cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
"Peek port": a novel approach for avoiding conversion in laparoscopic colectomy.

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a method for avoiding conversion to laparotomy in patients considered for laparoscopic colectomy. Patients deemed to be at high risk for conversion to laparotomy were initially approached via an 8-cm midline incision (“peek port”) with the laparoscopic equipment unopened. If intraperitoneal conditions were favorable, the procedure was performed using hand-assisted laparoscopy. If intraperitoneal conditions were unfavorable, the incision was extended to a formal laparotomy. Patients deemed to be at low risk for conversion to laparotomy were approached laparoscopically from the outset. Data from 241 consecutive patients brought to the operating room for intended laparoscopic colectomy were retrieved from a prospective database. The study population consisted of 132 men and 109 women with a mean age of 62 years and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 28. Prior abdominal surgery had been performed in 49% of these patients. Inflammatory conditions accounted for 38% of the diagnoses, and enteric fistulas were present in 7% of the cases. Of the 25 patients who underwent the initial “peek port,” 8 (32%) underwent immediate incision extension to formal laparotomy. Hand-assisted laparoscopic colectomy was performed in 17 (68%) of these 25 patients, with one subsequent conversion to formal laparotomy. Of the 216 patients initially approached laparoscopically, 5 (2%) required conversion to laparotomy. The laparotomy rate for the “peek port” group (9/25, 36%) was higher than for the initial laparoscopy group (5/216, 2%) (p < 0.0001). Of the 233 patients from both groups who underwent laparoscopy, the overall rate for conversion to laparotomy was 3% (6/233). The “peek port” approach to the patient with a potentially hostile abdomen allows for rapid assessment of intraperitoneal conditions and is associated with an overall low rate of conversion from laparoscopy to laparotomy. This technique should reduce overall cost by avoiding the use of laparoscopic equipment as well as potential complications related to trocar placement and laparoscopic dissection in patients who will ultimately require formal laparotomy.
Competitive Swimmers' Perception of Motivational Climate and Their Personal Achievement Goals

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of perceived motivational climate with personal achievement goals in competitive youth swimmers. A total of 119 competitive swimmers (mean age = 14.76) participated in this study. Participants completed the Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport Questionnaire-2 and the Achievement Goal Questionnaire-S. Overall, swimmers perceived the motivational climate on their team to be more mastery-oriented than performance-oriented. Regression analyses indicated that a mastery-oriented motivational climate was a positive predictor of mastery-approach goals and a negative predictor of mastery-avoidance goals. Perception of a performance-oriented motivational climate was a positive predictor of performance-approach goals. In addition, mastery-approach goals were positively related to satisfaction and persistence and negatively related to practice avoidance while mastery avoidance goals were negatively related to satisfaction.
Cranial capacity estimates for Olduvai Hominid 7

Estimation of cranial capacity for Olduvai Hominid (OH) 7 is de- termined from external parietal dimensions using multiple regressions calculated from an australopithecine grade sample. Capacity estimates for OH 7 (580-600 cc) are much lower than usually claimed. While differences in reconstruction may account for the varying estimates, a regression based only on undistorted and un- reconstructed values, as well as a direct comparison of dimensions with other Homo habilis specimens, supports the smaller capacity determination. It would be an understatement to say that times have changed since the discovery and initial interpretation (Leakey, 1961) of the ju- venile hominid specimen from Olduvai gorge, OH 7. Still, some issues concerning the com- parative morphology of the specimen have yet to be settled. Of these, the question of the cra- nial capacity of the vault represented by the two partial parietals has probably received the greatest attention. Holloway's most recent discussion of the OH 7 reconstruction (1980) is an important contribution as well as a useful clarification of some longstanding issues. He has helped clar- ify the question of whether there was substan- tial twisting in the reconstructed fit between the reconstructed parietals. However, other is- sues remain. It is clear, as Holloway states, that the condition of the parietals, the amount of bone preserved, and the accuracy of the re- construction renders them anything but use- less as a basis for volume estimations. Indeed, I know of no worker who has claimed that they were unsuitable for this purpose. How- ever, suitability is one thing, and the appropri- ateness of the estimation is quite another. It is in this area that much of the controversy has been focused. The fact is that the parietals were crushed flat and have been reconstructed, and that be- fore Holloway's most recent paper the volumet- ric estimates based on this reconstruction were determined from a biparietal partial en- docast procedure that has never been adequate- ly tested for accuracy (for details of the recon- struction and the biparietal partial endocast method, see Tobias, 1971). Holloway's most re- cent approach, using multiple regression tech- niques based on measurements taken from other endocasts appears to be more straight- forward. Yet, his results still depend on the accuracy of the reconstruction, as well as on the sample used to generate the regression. With all due respect for Holloway's experience
New Tools for Marine Conservation: the Leasing and Ownership of Submerged Lands

