cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Deactivating Germline Mutations in LEMD3 Cause Osteopoikilosis and Buschke‐Ollendorff Syndrome, but Not Sporadic Melorheostosis

Autosomal dominant OPK and BOS feature widespread foci of osteosclerotic trabeculae without or with skin lesions, respectively. Occasionally, a larger area of dense bone in OPK or BOS resembles MEL, a sporadic sclerosing disorder primarily involving cortical bone. Others, finding deactivating germline LEMD3 mutations in OPK or BOS, concluded such defects explain all three conditions. We found germline LEMD3 mutations in OPK and BOS but not in sporadic MEL. Introduction: In 2004, others discovered that heterozygous, loss-of-function, germline mutations in the LEMD3 gene (LEMD3 or MAN1) cause both osteopoikilosis (OPK) and Buschke-Ollendorff syndrome (BOS). OPK is an autosomal dominant, usually benign, skeletal dysplasia featuring multiple, small, especially metaphyseal, oval or round, dense trabecular foci distributed symmetrically throughout the skeleton. BOS combines OPK with connective tissue nevi comprised of collagen and elastin. In some OPK and BOS families, an individual may have relatively large, asymmetric areas of dense cortical bone interpreted as melorheostosis (MEL). MEL, however, classically refers to a sporadic, troublesome skeletal dysostosis featuring large, asymmetric, “flowing hyperostosis” of long bone cortices often with overlying, constricting soft tissue abnormalities. However, a heterozygous germline mutation in LEMD3 was offered to explain MEL. Materials and Methods: We studied 11 unrelated individuals with sclerosing bone disorders where LEMD3 mutation was a potential etiology: familial OPK (1), familial BOS (2), previously reported familial OPK with MEL (1), sporadic MEL (3), sporadic MEL with mixed-sclerosing-bone dystrophy (1), and patients with other unusual sclerosing bone disorders (3). All coding exons and adjacent mRNA splice sites for LEMD3 were amplified by PCR and sequenced using genomic DNA from leukocytes. We did not study lesional tissue from bone or skin. Results: In the OPK family, a heterozygous nonsense mutation (c.1433T>A, p.L478X) was discovered in exon 1. In the two BOS families, a heterozygous nonsense mutation (exon 1, c.1323C>A, p.Y441X) and a heterozygous frame-shift mutation (exon 1, c.332_333insTC) were identified. In the individual with MEL and familial OPK, a heterozygous nonsense mutation (c.1963C>T, p.R655X) was detected in exon 7. However, no LEMD3 mutation was found for any other patient, including all four with sporadic MEL. Conclusions: We confirm that OPK and BOS individuals, including those with MEL-like lesions, have heterozygous, deactivating, germline LEMD3 mutations. However, MEL remains of unknown etiology.
Retransplantation for recurrent hepatitis C: Positive aspects

1. The prevalence of retransplantation for hepatitis C (HCV) patients is stable (around 40%). 2. Survival models to predict outcome of retransplantation do not show that HCV is an independent variable with poor outcomes. 3. Using Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database from 1996-2002, retransplantation for HCV had similar outcomes to other causes of retransplantation. 4. Poorer outcomes were noted for retransplantation with MELD scores greater than 25. 5. Minimal survival thresholds need to be developed for retransplantation for all causes of retransplantation.
Antijamming coding techniques

In this article, we have provided an overview of several coding techniques for erasure channels which can be or have been applied to cognitive radio systems as antijamming coding schemes for link maintenance purpose. We have discussed in detail the conventional erasure codes, LDPC codes, rate less codes, as well as recently proposed piecewise coding. Among these coding schemes, conventional RS codes are perfect in terms of erasure recovery performance. But they are not suitable for the antijamming purpose in cognitive radio due to inflexible code length and high decoding complexity for large block length. LDPC codes offer impressive capacity-approaching performance under very long code length. Well-designed LDPC codes with finite block length for erasure and burst-erasure channels may be applicable to cognitive radio system LDPC codes, rateless codes, as well asm.
Free-fall behavior of small, light-weight gravity corers

Abstract The increasing use of small, light-weight gravity corers equipped with free-fall devices, has raised the question of applicability of the optimum free-fall distance criteria originally established for large, heavy corers. Measurements have been made of the free-fall velocities of several devices representative of the class of small corers. These data indicate an optimum free-fall setting of 2–3 m, with general caution indicated on the minimum setting and specific caution indicated on the maximum for corers not fitted with stabilizing fins.
Polymer-based tris(2-phenylpyridine)iridium complexes

A series of fac-Ir(ppy)3 complex functionalized poly(styrene)s and poly(N-vinylcarbazole)-co-poly(styrene)s were synthesized. The emission wavelength of all polymers could be readily tuned from 550 to 515 nm by reducing the linkage of the Ir complex to the polymer backbones from a Schiff base to an amine. The reduced polymers retained the photophysical properties of the corresponding small molecule fac-Ir(ppy)3, including transient absorption behaviors, high emission quantum yields (0.12−0.23), and long excited-state lifetimes (963−1221 ns). These results clearly indicate that the polymer backbones do not interfere with the photophysical properties of the pendant fac-Ir(ppy)3 chromophore but endow solution processability to these materials for potential use in light-emitting devices and emissive display technology.
Boron suboxides measured during ignition and combustion of boron in shocked Ar/F/O2 and Ar/N2/O2 mixtures

