cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dental microwear and diet: implications for determining the feeding behaviors of extinct primates, with a comment on the dietary pattern of Sivapithecus.

Dental microwear is of special interest for two reasons. First, it has been proposed that specific dental microwear patterns are associated with specific diets and therefore that the diets of extinct forms may be deduced by analysis of microwear. Second, it has been suggested that the geometry of wear striations indicates the direction of masticatory movement. We tested these ideas by analyzing microwear of laboratory animals fed different diets. Twelve American opossums (Didelphis marsupialis) were fed soft cat food for 90 days. Two control animals were fed only this base diet, five animals had plant fiber added to their diet, four animals had chitin added to their diet, and one animal had fine ground pumice added to its diet (for the last 30 days of the feeding period). We examined the wear surface below the paracristid on the M3 and M4 of each animal by SEM. No microwear pattern differences were observed on the plant fiber-fed, chitin-fed, or control animal's molars. The pumice-fed opossum had a distinct microwear pattern with many parallel striations, resembling those found on the teeth of grass-eating hyraxes (Walker et al., 1978). These results suggest that (1) exogenous grit (this study) or plant parts containing opaline phytoliths (Walker et al., 1978) produce similar microwear patterns, and (2) the diets of extinct forms cannot always be deduced by the analysis of dental microwear. The absence of fine parallel striations on teeth of Sivapithecus examined by us suggests that grass parts were not an important part of its diet and that it avoided dietary fine grit. Furthermore, we found striations on opossum molars with deep, broad heads and shallow, narrow tails oriented in opposite directions on the the same Phase I wear facet. This suggests that the geometry of striations on Phase I wear facets does not allow one to determine the direction of masticatory movement.
Plankton functional group models – An assessment

Abstract This Discussant’s Report provides a summary of the discussions that followed presentation of the approaches and ideas described in Thingstad et al. (this volume) . The discussions, which addressed aspects of conceptual understanding and parameterization that are relevant to development of ecosystem models capable of emergent behavior at a range of scales, the benefits of functional group modeling, and some of the limitations of this approach, provide insights that are relevant to setting directions for future research efforts. One important point emerging from the discussions was that reconciling the requirements of simplicity versus complexity with the desire to obtain predictive capability is an important area where biogeochemical and ecosystem models can be improved.
Equivalent outcomes of living donor renal transplantation in the geriatric population

RESULTS: The University of Maryland has performed 469 living (LDRTx) and deceased donor renal transplants (DDRTx) in patients over the age of 65 years old since 1991. At the University of Maryland, 13.7% of all renal transplants have been performed in patients over the age of 65 years old and 5.5% of all renal transplant recipients have been over the age of 70 years old. Geriatric recipients (over 65 years old) of LDRTx demonstrated 1 year graft survival of 92.9%, 3 year graft survival of 84.8%, and 5 year graft survival of 71.2%. Only 1 year graft survival rates were statistically less than 1 year graft survival of 96.9% (p 0.048) in patients 18-64 years old. Geriatric recipients of DDRTx demonstrated 79.4%, 66.9%, and 59.0% graft survivals at 1, 3, and 5 years. DDRTx graft survival at 1 and 3 years was statistically less than recipients less than 65 years old of 84.6 % (p 0.03) at 1 year and 72.5% (p 0.001) at 3 years; 5 and 10 year graft survivals were not statistically different.
Detecting general and specific errors in expository texts

Abstract In a series of three experiments, subjects read and/or listened to expository passages containing general or specific errors within paragraphs. A general error consisted of a key, topical statement in a paragraph which contradicted details which should follow logically from it. Specific errors consisted of ideas that contradicted one another in a single sentence. In all three experiments subjects proved to be more likely to spot general errors than specific ones. A search for cognitive correlates of error detection performance was only partially successful. For conditions where subjects read the expository passages, vocabulary knowledge was positively associated with error detection performance (Experiment 2), as was reading comprehension (Experiment 3). There was no consistent difference between reading and listening in the ease with which subjects identified errors.
Reproductive biology of diploid and triploid Apios americana (Leguminosae)

Apios americana Medicus (Leguminosae; Phaseoleae), a tuberous, herbaceous vine, consists of diploid and triploid clones which are morphologically nearly identical. Although A. americana is widespread in eastern North America and flowers profusely throughout its range, fruit set is low. In part, this is because populations north of Connecticut consist almost exclusively of sterile triploid individuals. Although triploid populations occur south of this region, diploids predominate. Fruit set is also low in diploids. We attribute this to partial self-incompatibility and to a low rate of floral visits by leaf-cutter bees (Megachile spp.), the only legitimate pollinator. Visitation is easily measured because flowers have a nonrepetitive explosive tripping mechanism which must be triggered by insects. In two Connecticut populations only 10% of 299 flowers were tripped, and on average only about one-halfof these set fruit. We conclude that A. americana maintains populations by vegetative propagation, but expands its range and retains variability through sexual reproduction of diploids.
Clinically localised prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in United Kingdom men.w1 In 2002 it was diagnosed in 32 000 men, and more than 10 000 deaths were attributed to it. Its incidence increased with the introduction of the prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test, and disease specific mortality has declined. This review provides evidence about risk factors, prevention, detection, natural course, and treatment, with a focus on clinically localised disease, to guide primary care doctors. #### Summary points #### Data sources and selection criteria
STUDIES ON THE NASAL HISTOLOGY OF EPIDEMIC INFLUENZA VIRUS INFECTION IN THE FERRET : I. THE DEVELOPMENT AND REPAIR OF THE NASAL LESION

