cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Left Heart Function in Children with Tetralogy of Fallot before and after Palliative or Corrective Surgery

Left heart volume and left ventricular mass (LV mass) were calculated from biplane cineangiocardiograms in 58 tetralogy of Fallot (TF) patients preoperatively, in 31 patients after shunt procedure, and in 24 patients after complete correction. Preoperatively, the LV end-diastolic volume and left atrial maximal volume (LAmax) were normal in cyanotic infants less than 2.0 years old and in acyanotic patients more than 2.0 years old. These variables, however, were less than normal in cyanotic children > 2.0 years old. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and LV systolic index (LVSI) were both less than normal in all groups preoperatively. LV mass was normal preoperatively. After successful shunt procedure, there was a significant increase (P < 0.01) in LVEDV, LVSI, LAmax, and LV mass. The LVEF, however, remained less than normal. After successful corrective surgery, the total group showed a significant increase (P < 0.01) in LVEDV, LVSI, LAmax,and LV mass as compared with preoperative values. Furthermore...
The isolation of a specific species of ribosomes associated with chloroplast development in Euglena gracilis.

1. 1. Ribosomal particles were isolated from the chloroplast fraction of Euglena gracilis. The RNA nucleotide composition of the purified particles is dras different from that of the ribosomes obtained from the microsome fraction of the cells. 2. 2. The chloroplast ribosomes have a sedimentation value somewhat lower than that of the microsomal particles, and show the characteristic dissociation into subunits in the absence of Mg ions. 3. 3. The cellular localization of the chloroplast particles was confirmed by comparing their nucleotide composition to that of the RNA of Euglena chloroplasts purified by flotation. 4. 4. A small amount of the chloroplast ribosomes may be present in the cells grown in the dark (colorless cells). 5. 5. The possible relation of these specific ribosomal particles to the synthesis of the chloroplast proteins is discussed.
Nonlinear Bending-Torsion Flutter of a Cantilever Wing Subjected to Parametric Excitation

This study deals with the nonlinear flutter of a cantilever wing in the absence and presence of parametric excitation that acts in the plane of highest rigidity. The nonlinear equations of motion in the presence of an incompressible fluid flow are derived using Hamilton’s principle. The regions of parametric instability are obtained for different values of flow speed. In the neighborhood of combination parametric resonance, the nonlinear response is determined using the multiple scales method for different values of flow speed. In the absence of parametric excitations, numerical simulation is performed for flow speeds at the critical flutter speed. It is found that the nonlinear flutter of the two modes depends on initial conditions, and exhibits symmetric periodic oscillations. Under parametric excitation and in the absence of air flow, each mode oscillates at its own natural frequency. In the presence of air flow, the two modes possess the same frequency response. Depending on the flow speed the response could be periodic, quasi-periodic, or chaotic.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Ozone Storage Effects on Anthocyanin Content and Fungal Growth in Blackberries

Ozone exposure was assessed for storage of thornless blackberries which are prone to fungal decay. Blackberries were harvested and stored for 12 days at 2°C in 0.0, 0.1, and 0.3 ppm ozone. Berries were evaluated for fungal decay, anthocyanins, color and peroxidase (POD) activity. Ozone storage suppressed fungal development for 12 days, while 20% of control fruits showed decay. The main mold was Botrytis cinerea. Ozone storage did not cause observable injury or defects. By 12 days, anthocyanin content of juice was similar to initial levels for all treatments. Surface color was better retained in 0.1 and 0.3 ppm-stored berries by 5 days and in 0.3 ppm berries by 12 days, by hue angle values. POD was greater in controls and 0.1 ppm samples, and was lowest in 0.3 ppm fruits by 12 days. Ozone storage resulted in market quality extension.
Gastric Injury and Protection against Alcohol and Acid: Influence of Perturbations in Glutathione Metabolism

Abstract This study assessed the role that inhibition of glutathione (GSH) synthesis and decreased GSH peroxidase (GPX) activity in the rat played in modulating gastric injury induced by ethanol and acid and its prevention by 16,16-dimethyl PGE2(dmPGE2) and the mild irritant, 25% ethanol. Although numerous studies have proposed that GSH may be important in maintaining gastric mucosal defense, the exact role of this antioxidant in protecting the stomach from injury remains undefined. The present study addressed this consideration by blocking the synthesis of GSH and altering the major pathway by which it exhibits its antioxidant activity and determining the effect of these perturbations on gastric injury and protection. Four to six rats were used for each experimental group. GSH synthesis was blocked by the potent and specific inhibitor L -buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), 2 or 6 mmole/kg intraperitoneally. The activity of the major form of GPX, which is selenium dependent and utilizes GSH as a substrate to detoxify hydrogen peroxide and other hydroperoxides, was inhibited by placing animals on a selenium-deficient diet for 6 weeks. Gastric damage was induced by 100% ethanol, 50% ethanol in 150 mMHCl, and 0.75MHCl. Prevention of such injury was accomplished with oral pretreatment using 25% ethanol or dmPGE2(5 μg/kg). The damaging effects of 100% ethanol, 50% ethanol/150 mMHCl, or 0.75MHCl were not adversely affected by BSO pretreatment even though GSH synthesis was inhibited by as much as 80%. Similarly, inhibition of GPX activity by 58% in adult rats and 98% in weanling rats failed to potentiate the damaging effect of 100% ethanol. Furthermore, with both perturbations in GSH metabolism, the protective action of dmPGE2and 25% ethanol was maintained. Our results indicate that profound alterations in gastric GSH metabolism by themselves do not aggrevate the injurious effects of ethanol or acid, nor do they prevent the protective action of a prostaglandin or mild irritant.
Robots and lasers: the future of cardiac tissue ablation?

