cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The link between T helper balance and lymphoproliferative disease

Lymphoproliferative disorders comprise a heterogeneous group of neoplasms whose behaviors range from indolent to very aggressive. The increased incidence seen in the context of immunodeficiency provides evidence that the host immune system plays a vital role in their pathogenesis. We believe that T-helper (Th)-2 dominant states favor development of lymphoproliferative disorders, including lymphoma, and conversely T-helper (Th)-1 immunity protects against lymphoproliferative disease. The age distribution of lymphomas favors childhood and post-reproductive senescence, suggesting that exposure to these periods of Th-2 bias constitutes a key risk factor for developing the disease. The tendency of lymphomas to arise in Th-2 biased locations such as mucosal interfaces, immunoprivileged sites, and regions of B-cell differentiation may likewise reflect a corresponding spatial predilection. Various clinical conditions or treatments that shift Th1/Th2 balance, including HIV infection, transplant-related immune suppression, and autoimmune disorders, can also influence the status of lymphoproliferative diseases.
Interactive Whiteboards: Worth the Investment?

T. McDonough Central School District, located in a small city in upstate New York, is looking to invest some of its budget in new resources for Hawkins Elementary School. The School Board is strongly considering equipping each classroom in the school with interactive whiteboards. However, prior to doing so, the Board is inquiring about how the technology is currently being used. They are seeking input from teachers, students, parents, and other faculty members who have been exposed to the technology about this large-scale budget decision. For each stakeholder, the value and usefulness of the interactive whiteboards are different. Given the school board's proposed spending initiative, the entire school community appears to be debating how to spend this money and what future interactive whiteboards may have in their schools and classrooms.
Gullibility's Travels

The article discusses test validation as an area of concern for professional industrial psychologists. Rather than being viewed as a practical necessity, the conduct of test validation work has bee...
Percussion marks, tooth marks, and experimental determinations of the timing of hominid and carnivore access to long bones at FLK Zinjanthropus, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania

Competing hypotheses about the timing and nature of hominid and carnivore contributions to the formation of the Plio-Pleistocene bone assemblage from FLK Zinjanthropus are tested. The hypotheses advanced by Bunn (1986; Bunn and Kroll, 1986) and Leakey (197l), and by Binford (198l, 1986) are tested using the proportion of long bone specimens bearing hammerstone percussion marks and carnivore tooth marks. Unambiguous test implications based on surface mark frequencies are provided by results of well controlled experiments and naturalistic observations that model three alternative sequences of long bone processing and consumption by hominids and/or carnivores. Percussion mark and tooth mark frequencies, reported systematically for the first time on the assemblage from FLK Zinjanthropus, allow the rejection of the hypothesis that carnivores rather than hominids at FLK Zinjanthropus enjoyed first access to marrow in long bone cavities. This result contradicts Binford's characterization of Plio-Pleistocene hominids as marginal scavengers of carcasses heavily ravaged by bone-crunching carnivores. However, a high proportion of tooth-marked long bone midshaft fragments allows the rejection of the alternative hypothesis that carnivore access to long bones was exclusively or even primarily secondary to butchery and marrow extraction by hominids, as argued by Bunn (1986; Bunn and Kroll, 1986) and Leakey (1971). The results show that the sequence of carnivore and hominid access to long bones, and their respective carcass tissue yields, was more complex, as is consistent with a dominantly passive scavenging mode of carcass acquisition by hominids hypothesized earlier on the basis of skeletal part data and paleoecological considerations. Confidence in these deductions based on surface mark frequencies is increased by demonstrations of (i) a close comparability in agencies of bone fragmentation between the control samples and FLK Zinjanthropus; (ii) the representativeness of the control samples with respect to the process-pattern relationship between marrow/grease extraction and frequencies of surface marking; and (iii) the energetic and mechanical uniformities linking rates of bone surface marking to the timing of carnivore and hominid access to long bone nutrients.
The Great Temple of Tenochtitlán: Center and Periphery In the Aztec World

The Great Temple of Tenochtitlan: Center and Periphery In the Aztec World. Johanna Broda. David Carrasco and Eduardo Matos Moctezuma. University of California Press, 1987. 198 pp., photos, maps. $40.00 (cloth), $16.95 (paper). ISBN 0-520-05602-7, ISBN 0-520-06597-2.
“Idiopathic” Deep Venous Thrombosis: The Value of Routine Abdominal and Pelvic Computed Tomographic Scanning

Recent studies have demonstrated an increased incidence in the diagnosis of malignancy subsequent to the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolus. We reviewed 237 patients with venographically proven deep venous thrombosis over eight years. Of these, 216 had at least one predisposing cause for deep venous thrombosis; of the remaining 21 patients, three had hemoglobin determinations revealing anemia and were subsequently shown to have a malignant disease. One patient had two chief complaints and was shown to have deep venous thrombosis and malignant disease. The 17 remaining patients underwent computed tomographic scan of the abdomen and seven (41%) had abnormalities which proved to be malignant in origin. One further patient was diagnosed with carcinoma of the cervix two months following the onset of deep venous thrombosis. The remaining 10 patients continued free of malignant disease. Five have died of circulatory causes in the follow-up period. Seven of the nine patients diagnosed with malignancy succumbed within six months of the diagnosis. We conclude that only a small group of patients with deep venous thrombosis will have no identifiable cause for deep venous thrombosis and be asymptomatic for malignancy. Complete blood count, physical examination and computed tomographic scan of the abdomen at the time of venographic diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis is useful in diagnosis of “occult” malignancy. The number of gynecologic tumors would suggest the need for pelvic examination as well as radiographic examination. The presence of deep venous thrombosis and malignant disease is an ominous prognostic sign.
Defensive distance and immobility in young precocial birds (Gallus gallus)

