cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stroke and Vasculitis, a rare but serious complication of Relapsing Polychondritis: A Case Report and Literature Review (4900)

Objective: To report a rare case of ischemic stroke associated with vasculitis secondary to relapsing polychondritis (RPC) and review the current literature to report frequency, characteristics, and current management. Background: RPC is an inflammatory disorder of the cartilaginous structures. Ischemic stroke and cerebral vasculitis are extremely rare but have been previously reported. Design/Methods: Case report and literature review via search of PUBMED from 1966 to 2019. English language article titles and abstract were screened, and appropriate articles reviewed. Results: We report a 69-year-old male with a recent diagnosis of RPC not yet on immunosuppressants, who presented with sudden onset of confusion and right side weakness. MRI with contrast showed diffuse leptomeningeal enhancement along the entire neuro-axis, and multi-focal acute and subacute ischemic strokes. Digital Subtraction angiography showed severe intracranial large vessel stenosis and occlusion involving both the anterior and posterior circulation, as well as multi-focal vessel irregularities. The involved vessels had mural enhancement of the vessel wall on 3T MRI. CSF studies showed pleocytosis without any infectious etiology. He was diagnosed with cerebral vasculitis secondary to RPC and treated with high dose steroids with resolution of leptomeningeal enhancement on subsequent MRI. We found 12 cases of ischemic stroke associated with RPC (age range 36–73 years, 60% male) during literature review, of which 7 had cerebral vasculitis diagnosed via cerebral vessel imaging or brain biopsy. The presenting symptoms varied between cases, but all patients presented with confusion, headache and sudden onset of focal neurologic deficits. All patients were treated with corticosteroids or immunosuppressants with improvement or complete resolution of symptoms. Conclusions: Cerebral vasculitis secondary to RPC is a rare but serious condition and has variable clinical manifestations. It can be treated with high-dose steroids or other immunosuppressants. Disclosure: Dr. Chima has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chima has nothing to disclose. Dr. George has nothing to disclose. Dr. Newey has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Bard.
Cross-Cultural Adaptability of Organizational Change Interventions

This article discusses the ability of the change agent, or OD practitioner to use intervention techniques across different cultures. It is proposed that a contingency approach must be employed in prescribing the appropriate technique, and that certain cultural typologies are helpful in deciding which intervention is most appropriate. In particular, the article uses the provided by Hofstede, Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck, and Trompenaars, to show how change management must be adapted to various cultural parameters.
A frequency domain sensitivity analysis of closed-loop multiconductor transmission lines

A frequency domain technique for the optimization, sensitivity, and robustness analysis of a large high-speed lossy multiconductor transmission line networks in VLSI regimes is presented. The technique is used to demonstrate the superiority of closed-loop topologies in terms of their electrical performance. To demonstrate this superiority, the numerical frequency domain results are validated by independent time domain simulations and measurements. >
mTOR inhibition blocks tumor growth and pleural fluid accumulation in experimental murine mesothelioma

mTOR is up-regulated in malignant mesothelioma. We aimed to evaluate the effect of Temsirolimus, an mTOR inhibitor, in in vivo models of the disease. AE17 and AB1 murine mesothelioma cells were injected into the right flank of syngeneic mice (C57BL/6 and BALB-c, respectively) to create subcutaneous tumors. C57BL/6 mice were injected intrapleurally with AE17 cells to create pleural tumors and effusions. Animals were treated with Temsirolimus (20mg/kg) or vehicle, 5 days/week starting when tumors become palpable (flank model) or on days 2-6, 9-15 following the intrapleural injection of tumor cells (pleural model). Among mice with AE17 flank tumors, the mean ±SEM tumor volume at day 26 was 1261±383mm 3 in control and 383±86mm 3 in treated animals (p 3 in control and 174±76 mm 3 in treated animals (p=0.026). Among mice with pleural AE17 tumors, the mean ±SEM pleural fluid volume at day 15 was 532±119microL in control and 240±44microL in treated animals (p=0.018). The mean ±SEM pleural tumor weight was 739±72mg in control and 256±10mg in treated animals (p Inhibition of mTOR substantially reduced syngeneic mesothelioma growth blocked pleural fluid accumulation in animals bearing mesothelioma tumors.
Theory, simulation, and measurements of spectral hole burning in erbium-doped fiber amplifiers

This study presents a modified approach to measure and quantify spectral hole burning (SHB). The approach does not depend on the individual spectral shapes of the ions for the gain shape prediction, but rather on some statistically averaged functions that can be experimentally measured. In addition, this approach is easier to implement without the loss of accuracy. Based on this approach, an experiment is designed and conducted to demonstrate whether the thermal equalization and the excitation transfer are related to the SHB phenomenon in EDF.
Genetic optimization of adaptive trading agents for double-auction markets

