cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A new use for long-term frozen brain tissue: golgi impregnation

The study of dendritic spine shape and number has become a standard in the analysis of synaptic transmission anomalies since a considerable number of neuropsychiatric and neurological diseases have their foundation in alterations in these structures. One of the best ways to study possible alterations of dendritic spines is the use of Golgi impregnation. Although usually the Golgi method implies the use of fresh or fixed tissue, here we report the use of Golgi-Cox for the staining of human and animal brain tissue kept frozen for long periods of time. We successfully applied the Golgi-Cox method to human brain tissue stored for up to 15 years in a freezer. The technique produced reliable and reproducible impregnation of dendrites and dendritic spines in different cortical areas. We also applied the same technique to rat brain frozen for up to one year, obtaining the same satisfactory results. The fact that Golgi-Cox can be successfully applied to this type of tissue adds a new value for hundreds of frozen human or animal brains kept in the freezers of the laboratories, that otherwise would not be useful for anything else. Researchers other than neuroanatomists, i.e. in fields such as biochemistry and molecular biology can also benefit from a simple and reliable technique that can be applied to tissue left from their primary experiments.
The potential for salmon fibrin and thrombin to mitigate pain subsequent to cervical nerve root injury

Nerve root compression is a common cause of radiculopathy and induces persistent pain. Mammalian fibrin is used clinically as a coagulant but presents a variety of risks. Fish fibrin is a potential biomaterial for neural injury treatment because it promotes neurite outgrowth, is non-toxic, and clots readily at lower temperatures. This study administered salmon fibrin and thrombin following nerve root compression and measured behavioral sensitivity and glial activation in a rat pain model. Fibrin and thrombin each significantly reduced mechanical allodynia compared to injury alone (p < 0.02). Painful compression with fibrin exhibited allodynia that was not different from sham for any day using stimulation by a 2 g filament; allodynia was only significantly different (p < 0.043) from sham using the 4 g filament on days 1 and 3. By day 5, responses for fibrin treatment decreased to sham levels. Allodynia following compression with thrombin treatment were unchanged from sham at any time point. Macrophage infiltration at the nerve root and spinal microglial activation were only mildly modified by salmon treatments. Spinal astrocytic expression decreased significantly with fibrin (p < 0.0001) but was unchanged from injury responses for thrombin treatment. Results suggest that salmon fibrin and thrombin may be suitable biomaterials to mitigate pain.
Pretreatment with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor decreases lipopolysaccharide-induced interferon-γ production in mice in association with the production of interleukin-18

We studied the effects of pretreatment with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) on the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Mice received G-CSF or control saline once a day for 7 days or once at 1 h before the injection of LPS. Cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or antibody-based electrochemiluminescence assay and cytokine mRNA was measured by RNAse protection assay. Mice pretreated with G-CSF for 7 days before LPS had lower serum levels of LPS-induced interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and higher levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 than controls. G-CSF-pretreated mice also had lower mRNA levels of IFN-gamma and higher mRNA levels of IL-6 and IL-10 in the spleen and/or liver than controls. G-CSF-pretreated mice had serum levels of tumor necrosis factor, IL-12 p70 and IL-12 p40 similar to controls. G-CSF-pretreated mice had lower levels of spleen IL-18 than controls-serum IL-18 being undetectable in mice after LPS-and lower levels of IL-18 mRNA in the spleen. Mice pretreated with G-CSF 1 h before LPS had lower levels of serum IFN-gamma and spleen IL-18 than controls. G-CSF pretreatment alters the expression of LPS-induced cytokines with a decrease in pro-inflammatory IFN-gamma and an increase in anti-inflammatory IL-6 and IL-10. G-CSF decrease of IL-18 production may be a major mechanism explaining the effects of G-CSF on the production of IFN-gamma.
A particular application of extended dimensional complex numbers

A dimensional extension of complex numbers is used to derive the general solution to the cubic and quartic equations.
Measuring creative impact with web-based data

This paper reviews a method of collecting creative-impact data utilizing the All Music Guide (AMG, www.allmusic.com) database. This type of data is suitable for quantitative analysis and has been used to test cognitive-psychological hypotheses about the creative process. Implications are discussed.
Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analyses and alcohol-related behaviors

Recombinant inbred (RI) strains can make an important contribution toward the merger of molecular genetics and quantitative genetics in the quest for quantitative trait loci (QTL). We present preliminary analyses of alcohol-related processes from our ongoing research using the BXD RI series. Issues concerning reliability, genetic correlations, and RI QTL analysis are discussed. Several strategies for replication and extension of QTL candidate regions are considered: F1 crosses between RI strains, F2 crosses, heterogeneous stock, interspecific backcrosses, QTL selection, and the use of murine QTL in chromosomal regions syntenic to human chromosomes as candidate chromosomal regions for human QTL.
Real-World O.R./M.S. Applications in Journals