Background The future of medicine is tied-up in robotics and lasers. We've heard the hype for years, but only in the last 10 years has it actually started to come to fruition that robotic systems are beginning to play a role in surgery. Methods Multiple groups have reported over the past 10 years on increasingly complex cardiac surgical procedures being performed with the aid of robotic systems. With an increasing percentage of atrial fibrillation and with insight that atrial fibrillation results in poor long-term survival, attempts have been made to create a surgical cure. Results Much work has been done in the past several years to develop a less-invasive surgical option than the standard cut-and-sew Maze to achieve pulmonary vein ablation. Laser is a unique energy source for tissue ablation because it is a form of light. Conclusion While traditional energy sources focus on applying heat-based elements to the tissue's surface allowing temperature to propagate across the thickness of the tissue laser is an innovative, tissue-specific energy for creating tissue ablation. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Performance of IBM's EL-4 e-beam lithography system

IBM's latest electron beam mask maker, EL-4, is online at IBM's Advanced Mask Facility (AMF) in Essex Junction, Vermont. The EL-4 system is a 75KV shaped beam lithography system utilizing a Variable Axis Immersion Lens (VAIL) designed to produce 1X or NX masks for 0.25 micrometers lithography ground rules, extendable to 0.13 micrometers . It is currently producing NIST-style X-ray membrane masks with pattern sizes over 30 X 30 mm2. This paper will give a brief description of the EL-4 tool and its operating features, specific measures used to enhance tool stability and accuracy, and measurement data from masks recently produced on the tool.
Debugging Direct3D 10 applications

Debugging Direct3D 10 Applications (Chuck Walbourn): The new Direct3D 10 technology provides a series of new debugging and profiling mechanisms for graphics code, and leverages tools like PIX for Windows to provide shader-debugging functionality. This topic covers the use of these facilities and demonstrates how to use the new tools for debugging Direct3D 10 applications. [30 minutes]
An overview of evidence-based program registers (EBPRs) for behavioral health

Evaluations of behavioral health interventions have identified many that are potentially effective. However, clinicians and other decision makers typically lack the time and ability to effectively search and synthesize the relevant research literature. In response to this opportunity, and to increasing policy and funding pressures for the use of evidence-based practices, a number of “what works” websites have emerged to assist decision makers in selecting interventions with the highest probability of benefit. However, these registers as a whole are not well understood. This article, which represents phase one of a concurrent mixed methods study, presents a review of the scopes, structures, dissemination strategies, uses, and challenges faced by evidence-based registers in the behavioral health disciplines. The major findings of this study show that in general, registers of evidence-based practices are able, to a degree, to identify the most effective practices meet this need to a degree. However, much needs to be done to improve the ability of the registers to fully realize their purpose.
A case of comparative analysis on methods and outcomes of national foresight processes

Most of the governments that fund R&D activities to foster the national innovation capability use specific methods/processes for supporting the different phases which precede and follow these activities: foresight, prioritisation, impact assessment and knowledge transfer. In the past decades, foresight has become one of the most popular and used amongst them. The latest theories conceptualise foresight as one element in a continuous policy-learning process where impact on policy has become more subtle and complex. From this point of view foresight should be considered as a systemic innovation policy instrument fostering innovation capability. This paper tries to find out if there are some evidences of these theories, discussing a case of comparative analysis on methods and outcomes of National Foresight Processes with reference to the sector of metrology that, being transversal and very knowledge-based, could be strongly effective in improving the performance of many other sectors and, in a broader view, the national innovation capability.
Determinants of tRNA editing and modification: Avoiding conundrums, affecting function

In all organisms tRNAs play the essential role of connecting the genetic information found in DNA with the protein synthesis machinery ensuring fidelity during translation. Following transcription tRNAs undergo a number of processing events including numerous post-transcriptional modifications that render a tRNA molecule fully functional. The effects of some modifications go beyond simply affecting tRNA structure and can alter the meaning of the tRNA. This review will summarize the current state of the tRNA editing field, highlighting how editing affects tRNA structure and function in various organisms. It will also discuss recent data that hints at connections between editing and modification that may be exploited by cells to modulate a tRNA's role in translation.
Bovine myoglobin: Differences between chromatograms of preparations from individual animals