It has been assumed that strategies for estuarine and marine conservation must be substantially different than those for terrestrial conservation because the seas are all publicly owned. This is an unfortunate misconception. We explored the leasing and ownership of submerged lands as tools for marine conservation and provide examples of the implementation of these tools from The Nature Conservancy's work in Texas, Washington, and New York (U.S.A.). We found that the leasing and ownership of submerged lands are viable new tools for marine conservation. There is a significant amount of submerged land available for lease and ownership in the United States and other countries that includes a diverse array of ecosystems (e.g., kelp forests, marshes, seagrass meadows, oyster reefs, tidal flats, clam beds, scallop beds, sponge, and coral reefs). From our review of policy and experience in practice, we have identified some key benefits and considerations for the use of these tools. Conservation benefits for the leasing and ownership of submerged lands include opportunities to restore ecologically and economically important species, protect diversity in sanctuaries, draw on substantial terrestrial experience in leasing and ownership, buy land cheaply, develop ecologically sustainable harvest practices, partner with fishers and local communities to improve water quality, create control areas for research, and partake in local management forums as a direct stakeholder. Bivalve shellfish are particularly amenable to conservation with these tools because existing policy is well established for leasing and ownership rights to sessile animals that exist on the sea floor. Conservation buyers need to consider that community sentiment does not always favor private rights to submerged lands, conservation interest in submerged lands could affect prices, association with incompatible aquaculture practices will be detrimental, enforcement of restrictions can be difficult, and there may be concerns about setting the precedent of paying for conservation of submerged lands. Policy makers should be encouraged to include more opportunities for conservation and not just exploitation of natural resources on submerged land leases.
Thyroid hormone–dependent adult pigment cell lineage and pattern in zebrafish

Pigment patterns are useful for elucidating fundamental mechanisms of pattern formation and how these mechanisms evolve. In zebrafish, several pigment cell classes interact to generate stripes, yet the developmental requirements and origins of these cells remain poorly understood. Using zebrafish and a related species, we identified roles for thyroid hormone (TH) in pigment cell development and patterning, and in postembryonic development more generally. We show that adult pigment cells arise from distinct lineages having distinct requirements for TH and that differential TH dependence can evolve within lineages. Our findings demonstrate critical functions for TH in determining pigment pattern phenotype and highlight the potential for evolutionary diversification at the intersection of developmental and endocrine mechanisms.
Observer agreement about laryngoscopic assessment of papilloma.

Abstract Background: Observer bias may confound the assessment of therapies utilized for recurrent respiratory papilloma, a recidivistic fluctuating disease. Any convincing change in a patient's disease must exceed the imprecision of the measuring system. Materials and Methods: Videotapes of ten children, who had airway endoscopy for care of laryngeal papilloma, were edited. The videotapes were independently reviewed by six otolaryngologists, of whom five repeated their assessments 5 to 20 weeks later. The ‘reference standard’ was the operating surgeon's categorization of his patient's videotape. Agreement was calculated by the kappa statistic, the observed proportions of positive and negative agreement, and the proportion categorized as exact opposites, for each of twelve anatomic sites. Results: Moderate agreement was found for both (a) the operative findings versus the later-determined ‘reference standard’, and (b) the ‘reference standard’ versus categorizations by other otolaryngologists. Intra-observer agreements were better than inter-observer agreements. Agreement as to whether or not papilloma involved each of twelve sites was within about 20% for the five pediatric otolaryngologists vs the ‘reference standard’, and within about 10% for the same reviewer. Conclusion: Videotapes may add objectivity to the assessment of laryngeal papilloma. For changes to be considered significant, an observer should identify a 10% change in the number of sites involved, or a 30% change in the extent of overall airway obstruction. For different observers, changes would have to be even greater to be meaningful.
Modal-space active damping of a beam-cable structure: theory and experiment

A theory of multiple-actuator modal-space active damping (control) of individual structural vibration modes is first reviewed; then an experiment is described in which the control technique was applied to a laboratory beam-cable structure. Active damping was produced in the three lowest modes (all under 10 Hz) of the structure by a feedback control system consisting of a single velocity sensor, an analog controller, and three force actuators. Both open-loop and closed-loop frequency response functions were measured. A theoretical frequency response analysis is developed, and experimental results are compared with theoretical predictions.
Evaluation of the pediatric Septi-Chek blood culture system

The pediatric Septi-Chek blood culture system is a biphasic system that uses a 20-ml bottle of brain-heart infusion broth. We compared this system with a supplemented peptone broth tube (Vacutainer) for the recovery of aerobic organisms from blood cultures obtained from patients in a pediatric hospital. Blood specimens for culture were drawn into transport tubes containing sodium polyanetholsulfonate (SPS), and equal volumes were allocated into a Septi-Chek bottle and a Vacutainer tube which was vented for the first day of incubation. A total of 4828 blood culture sets was included, from which 243 probable pathogens were recovered, including 211 in the Septi-Chek system and 204 from the Vacutainer Tube. There were no significant differences in the recovery of individual pathogens. The mean time to initial detection of pathogens was comparable in the two systems, but the mean time to growth on solid media for pathogens recovered in both systems was shorter with Septi-Chek (37.2 hr compared with 45.5 hr, p less than 0.001). The pediatric Septi-Chek system is comparable with a vented Vacutainer tube for the recovery of aerobic pathogens, and its use facilitates the early identification and susceptibility testing of bloodstream pathogens.
Respiratory changes in 9-methyl PGA teratogenesis