The manifestation and duration of the tonic immobility reaction in 3-day-old chicks (Gallus gallus) was found to vary reliably as a function of the spatial proximity between the hand of the experimenter and the immobilized chick. The results of this experiment indicate that young birds are susceptible to immobility and that the maintenance of close spatial proximity is the condition necessary for the occurrence of the reaction in young precocial birds.
Childhood overweight problem in a selected school district in Hawaii.

Anthropometric measurements were collected from 1,437 public school students in a selected school district in Hawaii every year from 1992 to 1996. Results showed that boys and girls of Hawaiian ancestry (HA) are generally taller in stature and somewhat heavier in weight than their non-Hawaiian counterparts (Non-HA). Also, there are no clear differences between the two groups in BMI, sums of skinfolds, waist and hip circumferences, and waist/hip circumference ratios. When compared to data from NHANES III (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the median statures of HA boys and girls are very close to the median statures of NHANES III, but the body weights of HA are heavier at most ages. Also, the BMI values of HA are distinctly higher and their medians are closer to the 75th percentile of NHANES III. In addition, the values of the sums of skinfolds and the waist and hip circumferences of HA are also higher at most ages than NHANES III. These multiple anthropometric indicators suggest that there might be more overweight children and adolescents of HA. When compared to the statistics in NHANES III, there are twice as many HA and Non-HA boys and girls classified as obese. Clearly, a serious childhood problem exists among the children in this selected school district in Hawaii. More research is needed in other school districts in Hawaii. Also, it is suggested in this study that using multiple anthropometric indicators, rather than a single one, may be more accurate and appropriate in determining overweight problems in a youth population.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL INDICATORS IMPORTANT FOR BEGINNING TEACHERS: A SURVEY OF PENNSYLVANIA TEACHERS AND TEACHER EDUCATORS

The study investigated the job relevance of 70 knowledge and/or skill indicators across five content areas (Literature, Fine Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science) for the development of a Pennsylvania initial teacher licensure assessment. A random sample of 1,700 teachers and 300 teacher educators was selected from Pennsylvania. Respondents judged each indicator on a scale ranging from 1 (of no importance) to 5 (very high level of importance). Means (and standard deviations) were computed across all survey respondents, as well as for subgroups of teacher respondents. Using a mean of 3.50 as the criterion for job relevance, 24 of the 70 (34%) of the knowledge and/or skill indicators were judged to be important (job-relevant) enough for consideration in the development of the licensure assessment. These 24 knowledge and/or skill indicators are recommended as the primary content of the test.
Bicaudal, a genetic factor which affects the polarity of the embryo in Drosophila melanogaster

An inherited disturbance in egg polarity has been observed in Drosophila melanogaster. The bicaudal abnormal embryos develop the terminal segments of a second larval abdomen in mirror-image symmetry to the terminal segments of the normal abdomen. The two abdomens may be symmetrical with four or five segments at each end of the egg or have more abdominal segments at the normal posterior end than at the reversed end. The reversed posterior ends appear to have normal spiracles, hindgut and Malpighian tubules. The bicaudal embryos and two other specific lethal types associated with them are produced in very low frequency. The production of these lethals is associated with an unmarked second chromosome, which has been carried in three separate inbred lines in combination with a Curly, Lobe, speck balancer chromosome. Flies homozygous for the chromosome and flies heterozygous for this chromosome and a second chromosome containing a deficiency at the vestigial locus can produce the syndrome. Reciprocal crosses, of flies of a genotype which can produce the syndrome with flies which do not, have shown that the maternal genotype is the controlling factor in the production of the abnormalities.
Assessment of community healthcare providers ability and willingness to respond to emergencies resulting from bioterrorist attacks.

Introduction: Previous findings have demonstrated that preparedness and planning within the public health system are inadequately developed to respond to an act of biological or chemical terrorism. Methods:This investigation used Internet-based surveys to assess the level of preparedness (PL) and willingness to respond (WTR) to a bioterrorism attack, and identify factors that predict PL and WTR among Florida community healthcare providers. Invitations were sent to 22,800 healthcare providers in Florida, which resulted in 2,279 respondents. Results: Respondents included physicians (n=604), nurses (n=1,152), and pharmacists (n=486). The results indicated that only 32% of Florida healthcare providers were competent and willing to respond to a bioterrorism attack, 82.7% of providers were willing to respond in their local community, and 53.6% within the State. Respondents were more competent in administrative skills than clinical knowledge (62.8% vs. 45%). Areas in which respondents had the highest competency were the initiation of treatment and recognition of their clinical and administrative roles. Areas in which respondents showed the lowest competency were the ability to identify cases and the ability to communicate risk to others. About 55% of the subjects had previous bioterrorism training and 31.5% had conducted emergency drills. Gender, race, previous training and drills, perceived threats of bioterrorism attack, perceived benefits of training and drills, and feeling prepared were all predictors of overall preparedness. Conclusions: The findings suggest that only one-third of Florida community healthcare providers were prepared for a bioterrorism attack, which is an insufficient response rate to effectively respond to a bioterrorism incident.
Ultrashort separation length homogeneous electrophoretic immunoassays using on-chip discontinuous polyacrylamide gels.

