cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Desmopressin in the treatment of nocturnal enuresis in patients with spina bifida.

Results Thirteen patients, 5 males and 8 females were treated with Desmopressin and they were evaluated. Nine patients were operated beforehand: 8 patients were treated with a bladder augmentation and bladder neck sling suspension and one boy had an urethral valve resection. All 13 patients were dry during daytime and 3 of them even did not need antimuscarinic agents. All 13 patients had normal kidney function and urodynamic studies showed compliant bladders without overactive contractions. During nighttime however they wetted their beds. Desmopressin (0,4 mg a.n.) was successful in 12 patients: they became completely dry during the night. One of them however relapsed and he will be treated with an alarm clock system as an adjuvant therapy.
Morphology of a non-occluded virus isolated from citrus red mite,Panonychus citri

The size and morphology of virus particles isolated from citrus red mite (Panonychus citri) are similar to those observed in thin sections. The similarity to the virus particles isolated fromOryctes rhinoceros suggests affinity to theBaculovirus group.
Determining holes and connectivity in binary images

Abstract We develop an algorithm to (a) determine the contours of an object in a binary image, (b) decide if a contour is inner or outer, and (c) find the unique outer contour surrounding each inner contour. An inner contour, if any, corresponds to a hole in the object and each outer contour corresponds to a connected component. Thus, the algorithm determines all the connected components and holes of the given object. The algorithm is based on operations from Mathematical Morphology and the representation of images by polynomials in two variables. The morphological operations of dilation and erosion are carried out conveniently in terms of the polynomial representation; these involve polynomial multiplications. Significant speedup is possible if the Fast Fourier Transform technique is used to compute the polynomial products involved in the operations.
LIQUID-FILM TIME CONSTANT ASSESSMENT FOR kLa MEASUREMENTS IN RESPIRING FERMENTATION BROTHS

Abstract To determine the liquid-film time constant (τF) of the dissolved oxygen electrode for kLa measurements with the dynamic method in respiring fermentation broths, an approach using the steady-state readings of the electrode in the broths containing respiring and non-respiring cells, respectively, has been established. The results showed that τF in microbial suspensions with high volumetric oxygen uptake rates could be very large under the conditions of low aeration and agitation, indicating the slower response of the oxygen electrode caused by the more difficult penetration of oxygen molecules through the thicker films with active cell respiration. The significance and adequacy of the τF corrections for kLa measurements were evaluated experimentally.
Abnormal heart rate response to adenosine infusion is associated with silent myocardial ischemia in asymptomatic patients with diabetes mellitus

Background: Many patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) have cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN), which has been associated with poor outcome. CAN is also associated with blunted heart rate response (HRR) to dipyridamole infusion. Furthermore in the Detection of Ischemia in Asymptomatic Diabetics (DIAD) study CAN was associated with moderate and large myocardial perfusion defects. Therefore, we hypothesized that blunted HRR during adenosine infusion is associated with myocardial perfusion abnormalities and silent myocardial ischemia. Methods: 442 asymptomatic patients with T2DM, without known coronary artery disease who were enrolled in DIAD study, had quantitative adenosine-Tc-99m-Sestamibi SPECT imaging. Heart rate response to adenosine infusion was assessed as the ratio between baseline HR and HR at end of adenosine infusion. Myocardial perfusion defects were quantified and categorized as small, moderate and large. Results: Mean age of patients was 60.5± 6.8 years; females 47%; males 53%; T2DM duration 8.1 ± 7.1 years. 7% of the patients had either moderate or large perfusion abnormalities. Patients in the lowest decile of HRR (< 1.10), the cut point used to define an abnormal response, were more likely to have moderate or large perfusion abnormalities (OR=3.0, 95% CI 1.2, 7.0; p = .01). The sensitivity of lower HRR to predict moderate to large myocardial perfusion defects was 24% and specificity was 90%. The negative predictive value was 94%. Conclusion: In asymptomatic patients with T2DM a blunted HRR to adenosine infusion is a simple marker with high negative predictive value and high specificity for moderate and large silent myocardial ischemia.
Catch Me If You Can: A Practical Framework to Evade Censorship in Information-Centric Networks

Internet traffic is increasingly becoming multimedia-centric. Its growth is driven by the fast-growing mobile user base that is more interested in the content rather than its origin. These trends have motivated proposals for a new Internet networking paradigm information-centric networking (ICN). This paradigm requires unique names for packets to leverage pervasive in-network caching, name-based routing, and named-data provenance. However named-data routing makes user censorship easy. Hence an anti-censorship mechanism is imperative to help users mask their named queries to prevent censorship and identification. However, this masking mechanism should not adversely affect request rates. In this paper, we propose such an anti-censorship framework, which is lightweight and specifically targets low compute power mobile devices. We analyze our framework's information-theoretic secrecy and present perfect secrecy thresholds under different scenarios. We also analyze its breakability and computational security. Experimental results prove the framework's effectiveness: for requests it adds between 1.3-1.8 times in latency overhead over baseline ICN; significantly lesser than the overhead of the state of the art Tor (up to 38 times over TCP).
Energy-investment schemes for increasing output power in piezoelectric harvesters

