cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multi-Institutional Comparison of SC-TNT and LC-TNT for Rectal Cancer Non-Operative Management.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S) Recent data support the use of total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) for treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), although the optimal TNT regimen and therapy sequence is unclear for non-operative management (NOM). We performed a multi-institutional comparison of short-course radiation (SCRT) followed by consolidation chemotherapy (SC-TNT) versus long-course chemoradiation (CRT) preceded by induction chemotherapy (LC-TNT), after adoption of NOM at both institutions. MATERIALS/METHODS The records of 187 patients with cT2-4N0-2 rectal cancer treated between 2016-2020 with TNT at two academic institutions were reviewed under an IRB-approved protocol. The SC-TNT cohort (institution 1) included 85 patients treated with SCRT (25-30 Gy in 5 fx) followed by FOLFOX/CAPOX (n = 82) or capecitabine (n = 3). The LC-TNT cohort (institution 2) included 102 patients treated with FOLFOX/CAPOX followed by CRT (45-56 Gy at 1.8-2 Gy/fx) with concurrent fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy. Patients with a clinical complete response (cCR) were offered NOM. The rates of cCR were compared between SC- and LC-TNT. Disease-free survival (DFS) was compared using the log-rank test. To account for any differences in NOM selection between institutions, local-only tumor regrowth was censored from DFS if salvaged with R0 resection, and the overall complete response (CR) rate, defined as cCR + pCR rate for patients undergoing surgery, was assessed. Multivariate analysis (MVA) was performed with logistic and Cox regression to determine factors associated with CR and DFS, respectively. RESULTS The median age at diagnosis was 60 and 54 years for SC-TNT and LC-TNT cohorts, respectively (P = 0.002). All other characteristics including performance status, tumor location, and clinical stage were balanced. The median duration of neoadjuvant FOLFOX/CAPOX chemotherapy was 105 vs 98 days for the SC-TNT and LC-TNT cohorts, respectively (P = 0.001). The median follow-up was 27 months. The cCR rate was higher in the SC-TNT cohort (44/85, 52.8% vs 21/102, 20.6%, P < 0.001), with a trend for improved CR rate for SC-TNT (54.1% vs 40.2%, P = 0.057). On MVA, use of SC-TNT was associated with improved CR (HR = 2.24, 95% CI: 1.13-4.45, P = 0.021). Among patients undergoing NOM, 33/39 patients (84.6%) in the SC-TNT group and 10/17 patients (58.8%) in the LC-TNT group (P = 0.27) were free from local recurrence at 1 year. Two-year DFS was 93.4% and 95.4% for the SC-TNT and LC-TNT cohorts with improved DFS on log-rank test for LC-TNT (P = 0.023), but no DFS difference on MVA between SC-TNT and LC-TNT (HR = 2.29, 95% CI: 0.8-6.51, P = 0.121). CONCLUSION SC-TNT demonstrated a greater rate of cCR compared to LC-TNT, without DFS difference on MVA. Although future studies are warranted to compare SC-TNT with a CRT and consolidative chemotherapy TNT approach, our data support SC-TNT as a suitable regimen for LARC NOM.
Investigating spatial skills and math anxiety as mediators in a sequential mediation model: A pilot study

Prior research showed a gender effect on spatial ability, math anxiety, and math achievement. Lacking, however, is a comprehensive study that testedthe mediation effects of spatial ability and math anxiety between gender and math achievement in a sequential mediation model. To fill this gap, this pilot study tested two mediation relationships, one with spatial ability as a mediator, gender as a predictor, and math anxiety as an outcome variable; the other with math anxiety as a mediator, spatial ability as a predictor, and math achievement as an outcome variable. In addition, the study tested the relative strengths of the relationship between specific spatial skills that included perspective-taking, spatial imagery, and mental rotation and collegiate math achievement that included trigonometry, calculus, and linear algebra) via canonical correlations. Lastly, gender differences in spatial skills, math anxiety, and math achievement were investigated. The results of the independent t-tests showed that none of the well-documented gender differences in spatial ability was found. Canonical correlation analysis showed that a single canonical variable is sufficient in accounting for math-spatial relationship. The sequential mediation model, with spatial ability and math achievement serving as themediators in the model, fitted reasonably well. However, none of the mediation effects was statistically significant. Implications of these findings and future directions of this research are discussed
Spectroscopic and Structural Elucidation of Uranium Dioxophenoxazine Complexes.

