cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hypertension following primary bladder closure for vesical exstrophy

Since the initiation of staged reconstruction for bladder exstrophy, hypertension has been a known complication of the procedure. The etiology of the elevation in blood pressure was presumably secondary to ureteral dysfunction caused by edema at the ureterovesical junction and secondary renal obstruction. This report details the clinical course of three patients who developed significant hypertension following primary bladder closure with posterior iliac osteotomies and bony immobilization by skin traction. None of the patients had urinary obstruction and all had their hypertension alleviated by removal of the traction. The presumed etiology of the elevated blood pressure within these patients is similar to that experimentally produce by inappropriately applied traction resulting in tension on the sciatic nerve and reflex induced vasoconstriction. The need to maintain appropriately applied traction and the necessity of monitoring the postoperative blood pressure is stressed.
Mandible fracture repair: Specific indications for newer techniques

Mandible fracture repair is commonly undertaken by otolaryngologists. Although the essential principles of reduction and immobilization are undisputed, the approach used to obtain these goals varies considerably. We performed a critical evaluation of all mandible fractures treated at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center by the otolaryngology service between January 1988 and February 1992, with the purpose of better defining the indications for plate fixation and for the use of more traditional techniques. One hundred eighty-three fractures in 112 patients were evaluable. Thirty-six (32.1%) of these patients had at least one plate placed (group A); 39 (34.8%) underwent an open procedure, with interosseous wire fixation (group B); and 37 (33.0%) were treated with closed techniques (group C). The severity of fracture (indexed by comminution, presence of infection, teeth in the fracture line, interval to repair, and whether the fracture was open or closed) was similar in plated and nonplated mandibles. Mean (+/- standard deviation) operative times for the three groups were 3.2 +/- 1.6 hours for group A, 3.0 +/- 0.9 hours for group B, and 1.4 +/- 0.5 hours for group C. The number of follow-up visits required was not statistically different (group A, 5.6 +/- 3.8 visits; group B, 5.2 +/- 2.5 visits; and group C, 5.3 +/- 2.0 visits). The overall incidence of major complications was 14.3% (16 of 112), including 11 of 36 (30.6%) in group A, 4 of 39 (10.3%) in group B, and 1 of 37 (2.7%) in group C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Investigation of draping and its effects on the mold filling process during manufacturing of a compound curved composite part

Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) is a composite material manufacturing process during which resin is injected into a mold cavity filled with a fibrous reinforcing preform. Application of woven and stitched fiber mats in fabricating preforms for RTM is a highly viable means of manufacturing affordable composites. Draping, in this paper, refers to the act of bringing a flat workpiece into contact with an arbitrary tool surface. As a result, the draping of woven and stitched mats tends to cause the mat to deform to the tool geometry. This paper details an experimental study designed to demonstrate the effect of draping preforms on mold filling, and final structure of the composite product. A mold was built providing a conical mold cavity. Flow visualization experiments were performed, as well as shearing angle and preform fiber volume fraction measurements from manufactured cone parts. Experimental results show that draping does significantly change fiber orientation, fiber volume fraction, permeability and hence the injection pressure or flow rate required to fill a mold. This data was compared with numerical prediction codes for preform deformation, permeability calculation, and mold filling. Preform deformation predictions were found to overpredict in areas of high deformation, due to the assumptions made by the numerical algorithm used. Permeability components calculated are reasonable, but are affected by overpredicted preform deformation, and interpolation methods used. Prediction of injection pressure and flow rate histories are good, while predicted flow front shapes fail to capture some experimental features. Difficulties in predicting flow front shapes are attributed to three mechanisms; a decrease in permeability magnitudes due to increased volume fraction, a smaller volume of fluid required due to increased volume fraction, and reorientation of fiber tows changing the direction of principle permeability components.
Speech Spectrum Considerations and Speech Intelligibility Predictions in Hearing Aid Evaluations

This report deals with the issue of the amplified and unamplified speech spectra as they relate to the residual auditory range. The methods for predicting intelligibility of both amplified and unam...
Examining faculty questions to facilitate instructional improvement in higher education

Abstract Many of the innovations that show promise for improving outcomes for underprepared community college students require instructors to make changes to their teaching practice. Little research explores the experiences of faculty teaching in reformed courses as related to their professional learning needs. Drawing on a multi-year qualitative study, this paper uses data from 100 faculty interviews to explore the questions they ask when teaching a new course. A key outcome of the analysis is a typology of questions that mirrors the stage of implementation. Through analysis of 20 observations of implementation activities, this paper also documents the learning opportunities made available to instructors and examines the extent to which these activities addressed their questions.
Anillin localization defect in cardiomyocyte binucleation