Energy and power in tiny batteries are often insufficient to sustain the demands of a wireless microsystem for extended periods. Piezoelectric transducers are viable alternatives because they draw power from a vast tank-free supply of ambient kinetic energy in vibrations. Unfortunately, small devices alone seldom dampen vibrations enough to fully harness what is available, which is why investing energy to increase the electrical damping force that transducers impose is so important. This paper introduces and evaluates three investment schemes and 0.35-µm CMOS switched-inductor circuits that increase this force to generate more output power.
Parameterization of Reflectivity for Broken Cloud Fields

Abstract To parameterize the reflected fluxes from broken cloud fields, Monte Carlo calculations are performed for several cumulus cloud fields. The results with the effects of cloud-cloud interaction and enhanced illuminated area are analyzed. A general relationship between the reflectivity of an isolated cloud and that of finite cloud fields is developed using the above two effects. From this relationship, the effective cloud fraction is parameterized. The result shows that the effective cloud fraction is a nonlinear function of the square of that value and the enhanced illuminated area. This parameterization is examined for cuboidal cylindrical, capped cylindrical and hemispherical cloud geometries arranged in regular, random and checkerboard patterns. The results show that the parameterization gives reflected fluxes that are considerably more accurate than these obtained with the plane-parallel approximation.
Children's Interaction With Commercials*

strongly advocated conceptualizing the role of the child as an active entity in the viewing environment. Unfortunately, traditional research strategies in the communications field are better suited to the study of static relationships and passive receivers. This study approaches child viewing behavior from a symbolic interactionist perspective, utilizing naturalistic methods to examine the interactional nature of the child/television relationship. Behavior specimen records as suggested by Denzin (1973) are presented as illustration and in support of the view of the child as active in the television environment. These data are drawn from observation of nine selected family groups during otherwise natural viewing conditions in their homes. While the study has focused on commercials as specific elements, it is also concerned more broadly with the character of the viewing experience for the child. The selection and review of literature in the area of child/television advertising is a challenging undertaking. While there is a growing body of literature in the field, it is focused on rather narrowly drawn questions, e.g., commercial content, understanding of commercials linked with various sociopsychological variables (including exposure levels, family education, intelligence, attitudes and beliefs). Most relevent here are those studies which examine children and television commercials in relation to parent-child interaction and children’s consumer learning. Again, the questions are narrowly drawn, being primarily concerned with the judgments about advertising and its dysfunctional effects rather than an understanding of the role of commercials in the world of the child. It is ironic that while concern with parent-child interaction surrounding television commercial viewing is an area of relatively recent scholarly interest and research effort, advertising practice has long recognized the importance of the strategy of making buyers of the parents by selling the child.
Ionic Liquid Matrix-Enhanced Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry: The Role of Proton Transfer

Room temperature ionic liquids (ILs) are effective matrices in secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI). In this paper, we examine the role of proton transfer in the mechanism of secondary ion enhancement using IL matrices in SIMS. We employ hydrogenated and deuterated 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) as analytes to investigate the origin of proton transfer. The data indicate that protons from the IL anion transfer to the analyte in solution leading to an increase in the secondary ion intensity of the protonated molecular ion. The chemical identity of the matrix cation also affects analyte signal intensities. Using deuterated DPPC we observe that protons (deuterium) from the DPPC tail group react with the cation of the IL liquid leading to an increase in (cation + D)(+) ion intensities. Further, the data suggest that the transfer kinetics of deuterium (hydrogen) is correlated with the secondary ion enhancements observed. The highest secondary ion enhancements are observed for the least sterically hindered cation. Neither the proton affinity nor the pKa of the IL cation have a large effect on the analyte ion intensities, suggesting that steric factors are important in determining the efficacy of IL matrices for a given analyte.
Inverse Pre-Deformation of Tetrahedral Mesh for Large Deformation Finite Element Analysis

AbstractIn the finite element analysis that involves with large deformation, distorted elements are usually produced in the later stages of the analysis. These distorted elements lead to inaccurate solutions, slow convergence and premature termination of the analysis. This paper proposes an inverse predeformation method to generate the input tetrahedral mesh for Lagrangian analysis. By this method, tetrahedral elements in the input mesh are pre-deformed into shapes approximately opposite of those produced in the analysis. As a result, the number of inverted and ill-shaped elements can be reduced at the later stage of the analysis. A pre-analysis is required to collect geometric information and equivalent plastic strain information. The proposed method then generates a new optimal mesh on the deformed boundary, considering equivalent plastic strain information to control mesh sizes, and finally, maps the new elements to the undeformed boundary using barycentric interpolation to create the pre-deformed tetr...
8m Borosilicate Honeycomb Spin Casting: Material Developments