To realize efficient homogeneous electrophoretic immunoassays, we introduce discontinuous polyacrylamide gels that enable quantitative assay completion in separation lengths as short as 350 μm in <10 s. The discontinuous cross-linked gels reduce the required electrophoretic separation lengths and thereby significantly reduce the required applied electrical potentials needed to achieve 100’s V/cm electric field strengths for rapid electrophoresis. To optimize the discontinuous polyacrylamide gel assay format, we demonstrate development of a two-color homogeneous electrophoretic immunoassay for concurrent quantitation of C reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) for monitoring inflammatory response. To achieve necessary pore-size control at the gel discontinuity, an optimized mask-based fabrication protocol is introduced. The fabrication approach improves electrophoretic separations using the discontinuous separation gels by eliminating two confounding phenomena: (1) smaller than desired ...
A mutational analysis of the 5' HoxD genes: dissection of genetic interactions during limb development in the mouse.

Using gene targeting in mice, we have undertaken a systematic mutational analysis of the homeobox-containing 5′ HoxD genes. In particular, we have characterized the limb defects observed in mice with independent targeted disruptions of hoxd-12 and hoxd-13. Animals defective for hoxd-12 are viable, fertile, and appear outwardly normal yet have minor autopodal defects in the forelimb which include a reduction in the bone length of metacarpals and phalanges, and a malformation of the distal carpal bone d4. The limb phenotypes observed in hoxd-13 mutant mice are more extensive, including strong reductions in length, complete absences, or improper segmentations of many metacarpal and phalangeal bones. Additionally, the d4 carpal bone is not properly formed and often produces an extra rudimentary digit. To examine the genetic interactions between the 5′ HoxD genes, we bred these mutant strains with each other and with our previously characterized hoxd-11 mouse to produce a series of trans-heterozygotes. Skeletal analyses of these mice reveal that these genes interact in the formation of the vertebrate limb, since the trans-heterozygotes display phenotypes not present in the individual heterozygotes, including more severe carpal, metacarpal and phalangeal defects. Some of these phenotypes appear to be accounted for by a delay in the ossification events in the autopod, which lead to either the failure of fusion or the elimination of cartilaginous elements. Characteristically, these mutations lead to the overall truncation of digits II and V on the forelimb. Additionally, some trans-animals show the growth of an extra postaxial digit VI, which is composed of a bony element resembling a phalange. The results demonstrate that these genes interact in the formation of the limb. In addition to the previously characterized paralogous interactions, a multitude of interactions between Hox genes is used to finely sculpt the forelimb. The 5′ Hox genes could therefore act as a major permissive genetic milieu that has been exploited by evolutionary adaptation to form the tetrapod limbs.
Hierarchical Regression for Analyses of Multiple Outcomes

In cohort mortality studies, there often is interest in associations between an exposure of primary interest and mortality due to a range of different causes. A standard approach to such analyses involves fitting a separate regression model for each type of outcome. However, the statistical precision of some estimated associations may be poor because of sparse data. In this paper, we describe a hierarchical regression model for estimation of parameters describing outcome-specific relative rate functions and associated credible intervals. The proposed model uses background stratification to provide flexible control for the outcome-specific associations of potential confounders, and it employs a hierarchical "shrinkage" approach to stabilize estimates of an exposure's associations with mortality due to different causes of death. The approach is illustrated in analyses of cancer mortality in 2 cohorts: a cohort of dioxin-exposed US chemical workers and a cohort of radiation-exposed Japanese atomic bomb survivors. Compared with standard regression estimates of associations, hierarchical regression yielded estimates with improved precision that tended to have less extreme values. The hierarchical regression approach also allowed the fitting of models with effect-measure modification. The proposed hierarchical approach can yield estimates of association that are more precise than conventional estimates when one wishes to estimate associations with multiple outcomes.
Perfect reconstruction QMF structures which yield linear phase FIR analysis filters

The authors present a perfect reconstruction FIR (finite-impulse response) linear-phase lattice structure for the two-channel quadrature-mirror-filter (QMF) bank. This structure covers most pairs of perfect reconstruction FIR linear-phase analysis filters which have the same (odd) order. For general number of channels M, conditions are derived which any QMF perfect reconstruction linear phase structure must obey. A design example is presented for the M=2 case. >
Semiautomated Turbidimetric Bioassay for the Ionophore A23187

