cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relationship between cholangitis, initial chemotherapy regimen, and overall survival in patients with unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

e15788Background: Chemotherapy remains the primary therapy for patients with unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma, though response to therapy is variable. Patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma ...
Substituent‐Directed Alkyl Addition Reactions of Epoxides. Part 1. Applications to the Synthesis of 3‐Hydroxy‐4‐methylalkanoic Acids.

The alkylative cleavage of the epoxy ethers (I) and (V) with the cuprate (II) or the aluminate (VIII) is studied.
Effects of breeding ecology on parental care and family living in passalid beetles

Family-based societies occur in a variety of animal taxa; yet the selective factors that favor the evolution of family living are poorly understood. Here, I examine four species of log-dwelling passalid beetles to determine whether key habitat differences are associated with differences in family composition, parental care, and cooperative brood care. Specifically, I test the hypothesis that nutritionally poor resources are associated with greater levels of parental care and cooperation. Contrary to predictions, Verres hageni, a species that inhabits the lower-quality heartwood, did not invest more time in parental activities, spend more time in contact with their larvae, or experience more begging calls from larvae than did the three Passalus species that inhabit the higher-quality sapwood. Heartwood families also did not retain more adult offspring nor were they more socially monogamous than sapwood species. Although no direct cooperation in brood care by adult offspring was observed for any species, no aggression between parents and adult offspring occurred even when adult offspring overlapped with their parents’ second brood. Family living and parental behavior, thus, appear generally stable and conserved across species, despite habitat differences. These findings suggest that ecological selective factors might not always yield predicted effects on behavioral traits. In the case of passalids, alternative adaptations to poor-quality resources as well as phylogenetically conserved parental care might explain the lack of observed response of parental care to breeding resources.
A Protein Acyltransferase Complex Promotes Nonapoptotic Cell Death

Lethal small molecules are useful probes to discover and characterize novel cell death pathways and biochemical mechanisms. Here we report that the synthetic oxime caspase-independent lethal 56 (CIL56) induces an unconventional form of nonapoptotic cell death distinct from necroptosis, ferroptosis and classic necrosis. CIL56-induced cell death requires a protein acyltransferase complex comprising the enzyme ZDHHC5 and an accessory subunit, GOLGA7, that is mutually stabilizing and localizes to the plasma membrane. ZDHHC5 activity is not required for CIL56 uptake into the cell, but rather promotes cell death in the context of CIL56 treatment, which inhibits protein secretion from the trans-Golgi apparatus. These results define a novel PAT complex that regulates an unconventional form of nonapoptotic cell death in response to compound treatment.
Encapsulated Liquid Crystals Doped with Nanoparticles

Encapsulated liquid crystals doped with nanoparticles are the timely response to the needs of a modern optical industry for low driving voltage adaptive materials providing large phase retardation (for UV, visible, and IR) within a sub-millisecond time frame. We consider liquid crystals immersed into a nano-structured sponge-like polymer network. The network's long chains impose a desired alignment for liquid crystal molecules enabling the creation of thick homogeneous liquid crystal slabs (up to 1 mm, in comparison with available today only 50 microns thick aligned liquid crystal layers). The properties of these materials are enriched tremendously by adding various nanoparticles. Mixing ferroelectric nanoparticles with a liquid crystal, generates ultrahigh electric fields within the liquid crystal, which, combined with their small size, produces a uniquely exciting and largely unexplored system of composite materials which exhibit novel collective particle-host interactions. These interactions promise a variety of exotic electro-optic and other applications. In this case, ferroelectric nanoparticles share their high intrinsic sensitivity to electric fields with the entire liquid crystal matrix. Therefore, doping the liquid crystal with ferroelectric nanoparticles brings benefits of a lower driving voltage and faster switching speed than in any liquid crystal devices available today. As a result, we demonstrate the power of nanotechnology to amplify by orders of magnitude the natural properties of liquid crystals by doping them with nanoparticles and hosting them in a nano-confining polymer matrix.
Association of Rare Pathogenic DNA Variants for Familial Hypercholesterolemia, Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome, and Lynch Syndrome With Disease Risk in Adults According to Family History