Abstract Cellular respiration was accurately measured following dispersion of rat embryos too large for reliable assessments in the intact condition. The technique used in this study for cell dispersion of day 13 embryos effectively eliminated restrictions to oxygen diffusion caused by thickness of the intact animals and permitted valid measurements of oxygen consumption in these embryos. Significantly decreased rates of oxygen consumption were measured by the Warburg technique in such embryonic rat cells following a teratogenic maternal folate deficiency and folate-antagonism using 9-methyl pteroyl-glutamic acid. These results suggest an association between altered embryonic oxidative metabolism and induction of malformations.
Lower-crustal deformation during terrane dispersion along strike-slip faults

Abstract After accretion, terranes caught between obliquely converging plates are often displaced several hundreds of kilometers. How this motion is accommodated at depth is not well known. Spurred by our Trans-Alaskan Crustal Transect (TACT) seismic studies of the Yukon-Tanana terrane, Alaska, I propose that the lower crust responds ductilely to accommodate differential movement between upper crust and upper mantle during margin-parallel translation. The locations of these ductile regions are dependent on temperature, composition and strain rate. For geotherms based on moderate surface heat flow (60–90 mWm −2 ) and reasonable geological strain rates (100% in 3 Ma), typical lower-crustal rocks can deform ductilely. The resultant subhorizontal layered fabric should be detectable with seismic techniques. Two terranes that have experienced hundreds of kilometers of margin-parallel translation, the Yukon-Tanana terrane sampled by our seismic refraction/wide-angle reflection profiles and the Salinian block (California) sampled by both seismic refraction and reflection, have reflective lower crust. Both of these terranes have moderate to high surface heat flows, have relatively thin crust, and are interpreted seismically to be underlain by a quartzo-feldspathic lower crust; conditions favorable for ductile deformation in the lower crust. Interpretations of lower-crustal layering for these two terranes is based on an increase in lower-crustal reflectivity. This layering is attributed to tectonic banding consistent with ductile deformation.
Estradiol increases the anorexia associated with increased 5-HT2C receptor activation in ovariectomized rats

Estradiol's inhibitory effect on food intake is mediated, in part, by its ability to increase the activity of meal-related signals, including serotonin (5-HT), which hastens satiation. The important role that postsynaptic 5-HT(2C) receptors play in mediating 5-HT's anorexigenic effect prompted us to investigate whether a regimen of acute estradiol treatment increases the anorexia associated with increased 5-HT(2C) receptor activation in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. We demonstrated that intraperitoneal and intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of low doses of the 5-HT(2C) receptor agonist meta-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP) decreased 1-h dark-phase food intake in estradiol-treated, but not oil-treated, OVX rats. During a longer feeding test, we demonstrated that i.c.v. administration of mCPP decreased 22-h food intake in oil-treated and, to a greater extent, estradiol-treated OVX rats. In a second study, we demonstrated that estradiol increased 5-HT(2C) receptor protein content in the caudal brainstem, but not hypothalamus, of OVX rats. We conclude that a physiologically-relevant regimen of acute estradiol treatment increases sensitivity to mCPP's anorexigenic effect. Our demonstration that this same regimen of estradiol treatment increases 5-HT(2C) receptor protein content in the caudal hindbrain of OVX rats provides a possible mechanism to explain our behavioral findings.
The glycophorin C N-linked glycan is a critical component of the ligand for the Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte receptor BAEBL

Plasmodium vivax uses a single member of the Duffy binding-like (DBL) receptor family to invade erythrocytes and is not found in West Africa where its erythrocyte ligand, the Duffy blood group antigen, is missing. In contrast, Plasmodium falciparum expresses four members of the DBL family, and remarkably, single-point mutations of two of these receptors (BAEBL and JESEBL) bind to entirely different erythrocyte ligands, greatly expanding the range of erythrocytes that P. falciparum can invade. In this article, we describe the molecular basis of the binding specificity for one BAEBL variant (VSTK) that binds to glycophorin C. We demonstrate that soluble glycophorin C completely blocks the binding of BAEBL (VSTK) to human erythrocytes, requiring 0.7 μM for 50% inhibition, a concentration similar to that required by glycophorin A to block the binding of erythrocyte-binding antigen 175 to erythrocytes. BAEBL (VSTK) does not bind to Gerbich-negative erythrocytes that express a truncated form of glycophorin C because it lacks exon 3. The N-linked oligosaccharide of Gerbich-negative glycophorin C has a markedly different composition than the wild-type glycophorin C. Moreover, removal of the N-linked oligosaccharide from the wild-type glycophorin C eliminates its ability to inhibit binding of BAEBL (VSTK) to erythrocytes. These findings are consistent with the ligand for BAEBL (VSTK) being, in part, the N-linked oligosaccharide and suggest that single-point mutations in BAEBL allow P. falciparum to recognize oligosaccharides on different erythrocyte surface glycoproteins or glycolipids, greatly increasing its invasion range.
Influence of Humic Substances and Nitrogen on Yield, Fruit Quality, and Leaf Mineral Elements of ‘Early Spur Rome’ Apple