The inhibitory effect of A23187 against Staphylococcus aureus was used to quantitate the activity of this ionophore in fermentation samples and in isolation and crystallization samples. The assay was shown to be rapid and reproducible.
Comprehensive Genetic Analysis of Paralogous Terminal Septin Subunits Shs1 and Cdc11 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Septins are a family of GTP-binding proteins considered to be cytoskeletal elements because they self-assemble into filaments and other higher-order structures in vivo. In budding yeast, septins establish a diffusion barrier at the bud neck between a mother and daughter cell, promote membrane curvature there, and serve as a scaffold to recruit other proteins to the site of cytokinesis. However, the mechanism by which any septin engages a partner protein has been unclear. The two most related and recently evolved subunits appear to be Cdc11 and Shs1, and the basic building blocks for assembling septin structures are hetero-octameric rods (Cdc11-Cdc12-Cdc3-Cdc10-Cdc10-Cdc3-Cdc12-Cdc11 and Shs1-Cdc12-Cdc3-Cdc10-Cdc10-Cdc3-Cdc12-Shs1). Loss of Cdc11 is not normally tolerated, whereas cells lacking Shs1 do not appear grossly abnormal. We established several different sensitized genetic backgrounds wherein Shs1 is indispensable, which allowed us to carry out the first comprehensive and detailed genetic analysis of Shs1 in vivo. Our analysis revealed several novel insights, including: (i) the sole portion of Shs1 essential for its function is a predicted coiled-coil-forming segment in its C-terminal extension (CTE); (ii) the CTE of Cdc11 shares this function; (iii) this role for the CTEs of Cdc11 and Shs1 is quite distinct from that of the CTEs of Cdc3 and Cdc12; and (iv) heterotypic Cdc11 and Shs1 junctions likely occur in vivo.
Attacking Decipherment Problems Optimally with Low-Order N-gram Models

We introduce a method for solving substitution ciphers using low-order letter n-gram models. This method enforces global constraints using integer programming, and it guarantees that no decipherment key is overlooked. We carry out extensive empirical experiments showing how decipherment accuracy varies as a function of cipher length and n-gram order. We also make an empirical investigation of Shannon's (1949) theory of uncertainty in decipherment.
Tri(t‐butoxy)silanethiol

[690-52-8] C12H28O3SSi (MW 280.50) InChI = 1S/C12H28O3SSi/c1-10(2,3)13-17(16,14-11(4,5)6)15-12(7,8)9/h16H,1-9H3 InChIKey = ZVUGYOCGLCLJAV-UHFFFAOYSA-N (reagent used as an efficient hydrogen donor and catalyst in the context of polarity reversal catalysis in radical chain reactions) Alternate Name: TBST. Physical Data: bp 113–115 °C/35 mmHg);1 95 °C/15 mmHg.2 Solubility: soluble in common organic solvents. Form Supplied: colorless liquid, not commercially available. Analysis of Reagent Purity: the reagent may be checked by bp or analyzed by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Preparative Method: this reagent can be prepared by alcoholysis of silicon disulfide (SiS2).1, 2 Representative procedure: powdered silicon disulfide (95% pure; 20.2 g, 0.21 mol) was charged into a 100 ml round-bottomed flask containing a robust stirrer bar and equipped with a reflux condenser. tert-Butyl alcohol (60.0 g, 0.81 mol) was added and the mixture was stirred and heated under reflux under nitrogen for 72 h. The cooled reaction mixture was filtered through Celite to remove unreacted silicon disulfide and the filter cake was washed with diethyl ether. Excess of alcohol and diethyl ether were removed from the filtrate by rotary evaporation and the residual oil was distilled under reduced pressure to give the silanethiol (18.1 g, 31%) as a colorless liquid, bp 95 °C/15 mmHg, 113–115 °C/35 mmHg). Purification: this reagent may be purified by distillation. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: thiols are known to be susceptible to autooxidation. This reagent may be toxic and may possess an unpleasant order. It should be kept under an inert atmosphere and handled with care.
Splanchnic Clearance and Its Relationship with Drug Elimination by the Liver and Gastrointestinal Tract

