cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Periodic gaits for the CMU Ambler

The configuration of the Carnegie Mellon University Ambler, a six legged autonomous walking vehicle for exploring Mars, enables the recovery of a trailing leg past the leading leg to reduce the energy expenditure in terrain interactions. Gaits developed for this unprecedented configuration are described. A stability criterion was developed which ensures stability of the vehicle in the event of failure of any one of the supporting legs. Periodic gaits developed for the Ambler utilize the Ambler's unique abilities, and continuously satisfy the stability criterion.
Taking a Stand: On Teaching the Epidemiology of Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sexually transmitted infections affect over 15 million Americans per year. Teenagers and young adults are disproportionately affected by a sexually transmitted disease and the lack of protective resources to avoid exposure. Because many infections produce no immediate, visible, or indisposing outcomes, persons possessing an infection may be unaware of their infectious status, and, subsequently, may—quite unknowingly—pass the infectious agent on to others. The activity described in this paper demonstrates the epidemiological processes that contribute to infection. Participants learn how sexually transmitted infections (bacterial, viral, and ectoparasitic) can be transmitted within a sexual network from only one infected individual.
Built Environment and Property Crime in Seattle, 1998–2000: A Bayesian Analysis

The past decade has seen a rapid growth in the use of a spatial perspective in studies of crime. In part this growth has been driven by the availability of georeferenced data, and the tools to anal...
Energy Drinks and Alcohol: Links to Alcohol Behaviors and Consequences Across 56 Days

Purpose To examine short-term consequences associated with consuming alcohol and energy drinks compared with consuming alcohol without energy drinks.
Impact of nephrectomy on long-term renal function in non-syndromic children treated for unifocal Wilms tumor

Abstract Objective The present study is designed to assess the long-term renal function of children who underwent radical nephrectomy for unifocal Wilms tumor. Methods A single institution retrospective cohort study of non-syndromic children treated with radical nephrectomy for unifocal Wilms tumor between 1995 and 2011 was performed to identify risk factors for decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The primary endpoint was decrease in age-adjusted GFR below normal published ranges. The secondary endpoint was progression to chronic renal insufficiency (CRI). Results A total of 55 patients were identified in the cohort. Eight (15%) patients exhibited decreased age-adjusted GFR during the follow-up period, with 2 (4%) progressing to CRI. Increasing time between surgery and the last known GFR follow-up was associated with decreased GFR, with the normal GFR group having median follow-up of 7.32 years versus 11.47 years (p = 0.019) in the decreased GFR group. Conclusions A trend toward decline in GFR was detected with longer follow-up. Longer follow-up may reveal that clinically significant decline in renal function occurs years following nephrectomy among a subset of Wilms tumor survivors, even among those who do not progress to end stage renal disease.
Purification procedures determine the proteasome activation properties of REGγ (PA28γ)

Abstract The proteasome activation properties of recombinant REGγ molecules depend on purification procedures. Prior to ammonium sulfate precipitation recombinant REGγ activates the trypsin-like catalytic subunit of the proteasome; afterwards it activates all three catalytic subunits. The expanded activation specificity is accompanied by reduced stability of the REGγ heptamer providing support for the idea that a “tight” REGγ heptamer suppresses the proteasome’s chymotrypsin-like and postglutamyl-preferring active sites. In an attempt to determine whether REGγ synthesized in mammalian cells also exhibits restricted activation properties, extracts were prepared from several mammalian organs and cell lines. Surprisingly, endogenous REGγ was found to be largely monomeric. In an alternate approach, COS7 cells were cotransfected with plasmids expressing FLAG-REGγ and REGγ. The expressed FLAG-REGγ molecules were shown to form oligomers with untagged REGγ subunits, and the mixed oligomers preferentially activated the proteasome’s trypsin-like subunit. Thus, REGγ molecules synthesized in mammalian cells also exhibit restricted activation properties.
Renin angiotensin system modulates mTOR pathway through AT2R in HIVAN

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) has been reported to contribute to the development of HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN). We hypothesized that HIV may be activating renal tissue mTOR pathway through renin angiotensin system (RAS) via Angiotensin Receptor Type II receptor (AT2R). Renal tissues of Vpr transgenic and Tg26 (HIVAN) mice displayed enhanced phosphorylation of mTOR and p70S6K. Aliskiren, a renin inhibitor attenuated phosphorylation of both mTOR and p70S6K in renal tissues of HIVAN mice. Interestingly, Angiotensin Receptor Type I (AT1R) blockade did not modulate renal tissue phosphorylation of mTOR in HIVAN mice; on the other hand, AT2R blockade attenuated renal tissue phosphorylation of mTOR in HIVAN mice. In vitro studies, both renin and Ang II displayed enhanced mouse tubular cell (MTC) phosphorylation of p70S6K in a dose dependent manner. HIV/MTC also displayed enhanced phosphorylation of both mTOR and p70S6K; interestingly this effect of HIV was further enhanced by losartan (an AT1R blocker). On the other hand, AT2R blockade attenuated HIV-induced tubular cell phosphorylation of mTOR and p70S6K, whereas, AT2R agonist enhanced phosphorylation of mTOR and p70S6K. These findings indicate that HIV stimulates mTOR pathway in HIVAN through the activation of renin angiotensin system via AT2R.
Transport Processes in Liquid Membranes: Double Emulsion Separation Systems

