cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Silent Revolution: The International Monetary Fund 1979–1989. By James M. Boughton. Washington, DC: The International Monetary Fund, 2001. Pp. xxvii, 1111. $75. The Chastening: Inside the Crisis that Rocked the Global Financial System and Humbled the IMF. By Paul Blustein. New York: Public Affairs, 2001. Pp. xvi, 431. $30.

These two books have one element in common, the International Monetary Fund. For the rest, they differ in virtually every dimension. James Boughton, Assistant Director of the fund's Policy Development and Review Department, writes a colossal history of the institution for the period 1979–1989; his insider's perspective is inherently sympathetic to the institution and its main actors. Paul Blustein, a financial journalist of the Washington Post , describes the fund's handling of the financial crises of 1997–1999 in Thailand, South Korea, Indonesia, Russia, and Brazil; as an outsider, he has no institutional allegiance and, as a matter of fact, his assessment of the fund is negative. There are other differences, to be sure: Boughton's is a heavily researched history, rich not only in institutional knowledge but also in theories and policy debates; Blustein's focuses almost exclusively on the policy aspect. Boughton relies primarily on archival material, whereas Blustein on interviews with key policy makers, both inside and outside the fund. Boughton writes for an audience of economists and policy makers, Blustein for the educated but unspecialized. Boughton's work reads like a treatise, Blustein's like a novel.
Genetic architecture of growth and early life-history transitions in anadromous and derived freshwater populations of steelhead

Heritabilities of growth, precocious maturation and smolting were measured in 75 families of juvenile steelhead or rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, progeny of within and between line matings (crosses) of wild, anadromous steelhead and wild, resident (lake) rainbow trout originally derived from the same anadromous stock 70 years earlier. The tagged yearling progeny were combined by line in common freshwater rearing containers and graded into three categories: mature, smolt or rearing (undifferentiated) at age 2 years. Heritabilities of precocious male maturity, smolting and growth were moderate to high, and the genetic correlation between growth and smolting was low. Smolting and precocious male maturity were highly variable among families within lines and significantly different between lines. Each of the four lines produced significant numbers of smolts at age two. Smolting and maturation were negatively genetically correlated, which may explain the persistence of smolting in the lake population despite strong selection against lake smolts; balancing selection on male maturation age may help to maintain variation for smolting. The high heritability of smolting, coupled with the inability of smolts that leave the lake to return to it indicates that the genetic potential for smolting can lie dormant or be maintained through a dynamic interaction between smolting and early maturation for decades despite complete selection against the phenotype. The results have significant implications for the preservation of threatened anadromous stocks in fresh water and the inclusion of resident fish of formerly anadromous populations, currently trapped behind long-standing barriers to migration, as one component of the same population.
Apatite fission-track dating of erosion in the eastern Andes, Bolivia

Abstract Three samples from a Triassic-age batholith in the eastern Andes northeast of La Paz, Bolivia yield apatite fission-track ages of 11–13 Ma. Interpreting these young ages as due to uplift and erosion requires approximately 2.5–5.0 km of erosion in the past 12 Ma, an amount which is consistent with the known geology and which is typical of many active mountain ranges.
Dielectric anomalies of solid CO and N2 in the audio frequency range

Abstract Audio frequency dielectric constant measurements of CO and N 2 in their solid phases are presented. Anomalous temperature dependence of the dielectric constant in the α -phases of both CO and N 2 and strong hysteresis effects above an onset temperature T h ≃42 K in the β -phase of pure N 2 have been observed. A simple mean-field theory is proposed which explains some of the observed anomalies in the α -phase.
Thermal problems of the CW injection laser

We describe the theoretical dependence of emitted light power on current in a continuously operating p-n junction laser, based on an injection laser model previously developed by the author. The analysis relates power output to threshold current, electrical resistance, thermal resistance, and external quantum efficiency of the laser, all quantities that can be independently measured or calculated for particular structures. The equations presented thus constitute a simple analytical model for both thermal design and diagnosis of operation of cw injection lasers.
Hyperosmotic cellular volume regulation in the ribbed mussel Geukensia demissa: Inhibition by lysosomal and proteinase inhibitors

The microbial proteinase inhibitors bestatin, leupeptin, chymostatin, antipain, and pepstatin (all at 10−4 M) inhibit the proteolytic activity of gill homogenates of the ribbed mussel Geukensia demissa by 20–30%. In combination, these inhibitors reduced the hydrolysis of casein by 50%. Isolated gills from G. demissa acclimated to 500 mOsm seawater (SW) were incubated in 1000 mOsm SW for 8 h in the presence of the following proteinase and lysosome inhibitors: bestatin, pepstatin, leupeptin, antipain, chymostatin, NH4Cl, imidazole, and chloroquine. In control tissues the amino acid pool increased by 155 μmol/g dry wt. Imidazole (10 mM), NH4Cl (10 mM), and chloroquine (10−4 M) inhibited this increase by 70, 60, and 50%, respectively. Pepstatin, bestatin, and leupeptin (all 10−4 M) also inhibited the accumulation of amino acids in gills exposed to higher ambient salinity by 30–40%. In combination, these three microbial proteinase inhibitors reduced the enlargement of the amino acid pool by 60%. Chymostatin and antipain had no effect on the increase in the amino acid content of the tissues. The effects of these inhibitors on the amino acid levels of gill tissues incubated in isomotic seawater were minor. None of the inhibitors had significant effects on the oxygen uptake of isolated gills. The results from gills exposed to the amines and chloroquine suggest that lysosome-mediated proteolysis is involved in the accumulation of alanine and glycine during cellular adjustment to hyperosmotic stress in marine bivalves. The effectiveness of pepstatin, leupeptin, and bestatin in reducing this accumulation implicates aminopeptidase I and cathepsins B and D as the specific enzymes involved in the proteolysis associated with adjustment to hyperosmotic stress.
Protease-Sensitive Synthetic Prions