A study has been made of the nasal histology in normal ferrets and in ferrets during and after infection with epidemic influenza virus. During the acute stage of infection the respiratory epithelium of the nasal mucous membrane undergoes necrosis with desquamation of the superficial cells and exudation into the air passages, and an inflammatory reaction occurs in the submucosa. Repair begins on the 4th day after infection, and from the 6th to the 14th day the respiratory area is covered successively by a transitional, a stratified squamous, and finally a stratified columnar epithelium. By the 21st day after infection the epithelium has been largely restored to normal but repair in the submucosa and cartilage is still in progress. The respiratory mucosa is substantially normal in structure 1 month after infection although minor abnormalities of cellular arrangement and type can still be distinguished.
Image-processing algorithm for automatic assessment of fabric shrinkage

A vision system for the automatic quantification of fabric geometric distortion has been implemented and tested. The intended utility of this system is to replace the manual measurement of fabric shrinkage or growth as governed by the AATCC (American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists) Test Method 135. In the near future, other capabilities, such as automatic quantification of fabric smoothness, will also be incorporated. The system uses commercial, off-the-shelf hardware components, together with a customized image processing algorithm to capture digital images of pre-marked fabric swatches and to accurately measure the distance between the benchmarks before and after laundering. The primary focus of this paper is a description of the algorithm that detects these benchmarks. This robust algorithm detects the marks without regard to: (1) changes in the texture or the color of the swatches, (2) inter-fabric changes in the benchmark colors, (3) changes in the fabric contrast due to scanning or laundering, (4) presence of noise, or (5) slight rotations of the swatches during scanning. The presented system has been under routine testing at the International Textile Center of Texas Tech University, as well as the laboratories of Cotton Inc., with the computed dimensional changes and the manual measurements possessing a nearly perfect linear correlation.
The decision to develop the Space Shuttle

Abstract Many of the problems that the Space Shuttle programme has had in meeting its goals of routine and cost-effective access to space can be traced to various characteristics of the decision to develop the Space Shuttle. That decision was made through a process of bureaucratic politics, with little attention given to future users of the Shuttle. The design chosen for development was a poor compromise between demanding Pentagon and NASA requirements and a limited budget.
5-HT2 Receptor Regulation of Extracellular GABA Levels in the Prefrontal Cortex

Monoamines, including both dopamine and serotonin, synapse onto prefrontal cortical interneurons. Dopamine has been shown to activate these GABAergic interneurons, but there are no direct data on the effects of serotonin on GABA release in the prefrontal cortex. We, therefore, examined the effects of the 5-HT2a/c agonist 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl-2-aminopropane (DOI) on extracellular GABA levels in the prefrontal cortex of the rat. Local infusions of DOI dose-dependently increased cortical extracellular GABA levels. In addition, systemic DOI administration resulted in Fos protein expression in glutamic acid decarboxylase67-immunoreactive interneurons of the prefrontal cortex. These data indicate that serotonin, operating through a 5-HT2 receptor, acutely activates GABAergic interneurons in the prefrontal cortex. These data further suggest that there may be convergent regulation of interneurons by dopamine and serotonin in the prefrontal cortex.
An algorithm for determining global parameters of minimum-phase systems with fractional power spectra

A method to determine the singularities and the corresponding powers of minimum-phase system functions with fractional power spectra from experimental data is presented. The characteristic parameters of the dynamic system are computed from the measured frequency spectrum using the derivative method to obtain an initial estimate of the parameters followed by a least-square optimization technique for fine tuning. Mathematical formulations of the derivative and the optimization steps are discussed, and a comparison between the estimated and theoretical parameters is provided. The simulated and experimental data collected from a polarized metal electrode-electrolyte interface serve to test the performance of the algorithm. Although the algorithm is proposed to extract the global parameters of fractional power spectrum systems, it can also be used to obtain the characteristic parameters of systems with integer power factors. >
Accurate and efficient determination of chemisorption energies using pseudopotentials

Abstract The accuracy and efficiency of ab initio density functional theory calculations depend critically on the choice of pseudopotential. In this study, the merits of using large-core pseudopotentials for the dissociative chemisorption of oxygen on rhodium are discussed. The results show that these efficient pseudopotentials yield adsorption energies and bond distances of the oxygen atom to rhodium that are in close agreement with calculations performed with small-core pseudopotentials. However, to compute the dissociative chemisorption energy, a small-core calculation of the free O 2 molecule must also be performed to ensure accurate results. The use of pseudopotentials with different core radii for different aspects of the calculation leads to enhanced efficiency.
Alanine: A toxicity study

Abstract Male and female rats of weanling age were fed a basal ration containing 0, 5, 10, or 20% alanine for 26 weeks. When alanine intake increased, urinary alanine increased approximately 100- to 1000-fold and serum alanine increased approximately 50-fold. Increased alanine intake also caused changes in the blood chemistry as follows (p
Hammerhead Shark Research Immersion Program: Experiential Learning Leads to Lasting Educational Benefits.