Uranium derivatives of a redox-active, dioxophenoxazine ligand, (DOPOq)2UO2, (DOPOsq)UI2(THF)2, (DOPOcat)UI(THF)2, and Cp*U(DOPOcat)(THF)2 (DOPO = 2,4,6,8-tetra-tert-butyl-1-oxo-1H-phenoxazin-9-olate), have been synthesized from U(VI) and U(III) starting materials. Full characterization of these species show uranium complexes bearing ligands in three different oxidation states. The electronic structures of these complexes have been explored using 1H NMR and electronic absorption spectroscopies, and where possible, X-ray crystallography and SQUID magnetometry.
Abstract 2803: Clinical Utility of Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Patients with Permanent Pacemakers and Implantable-Cardioverter Defibrillators at 1.5 Tesla

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers excellent soft tissue resolution and is the preferred imaging modality for diagnosis of musculoskeletal, neurological and many thoracic and abdominal conditions. While MRI is currently unavailable for millions of patients because of the presence of implantable cardiac devices, we and others have previously reported the safety of noncardiac and cardiac MRI at 1.5T using a protocol that incorporates device selection and programming and limits the estimated specific absorption rate of MRI sequences. In this study we report the clinical utility of MRI in implantable cardiac device recipients. Methods: One hundred and eighty six patients with devices shown to be MRI safe by in vitro phantom and in vivo animal testing underwent 228 MRI studies. Pacing mode was changed to “asynchronous” for pacemaker-dependent patients and to “demand” for others. Magnet response and tachyarrhythmia functions were disabled. Blood pressure, ECG, oximetry, and symptoms were monitored. Efforts were made to limit the system-estimated whole-body average specific absorption rate to 2.0 W/kg (successful in >99% of sequences) while maintaining the diagnostic capability of MRI. Results: No episodes of inappropriate inhibition or activation of pacing were observed. There were no significant differences between baseline and immediate or long-term sensing amplitudes, lead impedances, or pacing thresholds. The diagnostic yield of alternative testing was 19% in 47 patients who underwent ultrasound, nuclear imaging or computed tomography prior to MRI. In contrast, diagnostic questions were answered in 95% of MRI studies. Conclusions: The diagnostic benefits of MRI significantly outweigh the theoretical risks in patients with implanted cardiac devices when appropriate safety measures are implemented.
Optimal Admission Cervical Dilation in Spontaneously Laboring Women.

Objective To estimate the impact of admission cervical dilation on the risk of cesarean in spontaneously laboring women at term. Study Design Secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study of women admitted in term labor with a singleton gestation. Women with rupture of membranes before admission, induction of labor, or prelabor cesarean were excluded. The association between cesarean and cervical dilation at admission was estimated, and results were stratified by parity. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated, using cervical dilation ≥ 6 cm as the reference group. Cesarean for arrest was secondarily explored. Results A total of 2,033 spontaneously laboring women met inclusion criteria. Women admitted at Conclusions Decreasing cervical dilation at admission, particularly
Induction and Propagation of a Bacillus subtilis L Form in Natural and Synthetic Media

The L form of Bacillus subtilis NRRL B-3275 was induced in a 7% NaCl broth medium and subsequently propagated in natural and synthetic media. The L form grew readily in tryptone broth supplemented with glucose, NaCl, and phosphate buffer, and in a synthetic medium containing only glucose and biotin, in addition to the required salts. Successive transfers from the bacillus inoculum and subsequent large bodies in the tryptone broth with 7% NaCl resulted in gradual selection or transition from the bacillary form to a stable L form without the addition of an antibiotic. The number of viable granules attained in the broth culture exceeded 9 x 10(7) per ml, and numerous large bodies were always present in rapidly growing cultures.
Cell-Probe Proofs and Nondeterministic Cell-Probe Complexity

We study the nondeterministic cell-probe complexity of static data structures. We introduce cell-probe proofs (CPP), a proof system for the cell-probe model, which describes verifications instead of computations in the cell-probe model. We present a combinatorial characterization of CPP. With this novel tool, we prove the following lower bounds for the nondeterministic cell-probe complexity of static data structures: We show that there exist data structure problems which have super-constant nondeterministic cell-probe complexity. In particular, we show that for the exact nearest neighbor search (NNS) problem or the partial match problem in high dimensional Hamming space, there does not exist a static data structure with Poly(n) cells, each of which contains no(1)bits, such that the nondeterministic cell-probe complexity is O(1), where nis the number of points in the data set for the NNS or partial match problem. For the polynomial evaluation problem, if single-cell nondeterministic probes are sufficient, then either the size of a single cell is close to the size of the whole polynomial, or the total size of the data structure is close to that of a naive data structure that stores results for all possible queries.
A perspective on integrated assessment

This Springboard Editorial Comment offers some general observations about what has been called “integrated assessment of climate change,” including a short history, current state of the art, and some fruitful areas for future research. Although many definitions of integrated assessment are possible, the pragmatic definition adopted here is an attempt to combine information, analysis and insights from the physical sciences (physics, chemistry and biology, and all fields that build on them) and social sciences (economics, psychology, sociology, anthropology and all fields that build on them) to address the nature of climate change and to develop possible policy responses to it. I will also comment briefly on the paper by Ackerman et al. (2009) in this issue of Climatic Change, which contains some good insights, but is fairly distant in spirit from the state of the art I will describe.
Filter recovery in infinite spatially invariant evolutionary system via spatiotemporal trade off