Heart growth is augmented during early development by cardiomyocyte proliferation. In contrast, heart growth during postnatal life occurs by increasing cell size. Postnatal cardiomyocytes can undergo DNA synthesis, mitosis and binucleation. However, they lose the ability to complete cytokinesis. The underlying mechanism is poorly understood. It has been suggested that incomplete disassembly of contractile elements prohibits cytokinesis. Here, we show that serum-induced binucleation results in the normal disassembly of the contractile apparatus. In contrast, analysis of Aurora B and Anillin localization demonstrates that binucleation is characterized by asymmetric constriction, delay of furrow constriction and defective mid-body formation. Anillin fails to focus at the cortex in anaphase and shows an expanded localization around the mid-body during cytokinesis. p38 inhibition rescues the mid-body formation defect. We show that p38 accumulates during cytokinesis at the mid-body and suggest that p38 activity has a regulatory role in cytokinesis. Microarray analysis reveals that p38 inhibition upregulates core components of the central spindle. Taken together, our results demonstrate that postnatal cardiomyocytes form a cleavage furrow and that binucleation is associated with an Anillin localization defect.
Metabolic effects of 9-day emetine treatment in rabbits.

Abstract In the clinical setting, emetine can clearly exert a cardiotoxic effect. Yet, despite many investigations the mechanism of this cardiotoxicity remains unknown. Previous work indicated that emetine affected cardiac metabolism and inhibited protein synthesis in experimental animals and cell systems. To further investigate these actions of emetine in relation to the cardiotoxicity seen clinically, male New Zealand albino rabbits were treated with up to 2 mg/kg/day emetine for 9 days. Heart and liver mitochondrial function was assessed with α-ketoglutarate, pyruvate, pyruvate plus malate, or succinate as substrates. Protein synthetic activity, measured as in vivo [ 3 H]leucine incorporation, was determined in the subcellular fractions of both the heart and liver. In other experiments rabbits were treated for the 9 days and allowed to recover for 3 weeks. The rates of respiration of heart mitochondria isolated from the emetine-treated animals were significantly lower than those of normal control rabbits, but they were equally reduced in comparison to the pair-fed controls. In liver mitochondria, the rates of respiration were unchanged in the treated group compared to normal controls. The pair-fed rabbits displayed slightly reduced metabolic activity. Also, no impairment of [ 3 H]leucine incorporation was observed in either organ and any differences observed between the three groups were reversible after recovery. These results appeared to reflect the inanition induced by chronic emetine treatment, rather than a primary action of the drug.
Disruption of vma-1, the Gene Encoding the Catalytic Subunit of the Vacuolar H+-ATPase, Causes Severe Morphological Changes in Neurospora crassa

By using the process of Repeat-induced Point mutation (Selker, E. U., and Garrett, P. W. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 85, 6870-6874), we inactivated vma-1, the gene encoding subunit A of the V-ATPase of Neurospora crassa. Two vma-1 mutant strains were characterized. One was mutated at multiple sites, did not make a protein product, and produced spores that only rarely germinated. The other had four point mutations, made a protein product, and produced viable spores. Neither strain had detectable V-ATPase activity. The vma-1 mutant strains did not grow in medium buffered to pH 7.0 or above or in medium supplemented with the cation Zn(2+). They were completely resistant to inhibition by concanamycin C, supporting our hypothesis that the V-ATPase is the in vivo target of this antibiotic. Inactivation of the vma-1 gene had a pronounced effect on morphology and development of the organism. In the mutants tip growth was inhibited, and multiple branching was induced. The vma-1 mutant strains could not differentiate conidia or perithecia. They could grow slowly as mycelia and could donate nuclei in a sexual cross. A mutation in the plasma membrane ATPase, which suppressed the sensitivity of wild type N. crassa to concanamycin, also proved effective in suppressing the sensitivity of a vma-1 null mutant to basic pH but did not correct the morphological defects.
Changes in Triglyceride Fatty Acid Composition of Mammary Secretions During Involution

Changes in fatty acid composition were determined for fat triglycerides from mammary secretions of 5 Holstein cows during the first 31 d of the nonlactating period. Proportions of short-chain (4:0 to 8:0) and medium-chain (10:0 to 14:0) fatty acids declined by about 50% during the first 3 d of involution, whereas proportions of stearic (18:0) and oleic acids (18:1) increased during the same period. Little change in proportions of those fatty acids occurred after d 3 of involution. Palmitic acid (16:0) was unchanged in proportion during involution. Fatty acid composition of mammary secretion triglycerides changed rapidly in the early nonlactating period, which may reflect a specific decline in de novo fatty acid synthesis in the involuting gland.
Sample size determination in studies with matched pairs

Two modifications are made in Schlesselman's procedure for determining the total number of pairs to be studied in a case-control study with matching. One is to take account of the use of the continuity correction in the McNemar test statistic, and the other is to incorporate a measure of the degree of association induced by the matching variables between a case's exposure status and that of his or her matched control. The result of both modifications is to increase the required number of pairs above the number produced by Schlesselman's procedure.
Determining the Impact of Alpha-Particle-Emitting Contamination From the Fukushima-Daiichi Disaster on Japanese Semiconductor Manufacturing Sites