In this paper, we present the results of a study of real-world applications of O.R./M.S. as seen in journals. Five leading journals in the field are surveyed, and real-world application articles are classified using a two dimensional framework consisting of orientation and decision. The orientation dimension separates strategically oriented applications with long-term implications and tactically oriented applications with medium- and short-term implications. The decision dimension refers to the type of decision in the application-largely structured or largely unstructured. The major O.R./M.S. topics are placed in the resulting four quadrants, and articles published in the four most recent volumes of the five journals are classified. Based on the results of this survey, the thrust and shortcomings of implementation research are discussed. Some measures for enhancing publication of field-based research are also proposed.
A Case of IgG2 Heavy Chain Deposition Disease in a Patient with Kappa Positive Plasma Cell Dyscrasia

IgG2 heavy chain deposition disease (HCDD) is extremely rare. To date, only 4 cases have been reported in medical literature. To our knowledge, we report the first case of IgG2 HCDD accompanied by kappa plasma cell dyscrasia.
Formation of terminal uridylate sequences on sRNA

Abstract It has been shown that the terminal -pCpCpA sequence of sRNA can be removed and replaced enzymatically on a significant proportion of the molecules by -pU, -pUpA, -pUpC and -pCpU.
Ablation and Separation of Dermis via Ultra-Short Pulsed Laser

Dermal tissue ablation and layer-separation with minimal thermal damage to the surrounding tissue via an ultra-short pulsed (USP) laser has been investigated. At first, a parametric study for wet tissue surface line ablation was investigated. The line features were measured by both microscope and scanning electron microscopy. The dermis ablation threshold and the incubation factor were determined through the line ablation results. It is found that a general microscope may give inflated ablation line width. Following the ablation experiment, histological view of ablated wet tissue samples with different combinations of laser parameters has been undertaken to obtain proper laser parameters for tissue separation with minimal thermal damage. The separation of a whole piece of wet dermal tissue into two thin layers was presented. A thin dermal tissue layer pushing to 220 μm thickness was obtained.© 2009 ASME
Comparative studies on repair inhibition by AraA, AraC and aphidicolin of radiation induced dna and chromosome damage in rodent cells: Comparison with fixation of PLD

The effect of araA and araC, two specific inhibitors of DNA polymerases alpha and beta, and of aphidicolin, a specific inhibitor of DNA polymerase alpha, on repair of radiation induced damage was studied at the DNA, the chromosome and the cell level in plateau-phase CHO cells. For the experiments at the chromosome level, the premature chromosome condensation technique was used. Repair of total DNA breaks was measured by the unwinding technique and repair of DNA double strand breaks by the neutral filter elution technique. In agreement with the hypothesis that DNA polymerase activity is involved in cellular repair reactions, araA and aphidicolin strongly inhibited repair of radiation induced damage at the DNA and the chromosome level. Also, araC inhibited repair at these endpoints but only to a very limited extent. The relative inhibition of repair by these compounds was similar at the various endpoints studied. At the survival level, araA effectively fixed radiation induced PLD resulting in survival levels corresponding to an exponential survival curve. On the other hand, araC and aphidicolin had only a small effect on cell survival. DNA replication was effectively inhibited by aphidicolin, moderately by araC, and even less by araA. These observations demonstrate that the efficacy of a polymerase inhibitor to inhibit DNA and chromosome repair does not always coincide with its ability to fix radiation induced PLD, or with its ability to inhibit DNA replication. This finding indicates that partly different biochemical pathways may underlie PLD fixation, DNA repair inhibition, and DNA replication inhibition.
Structure-modifying effects of chondroitin sulfate in knee osteoarthritis: an updated meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials of 2-year duration

Summary Objective To update a published meta-analysis of double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials (RCTs) to assess the efficacy of chondroitin sulfate as a structure-modifying drug for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Design A published meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was updated to include data from one new trial and final data from a second trial both published recently in peer-reviewed literature. This meta-analysis was limited to three RCTs of 2-year duration. Data were pooled using a fixed effects model as there was no evidence of important heterogeneity. Results Pooled results demonstrated a small significant effect of chondroitin sulfate on the reduction in rate of decline in minimum joint space width of 0.13mm [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.06, 0.19] ( P =0.0002) that corresponded to an effect size of 0.23 (95% CI 0.11, 0.35) ( P =0.0001). Conclusion These results demonstrate that chondroitin sulfate is effective for reducing the rate of decline in minimum joint space width in patients with knee OA.
Aberrations of anamorphic optical systems III: the primary aberration theory for toroidal anamorphic systems

We apply a new method for optical aberration derivation to anamorphic systems made from toroidal surfaces and obtain a complete set of primary aberration coefficients. This set is written in a form similar to the well-known Seidel aberrations for rotationally symmetrical optical systems and includes first-order quantities only, thus it can be easily applied to anamorphic lens design practice. By tracing four nonskew paraxial marginal and chief rays, the 16 anamorphic primary aberration coefficients can be easily calculated.
924 IMPROVED SURVIVAL OF CHILDREN WITH GROUP III RHABDOMYOSARCOMA (NON-SPECIAL PELVIC SITES)