We consider the problem of spatiotemporal sampling in an evolutionary process xn = Anx where an unknown operator A driving an unknown initial state x is to be recovered from a combined set of coarse spatial samples {χ| Ωο , x(1)| Ωι ,· · ·, x(N)| ΩN }. In this paper, we will study the case of infinite dimensional spatially invariant evolutionary process, where the unknown initial signals x are modeled as l2(Z) and A is an unknown spatial convolution operator given by a filter α e l1 (Z) so that Ax = a ∗ x. We show that {x|Ω m , x(1)|Ω m , ···, x(N)|Ω m :N≥2m −, Ω m = mZ} contains enough information to recover the Fourier spectrum of a typical low pass filter a, if x is from a dense subset of l2 (Z). The idea is based on a nonlinear, generalized Prony method similar to [2]. We provide an algorithm for the case when a and x are both compactly supported. Finally, We perform the accuracy analysis based on the spectral properties of the operator A and the initial state x and verify them in several numerical experiments.
Cervical magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities not predictive of cervical spine instability in traumatically injured patients: Invited submission from the Joint Section Meeting on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves, March 2004

Object. Identifying instability of the cervical spine can be difficult in traumatically injured patients. The goal of this study was to determine whether cervical abnormalities demonstrated on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging are predictive of spinal instability. Methods. Data in all patients admitted through the Level I trauma service at the authors' institution who had undergone cervical MR imaging were retrospectively reviewed. The reasons for MR imaging screening were neurological deficit, fracture, neck pain, and indeterminate clinical examination (for example, coma). Abnormal soft-tissue (prevertebral or paraspinal) findings on MR imaging were correlated with those revealed on computerized tomography (CT) scanning and plain and dynamic radiography to determine the presence/absence of cervical instability. Of 6328 patients admitted through the trauma service, 314 underwent MR imaging of the cervical spine. Of 166 patients in whom CT scanning or radiography demonstrated normal findings, 70 had undergon...
Learning probabilistic hierarchical task networks to capture user preferences

While much work on learning in planning focused on learning domain physics (i.e., action models), and search control knowledge, little attention has been paid towards learning user preferences on desirable plans. Hierarchical task networks (HTN) are known to provide an effective way to encode user prescriptions about what constitute good plans. However, manual construction of these methods is complex and error prone. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to learning probabilistic hierarchical task networks that capture user preferences by examining user-produced plans given no prior information about the methods (in contrast, most prior work on learning within the HTN framework focused on learning "method preconditions"--i.e., domain physics--assuming that the structure of the methods is given as input). We will show that this problem has close parallels to the problem of probabilistic grammar induction, and describe how grammar induction methods can be adapted to learn task networks. We will empirically demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach by showing that task networks we learn are able to generate plans with a distribution close to the distribution of the user-preferred plans.
Structural dynamics of bacterial ribosomes. III. Quantitative conversion of vacant ribosome couples into an initiation complex with R17 RNA as messenger.

Abstract Conditions for the optimum conversion of ribosomes into an initiation complex with R17 RNA as messenger have been examined on a quantitative basis, and at limiting ribosome concentrations, in order to establish structural and functional criteria for ribosome activity. Ribosomes that are in the associated state at Mg2+ concentrations ≥ 5 m m (“tight couples”) can be converted into an initiation complex with an efficiency of ≈ 85% with crude, and with an efficiency of about 60% with pure initiation factors. For tight couples, the concentration of crude initiation factors and Mg2+ is most critical. Crude initiation factors contain both RNAase and ribosomal proteins. Because degradation of messenger RNA and ribosomes by RNAase competes with initiation, maximum initiation requires dilution of the factor preparation to an optimal factor/ribosome ratio, while keeping the R17 RNA/ ribosome ratio constant at a molar ratio of 2.5. Pure initiation factors, although nearly free of RNAase, are less efficient apparently because lacking ribosomal proteins they cannot reconstitute a fraction of deficient ribosomes. The Mg2+ concentration is critical because it determines the rate of dissociation of ribosomes into subunits as well as the rate of reassociation and messenger binding. Initiation complex formation depends stoichiometrically on the presence of fMet-tRNA which, as shown by titration, is bound with extremely high affinity. Close agreement was found in the quantitative results obtained by several independent measurements based on (i) specific activity of f-[3H]Met-tRNA bound to the 70 S complex, (ii) absorbance of stable 70 S initiation complex in gradients under conditions at which contaminating vacant ribosomes are dissociated, (iii) recovery of ribosomes converted into initiation complex ralative to total ribosome input, and (iv) specific activity and average molecular weight of 3H-labeled mRNA bound to initiation complex. Computation of recoveries of ribosomes from gradients are complicated by losses due to adsorption to the wall of the centrifuge tubes. Empirical calibration data are given to correct for this “wall effect”.
Examination of mitotic recombination by means of hyper-recombination mutants in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the general features of mitotic recombination in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae . Mitotic recombination was first studied in diploid strains bearing markers heterozygous at several loci. Recombinants are detected as prototrophic segregants that arise primarily from intragenic recombinations, which are gene conversion events. Reciprocal recombination or crossing-over between a gene and the centromere is detected by the homozygosis of a heterozygous marker. Mitotic recombination usually occurs at a site of DNA damage. Because recombination is one of the mechanisms used to repair DNA damage, and more specifically double-strand breaks, mutants that are deficient in the repair of double-strand breaks often show reduced recombination levels. The chapter summarizes the types of mutants identified both in yeast and Escherichia coli that have altered hypo- and hyper-recombination rates. Mitotic hyper-recombination mutants include defects in the functions required for DNA repair systems and functions required for DNA replication. Most of these mutants result in the accumulation of DNA lesions that are recombinogenic.
Redistribution of forest carbon caused by patch blowdowns in subalpine forests of the Southern Rocky Mountains, USA

