cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Macular amyloidosis simulating naevoid hyperpigmentation

SUMMARY A 17-year-old female is described who presented with an unusual form of macular amyloidosis which closely simulated naevoid hyperpigmentation. Electron microscopy was necessary to provide specific identification of the sparse deposits of amyloid.
Moisture penetration into composites under external stress

Moisture penetration at 95/sup 0/C into glass fibre and graphite fibre-reinforced epoxies is examined in stressed and unstressed materials. The study focuses on the effect of the angle between the stress and the fibre directions on the diffusivities. It is found that the consequence of applying external stresses to composites is an increase in their rate of moisture absorption, their maximum moisture content, and in the diffusion coefficients. As the angle between the loading and fibre directions is increased the rate and the maximum value of moisture absorption also increase. Their ratio, however, remains constant resulting in loading angle independence of the diffusion coefficients. The results also indicate that the exposure of the composites to water produces a typical damage mechanism which enhances moisture take-up.
Density Functional Theory/GIAO Studies of the 13C, 15N, and 1H NMR Chemical Shifts in Aminopyrimidines and Aminobenzenes: Relationships to Electron Densities and Amine Group Orientations

The dependence of the 13C, 15N, and 1H isotropic NMR chemical shifts on amine substitution of aromatic ring systems are examined both experimentally and by DFT/GIAO (density functional theory/gauge including atomic orbitals) methods. There are large, monotonic decreases in the chemical shifts at odd-numbered (ortho and para) pyrimidine ring positions which do not occur at the even-numbered (ipso and meta) atoms as amine groups progressively replace hydrogens at the latter positions. This behavior parallels the computed 2pz electron densities which for the pyrimidine series increase monotonically at N1, N3, and C5 but exhibit small changes at the C2, C4, and C6 positions. Identical trends are noted for the aminobenzenes. The ring atom chemical shifts and 2pz electron densities at ortho and para (but not meta) positions are quite sensitive to the orientations of the amine groups which are pyramidalized as the result of balance between delocalization with the ring and the use of strongly directed sp3 orbital...
The natural history of azathioprine compliance after renal transplantation

The natural history of azathioprine compliance after renal transplantation. Background Successful renal transplantation requires long-term adherence to complex medical regimens, yet knowledge of post-transplant medication compliance is still inadequate. Methods The natural history of medication compliance was quantitatively documented using electronic medicine bottle monitors. Azathioprine use was recorded with medication monitors beginning at hospital discharge in a prospective cohort of 180 renal transplant recipients. These patients and 87 other eligible patients, declining study participation, were followed up to five years. Compliance rates were associated with discrete clinical outcomes: acute rejection, allograft loss, and death. Results During the first six months, only 8% of all azathioprine doses were missed. However, individual compliance rates varied widely, ranging from 16 to 100%, and each month, on average, 18% of patients skipped medication for four or more days. Outcome events were not different between study participants and those refusing study. However, lower compliance rates during the first six months were associated in a "dose-response" fashion with acute rejection ( P = 0.006) and allograft loss ( P = 0.002). Declining compliance during the first 90 days was a strong risk factor both for later acute rejection (odds ratio=13.9, 95% CI, 2.9 to 68, P = 0.001), and allograft loss (odds ratio=4.3, 95% CI, 1.1 to 16, P = 0.032). Conclusions Electronic monitoring provides a temporal description and quantitation of medication compliance. Reduced azathioprine compliance was highly associated with acute rejection and allograft loss. Trends in early compliance behavior predict later outcomes, thus providing unique opportunities for intervention.
Technostress in Libraries: Causes, Effects and Solutions.

Accompanying the successful and exciting high tech revolution in libraries has been the occurence of a number of physical, psychological and social problems among staff and patrons. This paper reports on technostress in libraries, examining some of the fears, frustrations and misconceptions which hamper the effective use of computers. Technostress among library staff members may result from poorly designed workstations, inadequate training and inept planning and implementation on the part of management. Library users often have false expectations and a lack of understanding of the system, resulting, at least in part, from inappropriate training. Both staff and users may suffer from fear, insecurity and general apprehension of new technology. Managers can take a variety of approaches to alleviate technostress in staff and patrons.
Thymidine labeling index of human breast carcinoma. Enhancement of in vitro labeling by 5-fluorouracil and 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine.

Inhibitors of thymidylate synthetase, 5-fluoro-2′ -deoxyuridine (FUDR) and 5-fluorouracil (FU), enhanced in vitro thymidine labeling of human breast carcinoma cells. Their use resulted in an increase in the measured thymidine labeling index (TLI) of breast carcinomas by increasing detectability of labeled nuclei in autoradiographs. The TLI was measured with FU or FUDR enhancement in primary breast carcinomas from nine women younger than age 50, and from 30 women 50 years or older. The mean and geometric mean TLI were 8.0 and 6.3 respectively for the younger group, and 4.0 and 2.8 respectively for the older group. Similar significant age-associated differences were noted in a series of 133 TLI measurements without FU or FUDR. The TLI was not significantly correlated with primary breast carcinoma size or number of axillary nodal metastases. The capacity to form axillary metastases must be related to factors other than the rate of cell replication in breast carcinomas.
The Burow's triangle scalp reduction. A new and improved technique for paramedian scalp reduction.