Children with rhabdomyosarcoma who have localized gross residual disease after surgery (Group III disease) are at high risk for disease recurrence and death. In the first national study (IRS-I, 1972-78), 261 Gp III pts were treated with VAC± adriamycin for 2 yrs plus postoperative radiation. At 3 yrs, the relapse-free survival (RFS) rate was 60% and the overall survival rate was 57%. In IRS-II (1978-84), 370 pts were treated with intensive repetitive pulse VAC± adriamycin for 2 yrs and postoperative radiation. Pts. with cranial parameningeal (PM) tumors at risk of CNS extension received, in addition, cranial radiation plus intrathecal methotrexate, hydrocortisone and cytosine arabinoside. The 3-yr RFS and overall survival rates of 72% and 70% on IRS-II were superior (P < .002) to IRS-I results. The major reason for improved outcome was the superior results in PM pts who accounted for 37% of Gp III pts in both studies. The 3-yr RFS and overall survival rates for PM patients in IRS-II vs.-I were: 72% vs. 58% (p=.04); 69% vs. 52% (p=.002). Improved outcome for all other pts was less significant (IRS-II vs.-I: RFS-72% vs. 60%; overall survival - 68% vs. 58%; p=.08 for both). We conclude that CNS prophylaxis improves survival in pts. with PM tumors and that intensive chemotherapy for 2 yrs improves the outcome for all Gp III pts.
The preference to work for a man or a woman: A matter of sex and gender?

Abstract A survey of 455 individuals sampled from two populations that varied in age, educational level, and work experience posed a question asked in Gallup polls over six decades: “If you were taking a new job and had your choice of a boss, would you prefer to work for a man or a woman?” Respondents could state that they would prefer a male boss, prefer a female boss, or had no preference. As expected from theory and Gallup results, respondents who had a preference preferred to work for a man more than a woman, although a majority expressed “no preference.” When they expressed a preference, women preferred to work for a female boss over a male boss more than men did, whereas men preferred to work for a male boss over a female boss more than women did. Sex-typed (i.e., masculine or feminine) respondents in gender identity exhibited a greater preference to work for a boss of a particular sex over having no preference than non-sex-typed respondents. Further, feminine respondents preferred to work for a female boss over a male boss more than masculine respondents did, whereas masculine respondents preferred to work for a male boss over a female boss more than feminine respondents did. Overall, these results suggest that the preference to work for a man or a woman is a matter of both sex and gender. Implications for job applicants' vocational decisions and how female leaders fare in the workplace are discussed.
Absorption Spectra of Hemoglobin with Intermediate Oxygenation

Oximetry assumes that absorption spectra of hemoglobin depend linearly on oxygenation and is therefore the weighted average of the fully oxygenated and de-oxygenated hemoglobin spectra. We demonstrate how intermediately oxygenated hemoglobin spectra change nonlinearly.
A Model for Silicon Self‐Diffusion in Silicon Carbide: Anti‐Site Defect Motion

A simple defect interaction model was developed that explains the identical activation energies observed for carbon and silicon diffusion in single-crystal silicon carbide. In accord with experimental measurement of nonstoichiometry, the model requires a substantial concentration of silicon anti-site defects. The diffusion of silicon is limited by the motion of these defects; this is suggested to occur by their interaction with carbon vacancies. The model predicts that boron doping will increase both carbon and silicon diffusion coefficients.
Further characterization of an amino acid-lipid complex from hen oviduct

Abstract Specificity requirements in the formation of lipid-amino acid complexes were demonstrated by the fact that l -serine could not compete with l -valine for labeling amino acid-lipid complexes. Evidence is presented that both the carboxyl and amino ends of amino acids are involved by strong bonds in their association with at least one type of complex. Material present in this complex reacted faster than leucine ester with hydroxylamine and radioactive alanine and proline were incorporated into this fraction faster than into average protein.
The Physiologic Basis of the Heart Sounds

SUMMARY (1) The mechanism of production of the heart sounds is re-examined and new experimental and clinical evidence is reported. (2) While the first and second heart sounds are not caused by valve closure per se, it is concluded that they are caused by vibrations set up both in the closed valves and in the cardiac and vascular structures surrounding them. These vibrations are proportional to the rapidity of tension, as revealed by the first derivative of either left ventricular pressure (first sound) or of the aortic-left ventricular pressure difference (second sound). (3) The third sound, which in the past had been related to flow peak or valve reclosure, seems caused by an intrinsic property of the ventricular wall and is related to diastolic volume, due to either increased filling or greater residual volume.
Neonatal Nurse Practitioners Who Are They

A neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) serves as the primary-care provider for in-hospital neonates. These practitioners receive different education and formal training than other nurse practitioners. The NNP's responsibilities may include managing patient care in an intensive-care unit, conducting normal newborn assessments and physical examinations, and providing high-risk follow-up visits. Career stressors, job satisfaction, and salaries vary among NNPs. The authors describe the variation in education and roles in this expanded nursing practice.
Analytical Porous Media Model of Light Penetration in Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is currently being developed as a new therapeutic modality with minimal side effects in the treatment of many different types of cancers [1]. PDT requires three essential components, which includes a photosensitizing agent, activation light, and molecular oxygen [2, 3]. Light is one of the governing components for PDT, and the only component that can be controlled externally [4]. The understanding of light penetration in a tumor is critical for an efficient PDT protocol. A well-designed PDT protocol provides minimal microvascular damage and efficient killing of malignant tumor cells [5–7]. The depth of light penetration in a tumor depends on the microvascular nature of the tumor, amount of solid and liquid contents present, and the wavelength of the light source. The first two factors depend on the nature of the tumor tissue and therefore the optimal light dose is not standard for all tumors. Furthermore the liquid content of a tumor changes with the tumor temperature due to vasodilatation, and this in turn affects the depth of light penetration.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Does the allergic diathesis influence malignancy

Abstract 1.1. Atopic disease occurs in patients with malignant tumors. 2.2. The incidence of atopic disease in patients who suffer from malignancy appears to be significantly below the incidence of atopic disease in control groups of noncancerous patients and in the general population. 3.3. In fourteen of thirty-eight atopic patients with cancer, atopic symptoms disappeared at least ten years prior to the recognition of the malignancy. 4.4. The largest group of tumor patients, those who suffer from cancer of the uterus, prostate, and breast, show a particularly impressive decrease in the incidence of atopy. 5.5. Ovarian cancer to date represents the one exception to the pattern which we have found.
Initial state symmetries from polarization effects in angular resolved photoemission

Abstract Polarization dependences are present in all angle-resolved photo-emission spectra. When the spectra are obtained with a polarized source such as synchrotron radiation, the effects are manifest. The effects make it possible to use polarization-dependent angle-resolved photoemission UV spectroscopy (PARUPS) to infer initial state symmetry of the electronic states being excited. The ability to measure the initial state symmetry is a newly developed feature of photoemission whose importance parallels that of measuring the surface component of the momentum. The symmetry rules are obtained by examining the symmetry properties of the dipole matrix element in combination with the general result that J. Hermanson has shown for the symmetry of the final states observed in photoemission, i.e. the photoemission experiment only detects even final states when one observes normal emission or emission in a mirror plane. An overview of several applications of these measurement procedures is given for surface state systems and chemisorbed systems. First one wants to measure the initial state symmetry to obtain the properties of the specific system to be measured. For example, CO on nickel, oxygen on nickel or aluminum. Secondly, the polarization dependence can be used to sort out photemission features which are energetically overlapped in a spectrum obtained with mixed polarization.
Modeling systems using discrete event simulation

In this article, we present an introduction to discrete event modeling and discuss some of the important issues related to model development. We are not talking about simulation codes nor statistical models for the outputs from such programs. Rather we will focus on the interface between a real system and a simulation code where we describe the system.
The Interdisciplinary Role of the University

Let us begin with four propositions which, I hope, are widely accepted as broadly true. First, there has been a rapid expansion, since World War II, both in the industrialised and in the developing world, of educational institutions of higher learning and of research institutions. Although this expansion has in the last few years come to a halt, and even been reversed, the number of universities has greatly increased, and the proportion of young people in the age cohorts that enter these universities has also grown. Books, journals, and discussion papers have multiplied to the point where one might be forgiven for thinking that he who makes one article grow where there were two before is a true benefactor of mankind.
Resonant impurity states in the d-density-wave phase

We study the electronic structure near impurities in the d-density-wave (DDW) state, a possible candidate phase for the pseudogap region of the high-temperature superconductors. We show that the density of states near a nonmagnetic impurity in the DDW state is qualitatively different from that in a superconductor with d x 2 - y 2 symmetry. Thus, the electronic structure near impurities can provide insight into the nature of the two phases recently observed by scanning tunneling microscopy experiments in the superconducting state of underdoped Bi-2212 compounds.
Invariance in ℰ* and ℰ_{Π}

We define G, a substructure of e Π (the lattice of Π 0 1 classes), and show that a quotient structure of G, G • , is isomorphic to e*. The result builds on the Δ 0 3 isomorphism machinery, and allows us to transfer invariant classes from e* to e Π , though not, in general, orbits. Further properties of G° and ramifications of the isomorphism are explored, including degrees of equivalence classes and degree invariance.
Transfusions increase with nationally driven reimbursement changes of erythropoiesis stimulating agents for chemotherapy-induced anemia