Abstract Small crystalline boron particles (5–15 μm) are ignited in atmospheres consisting of Ar and O 2 mixed with varying amounts of F (from dissociated SF 6 ) or N 2 at the endwall of a shock tube to study the effect of fluorine and nitrogen on ignition delay time. A reflected shock is used to obtain pressures of ∼8.5 atm and temperatures of ∼2600 K. Visible wavelength emission spectra are recorded using a spectrometer coupled to a streak camera and two photodetectors record intensity versus time at a wavelength of 546.1 nm. The streak camera allows recording of multiple time-resolved spectra at rates of approximately 100 μs per spectrum. Boron particles ignited in Ar/F/O 2 mixtures show a rapid decrease by a factor of 4 in ignition and burning times as the mole fraction ratio y F / y O 2 is increased from 0 to 0.25. For values of y F / y O 2 greater than 0.5 there is little change of ignition burning time with y F / y O 2 . Spectroscopic data taken in pure oxygen environment show residual BO 2 emission after particle combustion, while that taken in fluorine-containing environments show little or no emission from BO 2 . This is consistent with predictions from theoretical modeling efforts of other researchers. However, these same models predict the presence of BF and BF 2 molecules, which are not observed in emission. When boron particles are burned in Ar/N 2 /O 2 atmospheres, there is a decrease of over 60% in ignition delay times as y N 2 is increased from 0 to 0.8 with y O 2 held constant at 0.20.
Chemical composition of Earth's primitive mantle and its variance: 1. Method and results

[1] We present a new statistical method to construct a model for the chemical composition of Earth's primitive mantle along with its variance. Earth's primitive mantle is located on the melting trend exhibited by the global compilation of mantle peridotites, using cosmochemical constraints on the relative abundances of refractory lithophile elements (RLE). This so-called pyrolite approach involves the least amount of assumptions, thereby being probably most satisfactory compared to other approaches. Its previous implementations, however, suffer from questionable statistical treatment of noisy geochemical data, leaving the uncertainty of model composition poorly quantified. In order to properly take into account how scatters in peridotite data affect this geochemical inference, we combine the following statistical techniques: (1) modeling a nonlinear melting trend in the multidimensional compositional space through the principal component analysis, (2) determining the primitive mantle composition on the melting trend by simultaneously imposing all of cosmochemical constraints with least squares, and (3) mapping scatters in original data into the variance of the final model through the bootstrap resampling technique. Whereas our model is similar to previous models in terms of Mg, Si, and Fe abundances, the RLE contents are at ∼2.16 ± 0.37 times the CI chondrite concentration, which is lower than most of previous estimates. The new model is depleted by >20% in a number of incompatible elements including heat-producing elements, U, Th, and K, and this depleted nature is further amplified (up to 60%) in terms of predicted composition for the present-day mantle.
Internally-baffled integrating sphere cosine collector

Cosine collector designs based on internally baffled integrating spheres have been difficult to evaluate in the past due to the expense and difficulty of building the spheres and measuring their angular response. A Monte Carlo model has been developed that enables integrating sphere designs to be evaluated relatively quickly and efficiently. The model was applied to an integrating sphere employing an internal conical baffle. The angular response and overall throughput of the sphere as predicted by the model are presented and discussed. Construction of the sphere was recently completed and the relative angular response was measured in the field. A solar radiometer was used to determine the solar irradiance at the entrance aperture of the sphere, enabling the response of the sphere to be found as a function of the solar zenith angle. Results of the measurement are presented and compared with the model results.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Primary cardiac lymphoma.

A case of primary cardiac non-Hodgkin's B cell lymphoma is described in a patient presenting with obstructive right heart failure. Unlike the majority of cases, in this case the tumor was diagnosed ante mortem. The patient's history combined with the aggressive use of noninvasive echocardiography are helpful in diagnosing this rare lesion.
Coronary Vascular Morphology in Pressure-overload Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