Creep and strength of candidate glass contact refractories for honeycomb casting molds were measured at 1200 C. Based on performance and cost, one material, Rex Roto Corp.'s R1162-17 speciality fiber mix, was chosen for the Steward's first 3.5m casting mold. More extensive measurements of firing shrinkage, thermal expansion, room temperature Young's Modulus, bulk density, and creep were carried out on R1162-17 samples cut from hexagonal box preforms. Test results indicate that R1162-17 hex boxes have acceptable creep resistance and the potential strength to withstand hydrostatic loading up to 66cm of borosilicate melt. In November of 1987, blocks of a low-expansion borosilicate glass, Corning Code 7761, was spin cast into a 1.2m honeycomb for the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. The casting contained a relatively high density of small-scale striae and small bubbles along the remelted block surfaces. Origin of the small bubbles was traced to graphite particles imbedded in the glass surface during the forming operation. In spite of small-scale striae, the measured expansion coefficient variation over spacial scales greater than 1mm was less than t7x10-9/C.
Continuous program optimization: A case study

Much of the software in everyday operation is not making optimal use of the hardware on which it actually runs. Among the reasons for this discrepancy are hardware/software mismatches, modularization overheads introduced by software engineering considerations, and the inability of systems to adapt to users' behaviors.A solution to these problems is to delay code generation until load time. This is the earliest point at which a piece of software can be fine-tuned to the actual capabilities of the hardware on which it is about to be executed, and also the earliest point at wich modularization overheads can be overcome by global optimization.A still better match between software and hardware can be achieved by replacing the already executing software at regular intervals by new versions constructed on-the-fly using a background code re-optimizer. This not only enables the use of live profiling data to guide optimization decisions, but also facilitates adaptation to changing usage patterns and the late addition of dynamic link libraries.This paper presents a system that provides code generation at load-time and continuous program optimization at run-time. First, the architecture of the system is presented. Then, two optimization techniques are discussed that were developed specifically in the context of continuous optimization. The first of these optimizations continually adjusts the storage layouts of dynamic data structures to maximize data cache locality, while the second performs profile-driven instruction re-scheduling to increase instruction-level parallelism. These two optimizations have very different cost/benefit ratios, presented in a series of benchmarks. The paper concludes with an outlook to future research directions and an enumeration of some remaining research problems.The empirical results presented in this paper make a case in favor of continuous optimization, but indicate that it needs to be applied judiciously. In many situations, the costs of dynamic optimizations outweigh their benefit, so that no break-even point is ever reached. In favorable circumstances, on the other hand, speed-ups of over 120p have been observed. It appears as if the main beneficiaries of continuous optimization are shared libraries, which at different times can be optimized in the context of the currently dominant client application.
Transcriptional Activity of Human Papillomavirus Type 31b Enhancer Is Regulated through Synergistic Interaction of AP1 with Two Novel Cellular Factors

Transcription of human papillomaviruses (HPV) is regulated by enhancer sequences located in the upstream regulatory region. The factors regulating expression of one of the high risk genital HPV types, HPV 31b, were investigated using transient expression and protein binding assays. A region of 262 base pairs in length was identified as the minimal functional enhancer and a series of five protected binding sites were observed by footprint analyses. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that AP1, Oct-1, as well as three novel factors bound these sequences. Mutational analyses indicated that AP1 synergistically activated the HPV31b enhancer together with either of two novel factors. One of these novel factors bound a sequence similar to an NF1 site but was distinct from NF-1. The second factor bound sequences bearing similarity to KRF-1 binding sites which have previously been characterized in HPV 18. Competition binding assays demonstrated that this factor was not identical to KRF-1. Additional studies implicated Oct-1 as a negative regulator of HPV 31b expression as mutation of Oct-1 binding sequences resulted in an increase in viral expression. None of the factors observed to be important for HPV 31b enhancer activity was found exclusively in epithelial cells and instead were detected in a variety of cell types. Of these factors, AP1 binding correlated most strongly with enhancer function in a variety of cell types, implicating it as a principal regulator of HPV expression. Variations in the constituents of the AP1 complex that bind the HPV 31b enhancer were also observed in different cell types, suggesting that changes in the distribution of jun proteins may play a significant role in determining the tropism of HPV. These results indicate that AP1 may be a common regulator for various HPV types and that it contributes to enhancer specificity. In addition, a set of novel factors, which may be specific for each HPV type, act synergistically with AP1 for full activation of the enhancer.
Development of airborne remote sensing instrumentations for NEON

