followed by recalling information and repeating ideas. We also classified students into one of 10 different roles for each discussion, determined by their most common behaviors. We found that, although students cooperated with one another by exchanging information, they less frequently fully collaborated to explain their conclusions through the exchange of reasoning. Within this context, these findings show that students working in groups generally choose specific roles during discussions and focus on data analysis rather than constructing logical reasoning chains to explain their conclusions.
Index Finger Pollicization for Hypoplastic Thumb: Surgical Technique.

SUMMARY Pollicization can be performed for secondary thumb reconstruction after traumatic injury or for primary thumb construction in cases of congenital thumb hypoplasia. Given the complexity of this operation, intimate familiarity with the involved anatomy and surgical principles is key to successful surgical outcomes. In this Video Plus article, the authors present a step-by-step approach to pollicization in case of Blauth type IIIB thumb hypoplasia.
Abstract LB248: Implantation factors assist in the growth of gynecologic tissues in ectopic locations

OBJECTIVE: Develop a model of endosalpingiosis and endometriosis to investigate the mechanisms which facilitate implantation of exfoliated cells in the peritoneum. BACKGROUND: Endosalpingiosis (ES) and endometriosis (EM) are the growth of tubal and endometrial epithelium respectively, outside of their site of origin and have been associated with ovarian cancer. Why this growth happens has not been elucidated since Sampson first proposed the concept of retrograde menstruation nearly 100 years ago. We hypothesized there is retrograde flow of uterine implantation factors which drive ectopic growth. To test this hypothesis, we developed a transgenic fluorescent murine model of ES and EM that successfully demonstrated peritoneal implantation in mice. Using the model, we explored possible influences on implantation. METHODS: tdTomato (tdT) transgenic fluorescent mice were used as donors to allow for visualization of tissues in recipient mice. A progesterone knockout (PKO) of the tdT mouse that blocks implantation factors was created by giving 0.1 mg/kg progesterone on postnatal days 2-10. Metestrus endometrium was induced hormonally in donor tdT and wild-type (WT) female C57BL/6J mice. The tdT oviductal cells and endometrium were then harvested for intraperitoneal injection into synchronized recipient WT mice, receiving minced endometrium alone, minced oviduct alone, or a combination of minced oviduct and WT endometrial tissue (for implantation factors) from non-treated or PKO tdT donors. Ectopic lesions were identified using fluorescence in-vivo imaging and UV light. RESULTS: PKO tdT oviduct had significantly reduced implantation (4 lesions/6 mice, p ConclusionImplantation factors required for blastocyst implantation are crucial to initiate ectopic tissue growth. We have developed a novel mouse model of ectopic growth of gynecologic tissues which demonstrates that the removal of implantation factors from endometrium and oviduct reduces ectopic lesions. This model allows us to study the initial step of implantation of these lesions that could give rise to malignancies which will ultimately allow for the development of new prevention and treatment modalities. Citation Format: Jan Sunde, Derek O9Neil, Tiffany Katz, Morgan Wasickanin. Implantation factors assist in the growth of gynecologic tissues in ectopic locations [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr LB248.
Face and Neck Infections: What the Emergency Radiologist Needs to Know

An overview of the imaging of face and neck infections is presented. Most of the imaging presented is contrast-enhanced computed tomography. The emphasis of this presentation is to enable the emergency radiologist to accurately diagnose face and neck infections, to effectively communicate the imaging findings with emergency physicians, and to function as part of a team offering the best care to patients.
Magnetospheric "anti-glitches" in magnetars