High school students (n=45) participated in a 5-day research immersion study on juvenile scalloped hammerhead sharks in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii. Self-surveys were used to evaluate scientific concepts and skills taught during the program. There was a significant shift in students' perceived level of understanding for all categories of concepts and skills. A month following the immersion, a subset of participants (n=9) was given the opportunity to communicate what they had learned to a small group of professional science teachers. A second set of surveys were used to evaluate whether the students had retained knowledge from the 5-day immersion well enough to communicate information to others. During this follow-up, students were able to recall knowledge and demonstrate skills even without a review session. Students reported that they had a good understanding of what they were teaching and were able to teach effectively 79% of the time. Independently, the teachers also rated the students' effectiveness at 79%. The similarity between the teacher and student responses is evidence that the high school students were capable of accurate self-evaluations, validating the positive shift in concepts and skills documented by self-surveys. The lasting impact of the 5-day immersion provides support for experiential and constructivist teaching.
Priority in gene-conversion.

Die 1932 vonWinkler aufgestellte Hypothese der Genkonversion wurde bereits 1937 vonRenner und 1949 vonLindegren undMundkur bestatigt. Seit 1955 haben auch eine Reihe weiterer Autoren uber Befunde berichtet, welche operationsmassig nicht von dem vonWinkler beschriebenen Phanomen der Genkonversion zu unterscheiden sind, doch haben sie es ohne Ausnahme unterlassen,Renners ubereinstimmende Befunde zu zitieren.
The biogeochemistry of sediments in two Gulf of Maine basins

Abstract Pore water, sediment and microbiological samples were collected from two areas in the Gulf of Maine. The Jeffreys Basin sediments had low organic carbon and low reduced sulfur values; the quality of their pore water indicated that nitrification and subsequent denitrification were major biogeochemical processes occurring in the upper 115 cm. Sediments from the Wilkinson Basin had higher values of organic carbon and higher reduced sulfur and total plate-count bacteria. These data indicate that the major biogeochemical processes occurring in these sediments are denitrification followed by sulfate reduction. The differences in the rates of these microbially mediated processes can be related to differences in sedimentation rates at the two sites.
Home Sweet Home: Conceptualizing and Coping With the Challenges of Aging and the Move to a Care Facility

This study sought to understand how older adults make sense of the challenges of aging. In particular, the move to a care-related facility provides a context for the study of how uncertainty, ambivalence, and other concerns connected with the aging process are conceptualized by older adults. Furthermore, how older adults communicate about and cope with these challenges was examined. Babrow's (1992, 2007) problematic integration theory provides a framework for this research. A qualitative study employing in-depth interviews with 44 older adults from two continuum-of-care facilities was conducted. Findings indicate that the participants experienced problematic integration concerning physical declines, changes in the parent-child relationship, and the decision to move to a care-related facility. In coping with these challenges, older adults focused on positive evaluations, reframing, acceptance, and adaptation. By and large most of the coping mechanisms that older adults employed help explain their success in maintaining a positive outlook, achieving satisfaction with their move and their family communication, and adapting to the challenges of aging.
Minimization and NP multifunctions

The implicit characterizations of the polynomial-time computable functions FP given by Bellantoni-Cook and Leivant suggest that this class is the complexity-theoretic analog of the primitive recursive functions. Hence, it is natural to add minimization operators to these characterizations and investigate the resulting class of partial functions as a candidate for the analog of the partial recursive functions. We do so in this paper for Cobham's definition of FP by bounded recursion and for Bellantoni-Cook's safe recursion and prove that the resulting classes capture exactly NPMV, the nondeterministic polynomial-time computable partial multifunctions. We also consider the relationship between our schemes and a notion of nondeterministic recursion defined by Leivant and show that the latter characterizes the total functions of NPMV. We view these results as giving evidence that NPMV is the appropriate analog of partial recursive. This view is reinforced by earlier results of Spreen and Stahl who show that for many of the relationships between partial recursive functions and r.e. sets, analogous relationships hold between NPMV and NP sets. Furthermore, since NPMV is obtained from FP in the same way as the recursive functions are obtained from the primitive recursive functions (when defined via function schemes), this also gives further evidence that FP is properly seen as playing the role of primitive recursion.
Soft tissue sarcoma subtypes exhibit distinct patterns of acquired uniparental disomy