To attempt to explain the loss of subendocardial coronary reserve in chronic pressure-overload cardiac hypertrophy on a morphologic basis, we measured capillary capacity and coronary artery and arteriole medial wall area in dogs with moderately severe chronic (1 year) left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Aortic bands were placed on the ascending aorta of 8-10-week-old puppies of either sex, and hearts were perfusion fixed with 2% glutaraldehyde 8-16 months later after hemodynamic study while fully conscious. Left ventricular (LV) mass/body weight ratio in 11 banded dogs with LV end-diastolic pressure < 12 mmHg was 72% greater than in 15 controls (C). There was a decrease in subendocardial coronary reserve during adenosine-induced vasodilation with a shift away from the subendocardium (endo/epi flow ratio: C = 0.68 +/- 0.05; LVH = 0.34 +/- 0.06; P < 0.05). In spite of the extensive hypertrophy, image analysis revealed capillary density to be equally reduced by only 10-15% in endo, mid and epicardial LV regions compared to control dogs, while increased capillary cross-sectional area resulted in no change in capillary surface area/myocyte volume or volume percentage capillary space. In addition to these data suggesting capillary angiogenesis, there was no reduction in arteriolar density, indicating transmural increase in arteriolar number, and, as a consequence, increased total length of the resistance vessels. Medial area of arterioles and arteries showed a graduated increase according to size. We concluded that due to the lack of transmural difference in vascular morphology in chronic (1 year) moderately severe LVH, these anatomic bases do not play a major role as a cause for the loss of coronary reserve. Regional functional differences as a consequence of the morphologic alterations, however, cannot be excluded.
A microfluidic device for high throughput bacterial biofilm studies

Bacteria are almost always found in ecological niches as matrix-encased, surface-associated, multi-species communities known as biofilms. It is well established that soluble chemical signals produced by the bacteria influence the organization and structure of the biofilm; therefore, there is significant interest in understanding how different chemical signals are coordinately utilized for community development. Conventional methods for investigating biofilm formation such as macro-scale flow cells are low-throughput, require large volumes, and do not allow spatial and temporal control of biofilm community formation. Here, we describe the development of a PDMS-based two-layer microfluidic flow cell (μFC) device for investigating bacterial biofilm formation and organization in response to different concentrations of soluble signals. The μFC device contains eight separate microchambers for cultivating biofilms exposed to eight different concentrations of signals through a single diffusive mixing-based concentration gradient generator. The presence of pneumatic valves and a separate cell seeding port that is independent from gradient-mixing channels offers complete isolation of the biofilm microchamber from the gradient mixer, and also performs well under continuous, batch or semi-batch conditions. We demonstrate the utility of the μFC by studying the effect of different concentrations of indole-like biofilm signals (7-hydroxyindole and isatin), either individually or in combination, on biofilm development of pathogenic E. coli. This model can be used for developing a fundamental understanding of events leading to bacterial attachment to surfaces that are important in infections and chemicals that influence the biofilm formation or inhibition.
Excited-State Electron Transfer from CdS Quantum Dots to TiO2 Nanoparticles via Molecular Linkers with Phenylene Bridges

We have characterized electron transfer from photoexcited CdS quantum dots (QDs) to TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) through bifunctional phenylene-containing linkers (L). Three L were examined: 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4MBA), 2-mercaptobenzoic acid (2MBA), and 4-mercaptophenylacetic acid (4MPAA). Only 4MBA and 4MPAA promoted the attachment of CdS QDs to TiO2 NPs. Electron injection and interfacial charge recombination were characterized by steady-state emission quenching, nanosecond time-resolved emission, and nanosecond transient absorption measurements. The electron injection efficiency was influenced by the electronic coupling through L and/or the interparticle distance. Electron injection through 4MBA occurred on multiple time scales. The fast component (<10−8 s) was attributed to injection of electrons from excitonic states, whereas the slower component (10−7−10−6 s) was attributed to injection from trap states. Only the slower component was significant for electron injection through 4MPAA. The fast componen...
Theory and example of a small-molecule motor

Conceptual principles for operation of a molecular motor stipulate that such a species must consist of an energy-consuming catalyst that exhibits within its mechanism temporal overlap of successive catalytic cycles, so as to induce irreversible intramolecular motion during operation. The exothermic hydration reaction of MeCOCHCNCMe3 brought about by catalyst HO2CCH2OCMe(CO2H)2 qualifies as such a process, in the form of serial conversion between canonical carboxylic anhydride structures within the catalyst. The steady-state kinetic behavior and inactivation by methanol demonstrate the operation of an appropriate repetitive catalytic loop in this case. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Investigation of oxidized LDL-receptor 1 (OLR1) as the candidate gene for Alzheimer's disease on chromosome 12.

Late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a genetically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder. In addition to the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene on chromosme 19, linkage studies suggest the existence of multiple susceptibility genes for late-onset AD. Genome-wide linkage and chromosome-12-specific linkage studies have identified a broad 50-cM pericentromeric region between 12p12 and 12q13 among non-APOE*4 carriers. Some studies have implicated the α2-macroglobulin (A2M) gene in 12p12 as being the chromosome 12 gene, but the results are equivocal. Because of its close proximity to the A2M gene and because it is abundantly expressed in the brain, we reasoned that the oxidized LDL-receptor 1 (OLR1) gene could be a candidate gene for AD. We screened all exons and intron-exon boundaries of the OLR1 gene for new mutations and identified three novel sequence variations in intron 4, intron 5, and the 3' untranslated region (UTR). Pair-wise comparisons between the three polymorphic sites revealed significant linkage disequilibrium (P<0.0001). We screened more than 800 late-onset AD cases and more than 700 controls for the three OLR1 polymorphisms. All polymorphisms showed significant association with AD after stratification by APOE*4, with the strongest effect being observed for the 3'UTR polymorphism among non-APOE*4 (odds ratio 0.658; 95% confidence interval: 0.47–0.92; P=0.014) and APOE*4 (odds ratio 1.72; 95% confidence interval: 1.07–2.78; P=0.025) carriers. DNA-protein binding assay with nuclear protein extracts from neuroblastoma cells indicated that the OLR1/3'UTR polymorphism affects the binding of a transcription factor in an allele-dependent manner. Our data suggest that genetic variation in the OLR1 gene may modify the risk of AD in an APOE*4-dependent fashion.
Pathways to earned-security: the role of alternative support figures.

