cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differential effect of blood collection tubes on total free fatty acids (FFA) and total triiodothyronine (TT3) concentration: A model for studying interference from tube constituents

Abstract Background Besides total triiodothyronine (TT3), total free fatty acids (FFA) concentrations were higher with serum separator tube (SST™) than Vacuette™ tubes. Methods The effects of surfactant, rubber stopper, and separator gel from various tubes were investigated on FFA, β-hydroxybutyrate (β-HB), and TT3 with 8 different tube types in blood specimens of apparently healthy volunteers. Results Compared to Vacuette tubes, serum FFA and TT3 concentrations were significantly higher in SST than glass tubes. Reformulated SST eliminated the increase in TT3 but not FFA. No significant difference was observed for β-HB concentration among tube types. Surfactant and rubber stoppers from the different tube types significantly increased TT3 but not FFA and β-HB concentrations. Agitation of whole blood but not serum or plasma specimens with separator gel from SST, reformulated SST and plasma preparation tube (PPT™) tubes compared to Vacuette tubes gave higher FFA but not β-HB levels. Conclusions Unidentified component(s) from the separator gel in SST, reformulated SST and PPT tubes cause falsely high FFA concentration. In contrast to TT3, falsely high FFA results require exposure of whole blood and not serum to tube constituent(s). The approach employed here may serve as a model for assessing interference(s) from tube constituent(s).
Why do we perceive logarithmically

Why do small children place 3 halfway between 1 and 10? Why do two light bulbs not seem twice as bright as one? Why do we perceive so many things logarithmically? Lav R. Varshney and John Z. Sun can explain it, through evolution, the statistics of nature – and reducing error.
Mechanical Attrition Rate Measurements in Agglomerated Instant Coffee

Various size fractions of commercial agglomerated instant coffee were subjected to vertical and horizontal vibration at various frequencies. The resulting size reduction and its rate are described mathematically by a three parameter, two term, exponential decay model and a two parameter, nonexponential, model. The constants of these models were used to quantify the effects of particle size, vibration frequency and filling ratio on the agglomerates' attrition rate. The two models, despite their different mathematical structure, yielded a consistent account of the attrition kinetics.
Integrating Pragmatism and Ethics in Entrepreneurial Leadership for Sustainable Value Creation

The relationship between entrepreneurship and ethics has largely been characterized as antithetical. In this article we develop a conceptual model integrating pragmatism, a philosophical approach that emphasizes experimentation and action characteristic of entrepreneurial leadership, with ethics to suggest that the two are not incompatible and that sustaining entrepreneurial leadership for value creation necessitates ethical action to build legitimacy. Case studies from the United States and India highlight the necessity of infusing pragmatism with ethics for sustainable entrepreneurial leadership.
Trisomy 16 and trisomy 16 mosaicism: A review

A review of all prenatal and postnatal diagnoses of trisomy 16 and trisomy 16 mosaicism was carried out in the context of the current understanding of confined placental mosaicism and uniparental disomy (UPD). The prenatal detection of trisomy 16 cells is associated with a high probability of fetal death, preterm delivery, intrauterine growth retardation, and fetal anomalies. Birth defects were typical of those seen in nonmosaic partial duplications of chromosome 16. Surprisingly, anomalies were sometimes limited to a single organ and included some relatively common isolated defects such as a ventricular septal defect, hypospadias, imperforate anus, inguinal hernia, and clubfoot. The risk for abnormality appeared to be higher in those pregnancies in which trisomy 16 cells were identified in amniotic fluid compared to the detection in chorionic villi samples. Contrary to nonmosaic trisomy 16 with an excess of males, mosaic trisomy 16 shows an excess of female karyotypes. Following the prenatal detection of trisomy 16 cells, aneuploid cells are almost never found in fetal or neonatal lymphocytes. Studies on fibroblasts also often fail to confirm the presence of the abnormal cell line even in cases in which multiple anomalies are present. It is likely that trisomy 16 cells are sometimes present in the early developing embryo even though subsequent cytogenetic studies on fetal or neonatal tissues may not detect any aneuploid cells. UPD can be excluded as a mechanism for those anomalies that are common to mosaic trisomy 16 and nonmosaic partial duplications. The term "occult mosaicism" is suggested to describe the situation in which the presence of an abnormal cell line is suspected on the basis of clinical data but unproven by laboratory analysis.
Atheism and epistemic justification

In a recent article in this journal, Andrew Johnson seeks to defend the “New Atheism” against several objections. We provide a philosophical assessment of his defense of contemporary atheistic arguments that are said to amount to bifurcation fallacies. This point of discussion leads to our critical discussion of the presumption of atheism and the epistemic justification of atheism.
A Targeted Thyroid Hormone Receptor α Gene Dominant-Negative Mutation (P398H) Selectively Impairs Gene Expression in Differentiated Embryonic Stem Cells