Abstract The field of membrane technology is currently undergoing a rapid expansion of the areas of both research and industrial separation techniques. Developments in membrane technology have been guided by the need to develop relatively simple but highly selective separation techniques that are economically at tractive when compared to other separation processes. An area of current interestis the use of liquid membranes to separate species or to control mass transfer rates. Liquid membranes can be manipulated to selectively separate as pecific solute from a mixture, and even to extract a solute against its concentration gradient by coupling its flux to the flux of another solute or by coupling to another external force across the membrane such as an electrical field.
1741 NEW RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ENDOTRACHEAL TUBE POSITIONING IN THE NEWBORN INFANT

Optimal positioning of the endotracheal tube (ETT) during mechanical ventilation of the newborn is essential to avoid extubation or inadvertent right or left main stem bronchial intubation. Using a new prototype fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB)(O.D. 1.8mm) we examined ETT position in 34 infants (birthweight 715g-3500g, gestational ages 26-42 weeks). The tracheal length (TL), defined by distance from vocal cords to carina, was measured in neutral (N), flexion (F), and extension (E) head positions. ETT movements in right lateral (RL), left lateral (LL), F, and E positions were also measured. In. infants 1750g. Relative to the N position, the ETT moved maximally 3.5cm cephalad with E, and 1.8cm caudad with F. Corresponding TL changes were +3.lcm (+62% of TL in N position) with E and -0.9cm (-16% of TL in N position) with F. We concluded: due to small TL in infants <1750g any significant movement of the head can lead to significant tube malposition; TL significantly increases with extension of the head and therefore some of the ETT movement is apparent rather than real; since TL changes with head position, previous recommendations relating ETT position to weight and/or body length are clinically unreliable. We recommend ETT position be checked by chest x-ray or FOB, with the head flexed and be 0.5cm above the carina.
When trees collide: an approximation algorithm for the generalized Steiner problem on networks

We give the first approximation algorithm for the {\em generalized network Steiner tree problem}, a problem in network design. An instance consists of a network with link-costs and, for each pair ${i,j}$ of nodes, an edge-connectivity requirement. The goal is to find a minimum-cost network using the available links and satisfying the requirements. Our algorithm outputs a solution whose cost is within $ 2 \log R $ of optimal, where $R$ is the highest requirement value. In the course of proving the performance guarantee, we prove a combinatorial min-max approximate equality relating minimum-cost networks to maximum packings of certain kinds of cuts. As a consequence of the proof of this theorem, we obtain an approximation algorithm for optimally packing these cuts; we show that this algorithm has application to estimating the reliability of a probabilistic network.
Ab initio SCF studies of basis set effects in free base porphin

Abstract The free base porphin molecule has been studied with ab initio SCF calculations, using basis sets ranging in size from minimal to triple-ζ with double polarization (TZ2P). For the purpose of analyzing core level XPS binding energies, a double-ζ basis set is converged to about 0.1eV. In contrast, minimal basis sets lead to errors in the core ionization energies of more than 1 eV.
Incorporation of a Potassium Channel into a Suspended Lipid Bilayer Platform

Membrane proteins are notoriously difficult to study. While supported lipid bilayers offer stability and allow the application of surface measurement techniques, integral membrane proteins are often not fully functional when close to a solid surface. We have developed a membrane interferometer which allows free standing membranes suspended above an atomically flat silicon surface to be studied by fluorescence interference measurements (Prasad V. Ganesan and Steven G. Boxer, PNAS, 2009,106, 5627-5632). In this platform, a lipid bilayer is suspended across a micron-sized well, allowing the use of Variable Incidence Angle Fluorescence Interference Contrast Microscopy (VIA-FLIC; Caroline Ajo-Franklin, Prasad V. Ganesan, and Steven G. Boxer, Biophys. J., 2005, 89, 2759-2769). The interferometry measurements in VIA-FLIC can be used to determine the height of fluorescent dyes relative to the mirror with an axial resolution of a few nanometers. We have expressed and purified a voltage-gated potassium channel, KvAP, labeled it with a fluorescent dye, and reconstituted it into synthetic lipid vesicles. Here, we report on progress towards incorporating KvAP into the membrane interferometer, which would enable VIA-FLIC measurements of the height of labeled positions in the ion channel.
Prophylactic bilateral oophorectomy or removal of remaining ovary at the time of hysterectomy in the United States, 1979-2004.