This study explored the kinds of relationship experiences associated with earned-security, i.e., the extent to which mothers who report early negative relationship histories with their parents are later able to form a secure working model of attachment (indicated by the ability to speak clearly and coherently about these histories). Mothers from a low-risk sample (N = 121) expecting their first child completed the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI), which was used to assess earned-security retrospectively using the stringent definition recommended by Main and Hesse (Hesse, 2008; Main, Goldwyn, & Hesse, 2002), as well as to identify alternative support figures. Participants also completed self-report measures of depressive symptomatology, questionnaires concerning their experiences in therapy, and later, when their babies were 12 to 15 months old, the Strange Situation procedure. Sixteen mothers were classified as earned-secure (25% of those classified as secure-autonomous and 13% of the whole sample). Women...
Plasma immersion ion implantation reactor design considerations for oxide charging

The effects of wafer bias and plasma parameters on thin oxide charging during plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) are simulated. The simulator has been shown to determine accurately the charging currents generated during PIII. The dependence of the plasma electron temperature, ion density and plasma uniformity on charging damage in metal oxide semiconductor capacitor structures is investigated. A lower plasma electron temperature is shown to reduce charging damage. Simulation and experimental results show that for a given voltage pulse waveform there is a range of bias repetition rates allowed by limiting the charging damage below a threshold value. Within this range there exists a switch-over repetition rate that minimizes the charging damage.
Optimized Quantized Feedback in a Multiuser System Employing CDF Based Scheduling

In this paper, we show that optimizing the feedback strategy in a limited feedback multiuser system can significantly improve system performance. Herein, we consider a limited feedback multiuser system, in which the fairness among users are guaranteed by the application of the cumulative distribution function (CDF) based scheduling technique. As the users are diverse in types, priorities and channel statistics, adjusting feedback strategy as well as dynamically distributing feedback resources among the users helps the system to exploit multiuser diversity gain. The system performance optimization is formulated in which we consider feedback as a resource to optimize. Then, the optimization is decoupled into two sub-problems, namely optimization of quantizers and allocation of feedback bits for the users. Optimizing feedback usage is shown to be significantly beneficial, both analytically and with the help of simulation results. Finally, in order to address the practical aspect, we propose an algorithm to efficiently solve these two sub-problems in an optimal manner followed by a low complexity sub-optimal approach which offers good tradeoff between complexity and performance.
Characterization of the gacA-dependent surface and coral mucus colonization by an opportunistic coral pathogen Serratia marcescens PDL100

Opportunistic pathogens rely on global regulatory systems to assess the environment and to control virulence and metabolism to overcome host defenses and outcompete host-associated microbiota. In Gammaproteobacteria, GacS/GacA is one such regulatory system. GacA orthologs direct the expression of the csr (rsm) small regulatory RNAs, which through their interaction with the RNA-binding protein CsrA (RsmA), control genes with functions in carbon metabolism, motility, biofilm formation, and virulence. The csrB gene was controlled by gacA in Serratia marcescens PDL100. A disruption of the S. marcescens gacA gene resulted in an increased fitness of the mutant on mucus of the host coral Acropora palmata and its high molecular weight fraction, whereas the mutant was as competitive as the wild type on the low molecular weight fraction of the mucus. Swarming motility and biofilm formation were reduced in the gacA mutant. This indicates a critical role for gacA in the efficient utilization of specific components of coral mucus and establishment within the surface mucopolysaccharide layer. While significantly affecting early colonization behaviors (coral mucus utilization, swarming motility, and biofilm formation), gacA was not required for virulence of S. marcescens PDL100 in either a model polyp Aiptasia pallida or in brine shrimp Artemia nauplii.
Information Gaps and Traps in Engineering Papers

An analogy to the energy band structure in semiconductors is given. An information gap corresponds to the "forbidden gap" in semiconductor theory and an information gap corresponds to the "trapping states" of impurity atoms. Illustrative examples of gaps in manuscripts are poor reader orientation, lack of proper information in illustrations, and inadequate conclusions. Examples of traps are semantic confusions, superfluous illustrations which obscure the issues, and critical points of the paper which are "buried" in the manuscript.
Mechanisms for the Relaxation Theory of Viscosity

A RECENT communication by D. D. Eley and D. C. Pepper1 describes experiments on the plastic flow of plasticized cellulose derivatives. They find that the flow velocity of compression of cylinders and extension of rods depends exponentially on stress at moderate stresses as the simple relaxation theory predicts2,3, but at higher stresses flow velocity approaches linearity with stress. This behaviour at high stress leads them to question the applicability of the relaxation theory in general to flow problems.
Safety first: comments on the influence of external danger in the lives of children of disorganized families.

