cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Muscles Lost in Our Adult Primate Ancestors Still Imprint in Us: on Muscle Evolution, Development, Variations, and Pathologies

The study of evolutionary developmental pathologies (Evo-Devo-Path) is an emergent field that relies on comparative anatomy to inform our understanding of the development and evolution of normal and abnormal structures in different groups of organisms, with a special focus on humans. Previous research has demonstrated that some muscles that have been lost in our ancestors well before the evolution of anatomically modern humans occasionally appear as variations in adults within the normal human population or as anomalies in individuals with congenital malformations. Here, we provide the first review of fourteen atavistic muscles/groups of muscles that are only present as variations or anomalies in modern humans but are commonly present in other primate species. Muscles within the head and neck and pectoral girdle and upper limb region include platysma cervicale, mandibulo-auricularis, rhomboideus occipitalis, levator claviculae, dorsoepitrochlearis, panniculus carnosus, epitrochleoanconeus, and contrahentes digitorum manus. Within the lower limb, they include scansorius, ischiofemoralis, contrahentes digitorum pedis, opponens hallucis, abductor metatarsi quinti, and opponens digiti minimi. For each muscle, we describe their synonyms, comparative anatomy among primates, embryonic development, presentation and prevalence as a variation, and presentation and prevalence as an anomaly. Research on the embryonic origins of six of these muscles has demonstrated that they appear early on in normal human development but usually disappear before birth. Among the eight muscles in the upper half of the body, mandibulo-auricularis is, to our knowledge, present in humans only as a variation, while the other seven muscles can be present as either a variation or an anomaly. All six muscles of the lower limb are present only as variations, and to our knowledge have not been described in anomalous individuals. Interestingly, although these muscles conform to most definitions of what constitutes an atavism—i.e., they were lost in our adult ancestors and now appear in some adult humans—some of them are seemingly present in more than 2% of the normal population. Therefore, they might actually constitute polymorphisms rather than variations. The research summarized here therefore emphasizes the need of future studies of the evolution, development, and prevalence of soft tissue variations and anomalies in humans, not only for the understanding of our evolutionary history but also of our phenotype and pathologies.
Exploring household energy rules and activities during peak demand to better determine potential responsiveness to time-of-use pricing

Abstract The success of time-of-use (TOU) pricing, where consumers are charged higher rates during peak usage windows, depends on consumer flexibility—an assumption that may not be true for all households or activities. We draw on concepts from social practice theory to explore the flexibility of residential electricity consumption, examining both household rules that govern energy conservation and activities that comprise the peak demand period. Surveying 337 households in a Northern California city slated for TOU rates, our goal was to better understand household energy rules and peak activities; willingness-to-shift peak activities; and relationships between household rules, willingness-to-shift and electricity usage. While respondent demographics and estimated monthly electricity bill (our proxy for usage) were associated with following energy rules, motivations for following rules (e.g., environmental, monetary) dominated. For respondents’ willingness-to-shift peak activities, square footage, number of household members, and smart technology were important, along with energy rule participation and the number of peak activities. Energy rule participation was also associated with lower bills, while number of household members and peak activities were associated with higher bills. Our findings provide insights into pathways for modifying energy use during peak to allow for easier integration of renewables into the grid.
Deicing of a GLAss fiber REinforced aluminum laminate – Part 1: Experiments and numerical simulation

Abstract Deicing is a mandatory procedure to ensure the required aerodynamic lift of aircraft. Countless experimental and numerical investigations have been conducted to determine the deicing efficiency of various ice protection systems. The literature review, however, yielded no single study that has been dedicated to investigate the deicing performance of a GLAss fiber REinforced aluminum (GLARE)-based electro-thermal ice protection system. Of notes, the upper fuselage of the front- and the rear section of Airbus A380 comprises circa 469 m2 of GLARE. This study, therefore, proposed a phase change model based on thermo-dynamics to determine the power consumption and the de-icing performance of a GLARE laminate embedded with recurring S-shaped copper heater elements. The model addressed the influence of copper mesh length and orthotropic properties of GLARE on deicing. As a test case, the power budget for deicing a GLARE 5A-3/2 laminate was predicted numerically. The numerical analysis demonstrated that a surface power density of 14.62 kW/m2 sufficed to deice a GLARE 5A-3/2 laminate covered with a 0.8 mm thick ice layer at an ambient temperature of 267.15 K. To corroborate the numerical predictions, deicing experiments had been conducted in a miniature icing wind tunnel by incorporating icing conditions comparable to that of the numerical analysis. It was found that the predicted surface power density was in excellent agreement with that determined in the deicing experiment. In the experiment, an infrared camera measured the temperature gradient of the GLARE specimen, which was also in close proximity to that of the GLARE model in the numerical analysis.
Prevention of lower limb osteoarthritis: Data from the Johns Hopkins Precursors Study