Objective The purpose of this study was to describe national rates and trends of prophylactic bilateral oophorectomy or remaining oophorectomy (BO/RO) at hysterectomy in women without specific gynecologic disease. Study Design Data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey were analyzed for 1979-2004. Hysterectomies were divided into 2 groups: (1) hysterectomy with BO/RO and (2) hysterectomy alone (≥1 ovary remaining). Age-adjusted rates (AARs) were calculated with 2000 US census data. Results Approximately 3,686,000 hysterectomies with BO/RO were performed from 1979-2004. AARs of hysterectomy with BO/RO decreased during this period; the AARs in women ≥50 years old increased. The number of hysterectomies alone was 5,461,100, and AARs of hysterectomy alone decreased significantly from 2.9 per 1000 women in from 1979-1981 to 1.1 per 1000 women in 2001 ( P Conclusion Although AARs of prophylactic BO/RO decreased from 1979-2004, the actual proportion of BO/RO at hysterectomy increased.
Capacity of enucleated amoebae to recognize and respond to heterologous cytoplasm

When amoebae are injected with heterologous cytoplasm from another type of amoeba, cellular organelles are segregated and degenerate within membrane-bounded spaces in the host's cytoplasm. In the present study, the role of the nucleus in this response was tested by injecting heterologous cytoplasm from Pelomyxa carolinensis into enucleate and nucleate Amoeba discoides. Samples were prepared for ultrastructural study at intervals between 15 min and 2d after the operation. In enucleate recipients of heterologous cytoplasm, organelles and cellular debris were observed in vacuole-like spaces indistinguishable in morphology and frequency from those of nucleated recipients. When donor cytoplasm included thoria particles, the electron-dense tracer was found along with degenerating organelles in the vacuole-like structures, confirming the presence there of injected cytoplasm. Changes of comparable magnitude were not observed when either nucleated or enucleated cells were injected with homologous cytoplasm. The results indicate that nuclear activity is not necessary for the ultrastructurally observable responses of amoebae to heterologous cytoplasm. It is suggested therefore that the cytoplasm possesses a mechanism for recognition of at least some types of heterologous organelles.
Neuronal dysplasia: a controversial pathological correlate of intestinal pseudo-obstruction.

The infant or child with intestinal pseudo-obstruction poses many challenges for geneticists and other specialists. Although a well-defined anatomic diagnosis (e.g., Hirschsprung disease) can be established for a subset of patients, the pathological correlates for many patients are non-existent or controversial. Intestinal neuronal dysplasia (IND) is frequently considered in the differential diagnosis, despite the fact that existence and significance of the abnormal histopathological features that characterize IND are hotly debated. This review highlights some of the concerns regarding this diagnosis including problems with the diagnostic criteria, the manner in which these criteria are applied in contemporary pathology practices, and the likelihood that many of the pathological findings are secondary consequences of impaired motility with no other clear clinical significance. Possible genetic and developmental bases for IND are also discussed.
A comparison of the availability of three zinc sources to maize ( Zea mays L.) under greenhouse conditions

The objective of this study was to compare the availability of Zn from granular ZnSO4, a granular Zn humate-lignosulfonate (ZnHL), and liquid Zn ethylenediaminetetraacetate (ZnEDTA). The two granular sources were applied directly (“as is”) and also powdered and mixed with the soil. A calcareous sandy loam soil with low available Zn was used. Zn rates were 0, 4, 8, 16, and 32 mg pot–1, and two crops of maize (Zeamays L.) were grown. For the first crop, all Zn sources provided an excellent dry matter response when powdered and mixed with the soil. The ZnEDTA was superior with regard to Zn uptake. The availability of ZnSO4 granules was almost zero for the first crop. The availability of the ZnHL complex was better than ZnSO4 when applied in granular form, but not when the two materials were powdered and mixed with the entire soil mass, suggesting that availability differences between these sources were due to physical, not chemical, factors. After mixing with the soil, only small differences existed between the Zn sources for the second crop. All sources provided for a good dry matter and Zn uptake response, and all Zn sources were about the same in increasing diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (DTPA)-extractable Zn levels at the end of the experiment. This research suggests that the three Zn materials were equal long-term Zn sources, but that the short-term response varied dramatically, depending on how the materials were applied.
Fluid and electrolyte balance during a cool weather marathon

Changes in blood, serum, and urine parameters that are usually associated with fluid and electrolyte balance were studied in 45 volunteers who ran the 1987 Pitts burgh Marathon. There were 39 males and 6 females. The mean age was 39.3 years. Their mean fluid intake was 1650 cc and the mean finishing time was 4 hours and 1 minute. The race was run in the rain with a temperature of 46°F.When the prerace and postrace values of the runners were compared, significant increases were noted in the serum sodium, potassium, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, uric acid, creatine phosphokinase (CPK), protein, plasma renin, vasopressin, and urinary potas sium. Significant decreases were found in weight, blood pressure, and urinary sodium. No significant differences were noted in serum chloride, serum glucose, and hemoglobin/hematocrit. The mean weight loss of 1.9 kg was less than weight losses reported in marathons run under warmer conditions.
Chipless ID for Paper Documents

The notion of assigning every piece of paper that passes through a printer a unique ID encoded either on the surface or in the substrate of the page, regardless of its intended use or perceived importance, could prove to be a breakthrough of magnitude comparable to the now ubiquitous concept of referencing a webpage through the use of its Universal Resource Locater (URL). We see many opportunities for using chipless ID in the world of everyday documents, but also many challenges. In this paper, we begin to explore the ways this new technology can be used to enable advanced document management functions, along with its implications for the ways in which people use documents.
Observations of hydrogen damage in a failed pressure vessel