Abstract Freshly prepared bovine myoglobin was separated into three chromatographic fractions using carboxymethylcellulose. Two of these fractions accounted for 98% of the total myoglobin in each preparation studied, but the relative percentage of one of these fractions in different preparations ranged from 2% to 18% of total myoglobin. A chromatographic method was devised, using carboxymethylcellulose paper, which permitted replicate quantitative micro-determinations of the relative percentages of these two fractions in myoglobin preparations from a single individual. Relative fraction percentages were measured in four separate myoglobin preparations, derived from two individual animals. Statistical treatment of the results indicated that the observed difference resulted from differences between individual animals.
Reactions of dilithiobutadienes with monochlorosilanes: Observation of facile loss of organic groups from silicon

Abstract Reactions of 1,4-dilithiobutadienes (from 1,4-diiodo-1,2,3,4-tetraethylbutadiene ( 1 ) and 2,2′-dibromobiphenyl ( 7 ) with t -BuLi) with Me 3 SiCl gave siloles ( 3 and 9a ) as the major products. No evidence for a disilylated butadiene was obtained. Use of higher molecular weight chlorosilanes ((allyl)Me 2 SiCl, BnMe 2 SiCl, and PhMe 2 SiCl) with dibromide 7 gave dimethylsilole 9a and a silane ( 10a , 10b , or 10c ) resulting from trapping of the organic group by the chlorosilane.
Novel Binding Interactions of the DNA Fragment d(pGpG) Cross-Linked by the Antitumor Active Compound Tetrakis(μ-carboxylato)dirhodium(II,II)

Insight into the N7/O6 equatorial binding interactions of the antitumor active complex Rh2(OAc)4(H2O)2 (OAc- = CH3CO2-) with the nucleotide 5‘-GMP and the DNA fragment d(pGpG) has been obtained by one- (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) NMR spectroscopy. The lack of N7 protonation at low pH values and the significant increase in the acidity of N1−H (pKa ≈ 5.6 as compared to 8.5 for N7 only bound platinum adducts), indicated by the pH dependence study of the H8 1H NMR resonance for the HT (head-to-tail) isomer of Rh2(OAc)2(5‘-GMP)2, are consistent with bidentate N7/O6 binding of the guanine. The H8 1H NMR resonance of the HH (head-to-head) Rh2(OAc)2(5‘-GMP)2 isomer, as well as the 5‘-G and 3‘-G H8 resonances of the Rh2(OAc)2{d(pGpG)} adduct exhibit pH-independent titration curves, attributable to the added effect of the 5‘-phosphate group deprotonation at a pH value similar to that of the N1 site. The enhancement in the acidity of N1−H, with respect to N7 only bound metal adducts, afforded by the O6 binding of ...
Application of hill functions to two-dimensional plate problems☆

Abstract Hill functions which are constructed on the basis of Legendre polynomials are used as coordinate functions to solve two-dimensional plate problems. In order to effectively handle various boundary conditions and without introducing additional equations to the original system of equations, the method of artificial parameters is employed for this purpose. Illustrative examples are performed and numerical results obtained are compared very nicely with theoretical solutions in the literature.
Should we expect large polarization effects at high energies

Abstract It is demonstrated that while in reactions at very high energies polarization quantities in which the polarization of only one particle is specified are likely to be small, due to dynamics-independent factors, for many of the kinematic configurations of interest (and particularly at small t values), this is in no way indicative of other polarization quantities many of which could very well be far from the trivial values of 0 and 1. An example illustrates the statement.
True occult bladder perforation during placement of tension-free vaginal tape.

Bladder perforation is one of the most common complications of the trans-vaginal tape (TVT) procedure, and is generally identified on routine intra-operative cystoscopy. We present a case of occult bladder perforation occurring during the TVT procedure that could not be identified by cystoscopy. A 57-year-old woman underwent TVT placement for treatment of stress urinary incontinence. A bladder perforation, suspected because of clear fluid at one of the abdominal incision sites, could not be identified with cystoscopy, but was confirmed with bladder installation of sterile infant formula. The tape was removed and the bladder was drained for 48 h. The patient’s recovery was uneventful and she subsequently underwent TVT placement without complication. Cystoscopy alone may be inadequate for identification of some bladder perforations during the TVT procedure. Awareness of alternative methods of identification is essential.
Cooperative Modeling in Applied Geographic Research

The characteristics of geographic data and the nature of geographic research require the participation of many agents. Data is generated by multiple sources (satellites, ground observation, weather stations, photography, etc.), accessed, processed and transformed by many users and available for use to an even larger population of users. Lack of coordination among all these different agents may render large amounts of work useless. Most existing GIS (Geographic Information Systems) do not provide any support for cooperative work, which adds to the problem. To overcome this serious limitation while still allowing users to take advantage of GIS technology, we propose GOOSE, a system implemented as a top layer for existing GIS. GOOSE provides the tools for constructing large geographic models in a cooperative environment with potentially many users and participants.
Perceived Risk and Consumer Decision-Making—The Case of Telephone Shopping:

Telephone shopping is in many ways the easiest and most convenient mode of shopping ever devised. Yet the majority of women surveyed did not shop by telephone during the course of a year. Why? The ...
From Punch to Profile

In this essay an aspect of my research is highlighted that has its roots in the mid seventies with the implementation of the ‘Palkovits punch’ procedure. This methodology was introduced when radiochemical and radio-immunoassay methods became sufficiently sensitive to measure key molecules for chemical neurotransmission and metabolism in minute amounts of brain tissue. For application of today’s laser guided microdissection this knowledge of functional neuro-anatomy is indispensable.
Empirical equations of ice crystal growth microphysics for modeling and analysis, I. mass and dimensions

Abstract Experimental data that simulated the free-falling natural ice crystal growth for time periods up to 30 min were analyzed. First, some specific features of ice crystal growth theories were tested with the data. Second, time-dependent equations of mass, dimensions and fall velocity applicable to different regimes of growth were developed by considering both the data and the functional styles of theories and not by merely obtaining a set of best-fitting polynomials. Third, an empirical equation was derived by similar means to express the aerodynamic behavior of the falling ice crystal with the relationship among the hydrodynamical nondimensional numbers and the axial ratio. Finally, a set of simplified parameterized equations was obtained that is experimentally consistent and suitable for cloud modeling and analysis. This paper reports the portion related to the mass and the dimensions of growing crystals.
The pathway of leukemic cell death caused by glucocorticoid receptor fragment 465

The truncated glucocorticoid receptor mutant gene 465* codes for a protein that is interrupted by a frame-shift mutation in the second zinc finger of the natural DNA binding domain. Thus, 465* represents the natural amino acid sequence 1-465 followed by 21 novel amino acids starting at position 466. The entire ligand binding domain is missing. Prior studies have shown that transient transfection of the glucocorticoid-resistant leukemic T-cell clone ICR-27 with a plasmid expressing 465* rapidly reduces the number of viable cells. This response does not require activation by a steroid, and a hybrid protein consisting of green fluorescent protein fused to 465* is found primarily in the cytoplasm. In the present study, we present evidence that the decrease in cell number is due to a form of cell death that bears many of the classic characteristics of apoptosis. Expression of the 465* protein can be detected a few hours after electroporation and is followed by activation of caspase-3 as well as reduction of the mitochondrial inner transmembrane potential. The caspase-3 inhibitor ZVAD-fmk blocks 465*-dependent cell death when added acutely after electroporation, but fails to do so later. We conclude that the novel 465* gene causes cell death by apoptosis.
Applying local discretization methods in the NASA finite-volume general circulation model

The general circulation model, developed at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center for climate simulations and other meteorological applications, emphasizes the conservative and monotonic transport and achieves sufficient accuracy for the global consistency of climate processes.
More streamflow after a bark beetle epidemic

Abstract A beetle epidemic near the Continental Divide in Colorado destroyed the timber in two large drainages but bypassed a third drainage. Long-term streamflow records were available for the three drainages for the periods before and after the onset of the epidemic. Analysis of these records reveals that a major increase in streamflow occurred after the epidemic.
Practice Paper of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Abstract: Critical Thinking Skills in Nutrition Assessment and Diagnosis

Abstract The Nutrition Care Process and Model (NCPM) provides registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) and dietetic technicians, registered (DTRs) a framework to recognize, diagnose, and intervene upon nutrition-related health concerns. Within the NCPM, nutrition assessment is essential to develop a comprehensive evaluation of the client's nutrition history. The application of critical thinking skills to nutrition assessment is imperative to ensure appropriate acquisition and interpretation of data. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Career Development Guide, adapted from the Dreyfus Model of Skill Acquisition, illustrates the progression of critical thinking skills as RDNs and DTRs gain knowledge and experience with practice. The Career Development Guide is characterized by the transition through the following stages: novice, beginner, competent, proficient, and advance practice/expert. The foundation of dietetics knowledge is obtained during the novice and beginner stages. Throughout, the primary objective is introduction of the NCPM and nutrition assessment theory via dietetics education and the application of nutrition assessment in supervised practice. Next, RDNs and DTRs transition to the competent stage of practice. During this phase, entry-level knowledge and skill are applied to patient care settings, and critical thinking skills develop as RDNs and DTRs gain experience. Subsequently, RDNs and DTRs move to the proficient stage as the ability to prioritize attention, generalize, apply problem-solving skills to new scenarios, and identify innovative solutions develops. Some RDNs and DTRs may transition to the advance practice/expert stage, during which critical thinking becomes intuitive. Critical thinking skills are essential to ensure diagnostic accuracy; however, more research is needed to further describe progression of critical thinking skills among RDNs and DTRs.
Periodic movements in sleep (nocturnal myoclonus): Relation to sleep disorders

