cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Detection of Mycoplasma Ribosomal DNA Sequences in Ovarian Tumors by Nested PCR

Abstract Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate the reported association between mycoplasma infection and ovarian cancer by screening ovarian tumor tissues for the presence of mycoplasma DNA. Methods. Forty-six benign and malignant ovarian tumors were obtained from patients undergoing pelvic surgery at a regional cancer center. DNA was isolated from snap-frozen tumor tissues, and commercial nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) kits were used to detect the presence of 12 species of mycoplasma in tumor DNA samples. PCR products were isolated from ethidium bromide-stained agarose gels, and sequenced with an automated DNA sequencer. Species were identified through nucleotide sequence similarity searches using the National Center for Biotechnology Information BLAST program. Results. Mycoplasma DNA was detected in 6 (13.0%) of the 46 tumor DNA samples. Nucleotide sequence similarity searches of nested PCR products revealed that one Mycoplasma salivarium and five M. arginini DNA sequences were amplified from the ovarian tissues. Conclusions. Since M. salivarium and M. arginini are frequently encountered laboratory contaminants that do not have a recognized role as human pathogens, our findings do not support an association between human mycoplasma pathogens and ovarian cancer.
Anomalous behavior of the fifty-percent rule in dynamic memory allocation

This paper reports simulation data showing that, in dynamic memory allocation, the average free-to-allocated-block ratio can differ considerably and in both directions from the predictions of the 50 percent rule. A new derivation is given, and it is shown that previous derivations make an assumption that may be violated frequently. On the basis of the simulation data and the derivation, it is hypothesized that the anomalous behavior results from the combined effects of systematic placement and the statistics of the release process. Additional simulations support this hypothesis. Systematic placement, which refers to the natural convention of always allocating storage requests against the same end of the free block selected by the allocation strategy, tends to order blocks within contiguous groups according to their allocation time. The degree of anomalous behavior depends on the extent to which allocated blocks are released in the order of their allocation. For non-Markovian release processes, the extent of the correlation between allocation order and release order varies approximately inversely with the coefficient of variation of the memory residence time distribution. The simulations show that allocation efficiency depends strongly on the residence time distribution; efficiency decreases as the distribution's coefficient of variation increases. Some practical implications are briefly discussed.
Utility of injection site tumorigenicity in assessing the carcinogenic risk of chemicals to man

Abstract The nature of tumorigenic responses at the injection site is reviewed and responses produced by subcutaneous injection of chemicals are compared with responses produced by other routes of administration. The tumorigenic effects of chemicals reported in the first 26 volumes of the IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Man were examined, segregating the chemicals which produced only local tumors at the site of subcutaneous injection from those chemicals which produced distant tumors. Those chemicals which produced distant tumors were almost always tumorigenic by at least one other route of administration. However, nearly half of the chemicals which produced only local tumors by subcutaneous injection were not tumorigenic by any other tested routes of administration. It is recommended that when distant tumors are produced after injection, the results should be considered as significant as those obtained by routes of administration more relevant to man. However, if tumors are produced only at the site of injection and humans are exposed to the substance tested only by inhalation, ingestion, or absorption through the skin, the substance should be tested by other routes of administration before assessing the carcinogenic risk it may present to man.
Social planning: past, present, and future

This article discusses the history of the idea of social planning, and of the pioneering Masters Programme in Social Planning established at the University of Wales Swansea in 1973. Swansea's initiative in social planning led to the creation of the University's Centre for Development Studies (CDS), and it broadened development studies as an academic and policy field. Social planning is a controversial term because it has sometimes been associated with social engineering and totalitarianism. Nevertheless, it has a very important intellectual and policy agenda, and if the word ‘planning’ proves a liability it can be replaced by ‘policy’ or ‘strategy’. The major questions reviewed at CDS-Swansea in the 1970s are still pertinent, and new dimensions have been added through growing concerns for nation-building, sustainability, democracy, gender equity and human rights. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Robustness and perturbation analysis of a class of artificial neural networks

Abstract We study robustness properties of a large class of artificial feedback neural networks for associative memories by addressing the following question: given a neural network with specified stable memories (specified asymptotically stable equilibria), under what conditions will a perturbed model of the neural network possess stable memories that are close (in distance) to the stable memories of the unperturbed neural network model? In arriving at our results, we establish robustness stability results for the perturbed neural network models considered and we determine conditions that ensure the existence of asymptotically stable equilibria of the perturbed neural network model that are near the asymptoitically stable equilibria of the original unperturbed neural network. These results involve quantitative estimates of the distance between the corresponding equilibrium points of the unperturbed and pertubed neural network models.
Applications of information theory to software engineering measurement

