cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Update on the Management of Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia

To review and update the latest findings in diagnosis and management of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN). OSSN is the most common anterior segment neoplastic disease process. Several ocular surface imaging techniques have been developed for the early diagnosis and management of clinical and subclinical ocular surface squamous neoplasia, including high-resolution optical coherence tomography (HR-OCT), in vivo confocal microscopy, and ultrasound biomicroscopy. Treatment modalities include both surgical and medical management, with a recent trend towards primary and adjunctive pharmacotherapy. There is increasing use of HR-OCT for the diagnosis and monitoring of clinical and subclinical OSSN lesions. Topical pharmacotherapy agents, including interferon α-2b, 5-fluorouracil, and mitomycin C, have demonstrable efficacy in the treatment of OSSN and their use may be dictated based upon tumor factors, patient factors, cost, and side effect profile. Both surgical excision and adjunctive topical medications have excellent success, with the favored treatment method trending towards topical pharmacotherapy as primary therapy.
Automatic individual non-invasive photo-identification of fish (Sumatra barb Puntigrus tetrazona ) using visible patterns on a body

Non-invasive fish identification of individuals can provide new possibilities for the monitoring of fish cultivation, improve and make fish production technologies less demanding for farmers, and increase fish welfare. The aim of this research is to confirm the idea of automatic non-invasive image-based fish identification of individuals using visible features on a fish body and prove the pattern stability during the fish cultivation period. Visible patterns, such as black stripes along the body of a Sumatra barb (Puntigrus tetrazona), were used for machine identification of individual fish. Two experiments were completed: a short-term experiment (43 fish) to show the uniqueness of the stripe patterns for identification, and a long-term experiment (25 fish) to test the stability of patterns during the cultivation period. The overall accuracy of classification was 100% for data collection in one day and 88% between two data collection times. This study shows that visible patterns and image processing methods can be used to automatically identify individual fish of the same species. This is not just limited to Sumatra barb—the concept should work for any fish with unique visible skin patterns, for example, for commercial fish species like Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and European perch (Perca fluviatilis).
Social responsibility and corporate reputation: The case of the Arthur Andersen Enron audit failure

Abstract We examine the influence of social responsibility ratings on market returns to Arthur Andersen (AA) clients following the Enron audit failure. Chaney and Philipich (2002) found that AA’s loss of reputation resulted in negative market returns to AA clients following the Enron audit failure. Proponents of social responsibility argue that social responsibility can improve the reputation of the firm, while detractors argue that social responsibility expenditures are a poor use of shareholder money. If social responsibility sends a signal to investors regarding the reputation/ethics of management, social responsibility could mitigate the negative returns to AA clients following the Enron audit failure. Using a matched sample of AA and non-AA firms, we do not find evidence that social responsibility mitigated the negative returns to AA clients following the Enron audit failure. Our results are inconsistent with claims that social responsibility can burnish a firm’s reputation in a time of crisis and with prior research indicating a positive relationship between social responsibility and market value.
It’s the Destination, Not the Journey: Surgical Deployment of Percutaneous Devices

For transcatheter structural heart technologies to be successful, they must meet thresholds of efficacy and durability, with low complication rates as well as deliverability via either the venous o...
The Etymology of Keelson and Some Fourteenth-century British Evidence for Tacking Gear

This note examines two entries from royal shipyard account books from the reigns of Edward I and Henry VI that throw light on the use of keels and related timbers, and of wooden sail-trimming gear ...
Scanning-Tunneling-Spectroscopy Determination of Barrier Potentials in Air or Moderate Vacuum

A scanning tunneling microscope (STM) can be used to obtain images of surface topology with resolution approaching atomic dimensions. It can also be used to measure localized surface energy barriers. The combination of these two features results in scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS), which can provide barrier-potential maps of solid surfaces. Computer-controlled nanometer probes in general and the STM/STS techniques in particular have important applications in quantitative nondestructive evaluation.
Micro and regular saccades across the lifespan during a visual search of "Where's Waldo" puzzles.

Abstract Despite the fact that different aspects of visual-motor control mature at different rates and aging is associated with declines in both sensory and motor function, little is known about the relationship between microsaccades and either development or aging. Using a sample of 343 individuals ranging in age from 4 to 66 and a task that has been shown to elicit a high frequency of microsaccades (solving Where’s Waldo puzzles), we explored microsaccade frequency and kinematics (main sequence curves) as a function of age. Taking advantage of the large size of our dataset (183,893 saccades), we also address (a) the saccade amplitude limit at which video eye trackers are able to accurately measure microsaccades and (b) the degree and consistency of saccade kinematics at varying amplitudes and directions. Using a modification of the Engbert–Mergenthaler saccade detector, we found that even the smallest amplitude movements (0.25–0.5°) demonstrate basic saccade kinematics. With regard to development and aging, both microsaccade and regular saccade frequency exhibited a very small increase across the life span. Visual search ability, as per many other aspects of visual performance, exhibited a U-shaped function over the lifespan. Finally, both large horizontal and moderate vertical directional biases were detected for all saccade sizes.
Getting the Green Light for Senate Bill 375: Public Engagement for Climate-Friendly Land Use in California