ABSTRACT The effects of humic substances (AgriPlus, Humi-Zyme, and Humic Acid 6%) and nitrogen (N) on growth, yield, quality, and leaf minerals in apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) were studied during 1997–2000. Trees receiving medium or high N tended to be larger than trees with other treatments in 2000. Trees receiving AgriPlus with high N had higher yield than untreated control trees in 1998. Trees receiving medium N had larger fruits than control trees. Fruits of trees receiving high N (alone) had less red color than the control. Soluble solids concentrations (SSC) in fruits of all treatments were higher than those of the control at harvest in 1999. Fruit from the untreated control and low Humi-Zyme tended to be firmer than that from other treatments. The untreated control and low Humi-Zyme trees had lower leaf N and manganese (Mn), but higher leaf potassium (K) than trees under most other treatments. Leaf iron (Fe) in trees receiving medium Humi-Zyme was higher than that in the untreated control in two ...
Computer Geometric Modeling For Machine Perception Of Three-Dimensional Solids

The technique of machine perception of three-dimensional objects implies the generation of a computational model of a solid in a computer. The topic of Computational Geometry deals with the representation, manipulation and generation of geometric data in computational systems. Four principle classes of representational schema are used: point sets, facetted models, functional and procedural. An abstract data type is defined by the values it may take on and by the operations which are defined over those objects. The operator classes associated with three dimensional solids are: solid transformations, visualization, continuation (or interpolation), mensuration and set operationsions. The utility of the various mathematical and computational formulations of computational geometry to the problems of machine perception of three-dimensional objects will be analyzed.
Cytotoxicity of Cu(II) and Zn(II) 2,2′-Bipyridyl Complexes: Dependence of IC50 on Recovery Time

We measure the cytotoxicity of three metal complexes containing the 2,2'-bypyridine ligand, Cu(bpy)(NCS)(2), 1, [Cu(bpy)(2)(H(2)O)](PF(6))(2), 2, and Zn(bpy)(2)(NCS)(2), 3, toward neuroblastoma cells (SK-N-SH) and ovarian cancer cells (OVCAR-3) using two different cell assays. The cells were exposed to various concentrations of the compounds for 1 h and the percent inhibition of cell growth, I, measured for various times after exposure, i.e., as a function of the recovery time t. After developing the theory showing the relationship between I and t, the cytotoxicity data were analyzed to reveal that the two copper complexes, 1 and 2, cause the cells to divide at a slower rate than the controls during the recovery period, but the zinc complex, 3, had little or no effect on cell division during the recovery period. The usual metric for reporting cytotoxicity is IC(50), which is the concentration of agent required to inhibit cell growth to 50% of the control population. However, since IC(50) can depend on the recovery time, t, as is the case for 1 and 2, reporting IC(50) for a single recovery time can hide important information about the long-time effects of a cytotoxic agent on the health of the cell population. Mechanistic studies with the compounds revealed that the copper complexes, 1 and 2, cleave closed circular pBR322 DNA in the presence of ascorbate, while the zinc complex, 3, does not facilitate DNA cleavage under the same conditions. This difference in DNA cleavage activity may be related to the fact that Cu(II) is redox active and can readily change its oxidation state, while Zn(II) is redox inert and cannot participate in a redox cycle with ascorbate to break DNA.
Effect of Oxygen Co-Doping on the Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Ga ( 1 − x ) Mn x N

It was found that oxygen co-doping at a concentration of 10 atom % in GaMnN films grown by gas-source molecular beam epitaxy under previously determined optimal growth conditions of 3 atom % manganese and a growth temperature of 700°C, did not have an effect on the magnetic properties. Oxygen doping did, however, improve the magnetic properties of films grown under nonoptimal conditions, in accordance with the prediction of Kulatov et al. [Phys. Rev. B, 66, 45203 (2002)]. For all growth conditions examined, oxygen doping greatly decreased the electrical resistivity from highly resistive to ∼2.5 × 10 - 2 Ω-cm. Oxygen co-doping was also found to produce substantial improvement in the thermal stability of the GaMnN, allowing for retention of the room temperature ferromagnetic ordering even after annealing at temperatures up to 600°C.
Can Electroencephalogram (EEG) Signals Predict Postural Balance Performance

Although it is argued that EEG signals lack sufficient signal-to-noise ratio, bandwidth, and information content to decode body segment kinematics (Lebedev and Nicolelis, 2006), this pilot study examined the feasibility of decoding lower extremity postural balance kinematics (i.e., anterior-posterior [A-P] and medial-lateral [M-L] deviation) utilizing EEG signals with reasonable accuracy. The study utilized single trial data of 5 participants that completed a postural balance task on a Biodex balance system when balance platform was set at a relatively unstable level. The neural response during the balance task was collected for 19 sites on the scalp. The time series data of 26 cortical locations were calculated. Following velocity calculation, resampling, and smoothing of the data, a linear decoding method was followed for both scalp and cortex data that utilized a fixed lag of 100 milliseconds and 10×10 fold cross validation procedure. Decoding accuracy was measured by estimating the correlation coeffic...
Phase Diagram to Illustrate Protein Aggregation Profile and Conditions