BACKGROUND. The paramedian incision for scalp reduction has many advantages over the median (midline-sagittal) incision. OBJECTIVE. This report describes a method by which the paramedian incision may be modified to provide even more advantages. METHODS. In 20 patients with male pattern alopecia, an anterior and posterior paramedian incision was performed along contralateral borders of the bald scalp. The two incisions were joined in the central scalp by a trans-coronal incision. The tissue movement that followed was similar to that of a Burow's triangle advancement flap. RESULTS. The new configuration provided maximal visual access with improved tissue mobilization and ease of handling. Because the tension-bearing vector was directed parallel to the trans-coronal incision, there was little tendency for the scar to widen. Because posterior slots or troughs were not created, additional corrective procedures were not necessary. CONCLUSION. The Burow's triangle scalp reduction design is cosmetically and mechanically more advantageous than traditional median and unilateral paramedian designs of equivalent length. Dermatol Surg 1995 ;21 :705-710.
Preservice Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy and Its Sources

The purpose of this study was to examine several potential sources of preservice teachers’ perceptions of their teaching efficacy during their reading and writing lessons. More specifically, the study explored the relationship between the sources of preservice teachers’ self-efficacy and teachers’ perception of efficacy in the areas of instructional strategies, classroom management, and student engagement. Forty-three preservice teachers in pre-literacy methods courses and fourteen in post-literacy methods courses completed the survey, which consisted of the Teacher Sense of Efficacy Scale (TSES) and Teaching Efficacy Sources Inventory. Paired t-test results showed that preservice teachers’ teaching efficacy increased in the three subscales of instructional strategies, classroom management, and student engagement by the end of the literacy method courses. Efficacy for instructional strategies, classroom management, and student engagement were highly intercorrelated with each other in the pre-test data. The results of multiple regression analysis indicated that personality characteristics, capabilities, motivation, enactive mastery experiences with social/verbal persuasion, and physiological/affective state were significant predictors when efficacy for classroom management was the dependent variable in the post-test data. Findings of this study revealed that preservice teachers’ personality, motivation, and capabilities were one of the important sources to improve their teaching efficacy, in congruence with previous research (Poulou, 2007; Yeung & Watkins, 2000).
A convergent two-time method for periodic differential equations

Abstract Two timing, an ad hoc method for studying periodic evolution equations, can be given a rigorous justification when the problem is in standard form, u = ϵf ( t , u ). First solve dw dσ = ϵ(I − M) f(σ, w) for w(σ, v) , where M is the mean value operator and v is any initial value. Then w ( σ , v ) is periodic in σ but does not satisfy the original equation. Now, force a solution u ( t ), using nonlinear variation of constants, in the form w ( σ , v ( τ )), where σ = t is the fast time and τ = ϵt is the slow time. With the resulting differential equation for v , one reads off from its nonconstant solutions the approximate transient behavior of u ( t ) for times of order ϵ −1 . On the other hand, the equilibrium points (constant solutions) v 0 correspond to steady state (periodic solutions) of the original system. Interesting applications, such as to one-dimensional wave equations with cubic damping, can be given.
Effects of Aroclor(R) 1016 on Embryos, Fry, Juveniles, and Adults of Sheepshead Minnows (Cyprinodon variegatus)

Abstract We investigated the toxicity of Aroclor 1016 to, and uptake by, fry and juvenile and adult sheepshead minnows (Cyprinodon variegatus) in intermittent-flow bioassays lasting 28 days. Survival of eggs, of fry hatched from them, and of juvenile and adult fish apparently was not affected by 0.1, 0.32, 1.0, 3.2, or μg/liter of Aroclor 1016 added to aquaria, but 32 and 100 μg/liter killed newly hatched fry and juvenile and adult fish. Sheepshead minnows accumulated the chemical in proportion to its concentration in the test water. Fry contained 2,500 to 8,100 X the concentration of Aroclor 1016 added to the test water, adults 4,700 to 14,000 X, and juveniles 10,000 to 34,000 X. As much as 77 μg/g of Aroclor 1016 in eggs from exposed adults apparently did not affect survival of embryos and fry.
Global Mining and the Uneasy Neoliberalization of Sustainable Development