In the 1990s, there is an emphasis on finding ways to lower software cost and improve quality. Thus, it is very important to quantify and measure factors, such as software complexity, which have been shown to affect cost and quality. Researchers have defined many software complexity measures, and have exploited them to identify fault-prone program modules, to predict the number of faults that testing and operation will reveal, or to assess maintainability. Information theory based software measures are attractive because they quantify, with a standard unit, the amount of information in an abstraction of a program. The unit of measure is a bit. The purpose of this paper is to survey the state of the art of applications of information theory to software measurement, beginning in 1972. Information theory based measures have been applied to most phases of the development lifecycle. However, there have been relatively few papers. Most measures have not been empirically validated. One can conclude that the field is in its infancy. Relevant concepts of information theory are briefly described, and tables summarize the references from various perspectives. Since the amount of research, thus far, has been very limited, researchers will find numerous opportunities to validate, refine, and improve the measures presented here. Such research should give future practitioners useful software measures for each phase of the lifecycle.
Awareness of Hepatitis C Diagnosis is Associated with Less Alcohol Use Among Persons Co-Infected with HIV

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE It is unknown whether testing HIV-infected individuals for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and informing them of their HCV status impacts subsequent alcohol use. We hypothesized that HIV-infected individuals with current or past alcohol problems who reported being told they had HCV were more likely to 1) abstain from alcohol and 2) not drink unhealthy amounts compared to individuals who had not been told.
In vivo conversion of a steroidal alkaloid, holaphyllamine, to pregnenolone

Abstract After administration of holaphyllamine-4- 14 C to the leaves of a Holarrhena floribunda plant, radioactive pregnenolone was isolated and shown to be radiochemically pure by chromatography, by crystallization of its acetate to constant specific activity, and by subsequent hydrolysis to free pregnenolone of the same specific activity. This experiment indicates that pregnenolone may be a natural constituent of this plant and that the previously observed conversion of pregnenolone to holaphyllamine is reversible.
Differential recognition of peptide analogs by naive verses activated PLP 139–151-specific CD4+ T cells

CD4+ T cells specific for PLP 139-151 induce a relapsing-remitting form of EAE which is similar to the human demyelinating disease multiple sclerosis (MS) in both clinical course and histopathology. Conservative and nonconservative amino acid substitutions were introduced at three TcR or MHC contact residues within PLP 139-151 to identify fine specificity requirements, at the polyclonal level, for stimulating naive encephalitogenic T cells and for reactivating pre-primed autoreactive T cells as measured by T cell proliferation, cytokine induction, and functional encephalitogenic potential. The results indicate that peptides with substitutions at position 145 exhibited a significantly diminished ability to induce active disease, but these substitutions had little or no effect on the ability to activate PLP 139-151-primed T cells for proliferation or disease transfer. A conservative or a nonconservative substitution at position 144 ablated both encephalitogenic potential in active and adoptive EAE models and the ability to induce proliferative responses in T cells primed to the native peptide. A nonconservative lysine for glycine, but not a conservative serine substitution, at position 146 had similar effects. In contrast to their inability to induce active EAE and stimulate in vitro proliferation of PLP 139-151-primed T cells, the Y144 and the 146 analog peptides were able to suboptimally reactivate these cells for transfer of adoptive EAE. Furthermore, the nonencephalitogenic K146 peptide was found to exacerbate in vivo induction of EAE induced by priming with a suboptimal dose of PLP 139-151. These data support the hypothesis that naive neuroantigen-specific CD4+ T cells have more stringent activation requirements than do PLP 139-151-specific T cells which have previously encountered antigen. The finding that the analog peptides induced differential patterns of cytokine production, with LT/TNF-alpha production but not IFN-gamma production correlating with full encephalitogenic potential, suggests different functional outcomes may result from differential levels of signal transduction triggered by the substituted peptides. The significance of these results to the potential development of autoimmune disease via molecular mimicry and for the development of new strategies for preventing and treating T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases is discussed.
A dose ratio comparison of the interaction between morphine and cyclazocine with naloxone in rhesus monkeys on the shock titration task

Dose-response curves for morphine (0.5-20 mg/kg) were obtained in 4 rhesus monkeys performing the discrete trials shock titration task. Naloxone (5-500 microgram/kg) uniformly produced a dose dependent, parallel shift of the morphine dose-response curves to right. Plots for the 4 animals of the Log (dose ratio--1) versus --Log (naloxone) revealed that the line had a slope of -0.96. The value of the pA2 was 7.2. Similar experiments were carried out in two rhesus monkeys using cyclazocine. Naloxone (50-1000 microgram) similarly produced a rightward dose dependent, parallel shift of the cyclazocine dose response curves. Unlike the results obtained with morphine, the pA2 for naloxone obtained with cyclazocine was 6.3 and the slope of the dose ratio line was -1.6.
Hydrogen-Bonding, Self-Assembled Monolayers: Ordered Molecular Films for Study of Through-Peptide Electron Transfer