tion of intravenously administered drugs that undergo both intestinal and hepatic metabolism. Thus, CLspl ) CLH + FHCLGI, in which CLspl is the splanchnic clearance, CLH is the hepatic clearance, FH is the fraction of drug escaping extraction on each pass through the liver, and CLGI is the gastrointestinal clearance. The splanchnic clearance equation is consistent with the contributions of hepatic and gastrointestinal elimination at their limits. As a result, if clearance by the gastrointestinal tract is absent (i.e., CLGI ) 0), then splanchnic clearance is simply equal to the hepatic clearance alone (i.e., CLspl ) CLH). Further, if clearance by the liver is absent (i.e., CLH ) 0 and FH ) 1), then splanchnic clearance is simply equal to the gastrointestinal clearance alone (i.e., CLspl ) CLGI). However, when hepatic and gastrointestinal elimination are both operative, it is very difficult to predict the overall effect on CLspl because of the parallel as well as sequential perfusion of these two organs. This relationship is further complicated by concentration- or dosedependent kinetics that may effect changes in clearance and/or extraction. To illustrate this point, we have examined this relationship in dogs using direct in vivo measurements of 5-fluorouracil (FUra) clearance by the liver, gastrointestinal tract, and splanchnic region. The surgical procedure, experimental methods, and results concerning the regional pharmacokinetics of FUra have been published elsewhere. 3 Following intravenous infusions of FUra at five sequentially escalated dose rates (0.0625, 0.250, 0.750, 1.50 and 2.00 Imol/min/kg), values for CLH (11.7, 11.8, 11.2, 11.0, and 9.88 mL/min/kg), FH (0.225, 0.229, 0.298, 0.320, and 0.398), CLGI (7.90, 7.26, 5.42, 4.98 and 3.42 mL/min/kg) and CLspl (13.5, 13.5, 12.8, 12.6 and 11.2 mL/min/kg) were reported, respectively. At the extremes of dose-rate (i.e., 0.0625 vs 2.00 Imol/min/kg), a substantial 57% reduction
Detecting Channel Riparian Vegetation Response to Best-Management-Practices Implementation in Ephemeral Streams With the Use of Spot High-Resolution Visible Imagery

Abstract Heavily grazed riparian areas are commonly subject to channel incision, a lower water table, and reduced vegetation, resulting in sediment delivery above normal regimes. Riparian and in-channel vegetation functions as a roughness element and dissipates flow energy, maintaining stable channel geometry. Ash Creek, a tributary of the Bad River in western South Dakota contains a high proportion of incised channels, remnants of historically high grazing pressure. Best management practices (BMP), including off-stream watering sources and cross fencing, were implemented throughout the Bad River watershed during an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 319 effort to address high sediment loads. We monitored prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata Link) establishment within stream channels for 16 yr following BMP implementation. Photos were used to group stream reaches (n = 103) subjectively into three classes; absent (estimated < 5% cover; n = 64), present (estimated 5–40% cover; n = 23), and dense (estima...
Identification of an alternate δ-globin mRNA in adult human erythroid cells ☆

Abstract Here we describe the identification and characterization of an alternate δ-globin mRNA (Alt-d) discovered during high-throughput sequencing of mRNA from adult human erythroid cells. Alt-d mRNA shares the same coding region, splicing pattern, downstream untranslated region, and site of polyadenylation with the previously defined δ-globin (Delta) mRNA. Alt-d mRNA encodes an additional 145 nt in the upstream untranslated region, suggesting an alternative site of transcriptional initiation and transcription through the previously defined promoter, which contains several protein-binding motifs and a TATA box. Northern blot and PCR analyses demonstrated a restricted expression of Alt-d in fetal liver, bone marrow, and adult reticulocytes. Quantitative PCR demonstrated an Alt-d expression pattern similar to that of the Delta transcripts. In addition to intergenic RNA species and the dominant δ-globin transcripts, these data suggest that a third form of RNA is produced from low-level transcription through the δ-globin gene promoter.
Comparing power consumptions of collaborative and non-collaborative systems

In a collaborative wireless network, communicating nodes collaborate in routing and/or improving the quality of transmission of each other's packets. This is especially useful when the channel between a pair of nodes is in a deep shadow-fading state. In this situation, increasing the power level may either not resolve the problem or be too power consuming, while generating interference for other receivers on the same channel. A collaboration node, which has good propagation channels to both the source and the destination, may be used to relay the packets between them. The average amounts of power consumed by nodes in a standard wireless network that uses single-hop transmission and a collaborative wireless network that uses two-hop transmission is compared. It is shown that under certain conditions the ratio of the average power consumptions in the two networks, when N collaborating nodes on average are available for each node, can be approximated by k ln N + q. The constant k and q are related to the propagation channel. For a Nakagami fading channel with parameter m, k = 1/ln m and q = 1, while for a shadowing channel with standard deviation /spl sigma//sub dB/, k = /spl sigma//sub dB/ / /spl radic/ /spl pi/ and q = 0.23 /spl sigma//sub dB/.
An executable formal semantics of C with applications

This paper describes an executable formal semantics of C. Being executable, the semantics has been thoroughly tested against the GCC torture test suite and successfully passes 99.2% of 776 test programs. It is the most complete and thoroughly tested formal definition of C to date. The semantics yields an interpreter, debugger, state space search tool, and model checker "for free". The semantics is shown capable of automatically finding program errors, both statically and at runtime. It is also used to enumerate nondeterministic behavior.
Use of Recalibrated Serum Creatinine Concentrations for Adjustment of Drug Dosages: Determination of Values Compatible with Conventional Dosing Recommendations

BACKGROUND:Measurement of serum creatinine concentration is central to evaluation of kidney function. Recent efforts to increase the accuracy of this evaluation have led to recalibration of laboratory instruments. Recalibrated creatinine concentrations often are lower than previously reported.OBJECTIVES:To derive a method for converting recalibrated serum creatinine (R-SCr) concentrations into values that are compatible with recommended equations for calculation of estimated creatinine clearance.METHODS:Beginning with a proprietary array of recalibrated and corresponding non-recalibrated serum creatinine (NR-SCr) numerical data provided by the instrument manufacturer, relationships were examined with exponential and linear regression analyses. The validity of derived values for NR-SCr obtained through these analyses was tested by comparison of proprietary and derived serum creatinine concentrations and calculated creatinine clearance values.RESULTS:Analyses revealed that relationships between R-SCr and NR...
The Iris Hypothesis: A Negative or Positive Cloud Feedback?.