Importance Pathogenic DNA variants associated with familial hypercholesterolemia, hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, and Lynch syndrome are widely recognized as clinically important and actionable when identified, leading some clinicians to recommend population-wide genomic screening. Objectives To assess the prevalence and clinical importance of pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants associated with each of 3 genomic conditions (familial hypercholesterolemia, hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, and Lynch syndrome) within the context of contemporary clinical care. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study used gene-sequencing data from 49 738 participants in the UK Biobank who were recruited from 22 sites across the UK between March 21, 2006, and October 1, 2010. Inpatient hospital data date back to 1977; cancer registry data, to 1957; and death registry data, to 2006. Statistical analysis was performed from July 22, 2019, to November 15, 2019. Exposures Pathogenic or likely pathogenic DNA variants classified by a clinical laboratory geneticist. Main Outcomes and Measures Composite end point specific to each genomic condition based on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events for familial hypercholesterolemia, breast or ovarian cancer for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, and colorectal or uterine cancer for Lynch syndrome. Results Among 49 738 participants (mean [SD] age, 57 [8] years; 27 144 female [55%]), 441 (0.9%) harbored a pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant associated with any of 3 genomic conditions, including 131 (0.3%) for familial hypercholesterolemia, 235 (0.5%) for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, and 76 (0.2%) for Lynch syndrome. Presence of these variants was associated with increased risk of disease: for familial hypercholesterolemia, 28 of 131 carriers (21.4%) vs 4663 of 49 607 noncarriers (9.4%) developed atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, 32 of 116 female carriers (27.6%) vs 2080 of 27 028 female noncarriers (7.7%) developed associated cancers; and for Lynch syndrome, 17 of 76 carriers (22.4%) vs 929 of 49 662 noncarriers (1.9%) developed colorectal or uterine cancer. The predicted probability of disease at age 75 years despite contemporary clinical care was 45.3% for carriers of familial hypercholesterolemia, 41.1% for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, and 38.3% for Lynch syndrome. Across the 3 conditions, 39.7% (175 of 441) of the carriers reported a family history of disease vs 23.2% (34 517 of 148 772) of noncarriers. Conclusions and Relevance The findings suggest that approximately 1% of the middle-aged adult population in the UK Biobank harbored a pathogenic variant associated with any of 3 genomic conditions. These variants were associated with an increased risk of disease despite contemporary clinical care and were not reliably detected by family history.
Understanding the means of communication between nurses and resident physicians in the modern world: A community-based university hospital survey results

In a hospital setting, nurses and physicians are the two main caregivers for admitted patients. Their communication is an important driver of positive teamwork and ensures proper patient safety and a high level of patient care. In a hospital with a large internal medicine residency program, where the main communication between nurses and residents is by phone calls, the excess number of phone calls received, especially for non-urgent patient-related matters, can be disruptive and cause fatigue and burnout. Alternative means of communication have been reported, namely using the electronic medical records to try and create new means of communication and to decrease the burden of direct communication for non-urgent matters. This manuscript describes the results of a survey administered in an attempt to understand the communication between residents and nurses in the setting of a new communication tool created within the electronic medical records.
Expression of VEGF-C and it's relationship with clinical pathologic characteristics in rectal cancer

Objective To study the expression of VEGF-C and it's relationship with pathologic characteristics in rectal cancer.Method In this study 82 patients of mid to low rectal cancer underwent radieal resection from December 2007 to August 2008.Tumor tissues and lymph nodes were studied by immunohistochemical staining for VEGF-C expression in the tumor tissue and CK20 expression in D3 lymph nodes.Results were compared with the pathological results of mesenterium lymph nodes to explain the relationships between VEGF-C expressions and clinical pathologic characteristics.Data were analyzed with Chi square test.Result As for the expression of VEGF-C.significant differences were found between tumor stages(X~2=8.529,P 0.05). Conclmion In rectal cancer,VEGF-C expression is correlated with tumor stage,type,metastasis and micrometastasis of lymph node. Key words: Rectal neoplasms; Pathology; Lymph nodes; VEGF-C; Cytokeratin 20; Micrometastasis
Autonomous Systems Design, Testing, and Deployment: Lessons Learned from The Deployment of an Autonomous Shuttle Bus

Advances in technology have enabled the deployment of unprecedented levels of automation that verge on completely autonomous systems such as unmanned passenger and cargo vehicles, and air traffic control supported by integrated communications, navigation and surveillance (ICNS) systems.One application of the new technologies is in autonomous shuttle buses. This paper describes an analysis of a collision between an autonomous shuttle bus and delivery tractor-trailer on an urban street in Las Vegas. The analysis provides lessons learned for the design, testing, and fielding of future autonomous systems. First, the analysis demonstrates the difficulty in designing for all the "corner-cases" for safe fielding of an autonomous system. Second, the analysis shows the difficulty in demonstrating safety compliance to a target level of safety for systems developed using machine learning that cannot be tested using traditional testing methods (e.g. code-inspection or forms of input-output testing. Third, the analysis identifies the need for the explicit, intentional design, not an afterthought, of the task of the "safety driver." Solutions to these three issues are discussed.
Surface guided imaging during stereotactic radiosurgery with automated delivery.

