cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Food deprivation and free-operant avoidance in the pigeon *

Two pigeons were trained with a free-operant voidance schedule requiring a treadle response. Subsequent reduction in body weight to 80% increased the normally low shock rate, especially shock programmed by the response-shock interval. Ninety percent body weight resulted in a similar but, generally, less pronounced effect. For one S, response rate was an increasing function of body weight.
Image Registration with Uncalibrated Cameras in Hybrid Vision Systems

This paper addresses the problem of robust registering of images among perspective and omnidirectional cameras in a hybrid vision system (HVS). Nonlinearity in an HVS introduced by omnidirectional cameras poses challenges for computing pixel correspondences among images. In previous HVSs, cameras must be calibrated by performing registration. In this paper, we propose a non-linear approach for registering images in an HVS without requiring calibration of cameras. We first discuss the homographies between omnidirectional and perspective images under a local planar assumption. We then propose a robust patch level registration algorithm by exploiting a constraint on large 3D spatial planes. The proposed approach enables an HVS for applications that require quick deployment or active cameras. Experimental results have demonstrated feasibility of the proposed approach
Implications of microhabitat selection and patterns of activity on the thermal ecology of high elevation neotropical anurans

This paper focuses on whether microhabitat selection reduces exposure to cold temperatures in highelevation tropical amphibians. I studied the microhabitat associations and thermal ecology of four anurans (Colostethus subpunctatus, Atelopus sp. nov., Eleutherodactylus bogotensis, and Hyla labialis) that live in the Andes of central Colombia. I compared two populations (3500 m and 2900 m) to evaluate the impact of a change in elevation on microhabitat thermal regimes and frog behavior. Ambient temperatures of frequently used microhabitats (soil surface, retreat sites, bogs, and ponds) were significantly lower at 3500 m. However, for each species the microhabitat associations and general patterns of activity were similar at both elevations. Body temperatures of active frogs were mainly determined by the interaction between microhabitat selection and time of the day, therefore frogs at 3500 m had lower activity temperatures than conspecifics at 2900 m. Terrestrial and diurnal anurans (Atelopus sp. nov.) experienced highly variable activity temperatures. Frogs associated with water bodies (C. subpunctatus, and H. labialis) experienced more moderate and less variable temperatures. Terrestrial, nocturnal frogs (E. bogotensis) exhibited the lowest activity temperatures, and their thermal ecology was strongly affected by increase in altitude. The physical nature of high tropical elevations limits the opportunities for behavioral thermoregulation in amphibians, and increases the importance of physiological adjustments to tolerate a wide thermal range. This may partially explain why only a small number of amphibian species, representing genera that are much more diverse at lower elevations, have been able to exploit these environments.
Agricultural Production Technologies with Systematic and Stochastic Technical Change

A production system modeling tool is developed that implements recent work on autoregressive and endogenous stochastic production technologies associated with generalized Fechner-Thurstone (GFT) optimizing functions. A GFT-class production system is used to evaluate the empirical support for technology specifications inherent in the neoclassical theoretic structure of an agricultural production region. Little likelihood support is found for zero serial correlation, elimination of systematic technology changers from the production system, strict neoclassical production technologies, Hicks-neutral technical change, or zero homogenous factor demand functions.
Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta regulates glial glutamate transporter protein expression in the spinal dorsal horn in rats with neuropathic pain

Dysfunctional glial glutamate transporters and over production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (including interleukin-1β, IL-1β) are two prominent mechanisms by which glial cells enhance neuronal activities in the spinal dorsal horn in neuropathic pain conditions. Endogenous molecules regulating production of IL-1β and glial glutamate functions remain poorly understood. In this study, we revealed a dynamic alteration of GSK3β activities and its role in regulating glial glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1) protein expression in the spinal dorsal horn and nociceptive behaviors following the nerve injury. Specifically, GSK3β was expressed in both neurons and astrocytes in the spinal dorsal horn. GSK3β activities were suppressed on day 3 but increased on day 10 following the nerve injury. In parallel, protein expression of GLT-1 in the spinal dorsal horn was enhanced on day 3 but reduced on day 10. In contrast to these time-dependent changes, the activation of astrocytes and over-production of IL-1β were found on both day 3 and day 10. Meanwhile, thermal hyperalgesia was observed from day 2 through day 10 and mechanical allodynia from day 4 through day 10. Pre-emptive pharmacological inhibition of GSK3β activities significantly ameliorated thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia at the late stage but did not have effects at the early stage. These were accompanied with the suppression of GSK3β activities, prevention of decreased GLT-1 protein expression, inhibition of astrocytic activation, and reduction of IL-1β in the spinal dorsal horn on day 10. These data indicate that the increased GSK3β activity in the spinal dorsal horn is attributable to the downregulation of GLT-1 protein expression in neuropathic rats at the late stage. Further, we also demonstrated that the nerve-injury-induced thermal hyperalgesia on day 10 was transiently suppressed by pharmacological inhibition of GSK3β. Our study suggests that GSK3β may be a potential target for the development of analgesics for chronic neuropathic pain.
Single machine scheduling with assignable due dates