We attribute the rapid spindown of magnetar 1E 2259+586 observed by Archibald et al. (2013), termed the "anti-glitch", to partial opening of the magnetosphere during the X-ray burst, followed by changes of the structure of the closed field line region. To account for the observed spin decrease during the X- ray flare all that is needed is the transient opening, for just one period, of a relatively small fraction of the magnetosphere, of the order of only few percent. More generally, we argue that in magnetars all timing irregularities have magnetospheric origin and are induced either by (i) the fluctuations in the current structure of the magnetosphere (similar to the long term torque variations in the rotationally powered pulsars); or, specifically to magnetars, by (ii) opening of a fraction of the magnetosphere during bursts and flares - the latter events are always accompanied by rapid spindown, an "anti-glitch". Slow rotational motion of the neutron star crust, driven by crustal magnetic fields, leads beyond some twist limit to explosive instability of the external magnetic fields and transient opening of a large magnetic flux in a CME-type event, the post-flares increase of magnetospheric currents accompanied by enhanced X-luminosity and spindown rate, changing profiles, as well as spectral hardening, all in agreement with the magnetospheric model of torque fluctuations.
Reachability Problems on Directed Graphs

I will present recent work and open problems on two directed graph reachability problems, one dynamic, one static. The dynamic problem is to detect the creation of a cycle in a directed graph as arcs are added. Much progress has been made recently on this problem, but intriguing questions remain. The static problem is to compute dominators and related information on a flowgraph. This problem has been solved, but the solution is complicated, and there are related problems that are not so well understood. The work to be discussed is by colleagues, other researchers, and the speaker.
AFLP Phylogeny of 36 Erythroxylum Species Genetic Relationships Among Erythroxylum Species Inferred by AFLP Analysis

Four taxa of the plant genus Erythroxylum; Erythroxylum coca var. coca (Ecc), Erythroxylum coca var. ipadu (Eci), Erythroxylum novogranatense var. novogranatense (Enn) and Erythroxylum novogranatense var. truxillense (Ent) are cultivated primarily for the illicit extraction and processing of cocaine. Despite their economic and medical importance, the evolutionary history of these species remains unknown in a modern phylogenetic framework. The aims of this study were to: (a) investigate the relationship among the cultivated and a select number of non-cultivated taxa, and (b) test Plowman’s (Journal of Psychodelic Drugs 11:103–117, 1979b) linear progression hypothesis of the cultivated Erythroxylum taxa versus Johnson’s et al. (Annals of Botany 95:601–608, 2005) hypothesis that Ec and En are sister species. AFLP phylogeny was used to compare the relationships among 36 Erythroxylum species (133 accessions) spanning the geographic distribution of the genus. A Maximum Parsimony tree revealed both geographic and taxonomic partitioning into clades representing species from Africa, Asia-Pacific and the New World (Tropical Americas). Ec and En formed distinct clades, indicating they are sister species and a cluster of non-cultivated species were the most closely related to the cultivated species. Multivariate ordination analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between cultivated and non-cultivated Erythroxylum taxa from the Tropical Americas. Our results support the hypothesis that the cultivated species are more closely related to each other than to any other species of Erythroxylum, but refute the hypothesis that Ent (and Enn) descended from Ecc. Instead our data suggest an independent, non-linear evolutionary relationship between Ec and En. Finally, the AFLP analyses identified significantly different genetic groups within Erythroxylum suggesting that the current intrageneric classification of this genus be revised.
Studies of nondefective adenovirus 2-simian virus 40 hybrid viruses. VII. Characterization of the simian virus 40 RNA species induced by five nondefective hybrid viruses.