Thyroid hormone and retinoic acid (RA) are essential for normal neural development in vivo, yet all in vitro differentiation strategies of embryonic stem (ES) cells use only RA. We developed a novel differentiation strategy of mouse ES cells using T(3). A dominant-negative knock-in point mutation (P398H) was introduced into the thyroid hormone receptor alpha gene to determine the influence of T(3) on ES cell differentiation. Differentiation promoted by T(3) (1 nM), RA (1 microM), or combined T(3)/RA was assessed in wild-type (wt) and mutant (m) ES cells on the basis of neuronal-specific gene expression and cell cycle. T(3) alone stimulated neural differentiation in a similar fashion as that seen with RA in both wtES and mES cells. Expression of neurogranin and Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent kinase IV mRNA (identified in vivo as T(3)-regulated genes), however, was markedly reduced in mES, compared with wtES cells. RA treatment enhanced apoptosis, significantly greater than that seen with T(3) stimulation. T(3) treatment given with RA significantly reduced the apoptotic effects of RA, an effect not seen in mES cells. T(3)-induced ES cell neural differentiation of thyroid hormone alpha mutant and wtES cells provides an in vitro model to study T(3)-dependent gene regulation in neural development. This system could also be used to identify novel T(3)-regulated genes. The modulation of the apoptotic effects of RA by T(3) may have implications for stem cell therapy.
The Simon effect with wheel-rotation responses.

Abstract The authors examined clockwise and counterclockwise wheel-rotation responses to high- or low-pitched tones presented in participants' (N = 96, Experiment 1; N = 48, Experiment 2; N = 48, Experiment 3) left and right ears. In Experiment 1, a Simon effect (fastest responding when tone location and direction of wheel turn corresponded) was obtained when participants' hands were at the top or middle of the wheel but not at the bottom. With line bottom hand placement, a Simon effect was induced by instructions emphasizing hand movements but not by instructions emphasizing wheel movements (Experiment 2), and by a visual cursor controlled by the wheel but not one triggered by the response (Experiment 3). The results of the experiments showed that the nature of the task and the instructed action goal influence the direction of the Simon effect.
Effects of clonidine on vulnerability to fibrillation in the normal and ischemic canine ventricle

Abstract Clinidine infusion (10 μg/kg, i.v.) elicited a 30% increase in repetitive extrasystole (RE) threshold in 6 chloralose-anesthetized dogs. A reduction in heart rate and arterial blood pressure accompanied the increased threshold. Intracisternal injection of clonidine (2 μg/kg) in 6 dogs caused similar alterations in these parameters. Bilateral vagotomy, performed in 6 dogs prior to intravenous clonidine, prevented the increase in RE threshold but did not prevent the drug-induced bradycardia. Atropine (0.2 and 0.6 mg/kg), however, did not attenuate the effect of clonidine on RE threshold. Clonidine administration did not prevent the reduction in ventricular fibrillation threshold associated with a 10 min occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery or following reperfusion. We conclude that: (1) clonidine reduces ventricular vulnerability in the normal but not the ischemic heart, and (2) its protective effect is mediated by enhanced afferent vagal input to midbrain cardiovascular regulatory centers. This central nervous system action causes a reduction in sympathetic tone to the heart.
MECHANISM OF PEROXIDE-INDUCED POTENTIATION OF SYMPATHETIC NEUROTRANSMISSION IN BOVINE IRIDES : ROLE OF EXTRACELLULAR CALCIUM

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and enzymes that regulate its metabolism are present in tissues of the anterior segment of the eye. We have previously shown that in vitro, H2O2 can enhance sympathetic neurotransmis-sion in irides from several mammalian species. In the present study, we investigated the role of extracellular calcium in H2O2--induced potentiation of sympathetic neurotransmission in the bovine isolated iris. Isolated bovine hemiirides were incubated in a bicarbonate-buffered, carbogen-gassed Krebs buffer solution containing [3H]-norepinephrine ([3H]NE) for 60min. After incubation, tissues were prepared for studies of [3H]NE release using the superfusion method. Release of [3H]NE was elicited by consecutive trains of electrical field stimulation. Removal of calcium from the buffer solution attenuated field-stimulated [3H]NE overflow in isolated, superfused bovine irides without affecting basal tritium efflux. H2O2 (1 mM) enhanced evoked [3H]NE release to the same extent in tissues exposed to buffer ...
Loss of Caspase-3 sensitizes colon cancer cells to genotoxic stress via RIP1-dependent necrosis

Caspase-3 is the best known executioner caspase in apoptosis. We generated caspase-3 knockout (C3KO) and knockdown human colorectal cancer cells, and found that they are unexpectedly sensitized to DNA-damaging agents including 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), etoposide, and camptothecin. C3KO xenograft tumors also displayed enhanced therapeutic response and cell death to 5-FU. C3KO cells showed intact apoptosis and activation of caspase-7 and -9, impaired processing of caspase-8, and induction of necrosis in response to DNA-damaging agents. This form of necrosis is associated with HMGB1 release and ROS production, and suppressed by genetic or pharmacological inhibition of RIP1, MLKL1, or caspase-8, but not inhibitors of pan-caspases or RIP3. 5-FU treatment led to the formation of a z-VAD-resistant pro-caspase-8/RIP1/FADD complex, which was strongly stabilized by caspase-3 KO. These data demonstrate a key role of caspase-3 in caspase-8 processing and suppression of DNA damage-induced necrosis, and provide a potentially novel way to chemosensitize cancer cells.
Localization of an Exchange Inhibitory Peptide (XIP) Binding Site on the Cardiac Sodium-Calcium Exchanger