We briefly review nuclear reactor operation from the point of view of the major radioactive contaminants formed and consider how these were released and dispersed into the air, water, and soil around Fukushima. The risk of contamination from alpha-particle-emitting uranium and plutonium isotopes at semiconductor manufacturing sites in Japan is considered from theoretical aspects. We report the results of low background alpha-particle-emission measurements from wafers that were exposed to the air during and several weeks after the disaster, conclusively demonstrating that no detectable levels of alpha-emitting impurities from the Fukushima Daiichi disaster were found at either of the two manufacturing facilities.
Toxic effect of landfill leachate on microalgae

Leachates from two landfills, namely Junk Bay (JB) and Gin Drinkers' Bay (GDB), were assessed for their acute toxicity using four green algal species, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, C. vulgaris, Scenedesmus sp. and Dunaliella tertiolecta. JB leachate was more toxic to the four algal species tested than leachate from GDB landfill. The growth rates of all four species in 50% JB leachate, and two species (C. vulgaris and D. tertiolecta) in 50% GDB leachate were significantly lower (P<0.05) than those in the control (Bristol Medium only). Values of 96h-EC50 of JB leachate for all four species were lower than those of GDB. The high contents of ammoniacal-nitrogen and organic compounds (such as volatile fatty acids) seemed to be the factors governing the toxicity of leachate on algae. There were differential sensitivities to leachate exhibited by the tested algal species. Susceptibility to leachates in terms of cell number were in the ascending order of C. pyrenoidosa, Scenedesmus sp., C. vulgaris and D. tertiolecta.
A nonparametric approach based on a Markov like property for classification

Abstract We suggest a new approach for classification based on nonparametricly estimated likelihoods. Due to the scarcity of data in high dimensions, full nonparametric estimation of the likelihood functions for each population is impractical. Instead, we propose to build a class of estimated nonparametric candidate likelihood models based on a Markov property and to provide multiple likelihood estimates that are useful for guiding a classification algorithm. Our density estimates require only estimates of one and two-dimensional marginal distributions, which can effectively get around the curse of dimensionality problem. A classification algorithm based on those estimated likelihoods is presented. A modification to it utilizing variable selection of differences in log of estimated marginal densities is also suggested to specifically handle high dimensional data.
OOCYTE DIFFERENTIATION AND VITELLOGENESIS IN THE ROACH PERIPLANETA AMERICANA.

The ovary of the roach Periplaneta americana has been studied by techniques of light and electron microscopy. Each ovariole (panoistic type) contains a linear array of oocytes in varying stages of development. Newly formed oocytes become encased by a layer of follicle cells and begin pinocytosis. All subsequent growth stages of the oocytes are dependent, in part, on this phenomenon. All of the pinocytotic caveolae show an unique surface modification; i.e., on their internal surface they have an amorphous or filamentous substance and their external surface is studded with many fine radially oriented spike-like projections. The pinosomes of early oocytes do not contain a demonstrable internal structure; they are thought to contain nutritive substances for the developing oocytes rather than yolk precursors. When the oocyte enters its last stage of growth, characterized by yolk deposition, the caveolae become filled with a dense material which is thought to be the precursors of yolk. Hence the conclusion is drawn that yolk formation is independent of any cytoplasmic organelle system of the oocyte and that the precursors of this deutoplasmic substance are manufactured outside the ovary and are internalized by the process of pinocytosis. Under the phase-contrast microscope the nucleoli of early oocytes are large irregular masses and show the phenomenon of nucleolar emission (fragmentation). These "emissions" become randomly dispersed in the nucleoplasm and some of them come to be intimately associated with the fenestrated nuclear envelope. After this process ceases, the main nucleolar mass becomes vacuolated. Electron micrographs suggest that the constituent particles of the nucleolar emissions migrate from the nucleus through patent pores of the nuclear envelope.
Towards atomic resolution non‐contact dynamic force microscopy in a liquid

Initially, calcite surfaces were imaged with regular tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) at nearly true atomic resolution with a soft cantilever (k = 0.2 N m -1 ) resonantly oscillating in a liquid. Now, at least the same imaging quality in water could be achieved by driving a rather stiff (k = 20-25 N m -1 ) lever at ultrasonic frequencies of ∼ 150 kHz and selecting the working point in quite a small region on the amplitude vs. distance curve where the amplitude steeply increases with decreasing tip-sample distance. This amplitude increase by ∼10% over the lever's free amplitude in the liquid occurs just before the onset of the regular tapping (intermittent repulsive contact) regime, where the amplitude rapidly falls off upon further tip-sample approach. Thus, very gentle forces were utilized here for imaging, probably even non-contact forces, where the use of relatively stiff levers eliminates uncontrollable jump-into-contact effects and demonstrates the high sensitivity of this particular dynamic force microscopy (DFM) mode. Constant interaction images of the amplitude signal at this working point, where the feedback response is inverted compared to regular tapping, revealed defects on the atomic scale but as yet not with clear-cut true atomic resolution. These results could represent an important step towards reliable atomic resolution non-contact imaging in a liquid with feedback-control, which is essential for the goal of atomic scale imaging on corrugated and delicate samples such as biomolecules.
A field sampling strategy for semivariogram inference of fractures in rock outcrops