Signed into law in September 2008, California’s Senate Bill 375 (SB 375) is the first statewide legislation in the nation to link transportation and land use planning to climate change. The law is lengthy and complex, but the central concept is simple: locate homes closer to jobs, services, and transit so that Californians drive less frequently, travel shorter distances, and reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This article examines the approach to public participation outlined in SB 375, and argues that a critical success factor is the design and execution of strategies by local governments to engage citizens in the implementation of the legislation. Because the law does not change local authority over land use decisions or mandate that any jurisdiction promote the regional agenda, public involvement at the local level will ultimately determine whether SB 375 changes prevailing land use patterns to address global warming, or simply turns up the heat on local communities and exacerbates conflicts over land use. The article concludes
Effect of prophylactic cranial irradiation on survival in elderly patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) improves survival in patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) who have a complete response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, yet to the best of the authors' knowledge, data specific to the elderly population are lacking. METHODS Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, the authors identified 1926 patients aged ≥ 70 years who were diagnosed with limited-stage SCLC between 1988 and 1997. Overall survival (OS) for patients who received PCI versus those who did not were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with the log-rank test. A Cox proportional hazards model was further fitted to estimate the effect of PCI on OS after adjusting for age, race, sex, tumor size, lymph node status, stage of disease, and receipt of thoracic radiotherapy and surgery. RESULTS The median age of the patients was 75 years (range, 70 years-94 years) and 138 patients (7.2 %) received PCI. The 2-year and 5-year OS rates were 33.3% (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 25.6%-41.2%) and 11.6% (95% CI, 6.9%-17.6%), respectively, among patients who received PCI versus 23.1% (95% CI, 21.2%-25.1%) and 8.6% (95% CI, 7.3%-9.9%), respectively, among patients who did not receive PCI (P = .028). On multivariable analysis, PCI was found to be an independent predictor of OS (hazards ratio, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.54-0.97 [P = .032]). On subgroup analysis, PCI remained an independent predictor of OS among patients aged ≥ 75 years, but not among patients aged ≥ 80 years. CONCLUSIONS The receipt of PCI is associated with improved OS in patients aged ≥ 70 years with SCLC, suggesting that the benefit of PCI is maintained in the elderly population. Cancer 2013;119:3753–3760. © 2013 American Cancer Society.
The demand for risky assets under uncertain inflation: An examination of some widely used assumptions

Abstract This paper examines the effect of the following commonly used methods of incorporating random inflation into discrete-time models of the demand for risky assets: 1) the use of a multivariate normal probability distribution for nominal asset returns and the random inflation rate, and 2) the approximation of real asset returns by the difference between nominal returns and the rate of inflation. The combination of these assumptions results in a deceptively simple version of the inflationary capital asset pricing model (CAPM). However, in an approximation-free version of this model the expected value of real wealth does not exist. While it is obvious that mean-variance analysis is not applicable in such models, we also find that the model does not satisfy Ohlson's weakened conditions for a quadratic approximation to the portfolio selection problem. Furthermore, this model is neither a member of the generalized Pareto-Levy nor log-stable class of portfolio models analyzed by Fama, Samuelson, Ohlson, and Struck.
Optical trapping of a colloidal quantum dot

Bowtie apertures fabricated by lift-off were used to optically trap a 30-nm silica coated quantum dot (scQD) with 1.56-MW/cm2 intensity at 1064-nm wavelength. The trapped scQD emitted fluorescence by two photon excitation from the trapping laser.
The effects of therapeutic concentrations of gentamicin, amikacin and hyaluronic acid on cultured bone marrow-derived equine mesenchymal stem cells.

Summary Reasons for performing study Joint inflammation and septic arthritis are both potential complications of intra-articular injections of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs). Clinicians may prophylactically co-inject BM-MSCs admixed with either antimicrobials or hyaluronic acid; however, the effect of these agents on cultured BM-MSCs is unknown. Objective To determine the effects of therapeutic levels of gentamicin, amikacin and hyaluronic acid on cultured equine BM-MSCs in vitro. Study design In vitro experimental study. Methods Equine BM-MSCs from 4 healthy mature horses were isolated. Cultured BM-MSCs from each donor were incubated with gentamicin (150 mg), amikacin (250 mg), hyaluronic acid (22 mg) or 1% penicillin/streptomycin (control) under sterile conditions. Mesenchymal stem cells viability, proliferation, mediator secretion and culture media pH were measured. Results Incubation of BM-MSCs with gentamicin resulted in >95% MSC death after 45 min, and incubation of BM-MSCs with amikacin resulted in >95% MSC death after 2 h. Incubation of BM-MSCs with hyaluronic acid or penicillin/streptomycin (control) for up to 6 h resulted in sustained BM-MSC viability of 80% and >93%, respectively. All additives resulted in decreased media pH in the first minute; however, the pH then remained constant over the 6 h incubation period. No significant differences in BM-MSC proliferation or mediator secretion between the penicillin/streptomycin (control) and cells treated with hyaluronic acid were observed. Conclusion Therapeutic concentrations of aminoglycoside antimicrobials are toxic to cultured equine BM-MSCs. The effects of hyaluronic acid on cultured MSC viability, proliferation and mediator secretion are minimal. Potential relevance Based on these findings, the mixing of aminoglycoside antimicrobials and cultured equine BM-MSCs prior to therapeutic use is not recommended.
Fast Triangle Core Decomposition for Mining Large Graphs