[1] Patch blowdowns varying in size from 0.1 to 33 ha affected several areas in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA, during the winter of 2011–2012. These blowdowns resulted in substantial redistribution of forest carbon by snapping and uprooting trees, thereby increasing instream wood recruitment, recruitment of dead wood to the forest floor, and exposure of organic soil on uprooted tree plates. Estimates of carbon redistribution at five sites in Rocky Mountain National Park range as high as 308 Mg C/ha in high-severity patches to 106 Mg C/ha in low-severity patches, of which typically 10–30% is soil C and the remainder is downed wood. Masses of carbon redistributed from living to dead biomass at high-severity sites represent a substantial portion of average total biomass in old-growth subalpine forests in the region. Consequently, the potential for increasing frequency and/or severity of blowdowns under a warming climate represents a significant potential source of terrestrial carbon to the atmosphere. The majority of this carbon is in the form of downed wood that becomes a carbon source to the atmosphere, although interactions between downed wood and river processes can locally increase carbon storage in floodplain soil. Predictions of changes in precipitation and wind patterns, and associated changes in wildfire and insect infestation, suggest that blowdowns may become more common in future in the Southern Rockies, but the consequences for carbon dynamics depend on site-specific interactions between blowdowns and other processes such as floodplain storage of organic matter.
Common femoral artery injury secondary to bicycle handlebar trauma

Blunt trauma from bicycle handlebars is associated with well-described injuries of the abdominal viscera. These injuries result from the forceful compression of the relatively immobile abdominal organs between the handlebar end and the vertebral bodies. The common femoral artery is also immobile as it passes anterior to the superior pubic ramus, rendering this vessel susceptible to a similar mechanism of injury. We have treated two children who sustained thrombosis of the common femoral artery caused by bicycle handlebar trauma. The lack of familiarity with this uncommon mode of injury may contribute to delayed diagnosis and increased morbidity. We therefore wish to draw attention to this mechanism of injury.
The high resolution imaging spectrometer (HIRIS) for Eos

The high resolution imaging spectrometer (HIRIS) designed for the Earth Observing System (Eos) is designed to acquire images in 192 spectral bands simultaneously in the 0.4-2.5- mu m wavelength region. HIRIS is a targeting rather than a continuous acquisition instrument and obtains high-spatial- and spectral-resolution images in a 30-km swath with a 30-m ground instantaneous field of view (GIFOV) in vertical viewing. Pointing will allow image acquisition at -30 degrees to +60 degrees along-track and +or-24 degrees cross-track. The raw data rate of the instrument is 512 Mbs. The high spectral resolution will make it possible to identify many surficial materials such as rocks, soils, and suspended matter in water directly. HIRIS also offers the possibility of studying biochemical processes in vegetation canopies. >
Reaching the protein folding speed limit with large, sub-microsecond pressure jumps.

Although fast temperature jump methods to study protein folding dynamics have long been applied, pressure has been a neglected thermodynamic parameter. A method to generate rapid and large drops in pressure is complementary to fast temperature jump methods and could be useful for direct comparisons to molecular dynamics simulations. Biomolecules are highly pressure-sensitive, but their dynamics upon return to ambient pressure are often too fast to observe with existing approaches. We describe a sample-efficient method capable of large and very fast pressure drops ( 2,500 atmospheres and <0.7 microseconds). We validated the method by fluorescence-detected refolding of a genetically engineered lambda repressor mutant from its pressure-denatured state. We resolved barrierless structure formation upon return to ambient pressure; we observed a 2.1 ± 0.7 microsecond refolding time, which is very close to the 'speed limit' for proteins and much faster than the corresponding temperature-jump refolding of the same protein. The ability to experimentally perform a large and very fast pressure drop opens up a new region of the biomolecular energy landscape for atomic-level simulation.
Extra-terrestrial influx rates of cosmogenic isotopes and platinum group elements: realizable geochemical effects