The continuous double-auction (CDA) is a powerful market mechanism, noted for its speed and efficiency, and is the mechanism underlying the organization of open-outcry trading pits at major international derivatives markets. Cliff and Bruten (1997) demonstrated that software trading agents need more than zero intelligence to give human-like price-equilibration behavior and presented results from experiments with simple adaptive trading agents in CDA markets. These agents give very good performance on standard measures of trading activity such as allocative efficiency, Smith's (1962) /spl alpha/ measure, and profit dispersion, but only when parameters governing the adaptation mechanism are set to appropriate values. Determining good or optimal combinations of parameters by hand is possible, but can be labor-intensive. The paper presents the first results from using a genetic algorithm to optimize key parameters governing adaptation in the trading agents. It is shown that a simple genetic algorithm, in combination with an appropriate evaluation function, can rapidly deliver good parameter settings from random initial-value conditions.
Isolation and Characterization of a Thermophilic Bacterium Which Oxidizes Acetate in Syntrophic Association with a Methanogen and Which Grows Acetogenically on H2-CO2

We previously described a thermophilic (60 degrees C), syntrophic, two-membered culture which converted acetate to methane via a two-step mechanism in which acetate was oxidized to H(2) and CO(2). While the hydrogenotrophic methanogen Methanobacterium sp. strain THF in the biculture was readily isolated, we were unable to find a substrate that was suitable for isolation of the acetate-oxidizing member of the biculture. In this study, we found that the biculture grew on ethylene glycol, and an acetate-oxidizing, rod-shaped bacterium (AOR) was isolated from the biculture by dilution into medium containing ethylene glycol as the growth substrate. When the axenic culture of the AOR was recombined with a pure culture of Methanobacterium sp. strain THF, the reconstituted biculture grew on acetate and converted it to CH(4). The AOR used ethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, formate, pyruvate, glycine-betaine, and H(2)-CO(2) as growth substrates. Acetate was the major fermentation product detected from these substrates, except for 1,2-propanediol, which was converted to 1-propanol and propionate. N,N-Dimethylglycine was also formed from glycine-betaine. Acetate was formed in stoichiometric amounts during growth on H(2)-CO(2), demonstrating that the AOR is an acetogen. This reaction, which was carried out by the pure culture of the AOR in the presence of high partial pressures of H(2), was the reverse of the acetate oxidation reaction carried out by the AOR when hydrogen partial pressures were kept low by coculturing it with Methanobacterium sp. strain THF. The DNA base composition of the AOR was 47 mol% guanine plus cytosine, and no cytochromes were detected.
Paired comparison experiments involving all possible pairs

The analysis of paired comparison experiments using the tie and order model due to Davidson & Beaver is extended to account for the inclusion of pairs of identical items in the experiment (design 1). It is shown that in testing for order effects, the asymptotic relative efficiency of design 1 to design 2, which includes the distinct ordered pairs, is always greater than one in non-trivial cases.
Loads and propulsive efficiency of a flexible airfoil performing sinusoidal deformations

Abstract This paper presents the application of state-space airloads theory to a flexible airfoil performing sinusoidal deformations at high Reynolds numbers. Given the two-dimensional motion of a flexible airfoil, we derived the closed forms for the propulsive force, lift force, generalized forces of pitching and bending as functions of reduced frequency k, dimensionless wavelength z, and dimensionless amplitude A / ( 2 b ) . We also calculate the power required to perform this sinusoidal deformation and the propulsive efficiency. Our results show a positive, time-averaged propulsive force for all k > k 0 = π / z , which is when the wave speed is greater than the moving speed. At k = k 0 , which is when the moving speed reaches the wave speed, the motion reaches a steady-state with all forces being zero. When k k 0 , the system is the case of energy extraction in which the drag force (negative propulsive force) and wake are causing the airfoil to vibrate. For the propulsive case, the propulsive efficiency decreases from 1.0 to 0.5 as k goes to ∞ , or k0 goes to 0. If there were no wake, the propulsive force would be zero at wavelengths of z=0.569 and z=1.3 for all k, and local optimum at z=0.82. Though these extrema of propulsive force with wavelength are smoothed out by the wake effect, one can still see around z=1.3 (k=2.4) the slope transitions of all three powers in Fig. 9 . When k 2.4 , the cost for high propulsion become more expensive as more power input is used by wake, thus less efficiency.
The past in parenthesis: (Non)post-socialism in post-war Bosnia-Herzegovina