Large triangle cores represent dense subgraphs for which each edge has at least k − 2 triangles (same as cliques). This paper presents a fast algorithm for computing the triangle core decomposition on big graphs. The proposed triangle core algorithm adapts both the computations and representation based on the properties of the graph. In addition, we develop a fast edge-based parallel triangle counting algorithm, which lies at the heart of the triangle core decomposition. The proposed algorithm is orders of magnitude faster than the currently available approach. We also investigate and propose fast methods for two variants of the triangle core problem: computing only the top-k triangle cores fast and finding the maximum triangle core number of the graph. The experiments demonstrate the scalability and effectiveness of our approach on 150+ networks with up to 1.8 billion-edges. Further, we apply the proposed methods for graph mining tasks including finding dense subgraphs, temporal strong components, and maximum cliques.
A novel methane sensor based on porous SnO2 nanorods: room temperature to high temperature detection.

We report for the first time a novel room temperature methane (CH4) sensor fabricated using porous tin oxide (SnO2) nanorods as the sensing material. The porous SnO2 nanorods were synthesized by using multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as templates. Current versus time curves were obtained demonstrating the room temperature sensing capabilities of the sensor system when exposed to 0.25% CH4 in air. The sensor also exhibited a wide temperature range for different concentrations of CH4 (25?500??C), making it useful in harsh environments as well.
This is your Life! A Lifeline Exercise to Promote Discussion of Differences:

This article presents an experiential learning exercise designed to help students become more aware of how critical life events have shaped their attitudes, beliefs, and values toward those who are...
Effectiveness of a brief group RET treatment for divorce-related dysphoria

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a brief, group rational-emotive (RET) treatment and problem solving treatment for divorce related dysphoria, involving six hours of therapy over 22 days. A waiting list condition was used for comparison. On three measures of dysphoria, RET and Problem-Solving subjects improved significantly more than Waiting List subjects and RET and Problem-Solving subjects maintained their improvement at a one-month follow-up. There was no significant difference in improvement between RET and Problem-Solving treatments. Effectiveness of the treatments could have been due either to specific content, group therapy components, or nonspecific effects.
The role of genetic counseling in the management of prenatally detected congenital heart defects.

Genetic counseling should be used in the context of prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart defects for several reasons. The insight gathered through the family history, review of ultrasound findings, and chromosome analysis may help to determine the origin of the defect, such that more precise information about prognosis and recurrence risks can be given. This information should be used by the patient to consider options for the current pregnancy and managemnt of future ones. The difficult and emotionally charged decisions that come with prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart defects demand that the psychosocial burden be explored with the patient. Genetic counseling should facilitate the decision-making process and address patient needs. Genetic counselors have the training, experience, and time to focus on these elements. The role of genetic counseling in congenital heart defects is likely to increase as advances in understanding the underlying genetic causes are made and incorporated into patient care and counseling. Genetic counseling for this indication will become more common as prenatal detection improves and as more affected individuals live to reproductive age.
Conducting exposure treatment in multiple contexts can prevent relapse

The acquisition of anxiety disorders (e.g., phobias) is often thought to be mediated by classical conditioning processes (e.g., Wolpe, 1958, Psychotherapy by reciprocal inhibition Wolpe and Rowan, 1989, Behaviour Research and Therapy, 27, 583-585). Thus, the success of exposure therapy is possibly a consequence of extinction, and factors affecting extinction in Pavlovian conditioning are potentially relevant to clinicians who administer exposure therapy. The present experiments investigated the effects of conducting extinction in multiple contexts using rats as subjects in a conditioned suppression paradigm. In Experiment 1, subjects received conditioned stimulus (CS) and unconditioned stimulus (US) pairings in one context followed by extinction of that CS in one or three other contexts. When tested in an associatively neutral context (i.e., different from those of conditioning or extinction), rats that had received extinction in three contexts exhibited less responding to the CS than rats that had received extinction in one context. In Experiment 2, CS-US training occurred in either one or three contexts, followed by extinction of that CS in three other contexts. Testing in a neutral context revealed that rats conditioned in multiple contexts showed greater responding to the CS than rats trained in a single context. The results are discussed in the framework of memory retrieval, and the clinical implications are explored.
Fusion of multiple coarse features from the face, hand, and voice for reliable human identity determination