Background Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are heterogeneous mesenchymal tumors with diverse subtypes. STS can be classified into two main categories according to the type of genomic alteration: recurrent translocation driven STS, and non-recurrent translocations. However, little has known about acquired uniparental disomy in STS.
Metastatic cancer from an undetermined primary site

The charts of 285 patients diagnosed as metastatic cancer from an undetermined primary site were reviewed. An attempt was made to characterize this disease entity more specifically, and to evaluate the various modes of therapy utilized in such patients. Adenocarcinoma is the most common histologic type overall; squamous cell carcinoma is most common in 5-year survivors. Lymph nodes are the most common metastatic site overall and in 5-year survivors. The mean overall survival is 8.69 months with 8.7% 2-year survivors and 2.8% 5-year survivors. Surgery alone, radiation alone or in combination, and chemotherapy alone or in combination were utilized in these patients with 5-year survivals of 11, 3.7, and 1.1%, respectively. The 5-year survivors all had therapy initiated immediately after histologic diagnosis and medical workup, and all of their tumors were less than 8 cm in diameter. In view of this data, patients with metastatic cancer from an undetermined primary site should always be considered for early, aggressive therapy.
Amygdales in Columbia River lavas near Freedom, Idaho

Incomplete study of seven amygdales from the Columbia River lava-flows along Slate Creek, a tributary of Salmon River, near Freedom in north-central Idaho, reveals that these small objects are of unusual geological and mineralogical interest. This paper includes an outline of the geology of the area from which the amygdales came, a description of the amygdales, and a brief account of the periodic tilting of a large fault-block as revealed by them. Slate Creek enters Salmon River near the eastern border of the Columbia Plateau. In this locality the thick Lower Middle Miocene lava-flows of the plateau country are interbedded with the sediments of many local lakes formed periodically as successive flows dammed the streams flowing westward from the higher country to the east. A section measured near the mouth of Slate Creek shows the volcanic rocks there to be 2600 feet thick. At some places on the Plateau farther from its borders the flows aggregate more than twice that thickness.
The saline effect: Minimizing the severity of brain damage by reduction of secondary degeneration

Rats with bilateral lesions in the caudate nucleus received intracerebral injections of isotonic saline directly into remaining caudate tissue. Compared with noninjected controls, saline-treated animals performed a spatial footshock task better when tested after a 9-day recovery period but not if tested shortly after surgery. Histological evaluation revealed that the saline treatment significantly reduced anterograde degeneration in substantia nigra pars reticulata. In addition, behavioral measures correlated with lesion size and degree of anterograde degeneration in saline-treated animals but not in operated controls. It seems that saline injections can prevent neuronal death in tissue surrounding the zone of trauma, possibly through an alteration of ionic properties in the extracellular space.
Temperature-Dependent Activation Volumes of Self-Diffusion in Cadmium

The principal-axis self-diffusion coefficients of cadmium were measured over the temperature range 250-320 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C and over the pressure range 0-8 kbar. The self-diffusion activation volumes of the basal and nonbasal vacancy mechanisms are found to be temperature dependent, isotropic, and approximately proportional to the absolute temperature. We find that the activation entropy has a pressure dependence of -0.011 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.002 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$/mole \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, whereas the activation enthalpy is independent of pressure within our experimental uncertainty.
Engineering management challenges

Abstract Today's engineering managers must be increasingly aware of the social consequences of new technology, of the political and economic implications of their decisions, and of new international developments. They must consider the long-term — often extremely long-term — risks that a new product or process may pose to society and the quality of life. They have a responsibility to inform the government and the public about technology that impinges on societal concerns. They also have a responsibility to aid in establishing sound government regulations. More direct political involvement will help them attain their goals. In addition, as engineers, they must keep abreast of rapidly changing technology, both at home and abroad.
A note on the construction of optimal main effects plans in blocks of size two

In this paper we consider experimental situations in which n factors are to be studied in N runs arranged in N/2 blocks of size two. A simple method for constructing optimal designs in many such situations is given and examples are used to illustrate the technique.
Constructing the past and constructing themselves: the Uruguayan military's memory of the dictatorship

Institutional identity and social memory are used to construct legitimate images of self and justify past actions. The Uruguayan military as an institution was interested in constructing its own me...
Gender-bending aubergines: molecular phylogenetics of cryptically dioecious Solanum in Australia.