The stochastic continuum (SC) representation is one common approach for simulating the effects of fracture heterogeneity in groundwater flow and transport models. These SC reservoir models are generally developed using geostatistical methods (e.g., kriging or sequential simulation) that rely on the model semivariogram to describe the spatial variability of each continuum. Although a number of strategies for sampling spatial distributions have been published in the literature, little attention has been paid to the optimization of sampling in resource- or access-limited environments. Here we present a strategy for estimating the minimum sample spacing needed to define the spatial distribution of fractures on a vertical outcrop of basalt, located in the Box Canyon, east Snake River Plain, Idaho. We used fracture maps of similar basalts from the published literature to test experimentally the effects of different sample spacings on the resulting semivariogram model. Our final field sampling strategy was based on the lowest sample density that reproduced the semivariogram of the exhaustively sampled fracture map. Application of the derived sampling strategy to an outcrop in our field area gave excellent results, and illustrates the utility of this type of sample optimization. The method will work for developing a sampling plan for any intensive property, provided prior information for a similar domain is available; for example, fracture maps or ortho-rectified photographs from analogous rock types could be used to plan for sampling of a fractured rock outcrop.
Ecological Research Needs from Multiangle Remote Sensing Data

Abstract Remotely sensed land surface reflectance depends upon changing sun and sensor viewing geometry, and this dependence is governed by the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF). Because the reflectance distribution of vegetation is strongly anisotropic, multi-view angle (MVA) observations of terrestrial ecosystems contain additional and unique information beyond that acquired with nadir or single-angle spectral measurements alone. With the NASA EOS instruments MODIS and MISR and France's POLDER, new capabilities in MVA remote sensing will become widely available for ecological, biogeochemical, and land-surface biophysical research. However, a communication gap exists between the remote sensing and ecological communities in terms of the capabilities of the former and the needs of the latter. In this article, we present a summary of ecological research needs for remotely sensed data. Based on these needs, we present a review of some of the most promising MVA remote sensing methods for fulfilling these requirements. With this article, we hope to facilitate increased communication between the remote sensing, ecological, and biogeochemical research communities.
A digital feedback damping scheme for a micromachined directional microphone

In this paper, a method for introducing active damping for a diaphragm in a micromachined directional microphone is considered. The sigma-delta modulation is used to circumvent the nonlinearity of the capacitive transducers of the microphone. The principle of operation of the damping scheme is explained, and the simulation results of a lumped diaphragm model are presented.
Fluid physics and transport phenomena studies aboard the international space station: Planned experiments

This paper provides an overview of the microgravity fluid physics and transport phenomena experiments planned for the International Space Station. NASA’s Office of Life and Microgravity Science and Applications has established a world-class research program in fluid physics and transport phenomena. This program combines the vast expertise of the world research community with NASA’s unique microgravity facilities with the objectives of gaining new insight into fluid phenomena by removing the confounding effect of gravity. Due to its criticality to many terrestrial and space-based processes and phenomena, fluid physics and transport phenomena play a central role in the NASA’s Microgravity Program. Through widely publicized research announcement and well established peer-reviews, the program has been able to attract a number of world-class researchers and acquired a critical mass of investigations that is now adding rapidly to this field. Currently there are a total of 106 ground-based and 20 candidate fligh...
Crow's 'lateralization hypothesis' for schizophrenia.

To the Editor.— Crow and colleagues 1 have presented another ingenious and provocative theory about schizophernia that should lead to a new round of thinking and research about the relationship of cerebral lateralization to this disorder. Their assertion that schizophrenia involves an abnormality of the development of normal cerebral anatomic asymmetries is based, to a considerable degree, on their own findings of parahippocampal gyrus width 2 and asymmetries of ventricular size 1 in patients with schizophrenia. While we agree that when abnormalities of only one hemisphere have been reported in studies of patients with schizophrenia, the left side is more often implicated, we do not feel that the data are sufficiently robust to conclude that the pathologic process itself is lateralized or that the process "disturbs the mechanisms of lateralization." 1 The lateralization theory of Crow et al owes much to an earlier finding of reduced parahippocampal gyral width in
Shear criteria in the Grenville Province, Ontario, Canada

Abstract The Grenville Province of Canada is a major Proterozoic orogenic belt. Mapping and structural analysis shows that the central Ontario segment of this belt is composed of a stack of imbricated thrust nappes separated by mylonite zones. The mylonite zones were generated at high metamorphic grades and contain a distinctive assemblage of mesoscopic and microscopic asymmetric structures. These structures include rotated tectonic inclusions, rotated boudins and pinch-and-swell structures, sheath folds, rotated single-crystal porphyroclasts, single crystal ‘fish’, and shear band foliation. The shear asymmetry indicated by these structures is highly consistent between members of the assemblage, and over a large area of the Grenville province, and shows that the thrust nappes were transported to the northwest. The consistency of the structures is thought to be due to cyclical dynamic recrystallization leading to steady-state foliations in the mylonites.
What's in a Name? Do Species' Names Impact Student Support for Conservation?

