cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Femoral Neck Stress Fractures

Stress fractures are common overuse injuries in the lower extremities that occur with either abnormal stress on normal bone (fatigue fracture) or normal stress on abnormal bone (insufficiency fracture). Location of a stress fracture and associated potential for delayed union, nonunion, and refracture facilitate designation of a fracture as either “high risk” or “low risk.” Femoral neck stress fractures account for less than 5% of all stress fractures. Based on the biomechanics of the proximal femur, these fractures may be on the inferomedial compression side or the superolateral tension side. Tension-side fractures are of “high risk” and compression-side fractures are of “low risk.” Once a diagnosis of stress fracture is made, a thorough evaluation for modifiable endocrinologic and nutritional risk factors is undertaken and a treatment and prevention program commenced. Nonsurgical treatment with crutch-assisted non−weight bearing ambulation is indicated for incomplete compression-side fractures. Surgical treatment is indicated for (1) complete fracture with or without displacement, (2) tension-sided incomplete fractures, and (3) compression-sided incomplete fractures that have failed nonsurgical treatment for a minimum of 6 weeks. Percutaneous screw fixation with 6.5- or 7.3-mm screws is the standard of care for surgical treatment. Stress fracture displacement requires urgent anatomical reduction. Thus, if a closed reduction is unable to be achieved under anesthesia, then an anterior Smith-Petersen approach is necessary to anatomically reduce and fix the fracture. Postoperatively, following percutaneous screw fixation of a nondisplaced stress fracture, patients may begin weight bearing as tolerated. Complications include displacement, nonunion, delayed union, varus malunion, and avascular necrosis.
The Interrelationship of the Origins and Present State of Social Work in the United States and Cuba: The Power of a Profession to Bridge Cultures

Comparative historical and contemporary approaches to social development in the United States and Cuba as facilitated by professional social workers in these two countries are described and analyzed in this article. Modern day Cuba’s focus on redistributive policies and a community-based social work practice approach to addressing critical social and economic issues are discussed in relation to policies that are said to respond to similar social and economic needs in the U.S. The very different strategic approaches to meeting these social and economic needs are also discussed. There is currently a greater emphasis on clinical social work practice with individuals, families, and groups in the United States. Access to quality health care is considered here along with the social work practice methods that are emphasized today in both countries. An analysis of past and contemporary social work intervention strategies in these societies may foretell the power of a profession to bridge cultures and social systems.
Effects of infant formula, cow milk and human milk on drug metabolizing enzymes

Background Caffeine, used for treating neonatal apnea, is eliminated 3-fold slower in breastfed infants than in formula-fed infants. Caffeine is metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A and CYP3A4, which are regulated by aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and pregnane X receptor (PXR) respectively. Here we hypothesized that formula but not human milk induces CYP1A and/or CYP3A4 via their regulatory pathways. Methods Human milk samples from healthy lactating women were collected. Infant formula and cow milk were purchased. Lipid fraction of milk samples was obtained by organic extraction. mRNA and protein expression were measured by RT-PCR and western blotting. Reporter plasmids containing receptor response elements were tested for their activation. Results CYP1A expression and AhR activity were induced by formula and cow milk but not by human milk. The AhR activation by formula was abolished by co-treatment of Ah antagonist. Formula and human milk also had differential effects on AhR activation by dibenz[a,h]anthracene, an AhR agonist. In addition, lipid fraction of formula but not human milk activated AhR. Both formula and human milk showed mild induction of CYP3A4 mRNA and PXR. However, co-transfection of hPXR did not increase PXR activation by milk treatments, suggesting a non PXR-mediated pathway. Conclusion Infant formula but not human milk contains AhR agonist(s) that induces CYP1A expression. Both infant formula and human milk induce CYP3A4 through non PXR-mediated pathway. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2005) 77, P46–P46; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2004.12.068
Validation of a dual LC–HRMS platform for clinical metabolic diagnosis in serum, bridging quantitative analysis and untargeted metabolomics