This paper introduces a new subclass of machine scheduling problems in which due dates are treated as variables and must be assigned to the individual jobs. A solution then is a sequence of jobs along with due date assignments. In contrast to existing due date assignment models, solutions to the proposed problems do not depend on predetermined rules or the requirement that due dates be assigned in the same order as the sequence. The single machine case is investigated in detail Complexity results are presented for all common objective functions and processing restrictions. The analysis shows that in a number of instances polynomial time algorithms are available though most problems that are intractable under traditional due date definitions remain so.
Life Prolongation: Views of Elderly Outpatients and Health Care Professionals

A peculiar dynamic in communication exists between those who are most likely to be involved in life-prolongation decisions. We found that both the elderly and health care professionals talk about life-prolongation, but not with one another; that they consider some of the same factors as they think about the life-prolongation decision; and that most of them believe physicians should be responsible for initiating discussion. However, the physician or health care professional who wishes to avoid crisis situations also is reluctant to broach the issue for fear of unnecessarily alarming or compromising the defense mechanisms of the patient. The patient remains patient, waiting--with fears of dependency, memories of previous life-threatening experiences, and deep sensitivity for suffering--for the physician to initiate the discussion. Is a mediator such as a family member necessary in these situations? Is the hospital environment not conductive to discussion of less than heroic efforts?
Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration for diagnosis of solid pseudopapillary tumors of the pancreas: a multicenter experience.

Background and study aims Solid pseudopapillary tumors of the pancreas are rare, low-grade, epithelial neoplasms that are usually discovered incidentally in young women. Distinguishing solid pseudopapillary tumors from other pancreatic tumors, especially pancreatic endocrine tumors, can be challenging. The role of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) in this context remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to describe the endoscopic ultrasound features of solid pseudopapillary tumors and the role of EUS-FNA in the preoperative diagnosis of these tumors. Patients and methods Patients from five tertiary referral centers with surgically confirmed solid pseudopapillary tumors who had undergone preoperative EUS-FNA were included. The endoscopic ultrasound findings, cytologic descriptions, immunostaining results, operative records, surgical pathology, and results of the most recent clinical follow-up were reviewed. Results A total of 28 patients were identified (four men [14 %], 24 women [86 %], mean age +/- standard deviation [SD] 35 +/- 10 years). Solid pseudopapillary tumors had been found as incidental findings on cross-sectional imaging in 50 % of cases. The mean tumor size +/- SD was 42 +/- 19.5 mm and the majority were located in the pancreatic body and tail. The endoscopic ultrasound report described a well-defined, echo-poor mass in 86 %; the tumors were solid in 14 patients (50 %), mixed solid and cystic in 11 patients (39 %), and cystic in three patients (11 %). A preoperative diagnosis of solid pseudopapillary tumor was made in 21 patients (75 %) on the basis of EUS-FNA cytology. Surgical resection was performed in all cases. Laparoscopic resection was performed in eight of these patients (29 %). Conclusions A solid pseudopapillary tumor should be included in the differential diagnosis of any well-demarcated, echo-poor, solid or mixed solid/cystic pancreatic lesion seen during endoscopic ultrasound, particularly in young women. The diagnostic accuracy of EUS-FNA for solid pseudopapillary tumors was 75 % in this study. A definitive preoperative diagnosis can guide the surgical approach in selected cases.
Acetaldehyde Stimulates FANCD2 Monoubiquitination, H2AX Phosphorylation, and BRCA1 Phosphorylation in Human Cells in Vitro: Implications for Alcohol-Related Carcinogenesis