Many animal populations are in need of conservation, but due to limited resources, prioritizing which species should receive conservation funding is challenging (Wilson, Joseph, Moore, & Possingham...
Green light for mosquito control.

Testes-specific expression of green fluorescent protein allows automated sex sorting of mosquitoes for population control.
Aquatic habitat measurement and valuation: Imputing social benefits to instream flow levels

Instream flow conflicts have been analysed from the perspectives offered by policy oriented applied (physical) science, theories of conflict resolution and negotiation strategy, and psychological analyses of the behavior patterns of the bargaining parties. Economics also offers some useful insights in analysing conflict resolution within the context of these water allocation problems. We attempt to analyse the economics of the bargaining process in conjunction with a discussion of the water allocation process. In particular, we examine in detail the relation between certain habitat estimation techniques, and the socially optimal allocation of non-market resources. The results developed here describe the welfare implications implicit in the contemporary general equilibrium analysis of a competitive market economy. We also review certain currently available techniques for assigning dollar values to the social benefits of instream flow. The limitations of non-market valuation techniques with respect to estimating the benefits provided by instream flows and the aquatic habitat contingent on these flows should not deter resource managers from using economic analysis as a basic tool for settling instream flow conflicts.
DNA nanotechnology: The world's smallest assembly line

Two separate studies show how DNA tiles can be used in automated assembly processes: one system self-replicates, the second assembles the output of a molecular computation.
Characterization of the major odorants found in the peel oil of Citrus reticulata Blanco cv. Clementine using gas chromatography–olfactometry

Gas chromatography–olfactometry (GC–O), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and preparative column chromatography were used to identify the key odorants present in laboratory-extracted clementine oil from Spain. Almost 50 odorants were identiﬁed using GC–O, many of which were unsaturated aldehydes with high odour spectrum values (OSV). α- and β-sinensal, trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decanal, (E,Z)-2,6-dodecadienal and linalool were found to dominate clementine oil aroma. Enrichment of the oxygenates using preparative column chromatography provided further identiﬁcation of a total of 50 aldehydes, not all of which were present in the oil at concentrations high enough to produce a response using GC–O. Aldehydes contributed approximately 80% of the total aroma of clementine oil. New odorants not previously reported in clementine oil include many unsaturated aldehydes, trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal, trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-dodecenal, 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanone (furaneol), 3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanone (sotolon) and 1,8-cineole. No single odorant emerged as being characteristic of clementine oil aroma. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Association of thyroid hormone receptors with chromatin.

A large body of circumstantial evidence indicates that receptors located in nuclei of T3 responsive tissues represent a site of initiation of thyroid hormone action at the cellular level. Partial characterization of T3 receptors indicates that these proteins are monomeric structures in nuclei and are chromatin-associated non-histone proteins. Treatment of rat liver nuclei with either pancreatic DNase I or micrococcal nuclease releases T3 receptors from nuclei in two forms: a predominant (95 400 Mr; 5.5–6.0 S) and a minor (265 000–365 000 Mr: 12.5S) nucleoprotein complex. Similar structures are excised from rat kidney, brain, and heart nuclei and from GH1 pituitary cell nuclei by micrococcal nuclease digestion. These endonuclease-excised receptor-containing complexes are significantly larger than the salt-extracted receptor (50 000 Mr; 3.5S). The presence of DNA and other non-receptor proteins in these structures indicates that T3 receptors probably function within multimeric complexesin vivo. Although T3 receptors appear to be associated with DNA between nucleosomes, i.e. linker DNA, it is not entirely clear whether all or only a fraction of T3 receptors interact with nucleosomal components. The 12.5S receptor-containing nucleoprotein complex may represent T3 receptors in association with linker DNA and nucleosomal components.
IVF the Chinese Way: Zhang Lizhu and Post-Mao Human In Vitro Fertilization Research

In 1988, the first human baby conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF) technology in mainland China was born at the Peking Medical College Third Hospital in Beijing. The Chinese media soon ce...
Cost-effectiveness of single-dose methotrexate compared with laparoscopic treatment of ectopic pregnancy