one of the books played a role in her decision to take her life. Late in 2003, eight years after the end of the war that left the country's social and physical infrastructure in ruins, a series of four books was published in Bosnia-Herzegovina under the title Cuvari Jugoslavije: Suradnici UDBE u Bosni i Hercegovini (The guardians of Yugoslavia: Collaborators of the internal state security service in Bosnia and Herzegovina). Page after page, files identified so-called collaborators (suradnici) and operative contacts (operativne veze) of the Yugoslav internal state security service (Uprava driavne bezbjednosti or UDBA). Each file contained the name of the informant, their codename, the name of their handler, a brief description of whom they had been recruited to inform upon and why, and why their file had been retired.' In all, 1350 files were published, although it was also made known that an additional 5500 files remained unpublished. Expecting a blockbuster, the publisher printed 10,000 copies (this in a country where print runs for most new books number in the hundreds); the cost of each of the four books was a whopping C25. In a calculated anticipation of the market for the books, the files were divided into different ethno-national groups, with a green book for Muslims, a red one for Serbs, and two blue volumes for Croats (apparently there were no Jewish, Romani, Ukrainian, Italian, Slovenian, Czech, German, Greek, Macedonian or Hungarian collaborators, or at least no marketable interest in publishing their files). For a few weeks, public interest appeared to be significant. Experts and retired members of the UDBA commented on the authenticity of the books' contents and what the existence of such a file for any given person might actually mean. Lawmakers questioned the legality of the publication of secret state materials. Some of those with files, like Professors Mustafa Festi5 and Suljo Borovina, denied any knowing collaboration. Other commentators speculated about who was among the 5500 whose files were not included in these four volumes. In Islamic cir-
The Impact of Conflict- Generating Techniques on Student Reactions and Decision Quality

This study examined the effectiveness of conflict-generating decision-making techniques in the college classroom. Utiliz ing constructive conflict in classroom exercises may affect decision-making quality and student reactions. This study of undergraduate and graduate business students found significant difference in both the quality of the decisions and in student reactions to the techniques. The findings and discussion indicate the potential for appropriate use of structured decision-making techniques in the classroom.
Parasitic helminths of the American avocet Recurvirostra americana : four new species of the families Hymenolepididae and Acoleidae (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidae)

Records are presented of 11 species of parasitic helminths recovered from 37 American avocets. Birds were collected in Kansas and Colorado from April 1973 to August 1974. Parsites found included 3 trematodes, 2 nematodes, 1 acanthocephalan and 5 cestodes, 4 of which are new species. Hymenolepis cervotestis sp.n. (Hymenolepididae) is described from the small intestine of 7 avocets. It exhibits extreme protandry with the testes appearing before external segmentation is evident. Sobolevicanthus coloradensis sp.n. (Hymenolepididae) is described from the small intestine of 4 avocets. This species is found to have its scolex embedded in the intesttinal mucosa of its host. Diorchis recurvirostrae sp.n. (Hymenolepididae) is described from specimens recovered from the small intestine of 5 avocets. Diplophallus coili sp.n. (Acoleidae) is described from the small intestine of all 37 avocets. The family Diploposthidae is suppressed and the family Acoleidae is emended to include the 4 genera previously placed in Diploposthidae. A key to the genera of Acoleidae is presented.
Expression of stage II genes during sporulation in Bacillus subtilis.

Abstract Two RNA polymerase sigma factors, σF and σE, are produced during the first two hours of endospore formation in Bacillus subtilis. Transcription of the structural genes for those factors is activated about one hour after the start of endospore formation. The operon encoding σF is transcribed by RNA polymerase containing σH, another secondary sigma factor, whereas the operon encoding σE is transcribed by RNA polymerase containing σA, the primary sigma factor in growing cells. Evidently, the coordinate temporal control of these transcriptional units is mediated by a factor other than the sigma factors, possibly by the DNA-binding protein encoded by spo0A. Both σF and σE activities are also regulated by mechanisms operating after transcription.
Thermal and kinematic modeling of bedrock and detrital cooling ages in the central Himalaya

[1] We introduce a new method that convolves detrital mineral cooling ages with digital elevation models to test numerical models of erosion in collisional orogens. Along a Trans-Himalayan transect in central Nepal, we develop a kinematic and thermal model to predict variations in bedrock cooling ages in modern Himalayan topography. The model assumes a thermal steady state and utilizes a simple ramp-and-flat-style decollement, representing the Main Himalayan Thrust. The model also assumes a topographic steady state, such that overthrusting is balanced by erosion to maintain a constant topographic profile. Erosion rates display strong spatial variations as a function of the angle between the slope of the topographic surface and the trajectories of rock particles approaching the surface. To predict the detrital cooling-age signal, we combine the distribution of bedrock cooling ages within a catchment with the rate of erosion and distribution of muscovite. Predicted cooling-age distributions are compared with detrital 40Ar/39Ar muscovite data to assess varying tectonic and erosion scenarios. Such cooling-age distributions are very sensitive to how much of the total plate convergence is expressed as erosion of the overthrusting plate. The best fit model assigns 4–6 km Myr−1 of overthrusting (equivalent to as much as 1.5–2 km Myr−1 of vertical erosion) to the Asian plate. Although a trade-off exists between ramp geometry along the decollement and the best fit rate, only a narrow range of ramp dips, decollement depths, and erosionally compensated overthrusting rates are compatible with the observed detrital ages.
SDS: the ‘static–dynamic–static’ framework for strongly correlated electrons