As transnational mining firms have sought to position themselves as drivers of sustainable development, a key component of their efforts has been the implementation of social development programs in their areas of operation. This paper situates the expansion of corporate-led development in the mining sector as part of an ongoing reconfiguration of the frameworks and processes through which mineral production is governed, interpreting such initiatives as illustrative of “roll-out” neoliberalization. Based on an analysis of firm-led development at the Pierina gold mine in Andean Peru, I explore how the mining company has been able to advance a version of sustainability broadly compatible with contemporary large-scale mining. Taking on the role of development agent, however, is not an uncomplicated endeavor in that it has left the firm subject to escalating development claims from nearby populations. In this context, I raise the question of whether the mining industry’s adoption of notions of partnership and participation amounts to a strategy for diffusing responsibility when necessary and deflecting the claims of affected communities.
Sandy bottom communities at the end of a cold (1971-1975) and warm (1997-1998) regime in the California Current: impacts of high and low plankton production

There were highly significant changes in the structure of benthic infaunal communities at the end of the last cold regime (1976) compared to the end of the last warm regime (1999) in the California Current. The warm regime is characterized by much lower plankton production, which we argue is the primary cause of the degraded infaunal community at the end of the warm regime. In 1997-98, we resampled a depth gradient along a subtidal, high-energy sandy beach (6-24m) in Monterey Bay that was sampled for five years at the end of the last cold regime (1971-75). There was a dramatic decline in the total number species, number of individuals, and biomass by the end of the warm period. There was no overlap in benthic assemblages at all water depths between the decades in either non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination or cluster analysis. In the 1970s, the community dominants in the shallow crustacean zone, centered in 9 m, were pericarid crustaceans, including predacious phoxocephilid amphipods, haustoriid amphipods, and ostracods, which all live in the sediment. The amphipods, in particular, are well adapted to burrowing in sand. The numerical dominants in the deeper polychaete zone (18-24m) were large, sedentary polychaete worms. The largest was a tube-dwelling predator (Nothria) accounting for most of the biomass. The other was a suspension and surface deposit feeding polychaete worm, Magelona. By the 1990s, the most abundant crustacean was a small, swimming amphipod; and the most abundant polychaetes were small, relatively mobile, and deposit feeding. This trend from large size, sedentary, and suspension feeding to smaller size, higher mobility, and deposit feeding also characterizes infaunal shifts from the food-rich continental shelf into the food-poor deep sea. The dominant polychaetes had more opportunistic life histories, and shallow faunal zones extended into deeper water in the 1990s. If global warming continues, the ongoing cold regime may be less productive and the sandy bottom communities should not develop the species composition and high diversity, abundance, and biomass observed in the 1970s.
Piaget's Grouping II: The model, its assessment, and the effects of training☆

Abstract Although Piaget emphasized the importance of negation in equilibration theory, few data are available pertaining to children's use of Grouping II (Gr. II) logic, which relies on negation. Three approaches to assessing Gr. II capability are reviewed in light of Piaget's (1949, Traite de logique: Essai de logistique operatoire , Paris: Colin) discussion of Gr. II. The paper describes a new task to assess three aspects of Gr. II thought: (a) naming secondary classes, (b) comparing a secondary class with a primary class contained within it, and (c) reasoning about vicariance relationships. An experimental group of third graders trained to use Gr. II logic performed significantly better on post-test tasks than did an untrained control group. Training included rule instruction, evaluative and informative feedback, and manipulative activities.
The effect of buying decisions on consumers' assessment of their tastes

Building on the notion that consumers are often uncertain about their tastes or weights, this research examines the proposition that consumers might infer their importance weights from their choices and the choice sets they evaluate. It is also hypothesized that the degree to which choice affects self-assessed weights depends on the consumer's familiarity with the product category and the available product information. The results of an experiment demonstrated that consumers' assessments of their importance weights can be influenced by the choice set they previously evaluated. This effect, however, was not moderated by familiarity or provided product information.
Bleeding colonic angiomas and radiation telangiectasias: Endoscopic diagnosis and treatment

Colonic angiodysplasia and angiomas are common sources of lower gastrointestinal (Gl) bleeding in elderly patients. Approximately one third of our patients with lower Gl bleeding whose diagnosis was colon angiomas presented with recurrent hematochezia. Many of these patients have severe comorbid conditions such as heart, renal, or liver disease. Additionally, some are on medications that are associated with Gl hemorrhage, such as aspirin, NSAIDs, (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents) or anticoagulants. Urgent colonoscopy after thorough cleansing of the colon of stool, blood, and clots with colonic purge is a very effective way to make the diagnosis. A more common presentation of colon angioma hemorrhage is iron deficiency anemia and stools with occult blood. Colonic cleansing is also important in this subgroup, but can be done with standard oral preparations. The goal of the colonoscopy in patients with colonic angiomas is to perform 1 complete examination for both diagnosis and treatment. Endoscopic coagulation with contact probes such as bipolar or heater probes should be with a low power setting, gentle apposition pressure, and short coagulation pulses directly on the angiomas. Often multiple angiomas are found, and the endpoints are control of active bleeding and good coagulation (whitening) of all angiomas in the colon segment. Overdistension, repeated coagulation at the same site, and high power settings should be avoided. Radiation telangiectasias are a common cause of recurrent, often severe hematochezia in patients who were treated for pelvic cancers with radiotherapy. Multiple oozing sites or moderately severe bleeding from radiation telangiectasias is diagnosed on colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy. Both diagnosis and endoscopic treatment are facilitated by target irrigation and contact probes. Control of bleeding depends on coagulation of multiple telangiectasias, usually in the rectum. Outcomes of patients with severe hematochezia from either colonic angiomas or radiation telangiectasia on endoscopic therapy are significantly better than those of patients who undergo medical therapies. Details on the diagnosis, treatment techniques, results, and complications are presented in this report.
Pressing Mitochondrial Genetics Forward