Airborne remote sensing plays a critical role in the scaling strategy underpinning the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) design. Airborne spectroscopy and waveform LiDAR will quantify plant species type and function, and vegetation structure and heterogeneity at the scale of individual shrubs and larger plants (1-3 meters) over hundreds of square kilometers. Panchromatic photography at better than 30 cm resolution will retrieve fine-scale information regarding land use, roads, impervious surfaces, and built structures. NEON will build three airborne systems to allow for routine coverage of NEON sites (60 sites nationally) and the capacity to respond to investigator requests for specific projects. The system design achieves a balance between performance, and development cost and risk. The approach takes full advantage of existing commercial airborne LiDAR and camera components. However, requirements for the spectrometer represent a significant advancement in technology. A pushbroom imaging spectrometer design is being proposed to simultaneously achieve high spatial, spectral and signal-to-noise ratio and a high degree of uniformity in response across wavelength and a wide field of view. To reduce risk during NEON construction, a spectrometer design verification unit is under development by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to demonstrate that the design and component technologies meet operational and performance requirements. This paper presents an overview of system design, key requirements and development status of the NEON airborne instrumentation.
TT‐virus infection in north american blood donors, patients with fulminant hepatic failure, and cryptogenic cirrhosis

A novel DNA virus, TT-virus (TTV), has been reported in patients with non-A-G posttransfusion hepatitis in Japan. We sought to determine whether TTV infection occurs in North American blood donors and to further determine the prevalence of TTV infection in several groups of patients with liver disease, including patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis and idiopathic fulminant hepatic failure. TTV infection was sought by detection of TTV DNA in serum by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers generated from a conserved region of the TTV genome. Blood donors, patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis, idiopathic fulminant hepatic failure, and patients with other forms of advanced liver disease with and without a history of parenteral exposures were studied. TTV infection was present in 1% (1 of 100) of blood donors, 15% (5 of 33) of patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis, 27% (3 of 11) of patients with idiopathic fulminant hepatic failure, 18% (2 of 11) of patients with a history of exposure to blood products, and 4% (1 of 25) of patients without parenteral risk factors. For all patients tested, a history of prior exposure to blood products was associated with an increased risk of TTV infection (relative risk, 4.5; 90% confidence intervals, 0.6-43.9). We conclude that TTV infection is present among North American blood donors and is common in patients with liver disease, including cryptogenic cirrhosis and fulminant hepatic failure. Further studies are required to determine the role of TTV in the pathogenicity of acute and/or chronic liver disease.
Political upheaval, cultural assimilation and the origin of counseling needs

At the front lines of counseling services may appear new ethnic groups whose background and view of the world contrast markedly with ours. Where actual disorders or manifestations of maladjustment are evidenced, there probably lies evidence of universal principles, that if recognized by the trans-multicultural counselor, can help the client even in difficult circumstances. In the present case, the dysfunctional behavior pattern that led to referral was understood as a signal of desperation by a confused, frustrated individual with a prior history of social maladjustment. The stress induced by political upheaval, and the uncertainty of Miguel's life situation seem to have triggered the observed maladjustment.
Better Red than Dead—Putting an End to the Social Irrelevance of Postwar Philosophy of Science

This paper asks what is necessary in a theory of science adequate to the task of empowering philosophers of science to participate in public debate about science in a social context. It is argued that an adequate theory of science must be capable of theorizing the role of values and motives in science and that it must take seriously the irreducibly social nature of scientific knowledge.
Adapting MIMO transmission mode along paths in urban environments

We present algorithms for adapting the MIMO transmission mode to varying channel conditions. Using real paths in Manhattan and Boston, we show that no single fixed transmission mode is superior to others over an entire path. Our two proposed switching algorithms, delayed feedback and probabilistic switching, achieve rates within 3% of the channel capacity. The delayed feedback algorithm requires less switching than the probabilistic switching algorithm. We compare the use of switching with the use of fixed mode transmissions over 50-m long paths. We show that 1) the use of switching rather than the best fixed mode gives at most a 9% gain in average data rate; and 2) the data rate gain relative to using the worst fixed mode can be as high as 90%. A very low rate switching (every 50 m) is thus attainable in theory but it is practical only if the best fixed mode can be accurately predicted.
Knowledge and death penalty opinion: A panel study

Abstract This study addressed the stability of informed death penalty opinions (and reasons for opinions) by examining them approximately two and three years after subjects completed a month-long college class on the death penalty. Among the results of the study were: (1) “abstract” death penalty opinions changed significantly through exposure to “classroom knowledge,” but after two or three years they “rebounded” to near their initial pretest positions; (2) “personal involvement” death penalty opinions did not change significantly from pretest to posttest to follow-up; and (3) the level of agreement with seven of the eleven reasons for death penalty opinions changed significantly between pretest and posttest, but on the follow-up they “rebounded” to the initial pretest level of agreement; the level of agreement with two of the reasons changed significantly between the pretest and the posttest but remained relatively stable between the posttest and the follow-up; and the level of agreement for the other two reasons remained relatively stable over the three points in time. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Amino-Acids as Oviposition Stimulants for the Egg-Larval Parasitoid, Chelonus sp. near curvimaculatus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Chelonus sp. near curvimaculatus females readily investigated and actively oviposited into artificial eggs constructed with various amino acids or insect culture media sandwiched between Parafilm sheets. Among 11 amino acids tested, the positively charged arginine, histidine, and lysine evoked intense ovipositional activity from Chelonus adults. Nonpolar methionine was slightly effective. More parasitoid eggs were oviposited into artificial eggs containing host (Trichoplusia ni) larval hemolymph than amino acids or artificial insect culture media tested. Dilution of host hemolymph with distilled water (1:15) significantly (P < 0.05) reduced ovipositional activity.
Asymptotic Comparison Between Constant-stress Testing and Step-stress Testing for Type-I Censored Data from Exponential Distribution