A genetic ‘static–dynamic–static’ (SDS) framework is proposed for describing strongly correlated electrons. It permits both simple and sophisticated parameterizations of many-electron wave functions. One particularly simple realization amounts to constructing and diagonalizing the Hamiltonian matrix in the same number of many-electron basis functions in the primary (static), external (dynamic) and secondary (static) subspaces of the full Hilbert space. It combines the merits of both internally and externally contracted configuration interaction as well as intermediate Hamiltonian approaches. When the Hamiltonian matrix elements between the contracted external functions, with the coefficients determined by first order perturbation, are approximated as the diagonal elements of the zeroth-order Hamiltonian H 0, we obtain a multi-state multi-reference second-order perturbation theory (denoted as SDS-MS-MRPT2) that scales computationally with the fifth power of the molecular size. Depending on how H 0 is defined, various variants of SDS-MS-MRPT2 can be obtained. For simplicity, we here choose H 0 as a multipartitioned Moller–Plesset-like diagonal operator. Further combined with the string-based macroconfiguration technique, an efficient implementation of SDS-MS-MRPT2 is realized and tested for prototypical systems of variable near-degeneracies. The results reveal that SDS-MSMRPT2 can well describe not only standard benchmark systems but also problematic systems. Taking SDS-MSMRPT2 as a start, the accuracy may steadily be increased by relaxing the contraction of the external functions and/or iterating the diagonalization–perturbation–diagonalization procedure. As such, the SDS framework offers a very powerful scenario for handling strongly correlated systems.
Accelerated radiation therapy in small cell lung cancer: rationale and limitation in its utility.

Ever since the advent in the late 1970’s of more effective chemotherapy (CT), we have witnessed a significant improvement in the median survival time (MST) of patients with limited stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC), from 56 months with radiation therapy (RT) alone to lo14 months with CT + RT or CT alone (3). However, this dramatic effect of the induction CT on SCLC has been a short-term response, and tumor progression at the initial sites of the disease, after a 6-10 month duration of response, has been observed in 60% to 80% of patients ( 14, 17). A recent report of a randomized study by Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB), in which CT + thoracic RT were compared with CT alone for limited stage SCLC, showed that control rates of loco-regional tumor and 2year failure-free survival rates were 54% and 20% versus 13% and 8% by CT + thoracic RT versus CT alone ( 17). Results showing improved long-term survival by CT + RT over CT alone were also reported by others (4, 7). An emergence of tumor cell clones resistant to drugs has been attributed to the recent slow down in advancing the survival beyond the current plateau by multiagent CT ( 10. 1 1). Attempts made to overcome this problem by alternating non-cross resistant CT regimens have been unsuccessful ( 1, 15). Radiation is a powerful agent against cancer cells and non-cross resistant to chemotherapeutic drugs. The report by Turrisi and Glover in the current issue of Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys is a timely one in exploring an altered RT schedule tailored to tumor cell kinetics (21). Their combined program consisted of concurrent CT and accelerated thoracic RT, which delivered a total dose of 4500 cGy in 3 weeks by using 150 cGy dose fractions, twice daily with an intertreatment interval of a minimum of 4 hr and 5 days per week. The overall duration of this treatment was 2 weeks shorter than that of a conventional fractionation schedule delivering the same total dose of 4500 cGy in 180 cGy of daily fractions, 5 days a week.
Saving for Children’s College Education: An Empirical Analysis of the Trade-off Between the Quality and Quantity of Children

This paper examines the effect of children’s college expenses on household savings. The theoretical model introduces life-cycle savings into the quality–quantity model of fertility and derives predictions for the impact of expected expenses on parents’ savings. Using the actual amount of parents’ financial support reported in the Survey of Consumer Finances, the empirical model estimates the expected expenditures on children’s college education and investigates the effect of expected expenditures on parents’ savings. The results show that parents’ support for each of their children’s college expenses decreases with the number of children. The results are consistent with the predictions of the life-cycle theory of saving and consumption that households save in advance for expected expenses to smooth their consumption.
Automatic Rocket Impact Predictor

The ARIP was designed to improve rocket impact predictions. Previous procedures involved lag time in wind measuring which could not be fully accounted for in an x-time firing decision. This lag time assumes an importance in direct proportion to the magnitude of the wind weighting factors, which with some free flight rockets could be as large as 50 per cent of the total wind effect. Five Aerovane anemometer sensors distributed in the first 100-foot layer provide the data via mechanical and electronic coupling to a computer which has been preset for the ballistic values of a particular rocket. The computer output then activates an X-Y plotter which has been previously zeroed for all other cumulative displacement effects.
Respiratory dendritic cell subsets differ in their capacity to support the induction of virus-specific cytotoxic CD8+ T cell responses.