Mitochondria are crucial for many cellular functions. In this issue of Cell Reports, studies from Lanning et al. and Wolf and Mootha describe RNAi approaches to screening the mitochondrial proteome. Unexpectedly, they uncover key roles for two poorly characterized mitochondrial proteins: AK4 and FASTKD4. These studies provide examples of the power of forward genetic screens, even when screening a subset of genes, in deciphering functions of previously mysterious mitochondrial proteins.
Head-to-head comparison of disaster triage methods in pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients.

Study objective A variety of methods have been proposed and used in disaster triage situations, but there is little more than expert opinion to support most of them. Anecdotal disaster experiences often report mediocre real-world triage accuracy. The study objective was to determine the accuracy of several disaster triage methods when predicting clinically important outcomes in a large cohort of trauma victims. Methods Pediatric, adult, and geriatric trauma victims from the National Trauma Data Bank were assigned triage levels, using each of 6 disaster triage methods: simple triage and rapid treatment (START), Fire Department of New York (FDNY), CareFlight, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Sacco Score, and Unadjusted Sacco Score. Methods for approximating triage systems were vetted by subject matter experts. Triage assignments were compared against patient mortality at hospital discharge with area under the receiver operator curve. Secondary outcomes included death in the emergency department, use of a ventilator, and lengths of stay. Subgroup analysis assessed triage accuracy in patients by age, trauma type, and sex. Results In this study, 530,695 records were included. The Sacco Score predicted mortality most accurately, with area under the receiver operator curve of 0.883 (95% confidence interval 0.880 to 0.885), and performed well in most subgroups. FDNY was more accurate than START for adults but less accurate for children. CareFlight was best for burn victims, with area under the receiver operator curve of 0.87 (95% confidence interval 0.85 to 0.89) but mistriaged more salvageable trauma patients to "dead/black" (41% survived) than did other disaster triage methods (≈10% survived). Conclusion Among 6 disaster triage methods compared against actual outcomes in trauma registry patients, the Sacco Score predicted mortality most accurately. This analysis highlighted comparative strengths and weakness of START, FDNY, CareFlight, and Sacco, suggesting areas in which each might be improved. The GCS predicted outcomes similarly to dedicated disaster triage strategies.
Spanish Clitics and Participles:: A Historical Perspective

A puzzling anomaly which exists in Modern Spanish grammar is the placement of clitic object pronouns with respect to the present and past participles. As the examples in (1) illustrate, the present...
Interview effects in the reporting of domestic violence

Abstract Victims of domestic abuse sometimes have the opportunity to discuss their experiences in interviews with researchers and subsequently to report their victimization. Beyond the reporting decision—a non-trivial information–revelation decision—they frequently must decide whether to have someone they know present at the interview and whether to conduct the interview in person or by telephone. Having an associate present at the interview may provide a respondent victim greater comfort or social support than she might have conducting the interview by herself, but perhaps only to the extent that the abusive partner does not pose a continuing household threat. Undertaking a personal interview may facilitate a greater degree of empathy or deeper understanding from the information gatherer likely unavailable over the telephone, but personal interviews generally take more time and incur more significant marginal opportunity costs. This paper examines conceptually and empirically how the parameters of these interviews, endogenously determined by victims themselves, affect the decision to report domestic violence.
The effect of reserpine administration on vanillylmandelic acid exeretion in man.

SummaryIn man, repeated injections of reserpine result in an initial increase followed by a decrease in the urinary excretion of VMA. Within 16 hours following injection of 2.5 mg of reserpine at 8-hour intervals, increased VMA excretion has ended and there is a continual decrease in the excretory rate. It is suggested that the observed VMA excretory pattern is consistent with a reserpine effect on the intracellular storage granule with an initial release of NE associated with a decreased uptake of dopamine and resultant decreased NE synthesis.
Risk of overweight and obesity among semivegetarian, lactovegetarian, and vegan women