Mass spectrometry-based metabolomics is a rapidly growing field in both research and diagnosis. Generally, the methodologies and types of instruments used for clinical and other absolute quantification experiments are different from those used for biomarkers discovery and untargeted analysis, as the former requires optimal sensitivity and dynamic range, while the latter requires high resolution and high mass accuracy. We used a Q-TOF mass spectrometer with two different types of pentafluorophenyl (PFP) stationary phases, employing both positive and negative ionization, to develop and validate a hybrid quantification and discovery platform using LC–HRMS. This dual-PFP LC–MS platform quantifies over 50 clinically relevant metabolites in serum (using both MS and MS/MS acquisitions) while simultaneously collecting high resolution and high mass accuracy full scans to monitor all other co-eluting non-targeted analytes. We demonstrate that the linearity, accuracy, and precision results for the quantification of a number of metabolites, including amino acids, organic acids, acylcarnitines and purines/pyrimidines, meets or exceeds normal bioanalytical standards over their respective physiological ranges. The chromatography resolved highly polar as well as hydrophobic analytes under reverse-phase conditions, enabling analysis of a wide range of chemicals, necessary for untargeted metabolomics experiments. Though previous LC–HRMS methods have demonstrated quantification capabilities for various drug and small molecule compounds, the present study provides an HRMS quant/qual platform tailored to metabolic disease; and covers a multitude of different metabolites including compounds normally quantified by a combination of separate instrumentation.
Risk Measures for Hedge Funds: a Cross-sectional Approach

This paper analyses the risk-return trade-off in the hedge fund industry. We compare semi-deviation, value-at-risk (VaR), Expected Shortfall (ES) and Tail Risk (TR) with standard deviation at the individual fund level as well as the portfolio level. Using the Fama and French (1992) methodology and the combined live and defunct hedge fund data from TASS, we find that the left-tail risk captured by Expected Shortfall (ES) and Tail Risk (TR) explains the crosssectional variation in hedge fund returns very well, while the other risk measures provide statistically insignificant or marginally significant results. During the period between January 1995 and December 2004, hedge funds with high ES outperform those with low ES by an annual return difference of 7%. We provide empirical evidence on the theoretical argument by Artzner et al. (1999) that ES is superior to VaR as a downside risk measure. We also find the Cornish-Fisher (1937) expansion is superior to the nonparametric method in estimating ES and TR.
Energy Crops and Their Implications on Soil and Environment

Interest in producing cellulosic ethanol from renewable energy sources is growing. Potential energy crops include row crops such as corn (Zea mays L.), perennial warm-season grasses (WSGs), and short-rotation woody crops (SRWCs). However, impacts of growing dedicated energy crops as biofuel on soil and environment have not been well documented. This article reviews the (i) impacts of growing WSGs and SRWCs on soil properties, soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, and water quality, and (ii) performance of energy crops in marginal lands. Literature shows that excessive (≥50%) crop residue removal adversely impacts soil and environmental quality as well as crop yields. Growing WSGs and SRWCs can be potential alternatives to crop residue removal as biofuel. Warm-season grasses and SRWCs can improve soil properties, reduce soil erosion, and sequester SOC. Crop residue removal reduces SOC concentration by 1 to 3 Mg ha -1 yr -1 in the top 10 cm, whereas growing WSGs and SRWCs increase SOC concentration while providing biofuel feedstocks. The WSGs can store SOC between 0 and 3 Mg C ha -1 yr -1 in the top 5 cm of soil, while the SRWCs can store between 0 and 1.6 Mg ha -1 yr -1 of SOC in the top 100 cm. The WSGs and SRWCs have more beneficial effects on soil and environment when grown in marginal lands than when grown in croplands or natural forests. Indeed, they can grow in nutrient-depleted, compacted, poorly drained, acid, and eroded soils. Development of sustainable systems of WSGs and SRWCs in marginal lands is a high priority.
Effect of Light and Drugs in Controlling Egg Production of Turkeys

Abstract DEVELOPMENT of a refractory condition leading to failure of the junco to produce eggs in an environment of long light days was observed by Wolfson (1952). A similar inability of turkey females to respond in egg production when exposed to long light days was reported by Harper and Parker (1957, 1960, 1962), Clayton and Robertson (1960), McCartney et al. (1961), Leighton and Shoffner (1961a, b, 1964), Wilson et al. (1962) Shoffner and Leighton (1962), Shoffner et al. (1962), Marsden et al. (1962), Ogasawara et al. (1962), and Wolford et al. (1963). In the above research control of the photoperiod to reduce light exposure prior to sexual maturity of turkey females was effective in terminating refractoriness. While the above experiments demonstrated a method of improving year around egg production of turkeys through a controlled light environment, it necessitated adequate buildings. The use of hormones to terminate refractoriness in turkey females hatched…
A Fluctuating Thermal Regime Improves Survival of Cold-Mediated Delayed Emergence in Developing Megachile rotundata (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)