Background. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a national coverage determination (NCD) in July 2007, which imposed restrictions on the reimbursement of ESAs for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. Since a majority of our patients are Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries, we changed our clinical practice regarding the use of erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs) to coincide with the NCD’s reimbursement restriction.Objective. To evaluate the number of transfusions in patients diagnosed with chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA) receiving ESAs before and after the clinical practice was changed at the University of Illinois Medical Center (UIMC).Methods. The medical records of all adult patients diagnosed with a nonmyeloid malignancy and CIA who received an ESA between July 2006 and June 2008 at the UIMC were evaluated. The patients were divided into two groups: patients in receipt of ESAs BEFORE (group 1) and AFTER (group 2). The number of transfusions, the response rates to chemothera...
Soybean knowledge base (SoyKB): a web resource for integration of soybean translational genomics and molecular breeding

Soybean Knowledge Base (http://soykb.org) is a comprehensive web resource developed for bridging soybean translational genomics and molecular breeding research. It provides information for six entities including genes/proteins, microRNAs/sRNAs, metabolites, single nucleotide polymorphisms, plant introduction lines and traits. It also incorporates many multi-omics datasets including transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and molecular breeding data, such as quantitative trait loci, traits and germplasm information. Soybean Knowledge Base has a new suite of tools such as In Silico Breeding Program for soybean breeding, which includes a graphical chromosome visualizer for ease of navigation. It integrates quantitative trait loci, traits and germplasm information along with genomic variation data, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms, insertions, deletions and genome-wide association studies data, from multiple soybean cultivars and Glycine soja.
Diaphragmatic Pacing in Spinal Cord Injury

After cervical spinal cord injuries, many patients are unable to sustain independent ventilation because of a disruption of diaphragm innervation and respiratory functioning. If phrenic nerve function is preserved, the patient may be able to tolerate exogenous pacing of the diaphragm via electrical stimulation. Previously this was accomplished by stimulation directly to the phrenic nerves, but may be accomplished less invasively by percutaneously stimulating the diaphragm itself. The benefits, when compared with mechanical ventilation, include a lower rate of pulmonary complications, improved venous return, more normal breathing and speech, facilitation of eating, cost-effectiveness, and increased patient mobility.
A Fast and Efficient Frequency-Domain Method for Convolutive Blind Source Separation

In this paper, the problem of blind separation of a convolutive mixture of audio signals is considered. A fast and efficient frequency-domain blind source separation (BSS) method using Independent component analysis (ICA) is investigated. The main difficulties of this approach lie in the so called permutation and amplitude problems. In order to solve the permutation ambiguity, the final value of the ICA derived separation matrix of one frequency bin, is used to initialize the ICA iterations in the next frequency bin. The amplitude problem is addressed by utilizing the elements in the inverse of the separation matrix. Experimental results demonstrate that successful separation is achieved and compared with conventional frequency-domain BSS methods, it is less computationally complex and has faster convergence.
Identifying trajectory classes in dynamic tasks

Using domain knowledge to decompose difficult control problems is a widely used technique in robotics. Previous work has automated the process of identifying some qualitative behaviors of a system, finding a decomposition of the system based on that behavior, and constructing a control policy based on that decomposition. We introduce a novel method for automatically finding decompositions of a task based on observing the behavior of a preexisting controller. Unlike previous work, these decompositions define reparameterizations of the state space that can permit simplified control of the system
Ecclesiastical Provisions for the Support of Students in the Thirteenth Century

Those conversant with the history of mediaeval education are generally aware of the fact that clerks studying in a theological faculty were permitted, during the thirteenth century, to enjoy their ecclesiastical rents in absentia.' The Super speculam of Honorius III is often cited as the basis of this practice, although many scholars also know that the custom was in use, on a local scale, before 1219. The present writer does not wish, at the moment, to inquire into the origins of the practice, nor does he intend to offer any new interpretation of Honorius' famous bull. But the fact that literally thousands of young men were so enabled to pursue higher studies deserves further investigation, and the following remarks are directed toward a better definition and explanation of the ecclesiastical provisions-papal, episcopal, and capitular-which supplied, directly and indirectly, financial maintenance to clerks who sought higher education in the thirteenth century.
Outcome of lung transplantation in elderly recipients