Five nondefective adenovirus 2 (Ad2)-simian virus 40 (SV40) hybrid viruses have been isolated and found to contain segments of SV40 DNA covalently linked to Ad2 DNA. The quantity of SV40 DNA present is a stable characteristic of each hybrid virus, and varies from less than 5% (in Ad2(+)ND(3)) to more than 30% (in Ad2(+)ND(4)) of the SV40 genome. We have characterized the SV40 portions of these hybrids by relating the SV40-specific RNA sequences transcribed in cells infected with each hybrid virus to those transcribed in cells infected with each of the other hybrid viruses and with SV40 itself. RNA-DNA hybridization-competition experiments indicate that the number of unique SV40 RNA sequences transcribed in infected cells is proportional to the size of the SV40 DNA segment contained within each hybrid and, in the case of the three hybrids which induce detectable SV40-specific antigens, to the number of SV40 antigens induced. Furthermore, the SV40-specific RNA sequences transcribed from any one of the hybrids are completely represented in the RNA transcribed from all other hybrids with longer SV40 segments. Thus, the SV40 DNA regions in the five hybrid viruses appear to contain some nucleotide sequences in common. The SV40-specific RNA transcribed from Ad2(+)ND(4), the hybrid containing the largest SV40 segment, is qualitatively similar to the SV40-specific RNA transcribed early (i.e., prior to viral DNA replication) in SV40 lytic infection. Thus, it appears that no significant amount of late SV40 DNA is transcribed during infection by any of the five nondefective Ad2-SV40 hybrid viruses.
Endogenous Assembly Rules, Senior Agenda Power, and Incumbency Advantage

We study repeated legislative bargaining in an assembly that chooses its bargaining rules endogenously, and whose members face an election after each legislative term. An agenda protocol or bargaining rule assigns to each legislator a probability of being recognized to make a policy proposal in the assembly. We predict that the agenda protocol chosen in equilibrium disproportionately favors more senior legislators, granting them greater opportunities to make policy proposals, and it generates an incumbency advantage to all legislators.
Preoperative Onyx embolization of a giant cavernous malformation involving the dural sinuses: Case report

Cavernous malformations (CMs) or hemangiomas arising from within the dural sinuses are rare entities that differ from their parenchymal counterparts in that they are highly vascular lesions. While parenchymal CMs are typically angiographically occult, intrasinus malformations may have large, dural-based arterial feeding vessels that are amenable to preoperative embolization. The novel liquid embolic Onyx (ev3, Inc.) is an ideal agent for the embolization of these lesions. The authors present the first known case of a giant intrasinus CM embolized with Onyx before gross-total resection. The authors report the case of a 9-year-old boy with brief apneic episodes in whom MR imaging revealed a giant CM arising from within the right transverse and sigmoid sinuses and infiltrating the right tentorium cerebelli. At another institution, the patient had undergone 1 prior embolization and 2 unsuccessful attempts at resection. Both surgeries had been complicated by massive blood loss and were aborted. Under the authors' care, the patient underwent preoperative transarterial embolization with Onyx during which a substantial volume of the mass lesion was filled with embolisate. Subsequently, complete circumferential excision of the mass from the tentorium was accomplished with minimal intraoperative blood loss.
Distinct subsets of somatostatin receptors on cultured human lymphocytes.