Protein self-assembly and formation of amyloid fibers and/or amorphous aggregates is an early event in numerous human diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and cataracts. Identification of the structural features generated in the aggregation process, especially under conditions similar to the tissue's viscous and crowded environment, helps to elucidate the mechanism of protein aggregation and the pathogenesis of these diseases. By systematically testing a broad range of conditions and construction of a 3-dimensional phase diagram, we identified the pH, salt, lysozyme concentration, and incubation time, for lysozyme to form amyloid fibers, amorphous aggregates, and gels. We examined the effect of viscosity and molecular crowding on lysozymes' aggregation profile. We characterized the aggregates by use of AFM, TEM, FPLC, and Thioflavin T binding assays, and found that amyloid fibers are formed between pH 2.0 and 3.0, amorphous aggregates at pH 3.5 and above. Glycerol or polyethylene glycol inhibits fiber formation. Gels are formed when fiber concentration is high, and the presence of glycerol or polyethylene glycol lowers the minimum fiber concentration required for gelation. Salt or shaking promotes amyloid fiber formation and shortens the time needed for gelation. Colloidal spheres are present in amyloid fiber solutions, as predicted by the linear colloidal aggregation model we introduced previously. The phase diagrams provide a comprehensive and clear picture of the relation between various aggregates and the conditions for their formation.
A Line 1 insertion in the Factor IX gene segregates with mild hemophilia B in dogs

We undertook the biochemical and molecular characterization of hemophilia in a large pedigree of German wirehaired pointers. Males affected with hemophilia B had approximately 5% normal Factor IX coagulant activity and a proportional reduction of Factor IX protein concentration, indicative of a mild hemophilia B phenotype. Using Southern blot analyses and PCR amplification of genomic DNA, we discovered a large, 1.5-kb insertion in intron 5 of the Factor IX gene of an affected male. The insert consists of a 5' truncated canine Line-1 followed by an approximately 200-bp 3' poly (A) tract, flanked by a 15-bp direct repeat. The insert can be traced through at least five generations and segregates with the hemophilia B phenotype in this breed. This is the first description of a Factor IX mutation associated with mild hemophilia B in a non-human species and provides evidence for a recent Line-1 insertion event in the canine genome.
The effect of cosmic rays on the soft error rate of a DRAM at ground level

This paper provides conclusive evidence that cosmic rays cause soft errors in commercial dynamic RAM (DRAM) chips at ground level. Cosmic-ray-induced soft errors in electronic components have long been a problem for the designers of satellites and spacecraft, but they have not generally been considered to be an important influence on memory chip soft error rate (SER) in terrestrial environments. In an experiment designed to determine the effect of cosmic radiation on the SER of a sample of DRAM chips at ground level, the SER of a large number of chips was measured at various locations and altitudes around the US: near sea level in Essex Junction, VT; 200 m underground in a Kansas salt mine; at an altitude of 1.6 km in Boulder, CO; and at 3.1 km in Leadville, CO. The results reported here show that even at sea level there is a significant component of the SER that can be attributed to the effects of cosmic rays, and that the magnitude of the effects increases dramatically at higher altitudes. >
Evidence that functional interactions of CREB and SF-1 mediate hormone regulated expression of the aromatase gene in granulosa cells and constitutive expression in R2C cells

The proximal promoter of the rat aromatase CYP19 gene contains two functional domains that can confer hormone/cAMP inducibility in primary cultures of rat granulosa cells and constitutive expression in R2C Leydig cells. Region A contains a hexameric sequence that binds steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1). Region B contains a CRE-like sequence that binds CREB and two other factors, X and Y. To determine if CRE binding factors X and Y had overlapping functions with CREB, and to determine if the CREB and SF-1 binding sites exhibited functional interactions in the context of the intact promoter, mutations within the CRE and hexameric SF-1 binding site were generated. Mutations within the CRE showed that CREB but not factors X and Y mediated cAMP-dependent activity of chimeric transgenes in primary granulosa cell cultures. Granulosa cells transfected with constructs that bound CREB but not SF-1 (or the converse) resulted in a loss of approximately 50% cAMP-dependent CAT activity. Transgenes that did not bind CREB or SF-1 exhibited no cAMP-dependent CAT activity. When these same constructs where transfected into R2C Leydig cells, mutation of either the CREB or SF-1 binding sites resulted in a greater than 90% loss of CAT activity. Western blot and immunocytochemistry analyses revealed that the amount of phosphorylated CREB increased in response to hormone/cAMP in granulosa cells and was high in R2C Leydig cells, coinciding with expression of the transgenes and endogenous aromatase mRNA in each cell type. Therefore, in both cell types the aromatase promoter is dependent upon a functional CRE and the presence of phosphoCREB. The CREB and SF-1 binding sites interact in an additive manner to mediate cAMP transactivation in granulosa cells, whereas they interact synergistically to confer high basal transactivation in R2C Leydig cells. Taken together, the results indicated that the molecular mechanisms or pathways that activate CREB, SF-1 or their interaction are different in granulosa cells and R2C cells.
Combining ranking information in judgment post stratified and ranked set sampling designs