By running the life tests at higher stress levels than normal operating conditions, accelerated life testing quickly yields information on the lifetime distribution of a test unit. The lifetime at the design stress is then estimated through extrapolation using a regression model. In constant-stress testing, a unit is tested at a fixed stress level until failure or the termination time point of the test, while step-stress testing allows the experimenter to gradually increase the stress levels at some pre-fixed time points during the test. In this article, the optimal k-level constant-stress and step-stress accelerated life tests are compared for the exponential failure data under Type-I censoring. The objective is to quantify the advantage of using the step-stress testing relative to the constant-stress one. A log-linear relationship between the mean lifetime parameter and stress level is assumed and the cumulative exposure model holds for the effect of changing stress in step-stress testing. The optimal d...
Frequency of Mitochondrial DNA 4977 Deletion Mutation and Their Clinical Characteristics in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Backgrounds: It has been reported that somatic mutations of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is related with aging, or development of cardiovascular disease. We hypothesized that mtDNA4977 deletion mutation (4977-) detected from human blood contributes to atrial dysfunction in patients with AF. Methods: We studied for mtDNA4977- in 183 patients with non-valvular AF, (127 PAF, 56 PeAF) and 69 patients with healthy control. The detection of mtDNA4977- was determined by Gene Scan. Results: 1. The mtDNA4977- in AF patients were older than those without mutation (61.4±9.2 vs. 51.8±9.9, p<0.0001). 2. Frequency of mtDNA4977- mutation in patients with AF≤45 years old was not different to age matched control (7.3% vs. 11.6%, p=0.2371). 3. The mtDNA4977- had higher E/E, (11.3±4.8 vs. 9.1±3.1, p=0.0005), plasma levels of TIMP-1 (1.51±0.77 vs. 1.28±0.57 ng/mL, p=0.0210) and ANP (3.11±2.67 vs. 1.91±2.01 nmole/L, p=0.0010), and were more frequently taking statin (27.2% vs. 22.4%, p=0.0055) than those without mutation. 4. 82.3% with mtDNA4977- and 85.5% without mtDNA4977- remain in sinus rhythm 12.7±5.9 months after RFCA (p=0.3008). Conclusion: mtDNA4977- was related with aging, diastolic dysfunction, serologic markers related with atrial remodeling or pressure overloading. Its frequency was not different to age matched patients with control, and did not affect the clinical outcome after RFCA.
Constructing text: Wiki as a toolkit for (collaborative?) learning

Writing a book from which others can learn is itself a powerful learning experience. Based on this proposition, we have launched Science Online, a wiki to support learning in high school science classrooms through the collaborative production of an online science resource. Our approach to designing educational uses of technology is based on an approach to education called constructionism, which advocates learning by working on personally meaningful projects. Our research examines the ways that constructionism connects to collective models of knowledge production and learning such as Knowledge Building. In this paper, we explore ways that collaboration using wiki tools fits into the constructionist approach, we examine learning goals for youth growing up in a read-write culture, and we discuss preliminary findings in an ongoing year-long study of Science Online in the classroom. Despite the radically open collaboration afforded by wiki, we observe that many factors conspired to stymie collaborative writing on the site. We expected to find cultural barriers to wiki adoption in schools. Unexpectedly, we are also finding that the design of the wiki tool itself contributed barriers to collaborative writing in the classroom.
Seeing Without Looking: The Effects of Hemispheric Functioning on Memory for Brands in Computer Games

The authors hypothesize that the effectiveness of in-game advertising is influenced by two inborn traits, bisected hemispheric functioning and physiological arousal, that are at the core of human behavior. A 2 (preattentive processing type) × 2 (arousal level) between-subjects design was employed in both Experiment 1 (well-known brand placement) and Experiment 2 (lesser-known brand placement). The results from the two experiments reveal that people show better recognition memory for in-game ads when brand names are presented peripherally in the right visual field and brand images are embedded peripherally in the left visual field. In addition, people can remember more brand ads when they experience less arousal (Experiment 1). This effect, however, is attenuated when unfamiliar brands are placed in the game (Experiment 2). Implications are discussed for further investigation.
Planktonic foraminiferal oxygen isotope analysis by ion microprobe technique suggests warm tropical sea surface temperatures during the Early Paleogene