Abstract An amine absorber tower used to strip H 2 S from propane fractured adjacent to a repair weld made to replace a section of the vessel damaged by hydrogen blisters and delaminations. Hydrogen stress cracks developed during operation of the vessel at the inside surface in martensite formed during repair welding. These cracks propagated by hydrogen pressure cracking in a zigzag path through the vessel wall. Catastrophic rupture initiated at an 800 mm long crack at a low stress level because hydrogen embrittlement reduced the fracture toughness of the steel by more than half. Observations of five types of hydrogen damage are discussed.
Alternative processing of scrambled genes generates protein diversity in the ciliate Chilodonella uncinata.

In ciliates, chromosomal rearrangements occur during the development of the somatic macronuclear genome from the germline micronuclear genome. These rearrangements are extensive in three ciliate classes—Armophorea, Spirotrichea, and Phyllopharyngea—generating a macronucleus with up to 20,000,000 gene-sized chromosomes. Earlier, we have shown that these three classes also share elevated rates of protein evolution relative to other ciliates. To assess the evolution of germline-limited sequences in the class Phyllopharyngea, we used a combination of traditional and walking PCR to analyze micronuclear copies of multiple genes from two lines of the morphospecies Chilodonella uncinata for which we had previously characterized macronuclear sequences. Analyses of the resulting data yield three main results: (1) conserved macronuclear (somatic) regions are found within rapidly evolving micronuclear (germline) regions; (2) gene scrambling exists within this ciliate lineage; and (3) alternative processing of micronuclear regions yields diverse macronuclear β-tubulin paralogs. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate gene scrambling outside the nonsister class Spirotrichea, and to show that alternative processing of scrambled genes generates diversity in gene families. Intriguingly, the Spirotrichea and Phyllopharyngea are also united in having transient “giant” polytene chromosomes, gene-sized somatic chromosomes, and elevated rates of protein evolution. We hypothesize that this suite of characters enables these ciliates to enjoy the benefits of asexuality while still maintaining the ability to go through sexual cycles. The data presented here add to the growing evidence of the dynamic nature of eukaryotic genomes within diverse lineages across the tree of life. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 314B:480–488, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Central line injection artifact simulating paratracheal adenopathy on FDG PET imaging.

A 58-year-old man was referred for an F-18 FDG PET study to evaluate for malignancy after thoracentesis demonstrated a hemorrhagic, lymphocyte-predominant exudative effusion. The PET scan demonstrated right paratracheal uptake suspicious for adenopathy, yet the CT scan did not show enlarged lymph nodes. A coiled central line was noted in the superior vena cava (SVC). Repeat PET imaging with injection through a peripheral line failed to demonstrate the abnormality, confirming the artifactual nature of the uptake. The use of central lines for tracer injection could lead to artifacts and, therefore, should be avoided.
The expansion of educredit in Latin American higher education: Promise or peril?

Credit facilities for students in Latin American universities have grown rapidly in recent years. The implications of this development are critically examined with particular attention to the inhibiting influence of loan-based higher education on the freedom of the student as an individual.
On-Demand Generation of a Formaldehyde-in-Air Standard

The feasibility of using catalytic conversion of methanol to formaldehyde to produce standard amount of substance fractions of formaldehyde was examined. The conversion efficiencies of several catalysts were measured as a function of temperature, balance gas, catalyst bed length, and methanol amount of substance fraction in an effort to identify conditions which yield high and consistent conversion of methanol to formaldehyde. The highest observed conversion rate was (95 {+-} 4)% using a molybdenum catalyst, where the error is the 2{sigma} uncertainty. The conversion efficiency was found to be consistent over repeated cycles and over a long lifetime test, suggesting that a molybdenum catalyst is a viable candidate for a standard formaldehyde generator, particularly for low formaldehyde amount of substance fractions (< 15{micro}mol/mol).
Transcriptional profiling of Arabidopsis heat shock proteins and transcription factors reveals extensive overlap between heat and non-heat stress response pathways