Purpose To report on the use of surface guided imaging during frameless intracranial stereotactic radiotherapy with automated delivery via HyperArcTM (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA). Methods All patients received intracranial radiotherapy with HyperArcTM and were monitored for intrafraction motion by the AlignRT® (VisionRT, London, UK) surface imaging (SI) system. Immobilization was with the EncompassTM (Qfix, Avondale, PA) aquaplast mask device. AlignRT® log files were correlated with trajectory log files to correlate treatment parameters with SI reported offsets. SI reported offsets were correlated with gantry angle and analyzed for performance issues at non-zero couch angles and during camera-pod blockage during gantry motion. Demographics in the treatment management system were used to identify race and determine if differences in SI reported offsets are due to skin tone settings. Results A total of 981 fractions were monitored over 14 months and 819 were analyzed. The median AlignRT® reported motion from beginning to the end of treatment was 0.24 mm. The median offset before beam on at non-zero couch angles was 0.55 mm. During gantry motion when camera pods are blocked, the median magnitude was below 1 mm. Median magnitude of offsets at non-zero couch angles was not found to be significantly different for patients stratified by race. Conclusions Surface image guidance is a viable alternative to scheduled mid-treatment imaging for monitoring intrafraction motion during stereotactic radiosurgery with automated delivery.
A hardware/software system for electrophysiology “supersessions” in marmosets

We introduce a straightforward, robust method for recording and analyzing spiking activity over timeframes longer than a single session, with primary application to the marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). Although in theory the marmoset9s smooth brain allows for broad deployment of powerful tools in primate cortex, in practice marmosets do not typically engage in long experimental sessions akin to rhesus monkeys. This potentially limits their value for detailed, quantitative neurophysiological study. Here we describe chronically-implanted arrays with a 3D arrangement of electrodes yielding stable single and multi- unit responses, and an analytic method for creating "supersessions" combining that array data across multiple experiments. We could match units across different recording sessions over several weeks, demonstrating the feasibility of pooling data over sessions. This could be a key tool for extending the viability of marmosets for dissecting neural computations in primate cortex.
Better Primary Care Continuity Is Associated with Lower Mortality Risk.

Rechecking bone mineral density (BMD) after three years does not add additional prognostic information. Serial BMD testing is not useful in estimating fracture risk and assessing the need for treatment because BMD does not change much within three years.
A case for measuring negative willingness to pay for consumer goods

Abstract Negative willingness to pay (WTP) has received significant attention in the environmental economics literature but generally has been ignored by economists interested in measuring consumer preferences for food and beverages. Most consumer preference studies have focused solely on WTP measures and, in most cases, have treated negative consumer responses to a product as equivalent to consumers simply not wanting to purchase it since both sentiments have a WTP estimate of $0. However, for some goods such as bottled water, this approach can be an oversimplification that fails to reveal consumers’ true sentiments, a problem that is relevant in policy contexts. To test this question, we conduct a randomized controlled study involving 1384 adult consumers that tests how three unconventional elicitation approaches affect estimates of consumer preferences for nearly identical goods: bottled water and tap water. We find that stated values for both types of water differ by treatment and that ignoring negative WTP values upwardly biases the premium consumers are willing to pay for bottled water. Our findings show that allowing negative values of WTP provides more-accurate valuations and measures of differences in valuations for two goods, something that is particularly important for policymaking since consumer valuations can reflect their support for efforts to address externalities associated with consumer goods or may reflect other consumer sentiments, such as food safety concerns.
A Solution Algorithm for an Ideal Route Choice Model

In this chapter, solution algorithms are considered for solving the ideal DUO route choice models presented in Chapter 5. A capability to solve the DUO route choice problem is needed for several reasons. First, it appears that properties of alternative models can only be fully understood by computing solutions to hypothetical and real test problems. Unlike their static counterparts, dynamic models are sufficiently opaque that they are difficult to understand analytically. Second, computational solutions for standard test problems based on actual networks are needed to evaluate how well alternative models describe reality. Third, solutions for large networks are required to evaluate the potential effectiveness of proposed in-vehicle navigation and route guidance systems. Ultimately, such models might be used to guide the operation of such systems; however, the requirements of such systems are still not sufficiently defined, so any discussion of algorithmic requirements remains rather speculative.
Charting the Idealism of Intelligent Design: A Small-Scale Map of Local Advocacy

Advocates of intelligent design (ID) promote their movement as a democratic, evidence-based undertaking that opens dialogues about religion and civic affairs. However, with pentadic cartography, this study demonstrates how ID closes the universe of discourse to perspectives other than what Kenneth Burke calls an idealistic orientation. To make this case and to offer counter-statements to ID’s idealism, this study maps discourse generated by an adult Bible study (ABS). Hosted by a Protestant church in America’s northeast, the ABS studied and discussed The Case For A Creator, Lee Strobel’s influential book.
A tumor necrosis factor-α–mediated pathway promoting autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