The causes, consequences and correlates of dioecy have been the subject of much discussion since the days of Darwin. Several recent authors have stressed the importance of informing this body of theory, with studies focusing on lineages in which both dioecy and hermaphroditism are present. The genus Solanum is an ideal group for analysis, because dioecy, hermaphroditism and potential unisexual transitions (e.g. andromonoecy) among them all occur. Phylogenetic hypotheses are presented for the Australian species in Solanum subgenus Leptostemonum (the ‘spiny solanums’) section Melongena, which contains 10 of the 14 currently described dioecious species in the genus. Phylogenetic analysis of the ITS and trnK–matK gene regions supports a single origin of dioecy from andromonoecy in Australian Solanum. The causes, mechanisms, and maintenance of dioecy in Australian Solanum are explored, including the role of past climate change in the establishment of centres of endemism.
An Interview with Hans Tutschku

Computer Music Journal, 27:4, pp. 14–26, Winter 2003 2003 Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Born in 1966, Hans Tutschku began to study music at an early age. In 1982, he joined the Ensemble fur Intuitive Musik Weimar, playing synthesizer and live electronics. He studied electroacoustic composition in Dresden, The Hague and Paris, and between 1989 and 1991 he accompanied Karlheinz Stockhausen on several concert tours to study sound diffusion. As a member of the Ensemble fur Intuitive Musik Weimar, Mr. Tutschku has realized multimedia productions, including those involving projection of images and choreography for dance. The ensemble has given numerous concerts in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. He has composed instrumental works, works for tape, works for musicians and electronics, and music for theater, film, and ballet. During 1995–1996, Mr. Tutschku was the professor of electroacoustic composition at the Liszt Conservatory in Weimar, and in 1996 he attended the Royaumont composition workshop with Klaus Huber and Brian Ferneyhough. During 1997–2001, he taught computer music at IRCAM. He has given master classes at the Universities of Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, and Singapore, the Music Academy in Budapest, as well as in Darmstadt, Stuttgart, Florence, Milan, and Porto. He has served as a jury member of the CIMESP (Sao Paulo) and Metamorphoses (Brussels) international competitions for electroacoustic composition. He completed a D.E.A. degree at the Parisian Sorbonne and a Ph.D. in Composition at the University of Birmingham in the UK. He has taught electroacoustic composition at the conservatory of Montbeliard since 2001. Last summer, he held a DAAD professorship at the Technical University of Berlin. He is the recipient of several international composition prizes, including Bourges, HannsEisler-Preis, CIMESP Sao Paulo, Prix ARS Electronica, Prix Noroit, and Prix Musica Nova. This interview was conducted on 2 April 2003, at the Ecole Nationale de Musique in Montbeliard, France.
Sexual Experience Promotes Adult Neurogenesis in the Hippocampus Despite an Initial Elevation in Stress Hormones

Aversive stressful experiences are typically associated with increased anxiety and a predisposition to develop mood disorders. Negative stress also suppresses adult neurogenesis and restricts dendritic architecture in the hippocampus, a brain region associated with anxiety regulation. The effects of aversive stress on hippocampal structure and function have been linked to stress-induced elevations in glucocorticoids. Normalizing corticosterone levels prevents some of the deleterious consequences of stress, including increased anxiety and suppressed structural plasticity in the hippocampus. Here we examined whether a rewarding stressor, namely sexual experience, also adversely affects hippocampal structure and function in adult rats. Adult male rats were exposed to a sexually-receptive female once (acute) or once daily for 14 consecutive days (chronic) and levels of circulating glucocorticoids were measured. Separate cohorts of sexually experienced rats were injected with the thymidine analog bromodeoxyuridine in order to measure cell proliferation and neurogenesis in the hippocampus. In addition, brains were processed using Golgi impregnation to assess the effects of sexual experience on dendritic spines and dendritic complexity in the hippocampus. Finally, to evaluate whether sexual experience alters hippocampal function, rats were tested on two tests of anxiety-like behavior: novelty suppressed feeding and the elevated plus maze. We found that acute sexual experience increased circulating corticosterone levels and the number of new neurons in the hippocampus. Chronic sexual experience no longer produced an increase in corticosterone levels but continued to promote adult neurogenesis and stimulate the growth of dendritic spines and dendritic architecture. Chronic sexual experience also reduced anxiety-like behavior. These findings suggest that a rewarding experience not only buffers against the deleterious actions of early elevated glucocorticoids but actually promotes neuronal growth and reduces anxiety.
THE OPPORTUNITY COST OF WATER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL USE DURING WATER SHORTAGES WITH REFERENCE TO THE VAAL RIVER SYSTEM

Optimal utilisation of water means inter aha that it must be allocated to the different usesiusers in such a way that the welfare of the community will be enhanced maximally. Necessary information for pursuing optimal allocation is knowledge about the value of water in different uses. An indirect method, the opportunity cost/alternative value method, is applied to assess the value of water for environmental use during a period of water scarcity.
Gender Harassment: Broadening Our Understanding of Sex-Based Harassment at Work

This study challenges the common legal and organizational practice of privileging sexual advance forms of sex-based harassment, while neglecting gender harassment. Survey data came from women working in two male-dominated contexts: the military and the legal profession. Their responses to the Sexual Experiences Questionnaire (SEQ) revealed five typical profiles of harassment: low victimization, gender harassment, gender harassment with unwanted sexual attention, moderate victimization, and high victimization. The vast majority of harassment victims fell into one of the first two groups, which described virtually no unwanted sexual advances. When compared to non-victims, gender-harassed women showed significant decrements in professional and psychological well-being. These findings underscore the seriousness of gender harassment, which merits greater attention by both law and social science.
In utero exposure to fluoxetine HCl increases hematoma frequency at birth