A significant concern in the commercial application of the alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata (F.) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), for pollination is synchronizing bee emergence and activity with peak crop bloom. Previous studies have demonstrated that the commercial spring incubation of this species can be successfully interrupted by low temperature incubation, thereby slowing development and giving producers flexibility in timing emergence to weather conditions or crop bloom. In this study, we demonstrate that the implementation of a fluctuating thermal regime, during which bees are given a daily one hour pulse of high temperature, markedly increases the “shelf-life” of individuals of this species. Although constant temperatures can be used to store bees for up to 1 wk with no decrease in survival, properly staged bees can be stored for up to 6 wk without a significant decrease in percentage of emergence. Hence, we expect fluctuating thermal regime protocols to become a valuable tool for M. rotundata managers, especially when timing nesting activity with peak bloom to maximize effectiveness.
Numerical simulation of bubble interactions using an adaptive lattice Boltzmann method

Bubble interactions have significant impact on the shape and motion of bubbles, and therefore the dynamics of bubbles in a swarm may be considerably different from that of an isolated bubble. This research presents a numerical study of bubble interactions using a novel lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). By using the adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) and the multiple-relaxation-time (MRT) algorithm, this technique is able to accurately capture the deformation of the interface, and can remain numerically stable for low Morton number and high Reynolds number flows. The numerical approach is briefly illustrated, and validated with the experimental results of the buoyant rise of an isolated bubble in the literature. Then the method is applied to simulate the interaction between multiple bubbles during their buoyant rise. A pair of bubbles with spherical or ellipsoidal shapes is first simulated under different configurations and rise velocities. Both attractive and repulsive interactions are observed in the simulations depending on the relative position and the Reynolds number. When the Reynolds number is sufficiently high, the bubble–wake interaction is found to be the main interaction mechanism, which results in strong attraction between the ellipsoidal bubbles in vertical or oblique arrangement. Simulations for a group of 14 bubbles are also carried out, and effects of the bubble shape and Reynolds number on the spatial distribution of the bubbles are briefly discussed. In general, a good agreement is found between the current simulation and the experimental and numerical results reported in the literature.
Initial Field Measurements of Atmospheric Absorption at 9–11 μm Wavelengths

Abstract A field adapted spectrophone system employing a tuneable CO2 laser source (over wavelengths 9.2–10.8 μm) was used to measure atmospheric gaseous and particulate absorption at an isolated desert location in the southwestern United States. Measurements were made both for ambient conditions (when aerosol particulate absorption was found to be negligible compared to that of gases) and for dusty conditions resulting from vehicular traffic. For ambient conditions the gaseous absorption coefficient was found to vary with time from expected levels upward by as much as a factor of 3. Sources which could be correlated with increased absorption are discussed. For dusty conditions the spectrophone data were compared with estimates of the absorption coefficient calculated on the basis of measured particle size distributions together with estimates of particle complex indices of refraction. Temporal variation of the absorption coefficient correlated quite closely for the two methods while the calculated values...
A novel P-type Cl-stimulated ATPase: Phosphorylation and specificity

Abstract Utilizing a proteoliposomal preparation containing Cl−-ATPase, it was demonstrated that [γ-32P]ATP-induced phosphorylation of this pump is by way of a relatively low binding affinity while protein dephosphorylation was accelerated by increasing concentrations of unlabeled ATP. Ca2+ and Mn2+ were also shown to stimulate phosphorylation of the enzyme, but to a much lesser extent than Mg2+. Orthovanadate inhibition of enzyme phosphorylation was directly related to its concentration. These results suggested that the Cl−-pump was a P-type ATPase similar to that found in plants and fungi based upon its low-affinity phosphorylation kinetics.
Some Bag Experiments on Tibbs Run Lake, W.V., A Eutrophic Acidified Lake