Polycystic kidney disease can be caused by germline mutations in the gene encoding PC2 followed by a second somatic 'hit' in the normal allele. Li and her colleagues now show that TNF-α can also act as a second hit and that disease progression can be blocked by anti–TNF-α treatment in an animal model. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is caused by heterozygous mutations in either PKD1 or PKD2, genes that encode polycystin-1 and polycystin-2, respectively1. We show here that tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), an inflammatory cytokine present in the cystic fluid of humans with ADPKD, disrupts the localization of polycystin-2 to the plasma membrane and primary cilia through a scaffold protein, FIP2, which is induced by TNF-α. Treatment of mouse embryonic kidney organ cultures with TNF-α resulted in formation of cysts, and this effect was exacerbated in the Pkd2+/− kidneys. TNF-α also stimulated cyst formation in vivo in Pkd2+/− mice. In contrast, treatment of Pkd2+/− mice with the TNF-α inhibitor etanercept prevented cyst formation. These data reveal a pathway connecting TNF-α signaling, polycystins and cystogenesis, the activation of which may reduce functional polycystin-2 below a critical threshold, precipitating the ADPKD cellular phenotype.
Floristics of the South American Páramo Moss Flora

The South American paramos appeared in Pliocene times and persist to the present day. The moss flora of this habitat consists of an estimated 400 species that comprise 8 floristic groups. In Venezuela these groups and their percent representation are as follows: neotropical 37%, Andean 26%, cosmopolitan 18%, Andean-African 8%, neotropical-Asiatic 3%, neotropical-Australasian 2%, temperate Southern Hemisphere 2% and northern boreal-temperate 2%. Acrocarpous taxa outnumber pleurocarps by nearly 3:1. The neotropical and Andean floristic stocks likely were present prior to late Pliocene orogenies that elevated the cordillera above climatic timberlines. These species may have existed in open, marshy areas (paramillos) or may have evolved from cloud forest ancestors. Taxa of northern boreal- temperate affinities, including those with Asiatic distributions, probably arrived in the paramos during the Pleistocene, a period which may also have seen the establishment in the Northern Andes of some cosmopolitan elements. Species with temperate Southern Hemisphere and Australasian affinities likely spread first to austral South America thence migrated northward during a cool, moist interval sometime over the past 2.5-3 million years or may have become established in the paramos as a result of long- distance dispersal.
Using groups on Facebook to improve communication with students: poster session

When I was young and learning to fish, an old angler once told me something that was, on one hand, trivial. On the other hand, it was almost prophetic. He said, "If you want to catch fish, you have to go where the fish are". For many years I have used LISTSERVs with all my classes to enable open conversation among students and me. Over the years, it has become more and more difficult to manage LISTSERVs for me at my college. Also, although still very useful, they are archaic as communication means. My reason for using LISTSERVs has always been to maximize communication among participants in a course. Today, on the Internet, there are many types of social networking sites. Students have Facebook [1], Twitter [2], and MySpace [3] accounts galore. "If you want to catch fish, go where the fish are". As an experiment during the Fall 2009 semester, I used Twitter as our way of intra-class networking. It was a dreadful failure. I have always stayed away from sites like Facebook because I have not wanted to intrude upon students' personal lives. In the past, accounts tended to be so open that to be a 'friend' meant that a person saw all or most of whatever was being posted by friends. This is no longer entirely true. There is a Facebook tool called a 'Group' that allows people to join with no requirement to be friends, thus providing the firewall between college and private life. The only thing that a person needs is a Facebook account, which is free and easy to set up. During the Spring 2010 semester, I will run an experiment with Facebook groups to enable active intra-class discussion. I have created three Facebook groups named CSCI 100, CSCI 246, and CSCI 344. As part of Homework 1, I will require students to join their course group. None of the students' private information will be accessible to any group member. But, all group members can contribute to the group through posts to its wall, participate in any discussions, view scheduled events such as study sessions and exams, and even post images or videos. I will be the administrator of each group. By the time CCSCNE 2010 takes place, I will have good, empirical information about using Facebook groups to enhance communication among participants in classes. I will present this information via a poster during the Faculty Poster session.
Comparative digestibility of energy and nutrients and fermentability of dietary fiber in eight cereal grains fed to pigs.

BACKGROUND Cereal grains provide a large portion of caloric intake in diets for humans, but not all cereal grains provide the same amount of energy. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to determine and compare the metabolizable energy (ME), the apparent ileal digestibility (AID), and the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of gross energy (GE) and nutrients in eight cereal grains when fed to pigs. RESULTS Rice had greater (P < 0.05) AID of GE than other cereal grains, greater (P < 0.05) AID of starch than yellow dent corn, dehulled barley, rye, and wheat, and greater (P < 0.05) ATTD of GE than yellow dent corn, rye, sorghum, and wheat. Dehulled barley, rye, and sorghum had less (P < 0.05) AID of starch than other cereal grains. Dehulled barley had greater (P < 0.05) ATTD of GE than rye. Dehulled oats had the greatest (P < 0.05) ME compared with other cereal grains, whereas rye had the least (P < 0.05) ME. CONCLUSION Dehulled oats provide more energy to diets and should be used if the goal is to increase caloric intake. In contrast, sorghum and rye may be more suitable to control diabetes and manage body weight of humans. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Effects of changeover delay in concurrent schedules of reinforcement of key pecking by pigeons