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of treatment with intramuscular (IM) methotrexate compared with fallopian tube–sparing laparoscopy for small unruptured ectopic pregnancy. Methods: A decision-analytic model accounting for varying resolution rates, complication rates, and cost estimates was built to compare the use of methotrexate with laparoscopy. Meta-analysis results of studies identified by a MEDLINE search for IM methotrexate resolution rates and tube-sparing laparoscopy resolution rates were used in model estimation. A similar process was used to generate model complication rates. Data on associated resource use were derived from established clinical guidelines. Estimates of 1998 costs incurred by provider organizations were calculated using data from a large managed care organization. Results: The average methotrexate resolution rate among the studies included was 87% (range 75–90%). The average laparoscopy resolution rate was 91% (range 72–100%). Complication rates for methotrexate ranged from 0% to 22%, with an average of 10% for minor complications, and from 0% to 11% for serious complications, with an average of 7%. Complication rates for laparoscopy ranged from 0% to 8% for intraoperative complications, with an average of 2%, and from 0% to 15% for postoperative complications, with an average of 9%. Baseline model estimates indicated an average cost saving of more than $3000 per resolved ectopic pregnancy with methotrexate treatment compared with laparoscopy. Results of extensive sensitivity analyses supported the finding of a cost saving with methotrexate treatment. Conclusion: Single-dose methotrexate is a cost-saving, nonsurgical, fallopian tube–sparing treatment for ectopic pregnancy.
Simple approximate expression for error performance of coherent M-ary orthogonal signals in generalised fading channels

Presented is a simple tight upper-bound and quite accurate expression for the average bit error probability of coherent M-ary orthogonal signals over generalised fading channels. The derived expression is applicable for various diversity combining techniques, and it includes the cases in which the diversity branches are arbitrarily correlated, non-identically distributed, and/or following any fading distribution. The results clarify the tightness of the derived expression, and illustrate the impacts of non-identical and correlated branches on the system power performance.
Chronic corticosterone administration down-regulates metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 protein expression in the rat hippocampus

Several lines of evidence suggest a dysfunctional glutamate system in major depressive disorder (MDD). Recently, we reported reduced levels of metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5) in postmortem brains in MDD, however the neurobiological mechanisms that induce these abnormalities are unclear. In the present study, we examined the effect of chronic corticosterone (CORT) administration on the expression of mGluR5 protein and mRNA in the rat frontal cortex and hippocampus. Rats were injected with CORT (40 mg/kg s.c.) or vehicled once daily for 21 days. The expression of mGluR5 protein and mRNA was assessed by Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). In addition, mGluR1 protein was measured in the same animals. The results revealed that while there was a significant reduction (-27%, P=0.0006) in mGluR5 protein expression in the hippocampus from CORT treated rats, mRNA levels were unchanged. Also unchanged were mGluR5 mRNA and protein levels in the frontal cortex and mGluR1 protein levels in both brain regions. Our findings provide the first evidence that chronic CORT exposure regulates the expression of mGluR5 and are in line with previous postmortem and imaging studies showing reduced mGluR5 in MDD. Our findings suggest that elevated levels of glucocorticoids may contribute to impairments in glutamate neurotransmission in MDD.
Perineal burns in males secondary to spouse abuse.

Male spouse abuse seems to be on the increase. Recognition of these injuries is often difficult as patients are reluctant to disclose the aetiology and press charges against the assailant. We identified a similar group of male patients who sustained burns to their external genitalia secondary to spouse abuse
Historical Methodology for Nursing Research

Purpose: To describe the basic tenets of historical research methodology, with emphasis on researching nursing history. Aims: To introduce students and researchers to historical research, through substantive guidelines for library and archival research, and definitions of primary and secondary sources. To discuss ethical considerations—particularly those provoked by recent scholarly interest in the history of ordinary people. To explore issues of external and internal criticism. To discuss analysis, synthesis, and presentation of historical findings. Conclusions: Historical research, as a type of scholarly inquiry, requires attention to methodology to uncover and interpret findings for nursing.,/p>
Relation of Water Temperature to Bacterial Cold‐Water Disease in Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon, and Rainbow Trout

Abstract The effect of water temperature on the progress of experimentally induced Cytophaga psychrophila infection was investigated in juveniles of coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch, chinook salmon O. tshawytscha, and rainbow trout O. mykiss (formerly Salmo gairdneri). A virulent strain of C. psychrophila was administered to fish by subcutaneous injection. Infected fish were held in tanks containing pathogen-free well water at temperatures ranging from 3 to 23°C. Mean times from infection to death of the fish were shortest at 12–15°C, which were the temperatures associated with the shortest time for doubling the population of this bacterium in vitro. Juvenile steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) injected with viable C. psychrophila cells and held in 22°C water did not become diseased.
Kant, cognitive psychotherapy, and the hardening of the categories

Contemporary models of psychotherapy owe a considerable intellectual debt to philosophy, even though the contributions of philosophers to contemporary practice in the field often go unrecognized. A case in point is Kant's epistemology, which is foundational to cognitive approaches to psychotherapy. Here, it is argued that the rigid use of certain judgments represented in Kant's conceptual scheme underlies patterns of distorted or dysfunctional thinking associated with emotional disorders. Kantian judgments of necessity, disjunction, particularity and universality have counterpoints in contemporary conceptions of cognitive distortions. Moreover, Kantian epistemology has important therapeutic implications with respect to helping people with emotional disorders recognize and challenge rigidly held judgments or categories of understanding. The Kantian perspective also leads us to consider the cognitive frameworks or thought structures that underlie dysfunctional thinking patterns.
Hampton: A main season golden nematode resistant variety