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the United States and other developed countries [1, 2]. The National Arthritis Data Workgroup, a committee convened by the Arthritis Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Arthritis Advisory Board and National Institutes of Health, reviewed data on the prevalence of osteoarthritis by joint group from the Health Examination Survey, conducted from 1960–1962, and the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES-I), conducted from 1971–1975 [1]. The case definition of osteoarthritis was based on radiographic changes in the hands and feet in the Health Examination Survey and on radiographic changes in knees and hips in NHANES-I. The prevalence of osteoarthritis among adults aged 25–74 years in the United States was 32.5, 22.2 and 3.8 per 100 for the hands, feet and knees, respectively. Prevalence increased with increasing age through the 65–74 years age group in both sexes; among persons aged 55–74 years of age, corresponding prevalence ratios were 70 percent for the hands, 40 percent for the feet, 10 percent for the knees, and 3 percent for the hips.
Skin Penetration Enhancement Strategies Used in the Development of Melanoma Topical Treatments

Malignant melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer for which there is currently no reliable therapy and is considered one of the leading health issues in the USA. At present, surgery is the most effective and acceptable treatment; however, surgical excision can be impractical in certain circumstances. Topical skin delivery of drugs using topical formulations is a potential alternative approach which can have many advantages aside from being a non-invasive delivery route. Nevertheless, the presence of the stratum corneum (SC) limits the penetration of drugs through the skin, lowering their treatment efficacy and raising concerns among physicians and patients as to their effectiveness. Currently, research groups are trying to circumvent the SC barrier by using skin penetration enhancement (SPE) strategies. The SPE strategies investigated include chemical skin penetration enhancers (CPEs), physical skin penetration enhancers (PPEs), nanocarrier systems, and a combination of SPE strategies (cream). Of these, PPEs and cream are the most advanced approaches in terms of preclinical and clinical studies, respectively.
An implementation of Bubble Magnification did not improve the video comprehension of individuals with central vision loss

PURPOSE People with central vision loss (CVL) watch television, videos and movies, but often report difficulty and have reduced video comprehension. An approach to assist viewing videos is electronic magnification of the video itself, such as Bubble Magnification. METHODS We created a Bubble Magnification technique that displayed a magnified segment around the centre of interest (COI) as determined by the gaze of participants with normal vision. The 15 participants with CVL viewed video clips shown with 2× and 3× Bubble Magnification, and unedited. We measured video comprehension and gaze coherence. RESULTS Video comprehension was significantly worse with both 2× (p = 0.01) and 3× Bubble Magnification (p < 0.001) than the unedited video. There was no difference in gaze coherence across conditions (p ≥ 0.58). This was unexpected because we expected a benefit in both video comprehension and gaze coherence. This initial attempt to implement the Bubble Magnification method had flaws that probably reduced its effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS In the future, we propose alternative implementations of Bubble Magnification, such as variable magnification and bubble size. This study is a first step in the development of an intelligent-magnification approach to providing a vision rehabilitation aid to assist people with CVL.
Not as Rare as Initially Described: Transplant Ureter Incarceration Within Inguinal Hernia. Two Cases, Literature Review, and Management Algorithm.

ABSTRACT Background Obstructive uropathy after kidney transplant can present as acute kidney injury, urosepsis, and more rarely kidney allograft failure. We present a recent series of 2 cases and a literature review of 1 late etiology of ureteric obstruction: incarceration of the transplant ureter within an inguinal hernia. Methods We reviewed 2 cases of patients with ureteric incarceration in an inguinal hernia after kidney transplant and conducted a contemporary structured literature review. Relevant patient factors, management decisions, operative approaches, and clinical outcomes were abstracted and summarized. Results Two cases of ureteric involvement in an inguinal hernia from 2 institutions as well as a literature review of 14 case reports are provided. The clinical features most commonly associated with this condition were male sex, obesity, and decade or more delay between kidney transplantation and presentation. Preoperative management with nephrostomy tube with or without antegrade ureteric stent was most frequently employed. Ultimately, most patients underwent surgical hernia repair, which occasionally required additional surgery for distal ureteric resection or re-anastomosis. Conclusions Incarceration of a transplant allograft ureter in inguinal hernia is likely not as rare as initially described, although a true incidence rate has not been established. This surgically correctible condition most frequently presents as a late complication after kidney transplantation. We present a management algorithm that can be used for the workup and treatment of patients with history of kidney transplant who present with ureteric obstruction owing to incarceration within an inguinal hernia.
Neural vulnerability and hurricane-related media are associated with post-traumatic stress in youth.