Examination of pigeons’ key-pecking performance, reinforced on concurrent variable-interval 1-min variable-interval 3-min schedules, as a function of the changeover delay revealed the following relationships. As the changeover delay was increased from 0 through 20 sec (1) relative response frequency on the key color associated with the 1-min schedule increased, (2) relative time spent in the 1-min schedule increased, (3) obtained relative frequency of reinforcement in the 1-min schedule increased, and (4) changeover rate decreased.
Human:machine:human: Gesture, Sound and Embodiment

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present an embodied view on human/machine co‐creation in general, and musical improvisation in particular.Design/methodology/approach – Questions and propositions are formed by examining personal work in intelligent, interactive system design.Findings – Proper consideration of gestural representation and intentionality leads to enhanced potential for collective expression in human/machine interaction.Originality/value – This approach extends ideas of conversation theory to improvisational contexts based on spontaneous, collective expression.
A distributed millimeter-wave isolator using nonreciprocal coupling structure

A new distributed millimeter-wave isolator is proposed. This device employs a nonreciprocal coupling mechanism between a dielectric slab and a conductor-backed ferrite slab. Transverse resonance and mode matching techniques are used for analysis. A numerically optimized structure at 200 GHz will be discussed and experimental results at 35 GHz will be presented.
Dense packings of the Platonic and Archimedean solids

Dense particle packings have served as useful models of the structures of liquid, glassy and crystalline states of matter, granular media, heterogeneous materials and biological systems. Probing the symmetries and other mathematical properties of the densest packings is a problem of interest in discrete geometry and number theory. Previous work has focused mainly on spherical particles-very little is known about dense polyhedral packings. Here we formulate the generation of dense packings of polyhedra as an optimization problem, using an adaptive fundamental cell subject to periodic boundary conditions (we term this the 'adaptive shrinking cell' scheme). Using a variety of multi-particle initial configurations, we find the densest known packings of the four non-tiling Platonic solids (the tetrahedron, octahedron, dodecahedron and icosahedron) in three-dimensional Euclidean space. The densities are 0.782..., 0.947..., 0.904... and 0.836..., respectively. Unlike the densest tetrahedral packing, which must not be a Bravais lattice packing, the densest packings of the other non-tiling Platonic solids that we obtain are their previously known optimal (Bravais) lattice packings. Combining our simulation results with derived rigorous upper bounds and theoretical arguments leads us to the conjecture that the densest packings of the Platonic and Archimedean solids with central symmetry are given by their corresponding densest lattice packings. This is the analogue of Kepler's sphere conjecture for these solids.
Stress-strain characteristics of guaran triacetate†

Guaran triacetate, a linear molecule having one-unit branches, can be cast into clear, colorless films having a tensile strength of 7.5kg./mm.2 and an elongation at break of 4%. Thus, it appears that one-unit branches of the size of the glycosidic unit do not adversely affect the film-formingproperties of polysaccharide acetates. Plasticized films show more elasticity and greater elongation at break.
Mechanism of the microsomal reduction of carbon tetrachloride and halothane

Abstract The source of the hydrogen atoms in reduced metabolites of carbon tetrachloride and halothane has been studied. This was approached by measuring deuterium incorporation into chloroform and 2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane formed as microsomal metabolites of carbon tetrachloride and halothane, respectively, in a medium enriched in deuterium oxide. GC/MS analysis showed no deuterium enrichment of chloroform when hepatic microsomal fractions from control rats were used; however, small increases in enrichment were seen when microsomes from phenobarbitalor benzpyrene-treated rats were employed. No detectable deuterium incorporation into 2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane was observed. These results suggest that carbanions are not formed as major intermediates and suggest that one-electron transfer reactions predominate in the reductive metabolism of carbon tetrachloride and halothane.
Early Aβ accumulation and progressive synaptic loss, gliosis, and tangle formation in AD brain