This paper presents descriptive findings regarding the psychological characteristics and developmental deviation of a group of preschool, multiproblem-family children. These findings are related to influence of external danger as well as deprivation in the children's lives, particularly with regard to anachronistic features of their development.
Ultra-violet spectral studies of β-ketoenolate complexes of oxovanadium(IV)

Abstract Seven bis-β-ketoenolate complexes of oxovanadium(IV) were prepared along with the sodium salts of all but one of the ligands. Ultra-violet spectra were obtained for all of these compounds as well as for the free ligands. The spectra of the complexes were examined in several different media and at both room temperature and 77°K in certain media. Tentative empirical band assignments have been made and are discussed. They include: spin-forbidden π−π ∗ transitions in the 20,000–25,000 cm− region; ligand-to-metal, π3 → dx2−y2(a1), transitions in the 25,000–28,000 cm−1 region; intra-ligand spin-allowed π 3 −π 4 ∗ transitions in the 28,000–39,000 cm−1 region; and higher intraligand π−π ∗ allowed transitions in the 40,000–50,000 cm−1 region.
Semiconductor electrodes. Photo-induced electrogenerated chemiluminescence and up-conversion at semiconductor electrodes

Abstract A photosensitized reduction process, leading to electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) at a p-type silicon electrode in which neither the energy of the light used for sensitization nor the electrical energy input reach the threshold energy for the production of the emitted photon if applied separately, is described and discussed. The main experiment consisted of irradiating a p-type Si electrode, immersed in an acetonitrile solution containing 9,10-dichloro-9,10-dihydro-9,10-diphenyl-anthracene (DPACl2) and held at a potential where DPACl2 reduction does not occur, with light of energy less than 1.7 eV. The photosensitized reduction of DPACl2 leads to the production of excited singlet 9, 10-diphenylanthracene and the emission of 3.0 eV light.
The reversal of benzodiazepine-induced amnesia by flumazenil: A review

Abstract Benzodiazepines used before and during diagnostic and surgical procedures induce not only sedation, psychomotor impairment, and hypnosis but also amnesia. Flumazenil, a benzodiazepine antagonist, effectively reverses the sedative-hypnotic and psychomotor effects of benzodiazepines, but there is limited information on the reversal of amnesia with flumazenil. Controlled studies investigating the efficacy of flumazenil in antagonizing the memory-impairing effects of benzodiazepines are critically evaluated. The extent to which flumazenil at different doses reverses benzodiazepine-induced amnesia needs to be explored in future studies.
Synthesis of bis(p-phenylene)-32-crown-4 and bis(m-phenylene)-30-crown-4 macrocycles for the preparation of polyrotaxanes

Abstract The predominantly hydrocarbon macrocycles bis(p-phenylene)-32-crown-4 and bis(m-phenylene)-30-crown-4 have been synthesized in one step from hydroquinone and resorcinol, respectively, and 1,10-dibromodecane in the presence of sodium hydroxide in dioxane/1-butanol.
Refractory Fulminant Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM) in an Adult

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is characterized by its rapid progression with variable symptoms and severity in adults and children. Multiple therapeutic options have been proposed, but solid evidence is yet to be gathered. We describe an adult man with a fulminant form of ADEM unresponsive to numerous treatment modalities.
Digital Methods In The Design Of Optical Matched Filters For Target Recognition

A digital simulation of an optical matched filter is described. Two important aspects of the optical device are investigated using the digital techniques. The first study involves the preprocessing of the image prior to performing the analog matched filtering operation and the second the sensitivity of the device to rotation of the tar-get. These studies are carried out using a military target in common scenes such as villages, woodlands, and roads.© (1980) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Lumbar intraspinal synovial cyst containing gas as a cause for low-back pain

Abstract Objective: To discuss intraspinal synovial cysts caused by degenerative changes involving the posterior articular facets in the lumbar spine and to provide differential considerations for patients with low-back pain. Clinical Features: A 70-year-old man with low-back and gluteal pain demonstrating eventual progression of radiating pain into the left thigh, calf, ankle, and foot over a 5-month period. Radiographs of the lumbar spine revealed mild degenerative disk disease at L5-S1 with associated vacuum phenomena of the L5 disk. Degenerative osteophytes were present at L3, L4, and L5. Moderate posterior joint arthrosis was evident at L4-L5 and L5-S1. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging studies revealed an intraspinal gas-containing synovial cyst at the left lateral aspect of the central canal at the level of the left L4-L5 facet articulation. Intervention and Outcome: The patient underwent surgical excision of the synovial cyst with remission of symptoms. Conclusion: Gas-containing intraspinal synovial cysts can be a significant finding and a causative factor in patients with low-back pain and pain radiating into the lower extremities. Both computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are important in defining intraspinal synovial cysts as a cause of back pain in patients whose low-back pain does not respond to chiropractic care. (J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2000;23:276–8)
Hypertonicity promotes survival of corticospinal motoneurons via mitogen-activated protein kinase p38 signaling.