The exchange inhibitory peptide (XIP; RRLLFYKYVYKRYRAGKQRG) is a potent inhibitor of cardiac Na-Ca exchange activity. This study attempted to identify the XIP binding site on the Na-Ca exchange protein. Bovine cardiac sarcolemmal vesicles were proteolyzed and fractionated by XIP-affinity column chromatography. A 24 kDa fragment was purified and subjected to amino acid sequence analysis. A negatively charged region of intracellular loop f of the Na-Ca exchange protein (IDDDIFEEDEN; aa 445-455) was identified. The affinity and specificity of XIP interaction with peptides IDDDIFEEDEN and GEDDDDDECGEE (another negatively charged region of the Na-Ca exchange protein) were examined. XIP cross-linked to peptide IDDDIFEEDEN but not GEDDDDDECGEE in a pH-dependent manner. Fluorescence titration binding studies indicated that binding of IDDDIFEEDEN with XIP was saturable (Kd=5 microM) while binding with GEDDDDDECGEE was not specific. These data suggest that amino acids 445-455 on Na-Ca exchange loop f are involved in XIP binding.
Seismic anisotropy in the lower mantle: A comparison of waveform splitting of SKS and SKKS

[1] We have carried out a global investigation on seismic anisotropy in the lower mantle by comparing the waveform splitting of SKS and SKKS found at the same seismogram. The two shear waves have very similar ray paths in the upper mantle but different ones in the lower mantle. We collected a total of 104 SKS+SKKS waveform data recorded at 76 stations. The SKS+SKKS data are first matched with a single anisotropic model (2 parameters: the fast polarization direction ϕ and delay time δt) and two independent anisotropic models (4 parameters). We then applied an F-test to examine whether the 4-parameter models are better than the 2-parameter ones based on error improvement. We found that the data from most of the stations can be explained by the simple 2-parameter models. While this observation provides compelling evidence that the vast part of the lower mantle below ∼1000 km (including the D” region) is transversely isotropic, it is still arguable that the uppermost lower mantle and the transition may partly contribute the SKS/SKKS splittings. We also found that the 4-parameter models provide a better fitting to the SKS and SKKS splitting at 8 stations, suggesting the existence of transverse anisotropy or anomalous dipping structures in some part of the lower mantle.
A versatile panel element for the analysis of shear wall structures

Abstract A panel element substructure is developed, defined in terms of boundary node arrangement and intended for use in efficient static and dynamic analysis of shear wall and box-type structures. The panel substructuring scheme is described as a multi-level super finite element technique based on a series of static condensations. A stressdisplacement matrix, compatible with the reduced representation of panel stiffness and mass, allows full stress recovery within the element. A catalogue of element formations is created to allow selection of the desired substructure nodal arrangement with a minimum of computer input compared to the corresponding fully assembled finite element model. Several numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the versatility and accuracy of the panel elements when used for either static or dynamic analysis.
The Effect of Water Vapor on the Oxidation Behavior of CVD Iron-Aluminide Coatings

The oxidation behavior of iron-aluminide coatings, Fe3Al or (Fe,Ni)3Al, produced by chemical-vapor deposition (CVD) was studied in the temperature range of 700–800°C in air + 10 vol.% H2O. A typical ferritic steel, Fe–9Cr–1Mo, and an austenitic stainless steel, 304L, were coated. For both substrates, the as-deposited coating consisted of a thin (<5μm), Al-rich outer layer above a thicker (30–50 μm), lower-Al-content inner layer. In addition to coated and uncoated Fe–9Cr–1Mo and 304L, cast Fe–Al model alloys with similar Al contents (13–20 at.%) to the CVD coatings were included in the oxidation exposures for comparison. The specimens were cycled to 1000 1 hr cycles at 700°C and 500 1 hr cycles at 800°C, respectively. The CVD coating specimens showed excellent performance in the water-vapor environment at both temperatures, while the uncoated alloys were severely attacked. These results suggest that an aluminide coating can substantially improve resistance to water-vapor attack under these conditions.
Set Types and Applications

Abstract We present pml B , a programming language that includes primitive sets and associated operations. The language is equipped with a precise type discipline that statically captures dynamic properties of sets, allowing runtime optimizations. We demonstrate the utility of pml B by showing how it can serve as a practical implementation language for higher-level programming language based security systems, and characterize pml B by comparing the expressiveness of pml B sets with enumerations.
A review of vascular anastomosis with mechanical aids and nonsuture techniques

Devices and techniques for nonsuture vascular anastomosis and for suture anastomosis with minimum blood flow interruption are reviewed from their beginnings in the late 19th century through the development of microvascular surgery in the 20th century. The various devices that have been invented fall into 3 basic categories: butt, flanged, and lapped joints. Although the development of microsurgical instruments and the improvement of suture materials have diminished the use of such mechanical aids in recent years, it is hoped that this historical overview will be of interest to investigators involved in the surgery of vessels of various calibers.
Stability of Lactate Dehydrogenase Isozyme Patterns in Penguins