Judgment post stratified (JPS) and ranked set sampling (RSS) designs rely on the ability of a ranker to assign ranks to potential observations on available experimental units. In many settings, there are often more than one rankers available and each of these rankers provide judgment ranks. This paper proposes two sampling schemes, one for JPS and the other for RSS, to combine the judgment ranks of these rankers to produce a strength of agreement measure for each fully measured unit. This strength measure is used to draw inference for the population mean and cumulative distribution function. The paper shows that the estimators constructed based on this strength measure provide a substantial improvement over the same estimators based on judgment ranking information of a single best ranker.
Studies of a double-sided silicon microstrip system with analog VLSI readout

Abstract The tracking performance of a 0.64 cm square double-sided AC-coupled detector manufactured by Hamamatsu Photonics Inc. has been evaluated in a test beam of 227 GeV/c pions at Fermilab. The detector was fabricated with 50 μm pitch on the ohmic (n) side and 25 μm pitch on the diode (p) side. Readout pitch for both sides was 50 μm and was implemented with a Berkeley designed SVX-D IC/SRS/SDA sequencer system. Measurements were made of signal-to-noise, charge correlation characteristics and resolution vs. angle of incidence in the range from 0° to 60° with analog pulse height information. Measurements were made at room temperature, −12°C and −20°C.
Poster: Scalable Service-Oriented Telemetry Acquisition and Distribution

As the cost of embedded devices, sensors, and wireless networking decreases, the economic viability of intelligent services that sense conditions in the physical world and trigger responses to them becomes increasingly attractive. Sensor networks for environmental monitoring and an urban area's population of trucks and automobiles are examples of existing physical infrastructures that can be supported by such services. We have developed a services-oriented, specification-based, ubiquitous computing platform called TOPAZ that abstracts common ubiquitous computing functions and makes them accessible to any application provider through Web-service-based, metered interfaces. In this paper, we describe a scalable architecture of telemetry service that acquires, processes, and distributes telemetry data and analyze its performance results. Our results demonstrate that through intelligent aggregation of event streams and controlled object allocation schemes, it is possible to support high event rates using off-the-shelf Web application- server software and hardware.
Relative weight and mortality in U.S. blacks and whites: Findings from representative national population samples ☆

Abstract PURPOSE: To examine the impact of relative weight on mortality in black and white men and women. METHODS: Two representative national populations samples were used: the NHANES-I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study (NHEFS), and the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). The principal analysis focused on 13,242 participants in the NHEFS and 114,954 in the NHIS. Minimum mortality was estimated from both categorical analysis and a logistic model. RESULTS: Minimum mortality ranged from a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 32 kg/m2. The modelestimated BMI of minimum mortality for NHEFS was 27.1 (24.8–29.4, 95% CI), 26.8 (24.7–28.9, 95% CI), 24.8 (23.8–25.9, 95% CI) and 24.3 (23.2–25.4, 95% CI); for black men, black women, white men and white women, respectively, whereas for NHIS the corresponding values were 30.2 (24.8–35.6, 95% CI) 26.4 (24.2–28.7, 95% CI), 27.1 (25.5–28.7, 95% CI), and 25.6 (24.2–27.0, 95% CI). In all groups the shape of the relative risk curve was virtually identical and a broad range of BMI values in the middle of the distribution was associated with low relative mortality risk. Averaging the results from both surveys, the observed BMI of minimum risk was 3.1 kg/m2 higher in black men and 1.5 kg/m2 higher in black women than in their white counterparts; when adjusted for covariates these differences were only of borderline statistical significance, however. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the wide range of BMI values associated with low risk, and the consistency of the point of the up-turn in risk, group specific definitions of optimal values do not appear to be warranted.
Patellotibial contusions in anterior cruciate ligament tears

Bone contusions are an important ancillary finding of many knee injuries. Not only are they a source of pain, they may suggest a mechanism of injury or a specific derangement of the knee joint. We have encountered a small number of patients being evaluated for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears with unexplained patellar and tibial edema at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. We present three individuals with contusions of the inferior patella with a corresponding contusion of the anteromedial tibial plateau. Internal derangements in these patients were similar to other individuals with acute ACL tears, however osseous contusions were more widespread. In conclusion, patellotibial contusions are rare and may indicate an injury with forces greater than usually encountered in most ACL tears. A careful search for uncommon associated injuries is prudent in these high-energy knee injuries.
Exploiting arginase to prevent GVHD.