Periodic movements in sleep (PMS) are stereotyped, repetitive, nonepileptiform movements of the lower extremities. A total of 409 sleep disorder patients were studied with all-night polysomnogram recording, and 53 (13%) had PMS. Such movements occurred in a wide variety of sleep-wake disorders in addition to insomnia. The prevalence and magnitude of PMS were not statistically greater in patients with insomniac disorders than in those with syndromes of excessive daytime sleepiness or other sleep-wake disorders. The results suggest that although PMS is responsible for disturbed sleep in relatively few patients, chronic sleep-wake disturbance is associated with PMS and may lead to the development of these movements.
Parafallopian Tube Transitional Cell Carcinoma

Abstract Background. Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) has recently been acknowledged as a distinct histologic pattern of the uncommon primary fallopian tube carcinoma. However, rare cases of TCC that are closely associated to the extraluminal portion of the tube remain widely unrecognized. Case. We present a left adnexal high-grade TCC in a 56-year-old postmenopausal woman with an elevated serum CA-125 level. The tumor was attached by a small stalk to the serosal surface of the left fallopian tube and was completely separate from the uninvolved uterus and ipsilateral ovary. Histologic examination of the tubal lumen epithelium revealed neither atypia nor involvement by the neoplasm. Immunohistochemistry showed the tumor cells to be positive for pankeratin, calretinin, progesterone and estrogen receptors, and cytokeratin 7, and negative for cytokeratin 20, consistent with a Mullerian derivation. Conclusion. Our case represents the fourth reported instance of a primary paratubal TCC. Perhaps, this entity falls under a previously unrecognized category of carcinomas that collectively may arise from Walthard's rest, paratubal cyst, or directly from the tubal serosa.
Balloon Angioplasty for Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease Periprocedural Risks and Short-Term Outcomes in a Multicenter Study

Background and Purpose—Whether stenting is superior to angioplasty in the treatment of intracranial atherosclerotic disease is unknown. Dissections, vessel rupture, and lesion recoil observed with primary angioplasty using balloon catheters designed for coronary arteries have undermined the role of primary angioplasty as a preferred treatment for intracranial atherosclerotic disease. The goal of this study is to report the immediate and 3-month outcomes of treating patients with intracranial atherosclerotic disease with angioplasty balloon catheters in a multicenter study. Methods—This is a retrospective review of 74 patients from 4 institutions treated with primary angioplasty for intracranial atherosclerotic disease over a 6-year time period. Technical success (residual stenosis ≤50%), periprocedural success (no vascular complication within 72 hours), and 3-month outcomes are reported. Results—The mean degree of stenosis pretreatment was 79%±14% and reduced to 34%±18% after angioplasty. Technical succes...
Robust Optimal Stopping-Time Control for Nonlinear Systems

Abstract. We formulate a robust optimal stopping-time problem for a state-space system and give the connection between various notions of lower value function for the associated games (and storage function for the associated dissipative system) with solutions of the appropriate variational inequality (VI) (the analogue of the Hamilton—Jacobi—Bellman—Isaacs equation for this setting). We show that the stopping-time rule can be obtained by solving the VI in the viscosity sense and a positive definite supersolution of the VI can be used for stability analysis.
Growth inhibitor from BSC-1 cells closely related to platelet type beta transforming growth factor

Purified growth inhibitor from BSC-1 cells and type beta transforming growth factor from human platelets are shown to have nearly identical biological activity and to compete for binding to the same cell membrane receptor. These findings suggest that the growth inhibitor and the type beta transforming growth factor are similar molecules. The data also show that the same purified polypeptide can either stimulate or inhibit cell proliferation depending on the experimental conditions.
Illuminating the genetics of complex human diseases

In 2007, Zhao et al. [1] proposed a unified genetic theory of sporadic and inherited autism spectrum disorders to explain the complex familial patterns observed. The model explains why most families have a low risk of autistic children with an overall incidence rate of approximately 1 in 150 births, but a small minority of families have a 50% risk for male offspring. Their model links these two risk classes by their genetic origins: sporadic autism in low-risk families is mainly caused by highly penetrant spontaneous mutations in autism-related genes, whereas inherited autism in high risk families is mainly caused by unaffected parents carrying a causative mutation that is transmitted in a dominant fashion to their offspring. The evidence for the model was based on the available genotyping assays that showed an elevated rate of de novo copy number variants (CNVs) in children with autism spectrum disorders. Since then, we and other collaborators have been following up with a high-resolution exome sequencing study of 2,800 families from the Simons Simplex Collection to pinpoint the genetic components of the disorder. Unlike the early studies that could only detect large copy number events spanning tens or hundreds of thousands of basepairs across multiple genes, our new study has power to examine single nucleotide and indel mutations within individual genes. From our preliminary analysis of approximately 350 of these families [2], as well as the reports of three other groups, we have collected strong evidence for the role of'likely gene-disrupting'(LGD) mutations (nonsense, splice site and frame shifts), with affected individuals having twice as many LGDs compared to unaffected siblings, and five 'double hit' genes (CHD8, DYRK1A, KATNAL2, POGZ, SCN2A) having two de novo mutations in unrelated individuals. From this analysis, we estimate approximately 400 genes are targets of autism spectrum disorders. Interestingly, from the gene set we have already identified, we have discovered a strong association between the targets LGD mutations in autism and in vivo targets of the RNA-binding translational regulator FMRP (encoded by FMR1), which results in Fragile X Syndrome when silenced or mutated. The large number of samples in the study necessitated that we develop a high performance parallel sequence analysis pipeline that could scale to the large volume of data and make use of local disk storage. We were able to make use of several existing tools for the preliminary analysis (BWA, SAMTools, GATK, etc), and we also developed additional components for genotyping within a family and across the population using a multinomial statistical approach. This includes a novel sequence analysis algorithm for discovering insertion & deletion variants using a localized sequence assembly approach that is superior to standard mapping algorithms. We continue to refine the algorithms to improve scalability, sensitivity, and specificity, and are beginning to apply it towards analyzing the genomes of families with other complex cognitive disorders.
Extended input-output flow analysis of ecosystems