The present study was undertaken to determine if fluoxetine HCl (Prozac, Dista Products Ltd., Liverpool, UK) might cause adverse vascular effects, such as hematomas, in rats exposed in utero. Gravid Sprague-Dawley rats were administered 5.62 mg/kg fluoxetine HCl by oral gavage beginning on day 7 of gestation and ending the day of birth. A control group received distilled water by oral gavage during gestation. At birth, offspring of both groups were assessed for visible adverse vascular effects. Fluoxetine HCl-exposed offspring showed a statistically higher frequency of skin hematomas when compared to water controls. This result is consistent with known adverse effects of fluoxetine and lends support to a recently published report that attempted to link fluoxetine HCl use to bleeding episodes in eight patients being treated for obsessive-compulsive disorder. The results of this study suggest caution in the prolonged use of this medication during pregnancy and in patients with predisposing conditions that may increase the chances of bleeding.
Application of topical corticosteroids to sites of positive immediate-type allergy skin tests to relieve itching: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background In many allergy clinics topical corticosteroid cream is applied to sites of positive skin tests in an attempt to alleviate itching. Objectives To determine whether or not this practice is effective. Methods Patients with 5 or more positive skin test results were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups after skin test result reading: application of 2.5% hydrocortisone in moisturizing cream, moisturizing cream alone, or no topical application. Immediately after the skin test results were read (baseline) and at 5, 15, and 30 minutes, patients rated their itching on a 100-mm visual analog scale. Results Average itch scores for all groups combined were 44, 33, 22, and 12 at 0, 5, 15, and 30 minutes, respectively. No differences were found among the groups at any time point. No correlation was found between the baseline itch scores and age, sex, number of positive skin test results (≥3-mm wheals), or number of large positive skin test results (≥15-mm wheals). Conclusions The application of corticosteroid cream to sites of positive immediate-type allergy skin tests does not provide relief of itching; therefore, this practice should be abandoned. Instead, patients should be informed that any itching they may be experiencing will substantially resolve during the next 30 minutes and that application of such topical treatment will not hasten the relief of itching.
Contributions of H G Khorana to understanding transmembrane signal transduction

Heptahelical G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are located in the cell’s plasma membrane and are responsible for transmitting chemical signals across the lipid bilayer. GPCRs comprise a large family of related receptors that have evolved to bind a wide range of extracellular ligands, from biogenic amines and neuromodulatory peptides to peptide hormones and proteins, and to lipids and fatty acids, to name but a few. Recent advances in the study of structural biology of GPCRs, including reports of high-resolution crystal structures of nearly ten different receptors have transformed the field. Beginning in the mid-1980’s and continuing until his retirement, H Gobind Khorana and his co-workers at MIT worked on the prototypical GPCR rhodopsin and provided an early framework of experimental technologies and discoverieswhich propelled the field forward and continue to have a huge impact on literally hundreds of laboratories worldwide.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy cultured skin fibroblasts stain normally with concanavalin-A

Abstract Fibroblasts from skin biopsies of 6 patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and 6 controls were grown on cover slips and stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated concanavalin-A. Colchicine and cytochalasin B were also used to disrupt cytoskeletal components. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the staining patterns revealed no differences between the DMD and normal cell lines, suggesting that the cytoskeleton functions normally in cultured DMD skin fibroblasts and that this technique is not useful for carrier detection of DMD.
Identification of a novel SP3 binding site in the promoter of human IGFBP4 gene: role of SP3 and AP-1 in regulating promoter activity in CaCo2 cells

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 4 (IGFBP4/BP4) gene expression plays an important role in the transition from proliferation to differentiation of a human colon cancer cell line, CaCo2. We recently cloned and identified multiple cis elements (including putative binding sites for activator protein 1 (AP-1) and specificity proteins (Sps)) in the promoter of human BP4 gene, and measured a significant upregulation of the promoter activity in response to c-Jun. We therefore examined the role of the single AP-1 site (−869/−863) and other cis elements, in regulating the expression of hBP4 gene, in the current studies. Deletion of a 25 bp sequence from −872 to −848, which contains the AP-1 site, significantly reduced BP4 promoter activity by approximately 50%. Surprisingly, mutation of the AP-1 site did not produce significant alteration in the activity of the BP4 promoter. However, mutation of 7 bp (5′-TGCTGCA) at the 3′ end of the AP-1 site resulted in significantly decreasing the promoter activity by >50%. Proteins bound to the 25 bp probe (−872/−848) could be supershifted by antibodies specific for JunD and Sp3 in an EMSA. JunD binding was abolished on mutation of the AP-1 site and Sp3 binding was abolished on mutation of the 7 bp at −861/−855; binding of the purified Sp3 protein to the 25 bp probe was similarly abolished on mutation of the newly discovered Sp3 binding site (TGCTGCA). BP4 promoter activity was upregulated in insect cells in response to Sp3 expression, confirming a functional importance of the novel Sp3 binding site. These studies suggest that the Sp3 binding site, rather than the AP-1 site, may be playing a significant role in regulating the expression of IGFBP4 gene in CaCo2 cells.
Extensions to grid selector composition and compilation in APL