The human toll of disasters extends beyond death, injury and loss. Post-traumatic stress (PTS) can be common among directly exposed individuals, and children are particularly vulnerable. Even children far removed from harm’s way report PTS, and media-based exposure may partially account for this phenomenon. In this study, we examine this issue using data from nearly 400 9- to 11-year-old children collected before and after Hurricane Irma, evaluating whether pre-existing neural patterns moderate associations between hurricane experiences and later PTS. The ‘dose’ of both self-reported objective exposure and media exposure predicted PTS, the latter even among children far from the hurricane. Furthermore, neural responses in brain regions associated with anxiety and stress conferred particular vulnerability. For example, heightened amygdala reactivity to fearful stimuli moderated the association between self-reported media exposure and PTS. Collectively, these findings show that for some youth with measurable vulnerability, consuming extensive disaster-related media may offer an alternative pathway to disaster exposure that transcends geography and objective risk. Dick et al. show that in youth, post-traumatic stress related to Hurricane Irma was predicted by self-reported direct and media exposure. Furthermore, neural responses in brain regions associated with anxiety conferred particular vulnerability to media exposure.
Functions and Facts

I must now return to the basic metaphysical unit — the event — represented by the function ‘fx.’ Much of what needs to be said now cannot be derived simply from a consideration of the linguistic element but if anything can be said significantly it can be only on the basis of an intuiting of what there is. The problem as I see it now seems to be this: ‘fx’ represents a structure — the structure that is of the event. What kinds of things can be named such that their names can be used to implement ‘fx’?
Optical transfer function optimization based on linear expansions

The Optical Transfer Function (OTF) and its modulus the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) are metrics of optical system performance. However in system optimization, calculation times for the OTF are often substantially longer than more traditional optimization targets such as wavefront error or transverse ray error. The OTF is typically calculated as either the autocorrelation of the complex pupil function or as the Fourier transform of the Point Spread Function. We recently demonstrated that the on-axis OTF can be represented as a linear combination of analytical functions where the weighting terms are directly related to the wavefront error coefficients and apodization of the complex pupil function. Here, we extend this technique to the off-axis case. The expansion technique offers a potential for accelerating OTF optimization in lens design, as well as insight into the interaction of aberrations with components of the OTF.
Bilateral duplicated internal jugular veins: Case study and literature review

A rare bilateral duplication of the internal jugular vein (IJV) was discovered during cadaveric dissection. From each jugular foramen, a single IJV descended to the level of the hyoid bone then divided into medial and lateral veins. The medial IJVs traveled in the carotid sheath; the lateral IJVs coursed posterolateral to the sheath across the lateral cervical region (posterior triangle) of the neck. On the right side, medial and lateral IJVs entered the subclavian vein separately. C2–C3 anterior rami and the suprascapular artery passed between the medial and lateral IJVs. The right external jugular vein passed aberrantly between the heads of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) into the subclavian vein anterior to the lateral IJV. On the left side, the medial IJV drained into a large bulbous jugulovertebrosubclavian (JVS) sinus that received six main vessels. The lateral IJV diverged posterolaterally toward the border of the trapezius muscle, received the transverse cervical vein, and then turned sharply anteromedially to drain into the JVS sinus. The lateral IJV also gave an aberrant additional large vein that passed laterally around the omohyoid muscle before entering the JVS sinus. The left external jugular vein paralleled the anterior border of SCM before passing posterolaterally to terminate in the JVS sinus. Jugular vein anomalies of this magnitude are very rare. Determining the frequency of multiple IJVs is hampered by inconsistent terminology. We suggest that IJV duplication differs from fenestration anatomically and, potentially, developmentally. Criteria for characterizing IJV duplication and fenestration are proposed. The mechanism of development and the clinical significance of multiple IJVs are discussed. Clin. Anat. 20:260–266, 2007. V C 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
On tangential principal cluster sets of normal meromorphic functions

Let w = f(z) be a normal meromorphic function defined in the upper half plane U = { Im(z) >0}. We recall that a meromorphic function f(z) is normal in U if the family {f(S(z))} , where z′ = S(z) is an arbitrary one-one conformal mapping of U onto U , is normal in the sense of Montel. It is the purpose of this paper to state some results on the behavior of f(z) on curves which approach a point x 0 on the real axis R with a fixed (finite) order of contact q at x 0 .
Hypoplastic left ventricle syndrome: Analysis of thirty autopsy cases in infants with surgical considerations

Abstract Physiologic and anatomic data of 30 infants with hypoplastic left ventricular syndrome who underwent autopsy have been reviewed, and a possibly effective surgical palliative measure is proposed. Provision of an unobstructed interatrial communication for free left to right shunting of pulmonary venous blood to the right side of the heart is the first objective. Provision of continuing right to left shunt at the ductus level, sustained by high resistance to pulmonary artery blood flow, is the second. Surgical banding of both pulmonary arteries distal to the ductus is recommended.
CCD Time-Series Photometry of Astronomical Sources

CCDs are essentially the only instrument available today for photometry at most observatories; they are also becoming more readily available to amateurs as well. Thus, obtaining good photometric data with these two-dimensional devices is something we all need to understand. The history of and recent developments in CCD time-series photometry will be reviewed with some comments on future directions.
Thick-Restart Lanczos Method for Symmetric Eigenvalue Problems