Abstract According to a recent IARC Working Group report, alcohol consumption is causally related to an increased risk of cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract, liver, colorectum, and female breast [R. Baan, K. Straif, Y. Grosse, B. Secretan, F. El Ghissassi, V. Bouvard, A. Altieri, V. Cogliano, Carcinogenicity of alcoholic beverages, Lancet Oncol. 8 (2007) 292–293]. Several lines of evidence indicate that acetaldehyde (AA), the first product of alcohol metabolism, plays a very important role in alcohol-related carcinogenesis, particularly in the esophagus. We previously proposed a model for alcohol-related carcinogenesis in which AA, generated from alcohol metabolism, reacts in cells to generate DNA lesions that form interstrand crosslinks (ICLs) [J.A. Theruvathu, P. Jaruga, R.G. Nath, M. Dizdaroglu, P.J. Brooks, Polyamines stimulate the formation of mutagenic 1,N2-propanodeoxyguanosine adducts from acetaldehyde, Nucleic Acids Res. 33 (2005) 3513–3520]. Since the Fanconi anemia–breast cancer associated (FANC–BRCA) DNA damage response network plays a crucial role in protecting cells against ICLs, in the present work we tested this hypothesis by exposing cells to AA and monitoring activation of this network. We found that AA exposure results in a concentration-dependent increase in FANCD2 monoubiquitination, which is dependent upon the FANC core complex. AA also stimulated BRCA1 phosphorylation at Ser1524 and increased the level of γH2AX, with both modifications occurring in a dose-dependent manner. However, AA did not detectably increase the levels of hyperphosphorylated RPA34, a marker of single-stranded DNA exposure at replication forks. These results provide the initial description of the AA–DNA damage response, which is qualitatively similar to the cellular response to mitomycin C, a known DNA crosslinking agent. We discuss the mechanistic implications of these results, as well as their possible relationship to alcohol-related carcinogenesis in different human tissues.
Habitat-Specific Solute Retention in Two Small Streams: An Intersite Comparison

We measured uptake rates of phosphorus, nitrate, calcium, and dissolved organic carbon within two headwater streams, one in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina and the other in the Cascade range of Oregon. The major physical differences between these two streams are parent geology and local geomorphic structure. Uptake rates were measured following low-level nutrient releases during summer 1987 in 20-m reaches with different geomorphology. The relative importance of biotic vs. abiotic sorption of nitrogen and phosphorus by sediments from the two streams was assessed by laboratory experiments. Nitrate-N uptake rates were high for the western stream (11.9 g im-22 min-1) and low for the eastern stream (3.9 Ag m-2 minm) during the summer. The debris dam reaches in Oregon were the most retentive of N (shortest uptake length of 17 m). Conversely, sol- uble reactive phosphorus (SRP) uptake rates were higher for the eastern stream (18.6 Ag m- 2 min), primarily through biotic processes. SRP uptake lengths were short for the cobble (32 m), debris dam (35 m), and rock outcrop (40 m) reaches in the eastern stream. Uptake of SRP in either stream was not related to sediment size fraction but rather to a combination of sediment infiltration rates and quality of organic material. Calcium (Ca) uptake lengths were long in the Oregon stream (1278 m) but short in the Appalachian stream (106 m). Surprisingly, the eastern stream was more retentive of Ca than nitrate (shorter uptake lengths for Ca) during this time period. Debris dams greatly enhanced retention of dissolved organic carbon in both streams (60% of all uptake in the eastern stream and 81 % in the western stream), although retention was greater in the eastern stream. The lower uptake rate of phosphorus and higher uptake rate of nitrate in the Oregon stream were expected based on geographic location and parent geology; streams in this area drain catchments of volcanic origin and tend to have low N:P (atomic; 1.8 for the western stream) ratios, indicating potential N limitation. Streams flowing over granitic bedrock, such as the eastern stream, tend to have lower P availability (N:P = 15.5). The combined results of laboratory and field measurements indicate that in the eastern stream, strong biotic control of P uptake coupled with high P demand result in relatively short P uptake lengths and a strong impact of P spiraling on ecosystem dynamics. In the western stream, strong biotic control of N uptake combined with strong N demand result in short N uptake lengths. This is especially true at sites of downed timber that retain both FPOM and CPOM, creating a high N demand (shortening N spirals).
Relationships between landcover proportion and indices of landscape spatial pattern

Recent studies have related percolation theory and critical phenomena to the spatial pattern of landscapes. We generated simulated landscapes of forest and non-forest landcover to investigate the relationship between the proportion of forest (Pi) and indices of patch spatial pattern. One set of landscapes was generated by randomly assigning each pixel independently of other pixels, and a second set was generated by randomly assigning rectilinear clumps of pixels. Indices of spatial pattern were calculated and plotted against Pi. The random-clump landscapes were also compared with real agricultural landscapes. The results support the use of percolation models as neutral models in landscape ecology, and the performance of the indices studied with these neutral models can be used to help interpret those indices calculated for real landscapes.
Reversing circulation patterns in a tropical estuary

[1] A combination of current velocity and water density measurements was used to characterize the basic patterns of water exchange in the Gulf of Fonseca, a tropical estuary on the Pacific Ocean side of Central America. The measurements were obtained during spring and neap tides in March (dry season) and June (wet season) of 2001 and consisted of profiles of current velocity and density along four transects. From mid-March to mid-April a time series of hourly surface current velocity maps was also obtained with a high-frequency radar system of two antennas. The sampling transects and the radar coverage concentrated in the portion of the estuary that has open communication with the ocean. During the dry season, water exchange at the entrance to the gulf suggested an inverse estuarine circulation that was more robust, and its dynamics were closer to geostrophy during neap than during spring tides. It is likely that salinity increased toward the tributaries of the system and then decreased within those tributaries because of the persistent influence of fresh water. In contrast, during the wet season, salinity decreased into the estuary, and the circulation resembled that of a typical estuary. In this season the fortnightly modulation of exchange flows was masked by wind effects, which also played a relevant role in the dynamics. The net volume inflows measured in both seasons suggested that the residence time of the Gulf of Fonseca varies from 2 weeks to 1 month.
Quasi-static and dynamic fracture behavior of particulate polymer composites: A study of nano- vs. micro-size filler and loading-rate effects