Abstract Guibas and Wyatt (1978) have presented a scheme that permits the space efficient implementation of several APL operators. The functions involved, the grid selectors , alter the order in which arguments are accessed, rather than the argument elements themselves. Examples of these functions include take, drop, transpose and reversal. The Guibas and Wyatt scheme involves composing adjacent grid selectors to form a single function, called a universal selector . In this paper, the method described by Guibas and Wyatt is extended to incorporate scalar operators that occur in conjunction with grid selectors. Additionally, several of the restrictions of the original paper are eliminated; in particular, it is shown how to generate code for grid selectors that are not accessed in sequential ravel order. These methods have been successfully implemented as part of an APL compiler.
Storage and recall of verbal and pictorial information

A modified paired associate incidental and intentional learning task was used to train subjects to associate pairs of highly imageable stimuli, presented either as words or pictures. When later testing of learning was accomplished in a congruent stimulus mode, as on training, then reconstruction of associate pairs of items was more complete than for disparate learning recall conditions (picture-words or words-pictures). This effect was particularly marked for incidentally learned pairs of items. The findings are used to relate state-dependent learning, encoding-retrieval specificity, and lateralization of brain function in the storage and retrieval of to-be-remembered information.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Heterogeneous Susceptibility, Trauma, and Epidemiology

Epidemiological studies relating antecedent trauma and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) demonstrate a contradiction: positive (but poorly structured) retrospective case-control studies and negative (but uninterpretably small) prospective cohort studies. In this report, the equations for the case-control odds ratio and cohort relative risk in populations with heterogeneous susceptibility to ALS are analyzed. The case-control odds ratio and cohort relative risk converge as the proportion of ALS-nonsusceptible individuals in a population increases and the rate of ALS in nonsusceptible individuals decreases. Cohort studies of antecedent trauma and ALS have no significant advantage over case-control studies in populations in which most individuals are relatively nonsusceptible to ALS. Accordingly, the relationship between antecedent trauma and ALS can be addressed by carefully defined case-control studies.
A Peptide Core Motif for Binding to Heterotrimeric G Protein α Subunits

Recently, in vitro selection using mRNA display was used to identify a novel peptide sequence that binds with high affinity to Galpha(i1). The peptide was minimized to a 9-residue sequence (R6A-1) that retains high affinity and specificity for the GDP-bound state of Galpha(i1) and acts as a guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor (GDI). Here we demonstrate that the R6A-1 peptide interacts with Galpha subunits representing all four G protein classes, acting as a core motif for Galpha interaction. This contrasts with the consensus G protein regulatory(GPR) sequence, a 28-mer peptide GDI derived from the GoLoco (Galpha(i/0)-Loco interaction)/GPR motif that shares no homology with R6A-1 and binds only to Galpha(i1-3) in this assay. Binding of R6A-1 is generally specific to the GDP-bound state of the Galpha subunits and excludes association with Gbetagamma. R6A-Galpha(i1) complexes are resistant to trypsin digestion and exhibit distinct stability in the presence of Mg(2+), suggesting that the R6A and GPR peptides exert their activities using different mechanisms. Studies using Galpha(i1)/Galpha(s) chimeras identify two regions of Galpha(i1) (residues 1-35 and 57-88) as determinants for strong R6A-G(ialpha1) interaction. Residues flanking the R6A-1 peptide confer unique binding properties, indicating that the core motif could be used as a starting point for the development of peptides exhibiting novel activities and/or specificity for particular G protein subclasses or nucleotide-bound states.
Resection of lateral temporal lobe arteriovenous malformations

Cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) can be formidable lesions to treat. There are four modalities available for treatment: expectant management, radiosurgery, embolization, and microsurgery. In order to make a decision about treatment, the surgeon must consider the natural history of the lesion versus the rate of treated morbidity and mortality. Characteristics of temporal lobe AVMs such as their location, the potential for deep-seated arterial feeders and deep venous drainage, increase the risk of early clinical onset, hemorrhage, and overall morbidity and mortality (Fleetwood and Steinberg; Lancet 359:863-873, 3) and provide an additional challenge to surgeons attempting to remove the lesion while preserving eloquent local structures. In this paper, we demonstrate our technique for the microsurgical resection of lateral temporal lobe AVMs. In order to maximize access to the lesion for safe resection, a large craniotomy is utilized, with the malformation separated from the MCA feeding arteries and underlying cortex, with care taken not to compromise en passage vessels. The entire nidus is resected and intraoperative angiography confirms appropriate resection. Microsurgical resection remains an important part of the treatment paradigm for temporal lobe AVMs. In appropriately selected patients, this can be done with minimal morbidity.
On fair coin-tossing games