PENGUINS were chosen for this investigation because of their highly specialized adaptation to an aquatic life and because of the extreme physiological conditions they are subjected to during the breeding season. One of the most abundant species is the Adelie penguin, Pygoscelis adeliae, which has a circumpolar distribution south of the Antarctic pack-ice. Unlike other birds this species endures a prolonged fast averaging 6 weeks during incubation1 and another fast of shorter duration when it moults. At both times they may lose more than 40 per cent of their body-weight. Though flightless, their pectoralis muscles are well developed for extensive swimming and diving at sea.
Beam vibrations with time-dependent boundary conditions

Abstract A procedure is outlined for the solution of the vibration problem of a Bernoulli-Euler beam with time-dependent boundary conditions. The solution is greatly simplified if the dependent variable in the original partial differential equation can be changed to produce homogeneous boundary conditions and at the same time maintain a homogeneous differential equation. A method for making such a change is given and illustrated by solving a cantilever beam problem with a time-dependent tip displacement.
PS2-12: Rapid Cycle Clinical Information Technology Innovations to Monitor and Tailor Pediatric Care for Obesity Interventions

Background/Aims Pediatric obesity is the most common, preventable chronic disease. Multiple guidelines concur that systematic, routine strategies are required to monitor body mass index (BMI) to identify overweight (>85th% BMI) and obese (>95th% BMI) children (ages 2–18), to intervene and provide follow up. This study reports on how health system leaders use electronic health records (EHR) and clinical decision intelligence support (CDIS) to track age specific BMI% and tailor pediatric care for obesity interventions.
Antigenic peptides on the surface of Dirofilaria immitis microfilariae

Various methods of radioiodination were employed to identify peptides on the surface of Dirofilaria immitis microfilariae. Optimum surface radiolabelling occurred with the lactoperoxidase-catalyzed reaction. Two major peptides of 16 and 14 kDa were labelled by this method. These peptides were soluble in Nonidet P-40, were not glycosylated, and showed no signs of disulfide linkages. These peptides were immunoprecipitated by sera from D. immitis-infected dogs, but not by sera from uninfected dogs or sera from dogs with potentially cross-reactive nematode infections. Analysis of the 14 and 16 kDa peptides by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis revealed that the 16 kDa peptide was a single unit with a pI of 5.25 whereas the 14 kDa band was composed of three individual peptides with pI values ranging from 5.6 to 6.1. Iodination by chloramine T resulted in the same panel of labelled peptides but suffered from poor efficiency of 125I incorporation. The viability of microfilariae labelled by the standard Bolton-Hunter method decreased by 50% following the reaction which resulted in the labelling of a variety of internal components.
A new resorufin-based alpha-glucosidase assay for high-throughput screening.

Abstract Mutations in α-glucosidase cause accumulation of glycogen in lysosomes, resulting in Pompe disease, a lysosomal storage disorder. Small molecule chaperones that bind to enzyme proteins and correct the misfolding and mistrafficking of mutant proteins have emerged as a new therapeutic approach for the lysosomal storage disorders. In addition, α-glucosidase is a therapeutic target for type II diabetes, and α-glucosidase inhibitors have been used in the clinic as alternative treatments for this disease. We have developed a new fluorogenic substrate for the α-glucosidase enzyme assay, resorufin α- d -glucopyranoside. The enzyme reaction product of this new substrate emits at a peak of 590 nm, reducing the interference from fluorescent compounds seen with the existing fluorogenic substrate, 4-methylumbelliferyl-α- d -glucopyranoside. Also, the enzyme kinetic assay can be carried out continuously without the addition of stop solution due to the lower p K a of the product of this substrate. Therefore, this new fluorogenic substrate is a useful tool for the α-glucosidase enzyme assay and will facilitate compound screening for the development of new therapies for Pompe disease.
17.2: Low Voltage Polymer-stabilized Blue Phase with Red-shifted Bragg Reflection

We demonstrated a low voltage polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystal (BPLC) by red-shifting the Bragg reflection to the visible region. To retain high contrast ratio, the BPLC is sandwiched between two crossed circular polarizers. The driving voltage is reduced by 35% compared to that of a transparent BPLC, while keeping submillisecond response time. The proposed approach would accelerate the emergence of BPLC for next-generation display applications.
Query construction for user-guided knowledge discovery in databases

Knowledge discovery in databases (KDD) and data mining have good potential in many applications. However, in order to make KDD useful, many problems remain to be solved. One such problem is the query formulation problem: ''What to do if one does not know how to specify the desired query to begin with?'' In this paper we explore an approach to deal with this problem. We describe a conceptual model for user-guided knowledge discovery, and a methodology for query construction based on this model. The methodology allows the user to express what kind of knowledge is to be discovered, thus incorporating user intention to alleviate the overabundance problem which has hampered the development of data mining. A user starts from the goal at the top-most level, and refines queries under the guide of an incrementally constructed causal network. The process of query construction is illustrated by examples.
THE FRIEDEL-CRAFTS ACYLATION AND BENZOYLATION OF PYRENE

(1984). THE FRIEDEL-CRAFTS ACYLATION AND BENZOYLATION OF PYRENE. Organic Preparations and Procedures International: Vol. 16, No. 2, pp. 144-148.
Effect of precursors on the structure of phosphosilicate gels 29Si and 31P MAS-NMR study