New peptide-containing alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold have been prepared. These monolayers exhibit extended interchain hydrogen bonding and have well-ordered alkane chains. Elemental composition and thickness of the monolayer are obtained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. External reflective IR spectroscopy shows that the SAMs are uniaxial and possess microcrystalline, densely packed methylene chains with hydrogen bonding between neighboring amide moieties. These highly ordered monolayers form excellent electrochemical spacers as characterized by electrochemical blocking studies and double-layer capacitance measurements. The well-defined structure makes this system a promising prototype for systematic investigations of long-range electron transfer through amide bonds.
On the Design and Analysis of Data Center Network Architectures for Interconnecting Dual-Port Servers

We consider the design and analysis of Data Center Network (DCN) architectures for interconnecting dual-port servers. Unlike existing works, we propose the concept of Normalized Switch Delay (NSD) to distinguish a server-to-server-direct hop and a server-to-server-via-switch hop, to unify the design of DCN architectures. We then consider a fundamental problem: maximizing the number of dual-port servers, given network diameter and switch port number; and give an upper bound on this maximum number. Two novel architectures are proposed: SWCube and SWKautz, based on the generalized hypercube and Kautz graph, respectively, which in most cases accommodate more servers than BCN [1], which was claimed to be the largest known architecture. Compared with three existing architectures, SWCube and SWKautz demonstrate various advantages. Analysis and simulations also show that SWCube and SWKautz have nice properties for DCNs, such as low diameter, good fault-tolerance, and capability of efficiently handling network congestion.
Regularities in the bond dissociation enthalpies of molecules of type AB and BAB: energetics of compounds of groups 14 and 16

Abstract An experimental study in the literature of the bond dissociation enthalpies of group 14/16 compounds in the gas phase showed that the ratio of the average bond dissociation enthalpy of the triatomic molecule (one half of the atomization enthalpy) to the bond dissociation enthalpy of the diatomic molecule (i.e. its atomization or dissociation enthalpy) is very nearly a constant, ca. 0.8. The current study corroborates these findings by additional thermochemical data from the literature, G2 and G2(MP2) post-Hartree–Fock level quantum chemical calculations and qualitative theoretical reasoning as to the plausibility of the suggested value.
Removal of Ammonium and Nitrate Ions from Mine Effluents by Membrane Technology

Abstract Ammonium and nitrate ions could be removed from synthetic and actual mine effluents by using nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes. RO membranes were found more effective in removing these ions (>99% for NH4 + and about 97% for NO3 −) than NF membranes (about 66% for NH4 + and about 43% for NO3 −). Removal of ammonia from synthetic solutions containing only ammonia and water by both NF and RO membranes was found to be very low (10–30%), indicating that ammonia in mining effluents existed not as free ammonia but as ammonium salt complexes. The degree of separation depends on the size of the ammonium salt molecule. Removal of ammonia in the form of ammonium iron sulfate from a synthetic solution by NF membranes reached more than 98% while the removal of ammonium sulfate compound from an actual effluent by the same membranes reached about 55%. Ammonia separation by membranes assures the production of quality water suitable for recycling in mining operations since the other metal ion...
System Reliability and Water Service Decentralization: Investigating Household Preferences in Nicaragua

Concern continues to grow over unreliable water access at the household level in many developing countries. A contingent valuation survey was designed to elicit willingness-to-pay for safe and reliable drinking water in Leon, Nicaragua. In addition, split-sample treatments were used to investigate preferences for two forms of service governance: the current, centralized water supplier and a decentralized service implemented at the municipal level. Results show that households are willing to pay a substantial increase in their water bills for reliable water supply. Findings also indicate that households hold greater confidence in the current, centralized provider rather than a localized service based on several characteristics such as overall service, awareness of water issues, interest in solving water problems, capacity, accountability, and potential investment.
New instruments for measuring blood pressure.

The development of the conventional indirect method of blood pressure measurement was essentially complete by 1905, 70 years ago. The method has certain shortcomings, but these can be offset to a large degree by control over conditions of measurement, provision of proper apparatus, and intensive training of observers. Still, there are potential advantages which might be met by an acceptable automated device. An experimental evaluation of five such devices led to rejection of each of them on grounds of inadequate measurement performance, mechanical failures, or both. Only the Random-Zero device (Hawksley), among the instruments tested, gave good performance in comparison with the conventional method and was free of serious mechanical disadvantages. Evaluation of new devices will continue to be of great importance, and proposed guidelines for such studies are reviewed.
Personality: psychodynamic perspectives.