Abstract The role of nano- vs. micro-filler particle size-scale on static and dynamic fracture behaviors of silica-filled epoxy is examined. Particulate composites of epoxy matrix are studied under quasi-static and stress-wave loading conditions. Mode-I crack initiation and crack growth behaviors are examined using 2D digital image correlation method and high-speed photography in symmetrically impacted specimens. The measured displacement fields are analyzed using 2D crack-tip fields for dynamically propagating cracks in brittle solids to extract stress intensity factor ( K I d ) histories, and crack velocity histories (V). K I d –V plots for each type of composite are also presented. The quasi-static fracture tests show fracture toughness enhancement in case of nanocomposites relative to micro-particle filled ones. On the other hand, the dynamic crack-initiation toughness is consistently higher for micro-particle filled composites relative to the nano-filler counterparts. These counterintuitive results are supported by crack velocity histories in nanocomposites being significantly higher than that observed in micro-filler cases. The characteristic K I d –V profiles suggest higher terminal velocities and lower dynamic fracture toughness for nanocomposites. Also, the post-mortem analyses of fracture surfaces reveal greater surface ruggedness for nanocomposites under quasi-static conditions. However, the opposite is evident under dynamic loading conditions. The qualitative and quantitative fractographic measurements correlate well with the measured fracture parameters for both quasi-static and dynamic fracture tests.
Integrated 3-D analysis and analysis-guided synthesis of flight image sequences

This paper is concerned with three-dimensional (3D) analysis, and analysis-guided syntheses, of images showing 3-D motion of an observer relative to a scene. There are two objectives of the paper. First, it presents an approach to recovering 3D motion and structure parameters from multiple cues present in a monocular image sequence, such as point features, optical flow, regions, lines, texture gradient, and vanishing line. Second, it introduces the notion that the cues that contribute the most to 3-D interpretation are also the ones that would yield the most realistic synthesis, thus suggesting an approach to analysis guided 3-D representation. For concreteness, the paper focuses on flight image sequences of a planar, textured surface. The integration of information in these diverse cues is carried out using optimization. For reliable estimation, a sequential batch method is used to compute motion and structure. Synthesis is done by using (i) image attributes extracted from the image sequence, and (ii) simple, artificial image attributes which are not present in the original images. For display, real and/or artificial attributes are shown as a monocular or a binocular sequence. Performance evaluation is done through experiments with one synthetic sequence, and two real image sequences digitized from a commercially available video tape and a laserdisc. The attribute based representation of these sequences compressed their sizes by 502 and 367. The visualization sequence appears very similar to the original sequence in informal, monocular as well as stereo viewing on a workstation monitor. >
ASCENT: An Algorithmic Technique for Designing Hardware and Software in Tandem

Search-based software engineering is an emerging paradigm that uses automated search algorithms to help designers iteratively find solutions to complicated design problems. For example, when designing a climate monitoring satellite, designers may want to use the minimal amount of computing hardware to reduce weight and cost while supporting the image processing algorithms running onboard. A key problem in these situations is that the hardware and software designs are locked in a tightly coupled cost-constrained producer/consumer relationship that makes it hard to find a good hardware/software design configuration. Search-based software engineering can be used to apply algorithmic techniques to automate the search for hardware/software designs that maximize the image processing accuracy while respecting cost constraints. This paper provides the following contributions to research on search-based software engineering: 1) We show how a cost-constrained producer/consumer problem can be modeled as a set of two multidimensional multiple-choice knapsack problems (MMKPs), 2) we present a polynomial-time search-based software engineering technique, called the Allocation-baSed Configuration Exploration Technique (ASCENT), for finding near optimal hardware/software codesign solutions, and 3) we present empirical results showing that ASCENT's solutions average over 95 percent of the optimal solution's value.
The Myth of Cross-Cultural Competence:

Cross-cultural competence has become a byword in social work. In a postmodern world in which culture is seen as individually and socially constructed, evolving, emergent, and occurring in language (Laird, 1998), becoming “culturally competent” is a challenging prospect. How do we become competent at something that is continually changing and how do we develop a focus that includes ourselves as having differences, beliefs, and biases that are inevitably active. After considering this and several other contemporary perspectives on cultural competence, the author questions the notion that one can become competent at the culture of another. The author proposes instead a model based on acceptance of one's lack of competence in cross-cultural matters.
An Analysis of Alternative Financing Strategies and Equity Retirement Plans for Farm Supply Cooperatives