[1] Cool tropical sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are reported for warm Paleogene greenhouse climates based on the δ18O of planktonic foraminiferal tests. These results are difficult to reconcile with models of greenhouse gas–forced climate. It has been suggested that this “cool tropics paradox” arises from postdepositional alteration of foraminiferal calcite, yielding erroneously high δ18O values. Recrystallization of foraminiferal tests is cryptic and difficult to quantify, and the compilation of robust δ18O records from moderately altered material remains challenging. Scanning electron microscopy of planktonic foraminiferal chamber-wall cross sections reveals that the basal area of muricae, pustular outgrowths on the chamber walls of species belonging to the genus Morozovella, contain no mural pores and may be less susceptible to postdepositional alteration. We analyzed the δ18O in muricae bases of morozovellids from the central Pacific (Ocean Drilling Program Site 865) by ion microprobe using 10 μm pits with an analytical reproducibility of ±0.34‰ (2 standard deviations). In situ measurements of δ18O in these domains yield consistently lower values than those published for conventional multispecimen analyses. Assuming that the original δ18O is largely preserved in the basal areas of muricae, this new δ18O record indicates Early Paleogene (∼49–56 Ma) tropical SSTs in the central Pacific were 4°–8°C higher than inferred from the previously published δ18O record and that SSTs reached at least ∼33°C during the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum. This study demonstrates the utility of ion microprobe analysis for generating more reliable paleoclimate records from moderately altered foraminiferal tests preserved in deep-sea sediments.
Presenilin-dependent γ-Secretase-like Intramembrane Cleavage of ErbB4

An unusual protease γ-secretase requires functional presenilins and cleaves substrates (e.g. amyloid β-protein precursor and Notch) with very loose amino acid sequence specificity within the transmembrane region. Here we report that ErbB4, a tyrosine kinase receptor for neuregulins, is a substrate for presenilin-dependent γ-secretase. Our studies show that constitutive ectodomain shedding of full-length ErbB4 yields the ∼80-kDa membrane-associated C-terminal fragment (B4-CTF). Subsequent intramembrane cleavage of the B4-CTF was inhibited in the cells devoid of functional presenilins or by treatment of cells with a γ-secretase inhibitor, leading to enhanced accumulation of B4-CTF. Furthermore, anin vitro γ-secretase assay demonstrated that the intracellular domain of ErbB4 (B4-ICD) was produced and subsequently released into the soluble fraction in a presenilin-dependent manner. We have also shown that ectopically expressed B4-ICD is localized to the nucleus, suggesting that the presenilin-dependent cleavage of ErbB4 generates the soluble B4-ICD that functions in the nucleus presumably at transcriptional level. Our study indicates that ErbB4 represents a first receptor tyrosine kinase that undergoes intramembrane proteolysis and may mediate a novel signaling function independent of its canonical role as a receptor tyrosine kinase. Our studies also support the idea that presenilins play a generic role in intramembrane cleavage of selected type I membrane proteins.
The One-Sample Problem

A population is completely described by its distribution function. But complete knowledge of the distribution is rarely necessary. Often, all we need is a knowledge of one or two numerical constants that characterize important aspects of a distribution. In many investigations, some kind of central value is of primary interest. This chapter deals with the problem of estimating and testing a hypothesis about the center of a single population.
A Family Medicine Training Program in the Republic of Georgia: Incorporating a Model of Chronic Disease Management

Background: This study describes a different approach to increase the number of family medicine physicians trained with specific competencies in the management of chronic disease. Methods: In 1999 the Republic of Georgia initiated an ambitious program designed to retrain practicing physicians in the specialty of family medicine. At 2 of the implementation sites, the Center for International Health worked with local health authorities to augment the official 940-hour curriculum to include lesson plans, workshops, and practicum experiences emphasizing a model of chronic disease management, giving particular attention to hypertension. Results: The population served by the training sites has benefited in a cost-effective manner by achieving blood pressure control for as little as $8 per year per patient; the physician learners have performed above their peer group on standardized national testing. Conclusion: Family medicine training programs in resource-poor settings can incorporate chronic disease management models into their curriculum and achieve high-quality patient care outcomes.
Safety and Effectiveness of the Celect Inferior Vena Cava Filter: Preliminary Results