THE PERSONALITY disorder literature bulges with arguments concerning the aptness of the dimensional or the categorical view as a basis for classification. 1 Now Horowitz and his team 2 ask yet another question that goes beyond the issue of discriminant validity in personality taxonomy, raising the issue of the usefulness of our current classification for intervention. Other matters are also considered in their criticism, such as the idea that static personality profiles do not account for the multiple reaction patterns that may arise in any one person with a so-called personality disorder. They reintroduce the role-relationship model (RRM), about which Horowitz 3 has written so eloquently before, and acknowledge his debt to the core conflictual relationship theme (CCRT) of Luborsky et al. 4 This report is not a fully original contribution, but rather a summary of new and prior reliability and validity studies that recommend the scientific claim of the
Performance Analysis for Direction of Arrival Estimating Algorithms

Smart antennas have emerged as one of the most promising directions in supporting maximum communication link throughput. In this paper, we have investigated the impact of smart antennas on a complex mobile network such as a railroad wireless communications system. The objective is to analyze the selection of a Direction-Of-Arrival (DOA) estimation algorithm which provides the maximum efficiency when deployed in our railroad testbeds for wireless vehicular communication. Our findings are discussed to provide an in-depth understanding of how different algorithms should be selected to support efficient network operations.
Perspectives on Preparing Graduate Students To Provide Educationally Relevant Services in Schools

Abstract Working in the schools today requires more than the skills and knowledge for addressing the communication and swallowing disorders that children exhibit. With changes in the way speech-lan...
A Comparative Analysis of Recidivism With Propensity Score Matching of Informal and Formal Juvenile Probationers

Given service costs and evidence suggesting mixing young offenders of different risk levels increases recidivism, this study determined the extent to which differential disposition and risk determined subsequent recidivism. Furthermore, this study entailed a comparison of offense outcomes for informal probationers (n = 581) and formal probationers (n = 773) of similar risk levels. Criminogenic risk was assessed using the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory. To control for selection effects, the two groups were matched based on propensity scores. Validation of the measure yielded an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of .67 for informal probationers and .62 for formal probationers. Low-, moderate-, and high-risk probationers were found in both groups of offenders. However, there were no significant differences in recidivism rates between similar risk level youth of the two respective probation groups. Policy and practice implications are offered and discussed.
Choline supplementation and DNA methylation in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of rats exposed to alcohol during development.

Background Some of the most frequent deficits seen in children with FASD and in animal models of FASD are spatial memory impairments and impaired executive functioning, which are likely related to alcohol-induced alterations of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC), respectively. Choline, a nutrient supplement, has been shown in a rat model to ameliorate some of alcohol's teratogenic effects and this effect may be mediated through choline' effects on DNA methylation.
D-brane charges in five-brane backgrounds

We discuss the discrete k D-brane charges (twisted K-theory charges) in five-brane backgrounds from several different points of view. In particular, we interpret it as a result of a standard Higgs mechanism. We show that certain degrees of freedom (singletons) on the boundary of space can extend the corresponding k symmetry to U(1). Related ideas clarify the role of AdS singletons in the AdS/CFT correspondence.
Motivation and performance in the information systems field: a survey of related studies

Motivation is important. In today's economy, it is vital that all scarce resources - especially human resources - be utilized efficiently and effectively. Daft and Steers state unequivocally that motivation is the foundation upon which human resources may be optimally utilized (1986).Prior studies of motivation in the information systems (IS) profession have led to inconclusive and, even contradictory results. It may be that these apparently inconsistent results are actually evidence of a rapidly changing and evolving profession. Several IS research articles have documented rapidly occurring changes within IS job environments, changes in development methodologies and IS organizational structure. Thus, an assessment of the fit between the IS professional and the changing IS work environment is a fundamental component of IS human resource management. Knowledge of job fit in this profession is crucial to each phase of human resource development, from recruitment to evaluation and training.The primary purpose of this paper is to review personnel literature within the context of a larger picture of IS motivation:• Motivation in the IS profession• The evolving IS work environment• Job fit within the IS profession• Related studies from other disciplines
Legal Empowerment of the Neighbourhood

This article examines the inefficacy of the present legal form of local government in the US. This inefficacy manifests itself by providing no solid legal mooring for the power of local government while contributing to regional economic inequalities. In an attempt to address this problem, the author suggests realigning local government to the neighbourhood level while constructing a new tier of government to mitigate the negative economic consequences of such realignment.
Observational epidemiology is the preferred means of evaluating effects of behavioral and lifestyle modification

Abstract In evaluating the health effects of behavioral change, randomized trials have the clear advantage of being able to provide unbiased and unconfounded estimates. However, in practice, many difficulties loom that limit the utility of trials. These include the inability to assess adverse behavior (except indirectly), the often unrealistic requirement for very prolonged adherence—perhaps for decades—to the randomized assignment, the requirement for huge numbers for precise estimates of effect (as opposed to simply a “significant result”), and the ethical problems of giving a placebo when an efficacious agent is available. We must be alert to feasible opportunities to test behavioral changes in clinical trials, but the many limitations mean that we will continue to rely on well-conducted, large-scale observational studies for most of our evidence on the effects of behavioral change.
An analytical transformation for remote sensing of clear-column atmospheric temperature profiles