We present estimates of “realizable” influx of selected cosmogenic isotopes, 3He, 10Be, 26Al, and 14C, and platinum group elements, Ir, Os, and Re on the earth via influx of meteoroids. We define realizable as the particulate fraction of mass influx which is included in standard geochemical analyses of terrestrial sediments. This is the surviving mass fraction of size < 0.5–1 cm, which gets mixed with terrestrial samples, and is analyzed in normal terrestrial assays of sediments. Larger surviving meteoroid fragments, of the order of cm to m or larger, obviously belong to the non-realizable flux category, since (i) their distribution in terrestrial samples would be very patchy, resulting in a highly variable density matrix, and (ii) they would also generally (except in wide-diameter cores) be excluded from sediment cores. We estimate the realizable influx of meteoritic particles, based on a recent model describing production of smaller size fragments arising during the atmospheric entry of meteoroids. Implicit in this work is the assumption that the secondary fragments are not subject to much heating and therefore most of the initial 3He (and noble gases) would be preserved in the secondary fragments since after break-up they are not subjected to much heating. Under this assumption, production of small size fragments in the ablation process constitutes a “safe” landing mechanism for parts of the meteoroid. In this paper, we show that the meteoritic ablation/fragmentation process produces a significant flux of 3He, platinum group metals, and cosmogenic 26Al. In fact, measurements of these isotopes in ocean sediments should allow a reasonable estimate of temporal variations in the flux of meteoroids of 50 cm to 5 m radii, which produce most of the secondary fragments in the size range <1 cm. We would like to state here that, as pointed out in our previous work, stratospheric collections would be biased towards collection of the primary incident extra-terrestrial particles, whereas terrestrial accumulations representing large (area × time) accumulations, as in the case of ocean sediments, would efficiently sample the fragmented particles.
Somatic Mosaicism and Disease

The large number of cell divisions required to make a human body inevitably leads to the accumulation of somatic mutations. Such mutations cause individuals to be somatic mosaics. Recent advances in genomic technology now allow measurement of somatic diversity. Initial studies confirmed the expected high levels of somatic mutations within individuals. Going forward, the big questions concern the degree to which those somatic mutations influence disease. Theory predicts that the frequency of mutant cells should vary greatly between individuals. Such somatic mutational variability between individuals could explain much of the diversity in the risk of disease. But how variable is mosaicism between individuals in reality? What is the relation between the fraction of cells carrying a predisposing mutation and the risk of disease? What kinds of heritable somatic change lead to disease besides classical DNA mutations? What molecular processes connect a predisposing somatic change to disease? We know that predisposing somatic mutations strongly influence the onset of cancer. Likewise, neurodegenerative diseases may often begin from somatically mutated cells. If so, both neurodegeneration and cancer may be diseases of later life for which much of the risk may be set by early life somatic mutations.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor Regulation, effects, and potential clinical relevance

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is the most ubiquitous and intensively studied member of the family of neurotrophins in the CNS. The transcriptional regulation of BDNF is complex and involves both epigenetic control and transcription factors. BDNF is produced “on demand” in response to neuronal activity from a precursor pro-BDNF that is transported and processed via the secretory pathway. The effects of mature BDNF are mediated by the tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB, tyrosine kinase B) receptor, which triggers phosphorylation cascades that promote protein synthesis, axonal growth, dendritic maturation, use-dependent synaptic plasticity, and neuroprotection. In contrast, pro-BDNF binds to the common neurotrophin receptor p75NTR and promotes apoptosis. BDNF can also be released from microglia and may bidirectionally affect inhibitory neurotransmission in the CNS. Disturbances in epigenetic control, transport, or signaling by BDNF may contribute to a variety of neurologic and psychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer disease (AD), Huntington disease (HD), spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6), neuropathic pain, Rett syndrome, and depression, schizophrenia, and drug addiction. There are several recent reviews on these subjects.1–20
Combining synthetic aperture radar and space-time adaptive processing using a single-receive channel

We propose a single-receive, multiple-transmit channel imaging radar system that limits received data rate while also providing spatial processing for improved detection of moving targets. A multi-input, single-output (MISO) system uses orthogonal waveforms to separate spatial channels at the single receiver. The use of orthogonal waveforms necessitates several modications to both synthetic aperture radar imaging and adaptive space-time beamforming. An orthogonal frequency-division transmit waveform scheme is proposed, and we derive the attendant extensions to the standard backprojection and space-time beamforming algorithms.. We demonstrate imaging and moving target detection results using data from an airborne X-band system. We conclude with a discussion of the clutter covariance matrix of the resulting space-time beamformer and a suggested waveform scheduling scheme to minimize the rank of the observed clutter subspace.
CONTRIBUTION OF THE FETAL KIDNEY TO PRESERVATION OF FLUID VOLUME DURING HYPOVOLEMIA