Currently, a number of systems for determining or verifying the identity of an individual have been developed that rely on a single, intricate identifying feature such as a fingerprint or the retina of an eye. The large amount of detail required for such systems generally complicates sensing and necessitates a certain amount of direct interaction with human users. Although current systems work reasonably well, it is advantageous to explore new techniques that reduce the amount of interaction required and minimize the possibility of deception. The development of a standoff (i.e., no physical contact) biometric identification system capable of quickly determining or verifying the identity of an individual with a low probability of error is described. The low probability of error is obtained by fusing coarse features remotely acquired from the face, hand and voice. Individually, these features provide inadequate error performance, however, complementary information obtained by fusing or combining the features in a higher dimensional feature space enables reliable identity determination. The use of coarse features simplifies the remote sensing requirements, reduces the computing power required for feature extraction and minimizes human interaction with the system. The simultaneous use of multiple features from multiple sensors lessens the possibility of deception. A description of the system is presented together with preliminary performance results.
IL-27 Imparts Immunoregulatory Function to Human NK Cell Subsets

Interleukin-27 (IL-27) is a cytokine with multiple roles in regulating the immune response, but its effect on human CD56bright and CD56dim NK cell subsets is unknown. NK cell subsets interact with other components of the immune system, leading to cytotoxicity or immunoregulation depending on stimulating factors. We found that IL-27 treatment results in increased IL-10 and IFN-γ expression, increased viability and decreased proliferation in both CD56bright and CD56dim NK cell subsets. More importantly, IL-27 treatment imparts regulatory activity to CD56bright NK cells, which mediates its suppressive function on T cells in a contact-dependent manner. There is growing evidence that CD56bright NK cell-mediated immunoregulation plays an important role in the control of autoimmunity. Thus, understanding the role of IL-27 in NK cell function has important implications for treatment of autoimmune disorders.
‘Recuperando la dignidad humana [Recovering human dignity]’: Shuar mothers speak out on intercultural bilingual education

This paper presents findings from interviews conducted in December 2011, with seven Shuar mothers of children in an intercultural bilingual school in the southern Amazon region of Ecuador. This study had two objectives: (1) to foreground the perspectives of Shuar parents towards intercultural bilingual education (IBE) as implemented in the Shuar pedagogical institute, and (2) to collaborate as an intercultural research team (North American-Shuar) to ensure linguistic and cultural authenticity of data collection, and analysis. As a Shuar mother herself, the co-author shares the same language and culture as the participants, which led to a deeper level of trust and openness in the interviews. Current studies claim that IBE is losing ground, partly because parents want their children schooled in Spanish – the language of power – and see the IBE system as inferior. However, these Shuar mothers expressed a different concern: IBE has been too intertwined with Salesian missions and must become decolonized in ord...
TWENTY-TWO CARBON HOMOLOGUE OF 11-CIS RETINAL. PHOTOPHYSICAL AND PHOTOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES

— Results concerning absorption-emission spectra and fluorescence quantum yields at 77 and 298K. triplet absorption spectra, and quantum yields of intersystem crossing and photoisomerization at 298 K, are presented for 11-cisβ-apo-14′-carotenal (C22-Ald), the immediate higher homologue of 11-cis retinal. The absorption spectra are characterized by two band-systems with maxima at 390–400 and 270–280 nm, respectively. Upon cooling from 298 to 77 K, the intensities of these two band-systems undergo changes in opposite directions indicating 12-s-cis: 12-s-trans conformational changes. No intermediate band-system analogous to the one located at 270–310 nm in cis retinals is observed for 11-cis C22-Ald. In nonpolar hydrocarbon solvents (e. g. cyclohexane) at room temperature, quantum yields of fluorescence (0.01), intersystem crossing (0.6) and photoisomerization (0.4) are all quite pronounced. The photophysical and photochemical properties of 11-cis C22-Ald are discussed in the light of similarities and dissimilarities with those of all-trans C22-Ald and 11-cis retinal under comparable conditions.
Comparison of γ-aminobutyrate receptors in the medial vestibular nucleus of control and Scn8a mutant mice

Abstract The Purkinje cells of the cerebellum provide inhibitory input to vestibular nucleus neurons, with γ-aminobutyrate (GABA) as neurotransmitter. Using extracellular recordings and bath application of agonists and antagonists, we compared GABA receptors in the medial vestibular nucleus of brain slices from Scn8a mutant mice of med J type, in which there is greatly reduced spontaneous and evoked activity of Purkinje cells, to those in slices from control mice. Muscimol, an agonist at GABA A receptors, produced a larger reduction of firing rate in neurons of mutant mice than in neurons of control mice, whereas there was no difference for baclofen, an agonist at GABA B receptors. In most cases tested, the effects of muscimol and baclofen remained similar when synaptic transmission was blocked, suggesting that the effects were predominantly directly upon GABA receptors of the neurons being recorded from. The up-regulation of GABA A receptors was similar in magnitude to that previously found for rats with bilateral transection of the inferior cerebellar peduncle. It may relate in both cases to reduced Purkinje cell input to medial vestibular nucleus neurons. The lack of effect on GABA B receptors suggests that the changes found with peduncle transection may have resulted from something more than reduced Purkinje cell activity, such as reduced concentrations of GABA, or that reduction of Purkinje cell activity in Scn8a mutant mice was insufficient to affect GABA B receptors. Other possible explanations of the results cannot be excluded since the Scn8a mutation affects other neuron types besides Purkinje cells.
Confronting terrestrial biosphere models with forest inventory data