Background: Pathologic changes in the Alzheimer disease (AD) brain occur in a hierarchical neuroanatomical pattern affecting cortical, subcortical, and limbic regions. Objective: To define the time course of pathologic and biochemical changes—amyloid deposition, amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) accumulation, neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) formation, synaptic loss, and gliosis—within the temporal association cortex of AD cases of varying disease duration, relative to control brains. Methods: Stereologic assessments of amyloid burden and tangle density as well as ELISA-based measurements of Aβ, synaptophysin, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were performed in the superior temporal sulcus from a cohort of 83 AD and 26 nondemented control brains. Results: Relative to control cases, AD brains were characterized by accumulation of NFT and amyloid plaques, increase of tris- and formic acid–extractable Aβ species, reduced levels of synaptophysin, and elevated levels of GFAP. In AD cases, the duration of dementia correlated with the degree of tangle formation, gliosis, and synaptic loss but not with any Aβ measures. Accumulation of Aβ, measured both neuropathologically and biochemically, was markedly increased in AD brains independent of disease duration, even in cases of short duration. Conclusions: These data support distinct processes in the initiation and progression of AD pathology within the temporal cortex: Deposition of Aβ reaches a “ceiling” early in the disease process, whereas NFT formation, synaptic loss, and gliosis continue throughout the course of the illness.
Agreement of self-reported ovarian number following gynecologic surgery with medical record reports

In case-control studies of breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis, a woman's ovarian function may be considered as a main exposure, confounding factor, or effect modifier. To evaluate the agreement between self-reported ovarian number following ovarian surgery for nonmalignant disease and medical record reports, we analyzed data from a population-based case-control study, the Cancer and Steroid Hormone Study. Reports on ovarian number after the most recent surgery for a who had been diagnosed with breast cancer and 496 control subjects. We then calculated agreement rates by comparing the number of ovaries indicated by the medical record with the number reported by the woman. Agreement rates on the presence or absence of ovaries exceeded 90% for both case and control subjects. Agreement rates on exact ovarian number exceeded 84% for both groups. Women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer had slightly higher agreement rates than did control women for both presence or absence of ovaries and exact ovarian number. Our data suggest that investigators can rely on self-reported ovarian number as an accurate measure of actual ovarian number in women who have had surgery for nonmalignant conditions.
The effect of testing method on stereoanomaly.

Abstract Previous tests of stereoanomaly (a deficit in stereopsis for a given disparity direction, crossed or uncrossed) have employed stimuli in which physical contours are presented with large disparities at exposure durations too brief for eye movements. This study investigated stereoanomaly using alternative testing methods with two types of stimuli: (1) stereoscopic contours formed from dynamic random-element stereograms presented both briefly and continuously, and (2) afterimages of retinally disparate physical contours. The results from three experiments show that most subjects who are classified as stereoanomalous under conditions of brief exposure perform normally under conditions that allow long inspection periods while eliminating eye movements. These results suggest that anomalies in stereopsis previously reported may depend on the method of testing rather than on deficits in underlying neural mechanisms.
Ambiguities in the elastic scattering of 8 MeV neutrons from adjacent nuclei

Ratios of the cross sections for elastic scattering of 8 MeV neutrons from adjacent nuclei are measured over the angular range {approx}20{degree} {minus} 160{degree} for the target pairs {sup 51}V/Cr, {sup 59}Co/{sup 58}Ni, Cu/Zn, {sup 89}Y/{sup 93}Nb, {sup 89}Y/Zr, {sup 93}Nb/Zr, In/Cd and {sup 209}Bi/Pb. The observed ratios vary from unity by as much as a factor of {approx}2 at some angles for the lighter target pairs. Approximately half the measured ratios are reasonably explained by a simple spherical optical model, including size and isospin contributions. In all cases, the geometry of the real optical--model potential is essentially the same for neighboring nuclei, and the real--potential strengths are consistent with the Lane model. In contrast, it is found that the imaginary potential may be quite different for adjacent nuclei, and the nature of this difference is examined. It is shown that the spin--spin interaction has a negligible effect on the calculation of the elastic--scattering ratios, but that channel coupling, leading to a large reorientation of the target ground state, can be a consideration, particularly in the {sup 59}Co/{sup 58}Ni case. In the A {approx} 50--60 region the calculated ratios are sensitive to spin--orbit effects, but the exact nature of thismore » interaction must await more definitive polarization measurements. The measured and calculated results suggest that the concept of a conventional global'' or even regional'' optical potential provides no more than a qualitative representation of the physical reality for a number of cases. 48 refs., 14 figs., 3 tabs.« less
Nitrogen metabolism in the African lungfish.

Abstract 1. 1. The free amino acid concentration and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activity were similar in livers of unfed and estivating African lungfish. 2. 2. Glutamine synthetase was present in brain but undetectable in liver. 3. 3. Lungfish GDH was kinetically similar to amphibian GDH. 4. 4. It appears possible that control of free ammonia production, essential during estivation, is at the level of GDH.
The Risk of Ovarian Cancer after Treatment for Infertility

More and more women are seeking treatment for infertility,1 probably in part because they are postponing childbearing until an age when their ability to conceive is diminished. The number of office visits to U.S. physicians for infertility services rose from 600,000 in 1968 to about 1.6 million in 19842. And more women are using medications that stimulate ovulation; the number of prescriptions for clomiphene dispensed by U.S. pharmacies nearly doubled from 1973 to 19913. In 1988 approximately 2 million women reported previous exposure to fertility drugs4. The increased use of ovulation-stimulating medications has caused concern about their . . .
Low frequency arc-based MEMS structures for vibration energy harvesting