Vasopressin in fetal plasma (VPp) has been shown to increase following mannitol infusion to the mother (Leake, R.D. et al, Pediatr. Res.13:841, 1979). It was suggested that this increase was related to the hyperosmolality and/or hypovolemia induced by transfer of water from fetus to mother. In order to examine the response of the fetal kidney to these changes, we studied six chronically instrumented fetal lambs 120-131 days gestation following infusion of mannitol to the mother. Mannitol infusion caused an increase in osmolality of maternal plasma from 298±3.1 to 311±2.0 mOsm/kg. In addition this treatment caused an increase in fetal VPp from 1.9 to 3.2 pg/ml and osmolality (OsMp) from 292±2.9 to 299±2.1 mOsm/kg (Mean ±S.E.). Following infusion there was also a fall in fetal urine output from 0.15±0.019 to 0.10±0.009 ml/kg min and a rise in urine osmolality from 140±8.6 to 183±13.2 mOsm/kg (p<0.01). These changes led to a significant decrease in solute free water clearance from 0.08±0.009 to 0.05±0.004 ml/kg min but not in osmolar clearance. These studies indicate that: 1) Mannitol to the mother induces a rise in fetal OSMp, 2) the rise must be due to transfer of water to the mother rather than fetal diuresis and 3) the fetal kidney contributes to the preservation of fluid volume in response to hypovolemia. Furthermore these results raise the possibility that diuretics given during pregnancy may cause dehydration in the fetus.
On the incoherent scattering of an acoustic or electromagnetic wave

A random configuration of objects in space, or a stochastically rough boundary, is considered to scatter an incident acoustic or electromagnetic wave having harmonic time dependenceeiwt. In the case of a stochastic surface, Beckmann has compared the Kirchhoff solution with his approach, which employs random walk. The latter approach is used to demonstrate the Rayleigh-distributed amplitude of a field scattered by a very rough surface. This demonstration requires the conjecture that large standard deviations in the random phases of the scattered elementary waves result in an incoherent scattered field. Beckmann's conjecture has not been rigorously proven. However, in this paper, incoherence of the scattered field and broad distributions, over many cycles, in the phases of the elementary waves are both shown to be implied by a third condition, which is defined. Furthermore, the random phase of an incoherent field is shown to be statistically independent of its amplitude and uniformly distributed on a 2π-rad interval.
Anomalous transport due to drift-wave turbulence

Abstract The anomalous transport of particles and thermal energy is analyzed for the electron and ion temperature gradient driven drift-wave turbulence. The entropy production from the anomalous flows is calculated. Approximate formulas for the fluctuation spectra are briefly compared with a microwave scattering experiment in a low beta tokamak.
Testing the causal relationship between the domestic credit and reserve components of a country's monetary base☆

Abstract An important factor that helps distinguish between alternative balance of payments theories is the assumed causal relationship between the domestic credit and reserve components of a country's monetary base. This paper reports test results of this causal relationship in Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Norway, and Sweden. Three causal detection methods are used: the Haugh test, the Granger test, and the Sims test. Two conclusions are drawn. First, the causal relationship does not run undirectionally from domestic credit to reserves as the Monetary Approach to the Balance of Payments and many tests of that approach assume. Second, the results are quite robust across alternative causality tests.
Investigation of Clinical Pharmacokinetic Variability of an Opioid Antagonist Through Physiologically Based Absorption Modeling

Identifying the source of inter- and/or intrasubject variability in pharmacokinetics (PK) provides fundamental information in understanding the pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamics relationship of a drug and project its efficacy and safety in clinical populations. This identification process can be challenging given that a large number of potential causes could lead to PK variability. Here we present an integrated approach of physiologically based absorption modeling to investigate the root cause of unexpectedly high PK variability of a Phase I clinical trial drug. LY2196044 exhibited high intersubject variability in the absorption phase of plasma concentration-time profiles in humans. This could not be explained by in vitro measurements of drug properties and excellent bioavailability with low variability observed in preclinical species. GastroPlus™ modeling suggested that the compound's optimal solubility and permeability characteristics would enable rapid and complete absorption in preclinical species and in humans. However, simulations of human plasma concentration-time profiles indicated that despite sufficient solubility and rapid dissolution of LY2196044 in humans, permeability and/or transit in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract may have been negatively affected. It was concluded that clinical PK variability was potentially due to the drug's antagonism on opioid receptors that affected its transit and absorption in the GI tract.
Religio and the Definition of Religion

Despite caveats to the effect that a category denominated religion is of dubious analytical utility, and contrary to suggestions that would have us either drop the word religion from our investigative vocabulary (Smith 1962) or significantly curtail its usage (Needham 1981), many anthropologists continue to apply the term broadly and to proffer or otherwise support explicit definitions. It is perhaps the case that for some the category religion is analogous to the religion that William James (1929:8) discerns among many religionists: it "exists," that is, "as a dull habit." But for numbers of reflective anthropologists, there are at least two reasons that justify an ongoing, critical concern with how we define religion. First, as Spiro succinctly puts it, "while a definition cannot take the place of inquiry, in the absence of definitions there can be no inquiry-for it is the definition, either ostensive or nominal, which designates the phenomenon to be investigated" (1966:90). And, second, many arguments or seeming disagreements about theoretical issues pivot on, or sometimes reduce to, variant definitional commitments.
Styles of Announcing Conciliation

A total of 48 subjects (24 female and 24 male) participated in 30 trials of a Prisoner's Dilemma game with a simulated other who was 50% cooperative in the first block of 10 trials and 100% coopera...
Predictors of outcome in a primary care depression trial.