Background Observational studies suggest that a plant-based diet is inversely related to body mass index (BMI), overweight, and obesity. Objective Our objective was to examine the BMI (kg/m(2)) and risk of overweight and obesity of self-defined semivegetarian, lactovegetarian, and vegan women. Design Data analyzed in this cross-sectional study were from 55459 healthy women participating in the Swedish Mammography Cohort. Women were asked whether they considered themselves to be omnivores (n = 54257), semivegetarians (n = 960), lactovegetarians (n = 159), or vegans (n = 83), and this question was the main exposure variable in this study. In secondary analyses, we reclassified women as lactovegetarians on the basis of food intakes reported on the food-frequency questionnaire. Results The prevalence of overweight or obesity (BMI >/= 25) was 40% among omnivores, 29% among both semivegetarians and vegans, and 25% among lactovegetarians. In multivariate, adjusted logistic regression analyses, self-identified vegans had a significantly lower risk of overweight or obesity [odds ratio (OR) = 0.35; 95% CI: 0.18, 0.69] than did omnivores, as did lactovegetarians (OR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.35, 0.85) and semivegetarians (OR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.43, 0.62). Risk of overweight or obesity remained significantly lower among lactovegetarians classified on the basis of the food-frequency questionnaire (OR = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.30, 0.78). Conclusions Even if vegetarians consume some animal products, our results suggest that self-identified semivegetarian, lactovegetarian, and vegan women have a lower risk of overweight and obesity than do omnivorous women. The advice to consume more plant foods and less animal products may help individuals control their weight.
Enhancements of ANALYZE: a computer-assisted analysis system for linear programming

This describes enhancements to provide more advanced computer-assisted analysis of instances of linear programming models. Three categories of enhancements are described: views, engines for obtaining information, and rule-based advising. Examples of their uses include redundancy and infeasiblity diagnoses.
Radiological evaluation of cerebral aneurysms in selected clinical presentations.

Background and Purpose. Cerebral aneurysms have different presenting features and, to some extent, a variable clinical course based on the pattern of subarachnoid hemorrhage, the circumstance of their discovery, and the anatomy. Thus, the neuroimaging workup must be tailored accordingly to provide accurate diagnosis and optimal follow-up. Method. The authors suggest neuroradiological evaluation of patients in the emer gency room and in cases of perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage, aneurysmal pattern of subarachnoid hemorrhage with normal angiography, vascular infundibula, unruptured/incidental aneurysms, infectious aneurysms, dissecting aneurysms, dolichoectatic/fusiform aneurysms, intracavernous aneurysms, and traumatic aneurysms. Conclusion. Recent neuroimaging advances have contributed to improvement in diagnostic safety and accuracy, allowing a more diligent patient follow-up, improved patient outcome, and enhanced physician perception and clinical judgment.
Polyploidy Among Isolates of Phytophthora infestans from Eastern Germany

The ploidy of 101 isolates of Phytophihora infestans from the eastern states of the Federal Republic of Germany (formerly the German Democratic Republic) was determined by Feulgen DNA microdensitometry. The isolates used in this investigation were collected during 11 growing seasons between 1976 and 1990. Fifty hyphal nuclei per isolate were used for DNA measurements. Polyploids predominated throughout the 15-year sampling period. Four of the isolates collected during 1989 were diploid. Based on the results of this investigation, there appears to have been no trend towards a diploid. sexual population during the sampling period.
Serum creatine phosphokinase: evaluation of a commercial spectrophotometric method.

The clinical and laboratory applications of an assay method for serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) utilizing a reagent capsule were investigated. Continuous recording of the change in absorbance at 340 mµ, during the assay period gave a slightly sigmoid curve. The time interval between serum addition and the beginning of the linear portion of the absorbance curve varied with the level of enzyme activity. With samples of low activity, up to 8 min. elapsed before the linear phase began. The rate of change in absorbance increased in a linear fashion with respect to increasing CPK concentration, up to a level of about 370 U. When serum samples with activity above this level were diluted and reassayed, and the data appropriately corrected for dilution, significantly increased activity could be demonstrated in the diluted samples. Adenylate kinase from hemolyzed erythrocytes may interfere with measurement of CPK activity in this assay system. This does not present a problem if samples with visible hemolysis are excluded. The range of normal human serum CPK values recommended for this method is 0-40 U./L. at 30°. Abnormal values in patients with injuries or diseases of skeletal muscle were as high as 55,000 U. After acute myocardial infarction, elevated serum CPK levels were detected within 4 hr. after the onset of chest pain. In some of these patients CPK activity did not return to normal for a week or more. Properly used, this method provides a reliable and convenient assay procedure for serum CPK activity.
Metagenomic analysis of the medicinal leech gut microbiota