The heat shock response of Arabidopsis thaliana is dependent upon a complex regulatory network involving twenty-one known transcription factors and four heat shock protein families. It is known that heat shock proteins (Hsps) and transcription factors (Hsfs) are involved in cellular response to various forms of stress besides heat. However, the role of Hsps and Hsfs under cold and non-thermal stress conditions is not well understood, and it is unclear which types of stress interact least and most strongly with Hsp and Hsf response pathways. To address this issue, we have analyzed transcriptional response profiles of Arabidopsis Hsfs and Hsps to a range of abiotic and biotic stress treatments (heat, cold, osmotic stress, salt, drought, genotoxic stress, ultraviolet light, oxidative stress, wounding, and pathogen infection) in both above and below-ground plant tissues. All stress treatments interact with Hsf and Hsp response pathways to varying extents, suggesting considerable cross-talk between heat and non-heat stress regulatory networks. In general, Hsf and Hsp expression was strongly induced by heat, cold, salt, and osmotic stress, while other types of stress exhibited family or tissue-specific response patterns. With respect to the Hsp20 protein family, for instance, large expression responses occurred under all types of stress, with striking similarity among expression response profiles. Several genes belonging to the Hsp20, Hsp70 and Hsp100 families were specifically upregulated twelve hours after wounding in root tissue, and exhibited a parallel expression response pattern during recovery from heat stress. Among all Hsf and Hsp families, large expression responses occurred under ultraviolet-B light stress in aerial tissue (shoots) but not subterranean tissue (roots). Our findings show that Hsf and Hsp family member genes represent an interaction point between multiple stress response pathways, and therefore warrant functional analysis under conditions apart from heat shock treatment. In addition, our analysis revealed several family and tissue-specific heat shock gene expression patterns that have not been previously described. These results have implications regarding the molecular basis of cross-tolerance in plant species, and raise new questions to be pursued in future experimental studies of the Arabidopsis heat shock response network.
A new modification of the formulation of Peierls stress

Abstract The classical derivation of Peierls stress is critically examined. It is found that in Peierls-Nabbaro treatments there may exist an error in representing the atom positions across the slip plane after the dislocation is assumed to be translated by a distance. With the correction of this error, it is shown that the misfit energy of the dislocation and the lattice friction to dislocation motion have an expected periodicity of the Burgers vector b rather than the unexpected periodicity of b 2 predicted by the original model. Under the new representations of atom positions, it is also shown that the Peierls stress formula for a dislocation in a lattice in which atoms just above and below the slip plane face each other may not be different from that for a dislocation in a lattice in which atoms alternate across the slip plane, as suggested before.
AN EXACT MULTIPLE COMPARISONS TEST FOR A MULTINOMIAL DISTRIBUTION

An exact procedure is developed for testing directional hypotheses concerning pairwise differences between category probabilities when the data can be considered a sample from a multinomial distribution. The procedure is illustrated in the case of three and four categories, and is compared with the exact test of the hypothesis of equal category probabilities proposed by Chapanis and modified by Gridgman.
Exploring the All-to-All Collective Optimization Space with ConnectX CORE-Direct

The all-to-all collective communication operation is used by many scientific applications, and is one of the most time consuming and challenging collective operation to optimize. The algorithms for all-to-all operations typically fall into two classes, logarithmic and linear scaling algorithms, with Bruck's algorithm, a logarithmic scaling algorithm, used in many small-data all-to-all implementations. The recent addition of InfiniBand CORE-Direct support for network management of collective communications offers new opportunities for optimizing all-to-all operation as well as supporting truly asynchronous implementations of these operations. This paper presents several new enhancements to the Bruck small-data algorithm that leverage CORE-Direct and other InfiniBand network capabilities to produce efficient implementations of this collective operation. These include RDMA, SR-RNR, and SR-RTR algorithms. In addition, nonblocking implementations of these collective operations are also presented. Benchmark results show that the RDMA algorithm, which uses CORE-Direct capabilities to offload collective communication management to the Host Channel Adapter (HCA), hardware gather support for sending non-continuous data, and low-latency RDMA semantics, performs the best. For a 64 processes and 128 byte-per-process all-to-all, the RDMA algorithm performs 27% better than Bruck's algorithm implementation in Open MPI and 136% better than the SR-RTR algorithm. In addition, the nonblocking versions of these algorithms have the same performance characteristics as the blocking algorithms. Finally, measurements of computation/communication overlap capacity show that all offloaded algorithms achieve about 98% overlap for large data all-to-all, whereas implementations using host-based progress achieve only about 9.5% overlap.
Subdrop ejection from double emulsion drops in shear flow

Nouveau type de rupture des gouttes a concentrations moderees, et mecanisme de degagement des sous gouttes dans la phase continue
Multiple plasma exchanges successfully maintain a young adult patient with Crigler-Najjar syndrome type I

Plasmapheresis has been shown to reduce total and free bilirubin levels in acute exacerbations of Crigler-Najjar syndrome, type I (CNS-TI), but its effectiveness in long-term management has not been reported. An 18-year-old (yo) male with CNS-TI, who required prolonged daily high-intensity phototherapy to prevent cerebral nervous system symptoms, developed increasingly frequent bouts of confusion, nausea, and vomiting associated with free bilirubin concentrations (fbcs) greater than 10-15 nmol/L. Pending consideration of orthotopic liver transplantation, plasma exchange (approximately 3 liters per procedure) was begun in 12/84 using the IBM/COBE 2997 with 5% albumin as replacement fluid. Frequency of treatments was guided by twice weekly fbcs, with plasma exchange for fbc greater than 10-15 nmol/L. Pre-exchange and postexchange fbcs ranged from 27.5 to 11 nmol/L and 9.2 to 2 nmol/L, respectively. Seventy-two exchanges were performed over a 28 month period. Irreversible CNS damage did not occur, and the patient underwent successful liver transplantation in April of 1987, with complete correction of his metabolic disorder. He remains well 18 months following transplantation.
Cichlid fishes as models of ecological diversification: patterns, mechanisms, and consequences