Abstract Using the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite measurements over tropical oceans, this study evaluates the iris hypothesis recently proposed by Lindzen et al. that tropical upper-tropospheric anvils act as a strong negative feedback in the global climate system. The modeled radiative fluxes of Lindzen et al. are replaced by the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) directly observed broadband radiation fields. The observations show that the clouds have much higher albedos and moderately larger longwave fluxes than those assumed by Lindzen et al. As a result, decreases in these clouds would cause a significant but weak positive feedback to the climate system, instead of providing a strong negative feedback.
Recruitment and activation of the ATM kinase in the absence of DNA damage sensors

Two kinases, ATM and DNA-PKcs, control rapid responses to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). The paradigm for ATM control is recruitment and activation by the Mre11-Rad50-NBS1 (MRN) sensor complex, whereas DNA-PKcs requires the sensor Ku (Ku70-Ku80). Using mouse cells containing targeted mutant alleles of Mre11 (Mre11a) and/or Ku70 (Xrcc6), together with pharmacologic kinase inhibition, we demonstrate that ATM can be activated by DSBs in the absence of MRN. When MRN is deficient, DNA-PKcs efficiently substitutes for ATM in facilitating local chromatin responses. In the absence of both MRN and Ku, ATM is recruited to chromatin, where it phosphorylates H2AX and triggers the G2-M cell-cycle checkpoint, but the DNA-repair functions of MRN are not restored. These results suggest that, in contrast to straightforward recruitment and activation by MRN, a complex interplay between sensors has a substantial role in ATM control.
Effects of 17β-estradiol on the baroreflex control of sympathetic activity in conscious ovariectomized rats

The effects of chronic treatment with 17β-estradiol on baroreflex control of sympathetic activity were examined in conscious unrestrained ovariectomized rats. Baroreflex function was evaluated by logistic sigmoidal analysis of the relationships between changes in mean arterial pressure (MABP) and changes in heart rate (HR) and splanchnic nerve activity (SNA) when MABP was rapidly increased to 150 mmHg by intravenous phenylephrine after its reduction to 50 mmHg by intravenous nitroprusside. These baroreflex function curves were similar in vehicle- and estradiol-treated rats. However, after a 30-min infusion of vasopressin in vehicle-treated rats, the curve for HR was shifted downward, and the upper plateau and maximum gain for the SNA curve were reduced. These effects were abolished by estradiol. A 30-min phenylephrine infusion had no effect on the baroreflex curves. Thus estrogen can modulate the action of vasopressin on baroreflex control of sympathetic outflow and thereby participate in cardiovascular regulation.
Addressing difficult areas in body contouring with emphasis on combined tumescent and syringe techniques

Abstract The combined use of the tumescent and syringe techniques is a logical choice in addressing difficult areas in body contouring. Each technique complements the other. The magnification of the deformity by the tumescent technique allows for a more uniform and accurate contour correction. The syringe technique provides precision and accuracy that further contribute to body contouring refinement. The combined use of the tumescent and syringe techniques has allowed greater refinement and precision in achieving satisfactory body contouring and in minimizing complications associated with traditional techniques.
A CASE OF CONGENITAL ARTERIOVENOUS ANEURYSM INVOLVING THE FEMUR

1. A case of congenital arteriovenous aneurysm involving the left femur, with dangerous cystic changes in the shaft of the bone, is described. 2. After ligation of the anastomosing fistulae the radiological appearance of the femur became normal.
Commerce on the Great Lakes System

T OO OFTEN in discussions of the waterborne commerce of the United States, commerce upon the Great Lakes System has been relegated to an inferior position, if not dismissed altogether after a few brief statements. Yet the Great Lakes System occupies a position of extreme importance in our commerce. The inter-port tonnage on the Great Lakes frequently exceeds that entered and cleared in the foreign trade of our Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific ports combined. In I939 this tonnage was I I3,309,000 short tons. A comparative statement of our domestic and foreign water-borne commerce in selected years appears in Table I. The Great Lakes System consists of the five Great Lakes of North AmericaSuperior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario-together with their connecting channels.1 In Table II the commerce on
Factors affecting rearing of clover root curculio (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in cone containers