Extracellular hypertonicity can induce the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Of these, both extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) and the stress-activated kinase p38 have been implicated in neuronal cell survival. Resuscitation with hypertonic saline decreases secondary brain injury after trauma, as well as neuronal damage, after ischemia. Since hypertonicity has been shown to support somatic cell survival, we investigated if hypertonicity can also prevent neuronal cell death via MAPK signaling. Death of postnatal rat corticospinal motoneurons (CSMNs) was induced by serum deprivation, and survival in both isotonic and hypertonic media was assessed after 20 h. Addition of NaCl (4–250 mM) to isotonic medium significantly and dose dependently protected CSMN in enriched cultures, increasing cell survival by up to 70% over that in isotonic medium. This response was not restricted to NaCl; addition of KCl, choline chloride, and sucrose had similar effects on cell survival. In addition, hypertonicity supported the survival of pure CSMN populations, albeit with lower potency. In cortical cell suspensions, hypertonic NaCl (20–100 mM) increased basal phosphorylation of p38 and ERK. The activation of both MAPKs, which was induced by 40 mM NaCl, was transient. Cultivation of CSMNs in media containing the specific p38 inhibitor SB203580 abolished the protective effect of hypertonic NaCl, indicating a central role for p38. We therefore conclude that hypertonicity can prevent neuronal cell death via MAPK signaling.
Nonparametric Maximum Likelihood Estimation Based on Ranked Set Samples

Abstract A ranked set sample consists entirely of independently distributed order statistics and can occur naturally in many experimental settings, including problems in reliability. When each ranked set from which an order statistic is drawn is of the same size, and when the statistic of each fixed order is sampled the same number of times, the ranked set sample is said to be balanced. Stokes and Sager have shown that the edf F n of a balanced ranked set sample from the cdf F is an unbiased estimator of F and is more precise than the edf of a simple random sample of the same size. The nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) F of F is studied in this article. Its existence and uniqueness is demonstrated, and a general numerical procedure is presented and is shown to converge to F. If the ranked set sample is balanced, it is shown that the EM algorithm, with F n as a seed, converges to the unique solution (F) of the problem's self-consistency equations; the consistency of every iterate of the EM a...
Endomorphism Rings of Faithfully Flat Abelian Groups

We discuss faithfully flat abelian groups in conjunction with the following: A class C of abelian groups with full A-socle is A-balanced closed if it is closed with respect to finite direct sums and subgroups with full A-socle, ker ϕ e C for all ϕ e Horn (G, H) and G, H e C, and A is projective with respect to all exact sequences of elements of C. A self-small group A admits an A-balanced closed class C which contains ⊕IA for all index-sets I exactly if it is faithfully flat as an E(A)-module. We show that Corner's as well as Dugas' and Gobel's realization theorems yield abelian groups that are faithfully flat as E(A)-modules. Several applications of these results are given, some of which yield an answer to part a of Fuchs' Problem 84 and a partial respond to part c of the same problem.
The Cognitive and Behavioral Basis of an Instructional Design: Using CBT to Teach Technical Information and Learning Strategies:

The efficacy of CBT as an instructional medium has been researched extensively. Studies show that when there is a good instructional design, there is a moderately positive effect on trainee performance. Therefore, when working on the initial stages of a large-scale CBT project, one must create an instructional design that enforces a consistent style for all lessons and yet is solidly rooted in behavioral and cognitive learning theory. One must carefully design lesson structure and strategies; consider navigation and learner control issues; and incorporate learning strategy training into the lesson structure if such training is necessary. This article summarizes a nine-month effort to create CBT production guidelines that address these concerns. It concludes with recommendations for practice.
Subscapularis lengthening in shoulder arthroplasty.

Purpose To report the technique and outcome of subscapularis (SSC) lengthening in shoulder arthroplasty. Procedure When external rotation measures less than 20°, a coronal subscapularis lengthening is performed. This utilizes the interval between the anterior shoulder capsule and subscapularis to titrate the correct amount of anatomic length. Results Average preoperative passive ER was -2°. Average postoperative ER was 48°. Belly press was graded as normal in 13 pts, mild in 12 pts, and poor in 2 pts. Conclusion Subscapularis tendon lengthening provides a large surface area for tendon healing and allows anatomic length to be restored. Subscapularis lengthening may preserve a better length-tension relationship of the SSC muscle in shoulders with significant IR contracture undergoing shoulder arthroplasty.
Fossil Sirenia of the West Atlantic and Caribbean region. I. Metaxytherium floridanum Hay, 1922

ABSTRACT The vast majority of the abundant fossil sirenian remains from the Bone Valley phosphate mining district (chiefly in Polk and Hillsborough counties, Florida) represent a single species of dugongid, Metaxytherium floridanum Hay, 1922. The osteology of this species is described here in detail. Most or all of these specimens apparently come from Units 4–5 of the lower Bone Valley Formation and are late middle Miocene (early Clarendonian) in age. M. ossivallense (Simpson, 1932) is a junior subjective synonym of M. floridanum. M. calvertense Kellogg, 1966, and “Hesperosiren” Simpson, 1932, are not represented in the Bone Valley Formation. Specimens are also reported here from elsewhere in Florida, mainly Alachua County. Some or all of these are later than the typical Bone Valley form, being of late Clarendonian or early Hemphillian age, and some of them, here termed Metaxytherium, cf. M. floridanum, seem to represent a slightly more advanced stage of evolution. M. floridanum had a strongly deflected r...
The effect of spousal caregiving and bereavement on depressive symptoms.