An exact analytical transformation is presented for the remote sensing of atmospheric temperature profiles in the presence of clouds. The transformation permits direct retrieval of clear-column temperature profiles without the need to predetermine the corresponding clear-column radiances. A numerical illustration is given for simulated observations in the 15 micron CO2 band in the terrestrial atmosphere. The resulting method is numerically very fast and is especially suitable for handling the massive amount of data needed for numerical weather prediction.
Does Kant's metaphysical foundations of natural science fill a gap in the critique of pure reason?

In 1792 and 1798 Kant noticed two basic problems with hisMetaphysical Foundations of Natural Science (MAdN) which opened a crucial gap in the Critical system as a whole. Why is theMAdN so important? I show that the Analogies of Experience form an integrated proof of transeunt causality. This is central to Kant's ‘answer’ to Hume. This proof requires explicating the empirical concept of matter as “the moveable in space”, it requires the specifically metaphysical principle that every physical event has an external cause, and it requires a metaphysical principle regarding the individuation of spatio-temporal things. These three doctrines are not defended in the firstCritique, but only in theMAdN. Kant's transcendental analysis of the conditions of experience thus requires the “special metaphysics” of theMAdN. This marks an important shift in Kant's view of the metaphysical basis of the transcendental philosophy.
Measuring strain in bone cement with carbon nanotubes

While great strides have been made in the design of dental composites and orthopaedic implants, improvements are still needed. For instance the life span of dental polymer composites is known to be significantly shorter than traditional amalgam restorations [1]. Similarly, the early failure rate of orthopaedic implants often leads to an intentional delay in the treatment of painful, debilitating joints to ensure patients don’t outlive the functional life of their prosthetics [2]. Stress concentrations within biomaterials may be partially to blame for these premature failures.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Searching for synergy: integrating traditional and scientific ecological knowledge in environmental science education

Scientific ecological knowledge (SEK) is a powerful discipline for diagnosing and analyzing environmental degradation, but has been far less successful in devising sustainable solutions which lie at the intersection of nature and culture. Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) of indigenous and local peoples is rich in prescriptions for the philosophy and practice of reciprocal, mutualistic relationships with the earth. Scientists and policy makers all over the world are calling for incorporation of the wisdom of TEK into natural resource planning and environmental policy. TEK has a legitimate place in the education of the next generation of environmental scientists, yet this body of knowledge and the process by which it is generated are virtually absent from the environmental science classroom. Integrating TEK and SEK holds a great promise for broadening and deepening the teaching of environmental science, yet the challenges to such integration are significant in the mainstream classroom. I have found that key elements of this integration include fostering intellectual pluralism in a student population largely unaware of other epistemologies by: (1) clear and disciplined analysis of how TEK and SEK are grounded in different worldviews. Mutually respectful evaluation of the divergences and convergences of these epistemologies creates the foundation for critical examination of how synergy might be created between them; (2) engagement of the indigenous pedagogy of direct, experiential learning in which the land and its inhabitants are recognized as primary knowledge sources; (3) holistic engagement of multiple elements of human capacity: mind, body, emotion, and spirit, not just the intellect which is exclusively privileged in conventional environmental science education; (4) recognition that in indigenous approaches, knowledge and responsibility are inextricably linked, so the course content and approach simultaneously cultivate the responsibility that accompanies knowledge acquisition, including protection and appropriate use of cultural knowledge; and (5) recognition that the mutually exclusive duality between matter and spirit which is essential to the scientific worldview is bridged in TEK where material and spiritual explanations, the secular and the sacred, may simultaneously coexist.
Targeted gene delivery to mammalian cells by filamentous bacteriophage