Prions arise when the cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) undergoes a self-propagating conformational change; the resulting infectious conformer is designated PrP(Sc). Frequently, PrP(Sc) is protease-resistant but protease-sensitive (s) prions have been isolated in humans and other animals. We report here that protease-sensitive, synthetic prions were generated in vitro during polymerization of recombinant (rec) PrP into amyloid fibers. In 22 independent experiments, recPrP amyloid preparations, but not recPrP monomers or oligomers, transmitted disease to transgenic mice (n = 164), denoted Tg9949 mice, that overexpress N-terminally truncated PrP. Tg9949 control mice (n = 174) did not spontaneously generate prions although they were prone to late-onset spontaneous neurological dysfunction. When synthetic prion isolates from infected Tg9949 mice were serially transmitted in the same line of mice, they exhibited sPrP(Sc) and caused neurodegeneration. Interestingly, these protease-sensitive prions did not shorten the life span of Tg9949 mice despite causing extensive neurodegeneration. We inoculated three synthetic prion isolates into Tg4053 mice that overexpress full-length PrP; Tg4053 mice are not prone to developing spontaneous neurological dysfunction. The synthetic prion isolates caused disease in 600-750 days in Tg4053 mice, which exhibited sPrP(Sc). These novel synthetic prions demonstrate that conformational changes in wild-type PrP can produce mouse prions composed exclusively of sPrP(Sc).
True Aneurysm of the Thyrocervical Trunk: Case Report and Literature Review

The third reported case of aneurysm of the thyrocervical trunk is presented. The patient developed embolization to the fingers of the right hand. Diagnosis was confirmed by arteriogram. Treatment was by surgical resection and arterial reconstruction.
Molecular dynamics study of the LS3 voltage-gated ion channel

Molecular dynamics calculations have been carried out on a model of the LS3 synthetic ion channel in a membrane mimetic environment. In the absence of an external electrostatic field, the LS3 channel, which consists of a bundle of six α-helices with sequence Ac-(LSSLLSL)3-CONH2, exhibits large structural fluctuations. However, in the presence of the field, the bundle adopts a well defined coiled-coil structure with an inner pore of water. The observed structural changes induced by the applied field are consistent with the proposed gating mechanism of the ion channel.
Complexities of bloom dynamics in the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium fundyense revealed through DNA measurements by imaging flow cytometry coupled with species-specific rRNA probes

Abstract Measurements of the DNA content of different protist populations can shed light on a variety of processes, including cell division, sex, prey ingestion, and parasite invasion. Here, we modified an Imaging FlowCytobot (IFCB), a custom-built flow cytometer that records images of microplankton, to measure the DNA content of large dinoflagellates and other high-DNA content species. The IFCB was also configured to measure fluorescence from Cy3-labeled rRNA probes, aiding the identification of Alexandrium fundyense (syn. A. tamarense Group I), a photosynthetic dinoflagellate that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). The modified IFCB was used to analyze samples from the development, peak and termination phases of an inshore A. fundyense bloom (Salt Pond, Eastham, MA, USA), and from a rare A. fundyense ‘red tide’ that occurred in the western Gulf of Maine, offshore of Portsmouth, NH (USA). Diploid or G2 phase (‘2C’) A. fundyense cells were frequently enriched at the near-surface, suggesting an important role for aggregation at the air-sea interface during sexual events. Also, our analysis showed that large proportions of A. fundyense cells in both the Salt Pond and red tide blooms were planozygotes during bloom decline, highlighting the importance of sexual fusion to bloom termination. At Salt Pond, bloom decline also coincided with a dramatic rise in infections by the parasite genus Amoebophrya. The samples that were most heavily infected contained many large cells with higher DNA-associated fluorescence than 2C vegetative cells, but these cells' nuclei were also frequently consumed by Amoebophrya trophonts. Neither large cell size nor increased DNA-associated fluorescence could be replicated by infecting an A. fundyense culture of vegetative cells. Therefore, we attribute these characteristics of the large Salt Pond cells to planozygote maturation rather than Amoebophrya infection, though an interaction between infection and planozygote maturation may also have contributed. The modified IFCB is a valuable tool for exploring the conditions that promote sexual transitions by dinoflagellate blooms but care is needed when interpreting results from samples in which parasitism is prevalent.
CMOS Compatible Reconfigurable Silicon Photonic Lattice Filters Using Cascaded Unit Cells for RF-Photonic Processing