This paper describes a restarted Lanczos algorithm that particularly suitable for implementation on distributed machines. The only communication operation is requires outside of the matrix-vector multiplication is a global sum. For most large eigenvalue problems, the global sum operation takes a small fraction of the total execution time. The majority of the computer is spent in the matrix-vector multiplication. Efficient parallel matrix-vector multiplication routines can be found in many parallel sparse matrix packages such as AZTEC [9], BLOCK-SOLVE [10], PETSc [3], P_SPARSLIB. For this reason, our main emphasis in this paper is to demonstrate the correctness and the effectiveness of the new algorithm.
Fluid Dynamics of Animal Appendages that Capture Molecules: Arthropod Olfactory Antennae

Appendages bearing arrays of hair-like structures serve important biological functions in many animals from a variety of phyla. For example, feathery gills take up oxygen, hairy olfactory antennae capture odorant molecules, filamentous suspension-feeding structures catch single-celled algae, setulose appendages create ventilatory or feeding currents, and bristly legs or wings propel little animals through the surrounding water or air. To perform any of these functions, an array of hairs must interact with the fluid around it. Therefore, in order to elucidate basic rules governing how hairy appendages work, we have been studying the fluid dynamics of arrays of cylinders. The purpose of this paper is to provide a brief overview of what mathematical and physical models have taught us about fluid motion around and through arrays of hairs, and of how those insights have helped us unravel ways in which the function of hairy appendages depends on their structure and behavior. I will focus on examples of appendages that capture molecules: the olfactory antennae of various arthropods.
Two structural adaptations for regulating transmitter release at lobster neuromuscular synapses

The distal accessory flexor muscle (DAFM) in the lobster (Homarus americanus) walking leg consists of 5 muscle fiber bundles. All five bundles, one proximal, one distal, and 3 medial, are innervated by one excitatory and one inhibitory motor neuron. Both neurons release more transmitter on the distal bundle than on the proximal bundle. The aim of our studies was to investigate the structural basis of this differentiation. Thin sections cut at 50 microns intervals showed a similar number of excitatory synapses on the two bundles. Freeze- fracture views of excitatory synapses showed that synapse size, active zone number per synapse, and intramembrane particle density in the postsynaptic membrane are similar proximally and distally. Active zones at synapses on the distal bundle are larger and contain about 50% more large intramembrane particles, which are thought to include the voltage- gated Ca2+ channels that couple the action potential to transmitter release, than their counterparts on the most proximal bundle. This difference in channel number appears to produce a disproportionate increase in the probability of transmitter release sufficient to account for most of the proximal-distal disparity in the amplitude of the excitatory postsynaptic potential. In contrast, staining the inhibitor for antibodies to the inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA, showed that it forms more varicosities on the distal bundle than on the proximal bundle. Because most of the synapses are located in the varicosities, differences in synapse number likely regulate the proximal-distal disparity in the amount of inhibitory transmitter released. Therefore, the regional differentiation in the amount of transmitter released in the DAFM appears to be based on two distinct mechanisms. In the inhibitor, transmitter release appears to be regulated differentially by differences in synapse number. In the excitor, transmitter release appears to be regulated differentially from a similar number of synapses by differences in active zone structure.
A Quantitative Study of Triggered Palliative Care Consultation for Hospitalized Patients With Advanced Cancer

Abstract Context Unplanned cancer-related hospital admissions often herald entry into the final phase of life. Hospitalized patients with advanced cancer have a high symptom burden and a short life expectancy, which may warrant palliative care intervention. Objectives To identify the impact of implementing triggered palliative care consultation (TPCC) as part of standard care for patients admitted to the solid-tumor oncology service with advanced cancer. Methods We conducted a prospective, sequential, three-cohort study to evaluate TPCC feasibility and impact using patient-reported outcomes, electronic medical records to identify resource utilization, and surveys of oncologists' perspectives on TPCC. Results Sixty-five patients were evaluated before TPCC implementation (Cohort 1). Seventy patients (Cohort 2) were evaluated after initiation of TPCC, and 68 patients (Cohort 3) were evaluated after modifications based on implementation barriers identified in Cohort 2. The percentage of patients correctly identifying their cancer as incurable increased from 65% in Cohort 1 to 94% in Cohorts 2 and 3. TPCC had minimal impact on hospice utilization, cost of care, survival, patient-reported symptoms, and patient satisfaction, likely because of the limited nature of the intervention. Implementation was challenging, with only 60% of patients in Cohort 2 and 62% in Cohort 3 receiving TPCC. Overall, the intervention was viewed favorably by 74% of oncologists. Conclusion Although TPCC was viewed favorably, implementation was logistically challenging because of short stays, high-acuity symptoms, and individual provider resistance. TPCC improved patients' understanding of their cancer. This population demonstrates high palliative care needs, warranting further research into how best to deliver care.
Effect of Promoters and Plasmid Copy Number on Cyt1A Synthesis and Crystal Assembly in Bacillus thuringiensis