There are trillions of microbes found throughout the human body and they exceed the number of eukaryotic cells by 10-fold. Metagenomic studies have revealed that the majority of these microbes are found within the gut, playing an important role in the host's digestion and nutrition. The complexity of the animal digestive tract, unculturable microbes, and the lack of genetic tools for most culturable microbes make it challenging to explore the nature of these microbial interactions within this niche. The medicinal leech, Hirudo verbana, has been shown to be a useful tool in overcoming these challenges, due to the simplicity of the microbiome and the availability of genetic tools for one of the two dominant gut symbionts, Aeromonas veronii. In this study, we utilize 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing to further explore the microbial composition of the leech digestive tract, confirming the dominance of two taxa, the Rikenella-like bacterium and A. veronii. The deep sequencing approach revealed the presence of additional members of the microbial community that suggests the presence of a moderately complex microbial community with a richness of 36 taxa. The presence of a Proteus strain as a newly identified resident in the leech crop was confirmed using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The metagenome of this community was also pyrosequenced and the contigs were binned into the following taxonomic groups: Rikenella-like (3.1 MB), Aeromonas (4.5 MB), Proteus (2.9 MB), Clostridium (1.8 MB), Eryspelothrix (0.96 MB), Desulfovibrio (0.14 MB), and Fusobacterium (0.27 MB). Functional analyses on the leech gut symbionts were explored using the metagenomic data and MG-RAST. A comparison of the COG and KEGG categories of the leech gut metagenome to that of other animal digestive-tract microbiomes revealed that the leech digestive tract had a similar metabolic potential to the human digestive tract, supporting the usefulness of this system as a model for studying digestive-tract microbiomes. This study lays the foundation for more detailed metatranscriptomic studies and the investigation of symbiont population dynamics.
The use and abuse of the cerebrospinal fluid IgG profile in the adult: A practical evaluation

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 150 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 190 patients with other neurological disorders were examined with a battery of tests (the IgG profile) to detect quantitative and qualitative abnormalities in CSF IgG. The CSF IgG profile consisted of an IgG/albumin (IgG/alb) ratio, an IgG index, and examination by agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) and isoelectric focusing (IF) to detect oligoclonal bands. The tests were compared for diagnostic accuracy, including false-positive results. The IgG/alb ratio was less reliable in confirming the diagnosis of MS, but no significant difference in accuracy was found among the other three methods. IF tended to identify more possible and probable MS cases than did AGE but gave a higher rate of false-positives. The IgG index and IgG synthesis rates showed no significant difference in their ability to identify MS patients. Steroid administration decreased the incidence of abnormal IgG/alb ratios and IgG indices, but not abnormal oligoclonal bands. Central nervous system (CNS) infections or immunological diseases involving the CNS produced a 28 to 40% incidence of abnormalities in the CSF. Neither the patient's age, sex, duration of illness, activity of disease, nor longitudinal course correlated with the CSF findings. A few (1%) control neurological patients had all components in the CSF IgG profile abnormal. For most routine clinical purposes the IgG index and AGE are sufficient for confirmation of diagnosis, and the IgG index was the best single test in our series.
Disruption of Spermatogenesis by the Cancer Disease Process

In the past, cancer survivors tended to be most concerned about disease recurrence and treatment side effects. As survival rates have increased, however, patients are now also concerned about quality-of-life issues such as preserving fertility potential. It is well known that cancer treatment adversely affects male fertility via direct effects on the testis and/or through the endocrine glands. Evidence also suggests that the disease process itself may affect a man's fertility by influencing spermatogenesis. However, the causes of poor semen quality in cancer patients are not well understood. Multiple factors are likely involved, including preexisting defects in germ cells, systemic effects of cancer, and endocrine and immunological disturbances. This paper will summarize available evidence on different factors involved in impaired spermatogenesis in patients with various cancers with emphasis on testicular cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma. Cryopreservation of spermatozoa is a simple and practical approach available to all patients with cancer who wish to preserve their fertilizing potential before cancer therapy.
Control in mutualisms: combined implications of partner choice and bargaining roles.

When two species form a mutualistic association, the degree of control that each has over the interaction may be pivotal in determining the relative benefit each obtains. We incorporate the capacity for partner choice into a model of mutualism based on the exchange of goods and/or services, where one guild of mutualists plays the role of proposer (proposing a price at which the goods and/or services will be exchanged) and the other plays the role of responder (accepting or rejecting the deal). We show how the payoff structure in this scenario and other closely related ones correspond to the ultimatum and demand games of economics. In the model, there are both costs and benefits to a guild whose players have control over interactions. Control over interactions in the sense of being able to exercise partner choice can benefit a guild by selecting for mutualism in its partners, but is most effective in selecting against moderately exploitative partners, and so can give highly exploitative partners an advantage. This can generate dynamics similar to taxon cycles or those seen in models with competition-colonization tradeoffs, wherein increasingly more mutualistic partners (acting as superior competitors) are selected for up to a tipping point, at which highly exploitative strategies (akin to superior colonizers) gain an advantage. Control over interactions in the sense of being able to appropriate ‘surplus’ payoffs in each interaction, which is selected for within-guild and is equivalent to playing the role of responders, selects against high demands (and so for mutualism) in the guild with control. Combining the two mechanisms, a high degree of mutualism in both guilds and coexistence of more mutualistic and more exploitative strategies within each are both consistent with control over the interaction being highly skewed toward one side that does what is in its own short-term interests.
The route of entry and progression of infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus in Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum): a sequential immunohistochemical study