Cichlid fishes are hypothesized to encompass several independent adaptive radiations that display increased diversification rates and impressive ecological heterogeneity. Here, I review major ecological patterns associated with the evolutionary history of cichlids, with particular focus on comparison of Afrotropical and Neotropical lineages. Specifically, I present major patterns of ecological diversification, potential mechanisms that may promote ecological diversification, and possible consequences of ecological diversification. Evolutionary convergence and specialization of ecological (e.g., diet), behavioral (e.g., benthic sifting), and morphological traits (e.g., oral dentition) characterize adaptive patterns that transcend continents. Craniofacial mechanics, the pharyngeal jaw apparatus, phenotypic plasticity, and hybridization may have facilitated diversification of cichlid fishes by generating functional, morphological, and/or genetic diversity. The benthic–pelagic axis has been an important source of divergence during adaptive radiation. Additionally, there are several discrepancies between Afrotropical and Neotropical lineages, such as the relative frequency of herbivorous species, the importance of hybridization in generating diversity, the relative frequency of dentition types, and relationships between dental organization and ecological function. Emphasis on contrasts between Neotropical and Afrotropical lineages improves characterization of patterns at a broader level of organization and indicates that the genetic basis, functional capacity, and ecological opportunity for many traits may be conserved across lineages.
Alterations by centrally acting drugs of the suppression of self-stimulation behavior in the rat by tetrabenazine, physostigmine, chlorpromazine and pentobarbital

The effects of pre-treatment (32 min) with d-amphetamine (2 mg/kg), scopolamine (0.5 mg/kg), and chlordiazepoxide (5 mg/kg) were studied on the suppression of self-stimulation behavior in the male albino rat by central depressants. The antagonism of each compound was determined against the suppressant action of tetrabenazine (2 mg/kg), physostigmine (0.1 mg/kg), chlorpromazine (2.5 mg/kg) and pentobarbital sodium (10 mg/kg). Against the suppression produced by tetrabenazine, only d-amphetamine gave partial protection throughout the test. Scopolamine and chlordiazepoxide had a transient delaying action. Against the suppressant effect of chlorpromazine, protection was given by d-amphetamine, scopolamine and chlordiazepoxide. Against physostigmine, scopolamine gave full protection, d-amphetamine partial protection, and chlordiazepoxide was without effect. Against the effect of pentobarbital on self-stimulation behavior, there was no protection by d-amphetamine and scopolamine when the animal showed motor deficits, and a stimulant action when these had worn off, but the rates of responding were still depressed. Chlordiazepoxide potentiated the action of pentobarbital. These results are interpreted in terms of a short-run stimulant action on depressed rates of responding, and a longer-run protective action against changes produced by the compounds suppressing self-stimulation behavior in levels of transmitter-like substances.
The R asteroids reconsidered

JHK infrared photometry shows that R asteroids have two distinct infrared color domains. Most R asteroids have JHK and visual colors and albedos that fall amongst those observed for S asteroids, but a small subset is clearly different. These are designated as a new A class of asteroids.
Physiologic regulation of arterial pressure.

Abstract There are two major types of mechanisms by which arterial pressure is regulated, one which opposes acute changes in arterial pressure over a period of seconds, minutes, hours, or days and one which controls the long-term basic level of mean arterial pressure. Among the pressure regulatory mechanisms for keeping the arterial pressure near a normal mean value in acute conditions are (1) the pressoreceptor regulatory system; (2) the central nervous system ischemic reflex system; (3) the stress relaxation mechanism which adapts the vascular dimensions to the blood volume; and (4) the capillary fluid shift mechanism. Long-term regulation of mean arterial pressure, on the other hand, is controlled principally by the kidneys. At present, the available research evidence indicates that the kidneys regulate arterial pressure principally by controlling blood volume and the electrolytic constituents of the body fluids. There are three different ways in which the kidneys can regulate blood volume and extracellular electrolytes in response to arterial pressures. These are (1) simple hemodynamic response of the kidneys to changes in arterial pressure; (2) increase and decrease in renal outflow of fluid and salts in response to circulatory nervous reflexes; and (3) increase and decrease in renal output in response to the secretion of aldosterone by the adrenal cortex.
Influence of scattering and probe-volume heterogeneity on soot measurements using optical pyrometry

Abstract The equations describing radiative emission from soot are reexamined in light of recent measurements showing that scattering by aggregated soot particles is not negligible in the near-infrared region. When measuring soot temperature and concentration using two-color optical pyrometry, emission is usually best approximated by I λ ( s ) = [ 1 − exp ( − k a , λ s ) ] I b , λ , using an absorption coefficient, k a , λ , determined while taking into account the effects of scattering. This equation gives good results in most practical measurement environments, where scattering-induced contributions to the measured light intensity are approximately balanced by scattering losses. It is also shown that probe-volume heterogeneity biases temperature measurements made with two-color pyrometry toward the higher temperatures in the probe volume. Soot concentration measurements are also biased, reflecting the concentration of hot soot in the probe volume, rather than the mean concentration of hot and cold soot. Methods to minimize these effects are suggested.
Attrition from heart transplant waiting list for patients on ventricular assist devices is not affected by desensitization strategies.