This paper presents an overview of a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor-compatible, programmable, analog optical lattice filter based on silicon unit cells arrayed in large-scale photonic integrated circuits. The unit cell employs a combination of a ring resonator and a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with tunable phase elements in both of the paths. Each proposed unit cell contributes a separately controllable pole and zero pair. Under various configurations, we experimentally achieved >60-dB two-tone spurious-free dynamic range. For more sophisticated signal processing, we experimentally demonstrated an optical lattice filter with four cascaded unit cells capable of dynamically reconfiguring between a bandpass filter and a notch filter. The reconfiguration of the unit-cell and four-cell silicon lattice filter is based on a recursive algorithm, which brings new possibilities to RF photonic processing and a wide range of applications with design scalability to a large number of poles and zeros. The experimental results and the recursive algorithms show potentials for scaling to higher order filter designs.
Pathogenic Role for Virus-Specific CD4 T Cells in Mice with Coronavirus-Induced Acute Encephalitis

Acute viral encephalitis is believed to result from direct virus destruction of infected cells and from virus-induced host immune response, but the relative contribution of each remains largely unknown. For example, C57BL/6 (B6) mice infected with mouse hepatitis virus (JHM strain, JHMV) develop severe encephalitis, with death occurring within 7 days. Here, we show that the host response to a single JHMV-specific immunodominant CD4 T-cell epitope is critical for severe disease. We engineered a recombinant JHMV with mutations in the immunodominant CD4 T-cell epitope (rJ.MY135Q). Infection of naive B6 mice with this virus resulted in mild disease with no mortality. However, introduction of a CD4 T-cell epitope from Listeria monocytogenes into rJ.MY135Q generated a highly virulent virus. The decrease in disease severity was not due to a switch from Th1 to Th2 predominance in rJ.MY135Q-infected mice, an effect on CD8 T-cell function, or differential expression of tumor necrosis factor-α by JHMV-specific CD4 T cells. These results show that the response to a single virus-specific CD4 T-cell epitope may contribute to a pathogenic host response in the setting of acute viral disease and that abrogation of this response ameliorates clinical disease without diminishing virus clearance.
On the normality of operation times in small-lot assembly systems: a technical note

This paper has two primary purposes. First, it clarifies issues involved in using the normal distribution to describe the finishing times of operations related to assembly/test cycles. Secondly, it describes three cases in which the normal distribution is justified as a model of operation processing time.
FIBRONECTIN FRAGMENT MEDIATED CARTILAGE CHONDROLYSIS. I. SUPPRESSION BY ANTI-OXIDANTS

Fibronectin fragments damage cartilage in vitro by greatly enhancing metalloproteinases and suppressing proteoglycan (PG) synthesis which results in severe cartilage PG depletion. Since reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in catabolic cytokine action and preliminary data suggested that catabolic cytokines such as TNF-alpha, IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-6 are responsible for fibronectin fragment mediated damage, selected anti-oxidants (AOs) were tested as inhibitors of cytokine. ROS and fibronectin fragment activity. Damage was measured by depletion of cartilage PG during tissue culture. The AO, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), decreased the extent of cartilage PG depletion caused by TNF-alpha and IL-1 alpha and by the ROS, hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion, confirming that the cytokines operate through ROS and that ROS can initiate cartilage PG depletion. NAC at 0.1 and 1 mM, totally suppressed PG depletion caused by a highly potent amino-terminal 29-kDa fibronectin fragment (Fn-f) for 14 days in culture. NAC at 10 mM totally blocked Fn-f mediated PG depletion for 21 days and increased the cartilage PG content by 30% above normal levels. Glutathione (10 microM) and DMSO (1%) were also totally effective while catalase and superoxide decreased Fn-f mediated damage only during the first week and superoxide dismutase alone caused damage after 1 wk. The AOs caused protection by reducing the major catabolic activities of the Fn-f: enhanced release of stromelysin-1 (MMP-3) and suppression of PG and protein synthesis. NAC also decreased normal rates of PG degradation and increased the half-lives of labeled PG in both control and Fn-f treated cartilage. We conclude that the Fn-f mediates cartilage chondrolysis through ROS, consistent with the involvement of catabolic cytokines in the Fn-f mechanism, and that AOs greatly reduce Fn-f mediated cartilage chondrolysis. In an accompanying manuscript we also report that AOs promote reparative responses in Fn-f and cytokine treated cartilage.
Two-year outcomes in initial survivors with acute liver failure: results from a prospective, multicentre study.

Background & Aims The long-term clinical outcomes in initial survivors with acute liver failure (ALF) are not well known. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the 2-year clinical outcomes among initial survivors and liver transplant (LT) recipients that were alive 3 weeks after enrolment in the Acute Liver Failure Study Group (ALFSG). Methods Outcomes in adult ALFSG patients that were enrolled between 1998 and 2010 were reviewed. Results Two-year patient survival was significantly higher in the 262 LT recipients (92.4%) compared to the 306 acetaminophen (APAP) spontaneous survivors (SS) (89.5%) and 200 non-APAP SS (75.5%) (P < 0.0001). The causes of death were similar in the three groups but the time to death was significantly longer in the LT recipients (P < 0.0001). Independent predictors of 2-year mortality in the APAP group were a high serum phosphate level and patient age (c-statistic = 0.65 (0.54, 0.76)), patient age and days from jaundice to ALF onset in the non-APAP group (c-statistic = 0.69 (0.60, 0.78)), and patient age, days from jaundice, and higher coma grade in the LT recipients (c-statistic = 0.74 (0.61, 0.87)). The LT recipients were significantly more likely to be employed and have a higher educational level (P < 0.05). Conclusions Two-year outcomes in initial survivors of ALF are generally good but non-APAP patients have a significantly lower survival which may relate to pre-existing medical comorbidities. Spontaneous survivors with APAP overdose experience substantial morbidity during follow-up from ongoing psychiatric and substance abuse issues.
Using an outcomes-based approach to identify candidates for risk stratification after exercise treadmill testing