Purpose To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Celect inferior vena cava (IVC) filter during implantation, retrieval, and short-term follow-up. Materials and Methods The clinical data of 73 patients (46 men; age range, 22–89 years) who had a Celect IVC filter implanted between August 2007 and June 2008 were reviewed. Twenty-one (28.8%) presented with pulmonary embolism (PE), 15 (20.54%) with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), 12 (16.4%) with both, and the rest (34.26%) with other symptoms. Indications for filter placement were contraindication to anticoagulation ( n = 38; 52%), prophylaxis/added protection ( n = 22; 30%), failure of anticoagulation ( n = 11; 15%), and complications of anticoagulation ( n = 2; 3%). Filters were placed in the infrarenal ( n = 71) or suprarenal ( n = 2) IVC. Follow-up data were reviewed for filter-related complications and recurrent PE. Results All filters were successfully deployed. Immediately after fluoroscopy-guided filter deployment in 61 patients, four filters (6.5%) showed significant tilt. During follow-up (mean, 68 days ± 73), three patients developed symptoms of PE after filter placement; however, computed tomographic (CT) pulmonary angiography demonstrated new PE in only two. Imaging follow-up with radiography ( n = 32), CT ( n = 11), and/or angiography ( n = 4) in 47 patients (at a mean of 62 days ± 75) showed no filter migration. Follow-up abdominal CT (at a mean of 69 days ± 58) was available in 18 patients and demonstrated filter-related problems in seven (39%). These included penetration of filter legs in four and fracture/migration of filter components in one. Fourteen filters were successfully retrieved after a median period of 84 days. Conclusions The Celect IVC filter can be safely placed but is related to a high incidence of caval filter leg penetration. Symptomatic PE after filter placement confirmed by CT occurred in 2.8% of patients.
A rare case of cardiac paraganglioma presenting as anginal pain: a case report

Introduction: Primary cardiac paraganglioma is a very rare tumor with less than sixty reported cases in the literature. The clinical presentation is variable, but is most commonly manifested by hypertension and symptoms related to the catecholamine excess. Case Report: We report a case of a 35 year old man who presented with anginal pain and hypertension. He was found to have a cardiac mass on the computed tomographic scan and echocardiogram. He underwent surgical exploration of the mass which on biopsy was found to be a 'Cardiac Paraganglioma'. Surgical resection of the tumor was successfully done and the patient is doing well five years after the surgery without any evidence of recurrence. His blood pressure, however, failed to normalize and needed single agent antihypertensive therapy. Conclusion: Cardiac paragangliomas have a relatively favorable outcome if diagnosed and resected in time. We briefly review the literature regarding the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of this rare tumor.
DNA demethylation by 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine is imprinted, targeted to euchromatin, and has limited transcriptional consequences

Background DNA methylation can be abnormally regulated in human disease and associated with effects on gene transcription that appear to be causally related to pathogenesis. The potential to use pharmacological agents that reverse this dysregulation is therefore an attractive possibility. To test how 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-aza-CdR) influences the genome therapeutically, we exposed non-malignant cells in culture to the agent and used genome-wide assays to assess the cellular response.
Reimagining Culture: Histories, Identities, and the Gaelic Renaissance

Reimagining Culture: Histories, Identities, and the Gaelic Renaissance. Sharon MacDonald. Oxford: Berg, 1997. xix. 297 pp., illustrations, bibliography, author index, subject index.
Biotransformation of ethanol to ethyl glucuronide in a rat model after a single high oral dosage.

Abstract Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) is a minor ethanol metabolite that confirms the absorption and metabolism of ethanol after oral or dermal exposure. Human data suggest that maximum blood EtG (BEtG) concentrations are reached between 3.5 and 5.5h after ethanol administration. This study was undertaken to determine if the Sprague–Dawley (SD) rat biotransforms ethanol to EtG after a single high oral dose of ethanol. SD rats (male, n =6) were gavaged with a single ethanol dose (4g/kg), and urine was collected for 3h in metabolic cages, followed by euthanization and collection of heart blood. Blood and urine were analyzed for ethanol and EtG by gas chromatography and enzyme immunoassay. Blood and urine ethanol concentrations were 195±23 and 218±19mg/dL, whereas BEtG and urine EtG (UEtG) concentrations were 1,363±98ng equivalents/mL and 210±0.29mg equivalents/dL ( X ¯ ± standarderrorofthemean [ S.E.M. ] ) . Sixty-six male SD rats were gavaged ethanol (4g/kg) and placed in metabolic cages to determine the extent and duration of ethanol to EtG biotransformation and urinary excretion. Blood and urine were collected up to 24h after administration for ethanol and EtG analysis. Maximum blood ethanol, urine ethanol, and UEtG were reached within 4h, whereas maximum BEtG was reached 6h after administration. Maximum concentrations were blood ethanol, 213±20mg/dL; urine ethanol, 308±34mg/dL; BEtG, 2,683±145ng equivalents/mL; UEtG, 1.2±0.06mg equivalents/mL ( X ¯ ± S.E.M. ) . Areas under the concentration–time curve were blood ethanol, 1,578h∗mg/dL; urine ethanol, 3,096h∗mg/dL; BEtG, 18,284h∗ng equivalents/mL; and UEtG, 850h∗mg equivalents/dL. Blood ethanol and BEtG levels were reduced to below limits of detection (LODs) within 12 and 18h after ethanol administration. Urine ethanols were below LOD at 18h, but UEtG was still detectable at 24h after administration. Our data prove that the SD rat biotransforms ethanol to EtG and excretes both in the urine and suggest that it is similar to that of the human.
MONTE CARLO SIMULATION OF ADSORPTION OF DI-BLOCK COPOLYMERS