Cyt1Aa is a major mosquitocidal protein synthesized during sporulation of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis, composing more than 50% of its parasporal body. This high level of synthesis is due to several factors including three strong sporulation-dependent promoters, a strong transcription termination sequence, and an associated 20-kDa helper protein. Cyt1Aa's toxicity is low compared to the Cry proteins of this species, namely, Cry4Aa, Cry4Ba, and Cry11Aa, but it nevertheless plays an important role in the biology of B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis in that it synergizes their mosquitocidal toxicity and suppresses the evolution of resistance. In the present study, the effects of using different cyt1Aa promoter combinations and plasmid copy number on synthesis of Cyt1Aa were evaluated. Using the 4Q7 (plasmid-cured) strain of B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis as an experimental host, a plasmid copy number of two or three yielded no Cyt1Aa, whereas a copy number of four yielded only small crystals, even when expression was driven by one of the wild-type promoters. However, using all three wild-type promoters and a plasmid copy number of 20 yielded Cyt1A crystals tenfold larger than those produced by one promoter and a plasmid copy number of four. High levels of Cyt1Aa synthesis resulted in significantly fewer spores per unit medium and imperfectly formed crystals. Similar results were obtained when Cyt1Aa synthesis was evaluated using the same expression constructs in a mutant strain of B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis that lacks the cyt1Aa gene.
Do Social Resources Protect Against Lower Quality of Life Among Diverse Young Adolescents

We examined whether social resources from the family and the community moderate the risk associated with low socioeconomic status (SES) for reduced quality of life (QL) among youth across racial/et...
Determination of optical cross sections by the measurement of saturation flux using laser-pumped laser oscillators

A new method is reported which measures transition cross sections independent of active atom concentration and extrinsic loss using a laser-pumped cw laser oscillator. Extrapolation of the linear input-output characteristic of a cw oscillator to null pumping rate will yield the saturation power from which is determined the saturation flux and laser cross section. For Nd3+ in YAG and YVO4 the measured saturation fluxes were 2.07 and 3.24 kW/cm2, respectively, and the laser cross sections were 3.92 and 7.78 × 10−19 cm2, respectively.
A comparison of laparoscopic and robotic assisted suturing performance by experts and novices

Background Surgical robotics has been promoted as an enabling technology. This study tests the hypothesis that use of the robotic surgical system can significantly improve technical ability by comparing the performance of both experts and novices on a complex laparoscopic task and a robotically assisted task. Methods Laparoscopic experts (LE) with substantial laparoscopic and robotic experience (n = 9) and laparoscopic novices (LN) (n = 20) without any robotic experience performed sequentially 10 trials of a suturing task using either robotic or standard laparoscopic instrumentation fitted to the ProMIS™ surgical simulator. Objective performance metrics provided by ProMIS™ (total task time, instrument pathlength, and smoothness) and an assessment of learning curves were analyzed. Results Compared with LNs, the LEs demonstrated significantly better performance on all assessment measures. Within the LE group, there was no difference in smoothness (328 ± 159 vs 355 ± 174; P = .09) between robot-assisted and standard laparoscopic tasks. An improvement was noted in total task time (113 ± 41 vs 132 ± 55 sec; P < .05) and instrument pathlengths (371 ± 163 vs 645 ± 269 cm; P < .05) when using the robot. This advantage in terms of total task time, however, was lost among the LEs by the last 3 trials (114 ± 40 vs 118 ± 49 s; P = .84), while instrument pathlength remained better consistently throughout all the trials. For the LNs, performance was significantly better in the robotic trials on all 3 measures throughout all the trials. Conclusion The ProMIS surgical simulator was able to distinguish between skill levels (expert versus novice) on robotic suturing tasks, suggesting that the ProMIS™ is a valid tool for measuring skill in robot-assisted surgery. For all the ProMIS™ metrics, novices demonstrated consistently better performance on a suturing task using robotics as compared to a standard laparoscopic setup. This effect was less evident for experts who demonstrated improvements only in their economy of movement (pathlength), but not in the speed or smoothness of performance. Robotics eliminated the early learning curve for novices, which was present when they used standard laparoscopic tools. Overall, this study suggests that, when performing complex tasks such as knot tying, surgical robotics is most useful for inexperienced laparoscopists who experience an early and persistent enabling effect. For experts, robotics is most useful for improving economy of motion, which may have implications for the highly complex procedures in limited workspaces (eg, prostatectomy).
Matrix metalloproteases: Underutilized targets for drug delivery

Pathophysiological molecules in the extracellular environment offer excellent targets that can be exploited for designing drug targeting systems. Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) are a family of extracellular proteolytic enzymes that are characterized by their overexpression or overactivity in several pathologies. Over the last two decades, the MMP literature reveals heightened interest in the research involving MMP biology, pathology and targeting. This review describes various strategies that have been designed to utilize MMPs for targeting therapeutic entities. Key factors that need to be considered in the successful design of such systems have been identified based on the analyses of these strategies. Development of targeted drug delivery using MMPs has been steadily pursued; however, drug delivery efforts using these targets need to be intensified and focused to realize the clinical application of the fast developing fundamental MMP research.
Corticospinal development in the North-American opossum: evidence for a sequence in the growth of cortical axons in the spinal cord and for transient projections.