Gels were prepared using phosphoric acid, triethyl phosphate and trimethyl phosphite as the precursors of phosphorus. The upper limit for P 2 O 5 for gel formation is 90 mol% for gels using phosphoric acid and trimethyl phosphite, and 70 mol% for gels using triethyl phosphate. Gels prepared from phosphoric acid with more than 10 mol% of P 2 O 5 partially crystallize to Si 5 O(PO 4 ) 6 after heat treatment at 200°C for 10 h. Under the same heat treatment condition, all the gels prepared from trimethyl phosphite crystallize. Gels prepared from triethyl phosphate are amorphous even after heat treatment at 800°C for 10 h. However, chemical analysis indicates that most of the phosphorus in the triethyl-phosphate-prepared gels is driven off during the heating process; no more than 8 mol% of the initial amount of P 2 O 5 is retained in the gels. The effects of phosphorus precursors on the phosphosilicate gels were studied by X-ray diffraction, and 29 Si and 31 P magic angle spinning (MAS)-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). 29 Si and 31 P spectra show that Si O P and P O P linkages do not form in the xerogels (i.e. gels heat treated to ∼ 60°C). The gels heat treated at 200°C or above (those that did not crystallize) show evidence of Si O P and P O P network formation.
Genes, environment, and race: Quantitative genetic approaches.

Understanding the origins of racial health disparities is currently a central focus of health-oriented funding agencies and the health policy community. In particular, the role of genetics in the origin of racial health disparities is receiving growing attention and has been susceptible to considerable misinterpretation. In this article, the authors provide a basic discussion about the concept of genes and race, an introduction to quantitative genetics, and some examples of quantitative genetic analyses of health conditions in an underserved population. The intent is to outline the conceptual limitations of exclusivist views of either environmental or genetic determination and to emphasize the coaction and interaction of genes and environments in health.
CHILDHOOD FAMILY STRUCTURE AND ENTRY INTO FIRST MARRIAGE

The present study uses data from the National Survey of Families and Households to examine socialization and stress hypotheses which link family structure during childhood with entry into first marriage. Results from logistic regressions show evidence for both hypotheses. The findings show that years lived with mother only during early childhood and change from both biological parents to mother-only families significantly increase chances for delayed marriage for whites. One other factor, being born into a mother-only family, increased chances for early marriage. Thus, for whites, we found counteracting influences of family structure during childhood on marriage. For blacks, the family structure measures, overall, show little effect on entry into marriage. Finally, we found that family structure had a stronger impact for those born in the 1940s than for those born later.
A Lower Bound to Finding Convex Hulls

Given a set S of n distinct points {($x_i$,$y_i$) | 0 $\leq$ i > n}, the convex hull problem is to determine the vertices of the convex hull H(S). All the known algorithms for solving this problem have a worst-case running time of cn log n or higher, and employ only quadratic tests, i.e., tests of the form f($x_0$, $y_0$, $x_1$, $y_1$,...,$x_{n-1}$, $y_{n-1}$): 0 with f being any polynomial of degree not exceeding 2. In this paper, we show that any algorithm in the quadratic decision-tree model must make cn log n tests for some input.
Ovulated oocytes collected from PMSG/hCG‐treated and cycling Djungarian or Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) are structurally similar with no evidence of polar body formation, indicating arrest in meiosis I

This study was undertaken (1) to devise a method of inducing multiple follicular development and subsequent ovulation in the Djungarian or Siberian hamster (Phodopus sungorus) and (2) to assess the quality of ovulated oocytes collected from PMSG/hCG treated animals in comparison to naturally ovulating animals. Hamsters (4–5 weeks; n = 70) received 5 IU PMSG followed 50–52 hr later by 10 IU hCG. Ovulated oocytes were collected 14–20 hr after hCG injection. Ovulated oocytes were flushed from oviducts of cycling animals (7–12 weeks; n = 30) exhibiting two consecutive estrous cycles. Oocytes were fixed and subjected to triple fluorescence immunostaining using anti-tubulin antibodies, fluorescein phalloidin, and Hoechst 33258. The mean number of ovulated oocytes collected from cycling animals was 4.8 ± 0.4 (range 1–7). Ovulation occurred in 73% of the PMSG/hCG-stimulated animals. The mean number of oocytes ovulated from stimulated animals was 9.2 ± 0.8 (range 0–22). The ovaries of animals that did not ovulate or that ovulated few oocytes did respond to PMSG, as indicated by the presence of multiple follicular development and pre-ovulatory stigmata. There was no evidence of a polar body in ovulated oocytes collected from PMSG/hCG-treated or cycling animals, indicating that oocytes were arrested in meiosis I. In the majority (80%) of ovulated oocytes from PMSG/hCG-treated and cycling animals, cortically placed chromosomes were aligned on a metaphase plate equidistant from a bipolar spindle. Sparse f-actin staining was observed in the region of the ooplasm surrounding the chromosomes. As the interval between hCG injection and the time of collection increased, chromosomes lost their proper alignment and migrated away from the cortex of the oocyte concomitant with a disruption of spindle integrity. This collapse of proper chromosome alignment and disruption of spindle architecture also characterized aging oocytes collected from cycling animals. These data show that in the Djungarian or Siberian hamster (Phodopus sungorus), (1) there is individual animal variation in responsiveness to hCG following PMSG treatment, (2) there are no cytological differences in the quality of oocytes collected from hormonally treated animals when compared to cycling animals, and (3) oocytes are ovulated in meiosis I. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Ellipticity in the Vortex Breakdown Problem