Background. Ventricular assist device (VAD) patients, who are commonly sensitized, can be successfully transplanted using strategies aimed at diminishing antibody burden. However, the impact of these therapies on outcomes for VAD patients on the waiting list is ill-defined. The following study was conducted to ascertain the relationship between desensitization therapies and attrition rate from the waiting list for VAD patients. Methods. The VAD patients listed between July 1996 and June 2002 were used for this report. Transplant and inpatient pharmacy databases were queried for demographics, date of transplantation, degree of allosensitization, use of desensitization therapy, immunosuppressive strategies, and specific causes of death. Results. Among 232 patients listed for heart transplantation who required bridging to transplantation with a VAD, 79 (34%) died while on the waiting list. Common causes of death included multisystem organ failure in 32 (40.5%), sepsis in 19 (24.0%), and stroke in 10 (12.6%) patients. While nearly 50% of these patients were sensitized at listing, only 5 (6.3%) patients received desensitization therapy following VAD implantation. Therapies included mycophenolate mofetil in 3 (3.7%) and IVIG in 2 (2.5%) patients. Not a single patient underwent plasmapheresis or OKT3 therapy. Conclusion. For patients bridged to heart transplantation with a VAD, attrition from the waiting list was associated with factors other than desensitization or induction regimens.
Differences in breast-feeding initiation and continuation by maternal diabetes status.

Objective To examine (i) the prevalence of and associations between breast-feeding initiation and continuation by maternal diabetes status and (ii) the reasons for not initiating and/or continuing breast-feeding by maternal diabetes status. Design Secondary data analyses of a population-based cross-sectional study were conducting using data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), 2009–2011. Multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate the associations between breast-feeding initiation and continuation by diabetes status. Setting Thirty states and New York City, USA. Subjects Mothers of recently live-born infants, selected by birth certificate sampling. Results Among 72755 women, 8·8 % had gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and 1·7 % had pregestational diabetes mellitus (PDM). Breast-feeding initiation was similar among GDM and no diabetes mellitus (NDM) women (80·8 % v. 82·2 %, respectively, P=0·2), but continuation was lower among GDM (65·7 % v. 68·8 %, respectively, P=0·01). PDM women had lower initiation and continuation compared with NDM (78·2 %, P=0·03 and 60·4 %, P<0·01, respectively). In adjusted analyses, current smoking status was a significant effect modifier for initiation, but not for continuation. Conclusions Differences in breast-feeding initiation and continuation prevalence by maternal diabetes status may reflect differences in prenatal education, indicating the need for increased efforts among PDM women. Additionally, non-smoking women with PDM or GDM would benefit from additional breast-feeding education.
In Vitro Activities of ABT-773 and Other Antimicrobials against Human Mycoplasmas

The in vitro susceptibilities of 103 Mycoplasma pneumoniae isolates, 14 Mycoplasma hominis isolates, 12 Mycoplasma fermentans isolates, and 24 Ureaplasma species to ABT-773, an investigational ketolide, and seven other agents were determined. For M. pneumoniae, the ABT-773 MIC at which 90% of isolates are inhibited (MIC90; ≤0.001 μg/ml) was comparable to those of azithromycin, clarithromycin, and erythromycin and at least 128-fold lower than those of levofloxacin, gatifloxacin, moxifloxacin, and doxycycline. For M. fermentans, the ABT-773 MIC90 (≤0.008 μg/ml) was 2- to 128-fold lower than those of all other agents tested. For M. hominis, the ABT-773 MIC90 (0.031 μg/ml) was equivalent to that of moxifloxacin, 2-fold lower than those of gatifloxacin and clindamycin, and 16-fold lower than that of levofloxacin. ABT-773 was equally active against doxycycline-susceptible and doxycycline-resistant organisms. The ABT-773 MICs (0.016 μg/ml) for Ureaplasma species were the lowest of those of any drug tested. The MIC90 was 4- to 64-fold lower than those of clarithromycin, azithromycin, and erythromycin and ≥16-fold lower than those of all three fluoroquinolones. Minimal bactericidal concentrations determined for a subgroup of organisms were ≤0.063 μg/ml for M. pneumoniae and 0.25 μg/ml for M. fermentans, but they were several dilutions higher for M. hominis and Ureaplasma spp. ABT-773 has great potential for further study for the treatment of infections due to mycoplasmas and ureaplasmas.
The New Crisis of Confidence in Psychiatric Diagnosis

The American Psychiatric Association has released the long-awaited fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). This commentary notes that the DSM-5 introduce...
Occupation and Breast Cancer Mortality in a Prospective Cohort of US Women