Cooperatives are experiencing pressures to increase cash patronage refunds, reduce financing costs, and retire equity capital of farmer-members who die, retire, or leave the cooperative's service area. Farm supply cooperatives could increase cash patronage refunds by over 90% and reduce financing costs by 6% to 9% by employing moderately different capital acquisition practices. Solvency of the cooperatives could be reduced substantially if mandatory equity retirement plans being considered by legislators and courts were adopted.
Microcavities for cavity-QED in single-crystal diamond

Optical microcavites fabricated by etching whispering gallery mode and photonic crystal structures in a high-index gallium phosphide layer and an underlying single-crystal diamond substrate are studied experimentally and theoretically.
Perceived and objective environmental measures and physical activity among urban adults.

Background Enhancing community environments to support walking and bicycling serves as a promising approach to increase population levels of physical activity. However, few studies have simultaneously assessed perceptions and objectively measured environmental factors and their relative association with transportation or recreational physical activity. Methods For this cross-sectional study, high- and low-income study areas were selected among census tracts in St. Louis MO ("low-walkable" city) and Savannah GA ("high-walkable" city). Between February and June 2002, a telephone survey of 1068 adults provided measures of the perceived environment and physical activity behavior. In this timeframe, objective measures were collected through environmental audits of all street segments ( n =1158). These measures were summarized using 400-m buffers surrounding each respondent. Neighborhood characteristics included the land use environment, transportation environment, recreational facilities, aesthetics, and social environment. Associations were examined between neighborhood features and transportation- and recreation-based activity. Results After adjusting for age, gender, and education, transportation activity was negatively associated with objective measures of sidewalk levelness and perceived and objective neighborhood aesthetics. It was positively associated with perceived and objectively measured number of destinations and public transit, perceived access to bike lanes, and objective counts of active people in the neighborhood. Recreational activity was positively associated with perceived access to recreational facilities and objective measures of attractive features. Conclusions These findings indicate that physical activities for transportation or recreational are associated with different perceived and objective environmental characteristics. Modifications to these features may change the physical activity behavior of residents exposed to them.
Genetic testing, adverse selection, and the demand for life insurance

The dramatic increase in genetic testing for adult-onset diseases has created a debate regarding whether or not insurance companies should be able to use genetic test results in underwriting. We use data from women who have been tested for the BRCA1 gene mutation along with data from otherwise comparable untested women to assess the potential for adverse selection in the life insurance market when tested individuals know their genetic test results but insurers do not. Our analyses show that women who test positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation do not capitalize on their informational advantage by purchasing more life insurance than those women who have not undergone genetic testing. Am. J. Med. Genet. 93:29–39, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
THE EFFECT OF COMPANIONATE PLANTING ON LEPIDOPTERAN PESTS OF CABBAGE

Companionate planting is one of many insect control strategies propounded by organic growers. A variety of herbs are purported to possess repellent properties to many insect pests of vegetables (Rodale 1975; Yepsen 1976; Hill 1976; Anonymous 1977a). According to Atsatt and O'Dowd (1976), repellent plants are members of plant defense guilds which prevent herbivores from locating their hosts. Perrin and Phillips (1978) reviewed the elements of natural pest control characteristic of mixed cropping systems and outlined suggestions for transferring these elements to “agronomically acceptable” monocultures. However, very little work has been done to substantiate these claims and field evidence of the protective properties of companionate plants is, therefore, warranted. This becomes all the more important because of the dramatic increase in home gardening recently in North America. It is estimated that 33 million home and community gardens were grown in the United States during 1976 and 1977 (Anonymous 1977b). Here we describe the results of field experiments in which we sought to quantify the effect of companionate plants against major lepidopteran pests of cabbage in southside Virginia.
Quantum-well-detector concept for hyperspectral coregistered full-Stokes-vector detection

By layering quantum well stacks separated by partially transmissive linear gratings, similar to a multi-color QWIP, one may be able to detect the full Stokes vector at a single pixel. Such a detector would greatly aid polarization-based automated algorithms to detect targets from earth-gazing platforms. We report results from a theoretical calculation of normally incident infrared light absorbed by quantum wells in an eight-layer quantum-well/grating structure. The structure consists of four quantum-well stacks, of 50 quantum wells each, separated by contact layers and lamellar gratings. The gratings following the first three quantum well stacks are formed by perfectly conducting rectangular strips separated by a transparent dielectric that allows some light to be transmitted. The top grating, following the fourth quantum well stack, is completely reflective. Each of the four lamellar gratings is oriented at a different angle. Incident radiation is diffracted and reflected to different orders and at different angles at each of the four gratings. The model is based on a uniaxial-optics transfer-matrix technique. We calculate the energy absorbed by each of the layers. This in turn allows one to predict and compare which layers will respond for partially- and fully-polarized incident light of either linear or circular polarization.
On the Domestication of American Public Sociology: A Postcolonial Feminist Perspective