We report that prokaryotic viruses can be re-engineered to infect eukaryotic cells resulting in expression of a reporter gene inserted into the bacteriophage genome. Phage capable of binding mammalian cells expressing the growth factor receptor ErbB2 and undergoing receptor-mediated endocytosis were isolated by selection of a phage antibody library on breast tumor cells and recovery of infectious phage from within the cell. As determined by immunofluorescence, F5 phage were efficiently endocytosed into 100 % of ErbB2 expressing SKBR3 cells. To achieve reporter gene expression, F5 phage were engineered to package the green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene driven by the CMV promoter. These phage when applied to cells underwent ErbB2-mediated endocytosis leading to GFP expression. GFP expression occurred only in cells overexpressing ErbB2, was dose-dependent reaching, 4 % of cells after 60 hours and was detected with phage titers as low as 2.0 x 10(7) cfu/ml (500 phage/cell). The results demonstrate that bacterial viruses displaying the appropriate antibody can bind to mammalian receptors and utilize the endocytic pathway to infect eukaryotic cells, resulting in expression of a reporter gene inserted into the viral genome. This represents a novel method to discover targeting molecules capable of delivering a gene intracellularly into the correct trafficking pathway for gene expression by directly screening phage antibodies. This should significantly facilitate the identification of appropriate targets and targeting molecules for gene therapy or other applications where delivery into the cytosol is required. This approach can be adapted to directly select, rather than screen, phage antibodies for targeted gene expression. The results also demonstrate the potential of phage antibodies as an in vitro or in vivo targeted gene delivery vehicle.
Effect of Dietary Ingredient Substitution on Dorsal Fin Erosion of Steelhead

Abstract A feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect of supplementing a diet based on hydrolyzed fish meal with either 6% chitin (as ground krill shell), 6% squid meal, or 200 mg carotenoid pigment (canthaxanthin) per kilogram on dorsal fin erosion in juvenile steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss. Three hundred fry in triplicate tanks were fed one of the four test diets, and 300 fry in a single tank were fed a commercial trout starter diet. The feeding trial was conducted for 15 weeks at a water temperature of 15°C. Growth was significantly higher (P < 0.05) for fish fed the diet containing chitin than for those fed other feeds. Dorsal fin index (100 × mean dorsal fin height/total fish length) was similar among fish consuming the hydrolyzed fish meal diets but lower for fish consuming the commercial formulation. Results suggest that removal of bones from fish meal may influence dorsal fin condition in steelhead, perhaps through altered dietary mineral composition or form.
The Role of FDG-PET and Staging Laparoscopy in the Management of Patients with Cancer of the Esophagus or Gastroesophageal Junction

The effort to improve outcomes in esophageal cancer has included attempts at improving staging and patient selection. 2-Deoxy-2-[ 18 F]fluoro-Dglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) has been extensively studied in this context and has been widely accepted as a staging tool. Its role in restaging or assessing therapeutic response is investigational and promising. Laparoscopy has also been studied as a means for improving staging, but its role may be limited in the era of PET. This article discusses the literature assessing these modalities, particularly with regard to the practical management of the patient in the clinic.
Genomic and systems evolution in Vibrionaceae species

The steadily increasing number of prokaryotic genomes has accelerated the study of genome evolution; in particular, the availability of sets of genomes from closely related bacteria has facilitated the exploration of the mechanisms underlying genome plasticity. The family Vibrionaceae is found in the Gammaproteobacteria and is abundant in aquatic environments. Taxa from the family Vibrionaceae are diversified in their life styles; some species are free living, others are symbiotic, and others are human pathogens. This diversity makes this family a useful set of model organisms for studying bacterial evolution. This evolution is driven by several forces, among them gene duplication and lateral gene transfer, which are believed to provide raw material for functional redundancy and novelty. The resultant gene copy increase in one genome is then detected as lineage-specific expansion (LSE). Here we present the results of a detailed comparison of the genomes of eleven Vibrionaceae strains that have distinct life styles and distinct phenotypes. The core genome shared by all eleven strains is composed of 1,882 genes, which make up about 31%–50% of the genome repertoire. We further investigated the distribution and features of genes that have been specifically expanded in one unique lineage of the eleven strains. Abundant duplicate genes have been identified in the eleven Vibrionaceae strains, with 1–11% of the whole genomes composed lineage specific radiations. These LSEs occurred in two distinct patterns: the first type yields one or more copies of a single gene; we call this a single gene expansion. The second pattern has a high evolutionary impact, as the expansion involves two or more gene copies in a block, with the duplicated block located next to the original block (a contiguous block expansion) or at some distance from the original block (a discontiguous block expansion). We showed that LSEs involve genes that are tied to defense and pathogenesis mechanisms as well as in the fundamental life cycle of Vibrionaceae species. Our results provide evidence of genome plasticity and rapid evolution within the family Vibrionaceae. The comparisons point to sources of genomic variation and candidates for lineage-specific adaptations of each Vibrionaceae pathogen or nonpathogen strain. Such lineage specific expansions could reveal components in bacterial systems that, by their enhanced genetic variability, can be tied to responses to environmental challenges, interesting phenotypes, or adaptive pathogenic responses to host challenges.
Bone metastases: Evaluation of acuity of lesions using dynamic gadolinium‐chelate enhancement, preliminary results