A rearing technique for clover root curculio, Sitona hispidulus (F.), was developed using legumes growing in cone containers in the growth chamber. Eight factors were tested for their effect on rearing clover root curculio from egg to adult: (1) sterilization of egg surfaces, (2) egg infestation rate, (3) egg age, (4) plant growth media, (5) plant age at time of infestation, (6) watering schedule, (7) legume species and infestation rate with eggs or larvae, and (8) number of holes for infesting plants with larvae. The four most important factors for improving larval growth and survival of adults were as follows: (1) egg infestation rate, (2) egg age, (3) sterilization of egg surfaces with either laundry bleach or ethanol or both followed by a sterile water rinse, and (4) a peat-vermiculite mixture as a plant growth medium. Legume species (white clover [Trifolium repens L.] , red dover [T pratense L.] , and alfalfa [Medicogo sativa L.]) , watering schedules (two, three, or seven times a week), and number of holes for placing larvae in the soil had little or no impact on survival. Survival was improved by using eggs rather than larvae to infest plants. Five or more eggs per plant increased abnormalities in adults. Usually, insect survival was reduced with increasing number of eggs (10 or more per plant). Taproot injury increased with increasing numbers of eggs, but not larvae, per plant. There was 30-50% recovery of males and females. Previously published methods reported only a maximum of =20% survival from egg to adult.
Environmental levels of Zn do not protect embryos from Cu toxicity in three species of amphibians.

Abstract Contaminants often occur as mixtures in the environment, but investigations into toxicity usually employ a single chemical. Metal contaminant mixtures from anthropogenic activities such as mining and coal combustion energy are widespread, yet relatively little research has been performed on effects of these mixtures on amphibians. Considering that amphibians tend to be highly sensitive to copper (Cu) and that metal contaminants often occur as mixtures in the environment, it is important to understand the interactive effects that may result from multiple metals. Interactive effects of Cu and zinc (Zn) on amphibians have been reported as antagonistic and, conversely, synergistic. The goal of our study was to investigate the role of Zn in Cu toxicity to amphibians throughout the embryonic developmental period. We also considered maternal effects and population differences by collecting multiple egg masses from contaminated and reference areas for use in four experiments across three species. We performed acute toxicity experiments with Cu concentrations that cause toxicity (10–200 μg/L) in the absence of other contaminants combined with sublethal concentrations of Zn (100 and 1000 μg/L). Our results suggest very few effects of Zn on Cu toxicity at these concentrations of Zn. As has been previously reported, we found that maternal effects and population history had significant influence on Cu toxicity. The explanation for a lack of interaction between Cu and Zn in this experiment is unknown but may be due to the use of sublethal Zn concentrations when previous experiments have used Zn concentrations associated with acute toxicity. Understanding the inconsistency of amphibian Cu/Zn mixture toxicity studies is an important research direction in order to create generalities that can be used to understand risk of contaminant mixtures in the environment.
Transvasovasostomy--an alternative operation for obstructive azoospermia.

AbstractFive patients with obstructive azoospermia are presented. They were evaluated by a complete history, physical examination and semen analysis, including fructose studies, and serum testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone determinations. A history or suspected history of epididymitis or prostatitis was identified in 4 patients and a history of iatrogenic obstruction was found in 3. All patients underwent testicular biopsy which showed normal spermatogenesis. A vasogram was crucial in determining the site of obstruction. All patients underwent transvasovasostomy through the scrotal septum. Patients had encouraging postoperative sperm counts and fertility has been demonstrated by induction of pregnancy in 2 cases.
Thermodynamic Properties of Electrolytes and of EMF Cells

After discussing the activities and other thermodynamic properties of electrolytic solutions a careful and novel discussion is provided concerning the mechanisms that drive the operation of an electrolytic cell. The relation between electrochemical potentials and electromotive force (emf) is explored. Various operating characteristics are discussed, such as emf measurements under a variety of conditions, liquid junction potentials, the relation between emf measurements and thermodynamic properties, types of operational cells, and thermodynamic information available from emf measurements.
Growth-Increment Formation Using Otoliths and Scales for Age-0 Chinook Salmon

AbstractRetrospective analysis is used to reconstruct fish body size at previous ages, with size and growth assumed to be accurately reflected by scale circuli and otolith increments. Using a 122-d laboratory experiment, this study validated the relationship between fish body size and growth with scale circuli and otolith daily growth increments for age-0 Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha. Somatic growth was accurately reflected by growth in scale radius and growth in otolith diameter, indicating that growth in these two measures was proportional to growth in fish length. Although the width between scale circuli reflected somatic growth, daily growth was not accurately reflected by the width between corresponding otolith daily increments. Study results showed that fish deposited new otolith increments on a daily basis, but that new scale circuli were deposited at each successive increase of 5 to 6 mm in total length. These findings provide a foundation for future retrospective growth analyses involv...
Exploiting soft and hard correlations in big data query optimization