OBJECTIVE: Previous treatment trials have found that approximately one third of depressed patients have persistent symptoms. We examined whether depression severity, comorbid psychiatric illness, and personality factors might play a role in this lack of response. DESIGN: Randomized trial of a stepped collaborative care intervention versus usual care. SETTING: HMO in Seattle, Wash. PATIENTS: Patients with major depression were stratified into severe (N=149) and mild to moderate depression (N=79) groups prior to randomization. INTERVENTIONS: A multifaceted intervention targeting patient, physician, and process of care, using collaborative management by a psychiatrist and primary care physician. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients with more severe depression had a higher risk for panic disorder (odds ratio [OR], 5.8), loneliness (OR, 2.6), and childhood emotional abuse (OR, 2.1). Among those with less severe depression, intervention patients showed significantly improved depression outcomes over time compared with those in usual care (z=−3.06, P<.002); however, this difference was not present in the more severely depressed groups (z=0.61, NS). Although the group with severe depression showed differences between the intervention and control groups from baseline to 3 months that were similar to the group with less severe depression (during the acute phase of the intervention), these differences disappeared by 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Initial depression severity, comorbid panic disorder, and other psychosocial vulnerabilities were associated with a decreased response to the collaborative care intervention. Although the intervention was appropriate for patients with moderate depression, individuals with higher levels of depression may require a longer continuation phase of therapy in order to achieve optimal depression outcomes.
Developmental delays associated with prenatal alcohol exposure are reversed by thyroid hormone treatment.

Abstract Exposure to alcohol in utero has been associated with hypothyroidism and a variety of developmental defects characteristic of thyroid dysfunction. The present work examined whether these abnormalities could be reversed in infant rats treated with thyroid hormones. Subjects were offspring of dams which were on the following diet regimen during gestation: (1) free access to liquid diet containing ethanol (alcohol pups); (2) an equal volume of isocaloric liquid diet (pair-fed pups); or (3) ad libitum control diet (control pups). Neonates from each group were foster-nursed by control dams, and received triidothyronine (T 3 ; 0.1 mg/kg/day; s.c.) or saline treatments on postnatal days 1 to 10. The alcohol neonates displayed reduced serum thyroxine which was restored to normal by postnatal day 14. In addition, these pups showed a delayed appearance of developmental landmarks, including righting reflex, dental eruption, auditory startle response and eye opening. The retarded incisor eruption and eye opening were reversed in alcohol pups by T 3 treatments. The present data suggest that at least some of the developmental abnormalities associated with prenatal alcohol exposure are attributable to perinatal hypothyroidism and can be restored by early hormone replacement therapy.
Tn4556 and luciferase: synergistic tools for visualizing transcription in Streptomyces ☆

Progress in understanding genetic regulatory controls in the Actinomycetes has been rate limited by the properties of in vivo transcriptional probes. We have developed a set of plasmid- and transposon-based promoter-probe vectors that employ the Vibrio harveyi luciferase-encoding luxAB cassette as a reporter of transcription. The primary advantages of luciferase (Lux) over other reporter gene products are: (i) unsurpassed sensitivity; (ii) utility during stationary-phase gene expression; and (iii) the ability to localize promoter activity spatially within developing colonies. We have used these vectors to screen for Streptomyces coelicolor promoters that exhibit developmental phenotypes or that are induced by various environmental stimuli. The plasmid-based probes have proved invaluable for identifying cis- and trans-acting elements that are required for stationary-phase expression of the S. coelicolor sapA gene. A collection of novel bld and whi insertion mutants has been obtained by use of the Lux-encoding transposon, Tn5353.
Unpacking the Doubt in “Beyond a Reasonable Doubt”: Plausible Alternative Stories Increase Not Guilty Verdicts

Does introducing alternative suspects diminish belief in a defendant's guilt? Participants read a fictional murder trial transcript. In some conditions, the defense attorney described how one or more other people could have committed the crime. Accusing one alternative suspect dramatically reduced guilty verdicts. However, accusing two or three was not much better than accusing one. Theoretically, the story model and support theory can be interpreted as accounting for these results. Practically, a defense that argues not only that the defendant is innocent but also that some other individual(s) could have committed the crime is more likely to attain an acquittal.
Emergency medicine and critical care medicine: have the stars (finally) aligned?