Purpose: To evaluate whether enhancement on serial dynamic gadolinium-enhanced abdominal–pelvic MR imaging (DCE-MRI) can determine the acuity of bone metastases. Materials and Methods: Twenty consecutive patients who underwent abdominal–pelvic DCE-MRI for evaluation/staging of a proven cancer and had bone metastases were included. Two radiologists analyzed in consensus 59 DCE-MRIs of these patients. Region of interest measurements were performed in up to three lesions on noncontrast T1-weighted, serial hepatic arterial dominant phase (HADP), early hepatic venous phase (EHVF), and interstitial phase (IP) postgadolinium images, and the percentage enhancement of 134 lesions was calculated. The coordinator separately and retrospectively sorted the lesions into three groups based on the imaging and clinical information: acute/active, subacute, and chronic metastases. Results: The mean percentage enhancement of the bone metastases classified as acute/active, subacute, and chronic in the HADP, EHVP and IP were respectively (%): 134, 107, 99; 87, 86, 87; and 39, 65, 73. In the HADP, acute/active lesions enhanced significantly more than both subacute (1.53-fold) and chronic (3.4-fold) lesions (P < 0.01). Time intensity curves were significantly different between these three entities as well. Conclusion: The enhancement on arterial phase images and the time–intensity curves were different for acute/active, subacute, and chronic bone metastases. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2011;. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
In the wild: a large scale study of web services vulnerabilities

The pervasiveness of Web Services, compounded with seamless interoperability characteristics, introduces security concerns that are to be carefully considered with the envisioned internet architecture. In this paper, we propose a comprehensive study on Web Service vulnerabilities. We consider not only well known Web-based vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, session replay etc, but we also analyze Web-Service specific vulnerabilities and their potential of attacks due to poor service construction and service maintenance. In our analysis, we classify each of the studied vulnerability according to a new taxonomy, discuss remedies and impact, and propose methods of detection based on real-time analysis. Our analysis is supported by the results of a large scale study involving over 2,000 real-world Web Services. We note that many of the least studied vulnerabilities are present in the wild.
Deep leg veins as femoropopliteal bypass grafts.

Our extensive experience indicates that resection of normal superficial femoral and popliteal veins is free of significant late morbidity. Adequate evidence to the contrary has never been presented. Our 5-year patency rates using deep leg veins equal or surpass the best results ever reported with saphenous veins. Erroneous presentation of our work, as exemplified by the comments of Bergan and associates, tends to delay the acceptance of a major arterial graft source. Deep leg vein grafts represent an important advance in arterial reconstructive surgery, and we are confident that future reports by other groups will confirm the high patency rates and lack of significant late morbidity in our reports [36, 37, 43] and that of Noppeney [1].
LUNG SURFACTANT REPLACEMENT WITH LIPIDS EXTRACTED FROM BOVINE LUNG LAVAGE: EFFECTS OF DOSE AND DISPERSION TECHNIQUE

Extracted bovine lung lipids (CLL) with only 1% protein were instilled intra-tracheally into premature lambs of 18 and 19 weeks gestation to evaluate surfactant replacement therapy for the Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Aqueous dispersions of CLL were prepared by sonication (S) and vortexing (V), prior to pre-ventilatory instillation at low and high doses of 15 mg CLL/kg animal weight and 100 mg CLL/kg. A clear improvement in blood oxygenation and lung compliance was found over controls for lambs instilled with 15 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg CLL(V), and with 100 mg/kg CLL(S). Lambs treated with 15 mg/kg CLL(S) failed to improve over controls, even though they had similar amounts of lavage phospholipids as low dose CLL(V) lambs. Solvent-spread CLL films lowered surface tension to <1 d/cm under dynamic compression in vitro, and both CLL(V) and CLL(S) dispersions also adsorbed to equilibrium surface tensions of 23-25 d/cm in seconds at concentrations greater than 0.25 mg CLL/ml. However, the preparations differed in behavior on an oscillating bubble apparatus which determined a physiologically relevant combination of adsorption and dynamic compression effects at 37°C in 100% humidity; results showed that CLL(V) dispersions retained optimal surface activity to significantly lower concentrations than CLL(S). This biophysical behavior correlated closely with the dose-dependent physiologic efficacy of the dispersions. (HL-00945, HL-22552)
Cellular senescence in usual type uterine leiomyoma.