Abstract The compartmental model of ecosystems open to their environments is extended by including self-loop ‘flows’ at compartments. According to this extension, the Markovian model corresponding to the conventional compartmental model is naturally generalized into the Markovian model with self-loops. By means of this generalized Markovian model, it is proved that the self-loop flow at each compartment in the extended compartmental model represents the storage at the compartment, which, together with the throughflow at the same compartment, constitutes the inclusive throughflow at that compartment. It is shown, on the basis of the maximum entropy principle, that the amount of storage (and thus, of inclusive throughflow) can be explicitly determined in terms of the turnover rate (thus, existing energy and throughflow) at each compartment. This makes it possible to generalize the flow analysis into the one which can analyze the cause-effect (causation) relationship among compartments in terms of not only throughflows but inclusive throughflows. Since the inclusive throughflow represents not only the throughflow but storage, and, in effect, the total energy existing at each compartment, the generalized flow analysis should reveal a more substantial aspect of the total interaction among subsystems (compartments). This account is applied to two significant issues in ecology: the issue of energy (or matter) cycling in ecosystems and the issue on direct influences versus indirect ones. A general measure of cycling efficiency of ecosystems with respect to both throughflow and inclusive throughflow is derived based on the generalized Markovian model, and studied in terms of natural ecosystem examples. The explicit expressions for the direct and indirect influences from one subsystem (compartment) to another are derived on the basis of the classification of paths into direct influence paths and indirect influence ones. It is shown that the relationship between direct and indirect influences is invariant for the throughflow and inclusive throughflow cases, and it is suggested that indirect influences tend to dominate over direct ones as the system connectance increases. Finally, a general method for evaluating the effects of storages on the cycling efficiency of ecosystems and the relationship between direct and indirect influences is developed, and these effects are studied analytically as well as in terms of natural ecosystem examples.
Induction of Profound Hypothermia for Emergency Preservation and Resuscitation Allows Intact Survival After Cardiac Arrest Resulting From Prolonged Lethal Hemorrhage and Trauma in Dogs

Background— Induction of profound hypothermia for emergency preservation and resuscitation (EPR) of trauma victims who experience exsanguination cardiac arrest may allow survival from otherwise-lethal injuries. Previously, we achieved intact survival of dogs from 2 hours of EPR after rapid hemorrhage. We tested the hypothesis that EPR would achieve good outcome if prolonged hemorrhage preceded cardiac arrest. Methods and Results— Two minutes after cardiac arrest from prolonged hemorrhage and splenic transection, dogs were randomized into 3 groups (n=7 each): (1) the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) group, resuscitated with conventional CPR, and the (2) EPR-I and (3) EPR-II groups, both of which received 20 L of a 2°C saline aortic flush to achieve a brain temperature of 10°C to 15°C. CPR or EPR lasted 60 minutes and was followed in all groups by a 2-hour resuscitation by cardiopulmonary bypass. Splenectomy was then performed. The CPR dogs were maintained at 38.0°C. In the EPR groups, mild hypothermia (...
Value at Risk for Interest Rate-Dependent Securities

Value at risk (VaR) may be calculated for interest rate-dependent securities using an extension of a non-parametric estimator. The method here uses a two-dimensional kernel with adjustable bandwidth to model the risk as it changes with the level of interest rates. Since the variance, skewness, kurtosis, and higher moments of the distribution of interest rate changes are allowed to vary non-parametrically with the level of rates, the model produces dynamically changing boundaries of risk for VaR that are based only on the data and are independent of a modeler9s choices. These VaR bounds are shown to be significantly better measures by a variety of criteria. The hit rates using the model presented here are generally more accurate than a GARCH specification in backtesting.
Biochemical tests for pheochromocytoma: strategies in hypertensive patients.