Hampton is a golden nematode resistant variety suited for main season tablestock production. It is resistant toVerticillium wilt, but susceptible to scab and late blight. Hampton yields as well as Katahdin and produces essentially the same distribution of tuber sizes. Its shape is distinctively spherical with shallow eyes. Its specific gravity is like Katahdin and it will not produce acceptably light colored potato chips.
Construct comprehensiveness and cognitive complexity as predictors of the number and strategic adaptation of arguments and appeals in a persuasive message

Subjects differing in construct comprehensiveness and cognitive complexity wrote persuasive messages directed at a fictitious target person and gave written justifications for each argument or appeal used in their messages. Messages were scored for number of appeals used and appeal justifications were scored for the degree of strategic adaptation to the message target they reflected. Construct comprehensiveness correlated positively and significantly with level of strategic adaptation; cognitive complexity correlated positively and significantly with number of appeals used and level of strategic adaptation.
Money Boys, HIV Risks, and the Associations between Norms and Safer Sex: A Respondent-Driven Sampling Study in Shenzhen, China

Money boys (MBs) are male sex workers who sell sex to men who have sex with men (MSM). This study estimates the proportion of MBs in the Chinese MSM, compares HIV risks between MBs and non-MB MSM, and examines the associations between practicing safer sex and peer norms of condom use. Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) was used to sample 351 MSM in the city of Shenzhen in 2007. The RDS-adjusted proportion of MBs among MSM was 9%. Compared to non-MB MSM, more MBs reported having had multiple male and female sexual partners. Half of MBs and non-MB MSM had consistently used condoms. Both descriptive and subjective norms were positively associated with condom use. The MB proportion of 9% in MSM implies a relatively large population of MBs in China. The association between peer norms and consistent condom use can assist with the development of culturally competent HIV interventions that promote safer sex.
Interplay between Estrogen Response Element Sequence and Ligands Controls in Vivo Binding of Estrogen Receptor to Regulated Genes

To examine the role of the estrogen response element (ERE) sequence in binding of liganded estrogen receptor (ER) to promoters, we analyzed in vivo interaction of liganded ER with the imperfect ERE in the pS2 gene and the composite estrogen-responsive unit (ERU) in the proteinase inhibitor 9 (PI-9) gene. In transient transfections of ER-positive HepG2-ER7 cells, PI-9 was strongly induced by estrogen, moxestrol (MOX), and 4-hydroxytamoxifen (OHT). PI-9 was not induced by raloxifene or ICI 182,780. Quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR showed that moxestrol strongly induced cellular PI-9 and pS2 mRNAs, whereas OHT moderately induced PI-9 mRNA and weakly induced pS2 mRNA. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated strong and similar association of 17β-estradiol-hERα and MOX-hERα with the PI-9 ERU and with the pS2 ERE. Binding of MOX-hERα to the PI-9 ERU and the pS2 ERE was rapid and continuous. Although MOX-hERα bound strongly to the PI-9 ERU and less well to the pS2 ERE in chromatin immunoprecipitation, gel shift assays showed that estrogen-hERα binds with higher affinity to the deproteinized pS2 ERE than to the PI-9 ERU. Across a broad range of OHT concentrations, OHT-hERα associated strongly with the pS2 ERE and weakly with the PI-9 ERU. ICI-hERα bound poorly to the PI-9 ERU and effectively to the pS2 ERE. Raloxifene-hERα and MOX-hERα exhibited similar binding to the PI-9 ERU and the pS2 ERE. These studies demonstrate that ER ligand and ERE sequence work together to regulate in vivo binding of ER to estrogen-responsive promoters.
Falcon visual acuity

Grating acuity, the ability to resolve high-contrast square-wave gratings, was measured in a falcon and in humans under comparable conditions. This behavioral test of falcon acuity supports the common belief that Falconiformes have superb vision-the faclon's threshold was 160 cycles per degree, while the human thresholds were 60 cycles per degree. Falcon acuity, however, was much more dependent on lumanance, declining sharply with decreases in luminance.
Delivery of a PCR amplified DNA fragment into cells: a model for using synthetic genes for gene therapy.

Synthetic genes offer many potential advantages over conventional plasmid DNA, such as simplicity in purification, absence of endotoxin contamination, and more importantly, flexibility in chemical modifications to render them specific properties. We have used PCR amplified fragments as a model to test the feasibility of using synthetic genes for gene therapy. The CAT reporter gene driven by the CMV promoter (CMV-CAT), ie a nuclear expression system, or by the bacteriophage T7 promoter (T7-CAT), ie a cytoplasmic expression system, was used to evaluate this concept. The expression efficiency of both plasmids (pUCCMV-CAT and pT7-CAT) and their corresponding PCR fragments (fCMV-CAT and fT7-CAT) were compared on a molar basis. Limited expression of CAT was found with fCMV-CAT. However, fT7-CAT consistently gave a CAT activity comparable to that of pT7-CAT. When fT7-CAT was codelivered with pCMV/T7-T7pol (a self-amplifying T7 RNA polymerase autogene), high CAT activity could be detected up to 9 days. This expression was much longer than the duration of expression with a nuclear expression system. These encouraging results imply that gene therapy with synthetic genes could be both feasible and efficient.
Air traffic management: High-low traffic intensity analysis