Objective To evaluate the role of senescence in symptomatic patients with multifibroids. Design A cohort study. Setting University research laboratory. Patient(s) Eighty-six fibroids collected from 14 patients who underwent myomectomy or hysterectomy. Intervention(s) Senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) stain in fresh-frozen tissue; reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); MicroRNA in situ hybridization (MISH); immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue. Main Outcome Measure(s) Senescence measured by percentage of SA-β-Gal-positive cells; levels of let-7 microRNAs measured by RT-PCR and MISH; expression of p16 INK4a , Ki-67, HMGA1, and HMGA2 scaled by immunoreactivity. Result(s) About 58% (48 of 82) of tumors showed significant senescent change (SA-β-Gal positive) in >10% of the tumor volume. The overall trend was a higher level of senescence in small fibroids and older-aged women. Senescent fibroids were additionally shown to have, high levels of let-7 c, d, and f-2 and a low Ki-67 index. Conclusion(s) Senescence is a common cellular change in a large proportion of usual type fibroids. Similarly, senescence may explain the variation in growth rates of these tumors, and may prove to be an important molecular and cellular target in prevention of fibroid growth.
Field Emission Characteristic of Silicon Cathodes Coated with GaN Nanoparticles

Arrays of p-type silicon micro-emitters have been formed using a subtractive tip fabrication technique. Following fabrication, the emitter surface was coated with GaN nanoparticles and nanocrystalline diamond by a dielectrophoresis deposition technique. The emitters were evaluated and compared before and after the surface treatment using I-V measurements in the diode configuration. The phosphor screen, used as the anode, was spaced nominally about 70 µm from the cathode. The field emission characteristics were measured in a high vacuum chamber at a pressure range between 10−5and 10−8Torr. The results suggest that the emitters benefit from coating the surface with nanocrystalline diamond in terms of reduction in the turn on voltage, GaN coating increase the turn on voltage. Both diamond and GaN improved the emission uniformity in the region of the low voltage operation.
The Rotation of the Main-Sequence Components of Algol-Type Semi-Detached Eclipsing Binaries

Newly determined rotational velocities of the main-sequence components of 14 Algol-type semi-detached systems and of 2 detached systems are presented. Combination of these data with the existing data on the rotation of the components of semi-detached systems shows that (i) in systems with primaries of spectral type B8 or later and with P<5 days, deviations from synchronism between rotation and revolution are small in 14 out of 15 cases. The average rotational velocity of the primaries in such systems is 75 km/sec, viz. only 40% of the average rotational velocity of single main-sequence stars in the same spectral region: (ii) primaries of spectral type earlier than B8 in systems with short as well as long periods tend to rotate more than twice as fast as one would expect from synchronism. A tentative explanation for these results is presented.
Can Lessons of History and Logical Analysis Ensure Progress in Psychological Science

A cultural view of science adds an important explanatory dimension to the historical account provided by Michell (2003) for the quantitative imperative. It provides an understanding of the rhetoric of paradigm wars as a cultural, sociological phenomenon. The pragmatist view of science further points to the need for evaluating our research praxis so as to determine the relative merits of diverse inquiry approaches in the interest of making improvements. Whether such progress in psychological science would be facilitated by an evolving metamethodological understanding and an awareness of the culture of academic psychology depends on the extent to which the profession will adopt a self-reflective and critical stance.
THE FUNDAMENTALIST MINDSET: PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES ON RELIGION, VIOLENCE, AND HISTORY. Edited by Charles B. Strozier, David M. Terman, and James W. Jones, with Katharine A. Boyd. Foreword by Martin E. Marty. 274 pp. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010. $19.95

The following review essay explores the nature and characteristics of the fundamentalist mindset. The editors note that the fundamentalist mindset, wherever if occurs, is composed of distinct traits such as dualistic thinking, paranoia, and rage in a group context; an apocalyptic orientation that incorporates distinct perspectives on time, death, and violence; a relationship to charismatic leadership; and a totalized conversion experience. The review essay will explore these characteristics in brief, underscoring the major themes found in the authors’ exploration of fundamentalism and the psychological and historical underpinning of the pervading mindset.
Response to "Paraquat: the red herring of Parkinson's disease research".

This communication is in response to the editorial by G. W.Miller entitled ‘‘Paraquat: The Red Herring of Parkinson’sDisease Research’’ (Toxicol. Sci. 100(1–2), 2007). The authorhas suggested that research based on the structural similaritiesbetween N-N#-dimethyl-4,4#-bipyridinium dichloride (para-quat) and the 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP
Measurement, analysis, and modelling of the caloric response. 2. Evaluation of mental alerting tasks for measurement of caloric-induced nystagmus.

Management of the patient's level of arousal is one of the most important variables in obtaining consistent and strong caloric responses. The patient may suppress the caloric response and/or exacerbate beat-to-beat variability if some type of mental alerting (MA) task is not used to focus the patient's attention from his or her dizziness. An experiment was undertaken to evaluate simple MA tasks in terms of associated caloric response strength and variability. Warm caloric responses were measured while each of 10 normal subjects performed eight different MA tasks. The mental exercises included two math tasks, two quizzing tasks, two hand-motor tasks, and two alphabet tasks. One of the tasks in each complementary pair required the subject to interact with the examiner throughout the caloric response. Minimal or no interaction was required for the companion task. The relative ordering among the eight MA tasks was compared in terms of total sum of ranks, summed across 15 performance measures taken from calori...