This article engages with the proposal and call for a renewed engagement with civil society by American academic sociology as put forth by Michael Burawoy's 2004 presidential theme for the American Sociological Association. An examination of the history of US academic interdisciplinary scholarship in area-studies programs suggests that the roots of such a knowledge enterprise in the American university are deeply embedded in state and market interests. It is argued that these imbrications of the university in civil society limit the goal of creating a public sociology that can vitalize civil society and foster counter-hegemonic publics. However, greater attention to this history, and to issues of culture, methodology and interdisciplinarity, may assist in the endeavor to foster a critical (counterhegemonic) public sociology.
EXTENSIVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: Prenatal Diagnosis for Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia in 532 Pregnancies

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) refers to a family of monogenic inherited disorders of adrenal steroidogenesis most often caused by enzyme 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD). In the classic forms of CAH (simple virilizing and salt wasting), androgen excess causes external genital ambiguity in newborn females and progressive postnatal virilization in males and females. Prenatal treatment of CAH with dexamethasone has been successfully used for over a decade. This article serves as an update on 532 pregnancies prenatally diagnosed using amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling between 1978 and 2001 at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Of the 532 pregnancies, 281 were prenatally treated for CAH due to the risk of 21-hydroxylase deficiency. Follow-up telephone interviews with mothers, genetic counselors, endocrinologists, pediatricians, and obstetricians were performed in all cases. Of the pregnancies evaluated, 116 babies were affected with classic 21-OHD. Of these, 61 were female, 49 of whom were treated prenatally with dexamethasone. Dexamethasone administered at or before 9 wk gestation (in proper doses) was effective in reducing virilization. There were no statistical differences in the symptoms during pregnancy between mothers treated with dexamethasone and those not treated with dexamethasone, except for weight gain, edema, and striae, which were greater in the treated group. No significant or enduring side-effects were noted in the fetuses, indicating that dexamethasone treatment is safe. Prenatally treated newborns did not differ in weight from untreated, unaffected newborns. Based on our experience, prenatal diagnosis and proper prenatal treatment of 21-OHD are effective in significantly reducing or eliminating virilization in the newborn female. This spares the affected female the consequences of genital ambiguity, genital surgery, and possible sex misassignment.
The effect of hydrostatic pressure on the structure sensitive ionic conductivity in KCl

Abstract The carriers of the ionic current in alkali halides in the structure sensitive range are cation vacancies predominantly due to the presence of divalent cationic impurities dissolved substitutionally in the crystal. Conductivity of ‘pure’ (Harshaw) and ‘doped’ (10 −4 mole fraction of Sr ++ ) KCl has been measured in this range (50–300°C) at pressures up to 4 kbars. Measurements were made using argon in a conventional pressure system and applying standard electrometer techniques. The pressure vessel had electrical leads of high electrical resistance and low capacitance. Results obtained using Harshaw KCl show three distinct regions which can be identified as extrinsic unassociated, extrinsic associated, and precipitation regions. The volume of motion of free cation vacancies in KCl is found to be 8.6 (cm 3 /mole) and the volume of association of a (divalent impurity-cation vacancy) pair 3.6 (cm 3 /mole). The volume of solution of divalent impurities as obtained from measurements in the precipitation region increases from 6 to 10 (cm 3 /mole) with decreasing temperature. The pressure dependence of the conductivity is in agreement with the qualitative features of the Stasiw-Teltow association theory, which should be applicable for the low concentration (about 3 ppm) of divalent impurities (in Harshaw KCl). Results on KCl ‘doped’ with 10 −4 mole fraction of Sr ++ show none of the structure seen in ‘pure’ KCl in the same temperature range. The behavior of conductivity in this material can be related to precipitation of the Sr ++ impurity. The results are compared with similar measurements by Pierce and Biermann on the same material at higher temperatures. The pressure dependence of ionic conductivity is discussed as a means of understanding processes operating at various temperatures and impurity concentrations. Finally, theoretical calculations of the activation volumes, especially the volume of motion, are proposed as a possible indication of the suitability of a particular form of the repulsive interionic potential.
Study of the Sympathetic Vasoconstrictor Nerves to the Vessels of the Dog Hind Limb