Abstract The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for administering the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system. The primary purposes of the ATC system are the preventing of collisions, and expediting and maintaining of an orderly flow of air traffic while recognizing the varying requirements of any National Airspace System (NAS) user. Nationwide management of air traffic flow can be aided by using simulation and mathematical models to estimate and track measures of performance of interest. In this paper, a queueing based methodology is proposed to analyze airports' operations during high and low traffic intensity conditions.
Yeast pheromone pathway modeling using Petri nets.

Background Our environment is composed of biological components of varying magnitude. The relationships between the different biological elements can be represented as a biological network. The process of mating in S. cerevisiae is initiated by secretion of pheromone by one of the cells. Our interest lies in one particular question: how does a cell dynamically adapt the pathway to continue mating under severe environmental changes or under mutation (which might result in the loss of functionality of some proteins known to participate in the pheromone pathway). Our work attempts to answer this question. To achieve this, we first propose a model to simulate the pheromone pathway using Petri nets. Petri nets are directed graphs that can be used for describing and modeling systems characterized as concurrent, asynchronous, distributed, parallel, non-deterministic, and/or stochastic. We then analyze our Petri net-based model of the pathway to investigate the following: 1) Given the model of the pheromone response pathway, under what conditions does the cell respond positively, i.e., mate? 2) What kinds of perturbations in the cell would result in changing a negative response to a positive one?
Childhood abuse is associated with increased hair cortisol levels among urban pregnant women

Background Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activity is known to be altered following events such as childhood abuse. However, despite potential adverse consequences for the offspring of women who have experienced abuse, very little is known about altered HPA axis activity during pregnancy. Methods During pregnancy, 180 women from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds reported on their exposure to emotional, physical and/or sexual abuse before the age of 11, and general post-traumatic stress symptoms (ie, not limited to childhood years or abuse experiences). Around delivery, they provided hair samples for the assessment of cortisol levels during pregnancy. Hair cortisol was assessed for each pregnancy trimester. The effect of childhood abuse on hair cortisol was assessed using mixed-effects analyses of covariance models allowing for within-subject correlated observations, and were first performed in the entire sample and subsequently stratified by race/ethnicity. Results Controlling for post-traumatic stress symptoms, hair cortisol levels varied by history of child abuse, F(2,166)=3.66, p=0.028. Childhood physical and/or sexual abuse was associated with greater hair cortisol levels, t(166)=2.65, p=0.009, compared with no history of abuse. Because childhood rates of abuse and hair cortisol levels varied by race/ethnicity, analyses were stratified by race/ethnicity. The associations between history of abuse and cortisol levels were only significant among black women, F(2,23)=5.37, p=0.012. Conclusions Childhood abuse, especially physical and/or sexual abuse, is associated with differences in cortisol production during pregnancy, particularly among black women. Future research should investigate how these differences impact physical and mental health outcomes among offspring of affected women.
The Molecular Basis of the Inhibition of Collagenase by Vitamin a

Retinoic acid inhibits the enzyme collagenase by forming an inactive complex between the liganded nuclear retinoic acid receptors and c-Jun, a protein that is itself an activator of the collagenase gene.
Irradiation of Varying Volumes of Rat Lung to Same Mean Lung Dose: a Little to a Lot or a Lot to a Little?

Purpose To investigate whether irradiating small lung volumes with a large dose or irradiating large lung volumes with a small dose, given the same mean lung dose (MLD), has a different effect on pulmonary function in laboratory animals. Methods and Materials WAG/Rij/MCW male rats were exposed to single fractions of 300 kVp X-rays. Four treatments, in decreasing order of irradiated lung volume, were administered: (1) whole lung irradiation, (2) right lung irradiation, (3) left lung irradiation, and (4) irradiation of a small lung volume with four narrow beams. The irradiation times were chosen to accumulate the same MLD of 10, 12.5, or 15 Gy with each irradiated lung volume. The development of radiation-induced lung injury for ≤20 weeks was evaluated as increased breathing frequency, mortality, and histopathologic changes in the irradiated and control rats. Results A significant elevation of respiratory rate, which correlated with the lung volume exposed to single small doses (≥5 Gy), but not with the MLD, was observed. The survival of the rats in the whole-lung-irradiated group was MLD dependent, with all events occurring between 4.5 and 9 weeks after irradiation. No mortality was observed in the partial-volume irradiated rats. Conclusions The lung volume irradiated to small doses might be the dominant factor influencing the loss of pulmonary function in the rat model of radiation-induced lung injury. Caution should be used when new radiotherapy techniques that result in irradiation of large volumes of normal tissue are used for the treatment of lung cancer and other tumors in the thorax.