Abstract The course and distribution of corticospinal axons have been traced in a series of pouch young and adult opossums using wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP). Cortical axons enter the spinal cord approx. 28 days after birth (40 days after conception) and, at that time, are limited to those portions of the dorsal and lateral funiculi which contain them in the adult animal. Shortly thereafter, cortical axons are also found in regions of presumptive white matter where they are not seen in older pouch young or adult opossums. Those in the dorsal and lateral funiculi reach their caudal extent, the fourth thoracic segment, approx. 38 days after birth and do not significantly overgrow that level during development. Cortical axons grow into the gray matter exclusively from the dorsal and lateral funiculi and first innervate adjacent portions of laminae IV and V. They subsequently extend into laminae III and VI, then VII, VIII and X and finally, at the cervical enlargement, the medial edge of laminae I–II and lamina IX. There is a subsequent period of development during which the density of cortical innervation in all spinal laminae, particularly in the ventral horn, appears to exceed that in the adult opossum.
Two new species of nudibranchiate molluscs from the west coast of North America, with a revision of the family Cuthonidae

Two species of nudibranch molluscs are described from the northeastern Pacific Ocean on the west coast of North America. These are: a new aeolid species of Cuthona Alder & Hancock, 1855 (family Cuthonidae) from the Oregonian marine zoogeographical province and a new dorid species of Acanthodoris Gray, 1850 (family Onchidorididae) from the Panamic province in the Gulf of California. The internal anatomy and external features of each species are compared with related species. Differences in structure of the radula, reproductive system and other morphological aspects are described. A revision of the family Cuthonidae is included. Evidence is presented to include the genera Trinchesia Ihering, 1879, and Precuthona Odhner, 1929, within the genus Cuthona. Cuthona alpha Baba & Hamatani, 1963, is synonymized with Catriona columbiana (O'Donoghue, 1922). We consider the New World Cuthonidae to be composed of the following five genera: Catriona Winckworth, 1941; Cuthona Alder & Hancock, 1855; Embletonia Alder & Hancock, 1851; Tenellia Costa, 1877; and Tergipes Cuvier, 1805.
Parental involvement in the treatment of childhood obsessive compulsive disorder: A multiple-baseline examination incorporating parents

The efficacy of exposure and response prevention and the potential contribution of parental involvement in treatment were investigated for four children with principal DSM-III-R diagnoses of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) referred to the Center for Stress and Anxiety Disorders, Child and Adolescent Fear and Anxiety Treatment Program. Monitoring consisted of parent and child diaries of obsessive compulsive symptoms and daily child Subjective Units of Distress (SUDS) ratings for a 10-item hierarchy. Children progressed in a multiple baseline fashion through four phases: baseline monitoring, exposure and response prevention, exposure and response prevention plus parent involvement, and maintenance. Results through 12-month follow-up suggest that exposure and response prevention with parent involvement shows promise in the treatment of childhood OCD.
Increase in glial fibrillary acidic protein following neural trauma

Immunohistochemical staining and quantitative evaluation of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were carried out in a stab wound model of neural trauma in the rat. Increased GFAP staining was detected in reactive cortical astrocytes in the vicinity of the wound at 3,7, and 30 d following injury. Western blots immunostained for GFAP also demonstrated an increase in GFAP in homogenates from the lesioned cortex, compared to the contralateral control side, on days 3, 7, and 30. Specific activity of GFAP expressed as a ratio of lesion/control values showed a fivefold increase from day 0 to day 7, with no further change on day 30. We conclude that neural trauma elicits a quantitative increase in GFAP in the rat cortex during the first week following injury. This increase correlates with both astrocyte hyperthrophy and proliferation. Thus, specific activity of GFAP is a reliable indicator of the onset and progression of astrogliosis in neural trauma.
Uniform approximation by quasi-convex and convex functions

Abstract Given a bounded function f defined on a convex subset of R n , the two problems considered are to find a quasi-convex (convex) function which is a best approximation to f under the uniform norm. It is shown that if f is the greatest quasi-convex (convex) minorant of f , then f′ = f + c , for some c ≧ 0 , is the maximal best quasi-convex (convex) approximation to f . Furthermore, the nonlinear operator T defined by T ( f ) = f ′ is a Lipschitzian selection operator with some least constant C ( T ), where C ( T ) ≤ C ( T ′) for all Lipschitzian operators T ′ which map f to one of its best approximations. Thus T is optimal in this sense.
Transient Intermediates in the Thrombin Activation of Fibrinogen EVIDENCE FOR ONLY THE desAA SPECIES