Big data infrastructures are increasingly supporting datasets that are relatively structured. These datasets are full of correlations among their attributes, which if managed in systematic ways would enable optimization opportunities that otherwise will be missed. Unlike relational databases in which discovering and exploiting the correlations in query optimization have been extensively studied, in big data infrastructures, such important data properties and their utilization have been mostly abandoned. The key reason is that domain experts may know many correlations but with a degree of uncertainty (fuzziness or softness). Since the data is big, it is very challenging to validate such correlations, judge their worthiness, and put strategies for utilizing them in query optimization. Existing techniques for exploiting soft correlations in RDBMSs, e.g., BHUNT, CORDS, and CM, are heavily tailored towards optimizing factors inherent in relational databases, e.g., predicate selectivity and random I/O accesses of secondary indexes, which are issues not applicable to big data infrastructures, e.g., Hadoop.In this paper, we propose the EXORD system to fill in this gap by exploiting the data's correlations in big data query optimization. EXORD supports two types of correlations; hard correlations---which are guaranteed to hold for all data records, and soft correlations---which are expected to hold for most, but not all, data records. We introduce a new three-phase approach for (1) Validating and judging the worthiness of soft correlations, (2) Selecting and preparing the soft correlations for deployment by specially handling the violating data records, and (3) Deploying and exploiting the correlations in query optimization. We propose a novel cost-benefit model for adaptively selecting the most beneficial soft correlations w.r.t a given query workload while minimizing the introduced overhead. We show the complexity of this problem (NP-Hard), and propose a heuristic to efficiently solve it in a polynomial time. EXORD can be integrated with various state-of-art big data query optimization techniques, e.g., indexing and partitioning. EXORD prototype is implemented as an extension to the Hive engine on top of Hadoop. The experimental evaluation shows the potential of EXORD in achieving more than 10x speedup while introducing minimal storage overheads.
Ladders to Leadership: What Camp Counselor Positions Do for Youth

The 4-H youth development organization understands and has recognized residential camping as one of the major modes of program delivery. Primary benefactors of the residential camping program are those youth who serve as camp counselors. Not only are they recipients of the educational program, but also supervise and teach younger campers (Garst & Johnson, 2005; McNeely, 2004). As a result of their experience, camp counselors learn about and develop leadership and life skills (Thomas, 1996; Purcell, 1996). The residential camping experience allows youth to serve as volunteers through their role as camp counselors. In addition to the benefits earned from their volunteer role, residential camping provides youth camp counselors the opportunity to gain leadership skills (Arnold, 2003) as well as add to the camp structure, planning, and implementation (Hines & Riley, 2005).
Enhanced PHY-layer security via co-channel underlays

The use of spread spectrum underlay signals has been widely proposed in cognitive radio contexts as a means to provide available spectrum for secondary users. Underlay signals are generally transmitted on a minimal interference basis to prevent disruption of the primary user(s). This paper proposes concepts for integrating the use of arbitrary, digitally modulated signals (primary) with time- and phase-synchronized, co-channel spread spectrum underlay signals, with the singular intent of increasing transmission security of the primary wireless signal via induced self-interference of the conjoined signals. These signals are separable given a priori knowledge of the underlay spreading code, yet remain masked to an uninformed observer. Simulation and proof-of-concept over-the-air results are provided, demonstrating practical feasibility of the approach, while future work will incorporate successive interference cancellation techniques and better quantify performance tradeoffs in hardware.
Transverse Sinus Stenosis Is the Most Sensitive MR Imaging Correlate of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension have transverse sinus stenosis on gadolinium-bolused MRV, but other MR imaging signs are less consistently seen. Our aim was to demonstrate that transverse sinus stenosis could be identified on conventional MR imaging, and this identification would allow improved diagnostic sensitivity to this condition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR imaging and MRV images from 63 patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension and 96 controls were reviewed by using 3 independent procedures. MRV images were graded for the presence and degree of stenosis of the transverse sinus. Postgadolinium coronal T1-weighted sequences were evaluated independent of MRV. The dimensions of the proximal and distal transverse sinus were measured from the MRV examinations, and the cross-sectional area of the transverse sinus was calculated. Correlation among the 3 modes of evaluation of the transverse sinus was conducted by using Wilcoxon/Kruskal-Wallis, Pearson, and Spearman ρ nonparametric statistical techniques. RESULTS: Transverse sinus stenosis was identified bilaterally on MRV in 94% of patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension and in 3% of controls. On coronal T1 postgadolinium MR images, transverse sinus stenosis was identified in 83% of patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension and 7% of controls. Previously described MR imaging signs of intracranial hypertension were identified in 8%–61% of patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Correlation among the 3 modes of evaluation was highly significant (P CONCLUSIONS: Even without the assistance of an MRV sequence, neuroradiologists can validly identify bilateral transverse sinus stenosis in patients with intracranial hypertension more reliably than other previously described MR imaging findings in this condition. We conclude that transverse sinus stenosis is the most useful and sensitive imaging indicator of this disease state.
The thermal effect of laser light scattering in a biological medium

The primary objective of this research is to model light intensity distribution and heat deposition rate in a biological medium irradiated by a laser. Values from a heuristic beam broadening model are compared to values computed with (1) Kubelka-Munk two flux theory (2) and a multiple scattering approximation. On the basis of this model, temperature rise and damage are predicted for the canine gastric tissue irradiated by a Nd-Yag laser. These results are compared with experimental data.The primary objective of this research is to model light intensity distribution and heat deposition rate in a biological medium irradiated by a laser. Values from a heuristic beam broadening model are compared to values computed with (1) Kubelka-Munk two flux theory (2) and a multiple scattering approximation. On the basis of this model, temperature rise and damage are predicted for the canine gastric tissue irradiated by a Nd-Yag laser. These results are compared with experimental data.