Objective To develop a hierarchical approach to cardiac risk stratification after treadmill testing. Patients Clinical and treadmill test data were used to identify a patient population that may be candidates for further risk stratification with stress tomographic myocardial perfusion imaging. A prospective series of 3, 620 medically treated patients (42% female, mean age 63 years) with a 2.5% mortality was identified (follow-up 2.5 +/- SD 1.5 years). Measurements and main results A Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate a patient's likelihood of cardiac death. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to estimate time to cardiac death by nuclear test results. Annual rates of cardiac death were 0. 4% (n = 921), 1% (n = 2,498), and 1% (n = 201) for patients with low, intermediate, and high Duke treadmill scores (DTS). For patients with an intermediate DTS, multivariate estimators of cardiac death included the number of ischemic vascular territories (relative risk per defect 1.4, p =.01), the number of infarcted vascular territories (relative risk per defect 2.4, p =.00001), and the DTS (relative risk per unit 0.97, p =.00001), following adjustment for a patient's pretest risk of coronary disease. For patients with an intermediate DTS, the presence of no, one or two, and three vascular territories with defects was associated with annual rates of cardiac death of 0.5%, 1.4%, and 2.5%, respectively (p Conclusions For symptomatic patients with an intermediate treadmill test score, the exercise myocardial perfusion scan may be used to stratify their risk of cardiac death over 3 years of follow-up. Patient management may be efficiently guided by further outcome assessment, with an exercise nuclear scan for patients whose treadmill test score is intermediate.
Effect of baking and frying on the in vivo toxicity to rats of cornmeal containing fumonisins.

Fumonisins are mycotoxins produced by Fusarium verticillioides (=F. moniliforme) and other Fusarium species. They are found in corn and corn-based foods. Cooking decreases fumonisin concentrations ...
Generalization in vision and motor control

Learning is more than memory. It is not simply the building of a look-up table of labelled images, or a phone-directory-like list of motor acts and the corresponding sequences of muscle activation. Central to learning and intelligence is the ability to predict, that is, to generalize to new situations, beyond the memory of specific examples. The key to generalization, in turn, is the architecture of the system, more than the rules of synaptic plasticity. We propose a specific architecture for generalization for both the motor and the visual systems, and argue for a canonical microcircuit underlying visual and motor learning.
Role of the echocardiography laboratory in diagnosis and management of pacemaker and implantable cardiac defibrillator infection.

A 68-year-old male patient presented with several weeks of fatigue, progressing to subjective fever and chills. For several days before admission he noted progressive dyspnea, and for this reason presented to the emergency department. Blood cultures grew Staphylococcus aureus. Pertinent history included an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) implantation in the left chest 25 months earlier for inducible ventricular tachycardia and an ischemic cardiomyopathy. History included that of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) for which he received chronic hemodialysis via dialysis catheter, which had been inserted 1 year earlier. Physical examination was unrevealing for source of infection. Particularly, the ICD pocket appeared unremarkable with no discomfort, fluctuance, erythema, or warmth noted. By transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) no definite abnormality was found, but electrode reverberations made imaging difficult. Subsequently, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) revealed several mobile vegetations attached to electrodes within the right atrium (Fig. 1 and Video Fig. 1). The entire ICD system was surgically removed. Several large vegetative lesions were noted attached to the electrodes, which subsequently also grew Staphylococcus aureus. At surgery the generator pocket appeared unremarkable and cultures were sterile. The
Alpha-2 Heremans Schmid Glycoprotein (AHSG) Modulates Signaling Pathways in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Line SQ20B

This study was performed to identify the potential role of Alpha-2 Heremans Schmid Glycoprotein (AHSG) in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) tumorigenesis using an HNSCC cell line model. HNSCC cell lines are unique among cancer cell lines, in that they produce endogenous AHSG and do not rely, solely, on AHSG derived from serum. To produce our model, we performed a stable transfection to down-regulate AHSG in the HNSCC cell line SQ20B, resulting in three SQ20B sublines, AH50 with 50% AHSG production, AH20 with 20% AHSG production and EV which is the empty vector control expressing wild-type levels of AHSG. Utilizing these sublines, we examined the effect of AHSG depletion on cellular adhesion, proliferation, migration and invasion in a serum-free environment. We demonstrated that sublines EV and AH50 adhered to plastic and laminin significantly faster than the AH20 cell line, supporting the previously reported role of exogenous AHSG in cell adhesion. As for proliferative potential, EV had the greatest amount of proliferation with AH50 proliferation significantly diminished. AH20 cells did not proliferate at all. Depletion of AHSG also diminished cellular migration and invasion. TGF-β was examined to determine whether levels of the TGF-β binding AHSG influenced the effect of TGF-β on cell signaling and proliferation. Whereas higher levels of AHSG blunted TGF-β influenced SMAD and ERK signaling, it did not clearly affect proliferation, suggesting that AHSG influences on adhesion, proliferation, invasion and migration are primarily due to its role in adhesion and cell spreading. The previously reported role of AHSG in potentiating metastasis via protecting MMP-9 from autolysis was also supported in this cell line based model system of endogenous AHSG production in HNSCC. Together, these data show that endogenously produced AHSG in an HNSCC cell line, promotes in vitro cellular properties identified as having a role in tumorigenesis.
God's Own Scientists: Creationists in a Secular World