In this issue of Blood , Highfill and colleagues introduce a novel procedure to generate arginase-producing MDSCs that can prevent GVHD while maintaining antileukemic responses. An alternative non-cell–based approach using pegylated arginase-1 is also introduced. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem
The Independent Contributions of Emotion Dysregulation and Hypermentalization to the “Double Dissociation” of Affective and Cognitive Empathy in Female Adolescent Inpatients With BPD

Harari, Shamay-Tsoory, Ravid, and Levkovitz (2010) demonstrated a "double dissociation" in empathy in borderline personality disorder (BPD), such that BPD patients had higher affective than cognitive empathy, whereas controls exhibited the opposite pattern. Two processes that may relate to this dissociation are emotion dysregulation (ER) and hypermentalization. However, these interrelated processes have not been studied concomitantly, and the dissociation of empathy types has not been examined in adolescents with BPD. This study examined the relations between ER, hypermentalization, and cognitive and affective empathy in 252 adolescent inpatients with and without BPD. Participants completed a computerized task of hypermentalization and measures of ER and empathy. Findings only partially replicated Harari et al.'s findings, with differential performance in cognitive and affective empathy demonstrated across groups. Multivariate analyses revealed that in both groups, ER related to increased affective empathy. Hypermentalizing related to decreased cognitive empathy in BPD patients, whereas hypermentalizing did not relate to either empathy type in non-BPD patients.
HELPER EFFECTS ON OFFSPRING PRODUCTION IN COOPERATIVELY BREEDING BROWN JAYS (CYANOCORAX MORIO)

Abstract Most studies of cooperatively breeding species have revealed that indirect fitness gains from helping are lower than benefits gained from direct reproduction. Exceptions to this “best of a bad job” strategy are rare. Brown Jays (Cyanocorax morio) in Monteverde, Costa Rica, live in large groups (mean = 10 individuals) and have never been observed to breed as unaided pairs. Helpers provide a substantial percentage (70%) of all nestling feedings. Together, these observations suggest that helping may be crucial for reproductive success in this population. We used multivariate models to examine the effect of helpers on offspring production using a long-term data set. Data on nest-site success and brood reduction suggested that predation was the major cause of nesting failure. Nesting in an isolated tree was the major determinant of successful nestling production, and our data indicate that small groups (less than 9 individuals) may not be able to acquire or defend territories that contain suitable nes...
Two-factor theory – at the intersection of health care management and patient satisfaction

Using data obtained from the 2004 Joint Canadian/United States Survey of Health, an analytic model using principles derived from Herzberg's motivational hygiene theory was developed for evaluating patient satisfaction with health care. The analysis sought to determine whether survey variables associated with consumer satisfaction act as Hertzberg factors and contribute to survey participants' self-reported levels of health care satisfaction. To validate the technique, data from the survey were analyzed using logistic regression methods and then compared with results obtained from the two-factor model. The findings indicate a high degree of correlation between the two methods. The two-factor analytical methodology offers advantages due to its ability to identify whether a factor assumes a motivational or hygienic role and assesses the influence of a factor within select populations. Its ease of use makes this methodology well suited for assessment of multidimensional variables.
Perceptions of PCE use by dry cleaners and dry cleaning customers

Recent studies by consumer and environmental groups have raised questions about Perchloroethylene (PCE) used by over 85% of the commercial dry cleaners in the United States, but classified as a possible or probable carcinogen. Many environmentalists favour replacing PCE dry cleaning with alternative, chlorine-free processes currently under development. However, even if these alternatives eventually provide adequate replacements, some time will be needed to convert technologies in an industry that is dominated by small, family-run businesses. This study examines the possibility of reducing PCE exposure with existing technology, through provision of information aimed at changing dry cleaner and customer behaviour. Dry cleaning customers and dry cleaning store owners and operators were interviewed to identify their mental models of how PCE risks are created and controlled. The interviews with dry cleaning customers revealed little awareness of concerns about PCE. Because few understood the actual dry cleanin...
Cavity-enhanced optical frequency comb spectroscopy: application to human breath analysis

Broad-bandwidth, high-spectral-resolution optical detection of human breath has identified multiple important biomarkers correlated with specific diseases and metabolic processes. This optical-frequency-comb-based breath analysis system comes with excellent performance in all criteria: high detection sensitivity, ability to identify and distinguish a large number of analytes, and simultaneous, real-time information processing. We demonstrate a minimum detectable absorption of 8×10-10 cm-1, a spectral resolution of 800 MHz, and 200 nm of spectral coverage from 1.5 to 1.7 µm where strong and unique molecular fingerprints exist for many biomarkers. We present a series of breath measurements including stable isotope ratios of CO2, breath concentrations of CO, and the presence of trace concentrations of NH3 in high concentrations of H2O.
Tradeoffs in the Inductive Inference of Nearly Minimal Size Programs