In anesthetized dogs, the vasoconstrictor nerves to the vessels of the hind limb left the spinal cord in the anterior spinal nerve roots from T-10 through L-4 levels. Maximal vasoconstrictor responses occurred on stimulation of the T-12, T-13, and L-l roots; none occurred on stimulation of roots caudal to L-4. The nerves first entered the lumbar paravertebral chain at or above L-1; the last point of entry was at the L-4, L-5 level. No fibers left the lumbar chain at L-1, L-2, and L-3 levels. The first point of exit was at L-4, and nerves continued to leave as far distal as S-1, The most caudal point examined. The maximal response to stimulation of the lumbar chain was at the L-4, L-5 level. With a single exception, the responses to electric stimulation of the anterior spinal nerve roots, lumbar chain, or sympathetic ganglia were confined to the vessels of the ipsilateral limb. In 22 dogs with unilateral sympathectomy (L-2 through L-7), changes in hind-limb vascular resistance were induced reflexly or by electric stimulation of the anterior spinal roots. The results indicated that sympathetic control of the resistance vessels of the hind limb was still absent 77 days after sympathectomy.
“They'll Change What They're Doing If They Know that You're Watching”: Measuring Reactivity in Health Behavior Because of an Observer's Presence— A Case from the Peruvian Amazon:

Social scientists often employ direct observation to study human behavior, but a health researcher who proposes it may face considerable skepticism from colleagues. Concerns about reactivity lead many to question the validity of observational data. Because few studies have measured reactivity, evidence to evaluate this concern is limited. The authors report results from their systematic measurement of reactivity during a Peruvian malaria prevention study. In sixty observations over nine months, observers recorded all behavior they perceived as potentially reactive. The authors then assessed reactivity using iterative coding and analysis. Although they documented 339 reactivity episodes, only two involved behaviors related to study objectives. These findings are consistent with prior research and provide additional evidence that reactivity, though common, need not bias study results. The authors suggest strategies for assessing reactivity that can help reassure skeptics and reinforce the validity of observ...
Optimal pursuit of moving targets using dynamic Voronoi diagrams

We consider Voronoi-like partitions for a team of moving targets distributed in the plane, such that each set in this partition is uniquely associated with a particular moving target in the following sense: a pursuer residing inside a given set of the partition can intercept this moving target faster than any other pursuer outside this set. It is assumed that each moving target employs its own “evading” strategy in response to the pursuer actions. In contrast to standard formulations of problems of this kind in the literature, the evading strategy does necessarily restrict the evader to be slower than its pursuer. In the special case when all moving targets employ a uniform evading strategy, the previous problem reduces to the characterization of the Zermelo-Voronoi diagram.
Surgical management of malignant melanoma of the lung

*Thoracic Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77551; Tel.: +1 409 772 0534; iokereke@utmb.edu
Political Connections and Emergency Lending by the Federal Reserve

This paper tests whether or not a bank’s political connections were important in explaining participation in the Federal Reserve’s emergency lending programs during the recent financial crisis. Given the political independence of the Fed, our tests bias against finding that connections matter. However, our multivariate tests show that banks that were politically connected - either through lobbying efforts or employment of politically connected individuals - were substantially more likely to participate in the Fed’s emergency loan programs. In economic terms, participation in these programs was 16-20 percent more likely for banks that were politically connected than for banks that were not politically connected.
Animal Bites and Zoonoses: From A to Z: Alligators to Zebras

Worldwide, animal bite-related injuries to humans are a common daily occurrence. Injuries can range from minor puncture wounds to extensive crush injuries and even amputations and death. Increasing population, continued spread of habitation, and the popularity of owning various types of both traditional and non-traditional pets has made it easier for humans to have contact with various types of animals. In general, the oral flora of the biting animal will be concordant with the bacteria isolated from the wound. These oral flora organisms often originate from the normal oral residents and environmental flora as well as the skin and intestinal bacteria of the animals food sources and prey.
Functional and Structural Comparisons of Linear and Dendritic Arrays of Polypeptides

Bioactive biopolymers with repeating sequences are often found in nature. Polypeptides usually contain an array of linear repeats, whereas both linear and dendritic repeats are found in polysaccharides. To determine the functional and structural consequences of polypeptides in a dendritic array, we have designed dendritic polypeptides [1] and compared them to the linearly repeating polypeptides. Both series of polypeptides contain two to eight copies of tetrapeptides with BHHB motifs (B = basic amino acid, H = hydrophobic amino acid) derived from naturally occurring antimicrobials.
INTRACTABLE VENTRICULAR TACHYARRHYTHMIAS IN AN OTHERWISE HEALTHY INDIVIDUAL

Cardiogenic shock and ventricular tachyarrhythmias may persist despite optimal medical therapy and temporary assist devices. In the right clinical setting, veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation may be beneficial. A healthy 24-year-old woman with no family history suffered a witness
The sensitivity and specificity of forecasting high-cost users of medical care