Objective: Lung transplantation is a standard treatment option for patients with end-stage lung disease. Lung transplantation in the elderly is controversial due to concerns over anticipated increased surgical risks, inferior long-term outcomes and proper stewardship in allocating limited donor organs. With demographic trends showing an increasing proportion of patients over 60 years old, we evaluated our outcomes with lung transplantation in this older cohort. Methods: Between January 1990 and July 2009, 142 patients underwent lung transplantation at our institution. A total of 15 patients receiving heart/lung transplantation and one patient declining research participation were excluded. As many as 126 patients were analyzed in two groups: <60 and 60 years old. Results: There were 65 females (52%) and 61 males (48%). A total of 53 patients (42%) underwent bilateral sequential lung transplantation and 73 patients single-lung transplantation (58%). Median age at transplantation was 55.3 years (range, 21.6—73.1 years) with 94 patients <60 years (75%) and 32 patients 60 years (25%). Median follow-up was 4.3 years (range, 0—17.8 years). Overall survival at 30 days was 93.7% with no difference between age groups (p = 0.95). There was no difference between the groups for in-hospital, postoperative complications (p = 0.86), or unplanned readmission rates within 90 days of the hospitalization (p = 0.26). Postoperative pulmonaryfunction(forced expiratory volumein 1 s (FEV1) % predicted) at transplant,4 weeks,3 months,and 6 months after transplantation was not different between groups (p = 0.93). No difference in long-term survival was observed (p = 0.59), with 5-year survival of 52.2%for patients <60 years and47.3% for patients60 years. Overall, 20 patients developed bronchiolitis obliterans syndromeand 13 posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease, which was not statistically different between age groups (p = 0.87, p = 0.37, respectively). Conclusion: Increased age of 60 years and greater, in highly selected patients, does not appear to have a significant impact on the shortor long-term outcome in patients undergoing lung transplantation. Judicious selection of older patients, who are otherwise excellent candidates for lung transplantation, remains a reasonable option. # 2010 European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
THE EVOLUTIONARY ADVANTAGE OF RECOMBINATION

The controversy over the evolutionary advantage of recombination initially discovered by Fisher and by Muller is reviewed. Those authors whose models had finite-population effects found an advantage of recombination, and those whose models had infinite populations found none. The advantage of recombination is that it breaks down random linkage disequilibrium generated by genetic drift. Hill and Robertson found that the average effect of this randomly-generated linkage disequilibrium was to cause linked loci to interfere with each other's response to selection, even where there was no gene interaction between the loci. This effect is shown to be identical to the original argument of Fisher and Muller. It also predicts the "ratchet mechanism" discovered by Muller, who pointed out that deleterious mutants would more readily increase in a population without recombination. Computer simulations of substitution of favorable mutants and of the long-term increase of deleterious mutants verified the essential correctness of the original Fisher-Muller argument and the reality of the Muller ratchet mechanism. It is argued that these constitute an intrinsic advantage of recombination capable of accounting for its persistence in the face of selection for tighter linkage between interacting polymorphisms, and possibly capable of accounting for its origin.
Food Preferences Among Captive Western Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

I used a zoological park setting to address food preferences among gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorill) and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Gorillas and chimpanzees are different sizes, and consequently, have been traditionally viewed as ecologically distinct. Sympatric western gorillas and chimpanzees have proved difficult to study in the wild. Limited field data have provided conflicting information about whether gorillas are fundamentally different from chimpanzees in diet and behavior. Fruit eating shapes the behavior of most apes, but it is unclear whether the large-bodied gorillas are an exception to this rule, specifically whether they are less selective and more opportunistic fruit eaters than chimpanzees are. My research provides experimental observational data to complement field data and to better characterize the diets and food preferences of the African apes. During laboratory research at the San Francisco Zoological Gardens, I examined individual and specific differences in food preferences of captive gorillas and chimpanzees via experimental paired-choice food trials with foods that varied in nutritional content. During the study, I offered 2500 paired-food choices to 6 individual gorillas and 2000 additional pairs to them as a group. I also proffered 600 food pairs to 4 individual chimpanzees. Despite expectations of the implications of body size differences for diet, gorillas and chimpanzees exhibited similar food preferences. Both species preferred foods high in non-starch sugars and sugar-to-fiber ratios, and low in total dietary fiber. Neither species avoided foods containing tannins. These data support other suggestions of African apes sharing a frugivorous adaptation.
A General Rotor Model System for Wind-Tunnel Investigations

A complex rotorcraft model system has been developed for the NASA Langley Research Center and the U.S. Army Air Mobility R&D Laboratory, Langley Directorate, for aerodynamic and acoustic experimental investigations in the NASA Langley V/STOL tunnel. This generalized rotor model system has a powered main rotor, tail rotor, and auxiliary engine capability. It may be configured to represent a variety of rotorcraft configurations. The first investigation was conducted to determine the performance, acoustic, stability, and control characteristics of the NASA/Army Rotor Systems Research Aircraft with an articulated rotor. In a second investigation, a V*-scale AH-1G configuration with a teetering rotor is being represented to determine if a V-tail will improve the directional characteristics. Future programs are planned to investigate advanced rotor blade airfoils for improved performance and acoustic characteristics.
EP2 splicing variants in rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) epididymis.