Abstract Somatostatin (SOM) is a neuroendocrine tetradecapeptide that suppresses specific functions of differentiated T-cells and antibody-producing cells. The Jurkat line of human leukemic T-cells and U266 IgE-producing human myeloma cells bound [I-Tyr11]SOM specifically. The maximal level of specific binding was attained by 1-2 h at 22 degrees C for both types of cells and reversed by 70-85% within 2-3 h after the addition of excess nonradioactive SOM. Computer-assisted Scatchard analysis of the competition curves revealed two classes of binding sites for both cells. An average of 144 and 1295 high affinity receptors per Jurkat and U266 cells had a Kd value of 3 pM and 5 pM, respectively, whereas a large number of low affinity sites had Kd values of 66 nM and 100 nM. The affinity of the analogs somatostatin 28, [I-Tyr11]SOM, and [D-Trp8, D-Cys14]SOM for Jurkat and U266 cell lines, relative to SOM, suggested a degree of specificity similar to receptors on neuroendocrine cells.
Increased Transcript Complexity in Genes Associated with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Genome-wide association studies aim to correlate genotype with phenotype. Many common diseases including Type II diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are complex genetic traits with hundreds of different loci that are associated with varied disease risk. Identifying common features in the genes associated with each disease remains a challenge. Furthermore, the role of post-transcriptional regulation, and in particular alternative splicing, is still poorly understood in most multigenic diseases. We therefore compiled comprehensive lists of genes associated with Type II diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and COPD in an attempt to identify common features of their corresponding mRNA transcripts within each gene set. The SERPINA1 gene is a well-recognized genetic risk factor of COPD and it produces 11 transcript variants, which is exceptional for a human gene. This led us to hypothesize that other genes associated with COPD, and complex disorders in general, are highly transcriptionally diverse. We found that COPD-associated genes have a statistically significant enrichment in transcript complexity stemming from a disproportionately high level of alternative splicing, however, Type II Diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease genes were not significantly enriched. We also identified a subset of transcriptionally complex COPD-associated genes (~40%) that are differentially expressed between mild, moderate and severe COPD. Although the genes associated with other lung diseases are not extensively documented, we found preliminary data that idiopathic pulmonary disease genes, but not cystic fibrosis modulators, are also more transcriptionally complex. Interestingly, complex COPD transcripts are more often the product of alternative acceptor site usage. To verify the biological importance of these alternative transcripts, we used RNA-sequencing analyses to determine that COPD-associated genes are frequently expressed in lung and liver tissues and are regulated in a tissue-specific manner. Additionally, many complex COPD-associated genes are spliced differently between COPD and non-COPD patients. Our analysis therefore suggests that post-transcriptional regulation, particularly alternative splicing, is an important feature specific to COPD disease etiology that warrants further investigation.
Apgar scores as predictors of chronic neurologic disability, by Karin B. Nelson, MD, and Jonas H. Ellenberg, PhD, Pediatrics, 1981;68:36-44.

Apgar scores were recorded at one and five minutes for ∼49 000 infants, and at 10, 15, and 20 minutes for babies who did not achieve a score of 8 or higher at five minutes. These children were followed to 7 years of age. Low Apgar scores were risk factors for cerebral palsy, but 55% of children with later cerebral palsy had Apgar scores of 7 to 10 at one minute, and 73% scored 7 to 10 at five minutes. Of 99 children who had Apgar scores of 0 to 3 at 10, 15, or 20 minutes and survived, 12 (12%) had later cerebral palsy; 11 of the 12 also were mentally retarded (in 10, IQ not have cerebral palsy had lesser but significant disabilities. Of the children who had Apgar scores of 0 to 3 at 10 minutes or later and survived, 80% were free of major handicap at early school age.
REVISITING ELECTROOSMOTIC FLOW: AN IMPORTANT PARAMETER AFFECTING SEPARATION IN CAPILLARY AND MICROCHIP ELECTROPHORESIS

Electroosmotic flow mobility (EOF) is the movement of bulk liquid that provides an opportunity to separate charged molecules, either positive or negative, and transport all neutral molecules to the detector as a single peak. EOF originates on the silanol groups of the fused-silica capillary wall and is usually responsible for ions moving in the opposite direction of the electrostatic attraction. The interaction of the silanol groups with the electrolyte buffer leads to the formation of an electric double layer. Understanding double-layer theory and EOF is the first necessary step towards understanding many of the experimental observations in capillary and microchip electrophoresis. In this work, we introduce and validate a method to measure the EOF on both coated and uncoated capillaries by measuring the current time history, which has led to enhanced precision of the EOF measurement. We have also used the introduced method to study the fundamental parameters, such as the effect of electric field, tempera...
Structural investigations of SiGe epitaxial layers grown by molecular beam epitaxy on Si(0 0 1) and Ge(0 0 1) substrates: I—High-resolution x-ray diffraction and x-ray topography