In this issue of Annals, Huang and coauthors, a multidisciplinary group of leaders in the fields of critical care medicine and emergency medicine, strongly advocate for increased educational cross-fertilization between these 2 disciplines. Specifically, they call on the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) to permit emergency medicine graduates who complete accredited critical care fellowships access to critical care medicine subboard certification. Huang’s paper has been simultaneously published in Critical Care Medicine and has been endorsed by specialty organizations from both disciplines. Their arguments are persuasive ones. They cite literature that demonstrates improved clinical outcomes and cost savings through increased use of trained intensivists in ICUs. The statistics are staggering: an estimated 53,000 lives and $5.4 billion saved annually with this staffing pattern. Such a magical (and unusual) combination of improved quality at lower cost is the Holy Grail of public policymakers. Not surprisingly, numerous organizations, such as the Leapfrog Group, have jumped on the bandwagon, urging substantially increased staffing of ICUs by trained intensivists. Facing this demand for an increased intensivist workforce, the unfortunate reality is that the supply of intensivists is woefully inadequate, and the Graduated Medical Education pipeline minting new ones is similarly lacking. Like most such complex problems, this one will be best solved with multiple solutions. However, one obvious piece of the puzzle is to open access to critical care fellowship training and board certification to emergency medicine residency graduates. Interestingly, the Leapfrog Group has already acknowledged this rather obvious conclusion and explicitly includes emergency medicine–certified and critical care fellowship–trained (but not critical care–certified) physicians within their definition of acceptable intensivists. There seems to be little logical rationale to limit critical care fellowship training and board certification only to graduates of internal medicine, anesthesia, general surgery, and pediatric residencies. Unlike some other subspecialties, critical care medicine has always been a multidisciplinary field. Indeed,
Ontogenesis of insulin processing in fetal rat hepatocytes

We studied insulin processing and hepatic glycogenesis in cultured hepatocytes isolated from rat fetuses of 17, 19, and 21 days of gestation. Steady-state insulin binding increased by 250% between days 17 and 19, from 145 +/- 8 to 361 +/- 52 fmol/mg protein, and by an additional 40% (405 +/- 69 fmol/mg protein) by 21 days of gestation. At 37 degrees C, 125I-insulin was rapidly (t 1/2 less than 5 min) internalized by hepatocytes at all three ages, reaching maximal levels (63-76% of the total cell-associated radioactivity) by 15 min. 125I-labelled degradation products appeared rapidly (t 1/2 less than 15 min) within the cells. Yet, the majority (68-77%) of the intracellular radioactivity consisted of intact 125I-insulin, even after 4 h at 37 degrees C. Hepatocytes pre-loaded with 125I-insulin and then acid-stripped of surface-bound radioactivity, rapidly released both intact 125I-insulin (retroendocytosis) and its radiolabelled degradation products. While intact insulin was initially released more rapidly (t 1/2 less than 6 min), and reached a plateau after 15-30 min, the degradation products continued to accumulate in the medium for at least 4 h. Methylamine inhibited intracellular 125I-insulin degradation at all three gestational ages and also blocked insulin-stimulated glycogenesis in 19- and 21-day hepatocytes, without altering basal glycogen synthesis. Insulin-stimulated glycogenesis was not induced in 17-day fetal rat hepatocytes in control or methylamine-treated cultures. We conclude that both degradative and retroendocytotic pathways for processing insulin are present in fetal rat hepatocytes by 17 days of gestation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Ultrasensitive and High-Throughput Fluorescence Analysis of Droplet Contents with Orthogonal Line Confocal Excitation

This paper describes a simple modification to traditional confocal fluorescence detection that greatly improves signal-to-noise (s/n) for the high-speed analysis of droplet streams. Rather than using the conventional epi geometry, illumination of the droplet was in the form of a line that is orthogonal to both the direction of flow and the light-collection objective. In contrast to the epi geometry where we observed high levels of scattering background from the droplets, we detected more than 10-fold less background (depending on the laser power used) when orthogonal-line-confocal illumination was used. We characterized this improvement using a standard microfluidic platform over a range of analyte concentrations and observed an improvement in limits of detection of greater than 10. Using this method, we were able to analyze picomolar concentrations of analytes contained within picoliter-volume droplets at a rate of greater than 350 droplets per second.
Mapping students' conceptual modes when thinking about chemical reactions used to make a desired product

The central goal of this qualitative research study was to uncover major implicit assumptions that students with different levels of training in the discipline apply when thinking and making decisions about chemical reactions used to make a desired product. In particular, we elicited different ways of conceptualizing why chemical reactions happen (chemical causality), how these processes occur (chemical mechanism), and how they can be controlled (chemical control). In each of these areas we characterized conceptual modes with different explanatory power and explored how they were applied by participants when facing different types of questions. Our findings suggest potential paths in the development of understanding about chemical reactions in the context of making specific substances. Our study also highlights the benefits of analyzing students' understanding not only by focusing on implicit cognitive elements, but by using disciplinary crosscutting concepts as lenses of analysis.
Common Blind Spots on Chest CT: Where Are They All Hiding? Part 2, Extrapulmonary Structures

W671 axial images (Fig. 1). For example, findings such as dilated bowel loops suggestive of bowel obstruction or important skeletal abnormalities within the lower cervical or upper lumbar spine that warrant further investigation may not be seen on the axial images. The interpreting radiologist is responsible for all images in the study, including the scout view. The initial impression formed on the basis of the scout image, correlated immediately with the corresponding CT findings, can also help improve the radiologist’s ability to interpret chest radiograph.
The Current State of Sociological Theory: Diversity, Polarity, Empiricism, and Small Theories*†

(1971). The Current State of Sociological Theory: Diversity, Polarity, Empiricism, and Small Theories. The Sociological Quarterly: Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 23-45.