Vortex breakdown is the abrupt change in the core of a longitudinal vortex leading, depending on the magnitude of the swirl to axial velocity ratio, to either a large recirculating bubble or a spiralling or helical motion of the central filament. Experiments and numerical simulations of such flows show a marked instability in the breakdown location and a parametric sensitivity that suggest a subtle ellipticity in what otherwise appears to be a strongly parabolic problem. That this is in fact the case is shown analytically. The analysis also sheds further light on the etiology of breakdown, particularly the role of viscosity. The relevance of breakdown of longitudinal vortices to boundary-layer transition, particularly in its latter stages, is discussed.
Sex and Grade Level Differences in Lifetime Nonmedical Prescription Drug Use Among Youth

Nonmedical prescription drug (NMPD) use is a significant health issue among youth. The purpose of this study was to examine NMPD use among students in 7th through 12th grades. A total of 54,631 students participated in the study, which utilized the PRIDE Questionnaire. A total of 13.6 % of youth reported lifetime NMPD use. Hispanic youth were more likely than white or African American youth to report use of NMPDs. Engaging in high levels of pro-social behaviors and having high levels of parent and teacher/school protective factors decreased the odds of use among males, females, 7th and 8th grade students and 9th through 12th grade students. Conversely, engaging in risky behaviors and having friends who used other substances increased the odds for use. Study findings highlight the increasing problem of prescription drug use. Prevention professionals may benefit from findings that can be used to tailor educational initiatives to students.
Developmental Neurotoxicity of Pyrethroid Insecticides in Zebrafish Embryos

Pyrethroid insecticides are one of the most commonly used residential and agricultural insecticides. Based on the increased use of pyrethroids and recent studies showing that pregnant women and children are exposed to pyrethroids, there are concerns over the potential for developmental neurotoxicity. However, there have been relatively few studies on the developmental neurotoxicity of pyrethroids. In this study, we sought to investigate the developmental toxicity of six common pyrethroids, three type I compounds (permethrin, resmethrin, and bifenthrin) and three type II compounds (deltamethrin, cypermethrin, and lambda-cyhalothrin), and to determine whether zebrafish embryos may be an appropriate model for studying the developmental neurotoxicity of pyrethroids. Exposure of zebrafish embryos to pyrethroids caused a dose-dependent increase in mortality and pericardial edema, with type II compounds being the most potent. At doses approaching the LC(50), permethrin and deltamethrin caused craniofacial abnormalities. These findings are consistent with mammalian studies demonstrating that pyrethroids are mildly teratogenic at very high doses. However, at lower doses, body axis curvature and spasms were observed, which were reminiscent of the classic syndromes observed with pyrethroid toxicity. Treatment with diazepam ameliorated the spasms, while treatment with the sodium channel antagonist MS-222 ameliorated both spasms and body curvature, suggesting that pyrethroid-induced neurotoxicity is similar in zebrafish and mammals. Taken in concert, these data suggest that zebrafish may be an appropriate alternative model to study the mechanism(s) responsible for the developmental neurotoxicity of pyrethroid insecticides and aid in identification of compounds that should be further tested in mammalian systems.
Scaling of the Locomotory Apparatus and Paddling Rhythm in Swimming Mallard Ducklings (Anas platyrhynchos): Test of a Resonance Model

It was hypothesized that the constant propulsive frequencies observed in several paddling animals as they swim at different speeds reflects "resonance-like" swimming mechanics. This behavior may result if the hydrodynamic load on the paddle is dominated by acceleration- dependent, rather than velocity-dependent, terms, and the musculoskeletal system operates with nearly constant stiffness over a large fraction of the propulsive cycle. A model was developed that uses the form of the paddle and the architecture of a representative limb muscle (lateral gastroc- nemius) to predict a value proportional to propulsive frequency in mallard ducklings ofdifferent, __ size. Fifteen ducklings were videotaped as they swam in a water channel, and the measured frequencies were compared to model predictions. Although the predicted and measured frequen- cies were highly correlated (r = 0.926), the 95% confidence interval estimated for the intercept of the reduced major axis fit to the points did not span the origin. This lack of proportionality means that even though it could account for much of the observed variation in paddling frequencies, the present model of resonance-like swimming is not supported. @ 1994 Wiley-Liss; Inc. The propulsive mechanisms used by fish and secondarily aquatic animals may be divided into three modes according to the means by which thrust is produced: lift-based, inertia-based, and drag-based (Daniel and Webb, '87). Each of these modes is characterized by a set of constraints on the morphology and behavior of the animals that use them. The present report describes an attempt to relate morphology to a feature of swimming be- havior seen in one of these groups, the drag-based, or paddling swimmers.
Antioxidant c-FLIP Inhibits Fas Ligand-Induced NF-κB Activation in a Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/Akt-Dependent Manner