This study reports the novel arc-based cantilevers for reducing the natural frequency of MEMS cantilever beams without the addition of tip/point mass. The results show an increased potential for energy extraction from naturally occurring vibration sources. An analytical model was used to model the effective mechanical properties of multilayered MEMS cantilevers while the natural frequencies were obtained by applying a finite element code. Results were obtained for two geometries of arc-based cantilevers as well as their linear counterparts. These results demonstrate that arc-based cantilevers vibrate at frequencies significantly lower than their linear components (up to 40% reduction in natural frequency).
The dehydrated child: A management approach

Dehydration in the child requires urgent attention to fluid replacement. Management must focus on an understanding of the physiology of fluid loss and clinical and laboratory assessment. Fluid therapy must combine correction of fluid deficits with concurrent administration of maintenance fluids.
Dysregulation of IL-10 and IL-12p40 in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a putative T helper 1 (Th-1) mediated inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system, and levels of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines have been found to correlate with changes in MS relapses. However, it is unclear if cytokine profiles differ between relapsing-remitting (RRMS) versus secondary progressive (SPMS) disease stages. Cytokine production (IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12p40, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma) was assessed by cytometric bead array (CBA) and intracellular cytokine staining from alphaCD3 antibody and mitogen stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from female RRMS and SPMS patients, and healthy controls. Significantly increased production of IL-12p40 and decreased production of IL-10 were observed in SPMS patients. Differences in immune responsiveness in RRMS and SPMS are important in the understanding of the evolution of the immunopathogenesis of the disease and for the development of disease type specific treatments.
The reaction of diiron nonacarbonyl with cis-bicyclo[6.2.0]deca-2,4,6-triene

Abstract The reaction of diiron nonacarbonyl with cis-bicyclo[6.2.0]deca-2,4,6-triene in ether at room temperature produces several products which are separable by chromatography on alumina. Compound (A), C10H12Fe2(CO)6, obtained in 23% yield, is shown by PMR and IR spectra to have the FeFe bonded Fe2(CO)6 group attached to the triene portion of the starting bicyclotriene. Compound (B), C10H12Fe(CO)3, obtained both from the initial reaction and by heating (A) in refluxing toluene; is the Fe(CO)3 adduct of tricyclo[4.4.0.02.5]deca-7,9-diene, a molecule which has not been isolated in the free state. Compound (C), also obtained on pyrolysis of (A) in minute yield, has not yet been characterized. Compound (D), C10H12Fe2(CO)6, from the original reaction, in small yield, appears to have separate Fe(CO)3 groups bonded to the olefinic portions of a C10H12 monocycle, but spectral data alone do not allow a complete specification of the structure.
Immunoregulation in MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr mice: evidence for decreased helper-T-cell and increased suppressor-T-cell function with age.

Abstract In vivo and in vitro plaque-forming cell (PFC) responsiveness to sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) was used to assess immunoregulatory function in the autoimmune MRL mouse strain. MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr (MRL/l) mice had good primary and secondary IgM and IgG responses in vivo compared to MRL/Mp-+/+ (MRL/n) mice when young, but with age the MRL/l responses declined markedly. In vitro primary SRBC-specific PFC responses in MRL/l mice declined at the same time as in vivo responses, indicating that the in vivo autoimmune environment could not account for cellular dysfunction. When varied mixtures of T and B cells from MRL/l and MRL/n mice were cultured, abnormalities in MRL/l T-cell function became apparent. T-helper-cell (T H ) function declined rapidly with age, beginning by 2 to 2 1 2 months of age. T cells from MRL/l mice 2 months of age and older also had increased suppressor activity when cultured with B cells and MRL/n T cells. The degree of suppressor activity increased with age. The correlation of these findings with results of previous studies by others and with autoimmune disease is discussed.
Clusters in Bethe lattices and two-dimensional random walks

Abstract We generalize our previous study of cluster distributions to incorporate one-dimensional walks on two-dimensional lattices and Bethe lattices and calculate the probability distribution for different cluster sizes. The most probable cluster size is proportional to ln(N), while the standard deviation of this probability distribution is independent of N. For a perfect Bethe lattice, we obtain a critical value of the site occupation probability, p, which coincides with the result obtained from percolation theory. However, we find that this critical probability changes if the Bethe lattice has a boundary.
A CLINICO-PATHOLOGICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE FUNCTIONAL-STRUCTURAL RELATIONSHIP OF GOITER