Efforts to test and improve terrestrial biosphere models (TBMs) using a variety of data sources have become increasingly common. Yet, geographically extensive forest inventories have been under-exploited in previous model–data fusion efforts. Inventory observations of forest growth, mortality, and biomass integrate processes across a range of timescales, including slow timescale processes such as species turnover, that are likely to have important effects on ecosystem responses to environmental variation. However, the large number (thousands) of inventory plots precludes detailed measurements at each location, so that uncertainty in climate, soil properties, and other environmental drivers may be large. Errors in driver variables, if ignored, introduce bias into model–data fusion. We estimated errors in climate and soil drivers at U.S. Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) plots, and we explored the effects of these errors on model–data fusion with the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory LM3V dynamic glob...
Electrically addressed spatial light modulator that uses a dynamic memory.

The operating characteristics of a 64 × 64 array electrically addressed spatial light modulator that uses a dynamic memory on a very-large-scale-integration chip and a ferroelectric liquid-crystal modulator are discussed.
Population structure of the tsetse fly Glossina pallidipes estimated by allozyme, microsatellite and mitochondrial gene diversities

Diversities at nuclear and mitochondrial loci were examined in eleven natural populations of Glossina pallidipes from east and southern Africa. Alleles in each class of loci are assumed to be selectively neutral. Allozyme gene diversities (heterozygosities) averaged over eight loci were 0.146 among seven Kenya populations and 0.201 among four southern African populations. Microsatellite diversity averaged over three loci was 0.250 in Kenya and only 0.218 in southern Africa. Mitochondrial diversities averaged 0.504 in Kenya and only 0.156 in southern Africa. Mitochondrial and microsatellite diversities in the populations were strongly correlated with each other, but uncorrelated with allozyme diversities. In contrast to the allozyme diversities, mitochondrial and microsatellite variation indicated a severe and prolonged reduction in population size in southern Africa. Genetic distances among populations increased with the geographical distances between them. Allozyme diversities in southern populations were conserved. Genetic differentiation at allozyme loci among populations was greatly damped when compared with the other markers. The foregoing can be explained if allozyme diversities were maintained by balancing selection. Three main points emerged: genetic data confirm the historical evidence that southern G. pallidipes populations experienced a severe and prolonged bottleneck; allozyme variation was conserved in the bottlenecked populations; and gene flow among populations is surprisingly restricted.
Treatment of Paget's disease--taming the wild osteoclast.

Dr. L.J. Deftos writes that in Paget's disease, as in many other skeletal disorders, the osteoclast is the cellular villain; it literally chews up the skeleton.
An Exploratory Study Comparing Goal-Oriented Mental Imagery with Daily To-Do Lists: Supporting College Student Success

Although to-do lists are a ubiquitous daily planning tool there is limited information on users’ perceptions of this method. Another resource to support goal-oriented planning is mental imagery. A substantial body of research shows the utility of mental imagery in the domains of healthcare, sports, business and education. Imagery has been shown to enhance goal-oriented behavior, and along with primed positive affect, to enhance persistence and coping. For the purpose of comparison, a sample of 214 college students practiced either a goal-oriented mental imagery technique or a to-do list technique on alternate days for two weeks. On mental imagery days students were significantly more likely to report a sense of accomplishment, ease, coping, and positive affect, compared with to-do list days. Qualitative comments provided additional informative detail showing to-do list days to be associated with a task orientation, greater dissatisfaction with underachievement, and higher levels of perceived stress and negative affect. While the study shows benefit for both mental imagery and to-do lists, a tenable conclusion from the results is that a combination of the two methods may actually yield the greatest benefit. Used in tandem the methods provide a synergistic orientation to daily tasks with a heightened sense of positive affect and expectancy.
Air pollution threats to US national parks of the Great Lakes region

The Great Lakes region of the interior of North America supports a large human population, a major industrial base, and recreational and scenic amenities of unusual contrast and quality. To protect portions of this landscape and meet national recreational needs, the US Federal Government has established 10 National Parks, Monuments, and Lakeshores, in the region, extending from northern Minnesota to the southern shore of Lake Erie. However, air pollutant sources from the industrial Midwest, and large-scale coal combustion for electricity along the Ohio Valley, show evidence of significantly threatening the resource qualities protected in these parks.A review of the natural resources and amenities in each of the National Parks, Monuments, and Lakeshores, in the region shows that scenic vistas are of primary significance, with unique biota (largely northern coniferous species and associated bird-life) and clear water also prominent. Pollutant concentrations in the southern sites, however, are above the thresholds that are known to produce stress, foliage damage, and altered growth-rates on many sensitive species, including the coniferous trees. These pollutants include gases such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides (NOX) that are primary emissions of relatively local origin, as well as pollutants such as sulphate particulates, ozone, and acidic deposition, produced by chemical transformations during long-distance atmospheric transport. The particulates, in combination with the high average summer humidity, produce a reduction of visibility at the southern sites, and hence the partial loss of an important amenity.
Local modes analysis of vibrational predissociation in iodine-inert gas van der waals complexes