Fas ligand (FasL) belongs to the TNF family of death ligands, and its binding to the FasR leads to activation of several downstream signaling pathways and proteins, including NF-κB and PI3K/Akt. However, it is not known whether cross-talk exists between NF-κB and PI3K/Akt in the context of FasL signaling. We demonstrate using both human renal epithelial 293T cells and Jurkat T-lymphocyte cells that although FasL activates both Akt and NF-κB, Akt inhibits FasL-dependent NF-κB activity in a reactive oxygen species-dependent manner. Cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP), an antioxidant and an important component of the death-inducing signaling complex, also represses NF-κB upstream of the regulatory IκB kinase-γ protein subunit in the NF-κB signaling pathway, and positive cross-talk exists between Akt and c-FLIP in the context of inhibition of FasL-induced NF-κB activity. The presence of two death effector domains of c-FLIP and S-nitrosylation of its caspase-like domain were found to be important for mediating c-FLIP-dependent downregulation of NF-κB activity. Taken together, our study reveals a novel link between NF-κB and PI3K/Akt and establishes c-FLIP as an important regulator of FasL-mediated cell death.
Two-year Trends in Cancer Screening Among Low Socioeconomic Status Women in an HMO-based High-deductible Health Plan

BACKGROUND Cancer screening is often fully covered under high-deductible health plans (HDHP), but low socioeconomic status (SES) women still might forego testing.
Mammalian Bites Review of Evaluation and Management

Mammalian bites account for a large number of emergency department and doctor's visits. Children are the victims in more than half of reported cases. Dogs account for the majority of wounds, and almost all fatalities in these cases are due to dog bites. Human bites and cat bites account for the majority of infected wounds. Basic wound care, combined with appropriate antibiotic coverage in high risk wounds, is the most important principle of management.
Dietary Fiber, Magnesium, and Glycemic Load Alter Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in a Multiethnic Cohort in Hawaii

The influence of dietary fiber, magnesium (Mg), and glycemic load (GL) on diabetes was examined in the Hawaii component of the Multiethnic Cohort. The 75,512 Caucasian, Japanese American, and Native Hawaiian participants aged 45-75 y at baseline completed a FFQ. After 14 y of follow-up, 8587 incident diabetes cases were identified through self-reports and health plans. We applied Cox regression stratified for age at cohort entry and adjusted for ethnicity, BMI, physical activity, education, and total energy with further stratifications by sex and ethnicity. When comparing extreme quintiles, total fiber intake was associated with reduced diabetes risk among all men [hazard ratio (HR): 0.75; 95% CI: 0.67, 0.84; P-trend < 0.001) and women (HR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.85, 1.06; P-trend = 0.05). High intake of grain fiber reduced diabetes risk significantly by 10% in men and women. High vegetable fiber intake lowered risk by 22% in all men but not women. Mg intake reduced risk (HR = 0.77 and 0.84 for men and women, respectively) and, due to its strong correlation with fiber (r = 0.83; P < 0.001), may explain the protective effect of fiber. The top GL quintile was associated with a significantly elevated diabetes incidence in Caucasian men and in all women except Japanese Americans. Overall, several associations were more pronounced in Caucasians than in the other groups. These findings suggest that protection against diabetes can be achieved through food choices after taking into account body weight, but, due to differences in commonly consumed foods, risk estimates may differ by ethnic group.
Circular Evolutions of Imaginative Maturation in Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre and Villette

This project investigates how Jane Eyre and Villette , two of Charlotte Bronte’s famous gothic novels, investigate the notions of “self,” “imagination,” and “reality.” In both works, protagonists Jane Eyre and Lucy Snowe are forced to confront and deconstruct the paradigms of their gender on a combination of symbolic and psychosocial levels, while likewise mimicking the themes of Darwinian evolution on an imaginative plane. As a result, they are able to expand their gender roles in a comfortable, liminal setting, while undergoing profound interior growth.
Eddy Current Modeling with Order-Reduction in Magnetic Equivalent Circuits

High fidelity magnetic equivalent circuits are considered as a compromise between detailed finite element models and simplified magnetic equivalent circuits. A very detailed magnetic equivalent circuit is set forth that avoid conventional geometrical simplifications. A long R-L ladder structure in magnetic domain justifies uniform flux density distribution. The proposed model accurately grasps the high frequency dynamics, corner effect, and 3-D effects. The resulted high-order model is rigorously simplified using linear model- order reduction techniques while preserving essential dynamic characteristics. The resulted reduced-order model is verified with the original full-order model in both time- and frequency- domains.
Bayesian hierarchical modeling of latent period switching in small-area putative health hazard studies

In recent years, small area risk assessment modelling and data analysis around putative hazard sources has become a fundamental part of public health and environmental sciences. In this study, we address a fundamental problem in the analysis of such data, when intermittent operation of facilities could lead to evidence for latent periods of risk. This study examines the development of Bayesian models for the latent switching operating period of putative hazard sources such as nuclear processing plants and waste disposal incinerators. The developed methodology is applied in a simulation study as well as to a real data example.
Initial and Long-term Results in the Management of Primary Chest Wall Neoplasms