God's Own Scientists: Creationists in a Secular World. Christopher P. Toumey. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1994. xl + 289 pp., bibliography, index.
Combining behavioral weight loss treatment and a commercial program: A randomized clinical trial

Objective: To test the hypothesis that a novel weight loss approach that combined the fundamental components of professionally delivered behavioral weight loss (BWL) treatment with the existing Weight Watchers (WW) program would produce better weight losses than WW alone no differences were expected between the novel treatment and BWL alone. Design and Methods: Participants were 141 overweight and obese adults (90% women, 67% non-White, mean age = 49.7 ± 9.2 years, mean body mass index = 36.2 ± 5.5 kg/m2) randomly assigned to 48 weeks of BWL, 48 weeks of WW, or 12 weeks of BWL followed by 36 weeks of WW [combined treatment (CT)]. Assessments were conducted at baseline and weeks 12, 24, and 48, with weight change as the primary outcome. Results: Linear mixed model analysis showed that 24-week weight losses did not differ significantly between treatment groups; however, weight losses at 48 weeks were greater in the WW group (M = −6.0 kg, standard error (SE) = 0.8) compared with the CT group (M = −3.6 kg, SE = 0.8; P = 0.032), with BWL not significantly different from either (M = −5.4 kg, SE = 0.8). Further, a greater proportion of WW participants lost 10% of baseline weight by 48 weeks compared with BWL or CT (36.7%, 13.0%, and 15.2%, respectively, P < 0.05). Conclusion: This study shows that the WW program can produce clinically meaningful weight losses and provides no evidence that adding brief BWL to the WW program improves outcome.
Effectiveness of a layer of an absorbing-scattering gas in shielding a surface from incident thermal radiation

Abstract A layer of radiating gas is analyzed to determine its effectiveness in shielding a surface from incident radiation. The radiation falling on the “free boundary” of the layer is made up of a diffuse and a collimated component. It is assumed that the gas is gray and capable of absorbing, emitting and isotropically scattering radiation; and the surface is a gray, diffuse emitter and reflector of radiation. Heat transfer by conduction and convection is neglected compared to radiation, the problem is formulated exactly in terms of integral equations, and an approximate solution is obtained by the collocation method. A comparison of the heat transfer results with those of the unshielded case shows that for a highly absorbing surface there is considerable reduction in heat transfer if the optical thickness of the layer is large enough. On the other hand, there is very little reduction in heat transfer for a highly reflecting surface regardless of the magnitude of the optical thickness.
Retrograde impulse activity and horseradish peroxidase tracig of nerve fibers entering neuroma studied in vitro

Neuroma formation was induced in rat sciatic nerve by tight ligature. At various times after placement of the ligature, the nerves were excised, desheathed, split longitudinally proximal to the neuroma, and studied in vitro in a nerve chamber. Stimulation of one of the arbitrarily formed proximal branches was found to generate impulse activity in the other branch. Since similar branch to branch activation did not occur in control preparations, it appeared that some form of axon to axon interaction occurred within the neuroma, or alternatively that retrograde regeneration allowed continuity of nerve fibers in proximal divisions of the nerve trunk. Attempts at morphological demonstration of the continuity alternative were made by applying horseradish peroxidase to cut fibers of one proximal division. Although labeled axons did turn retrogradely within the neuroma, they were not found to enter the other nerve division.
Postoperative hyperglycemia is associated with mediastinitis following pediatric cardiac surgery.

Summary Introduction: Mediastinitis is an infrequent, but significant complication of median sternotomy. Perioperative hyperglycemia is associated with increased morbidity, including infection in pediatric and adult cardiac surgical patients. We hypothesized that perioperative blood glucose levels would be higher in patients who later developed mediastinitis. Methods: We examined the medical records of all infants and children diagnosed with poststernotomy mediastinitis (n = 24) from July 2001 to December 2005. Data recorded included postoperative blood glucose levels, age, diagnosis, operation, surgical complexity score, duration of operation and cardiopulmonary bypass, delayed sternal closure, perioperative use of steroids and total parenteral nutrition, and duration of postoperative inotropic and ventilatory support. Records of patients without mediastinitis matched for age, complexity score, and month of operation (control group, n = 32) were also reviewed. Data were analyzed with t-tests and chi-square tests. Variables with P < 0.21 on univariate tests were entered into a multivariate logistic regression model. Results: Initially, postoperative blood glucose levels were elevated, but similar in both mediastinitis and control groups. The number of subjects having peak blood glucose levels >7.2 mm (>130 mg·dl−1) during the first 24 h was greater in the mediastinitis group (P = 0.07). The significant multivariate predictor of mediastinitis was 24 h peak blood glucose >7.2 mm (>130 mg·dl−1) (P = 0.039). Conclusion: Our data support the hypothesis that postoperative hyperglycemia is a risk factor for the development of mediastinitis in infants and children following cardiac surgery.
Altered muscle metabolism shown by magnetic resonance spectroscopy in sickle cell disease with leg ulcers