The objective of the study was to determine whether spousal caregiving and bereavement increases caregiver depressive symptoms. We followed 1,967 community-dwelling elderly couples from the 1993 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) until 2002 (five bi-annual surveys) or death. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CESD) scale. Adjusted depressive symptoms were higher for females for three of the four caregiving arrangements tested (as were unadjusted baseline levels). Depressive symptoms were lowest when neither spouse received caregiving (adjusted CESD of 2.97 for males; 3.44 for females, p < 0.001). They were highest when females provided care to their husband with assistance from another caregiver, (4.01) compared to (3.37; p < 0.001) when males so cared for their wife. A gender by caregiving arrangements interaction was not significant (p = 0.13), showing no differential effect of caregiving on CESD by gender. Depressive symptoms peaked for bereaved spous...
Resurrection of vitamin D deficiency and rickets

The epidemic scourge of rickets in the 19th century was caused by vitamin D deficiency due to inadequate sun exposure and resulted in growth retardation, muscle weakness, skeletal deformities, hypocalcemia, tetany, and seizures. The encouragement of sensible sun exposure and the fortification of milk with vitamin D resulted in almost complete eradication of the disease. Vitamin D (where D represents D2 or D3) is biologically inert and metabolized in the liver to 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], the major circulating form of vitamin D that is used to determine vitamin D status. 25(OH)D is activated in the kidneys to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D], which regulates calcium, phosphorus, and bone metabolism. Vitamin D deficiency has again become an epidemic in children, and rickets has become a global health issue. In addition to vitamin D deficiency, calcium deficiency and acquired and inherited disorders of vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus metabolism cause rickets. This review summarizes the role of vitamin D in the prevention of rickets and its importance in the overall health and welfare of infants and children.
The effect of fat removal on glucose tolerance is depot specific in male and female mice

Energy is stored predominately as lipid in white adipose tissue (WAT) in distinct anatomical locations, with each site exerting different effects on key biological processes, including glucose homeostasis. To determine the relative contributions of subcutaneous and visceral WAT on glucose homeostasis, comparable amounts of adipose tissue from abdominal subcutaneous inguinal WAT (IWAT), intra-abdominal retroperitoneal WAT (RWAT), male gonadal epididymal WAT (EWAT), or female gonadal parametrial WAT (PWAT) were removed. Gonadal fat removal in both male and female chow-fed lean mice resulted in lowered glucose levels across glucose tolerance tests. Female lean C57BL/6J mice as well as male and female lean FVBN mice significantly improved glucose tolerance, indicated by decreased areas under glucose clearance curves. For the C57BL/6J mice maintained on a high-fat butter-based diet, glucose homeostasis was improved only in female mice with PWAT removal. Removal of IWAT or RWAT did not affect glucose tolerance in either dietary condition. We conclude that WAT contribution to glucose homeostasis is depot specific, with male gonadal EWAT contributing to glucose homeostasis in the lean state, whereas female gonadal PWAT contributes to glucose homeostasis in both lean and obese mice. These data illustrate both critical differences among various WAT depots and how they influence glucose homeostasis and highlight important differences between males and females in glucose regulation.
Method of virtual components for constructing redundant filter banks and wavelet frames

For a wavelet frame with polynomial symbols generated by an MRA with a given approximation order, we present the method for parametric description and construction of all dual analysis operators (filter banks) with the maximum number of vanishing moments whose symbols are polynomials. The similar problems related to the maximum frame approximation order and some other wavelet frame properties are considered.
Syntheses of strychnine, norfluorocurarine, dehydrodesacetylretuline, and valparicine enabled by intramolecular cycloadditions of Zincke aldehydes.