One hundred ten patients with primary chest wall neoplasms were analyzed for long-term results. The diagnosis of 59 malignant and 51 benign tumors was confirmed by the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. No deaths were associated with primary definitive therapy. Among the five most frequently encountered malignant tumor types, five-year survivals were obtained in 9 of 17 (53%) patients with fibrosarcoma, 8 of 9 (89%) patients with chondrosarcoma, 2 of 8 (25%) patients with solitary chest wall plasmacytoma (multiple myeloma), 1 of 6 (17%) patients with Ewing's sarcoma, and 2 of 4 (50%) of patients with osteogenic sarcoma. Although the five-year survival appears to indicate therapeutic success in patients with Ewing's sarcoma and osteogenic sarcoma, patients with chondrosarcoma or fibrosarcoma may have a more protracted course, and those with solitary plasmacytoma usually develop multiple myeloma. The findings suggest that radical surgical excision is the treatment of choice for chondrosarcoma; radical surgical excision combined with chemotherapy, for fibrosarcoma and osteogenic sarcoma; surgical excision combined with radiation and chemotherapy, for Ewing's sarcoma; and systemic surveillance and therapy, for pathologically confirmed solitary plasmacytoma.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Heart Transplant Patients: A Report of Five Cases

Clinically significant obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) was diagnosed in five patients who had undergone heart transplantation and they represent 2.5 percent of our transplantation series. To determine if these individuals had unique clinical features that would have suggested the presence of OSAS, we reviewed their case histories. Although four of five patients had symptoms of OSAS prior to transplant, none was suspected of having the diagnosis before their surgery. Excessive daytime sleepiness and loud snoring were noted in all patients, and there were no unusual clinical features that characterized these individuals. Our data indicate that the occurrence of OSAS in heart transplant recipients approximates the prevalence in the general population. Because OSAS may adversely affect cardiac function, we recommend that heart transplantation candidates be screened for a history suggestive of OSAS, and that polysomnography be performed if it is present.
EVOLUTIONARY CONSEQUENCES OF ECOLOGICAL RELEASE IN CARIBBEAN ANOLIS LIZARDS

On the large islands of the Greater Antilles, multi-species communities ofAnolislizards are composed of species specialized to use particular habitats; similar sets of specialized species have evolved independently on each island. We studied species of anoles found on small Caribbean islands. Because these islands contain at most only one other species of anole, we predicted that species on these islands should not be as specialized as Greater Antillean species; rather, they might be expected to exhibit a generalized morphology and a greater breadth of habitat use. Our findings, however, do not confirm these predictions. Lesser Antillean species do not exhibit greater breadth of habitat use than Greater Antillean species, nor do they exhibit a generalized morphology. Most species are ecologically and morphologically similar to specialized trunk-crown anoles of the Greater Antilles, although some species exhibit morphologies unlike those seen in Greater Antillean species. Among descendants of specialized Greater Antillean species occurring on one- or two-species islands, most descendants of trunk-crown species have diverged relatively little, whereas several descendants of trunk-ground anoles have diverged considerably. Consequently, we propose that ancestral species in the Greater Antilles may have been trunk-crown anoles.
The coverage problem for loitering Dubins vehicles

In this paper we study a facility location problem for groups of Dubins vehicles, i.e., nonholonomic vehicles that are constrained to move along planar paths of bounded curvature, without reversing direction. Given a compact region and a group of Dubins vehicles, the coverage problem is to minimize the worst-case traveling time from any vehicle to any point in the region. Since the vehicles cannot hover, we assume that they fly along static closed curves called loitering curves. The paper presents circular loitering patterns for a Dubins vehicle and for a group of Dubins vehicles that minimize the worst-case traveling time in sufficiently large regions. We do this by establishing an analogy to the disk covering problem.
Effects of greening and community reuse of vacant lots on crime

The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation initiated a 'Lots of Green' programme to reuse vacant land in 2010. We performed a difference-in-differences analysis of the effects of this programme on crime in and around newly treated lots, in comparison to crimes in and around randomly selected and matched, untreated vacant lot controls. The effects of two types of vacant lot treatments on crime were tested: a cleaning and greening 'stabilisation' treatment and a 'community reuse' treatment mostly involving community gardens. The combined effects of both types of vacant lot treatments were also tested. After adjustment for various sociodemographic factors, linear and Poisson regression models demonstrated statistically significant reductions in all crime classes for at least one lot treatment type. Regression models adjusted for spatial autocorrelation found the most consistent significant reductions in burglaries around stabilisation lots, and in assaults around community reuse lots. Spill-over crime reduction effects were found in contiguous areas around newly treated lots. Significant increases in motor vehicle thefts around both types of lots were also found after they had been greened. Community-initiated vacant lot greening may have a greater impact on reducing more serious, violent crimes.
Do Hypervolumes Have Holes

Hypervolumes are used widely to conceptualize niches and trait distributions for both species and communities. Some hypervolumes are expected to be convex, with boundaries defined by only upper and lower limits (e.g., fundamental niches), while others are expected to be maximal, with boundaries defined by the limits of available space (e.g., potential niches). However, observed hypervolumes (e.g., realized niches) could also have holes, defined as unoccupied hyperspace representing deviations from these expectations that may indicate unconsidered ecological or evolutionary processes. Detecting holes in more than two dimensions has to date not been possible. I develop a mathematical approach, implemented in the hypervolume R package, to infer holes in large and high-dimensional data sets. As a demonstration analysis, I assess evidence for vacant niches in a Galapagos finch community on Isabela Island. These mathematical concepts and software tools for detecting holes provide approaches for addressing contemporary research questions across ecology and evolutionary biology.