Objective:To determine the optimal clinical strategy utilizing either 1) serum catecholamines, 2) urinary metaphrines, or 3) urinary vanillylmandelic acid measurements in the evaluation of hypertensive patients with suspected pheochromocytoma. Design:Prospective clinical determination of test-operating characteristics. Setting:Tertiary care university medical center. Patients/Participants:415 patients referred for evaluation of suspected pheochromocytoma. Interventions:All subjects bad measurements of the three above-mentioned biochemical tests with the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma established by tissue confirmation. Results:All three biochemical tests were similar in sensitivity (0.70–0.75), specificity (0.90–0.95), and receiver operating characteristics. With an estimated disease prevalence of 5.9% in symptomatic hypertensive patients, the predictive value of any single negative test would be 98% in ruling out disease. Conclusions:All three biochemical tests have similar performance characteristics and only a single test need be performed to exclude pheochromocytoma in most symptomatic hypertensive patients in a primary care population.
The Basal Ganglia-Circa 1982

Our review has shown that recent studies with the new anterograde and retrograde axon transport methods have confirmed and extended our knowledge of the projection of the basal ganglia and clarified their sites of origin. They have thrown new light on certain topographic connectional relationships and revealed several new reciprocal connections between constituent nuclei of the basal ganglia. Similarly, attention has been drawn to the fact that there have also been many new histochemical techniques introduced in recent years that are now providing regional biochemical overlays for connectional maps of the central nervous system, especially regions in, or interconnecting with, the basal ganglia. However, although these new morphological biochemical maps are very complex and technically highly advanced, our understanding of the function controlled by the basal ganglia still remains primitive. The reader who is interested in some new ideas of the functional aspects of the basal ganglia is directed to Nauta's proposed conceptual reorganization of the basal ganglia telencephalon and to Marsden's more clinically orientated appraisal of the unsolved mysteries of the basal ganglia participation in the control of movement.
High-pressure dielectric measurements of solid hydrogen to 170 GPa

Refractive-index measurements on solid hydrogen at visible frequencies at pressures up to 170 GPa are reported. No evidence is found for a divergence at 150 GPa, close to the low-temperature phase transition observed previously and suggested as being associated with metallization. The results are consistent with closure of the indirect gap. A fit of the data to a dielectric model indicates that the onset of visible absorption due to direct interband transition should occur above 200 GPa, consistent with previous direct observations. Pressure-induced molecular dissociation may occur before closure of the direct gap.
Optical studies of nitrogen to 130 GPa.

Nitrogen is observed to remain a molecular solid up to 130 GPa, contrary to recent theoretical predictions of metallization below 100 GPa. Raman scattering reveals three new phases at 20, 66, and 100 GPa, which are distinguished by branching of existing vibronic modes. One mode increases in frequency to a broad maximum at 66 GPa and then decreases, similar to the case of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$. In ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$, such behavior was attributed to a weakening of the H-H bond. In ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$, three other vibronic frequencies continue to increase, showing the situation to be more complicated than just a weakening of the N-N bond.
A Mechanism for Regression of the Rabbit Corpus Luteum: Uterine-Induced Loss of Luteal Responsiveness to 17β-Estradiol

The efficacy of 17beta-estradiol as a luteotropic hormone was tested in rabbits through the period when corpora lutea normally regress in pse udopregnancy. The hormone was administered throughout pseudopregnancy v ia Silastic capsules which maintained serum estradiol at approximately 3 -fold normal concentration. Blood samples were obtained on alternate da ys beginning on Day 2 and ending on Day 22 at which time the corpora lutea were removed weighed and examined histologically. Mean serum progesterone concentrations in untreated pseudopregnant rabbits reached a peak of 13.4 ng/ml on Day 10 and fell to 1.5 ng/ml by Day 18. Continu ous estradiol treatment did not enhance luteal weight or progesterone levels. The inability of estradiol to extend the period of progesterone secretion was not due to altered metabolism of estradiol since serum concentrations of estradiol were not different on Days 10 and 22 in those with an estradiol implant (15 pg/ml). The corpora lutea regressed in the presence of elevated estradiol levels. In pseudopregnant rabbits hysterectomized and treated with estradiol progesterone increased to a peak value of 12.4 ng/ml on Days 10-12 and remained elevated at 11 ng/ml throughout the observation period (Day 28). Hysterectomized rabbits without treatment showed a gradual decline in progesterone after Days 10-12 to 2-3 ng/ml on Day 20 and remained there throughout the study. It is concluded that: 1) a decline in serum estradiol is not a prerequisite for regression of corpora lutea at the end of pseudopregnancy 2) the ovary is not a privileged site for normal luteolysis and 3) the uterus has a primary role in limiting the life span of the corpus luteum by reducing luteal responsiveness to estradiol .
Impact of Ethanol Mandates on Corn Prices in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico

The objective of this paper is to investigate the impact of U.S. and Canadianethanol mandates on corn prices in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Ethanol mandates wereenacted to create viable alternate energy sources to oil and reduce greenhouse gasemissions. Since the majority of ethanol production comes from corn, it has led to cornbeing diverted from a food and feed source to an energy source. While food diversioncauses relatively little concern for Canada and US, the rising corn prices have producedsocial unrest in Mexico where corn is a staple food and spending on food forms a largepart of consumption spending. Our results indicate that both the US and Canadian ethanolmandates resulted in an increase in corn prices in the U.S. as well as in Mexico (Q02,Q17, Q18, Q38, F13)
Ear asymmetries on a selective attentional task

Abstract To ascertain whether there are ear-hemisphere asymmetries of selective attention, signal stimuli (tonal sequences) were presented monaurally with and without complex maskers (music and speech). The right ear-left hemisphere was more disrupted by language maskers; the left ear-right hemisphere was more disrupted by music maskers. These results suggest that there are hemispheric asymmetries of selective attention and that the ear hemisphere that usually processes a class of stimuli has greater difficulty filtering out those stimuli than does the nonspecialized hemisphere.
Contaminated Lubricants and Tapered Roller Bearing Wear

When antifriction bearings operate in a “clean” environment, the primary mode of damage will be the eventual fatigue of the surfaces where rolling contact occurs. This type of damage is a function of load, alignment, bearing setting, speed, plus temperature and quality of the lubricant. However, when dirt from the outside or metallic debris worn from some mechanism in the application is allowed to contaminate the lubricant, wear will become the initial form of damage to the bearings. In most commercial applications, bearing wear in some magnitude is inevitable because of the difficulty in completely eliminating contaminants from the lubricant, and because elasto-hydrodynamic lubricant film conditions normally exist within the bearing. If, due to the presence of contaminants in the lubricant, the amount of bearing wear becomes significant, changes will occur to critical bearing dimensions which could have adverse effects on the bearing operation and, ultimately, the application. This paper presents an eval...
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the management of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer has the highest morbidity of all gynecologic cancers in the USA. In 2006, it is estimated that 20,180 new cases will have been diagnosed and 15,310 women will have died from ovarian cancer. Most patients are diagnosed with advanced-stage disease (stage III and IV). The conventional initial management of the disease involves a combination of aggressive cytoreductive surgery followed by chemotherapy regimens that include a platinum and taxane drug. Retrospective reviews correlate survival with the size of the residual tumor at the end of the initial surgery. For patients who are poor surgical candidates and for those who are unlikely to be optimally surgically cytoreduced, treatment with chemotherapy prior to any surgery (i.e., neoadjuvant chemotherapy) has been proposed to increase the feasibility of the subsequent surgical debulking and to decrease perioperative morbidity. There is a lack of consensus in studies assessing survival outcomes after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. In stage...
Security Decision Support Challenges in Data Collection and Use

In this paper the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) study's structure and findings, reviewing how and where it contributes to our understanding of cybercrime in the US are discussed. Measuring security requires trustworthy, credible data about the type and distribution of attack methods, attack frequency, successful defense methods, and more. Various entities actively collect information about online activities related to cybersecurity, including data breaches, spam, botnet activity, and viruses. Credible, timely data can strengthen the ability of consumers, governments, and industries to guard information.
Antifungal catheter lock therapy for the management of a persistent Candida albicans bloodstream infection in an adult receiving hemodialysis.

Antifungal catheter lock therapy (AfLT) with liposomal amphotericin B has been used in the treatment of pediatric central line infections caused by Candida species; however, reports describing the use of liposomal amphotericin B lock therapy in the adult hemodialysis patient population are lacking. Management of central line-associated candidemia with systemic therapy alone is often challenging due to the propensity of Candida species to form biofilms on foreign bodies. We describe a 64-year-old woman who was receiving hemodialysis 3 times/week and was hospitalized with persistent fungemia. Despite receiving intravenous micafungin, she had multiple positive blood cultures for Candida albicans, which finally cleared after 7 days. Her double-lumen catheter was considered the most likely nidus of infection. Although catheter removal would have been preferred, this was not possible given her vasculopathy, history of multiple bloodstream infections, and lack of other available sites for vascular access. Catheter exchange was performed, and liposomal amphotericin B AfLT was administered in combination with intravenous micafungin for a total of 6 days. During this time, the patient experienced no discernible adverse effects secondary to AfLT. At discharge, AfLT was discontinued, and intravenous micafungin was changed to oral fluconazole. After 6 months of treatment, the patient remained culture negative and maintained her dialysis access. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of liposomal amphotericin B catheter lock therapy used to manage a persistent C. albicans bloodstream infection in an adult receiving hemodialysis. AfLT is a novel concept for treating catheter-associated fungal infections. Liposomal amphotericin B was chosen based on its favorable in vitro activity against Candida species biofilms in catheter lock environments. We identified several barriers to implementing AfLT, and these issues may prohibit the use of AfLT. This case report illustrates the benefits and challenges of managing catheter-associated fungal infections with AfLT. Further study is required to examine the efficacy, safety, and feasibility of this approach.