A full account of the development of the base-mediated intramolecular Diels–Alder cycloadditions of tryptamine-derived Zincke aldehydes is described. This important complexity-generating transformation provides the tetracyclic core of many indole monoterpene alkaloids in only three steps from commercially available starting materials and played a key role in short syntheses of norfluorocurarine (five steps), dehydrodesacetylretuline (six steps), valparicine (seven steps), and strychnine (six steps). Reasonable mechanistic possibilities for this reaction, a surprisingly facile dimerization of the products, and an unexpected cycloreversion to regenerate Zincke aldehydes under specific conditions are also discussed.
Evaluation of a Low-head Recirculating Aquaculture System Used for Rearing Florida Pompano to Market Size

A low-head recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) for the production of Florida pompano, Trachinotus carolinus, from juvenile to market size was evaluated. The 32.4-m 3 RAS consisted of three dual-drain, 3-m diameter culture tanks of 7.8-m 3 volume each, two 0.71-m 3 moving bed bioreactors filled with media (67% fill with K1 Kaldness media) for biofiltration, two degassing towers for CO2 removal and aeration, a drum filter with a 40-μm screen for solids removal, and a 1-hp low-head propeller pump for water circulation. Supplemental oxygenation was provided in each tank by ultrafine ceramic diffusers and system salinity was maintained at 7.0 g/L. Juvenile pompano (0.043 kg mean weight) were stocked into each of the three tanks at an initial density of 1.7 kg/m 3 (300 fish/tank). After 306 d of culture, the mean weight of the fish harvested from each tank ranged from 0.589 to 0.655 kg with survival ranging from 57.7 to 81.7%. During the culture period, the average water use per kilogram of fish was 3.26 or 1.82 m 3 per fish harvested. Energy consumption per kilogram of fish was 47.2 or 22.4 kwh per fish harvested. The mean volumetric total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) removal rate of the bioreactors was 127.6 ± 58.3 g TAN removed/m 3 media-d with an average of 33.0% removal per pass. Results of this evaluation suggest that system modifications are warranted to enhance production to commercial levels (>60 kg/m 3 ).
Conservation of short patches of amino acid sequence amongst proteins with a common function but evolutionarily distinct origins: implications for cloning genes and for structure-function analysis.

teins that have the same function but are derived from evolutionarily distant organisms. Reverse translation of such patches into degenerate pools of oligonucleotides provide useful hybridization probes for cloning the gene for the corresponding protein from other organisms. of identical amino acid sequence are probably important for the protein's biological function, they are preferred targets for reverse genetic studies aimed at defining structure-function relationships. Small patches of identical amino acid sequences commonly occur in pro
Treating Progress Functions as a Managerial Opportunity

Use of progress functions in strategic planning has led to the principle that firms can expect continuous cost improvements with cumulative output. But finding policies that result in continuous cost improvements requires a better understanding of the dynamics underlying firms' progress functions. This paper draws on more than 200 empirical and theoretical studies of progress functions in industrial engineering, economics, and management. Factors causing progress fall into four categories that vary in origin (exogenous or endogenous) and in type (autonomous or induced).
Cirrus cloud-temperature interactions in the tropical tropopause layer: a case study

Abstract. Thin cirrus clouds in the Tropical Tropopause Layer (TTL) have important ramifications for radiative transfer, stratospheric humidity, and vertical transport. A horizontally extensive and vertically thin cirrus cloud in the TTL was detected by the Cloud Aerosol LIDAR and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) on 27–29 January 2009 in the Tropical Eastern Pacific region, distant from any regions of deep convection. These observations indicate that the cloud is close to 3000 km in length along the CALIPSO orbit track. Measurements over this three day period indicate that the cloud event extended over a region from approximately 15° S to 10° N and 90° W to 150° W and may be one of the most extensive cirrus events ever observed. Coincident temperature observations from the Constellation of Observing Satellites for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (COSMIC) suggest that the cloud formed in-situ as a result of a cold anomaly arising from a midlatitude intrusion. The event appears to last for up to 2 days and the temperature observations do not show any indication of the expected infrared heating. It is hypothesized that the cloud could be maintained by either nucleation of numerous small ice crystals that don't sediment or by multiple localized ice nucleation events driven by temperature variability at scales smaller than the overall cloud field, producing small ice-crystal sizes which have sufficiently long residence times (≈53 h) to maintain the cloud. It is possible that the residence times are augmented by vertical motion which could also act to offset the expected infrared heating. Further observations of similar events will be required in order to conclusively explain this curious cloud.
Autonomous feature-based exploration

This paper presents an algorithm for feature-based exploration of a priori unknown environments. We aim to build a robot that, unsupervised, plans its motion such that it continually increases both the spatial extent and detail of its world model - its map. We present a method by which the planned motion at any instant is motivated by the geometric, spatial and stochastic characteristics of the current map. In particular each feature within the map is responsible for determining nearby unexplored areas that if visited are likely to constitute exploration. We assume that the location of the features is uncertain and represented by a set of probability distribution functions (pdfs). These distributions are used in conjunction with the robot path history to determine a robot trajectory suited to exploration. We show results that demonstrate the algorithm providing real-time exploration of a mobile robot in an unknown environment.
Modules with Finite F‐Representation Type

Finitely generated modules with finite -representation type over Noetherian (local) rings of prime characteristic are studied. If a ring has finite -representation type or, more generally, if a faithful -module has finite -representation type, then tight closure commutes with localizations over . -contributors are also defined, and they are used as an effective way of characterizing tight closure. Then it is shown that always exists under the assumption that satisfies the Krull-Schmidt condition and has finite -representation type by , in which all the are indecomposable -modules that belong to distinct isomorphism classes and .