Dendritic cells located at the body surfaces, e.g. skin, respiratory and gastrointestinal tract, play an essential role in the induction of adaptive immune responses to pathogens and inert antigens present at these surfaces. In the respiratory tract, multiple subsets of dendritic cells (RDC) have been identified in both the normal and inflamed lungs. While the importance of RDC in antigen transport from the inflamed or infected respiratory tract to the lymph nodes draining this site is well recognized, the contribution of individual RDC subsets to this process and the precise role of migrant RDC within the lymph nodes in antigen presentation to T cells is not clear. In this report, we demonstrate that two distinct subsets of migrant RDC - exhibiting the CD103+ and CD11bhi phenotype, respectively - are the primary DC presenting antigen to naive CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in the draining nodes in response to respiratory influenza virus infection. Furthermore, the migrant CD103+ RDC subset preferentially drives efficient proliferation and differentiation of naive CD8+ T cells responding to infection into effector cells, and only the CD103+ RDC subset can present to naive CD8+ T cells non-infectious viral vaccine introduced into the respiratory tract. These results identify CD103+ and CD11bhi RDC as critical regulators of the adaptive immune response to respiratory tract infection and potential targets in the design of mucosal vaccines.
AP-S Members of the 2010 Class of IEEE Fellows [Report of Awards and Fellow Committee]

Presents the 2010 class of IEEE Fellows who are members of the Antennas and Propagation Society.
Fluidity in autobiographical memories: relationship memories sampled on two occasions

We investigated consistency of relationship memories. College undergraduates described five events (first meeting, first date, first fight, most embarrassing event, and favourite memory) from their current relationship or, if not currently dating, most recent relationship. Three months later, they were asked to describe the same events again. We scored the consistency of these narratives at three levels of analysis: event, basic information and propositions. The participants demonstrated low consistency in their descriptions, particularly at more detailed levels of analysis. Consistency depended somewhat on the events being recalled, with participants being more consistent for commonly retrieved relationship memories such as first dates. We also found that those individuals who continued in a relationship were less consistent than those describing a previous relationship. These still dating couples had increased opportunities to narrate event stories together and to update knowledge about the relationship through new episodes. In this fashion, updating of experiences may have led to more inconsistencies in recall over time. When considered with research on flashbulb memories, our findings indicate that updating and revisions may be general features of autobiographical memory.
Use of the endotracheal bougie introducer for difficult intubations

A difficult to intubate patient occurs infrequently in the emergency department. The endotracheal tube introducer or gum elastic bougie is a device used by British anesthesiologists in difficult airways. The device is inexpensive, has few complications and is easy to use. Similar to the Seldinger technique for gaining access to a large central vein, the endotracheal tube introducer is used to assist in cannulating the trachea and acts like the wire in central vein access.
Do fibrates truly preserve kidney function

Despite the many advances in understanding and treating diabetes mellitus and diabetes-related kidney disease, progression of nephropathy, which ultimately leads to end-stage kidney disease, remains unstoppable. In the FIELD study, Davis et al. assert that long-term fenofibrate treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus might resolve this problem.
Blood constituents and hepatic lipids in rats fed sucrose or starch with or without cyclamate

Abstract To study the effect of type of dietary carbohydrate and cyclamate on selected tissue components, rats were fed basal diets that contained sucrose or cornstarch: dextrin (2:1) with 0, 2, or 10% calcium cyclamate. Substitution of starch:dextrin for sucrose in the basal diet did not significantly affect the concentrations of blood hemoglobin, serum protein, cholesterol or total lipids in liver, or weight gain of the animals. Substitution of 2% cyclamate for sucrose did not appear to affect significantly the parameters studied, except that liver weight and total amino acid concentration decreased. Animals fed starch:dextrin with 2% cyclamate had lower weight gains than those of their respective controls, whereas liver cholesterol and total lipid concentrations were increased. Dietary cyclamate decreased the liver weight of all experimental groups. Weight gains of animals fed sucrose or starch:dextrin with 10% cyclamate in replacement of carbohydrate were, respectively, 41 and 58% lower than those of their respective controls. Substitution of 10% cyclamate for sucrose or starch:dextrin decreased blood hemoglobin. The total concentration of essential amino acids in sera of rats fed 10% cyclamate with sucrose or starch:dextrin approached or exceeded that of the respective controls. The data indicate that the effect of cyclamates on the level of certain tissue components may be related to the type of carbohydrate fed with cyclamate.
Two histological markers reveal a similar photoperiodic difference in the volume of the high vocal center in male European starlings.