We performed 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy of gastrocnemius muscle at rest in 7 normal volunteers and 12 patients with sickle cell disease (7 with leg ulcers and 5 without leg ulcers but with painful crises). We measured intracellular pH and ratios of Pi to ATP, PCr to ATP and PCr to Pi (Pi = inorganic phosphate, ATP = adenosine triphosphate, and PCr = phosphocreatine). Magnetic resonance arteriograms were also performed. Significant differences were found for PCr/Pi ratios between normals and sickle cell disease patients with leg ulcers (p < 0.008). Magnetic resonance arteriograms were normal in volunteers and patients with sickle cell disease. The altered high energy phosphate metabolism in sickle cell disease with leg ulcers is consistent with muscle ischemia or hypoxia.
A computer program for estimation of reference percentile values in laboratory data.

Abstract It has been suggested that the physician would be aided in his interpretation of clinical laboratory results if the data were reported in terms of percentile ranking in a reference population as well as in conventional units. This paper describes a FORTRAN program for estimating the necessary reference percentile values by means of regression over 20% of the distribution rather than by interpolation between adjacent points. The regression estimates are shown to have a negligible bias and to be somewhat more stable than those obtained by interpolation.
Treatment planning and delivery of external beam radiotherapy for pediatric sarcoma: the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital experience.

Purpose To describe and review the radiotherapy (RT) treatment planning and delivery techniques used for pediatric sarcoma patients at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The treatment characteristics serve as a baseline for future comparison with developing treatment modalities. Patients and Methods Since January 2003, we have prospectively treated pediatric and young-adult patients with soft-tissue and bone sarcomas on an institutional Phase II protocol evaluating local control and RT-related treatment effects from external-beam RT (conformal or intensity-modulated RT; 83.4%), low-dose-rate brachytherapy (8.3%), or both (8.3%). Here we describe the treatment dosimetry and delivery parameters of the initial 72 patients (median, 11.6 years; range, 1.4–21.6 years). Results Cumulative doses from all RT modalities ranged from 41.4 to 70.2 Gy (median, 50.4 Gy). Median D95 and V95 of the planning target volume of external-beam RT plans were, respectively, 93.4% of the prescribed dose and 94.6% of the target volume for the primary phase and 97.8% and 99.2% for the cone-down/boost phase. The dose–volume histogram statistics for 27 critical organs varied greatly. The spinal cord in 13 of 36 patients received dose >45 Gy (up to 52 Gy in 1 cc) because of tumor proximity. Conclusions Planning and delivery of complex multifield external beam RT is feasible in pediatric patients with sarcomas. Improvements on conformity and dose gradients are still desired in many cases with sensitive adjacent critical structures. Long-term follow-up will determine the risk of local failure and the benefit of normal tissue avoidance for this population.
Maternal Thyrotropin Receptor Blocking Antibody-Induced Congenital Hypothyroidism in Babies Born to Apparently Normal Mothers

Maternal Thyrotropin Receptor Blocking Antibody-Induced Congenital Hypothyroidism in Babies Born to Apparently Normal Mothers
Role of tape abrasivity on friction, wear, staining and signal degradation in audio tapes

Audio tapes with varying amounts of head cleaning agent (HCA), pigment volume concentration (PVC) and lubricant concentration were run against a mu-metal audio head in a linear tape drive. Surfaces were characterized with atomic force microscope (AFM). Head wear was measured using a Knoop indentation technique in which the change in the length of the indent diagonal corresponds to the wear depth. Any formation of head stains was optically observed. An electrical sine wave signal was recorded at different frequencies. Degradation in this signal was measured by measuring the changes in its RMS value. Coefficients of friction for each tape were measured using an off-line friction tester. Tests were also conducted on uncalendered tapes with various HCA contents. Tapes with different HCA contents, PVC and lubricant levels have the same average roughness statistics, within a given roughness matrix. Consequently, they exhibit similar friction characteristics. Increasing HCA and/or roughness reduces propensity of head stains, resulting in better signal reproduction at the expense of higher head wear. However, there seems to be a limit to improving signal quality by increasing HCA or roughness. Increase in PVC results in a slight decrease of head wear and better signal reproduction. Signal reproduction remains largely unaffected by varying lubricant level. Head wear however slightly increases with decreasing lubricant content. Abrasive wear is the dominant wear mechanism for the head in each case as evidenced by extensive scratches on the head surface. Adhesive transfer debris is also formed by each tape. The tape wear occurs mainly by burnishing, i.e. high asperities on the tape surface are knocked off during the wear process. This study provides a data base which is expected to be useful to design engineers in predicting behavior of new tape formulations and plant engineers in understanding the implications of their process variability.
Molecular phylogeny and floral fragrances of male euglossine bee-pollinated orchids : a study of Stanhopea (Orchidaceae)