The authors examined the association between main lifetime occupation and subsequent breast cancer mortality in a large prospective study of US adults. After 9 years of follow-up, 1,780 cases of fatal breast cancer were observed among 563,395 women who were cancer-free at interview in 1982. Main lifetime occupation was derived based on self-reports of current and former occupational titles and was classified into 14 broad occupational groups and 16 more narrowly defined occupational titles. Results from Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for breast cancer risk factors, revealed little variability in breast cancer mortality by occupation. Two significant associations were observed: In comparison with housewives, women in "administrative support, including clerical" occupations were at a small increased risk (rate ratio (RR) = 1.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.31), and an increased risk was seen for "executives" (RR = 1.93, 95% CI 1.03-3.62), based on 10 breast cancer deaths. No significant increases in risk were observed for teachers and librarians (RR = 0.89), nurses (RR = 0.84), managers (RR = 0.89), or women employed in sales (RR = 0.88) or service (RR = 0.84) occupations. When analyses were limited to women who had worked in their occupation for 10 or more years, the results for each occupational title were virtually unchanged. These results offer little support for an association between occupation and breast cancer mortality in general or for particular occupational titles, including teachers and nurses.
Benefit/cost analysis for international study options

All engineering graduates from Union College are required to complete the "Other Languages; Other Cultures; Other Disciplines" portion of the College General Education program. Student can meet this requirement through completing three courses in a modern language, completing a three course cultural diversity track (African, East Asian, or Latin American studies), or participating in a variety of programs that require travel abroad. Approximately, 89% of the engineering students at Union opt for actual international travel. The authors believe that Union is unique in having such a large percentage of its engineering students experiencing first hand the culture of another country. This paper describes each of the international travel options in some detail, then presents a benefit/cost type analysis of the various international program options. Both direct (tuition, housing, etc.) and indirect (administrative overhead, faculty time, etc.) costs are estimated, and types of programs ranked by cost/student participating. Benefits, although much harder to quantify can nonetheless be identified and ranked according to their probable impact on the professional development of the student engineer. For example, longer programs give student engineers a longer exposure to the culture of the host country, and thus generally a better understanding of how to interact with people from different cultures in the global marketplace. Once developed, the two lists can be used to recommend where universities should best invest scarce resources.
Further development of an approximate loop transfer recovery methodology for fixed order dynamic compensator design

This paper further develops a methodology for designing fixed order compensators. The formulation uses an approximate loop transfer recovery (LTR) method to achieve performance and stability subject to a disturbance and unstructured uncertainty at either the plant input or the plant output. The approximate LTR methodology has the advantage that the quadratic performance index weighting matrices are uniquely defined. To reduce sensitivity to real parameter uncertainty, the performance index is modified to include a penalty on the closed-loop sensitivity dynamics. The formulation avoids the explicit introduction of sensitivity states into the performance index and thus does not increase the overall dimension of the problem. An example design for the coupled mass benchmark control problem is provided to demonstrate this methodology.
A comprehensive approach to process control

Embedded SiGe is widely used to boost the performance of the pFET device at recent technology nodes. We show that the thickness of the deposited SiGe layer has a strong impact on critical device parameters, which implies we require all process steps involved in its formation to be very strictly controlled. To achieve this we employ several methods that go beyond the usual controls on reproducibility and uniformity of etch and deposition processes. We also discuss some recommendations for incorporating these methods as part of the operational procedures in a Fab.
Commentary: The degenerative lumbar spine: a chronic condition in search of a definitive solution.

COMMENTARY ON Martin BI, Mirza SK, Flum DR, et al. Repeat surgery after lumbar decompression for herniated disc: the quality implications of hospital and surgeon variation. Spine J 2012;12:89–97 ( in this issue ).
Developing a computerized approach for optimizing individual tree removal to efficiently reduce crown fire potential

Abstract Thinning is a common silvicultural treatment being widely used to restore different types of overstocked forest stands in western U.S. because of its effect on changing fire behavior. Typically, thinning is applied at the stand level using prescriptions derived from sample plots that ignore variability in tree sizes and location within stands. Thinning prescriptions usually specify tree removal in terms of number of trees or basal area, resulting in a large number of cut-tree spatial patterns that meet the same prescription. However, the effect of each pattern on reducing crown fire potential can vary widely depending on the spatial distribution of leave-trees after treatment. Additionally, stand-level thinning prescriptions ignore cut-tree locations, which influence the economic efficiency of the thinning operations. Lastly, decisions on tree selection affect future competition levels of remaining trees, but the associated spatial and temporal effects on tree growth and crown fire potential over time are not considered in the development of thinning prescriptions. To address the limitations of current stand-level thinning practices, we designed a computerized approach to optimize individual tree removal and produce site specific thinning prescriptions that efficiently reduce crown fire potential. Based on stem map and tree attributes derived from light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology and a distance-dependent individual tree growth model, current and future tree-level fuel connections between adjacent trees were predicted and used as measures of crown fire potential. The approach makes the spatial selection of cut- and leave-trees that most efficiently reduces crown fire initiation and propagation over time while ensuring cost efficiency of the thinning treatment. Application results on a forest stand in western Montana show that the optimal tree selection provided by the computerized approach can reduce crown fire potential more efficiently than current thinning practices represented by a manual selection of tree removal.