Most studies of seasonal changes in the avian song control system have used Nissl stains to characterize the nuclei. More recent work has indicated that changes in nucleus volume evident in Nissl-stained tissue are not always apparent when investigated with other histochemical criteria. In this experiment, we used two different markers (Nissl stain and alpha 2-adrenergic receptor autoradiography) to characterize changes in the song system of European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). Fluctuating levels of circulating testosterone (T) appear to be causally related to seasonal changes in the song system. Therefore, we used photoperiod manipulations to place male starlings into different physiological conditions. Photosensitive male starlings were placed on 11L:13D or 16L:8D photoperiods for at least 5 months. Birds on 11L:13D have enlarged gonads and circulating T. In contrast, starlings maintained on 16L:8D initially show marked gonadal growth. However, after about 6-8 weeks the birds are photorefractory (i.e., the gonads are regressed and T falls to undetectable levels). The volume of the high vocal center (HVC) was 44% larger in the 11L:13D than in 16L;8D birds in Nissl-stained tissue. The density of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors as determined by in vitro receptor autoradiography with [3H]p-amino-clonidine (PAC) is higher in HVC than in the surrounding neostriatum, clearly delineating the boundaries of the nucleus. We reconstructed the volume of HVC using PAC stained tissue. Thus, two histochemical markers indicate a photoperiodic difference in HVC volume of male starlings.
Schistosoma mansoni, Echinostoma lindoense, and Paryphostomum segregatum: Interference by trematode larvae with acquired resistance in snails, Biomphalaria glabrata

Many juvenile albino Biomphalaria glabrata snails with an acquired resistance to Echinostoma lindoense again became susceptible to this trematode parasite following infection with either of two other larval trematodes, Paryphostomum segregatum or Schistosoma mansoni. Previous studies have shown that trematode sporocysts are capable of interfering with juvenile and adult natural resistance to S. mansoni. We propose that a common mechanism is present that allows both juvenile and adult natural resistance and acquired resistance to trematodes in B. glabrata to be reduced strikingly by the simultaneous presence of trematode larvae in the snail host.
Continuous arterial gas monitoring: Initial experience with the Paratrend 7 in children

Objective." To describe clinical usage of the Paratrend 7 continuous arterial blood gas monitor in children. Design." Children older than 24 months of age who required signifi- cant ventilatory intervention were eligible for sensor placement. Interventions." The sensor was placed via the arterial catheter to measure pH, PCO2, PO2, and temperature. The simultaneous ar- terial blood gas value was recorded along with the sensor reading. Results." The sensor functioned for as long as seven days and provided the clinicians with data on the patient's respiratory status. The statistical validity of the device when compared to the arterial blood gas showed that the bias/precision for pH was 0.006/0.024, for PCO2 - 0.78/4.68 mmHg, and for PO2 1.9%/17.1% (mmHg). Conclusions." This report demon- strates actual clinical use of con- tinuous blood gas monitoring in children. The information obtained is a major asset to the management of critically ill children in the inten- sive care unit.
Differential Diagnosis of Trigger Points

SUMMARYObjective: A number of medical and structural conditions produce muscular pain associated with myofascial trigger points [TrPs]. These conditions should be considered when evaluating a patient with muscle pain.Thesis: Myofascial pain syndrome is characterized by regional or widespread myalgia with muscle TrPs. Trigger points are also common in fibromyalgia. The TrP is a physical sign that occurs in a variety of myalgic conditions. Acute or chronic muscle stress creates an “energy crisis” that can result in a TrP. A muscle-related nociceptive stimulation of the peripheral and central nervous system results in hypersensitivity. Both mechanical and systemic medical disorders stress muscle. Mechanical problems can be structural or postural. Static [postural] or acute [trauma] muscle overload occurs in mechanical disorders which results in physical and biochemical changes including hypoxia and ischemia, and neuromuscular junction dysfunction. Delayed onset muscle pain is seen in unaccustomed eccentric e...
Protosyntax: A thetic (unaccusative) stage?

We have questioned the assumption that SV (agent-action) structures are basic and primary and have shown that thetic VS unaccusative structures, involving an event+theme unit, are better candidates for simple, primary proto-syntactic “fossils.” We have shown that thetic unaccusative structures are simpler syntactically, prosodically, semantically and informationally, and have suggested that this is due to the fact that syntactic evolution progressed from a stage with thetic statements (with no arguments, such as It is cold , or with only one argument, typically unaccusative, such as Spanish Ha llegado Juan (has arrived Juan) or Serbian Pao sneg (fallen.PP snow)), to more complex categorical assertions, involving agents and a syntactic and intonational separation between the subject and the predicate. Obviously, this raises many questions. How did thetic statements intergrade into categorical statements, and what were the evolutionary factors that facilitated this transition? Did both of the informational dichotomies (Topic-Comment and Focus-Background) develop from thetic statements or are F-B structures simpler than T-C? We leave these questions for future research.
Self-Determination Theory as an Organizing Framework to Investigate Women'S Physical Activity Behavior

The purpose of this paper is to explore the literature on the status of women's health behavior and the benefits of physical activity using Self-Determination Theory (SDT) as an organizing framewrok for syntbcsizing and interpreing the extant research. The Health Belief Model and the Transtheoretical Model (Stages of Change) are included in that framework. Women's physical activity behaviors are examined through the lens of SDT with the intention of identifying strategies to design theoretically based intervention programs to increase women's participation in physical activity. Interventions that have been succcessful in modifying exercise behavior in women have been characterzed as individualized, flexible, and tailored to meet women's specific needs. SDT can be used to direct future research by investigating how autonomy, relatedness, and competence can be incorporate in program to increase women's self-determination with regard to heir physical activity and ultimately facilitate internalized, intrinsic...
Theoretical and analytical embryology of conjoined twins: Part II: Adjustments to union †