Abstract The expression pattern of EP2 variants was examined in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta). Using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and rapid amplification of complementary cDNA protocols, 11 message variants were identified in rhesus epididymis, only three of which (EP2B, EP2C, and EP2E) have previously been reported. The most abundant variant found in human, EP2A, was not found in rhesus. Seven of the eight new rhesus EP2 variants (EP2J–EP2Q) use previously unidentified 5′-splicing sites in exon 3, and four variants use three previously unidentified exons whose counterparts are present in the human EP2 gene. Overall, 3 of the 11 variants, EP2C, EP2E, and EP2Q, code for β-defensin-like peptides whose probable physiological role is to protect the male reproductive tract against microbial invasions. Because of the complex splicing pattern that causes some downstream exons to be read in any of the three reading frames, the N-termini of the other eight EP2 peptide variants consist of a ...
English in Brazil: Functions and Attitudes.

The present survey project aims at investigating and describing the attitudes of Brazilian EFL learners towards the target language. The focus is on their perception of the importance of English as a language for international communication, the role of English within Brazil and the learners' expectaitons of time and energy to be consumed in the learning of the language. The participants are 190 adult learners attending a private institute in the metropolitan area of Sao Paulo who answered a survey questionnaire. The answers are discussed and the results analyzed vis-a `-vis the importance of creating a curriculum which addresses not only the formal features of the language but also the cultural and attitudinal elements which are brought into the classroom. INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXTUALIZATION
A tied-mixture 2D HMM face recognition system

In this paper, a simplified 2D second-order hidden Markov model (HMM) with tied state mixtures is applied to the face recognition problem. The mixture of the model states is fully-tied across all models for lower complexity. Tying HMM parameters is a well-known solution for the problem of insufficient training data leading to nonrobust estimation. We show that parameter tying in HMM also enhances the resolution in the case of small model. The performance of the proposed 2D HMM tied-mixture system is studied for the face recognition problem and the expected improved robustness is confirmed.
Structures of the Inducer-Binding Domain of Pentachlorophenol-Degrading Gene Regulator PcpR from Sphingobium chlorophenolicum

PcpR is a LysR-type transcription factor from Sphingobium chlorophenolicum L-1 that is responsible for the activation of several genes involved in polychlorophenol degradation. PcpR responds to several polychlorophenols in vivo. Here, we report the crystal structures of the inducer-binding domain of PcpR in the apo-form and binary complexes with pentachlorophenol (PCP) and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP). Both X-ray crystal structures and isothermal titration calorimetry data indicated the association of two PCP molecules per PcpR, but only one 2,4,6-TCP molecule. The hydrophobic nature and hydrogen bonds of one binding cavity allowed the tight association of both PCP (Kd = 110 nM) and 2,4,6-TCP (Kd = 22.8 nM). However, the other cavity was unique to PCP with much weaker affinity (Kd = 70 μM) and thus its significance was not clear. Neither phenol nor benzoic acid displayed any significant affinity to PcpR, indicating a role of chlorine substitution in ligand specificity. When PcpR is compared with TcpR, a LysR-type regulator controlling the expression of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol degradation in Cupriavidus necator JMP134, most of the residues constituting the two inducer-binding cavities of PcpR are different, except for their general hydrophobic nature. The finding concurs that PcpR uses various polychlorophenols as long as it includes 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, as inducers; whereas TcpR is only responsive to 2,4,6-trichlorophenol.
An intrinsic assessment and comparison of biometric systems through wavelet analysis

Most, if not all, assessments or comparisons of biometric systems focus on extrinsic characteristics; our focus is intrinsic, as we are concerned with the biometric signals and images that underpin each system, and not with how these signals are obtained, matched or interpreted. Through the intrinsic assessment of a biometric system, we expect to answer several policy-related questions, including: How robust is the system? How can the system be refined? To what extent is the system intrinsically prone to error? Likewise, through the intrinsic comparison of two or more biometric systems, we expect to answer questions concerning: To what extent is the system complementary? Can a more robust, hybrid system be identified? As with any assessment or comparative analysis of a number of systems, it is necessary to carry out the analysis within a consistent framework or model. After considering a number of approaches, we employ the wavelet transform technique because of its robustness in modeling most, if not all, of the biometric signals and images and its ability to shed light on the above policy-related questions.
Biomonitoring of Dioxins and Furans: Levels and Trends in Humans

Dioxins and furans are ubiquitous, lipophilic, persistent organic chemicals that can be measured in many human tissues and fluids. The most frequently biomonitored human samples are blood and human milk because of the relative ease of sample collection and because these chemicals readily partition into the lipid fraction. In this chapter we will review studies of the general population from around the world that have measured and reported concentrations and toxic equivalency values for dioxin and furans in various human tissues and fluids including milk, blood, umbilical cord blood, adipose tissue, and other tissues that are less frequently analyzed. We will also briefly discuss populations in two areas with excessive dioxin exposure: Vietnam and Seveso, Italy. The majority of the available data indicate that dioxin and furan levels in humans have been declining over the years in the general population as well as in populations with excessive exposure. In addition, there appears to be an age-related difference in levels such that older individuals have higher levels than younger individuals. However, the reader should be aware that many of the available studies are not conducted in a comparable manner and most, including those that are meant to be nationally representative, have small sample sizes. Despite these limitations, biomonitoring of dioxins and furans has been an instrumental tool for establishing baseline levels in humans, discerning trends, informing policies, and assessing the efficacy of policy actions.
A multilevel parallel processing approach to scene labeling problems