The structure of a fibrin gel depends on the nature of the fibrinogen activation products produced by thrombin and the physical condition under which assembly occurs. Two different structures of the intermediate fibrin protofibril have been proposed, the production of which requires different extents of fibrinopeptide A (FpA) cleavage from fibrinogen. The fibrin activation intermediates must be stable since time is required for the intermediates to diffuse to growing protofibrils. The classic Hall-Slayter model requires cleavage of both FpAs to form a desAA intermediate. The Hunziker model requires cleavage of only one FpA to form an AdesA intermediate. Electrophoretic quasi elastic light scattering has been used to show the time-dependent production of the relevant fibrinogen activation intermediates that includes desAA but not AdesA.
Price clustering in foreign exchange spot markets

Abstract This paper documents the existence of price clustering in the foreign exchange spot market for the German mark, the Japanese yen, the United Kingdom pound, the French franc, the Italian lira, and the Swedish krona. The U.S. dollar exchange rate indicative quotes for these currencies tend to exhibit clustering around right-most digits that end in either a “zero” or a “five.” The tendency for exchange rates to cluster has increased with increases in trading volume and volatility. Moreover, the tendency for exchange rates to cluster differs across currencies.
Salting-out of methane in single-salt solutions at 25°C and below 800 psia

Abstract Aqueous solubilities of methane at 25°C have been determined in single-salt solutions equilibrated with a CH4 gas phase at 350, 550, and 750 psia. Measurements were made over a range of ionic strengths in NaCl, KCl, CaCl2, MgCl2, Na2SO4, K2SO4, MgSO4, Na2CO3, K2CO3, NaHCO3, and KHCO3 aqueous solutions. At 25°C and constant pressure and methane fugacity, methane solubilities were largely controlled by the stoichiometric ionic strength, I, and the cation of the salt. Except for an increased salting-out due to HCO3−, the anion effect was relatively insignificant. Different but consistent solubility trends were followed in monovalent and divalent cation salt solutions as a function of I. Solubilities increased in salt solutions having a common anion in the following cation sequence: Na+ The molal salting coefficient, km, for each salt was constant under the experimental conditions of the study, km is defined by log γ ch 4 I where γ ch 4 , the molal activity coefficient, is the methane solubility ratio ( m H 2 O m salt solution ) measured at constant temperature, pressure, and CH4 fugacity. Single-salt km values are as follows: 0.121, NaCl (4m); 0.121, Na2SO4 (1m); 0.118, Na2CO3 (1.5m); 0.146, NaHCO3 (0.5m); 0.101, KCl (4m); 0.108, K2SO4 (0.5m); 0.111, K2CO3 (2m); 0.145, KHCO3 (0.5m); 0.071, CaCl2 (2m); 0.063, MgCl2 (2m); and 0.066, MgSO4 (1.5m) where the molalities in parentheses refer to the maximum salt concentrations used in this study.
Emergence of fatal avian influenza in New England harbor seals.

ABSTRACT From September to December 2011, 162 New England harbor seals died in an outbreak of pneumonia. Sequence analysis of postmortem samples revealed the presence of an avian H3N8 influenza A virus, similar to a virus circulating in North American waterfowl since at least 2002 but with mutations that indicate recent adaption to mammalian hosts. These include a D701N mutation in the viral PB2 protein, previously reported in highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses infecting people. Lectin staining and agglutination assays indicated the presence of the avian-preferred SAα-2,3 and mammalian SAα-2,6 receptors in seal respiratory tract, and the ability of the virus to agglutinate erythrocytes bearing either the SAα-2,3 or the SAα-2,6 receptor. The emergence of this A/harbor seal/Massachusetts/1/2011 virus may herald the appearance of an H3N8 influenza clade with potential for persistence and cross-species transmission. IMPORTANCE The emergence of new strains of influenza virus is always of great public concern, especially when the infection of a new mammalian host has the potential to result in a widespread outbreak of disease. Here we report the emergence of an avian influenza virus (H3N8) in New England harbor seals which caused an outbreak of pneumonia and contributed to a U.S. federally recognized unusual mortality event (UME). This outbreak is particularly significant, not only because of the disease it caused in seals but also because the virus has naturally acquired mutations that are known to increase transmissibility and virulence in mammals. Monitoring the spillover and adaptation of avian viruses in mammalian species is critically important if we are to understand the factors that lead to both epizootic and zoonotic emergence.
Electronic media, creativity and plagiarism

This article provides an introduction to plagiarism and the numerous negative aspects associated with it. Some examples from history have also been provided along with their outcomes. There are different types of plagiarism with varying legal and social aspects. The taxonomy of plagiarism is built by classifying it, with respect to the method involved in plagiarism, the form in which it happens or the intention of the plagiarist. The strategies suggested in the literature to avoid plagiarism are organized into individual and organizational levels. Individuals can adopt strategies to build habits of avoiding plagiarism and focus on their original and innovative way of thinking. Similarly, institutions can make policies to cope with plagiarism and hence maintain their reputation. In this paper, the focus is not on mentioning the plagiarism detection methods; rather we believe that building awareness in the people about plagiarism outcomes is more important than teaching them about the different methodologies used for detection. Some students avoid plagiarism detection as if playing a game and it can be only avoided by educating them in ethics.
Effect of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) on the growth inhibitory and increased phosphatidylinositol (PI) responses induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF) in A431 cells.