A previous report in this journal (Spencer, 2000) discussed the probable embryologic etiology of conjoined twins, along with a system of classification based on the embryological structures postulated to be involved in the union. Part II correlates and compares the variations in the abnormal development of the individual organ systems in more than 1,200 actual cases, revealing details of embryogenesis not considered in previous publications. The site, incidence, and range of anomalies in the conjoined structures, as well as the associated malformations, follow a definite pattern as the union proceeds from one area to another; many can be explained in relation to the proposed embryologic adjustments to union, including both temporal and spatial influences. In addition, six currently inexplicable or unclassifiable cases are briefly described (including one with 12 feet), as well as two examples of early abnormal conjoined twins.
“toiling ingenuity”: food regulation in Britain and Nigeria

The article addresses the history of British and Nigerian food regulation as an example of the logic of regulatory processes in the modern history of metropolitan, colonial, and postcolonial countries. I argue that three relatively internally coherent models of regulation have been developed in Britain and that a fourth is under current construction. These models have replaced one another, but incompletely, in the metropolitan repertoire. The previous models remain available, and groups within the metropolis advocate their mobilization with respect to other populations. In the struggle over implementation, the models are replicated only partially, resulting in apparently anomalous dynamics. Nigeria is used as an example. The article advocates the anthropological study of formal sector regulation as one of the most important political processes in the current world. [state regulation, food systems, colonialism, global processes, Nigeria]
A model of intraurban employment location: Estimation results from Seoul data

Abstract A multinomial logit model of firm location, based on the bid-rent theory, and applied to Bogota, Colombia, in an earlier World Bank research project, was estimated with a fresh set of data obtained from a sample survey of manufacturing establishments in Seoul, Korea. The results from the Seoul data are much more robust than those of Bogota and strongly support the empirical evidence obtained from the Bogota study. The empirical findings from these two studies strongly suggest that the patterns of employment location in rapidly growing LDC cities are not random.
Modulation of Ca2+ fluxes in isolated platelet vesicles: effects of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase inhibitor on Ca2+ sequestration and release.

Abstract In the present study, we investigated the role of cAMP-dependent protein kinase in the process of Ca2+ uptake and release from platelet-derived membrane vesicles enriched in the dense tubular system. It was found that these membrane vesicles contain endogenous cAMP-dependent protein kinase and that stimulation of protein kinase by cAMP resulted in the phosphorylation of a single protein band (22 kDa). Addition of cAMP-dependent protein kinase produced effects on vesicle Ca2+ accumulation which were dependent on the Ca2+ concentration in the incubation medium. Specifically, at low extravesicular Ca2+ concentrations, cAMP-dependent protein kinase (10–100 μg/ml) produced a dose-dependent stimulation of Ca2+ uptake, however, a similar stimulation was not observed at high extravesicular Ca2+ concentrations. When endogenous protein kinase was blocked by the addition of protein kinase inhibitor, (2–160 nM) there was a dose-dependent inhibition of Ca2+ uptake at both low and high concentrations of extravesicular Ca2+. Furthermore, the addition of protein kinase inhibitor at steady state caused a rapid and dose-dependent release of vesicle-accumulated Ca2+. Studies on the phosphorylation profile of vesicle protein indicated that protein kinase inhibitor (80 and 160 nM) was capable of inhibiting the phosphorylation of the 22-kDa protein within 15 s. Finally, the ability of thromboxane A2 to cause Ca2+ release was inhibited by the addition of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (1 mg/ml). These findings suggest that cAMP-dependent protein kinase is not only a major determinant in the accumulation of Ca2+ by the dense tubular system, but may play an important role in the process of intraplatelet Ca2+ release by physiologic agents such as thromboxane A2.
Scattering of electromagnetic waves by composite spherical particles: experiment and effective medium approximations

We have measured the differential scattering cross sections (phase functions I22) and the normalized extinction and scattering cross sections (efficiences) of composite spherical particles. The size parameter x = 2πr/λ was around 2π. Composite spheres consisted of nonabsorbing matrix containing a small amount (1.6 and 2.7% by volume) of highly absorbing inclusions. Such composite particles may represent a realistic model of fog or cloud droplets containing small amounts of carbon or a composite atmospheric aerosol particle. We have compared measured data with those calculated using seven different effective medium approximations. We have found that the approximations of Bruggeman and Maxwell Garnett, the generalization of dynamic effective medium approximation derived by Chylek and Srivastava, and the experimental waveguide method of determination of the effective refractive index lead to an acceptable agreement between calculated and measured values. The reduced χ2 values for these approximations ranged between 0.6 and 2.0. The remaining three approximations (volume averages of refractive indices or dielectric constants and the Maxwell Garnett relation with matrix and inclusion materials interchanged) lead to reduced χ2 values between 4.0 and 12.0 demonstrating a large disagreement between calculated and measured scattering characteristics.
Regulation of Cl−/ HCO3 −Exchange by Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Expressed in NIH 3T3 and HEK 293 Cells