We propose to present data from both the experimental laboratory and the clinic, together with an analysis of the accumulated literature, in an attempt to further clarify the problem concerning the relationship between the function and structure of the thyroid gland. Extensive clinical and experimental investigations have been conducted with the view of proving or disproving the existence of such a relationship. It is of interest to scrutinize the evidence that has accumulated which may offer an explanation for these widely accepted and possibly correct clinical observations. According to Warthin (1) there do not seem to be any histological criteria, so far as the thyroid epithelium is concerned, that give a pathologic unity to all the clinical forms of thyroid hyperplasia and dysfunction. Rienhoff (2) believes that “associated with a clinical remission, whether artificial or spontaneous, in cases of exophthalmic goiter, involutional changes in the histologic structure of the thyroid gland occur which are...
(Dis)placing Geopolitics: Writing on the Maps of Global Politics

The meaning of geopolitics is a curiously underexamined issue in ‘critical geopolitics’. In this paper I seek to outline and pursue a poststructuralist displacement of the concept, a displacement marked by hyphenization: geo-politics. Using Derrida's critique of Saussure, in the first part of the paper I interweave the problem of meaning with the discourse of geography so as to write on the concepts of ‘the map’ and ‘geography’. In the second part of the paper I explore the implications of this writing on or displacing for the analysis of geographical discourse and/in global politics. I concentrate on three issues: (1) problemattzing the traditional conceptual maps of ‘geopolitics’, (2) speculating on the historical problematic of geography and governmentality, and (3) suggesting a typology for the study of geo-politics which pays particular attention to how places are sighted/sited/cited by governmental institutions (geo-political sites).
An In Situ Experiment of Methane Sequestration as Gas Hydrate, Authigenic Carbonate, and Loss to the Water Column and/or Atmosphere

: A one year in situ experiment to quantify the flux of carbon, primarily as methane, from an overpressured thrust fault at the Cascadia convergent margin (ODP Site 892B) is described. Most of the expelled carbon is sequestered in two solid phases, methane hydrate and authigenic carbonates and an unknown portion is lost in the water column and/or atmosphere.14 ages of clam shells from the vicinity of the site suggest active methane venting for at least 21–24 kyrs. The water column chemistry provides information on the potential effects of global warming on rapid massive gas hydrate dissociation and on the effects of microbial oxidation of the released methane on the local oceanic oxygen and CO2 contents. The local and global implications of these processes for the oceanic carbon cycle are being assessed.
Integrating Functional Brain Neuroimaging and Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience in Child Psychiatry Research.

Abstract Objective To provide an overview of clinical research aiming to develop a mechanistic understanding of brain dysfunction in child psychiatric disorders. Method Technological, conceptual, and translational approaches relevant to the investigation of brain function in pediatric psychiatric illnesses are explored. Research in the area of pediatric bipolar disorder is used as a prototypic model illustrating the use of complementary techniques of functional magnetic neuroimaging and neurocognitive studies to identify abnormalities in neural circuitry function. Results Studies of bipolar youths indicate impairment in cognitive and affective neural systems and in the interface of these two circuits. This evolving field paves a future pathway for identifying diagnostic biomarkers for the disorder, providing tools for monitoring response to pharmacotherapy, examining illness-associated alterations in developmental trajectory, and facilitating the use of animal research for guiding the development of novel treatment strategies. Conclusions Studies of brain function in child psychiatry are establishing a platform of knowledge and methods that offer promise for revolutionizing both models of illness pathophysiology and future diagnostic and therapeutic practice.
Environmental robustness in multi-agent teams

Evolution has proven to be an effective method of training heterogeneous multi-agent teams of autonomous agents to explore unknown environments. Autonomous, heterogeneous agents are able to go places where humans are unable to go and perform tasks that would be otherwise dangerous or impossible to complete. However, a serious problem for practical applications of multi-agent teams is how to move from training environments to real-world environments. In particular, if the training environment cannot be made identical to the real-world environment how much will performance suffer? In this research we investigate how differences in training and testing environments affect performance. We find that while in general performance degrades from training to testing, for difficult training environments performance improves in the test environment. Further, we find distinct differences between the performance of different training algorithms with Orthogonal Evolution of Teams (OET) producing the best overall performance.
Diagnostic value of stroboscopic examination in hoarse patients

Summary To assess the role of stroboscopy as a clinical tool in evaluation of hoarse patients, a prospective study of 195 videostroboscopies carried out in 146 patients is reported. Videostroboscopy contributed significant diagnostic information in 27.2% of the cases. It was instrumental in changing the diagnosis made by referring otolaryngologists in 15 cases (10%). This resulted in avoidance of surgery in six cases and nine cases referred to surgery instead of voice and medical therapy. There was a significant correlation between usefulness of stroboscopy and the quality of recording, the type of pathology, and the voice quality. Stroboscopy should be performed in selected patients suspected of vocal fold pathology. It is especially useful in serial examinations to help assess treatment progress.