Abstract Epitaxial structures of different SiGe composition grown by molecular beam epitaxy on Si(0 0 1) and Ge(0 0 1) substrates have been studied by high-resolution x-ray diffraction and x-ray topography to establish correlations between epitaxial growth conditions and crystal perfection. It was confirmed that epitaxy under initial elastic stress inevitably led to the creation of extended crystal defects. The type of defects created and their density and spatial distribution, strongly depended on the value and sign of the initial elastic strain, the elastic constants of solid solutions, the temperature of deposition and growth rate, and the thickness of the epitaxial layers. All of the investigated structures were classified by their crystal perfection, using x-ray diffraction with the volume density of dislocation loops as a parameter. It was found that the accommodation and relaxation of initial elastic stress and creation of crystal defects were multistage “chain” processes, necessary to stabilize the crystal structure at a level corresponding to the particular growth conditions. Types, density and spatial distribution of crystal defects, related to each stage of defect creation and matched to structural features, as revealed by high resolution x-ray diffraction, were considered for explanation.
OS075. Endothelial-dependent vascular function is significantly impaired in obesity and restored by overexpression of DDAH1: Evidence for the role of ADMA

Introduction Obesity is a significant independent risk factor for preeclampsia. Vascular dysfunction is a central pathophysiological feature of preeclampsia. Vascular dysfunction is common in obesity. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase and metabolized primarily by the enzyme DDAH1. ADMA is significantly elevated in obesity and preeclampsia. Objectives The focus of this study was to investigate the role of elevated ADMA in obesity-mediated vascular dysfunction. Methods Endothelial-dependent and independent- vascular function of mesenteric arteries was assessed using an isometric myograph. Arteries from pregnant female C57/B6J control lean (n = 7), control obese (n = 12), DDAH1 overexpressing lean (n = 6) and DDAH1 obese (n = 10) mice were investigated. Obesity was induced by a high fat diet (42% fat, with adjusted calories, Harlan Teklad) for 8 weeks prior to mating. Data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA with significance at p Results DDAH1 transgenic mice and control wild-type mice both increased body weight significantly on the high fat diet compared to lean mice (p Conclusion Overexpression of the ADMA metabolizing enzyme DDAH1 is protective of the obesity-mediated loss in endothelial-dependent relaxation. These data suggest that elevated ADMA is a significant contributor to vascular dysfunction in pregnancy. Acknowledgement This project supported by National Institutes of Health grant R01-HL091094 .
On the molecular structure of cycloheptadiene

Abstract Molecular mechanics calculations on cycloheptadiene indicate that the molecule has a structure which undergoes a wide pseudorotational motion between two C 1 forms, and a C 1 form, and this structure is in equilibrium with the C 2 form. It is shown that this equilibrium mixture is consistent with all of the available experimental data.
Investigation on environmental assisted fracture behavior of iron aluminides using moire interferometry

Abstract Comparative crack growth tests of Fe–28%Al iron aluminide alloys (all with basic composition of Fe–28Al–5Cr at.%, with micro-alloying additives of Zr, C or B) under air, oxygen, or water environments were conducted using moire interferometry. Test results showed that the alloys are susceptible to room-temperature hydrogen embrittlement in both B2 and DO 3 conditions, and FA-187 and FA-189 are intrinsically more brittle than FA-186.
Thermodynamic optimization of reverse Brayton cycles of different configurations for cryogenic applications

Abstract The thermodynamic optimization of differing Reverse Brayton Refrigeration (RBR) cycle configurations is presented in this study. These cycle configurations include: Conventional 1-stage compression cycle; Conventional 2-stage compression cycle; 1-stage compression Modified cycle with intermediate cooling of the recuperator using an auxiliary cooler; and an Integrated 2-stage expansion RBR cycle. For high pressure ratio applications, multi-stage compressors with intercooling are considered. Analytical solutions for the conventional cycles are developed including thermal and fluid flow irreversibilities of the recuperators and all heat exchangers in addition to the compression and expansion processes. Exergy analysis is performed and the exergy destruction of different components of the RBR cycles for different configurations is presented and the effects of important system parameters on performance are investigated. Thermodynamic optimization of the cycles with intermediate cooling of the recuperator is included. Effects of the 2nd law/exergy efficiency of the auxiliary cooler on the total system efficiencies are presented.