Abstract We propose a local modes description of stretching motion and energy transfer in photoexcited I 2 X n van der Waals complexes. In a simple local modes model. We find decreasing efficiency of vibrational predissociation as the size ot the complete grows in qualitative agreement with recent experiments.
High-Resolution Endocardial and Epicardial Optical Mapping in a Sheep Model of Stretch-Induced Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a complex cardiac arrhythmia with high morbidity and mortality.1,2 It is the most common sustained cardiac rhythm disturbance seen in clinical practice and its prevalence is expected to increase in the coming years.3 Increased intra-atrial pressure and dilatation have been long recognized to lead to AF,1,4 which highlights the relevance of using animal models and stretch to study AF dynamics. Understanding the mechanisms underlying AF requires visualization of the cardiac electrical waves with high spatial and temporal resolution. While high-temporal resolution can be achieved by conventional electrical mapping traditionally used in human electrophysiological studies, the small number of intra-atrial electrodes that can be used simultaneously limits the spatial resolution and precludes any detailed tracking of the electrical waves during the arrhythmia. The introduction of optical mapping in the early 90's enabled wide-field characterization of fibrillatory activity together with sub-millimeter spatial resolution in animal models5,6 and led to the identification of rapidly spinning electrical wave patterns (rotors) as the sources of the fibrillatory activity that may occur in the ventricles or the atria.7-9 Using combined time- and frequency-domain analyses of optical mapping it is possible to demonstrate discrete sites of high frequency periodic activity during AF, along with frequency gradients between left and right atrium. The region with fastest rotors activates at the highest frequency and drives the overall arrhythmia.10,11 The waves emanating from such rotor interact with either functional or anatomic obstacles in their path, resulting in the phenomenon of fibrillatory conduction.12 Mapping the endocardial surface of the posterior left atrium (PLA) allows the tracking of AF wave dynamics in the region with the highest rotor frequency. Importantly, the PLA is the region where intracavitary catheter-based ablative procedures are most successful terminating AF in patients,13 which underscores the relevance of studying AF dynamics from the interior of the left atrium. Here we describe a sheep model of acute stretch-induced AF, which resembles some of the characteristics of human paroxysmal AF. Epicardial mapping on the left atrium is complemented with endocardial mapping of the PLA using a dual-channel rigid borescope c-mounted to a CCD camera, which represents the most direct approach to visualize the patterns of activation in the most relevant region for AF maintenance.
Stresses in a Submarine Topography Under Ocean Waves

The problem of submarine slope stability is of interest to both offshore engineering and geology. In an uneven topography, the weight above a horizontal plane induces two-dimensional variation in the static stress field. The action of wave pressure, which changes with depth, further introduces excess pore pressure and dynamic stresses in the sea bottom. In the present paper, we combine a simple analytical theory for the static stress by the present authors, and the recent solution by Mei and Foda for wave-induced stresses in a plane poro-elastic sea bed to account for mild bottom slope and wave shoaling, to obtain the effective stress field in a submarine topography under sea waves. Sample results are given for a ridge and a canyon. In particular the dynamic pore pressure and the combined static and dynamic effective stresses are presented. 10 references, 11 figures.
Flow near an oscillating cylinder in dilute viscoelastic fluid

THERE are many natural phenomena in which nonlinear interactions of time-dependent inputs give rise to steady—that is, time-independent outputs. One of these is a steady streaming belonging to a class of secondary flows sometimes called acoustic streaming. It occurs when a circular cylinder oscillates normal to its axis in an unbounded Newtonian fluid1–3. We report here on the steady secondary flow induced when a long thin cylinder oscillates as described in a viscoelastic liquid. We found that the direction of steady streaming is opposite to that found for the bulk of fluid when the experiment is performed with a Newtonian fluid.
The association of a tumour of the posterior pituitary gland with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1.

: The association of a tumour of the posterior pituitary gland with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. B. E. Tuch, J. N. Carter, G. M. Armellin and R. C. Newland, Aust. HZ. J. Med., 1982, 12, pp. 179–181. A case of multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) syndrome type 1 is reported in which multiple adenomas of the parathyroid glands and islets of Langerhans were associated with a large granular cell myoblastoma of the posterior lobe of the pituitary. This rare form of pituitary pathology occurring with the MEN type 1 syndrome appears to be unique.
Probing the isoprenylcysteine carboxyl methyltransferase (Icmt) binding pocket: sulfonamide modified farnesyl cysteine (SMFC) analogs as Icmt inhibitors.