In this paper we are concerned with the morphology of the polymers adsorbedon surfaces, in particular di-block copolymers. Our work is motivated by the experimental findings of Fladziioannou et al. [1] on the steric forces between two adsorbed layers of di-block poly(vinyl-2-pyridine)\ polystyrene (PV2P\ PS) copolymer on mica surfaces. The PV2P block binds strongly on the mica surfaces and the PS block extends into thesolvent toluene (good solvent for PS). Hadziiouannou et al. found that the repulsive forces between the two surfaces start at a distance 1) larger than 10 times the radius of gyration RG of a free P’ in toluene. Furthermore, the starting distance D increases with increasing degree of polymerization N of PS in a fashion I) ~ Na with a close to I. We,tudy the adsorption of di-block copolymer with Monte Carlo simulations. The Monte Carlo simulations are especially powerful in dealing with kinetics which is important in systems where hysteresis is observed II1 and cannot be appropriately taken into account by analytical (or numerical) calculations based onequilibrium assumptions.
Un-Assessments Reflections by the Team, for the Team

Metrics can backfire. They are useful for both self assessment by teams and retrospectives. But trying different metrics since 2002 with 80 teams at IBM has shown itpsilas not just a matter of finding the right metrics. Itpsilas important to use them properly, and to avoid common pitfalls, including bloated metrics, the evil scorecard, lessons forgotten, forcing process, and inconsistent sharing. Turning assessments into "un-assessments" returns power back to the engineers on the team so that they can discuss their own data and improve their process. Instead of defining more metrics, this paper tells how not to misuse them.
Adolescent Search for Birthparents: Who Moves Forward?

The decision to search for birthparents is one that all adopted persons consider. The focus of this study is to describe, for a group of adopted adolescents, who chooses to search and who does not and to explore how search behavior is related to the functioning of the adolescents’adoptive families and adolescents’psychological adjustment. Participants in the study included 93 adolescents whose contact with birthparents ranged from no contact or information about birthparents to those who had some information but no direct contact with birthparents. Adolescents who indicated no desire to search for their birthparents and those who indicated a desire to search or had searched were included in the study. Older adolescents who experienced some openness in their adoption, were the least satisfied with that adoptive openness, and were preoccupied with their adoptive status were most likely to search. Search behavior was not related to family functioning or adolescent problem behavior.
Accuracy and decision time for a class of sequential decision aggregation rules

This work focuses on decentralized decision making in a population of individuals each implementing the sequential probability ratio test. The individual decisions are combined into a decentralized decision via an aggregation rule chosen from a family of aggregation rules, denoted as q out of N rule. We study how the population size affects the performance of the decentralized decision making, i.e., the decision accuracy and time. In a group applying the q ouf of N, a global decision is reached as soon as q out of the N decision makers agree on an answer. Under the assumption of measurement independence among individuals, we introduce a novel numerical method that allows the analysis of the decision accuracy and time of a group of decision makers. We present the numerical method and show a preliminary sets of results that can be obtained using such a method.
Preventing conduct problems and improving school readiness: evaluation of the Incredible Years Teacher and Child Training Programs in high-risk schools

Background: School readiness, conceptualized as three components including emotional self-regulation, social competence, and family/school involvement, as well as absence of conduct problems play a key role in young children's future interpersonal adjustment and academic success. Unfortunately, exposure to multiple poverty-related risks increases the odds that children will demonstrate increased emotional dysregulation, fewer social skills, less teacher/parent involvement and more conduct problems. Consequently intervention offered to socio-economically disadvantaged populations that includes a social and emotional school curriculum and trains teachers in effective classroom management skills and in promotion of parent–school involvement would seem to be a strategic strategy for improving young children's school readiness, leading to later academic success and prevention of the development of conduct disorders. Methods: This randomized trial evaluated the Incredible Years (IY) Teacher Classroom Management and Child Social and Emotion curriculum (Dinosaur School) as a universal prevention program for children enrolled in Head Start, kindergarten, or first grade classrooms in schools selected because of high rates of poverty. Trained teachers offered the Dinosaur School curriculum to all their students in bi-weekly lessons throughout the year. They sent home weekly dinosaur homework to encourage parents’ involvement. Part of the curriculum involved promotion of lesson objectives through the teachers’ continual use of positive classroom management skills focused on building social competence and emotional self-regulation skills as well as decreasing conduct problems. Matched pairs of schools were randomly assigned to intervention or control conditions. Results: Results from multi-level models on a total of 153 teachers and 1,768 students are presented. Children and teachers were observed in the classrooms by blinded observers at the beginning and the end of the school year. Results indicated that intervention teachers used more positive classroom management strategies and their students showed more social competence and emotional self-regulation and fewer conduct problems than control teachers and students. Intervention teachers reported more involvement with parents than control teachers. Satisfaction with the program was very high regardless of grade levels. Conclusions: These findings provide support for the efficacy of this universal preventive curriculum for enhancing school protective factors and reducing child and classroom risk factors faced by socio-economically disadvantaged children.