Inductive inference machines are algorithmic devices which attempt to synthesize (in the limit) programs for a function while they examine more and more of the graph of the function. There are many possible criteria of success. We study the inference of nearly minimal size programs. Our principal results imply that nearly minimal size programs can be inferred (in the limit) without loss of inferring power provided we are willing to tolerate a finite, but not uniformly, bounded, number of anomalies in the synthesized programs. On the other hand, there is a severe reduction of inferring power in inferring nearly minimal size programs if the maximum number of anomalies allowed is any uniform constant. We obtain a general characterization for the classes of recursive functions which can be synthesized by inferring nearly minimal size programs with anomalies. We also obtain similar results for Popperian inductive inference machines. The exact tradeoffs between mind change bounds on inductive inference machines and anomalies in synthesized programs are obtained. The techniques of recursive function theory including the recursion theorem are employed.
Before the Bulldozer: The Namblquara Indians and the World Bank

Before the Bulldozer: The Namblquara Indians and the World Bank. David Price. Cabin John, MD: Seven Locks Press, 1989. vi. 212 pp. $17.95 (cloth). ISBN 0-932020-67-4
Checking system rules using system-specific, programmer-written compiler extensions

Systems software such as OS kernels, embedded systems, and libraries must obey many rules for both correctness and performance. Common examples include "accesses to variable A must be guarded by lock B," "system calls must check user pointers for validity before using them," and "message handlers should free their buffers as quickly as possible to allow greater parallelism." Unfortunately, adherence to these rules is largely unchecked.This paper attacks this problem by showing how system implementors can use meta-level compilation (MC) to write simple, system-specific compiler extensions that automatically check their code for rule violations. By melding domain-specific knowledge with the automatic machinery of compilers, MC brings the benefits of language-level checking and optimizing to the higher, "meta" level of the systems implemented in these languages. This paper demonstrates the effectiveness of the MC approach by applying it to four complex, real systems: Linux, OpenBSD, the Xok exokernel, and the FLASH machine's embedded software. MC extensions found roughly 500 errors in these systems and led to numerous kernel patches. Most extensions were less than a hundred lines of code and written by implementors who had a limited understanding of the systems checked.
The Sforza restoration and the founding of the ducal chapels at Santa Maria della Scala in Milan and Sant'Ambrogio in Vigevano

Although a number of motet, madrigal and lute collections supported by local Milanese patrons were printed in Milan and Venice during the first half of the sixteenth century, modern scholars continue to regard this period in Milanese history as fallow in musical activity. This phenomenon has resulted from a lack of documentary evidence regarding both the activities of the musicians who contributed to these collections and the musical institutions with which these musicians and their patrons were associated. While several studies on music at the Duomo of Milan during the first half of the sixteenth century do esixt, Guglielmo Barblan's poineering study remains the only comprehensive survey of civic and courtly music of the period, and it focuses primarily spon instrumental musicians, thus leaving largely unanswered the questions of where and by whom the aforementioned Milanese motests and madrigals were performed.
Assessment of a Chief Complaint-Based Curriculum for Resident Education in Geriatric Emergency Medicine

Introduction: We hypothesized that a geriatric chief complaint–based didactic curriculum would improve resident documentation of elderly patient care in the emergency department (ED). Methods: A geriatric chief complaint curriculum addressing the 3 most common chief complaints—abdominal pain, weakness, and falls—was developed and presented. A pre- and postcurriculum implementation chart review assessed resident documentation of the 5 components of geriatric ED care: 1) differential diagnosis/patient evaluation considering atypical presentations, 2) determination of baseline function, 3) chronic care facility/caregiver communication, 4) cognitive assessment, and 5) assessment of polypharmacy. A single reviewer assessed 5 pre- and 5 postimplementation charts for each of 18 residents included in the study. We calculated 95% confidence and determined that statistical significance was determined by a 2-tailed z test for 2 proportions, with statistical significance at 0.003 by Bonferroni correction. Results: For falls, resident documentation improved significantly for 1 of 5 measures. For abdominal pain, 2 of 5 components improved. For weakness, 3 of 5 components improved. Conclusion: A geriatric chief complaint–based curriculum improved emergency medicine resident documentation for the care of elderly patients in the ED compared with a non–age-specific chief complaint–based curriculum. [West J Emerg Med. 2011;12(4):484–488.]
Screening for social anxiety disorder in the clinical setting: using the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale.

Objective: We sought to determine optimal cutoff values for the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) total and subscale scores for the diagnosis of social anxiety disorder (SAD) and designation of the generalized subtype of SAD. Method: Three hundred and sixty-four patients from a multi-site sample who met criteria for SAD according to structured diagnostic interview, 262 of whom met criteria for the generalized subtype, and 34 control participants free of current Axis I disorders participated in this study. All participants were given the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale by an independent assessor. Results: Receiver Operating Characteristics analysis revealed that the LSAS performed well in identifying individuals who met criteria for SAD and for the generalized subtype of SAD. Cutoffs of 30 for SAD and 60 for its generalized subtype on the LSAS total score represented the best balance of specificity and sensitivity. Conclusions: These findings provide support for the use of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for the identification of individuals with SAD and its generalized subtype in clinical settings. Identification of patients with SAD should increase the percentage of these patients who receive appropriate treatment for this impairing disorder.