Abstract Let Ω be a finite set with k elements and for each integer n ≧ 1 let Ω n = Ω × Ω × … × Ω (n-tuple) and Ω n = {(a 1 , a 2 ,…, a n ) | (a 1 , a 2 ,…, a n ) ∈ Ω n and aj ≠ aj+1 for some 1 ≦ j ≦ n − 1}. Let {Ym} be a sequence of independent and identically distributed random variables such that P(Y1 = a) = k−1 for all a in Ω. In this paper, we obtain some very surprising and interesting results about the first occurrence of elements in Ω n and in Ωn with respect to the stochastic process {Ym}. The results here provide us with a better and deeper understanding of the fair coin-tossing (k-sided) process.
Aggregates of yeast mitochondrial cytochrome b observed after electrophoresis.

Mitochondrial translation products obtained from yeast cells labeledin vivo in the presence of cycloheximide were separated by dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The labeled band, with a molecular weight of 30,000 corresponding to cytochromeb, was excised and subsequently transferred to a second gel. After electrophoretic separation, two labeled polypeptides with apparent molecular weights of 67,000 and 27,000 became visible in addition to the cytochromeb band of 30,000 molecular weight. Heating of the cytochromeb band prior to transfer resulted in an increase in the amount of the labeled polypeptides migrating with a molecular weight of 67,000.
Ethosuximide specifically antagonizes the effect of pentylenetetrazol in the rat entorhinal cortex

This study tested two related hypotheses. The first is that the entorhinal cortex has an important role in synchronization and spread of epileptiform activity into the dentate gyrus. The second is that ethosuximide acts by antagonizing the action of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) in the entorhinal cortex. Experiments were carried out in urethane anesthetized rats. Recording electrodes were placed in the dentate gyrus and stimulating electrodes were placed in the angular bundle. Administration of PTZ reduced the time to onset of maximal dentate activation, which is a marker for synchronized reverberatory seizure activity in the hippocampal-parahippocampal circuits. Since PTZ facilitates the spread of epileptiform activity in, or through, the entorhinal cortex, these results support the hypothesis that the entorhinal cortex can influence the spread of seizure activity from the entorhinal cortex into the hippocampus. Ethosuximide specifically, and dose-dependently, reduced the polysynaptic response in the dentate gyrus that is initiated by PTZ, while having no effect on the response in the dentate gyrus to ipsilateral angular bundle stimulation. These results support the hypotheses that ethosuximide can antagonize this effect of PTZ.
Opposing actions of the EGF family and opioids: heparin binding-epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF) protects mouse cerebellar neuroblasts against the antiproliferative effect of morphine

Endogenous opioids and opiate drugs of abuse inhibit the proliferation of cerebellar external granular layer (EGL) neuroblasts by mechanisms that are incompletely understood. Opioids do not act alone, rather multiple extracellular factors regulate granule cell neurogenesis and these undoubtedly act in concert with opioids to shape developmental outcome. We examined whether, heparin binding-epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF), a recently described member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family, might compete with an inhibitory opioid signal. The results confirmed our ongoing studies that morphine inhibited neuroblast proliferation, while HB-EGF enhanced cell replication. HB-EGF not only counteracted the antiproliferative morphine signal, but invariably enhanced DNA synthesis irrespective of morphine treatment. Our findings suggest that regional and temporal differences in the availability of endogenous HB-EGF may serve to limit the response of EGL neuroblasts to opioids, and HB-EGF may be neuroprotective in opiate drug abuse. If similar responses occur in vivo, then the EGF family and the opioid system may represent distinct and contrasting components of an extracellular signaling system serving to coordinate EGL neurogenesis.
10 rare tumors that warrant a genetics referral

The number of described cancer susceptibility syndromes continues to grow, as does our knowledge on how to manage these syndromes with the aim of early detection and cancer prevention. Oncologists now have greater responsibility to recognize patterns of cancer that warrant referral for a genetics consultation. While some patterns of common cancers are easy to recognize as related to hereditary cancer syndromes, there are a number of rare tumors that are highly associated with cancer syndromes yet are often overlooked given their infrequency. We present a review of ten rare tumors that are strongly associated with hereditary cancer predisposition syndromes: adrenocortical carcinoma, carcinoid tumors, diffuse gastric cancer, fallopian tube/primary peritoneal cancer, leiomyosarcoma, medullary thyroid cancer, paraganglioma/pheochromocytoma, renal cell carcinoma of chromophobe, hybrid oncocytoic, or oncocytoma histology, sebaceous carcinoma, and sex cord tumors with annular tubules. This review will serve as a guide for oncologists to assist in the recognition of rare tumors that warrant referral for a genetic consultation.