Epidermal growth factor (EGP) inhibited the growth of A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells. The tumor promoting, phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradeca-noylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) also retarded A431 cell growth. Addition of both TPA and ECF inhibited cell growth in an additive or synergistic manner depending upon the initial plating density of the cultures. EGF increased the production of diacylglycerol (60–70%) and stimulated the synthesis of phosphatidylinositol (PI) from 3H-inositol (three- to fourfold increase). Both of these responses were attenuated in the presence of TPA. TPA alone stimulated the production of diacylglycerol (DG) but had little effect on PI synthesis. The biological effect of TPA appeared to be mediated by the presence of a high-affinity receptor for phorbol esters on A431 cells. Moreover, the binding of 125I-EGF to A431 cells was unaffected by TPA, suggesting that the antagonistic effects of TPA were occurring distal to the EGF receptor. These findings also indicated that although TPA and EGF both inhibited A431 cell growth, this effect could be dissociated from changes in PI synthesis but may be dependent upon transient changes in DG production.
Anisotropic magnetization of HoNi2B2C

Anisotropic, temperature dependent magnetization measurements on single crystals of HoNi2B2C indicate that there is a cascade of magnetic transitions in zero and low applied magnetic fields. Comparison of the temperature dependence of the specific heat and d(χT)/dT data shows a remarkable agreement in the low field limit, supporting the use of d(χT)/dT as a method of determining the magnetic transition temperatures as a function of applied field. The magnetic transition temperatures determined by this analysis are remarkably sensitive to the applied field and highly anisotropic. Comparison to similar data for ErNi2B2C show that the sensitivity and anisotropy are common features. These data emphasize the importance of anisotropic measurements of field dependent properties on single crystal samples, since the application of a magnetic field to a polycrystalline sample will effectively broaden the transition temperatures.
What consumers want in personal health applications: findings from Project HealthDesign

As part of the first round of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Project HealthDesign grants, a personal health application (PHA) called ActivHealth was designed to provide personalized advice and tracking of physical activity to healthcare consumers. A key element in the design was a series of 3 focus groups with consumers about their needs and preferences for a PHA. Participants included 28 adult sedentary healthcare consumers from the community who were recruited through local medical practices. The focus groups sought to obtain input on desired features (e.g., design, data inputs, calendars, supportive messaging), privacy concerns, cost/value propositions, and preferences for communication with others (e.g., friends, family, healthcare providers) for the PHA. The focus groups progressed from identifying consumer needs to a user evaluation of a prototype PHA. The focus group discussions and user testing identified a number of major themes in consumer desires for a physical activity PHA: (a) ability to track a wide variety of activities, (b) intuitive user-friendly interface, (c) consumer-controlled access to health and activity information, (d) need for significant data security protections, (e) social features that allow users to engage family and friends, (f) ability to share data and communication with healthcare providers, and (g) tools to allow the consumer to plan, track, and change their physical activity. The findings were helpful not only in constructing the ActivHealth PHA, but also in identifying consumer needs for similar applications that help consumers to achieve their health improvement goals.
Christodoulou's nonlinear gravitational wave memory: Evaluation in the quadrupole approximation

Christodoulou has found a new nonlinear contribution to the net change in the wave form caused by the passage of a burst of gravity waves ("memory of the burst"). We argue that this effect is nothing but the gravitational wave form generated by the stress energy in the burst itself. We derive an explicit formula for this effect in terms of a retarded-time integral of products of time derivatives of wave-zone gravitational wave forms. The resulting effect corresponds in size to a correction 2.5 post-Newtonian orders [$O({(\frac{\mathrm{Gm}}{r{c}^{2}})}^{\frac{5}{2}})=O({(\frac{v}{c})}^{5})$] beyond the quadrupole approximation, and is therefore negligible for all but the most relativistic of systems. For gravitational bremsstrahlung from two stars moving at 3000 km ${\mathrm{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, the effect is much less than ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}$ of the usual linear quadrupole wave form, while for a system of coalescing binary compact objects we estimate that the effect is of order ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ for two neutron stars.
MR imaging of benign and malignant biliary conditions

MR imaging is a noninvasive, radiation-free imaging method for evaluation of the biliary system. Continued advancements in MR imaging system hardware and sequence design, coupled with novel gadolinium chelate agents, allow for a detailed evaluation of the bile ducts and surrounding soft tissues. New hepatocyte-specific contrast agents may hold utility in the anatomic and functional evaluation of bile duct injury. MR imaging is also the imaging method of choice for bile duct tumor diagnosis, staging, and presurgical planning. Familiarity with the proper methodology of MR image acquisition and interpretation is critical for optimized diagnostic assessment.