A molecular phylogeny was estimated for 23 species of the genus Stanhopea and its sister taxon the monotypic Embreea (Orchidaceae) using the internally transcribed spacer regions-1 and -2 (ITS). We compared the molecular phylogeny with data on floral fragrances and pollination biology. In a few instances, the fragrance data reflected the molecular phylogeny of some of the species groups, but for the most part, fragrance data were homoplasious and not reliable indicators of phylogeny as determined from the independently derived molecular data set.
Morphology and distribution of lava flows on mid-ocean ridges: a review

Abstract Both pillow lavas and sheet flows are important features of oceanic volcanism at mid-ocean ridges. Submersible surveys of the neovolcanic zone and off-axis areas of these complex seafloor volcanic terrains conducted during the past two decades have uncovered a wide array of basaltic surface forms, with pillow basalts displaying bulbous, spherical, and elongate tubular patterns and sheet flows exhibiting smooth, lobate, rippled, wrinkled, ropy, whorly, hackly, and jumbled configurations. The genesis of pillow lavas and sheet flows appears to be coupled to variations of spreading rates within the plate boundary zone. While pillow lavas predominate at slow spreading centers (i.e., Mid-Atlantic Ridge), sheet flows prevail along the active volcanic zones at intermediate (i.e., Galapagos Rift and Juan de Fuca Ridge), fast and superfast (i.e., East Pacific Rise) spreading centers. Yet, both types of flows are present at each setting. The distribution of pillow lavas and sheet flows along a ridge segment is related to the topographic gradient of the ridge axis. Hence, the formation of sheet flows tends to be favored by the development of topographic highs between ridge segment boundaries where the crustal lid is thinnest and rifting directly taps the underlying magma chamber. Fissure eruptions here release copious amounts of surface-fed fluid lavas which decrease in volume down the topographic gradient. Away from the bathymetric high of the ridge segment, lava flows become more distal and channelized, thereby fostering greater concentrations of tube-fed pillow flows toward the segment boundaries. The type of lava flow morphologies encountered at any specific site on the seafloor is contingent upon the effusion rate, cooling rate, and slope, as demonstrated by laboratory simulations.
Hatchery programs, stock enhancement, and cost effectiveness: A case study of the Albemarle Sound/Roanoke River stocking program 1981–1996

Abstract Fish hatchery programs commonly are used to enhance depleted fish populations. While these programs are highly valued by the public, most likely due to their nonrestrictive approach to restoring a fishery, the effectiveness of these programs has been often questioned. This study investigates economic and ecological effectiveness of the Albemarle Sound/Roanoke River (AR) striped bass stocking program from 1981 to1996 as a case study.
Studying the effect of co-change dispersion on software quality

Software change history plays an important role in measuring software quality and predicting defects. Co-change metrics such as number of files changed together has been used as a predictor of bugs. In this study, we further investigate the impact of specific characteristics of co-change dispersion on software quality. Using statistical regression models we show that co-changes that include files from different subsystems result in more bugs than co-changes that include files only from the same subsystem. This can be used to improve bug prediction models based on co-changes.
EFFECT OF HYPOXIA AND REOXYGENATION ON THE FORMATION AND RELEASE OF REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES BY PORCINE PULMONARY ARTERY ENDOTHELIAL CELLS

Endothelial cells are critical targets in both hypoxia- and reoxygenation-mediated lung injury. Reactive O2 species (ROS) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of hypoxic and reoxygenation lung injury, and xanthine dehydrogenase/oxidase (XDH/XO) is a major generator of the ROS. Porcine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAEC) have no detectable XDH/XO. This study was undertaken to examine 1) ROS production by hypoxic porcine PAEC and their mitochondria and 2) ROS production and injury in reoxygenated PAEC lacking XDH/XO activity. Intracellular H2O2 generation and extracellular H2O2 and O2 divided release were measured after exposure to normoxia (room air-5% CO2), hypoxia (0% O2-95% N-5% CO2), or hypoxia followed by normoxia or hyperoxia (95% O2-5% CO2). Exposure to hypoxia results in significant reductions in intracellular H2O2 formation and extracellular release of H2O2 and O2 by PAEC and mitochondria. The reductions occur with as little as a 2 h exposure and progress with continued exposure. During reoxygenation, cytotoxicity was not observed, and the production of ROS by PAEC and their mitochondria never exceeded levels observed in normoxic cells. The absence of XDH/XO may prevent porcine PAEC from developing injury and increased ROS production during reoxygenation.
Exploiting Proteomics in the Discovery of Drugs That Target Mitochondrial Oxidative Damage

To understand how oxidative stress contributes to aging and age-related diseases and to better evaluate the therapeutic effect of antioxidant drugs, it would be highly desirable to have a comprehensive and detailed readout of the types of oxidative damage that occur to proteins at a global or proteome level. In this Perspective, I examine how proteomics, defined here as the science of examining all proteins in an organelle, cell, or tissue in the context of biological phenomena, can be used to provide molecular details of mitochondrial protein oxidative damage. Specifically, I discuss approaches that combine knowledge of the mitochondrial proteome with newer mass spectrometry-based techniques that are capable of identifying proteins and sites of oxidative modification in a high-throughput manner.
Rutherford backscattering analysis of thermal-pulse annealed Hg1−xCdxTe