Abstract Human isoprenylcysteine carboxyl methyltransferase (hIcmt) is a promising anticancer target as it is important for the post-translational modification of oncogenic Ras proteins. We herein report the synthesis and biochemical activity of 41 farnesyl-cysteine based analogs versus hIcmt. We have demonstrated that the amide linkage of a hIcmt substrate can be replaced by a sulfonamide bond to achieve hIcmt inhibition. The most potent sulfonamide-modified farnesyl cysteine analog was 6ag with an IC50 of 8.8 ± 0.5 μM for hIcmt.
Suppression of Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Production by Adiponectin Is Mediated by Transcriptional and Post-transcriptional Mechanisms

Adiponectin is an adipokine with potent anti-inflammatory properties. Treatment of macrophages with adiponectin results in a suppression of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cytokine production. Here we investigated the transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms by which adiponectin suppresses LPS-stimulated tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production. Treatment of RAW 264.7 macrophages with LPS increased TNF-α promoter-driven luciferase activity (TNF-α promoter/Luc activity) by 20-fold over basal. After culture with 1 μg/ml globular adiponectin (gAcrp) for 18 h, TNF-α promoter/Luc activity was increased even in the absence of LPS; further challenge with LPS only increased TNF-α promoter/Luc activity by 1.4-fold. Treatment with gAcrp decreased LPS-stimulated ERK1/2 phosphorylation and IκB degradation and suppressed the ability of LPS to increase the DNA binding activity of Egr-1 and p65. gAcrp also suppressed LPS-mediated stabilization of TNF-α mRNA. In controls cells, the half-life of TNF-α mRNA was increased from ∼30 min at base line to ∼80 min in response to LPS. After treatment with gAcrp for 18 h, LPS failed to increase TNF-α mRNA stability. This gAcrp-mediated loss of stimulus-induced stabilization of TNF-α mRNA required the presence of the TNF-α 3′-untranslated region and was associated with an increase in expression and RNA binding activity of tristetraprolin, an mRNA-binding protein that destabilizes TNF-α mRNA. In summary, these data characterize the complex transcriptional and post-transcriptional effects of gAcrp on LPS-stimulated TNF-α expression in macrophages. gAcrp treatment profoundly suppressed the ability of LPS to increase TNF-α transcription and reduced the stimulus-induced stabilization of TNF-α mRNA in response to LPS.
STABILIZATION IN RELATIVISTIC PHOTOIONIZATION WITH CIRCULARLY POLARIZED LIGHT

Relativistic ionization rates and related phenomena are calculated for ground-state hydrogen atoms in the presence of a circularly polarized electromagnetic field. A Dirac formalism is used, with spin effects fully included. A primary purpose of this work is to explore the effects of relativity on atomic strong-field stabilization. A wide range of frequencies is covered, and in all cases relativistic effects first dampen the stabilization phenomenon as the field intensity increases, and then strongly enhance it in the intensity domain where the ponderomotive potential exceeds the electron rest energy. Relativistic effects can produce major changes in the photoelectron energy spectrum, but perhaps the most easily observable effect is the major shift that can occur in the photoelectron angular distribution.
The Omission of Titles of Addresses on Scientific Subjects

I VENTURE to ask the attention of “whom it may concern” to the practice in vogue in Great Britain of publishing presidential addresses of scientific societies and of sections of the British Association without any mention of the titles of those addresses. Take, for example, a case quite at random, but just at hand. NATURE of August 17, beginning on p. 368, contains the inaugural address of the president of the British Association with the heading “Part I.” On p. 372 of the same number is another presidential address without a title. On p. 378 a third address has no general head, but it has the distinct advantage of four subheads that enable the reader to select at a glance what he wants, and to pass over other matters if he so chooses.
MODELING OF AEROSOL DYNAMICS: AEROSOL SIZE AND COMPOSITION*

A mechanism for the evolution of the size and composition of an aerosol particle is investigated by developing a model that includes the transfer of gaseous pollutants to the surface of existing aerosol particles, the transfer of the pollutants across the gas-particle interface, and the reaction of dissolved species within the aerosol particle. The reaction mechanisms considered include homogeneous gas-phase and heterogeneous solution chemistry. Aerosol particles evolving within an urban plume and within power-plant and smelter plumes are studied, along with the evolution of particle size and chemical composition for regions of various relative humidities, with particular emphasis on aqueous chemistry in the low-humidity environments of the southwestern U.S. A simulation of a copper smelting complex in central Arizona indicates that all particles shrink from their original size as plume humidity approaches background relative humidity, that most secondary sulfate formation occurs in the near-plume region, and that the final particle pH is in the range 2.0-2.2 for a wide range of physical conditions.
A review of some approximate methods used in aerodynamic heating analyses