A central function of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)-expressing tissues is the secretion of fluid containing 100-140 mM HCO3-. High levels of HCO3- maintain secreted proteins such as mucins (all tissues) and digestive enzymes (pancreas) in a soluble and/or inactive state. HCO3- secretion is impaired in CF in all CFTR-expressing, HCO3--secreting tissues examined. The mechanism responsible for this critical problem in CF is unknown. Since a major component of HCO3- secretion in CFTR-expressing cells is mediated by the action of a Cl-/HCO3- exchanger (AE), in the present work we examined the regulation of AE activity by CFTR. In NIH 3T3 cells stably transfected with wild type CFTR and in HEK 293 cells expressing WT and several mutant CFTR, activation of CFTR by cAMP stimulated AE activity. Pharmacological and mutagenesis studies indicated that expression of CFTR in the plasma membrane, but not the Cl- conductive function of CFTR was required for activation of AE. Furthermore, mutations in NBD2 altered regulation of AE activity by CFTR independent of their effect on Cl- channel activity. At very high expression levels CFTR modified the sensitivity of AE to 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2, 2'-disulfonate. The novel finding of regulation of Cl-/HCO3- exchange by CFTR reported here may have important physiological implications and explain, at least in part, the impaired HCO3- secretion in CF.
A method for intrathoracic operation on the rat.

SummaryFor performance of intrathoracic operations on the rat pentobarbital sodium and scopolamine were found to be effective anesthetic agents. A plastic intratracheal tube was devised for use in such operations and has proved to be satisfactory. A simple water valve apparatus for administration of oxygen under positive pressure was devised for use with the intratracheal tube.
Age at menarche and unsuccessful pregnancy outcome

We have examined the relation between age at menarche and unsuccessful pregnancy outcome among women under 40 years of age. Women with early menarche (under 12) and late menarche (14 or older) had a greater number of unsuccessful pregnancy outcomes than did women of intermediate age at menarche (12 or 13 years). The differences in means adjusted by covariance analysis for age, total number of pregnancies, age at first live birth and socio-economic status were statistically significant. Among Catholic women, who were unlikely to have had induced abortions at the time of the study, the differences by menarcheal age were greater than among non-Catholic women. These findings support those of Liestol (1980) who recently reported a possible causal connection between menarcheal age and spontaneous abortion.
Anthrax edema factor toxicity is strongly mediated by the N-end rule.

Anthrax edema factor (EF) is a calmodulin-dependent adenylate cyclase that converts adenosine triphosphate (ATP) into 3’–5’-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), contributing to the establishment of Bacillus anthracis infections and the resulting pathophysiology. We show that EF adenylate cyclase toxin activity is strongly mediated by the N-end rule, and thus is dependent on the identity of the N-terminal amino acid. EF variants having different N-terminal residues varied by more than 100-fold in potency in cultured cells and mice. EF variants having unfavorable, destabilizing N-terminal residues showed much greater activity in cells when the E1 ubiquitin ligase was inactivated or when proteasome inhibitors were present. Taken together, these results show that EF is uniquely affected by ubiquitination and/or proteasomal degradation.
Use of Cholecystostomy Tubes in the Management of Patients with Primary Diagnosis of Acute Cholecystitis

Background Management of patients with severe acute cholecystitis (AC) remains controversial. In settings where laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) can be technically challenging or medical risks are exceedingly high, surgeons can choose between different options, including LC conversion to open cholecystectomy or surgical cholecystostomy tube (CCT) placement, or initial percutaneous CCT. We reviewed our experience treating complicated AC with CCT at a tertiary-care academic medical center. Study Design All adult patients (n = 185) admitted with a primary diagnosis of AC and who received CCT from 2002 to 2010 were identified retrospectively through billing and diagnosis codes. Results Mean patient age was 71 years and 80% had ≥1 comorbidity (mean 2.6). Seventy-eight percent of CCTs were percutaneous CCT placement and 22% were surgical CCT placement. Median length of stay from CCT insertion to discharge was 4 days. The majority (57%) of patients eventually underwent cholecystectomy performed by 20 different surgeons in a median of 63 days post-CCT (range 3 to 1,055 days); of these, 86% underwent LC and 13% underwent open conversion or open cholecystectomy. In the radiology and surgical group, 50% and 80% underwent subsequent cholecystectomy, respectively, at a median of 63 and 60 days post-CCT. Whether surgical or percutaneous CCT placement, approximately the same proportion of patients (85% to 86%) underwent LC as definitive treatment. Conclusions This 9-year experience shows that use of CCT in complicated AC can be a desirable alternative to open cholecystectomy that allows most patients to subsequently undergo LC. Additional studies are underway to determine the differences in cost, training paradigms, and quality of life in this increasingly high-risk surgical population.