. Steelhead trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), fry were experimentally infected with infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) Round Butte 1983 (Type 1). Fry were sampled daily, before and during the epizootic. Fish tissues were tested for infectious virus by tissue culture assay and for IHNV nucleocapsid protein by alkaline phosphatase immunohistochemistry (APIH). The progression of virus through the tissues was followed by APIH until the fourteenth day. Viral infection progressed from two major sites: from the gills into the circulatory system; and from the oral region into the gastrointestinal tract and then into the circulatory system. Once in the blood, virus was disseminated to virtually every organ. Progression of IHNV within and between organs is discussed.
Sorad: a systems biology approach to predict and modulate dynamic signaling pathway response from phosphoproteome time-course measurements

Motivation: Signaling networks mediate responses to different stimuli using a multitude of feed-forward, feedback and cross-talk mechanisms, and malfunctions in these mechanisms have an important role in various diseases. To understand a disease and to help discover novel therapeutic approaches, we have to reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying signal transduction and use that information to design targeted perturbations. Results: We have pursued this direction by developing an efficient computational approach, Sorad, which can estimate the structure of signal transduction networks and the associated continuous signaling dynamics from phosphoprotein time-course measurements. Further, Sorad can identify experimental conditions that modulate the signaling toward a desired response. We have analyzed comprehensive phosphoprotein time-course data from a human hepatocellular liver carcinoma cell line and demonstrate here that Sorad provides more accurate predictions of phosphoprotein responses to given stimuli than previously presented methods and, importantly, that Sorad can estimate experimental conditions to achieve a desired signaling response. Because Sorad is data driven, it has a high potential to generate novel hypotheses for further research. Our analysis of the hepatocellular liver carcinoma data predict a regulatory connection where AKT activity is dependent on IKK in TGF stimulated cells, which is supported by the original data but not included in the original
Developing a six sigma methodology for improving retention in engineering education

The graduation of under-represented groups in the sciences and engineering has been a major concern for academia in the last twenty years, as the demand for these skills and knowledge continues to increase. The retention rate for this pool of students is roughly one-third compared to nonminority groups of about two-thirds. As a result, a variety of innovative approaches to increase the graduation rate for minority students have received a lot of attention. We propose another approach adapted from industry that seeks to assess, evaluate, and monitor variation in student's performance in the curricula and recommend methods for improvement. By applying the six sigma philosophy from industry to academia, the results may provide a methodology to increase the retention rates of minority students to address the needs of highly skilled employees for the same industry. A pilot study is discussed.
Scoring function to predict solubility mutagenesis

Background Mutagenesis is commonly used to engineer proteins with desirable properties not present in the wild type (WT) protein, such as increased or decreased stability, reactivity, or solubility. Experimentalists often have to choose a small subset of mutations from a large number of candidates to obtain the desired change, and computational techniques are invaluable to make the choices. While several such methods have been proposed to predict stability and reactivity mutagenesis, solubility has not received much attention.
Lateral-field temperature behavior of lithium tetraborate

Lithium tetraborate (LBO) is a tetragonal material exhibiting piezoelectric coupling values that fall between those of lithium niobate and quartz, with double rotated orientations of zero temperature coefficient (TC) for both bulk and surface wave modes. The authors present calculations for double rotated resonators and compute the coupling factors for the three simple thickness modes driven by lateral quasistatic electric fields as a function of the orientation angles and the direction of the applied lateral field. Double rotate thickness-mode plate resonators of LBO driven in (LE) are found to have loci of zero TC of frequency first and second order, for all three modes. Orientations are found where the first and second TC values are low, simultaneously, and where the associate dpiezocoupling is moderately large. >
New directions in the treatment of pelvic pain

SUMMARY The treatment of chronic pelvic pain in both females and males is a challenge for pain clinicians. Standard therapies are multimodal in nature with use of behavioral, medical and procedural therapeutics. In recent years, our understanding of the neurobiology of this disorder has improved and novel approaches have focused on neuromodulatory options, novel pharmacology and complementary/alternative medicine options. This review briefly examines newly employed therapeutic options, while restating currently utilized options. The current state-of-the-art treatment includes focal therapies for identified pathologies and empiric trials of other options for care when precise sources of the chronic pelvic pain are ill defined.
Syntactic Query Models for Restatement Retrieval

We consider the problem of retrieving sentence level restatements. Formally, we define restatements as sentences that contain all or some subset of information present in a query sentence. Identifying restatements is useful for several applications such as multi-document summarization, document provenance, text reuse and novelty detection. Spurious partial matches and term dependence become important issues for restatement retrieval in these settings. To address these issues, we focus on query models that capture relative term importance and sequential term dependence. In this paper, we build query models using syntactic information such as subject-verb-objects and phrases. Our experimental results on two different collections show that syntactic query models are consistently more effective than purely statistical alternatives.
Hot Flashes in Relation to Breast Cancer Endocrine Therapy