It is pointed out that preliminary design and optimization studies for new aerospace vehicles require techniques which can calculate aerodynamic heating rates accurately and efficiently. The method employed to calculate the flow field depends to a large extent on the shape of the vehicle, Mach number, Reynolds number, and Knudsen number. In the case of the aero-assisted orbital transfer vehicle (AOTV), a substantial portion of the flight will be in the transitional regime between continuum and free molecule flow. The present paper discusses some approximate methods which have been used to calculate heating rates on high-speed vehicles. Attention is given to the stagnation point and leading edges, the downstream region, the axisymmetric analog, laminar and turbulent heating rates, transition heating rates, gas models, and three-dimensional applications.
The 20-year trajectory of marital quality in enduring marriages: Does equity matter?:

I examine the trajectory of marital quality as a function of relationship equity with data from a six-wave panel study of 704 married respondents between 1980 and 2000. Reporting that one “gives more” to the marriage (subjective underbenefit) is more likely for women than men at any given marital duration. Respondents’ relative contribution to income, paid labor, housework, and health (objective underbenefit) raises this probability for women of average religiosity. For the more religious, objective underbenefit has no effect on women’s sense of underbenefit, but reduces men’s sense of underbenefit. Objective underbenefit lowers women’s, but raises men’s, marital quality, at any marital duration. The relevance of equity was not diluted by the passage of time in marriage.
The taxonomic status of the Chemeron temporal (KNM-BC 1).

Abstract Temporal bone morphology, as part of the basicranium, is commonly used in systematic evaluation of early hominid fossils. When an isolated right temporal bone, KNM-BC 1 (the Chemeron temporal) was discovered in the Baringo Basin, Kenya, Tobias (1967 a , Nature 215, 476–480), citing ambiguity of characters, hesitated to place the specimen generically, attributing the fossil only to Hominidae gen. et sp. indet. Since that discovery, the early hominid sample has grown considerably and comparisons with this expanded dataset led Hill et al . (1992 a , Nature 355, 719–722) to revise the placement of KNM-BC 1 including it within the genus Homo . This revision was possible due to the increased number of hominid fossil specimens from the late Pliocene/early Pleistocene, most notably members of the genus Homo . A thorough investigation into the utility of the temporal bone in hominid systematics shows that many features, as currently used in the literature, demonstrate high levels of variation thus questioning their phyletic valence. It is shown, however, that the temporal bone still contains useful systematic information. A detailed anatomical description of KNM-BC 1 is provided and, when discussed in the context of temporal bone features provided, affirms the conclusion of Hill et al . (1992 a ) and places the fossil within the genus Homo .
The tracheotomy punch for urgent tracheotomy

Tracheotomy is a commonly performed surgical technique used for long-term mechanical ventilation, upper airway obstruction, need for pulmonary toilet, and as an adjunct to surgery where ventilation is anticipated. Urgent tracheotomy may be performed when difficulty is encountered during an elective tracheotomy, or when cricothyroidotomy is impossible or contraindicated due to distorted anatomy or laryngeal obstruction. Various methods of creating a tracheal opening have been described and each of these methods has technical advantages and disadvantages. In the urgent setting, a rapid and technically simple approach is needed for optimal results. We have used the Eisele tracheotomy punch (Pilling, Teleflex Medical, Research Triangle Park, NC) for all tracheotomies, both elective and urgent. In this report we describe five illustrative cases in which the tracheotomy punch was used successfully in the urgent setting to ensure rapid airway access.
Effector CD4+ T cell expression signatures and immune-mediated disease associated genes.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in immune-mediated diseases have identified over 150 associated genomic loci. Many of these loci play a role in T cell responses, and regulation of T cell differentiation plays a critical role in immune-mediated diseases; however, the relationship between implicated disease loci and T cell differentiation is incompletely understood. To further address this relationship, we examined differential gene expression in naive human CD4+ T cells, as well as in in vitro differentiated Th1, memory Th17-negative and Th17-enriched CD4+ T cells subsets using microarray and RNASeq. We observed a marked enrichment for increased expression in memory CD4+ compared to naive CD4+ T cells of genes contained among immune–mediated disease loci. Within memory T cells, expression of disease-associated genes was typically increased in Th17-enriched compared to Th17-negative cells. Utilizing RNASeq and promoter methylation studies, we identified a differential regulation pattern for genes solely expressed in Th17 cells (IL17A and CCL20) compared to genes expressed in both Th17 and Th1 cells (IL23R and IL12RB2), where high levels of promoter methylation are correlated to near zero RNASeq levels for IL17A and CCL20. These findings have implications for human Th17 celI plasticity and for the regulation of Th17-Th1 expression signatures. Importantly, utilizing RNASeq we found an abundant isoform of IL23R terminating before the transmembrane domain that was enriched in Th17 cells. In addition to molecular resolution, we find that RNASeq provides significantly improved power to define differential gene expression and identify alternative gene variants relative to microarray analysis. The comprehensive integration of differential gene expression between cell subsets with disease-association signals, and functional pathways provides insight into disease pathogenesis.