Objectives. This study compares the ability of 3 risk-assessment models to distinguish high and low expense-risk status within a managed care population. Models are the Global Risk-Assessment Model (GRAM) developed at the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research; a logistic version of GRAM; and a prior-expense model. GRAM was originally developed for use in adjusting Medicare payments to health plans. Methods. Our sample of 98,985 cases was drawn from random samples of memberships of 3 staff/group health plans. Risk factor data were from 1992 and expenses were measured for 1993. Models produced distributions of individual-level annual expense forecasts (or predicted probabilities of high expense-risk status for logistic) for comparison to actual values. Prespecified "high-cost" thresholds were set within each distribution to analyze the models' ability to distinguish high and low expense-risk status. Forecast stability was analyzed through bootstrapping. Results. GRAM discriminates better overall than its comparators (although the models are similar for policy-relevant thresholds). All models forecast the highest-cost cases relatively well. GRAM forecasts high expense-risk status better than its comparators within chronic and serious disease categories that are amenable to early intervention but also generates relatively more false positives within these categories. Conclusions. This study demonstrates the potential of risk-assessment models to inform care management decisions by efficiently screening managed care populations for high expense-risk. Such models can act as preliminary screens for plans that can refine model forecasts with detailed surveys. Future research should involve multiple-year data sets to explore the temporal stability of forecasts.
Influence Threshold Analysis on Railway Over-Cross Tunnels

Double-track railway over-cross tunnels were stuied by numerical simulation and regression analysis.A series of research on the influence of the construction of newly built tunnel to the existing one in different surrounding rock grades was carried out.According to the numerical simulation,48mechanical models were established,which considered various clearance,rock conditions and different construction sequences(building above or beneath existing one).Based on regression analysis on the calculation results from the 48models,the deformation prediction formulas for the existing tunnel's surrounding rocks and ballast bed were deduced.According to the high-speed rail allowed standard of roadbed deformation during operation,the minimum clear distance value by which the existing tunnel's operation would not be affected was recommended.Some analysis on the surrounding rock pressure's variation of the existing tunnel caused by new tunnel construction was done.Taking the variation amplitude as the evaluation criteria,a critical value of influenced clearance for railway over-crossing tunnels project is provided.Meanwhile,the results found that the tunnel cross the building had a smaller impact on itself compared with that of the tunnel which goes through the building.
Priapism Associated with the Use of Intravenous Fat Emulsion: Case Reports and Postulated Pathogenesis

AbstractDuring the 8 years since inception of a home total parenteral nutrition program in 35 male patients 2 suffered priapism related temporally to the weekly intravenous infusion of 20 per cent fat emulsion. Fat emulsions have been shown to cause hypercoagulability, capillary thrombosis and fat embolus in in vivo and in vitro experiments. Autopsies of patients treated with intravenous fat emulsion have revealed capillary engorgement and fat embolus with associated organ infarction. We postulate that fat emulsions may cause priapism in these patients. Because of the more frequent occurrence of priapism in this small subset of patients we now recommend that 1) patients be informed of this potential complication before hyperalimentation is begun, 2) the less concentrated 10 per cent emulsion should be used twice weekly, rather than the 20 per cent emulsion weekly, and should be infused during at least 4 hours, and 3) the fat emulsion should be added to other components of the intravenous regimen, when pos...
Antioxidants blunt high-density lipoprotein response to statin plus niacin therapy.

Introduction: Lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol has been the focus of treatment guidelines for the prevention and treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD). A low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (less than 40 mg/dL) is a risk factor for CAD and is used to make treatment decisions. Consequently, treatment strategies to increase HDL cholesterol concurrent with lowering LDL cholesterol are recommended. Moreover, because HDL inhibits LDL oxidation, supplemental antioxidants may confer a further protective effect beyond lowering LDL and raising HDL cholesterol, especially in individuals with low HDL cholesterol.
SecuRemote, SecureClient, and Integrity

This chapter explains the history and usefulness behind Check Point's SecuRemote, SecureClient, and Integrity products. Although SecuRemote provides Remote Access security for mobile users, it protects only the information being sent through the encrypted tunnel. SecureClient and Integrity have the ability to protect the desktop and user community regardless of their physical location. They secure the desktop, ensuring data is secure while resting on the computer as well as in transit to the corporate private network. SecureClient also provides Secure Configuration Verification, which checks to ensure that users connecting to your private network meet certain configuration specifications to obtain access, such as being on a Windows XP machine with Service Pack 2, specific Hotfix patches installed, and browsers configured to disable javascript. One take-away that is presented consistently throughout the chapter is the interoperability of the products, and the security provided to the remote user and private network user community by proper configuration and maintenance of the clients and policies that secure the user community. Though there are always obstacles to building a remote access infrastructure and securing it, the chapter tries to provide information that assists in working around those issues, such as Office mode and Secure Configuration Verification.