A parallel tree search procedure and multilevel array architectures are presented for scene labeling problems. In the scene labeling problem, when the number of variables is not large, e.g. less than 100, its solutions and search space are not expected to greatly increase with problem size. The multilevel arrays only use a polynomial number of processors at each level and a bus or mesh connection for interlevel communication. This approach is very efficient compared to the binary-tree machine if the number of nodes in the search tree of labeling problem increases polynomially with the number of variables. Because of its regular structure, the multilevel array is particularly suitable for VLSI implementation. >
Neutrino exotica in the skew E(6) left-right model

With the particle content of the 27 representation of E{sub 6}, a skew left-right supersymmetric gauge model was proposed many years ago, with a variety of interesting phenomenological implications. The neutrino sector of this model offers a natural framework for obtaining small Majorana masses for {nu}{sub e}, {nu}{sub {mu}}, and {nu}{sub {tau}}, with the added bonus of accommodating 2 light sterile neutrinos.
Abstract W MP6: SAVER I: Superselective Administration of VErapamil during Recanalization in Acute Ischemic Stroke. A Phase I Feasibility Study

Large vessel occlusive ischemic stroke results in high rates of morbidity and mortality. While intravenous t-PA and intra-arterial (IA) thrombectomy are mainstays in acute stroke therapy, clinical outcomes lag significantly behind improving rates of acute revascularization. Thus, there is a critical need for a novel adjunctive therapy to reduce stroke burden and to improve outcome. Previous neuroprotective drug studies failed due to long intervals between symptom onset and drug administration, lack of concordant thrombolytic revascularization, and lack of targeted administration to the affected vessel. Through a retro-engineered mouse model of large vessel stroke allowing concomitant recanalization and selective intra-arterial (IA) administration we previously evaluated verapamil, a calcium channel blocker (CCB) that is already safely injected intra-arterially (IA) for vasospasm. In this clinically relevant model, verapamil was highly neuroprotective when combined with vessel recanalization. Based on this data, we conducted a single-institution Phase I study to evaluate the feasibility and safety of superselective IA verapamil (10mg) administration immediately following mechanical thrombectomy. We collected information about demographics, location of the occlusion, last known normal time, time to and recanalization. Evaluation of CTA collateralization was performed using a previously a published grading scale (Souza et al. AJNR. 2012). The primary endpoint was symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) within 24 hours post-procedure as defined by the Interventional Management Stroke (IMS) III Trial (Broderick et al. NEJM. 2013). Patients were monitored and graded at 3 months with the modified Rankin Score (mRS). Of the enrolled patients, none had a significant ICH, and none died as a direct result of the procedure. Clinical outcome results for patients were encouraging, and warrant further study. These results will be used to support a Phase II dose selection study.
Ability to Pay

There is broad agreement that a fair tax should be imposed in accordance with taxpayers' ability to pay. A utility-based interpretation of this standard, used in most tax policy discussions today, does not adequately reflect the its historical development and cannot escape long standing and devastating criticisms from within welfare economics and on other general grounds. This article traces the history of ability to pay, with special reference to the standard's emergence along with the British and German income tax laws, and in the theoretical literature that followed the adoption of income tax laws there and elsewhere. The article concludes that the utility-based interpretation is confusing and misleading and that an alternative interpretation is needed.
The impact of ADHD persistence, recent cannabis use, and age of regular cannabis use onset on subcortical volume and cortical thickness in young adults

Background Both Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and chronic cannabis (CAN) use have been associated with brain structural abnormalities, although little is known about the effects of both in young adults.
The tight relationship between asymmetric signaling and locational excitability in motoneuron dendrites

Spinal motoneurons possess large, highly branching dendritic structures that contain thousands of synaptic contacts and various voltage-gated ion channels (VGICs). Research has indicated that dendritic arborization and cable properties provide the basis for foundational dendritic processing, which is characterized by direction-dependent signal propagation and location-dependent channel activation in dendritic arbors. Due to these arbors' complex structure, signals attenuate differentially depending on whether propagation occurs from the soma to the dendrite or in the opposite direction. In addition, current thresholds for the activation of dendritic ion channels differ depending on the location of these channels within dendrites. However, whether and how these foundational properties for dendritic signaling and excitability are related in motoneurons remains unclear. Based on our analyses of anatomically reconstructed motoneurons and novel reduced models, we propose that 1) directional signal propagation is similar across spinal motoneurons, regardless of cell type-specific structures; 2) reduced models that retain dendritic signaling asymmetry can accurately replicate anatomical dendritic excitability in both passive and active modes; and 3) asymmetric signal propagation and locational dendritic excitability are closely related, irrespective of motoneurons' arbor structures.