Women undergoing endocrine therapy for breast cancer often experience hot flashes. As part of a performance improvement project, 14 patients were surveyed to determine who is at risk for hot flashe...
Mechanism of Blood Coagulation by Nonthermal Atmospheric Pressure Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma

Mechanisms of blood coagulation by direct contact of nonthermal atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma are investigated. This paper shows that no significant changes occur in the pH or Ca2+ concentration of blood during discharge treatment. Thermal effects and electric field effects are also shown to be negligible. Investigating the hypothesis that the discharge treatment acts directly on blood protein factors involved in coagulation, we demonstrate aggregation of fibrinogen, an important coagulation factor, with no effect on albumin. We conclude that direct DBD treatment triggers selective natural mechanisms of blood coagulation.
Long-term effects of stem cell transplantation in the postinfarct heart: benefits and mechanisms.

one of the most important goals in the management of postinfarction patients is the prevention of adverse left ventricular (LV) remodeling, which is manifested by an increase in systolic and diastolic dimensions and a decrease in LV ejection fraction, and which is associated with a markedly
Coronary Artery Anomalies

Isolated congenital coronary artery anomalies have been reported in approximately 1.3 % (range 0.2–5.6 %) of patients undergoing x-ray coronary angiography (Yamanaka and Hobbs, Cathet Cardiovasc Diagn 21:28–40, 1990; Click et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 13:531–537, 1989; Baltaxe and Wixson, Radiology 122:47–52, 1977; Engel et al., Cathet Cardiovasc Diagn 1:157–169, 1975) and approximately 0.3 % of patients at autopsy (Alexander and Griffith, Circulation 14:800–805, 1956). About 80 % of coronary anomalies are considered benign without significant clinical sequelae, with the remaining 20 % potentially responsible for significant symptoms such as myocardial ischemia and sudden death (Yamanaka and Hobbs, Cathet Cardiovasc Diagn 21:28–40, 1990). The ability to identify coronary artery anomalies and define their anatomic course is important to further evaluate patients in whom a coronary anomaly is suspected. Noninvasive imaging has been the preferred way to evaluate patients with a suspected coronary artery anomaly, and it is important for physicians to recognize and understand the clinical and imaging features of the most commonly encountered coronary artery anomalies.
Intravenous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy for the treatment of feline asthma: a pilot study.

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of serially administered adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in an experimental feline asthma model. Methods Allergic asthma was acutely induced with Bermuda grass allergen in six purpose-bred cats. Five intravenous infusions of allogeneic MSCs (n = 4; MSC-treated) or saline (n = 2; placebo-treated) were administered over the first 130 days after asthma induction. Infusions contained 2 × 106, 4 × 106, 4.7 × 106, 1 × 107 and 1 × 107 cryopreserved MSCs/cat. For thoracic imaging additional cats were enrolled as control groups: four untreated, experimentally asthmatic cats (combined with placebo-treated cats), and six healthy, non-asthmatic cats. Outcome measures included airway eosinophilia, pulmonary mechanics, thoracic computed tomography and several immunologic assays. Results Cats were assessed for 9 months after treatment. At early points, airway eosinophil percentage was not affected by MSC administration (post-treatment average of days 12, 26, 47, 108 and 133 in MSC-treated cats was 41 ± 15% and in placebo-treated cats it was 34 ± 16%). By month 9, eosinophil percentages in all MSC-treated cats decreased to normal reference intervals (MSC-treated 6%; placebo-treated 20%; normal Conclusions and relevance MSCs may have a delayed effect in reducing airway inflammation, airway hyper-responsiveness and remodeling in experimentally induced asthmatic cats. Results warrant additional investigation of MSC therapy for asthma in cats.
Combating Epistemic Violence With Islamic Feminism: Qahera vs. FEMEN

Certain forms of protest have the “potential to put pressure on a too-limited view of feminist rhetoric” (Flannery 127) and Qahera, an Islamic superheroine wearing a traditional hijab, attempts to ...
Learning to Teach Against the Institutional Grain: A Professional Development Model for Teacher Empowerment

During the past decade, federal and state governments have become increasingly involved in legislating what to teach and how to teach in American public schools. Nowhere is the government intrusion more evident than in early literacy instruction. With recent education legislations spotlighting accountability, teachers are under immense pressure to use prepackaged commercial programs and to teach to high stakes tests. At peril in this educational climate is teacher autonomy. This paper describes a longitudinal professional development project in Florida schools that supported literacy teachers to make pedagogical transitions from total reliance on prepackaged commercial programs to independence in making informed decisions about curriculum and pedagogy. It is suggested that developing teachers’ content knowledge, professional wisdom, and psychological strengths is key to their professional empowerment.