Abstract Mercury loss from Hg 1− x Cd x Te as a function of temperature has been investigated using a thermal pulse annealing system and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS). Preliminary results indicate the loss rate is a strong function of the x value. For x ≈ 0.2 the data has been fit to a curve of the form: N = A exp(− ΔE / kT ) where A = 1.0×10 29 Hg atoms/cm 2 s and ΔE = 1.8 eV. Our results are compared with the results of Takita et al. for HgTe. Channeling RBS has also been used to show that a 260°C eight second thermal pulse anneal is sufficient to repair crystal damage caused by a 250 keV 10 15 11 B/cm 2 implant into epitaxial Hg 0.64 Cd 0.36 Te layers held at LN 2 temperature. A Si proximity cap was used during the anneal. The carrier concentration and mobility increased following the anneal though the percentage electrical activity still remained low.
Quantitative Analysis of RNA Interference by mRNA Couting at Single-Cell Level

RNA interference (RNAi) is a gene regulation pathway induced by small RNA molecules, microRNA (miRNA) and small interfering RNA (siRNA). It is a multi-step process consisting of the small RNA genesis by Dicer, guide strand selection and the guide strand-mediated gene silencing either through mRNA cleavage or translation inhibition by RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). Even though RNAi is one of the major techniques to regulate gene, the mechanistic details of each step are yet to be determined. Especially, unveiling which step is the rate-determining step would deepen the understanding about the molecular mechanism of RNAi and could contribute designing more efficient small RNAs for gene silencing. To address the question, the quantitative analysis of RNAi is required, which benefits from the detection of single mRNA at single-cell level. Here, we incorporated single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization (smFISH) to count mRNA at single-cell level and screened multiple sets of small RNAs which mimic miRNA, siRNA, pre-miRNA and pre-siRNA. Together with single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) which enables us to quantify the RNA cleavage by Dicer, we discovered that the cleavage step by Dicer controls the overall silencing kinetics. Interestingly, we also found that Dicer is sensitive to 3’ overhang not RISC. The quantitative analysis of RNAi using smFISH together with smFRET would be a powerful platform to study RNAi and other gene-regulating system.
Abstract A31: ERG-mediated alterations in chromatin conformation

Abstract Emerging evidence suggests that chromatin adopts a non-random three dimensional (3D) topology and that the organization of genes into structural hubs and domains affects their transcriptional status. How chromatin conformation changes in diseases such as cancer is poorly understood. Moreover, how oncogenic transcription factors, which bind to thousands of sites across the genome, influence gene regulation by globally altering the topology of chromatin requires further elucidation. To address these questions, we performed unbiased high-resolution mapping of intra- and inter-chromosome interactions upon over-expression of ERG, an oncogenic transcription factor frequently over-expressed in prostate cancer as a result of a gene fusion. By integrating data from genome-wide chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C), ERG binding (ChIP-seq), gene expression (RNA-seq) and spectral karytopying, we demonstrate for the first time that the oncogenic transcription factor ERG can induce global, reproducible and functionally coherent changes in chromatin organization that are associated with gene expression differences and genomic alterations. The results presented here have broader implications, as many driving genetic lesions in other cancer types involve altered levels of transcription factors due to genomic alterations (e.g. EWS-FLI1, c-Myc, n-Myc, PML-RARα). Citation Format: David S. Rickman, Ari Melnick, Olivier Elemento, Mark Rubin, T. David Soong, Benjamin Moss, Juan Miguel Mosquera, Jan Dlabal, Stephane Terry, Theresa MacDonald, Karen Bunting, Francesca Demichelis. ERG-mediated alterations in chromatin conformation [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Prostate Cancer Research; 2012 Feb 6-9; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(4 Suppl):Abstract nr A31.
Pavlovian conditional vocalizations of the rat : a model system for analyzing the fear of pain

Presentation of a 6-s light conditional stimulus (CS) that overlapped with a 1-s tailshock unconditional stimulus (US) generated audible conditional vocalization responses (VCRs) during the CS period. The rate of conditioning was observed to be directly related to the intensity of the tailshock US (0.15 mA-0.80 mA). The amplitude, duration, and number of VCRs was also directly related to US intensity, whereas the latency of VCRs from CS onset was inversely related to US intensity. VCRs were not observed in rats given explicitly unpaired presentations of CS and US (0.80 mA). The capacity of tailshock to support development of VCRs was found to depend on its capacity to elicit vocalization afterdischarges (VADs). Sonographic analysis of vocalizations revealed that VCRs and VADs share spectrographic characteristics. Results are discussed in terms of VCRs' providing a model system for analyzing the fear of pain and its suppression.
Experimental bilirubin encephalopathy: importance of total bilirubin, protein binding, and blood-brain barrier.

Experimental Bilirubin Encephalopathy: Importance of Total Bilirubin, Protein Binding, and Blood-Brain Barrier