Tibbs Run Lake was sampled from December 1979 to December 1980, monthly during the winter and biweekly during the spring, summer, and autumn. Primary production was measured from March 1980 to February 1981, either monthly or biweekly, as indicated above. The mean annual hydrogen ion concentration was equivalent to pH 4.33. This pH was 46% lower (based on H+ concentrations) than the 1977–1978 mean. The low pH of the lake is due to inputs of acid precipitation and the low buffering capacity of the watershed. Predictions of further reductions in the lake pH, based on mean annual hydrogen ion concentrations and hydrogen ion retention coefficients (RH) from Shellito (1979) and this study, indicate that the lake pH should reach an equilibrium with the precipitation pH between 1982 and 1985, assuming the precipitation pH continues to average 4.10. The stratified period mean chlorophyll a and total phosphorus concentrations were 22.1 mg/m3 and 19.3 μg/1, respectively. Total phosphorus loading to the lake was 0.233 gP/m2/yr. To examine the effects of neutralization and fertilization with phosphorus an in situ bag enclosure experiment, lasting 16 days, was performed during the summer of 1980. In the bags, phosphorus (20 μg/1 on days 0,4,8,12 as KH2PO4) was added alone and in combination with a base addition (IN KOH). The base additions raised the pH to approximately 7.8. Other treatments included base addition alone and a control. The maximum chlorophyll a concentration was found in the phosphorus treatment (∼30 mg/m3) on day 6. The phosphorus plus base treatment exhibited a 10 day lag before reaching a maximum chlorophyll a concentration (∼27 mg/m3) on day 16. The highest production rate was found in the phosphorus plus base treatment on day 12 (∼27 mgC/m3/hr.). A similar bag experiment, lasting 46 days, was performed during the late summer and early autumn of 1980. The treatments were the same as in the first experiment, however, the nitrate-nitrogen depletion in the lake and treatments necessitated the addition of nitrogen (2 mg/1 as NaNO3) to one of each replicate treatment on day 5. On day 34, the maximum chlorophyll a concentrations were found in the phosphorus plus base nitrogen treatment (∼120 mg/m3) and the phosphorus plus nitrogen treatment (∼38.8 mg/m3). The control plus nitrogen treatment was submerged and possibly contaminated on day 5. All treatments not receiving nitrogen, except for the phosphorus plus base treatment, decreased in the chlorophyll a concentration throughout the experiment. The phosphorus plus base treatment peaked in the chlorophyll a concentration on day 45 (∼28 mg/m3) despite non-detectable levels of nitrate-nitrogen. The maximum primary production rate was found in the phosphorus plus base plus nitrogen treatment (∼32 mgC/m3/hr.) on day 11.
Experimental hypersensitivity pneumonitis: suppressor cell influences.

Experimental hypersensitivity pneumonitis (EHP) can be transferred to strain 2 guinea pigs by lymph node cells (LNC) cultured in vitro with antigen. Using mixtures of cell populations, we sought to determine if functional suppressor cells were present in our system. We also characterized the composition of cell populations that were capable (blast 10 micrograms/mL Micropolyspora faeni from 2-week donor animals) and incapable (blast 0 micrograms/mL M. faeni from 2-week donor animals; blast 10 micrograms/mL from 8-week donor animals) using flow cytometry, anti-Ig and monoclonal antibody 8BE6 (T cell marker) of transferring EHP. Two groups of donors were used: animals sensitized with Freund's adjuvant and M. faeni and challenged with either two or eight weekly intratracheal (IT) injections of M. faeni (2- and 8-week groups). LNC from donor animals were cultured with a soluble extract of M. faeni (10 or 0 micrograms/mL) blasts isolated and transferred IV to syngeneic recipients. Control animals received media IV. Recipients were challenged IT with M. faeni 48 h after the cell transfer and sacrificed 4 days thereafter. All animals were maintained in HEPA filtered air. Randomly selected microscopic fields of the lung (250/animal) were judged to be normal or abnormal without knowledge of treatment. There was a low level of pulmonary response to an IT challenge of M. faeni in media recipients. There was a substantial increase (P less than .01) in pulmonary abnormalities in the animals receiving blasts from the 10-micrograms/mL M. faeni 2-week group. Addition of cells from incompetent cell populations (0 micrograms/mL M. faeni 2-week donors or 10 micrograms/mL M. faeni 8-week donors) did not alter the ability of competent populations to transfer EHP. Cells cultured with antigen had a decreased proportion of T cells and an increased proportion of SIg+ and large cells. Competent and incompetent cell populations did not differ in regard to proportion of large cells, surface Ig+, or T cells. We conclude that the inability of certain cell populations to transfer EHP is not associated with the appearance of functional suppressor cells. Differences of ability to transfer EHP do not correlate with differences of size distribution or T and B cell composition.
Sofa: A simulation program for predicting and evaluating the policy effects of grants-in-aid

Abstract This paper motivates and describes a computer simulation program to predict the general equilibrium effects of grants-in-aid to local governments on the tax and spending decisions of these governments. The SOFA (Simulation of Fiscal Assistance) program explicitly incorporates the effects of family relocation (the “Tiebout” adjustment process) and the availability of competitive private market providers (e.g. private schools, hospitals, recreation facilities) on the levels and distribution of local public services. SOFA can simulate the effects of the four main forms of grants-in-aid: (1) lump-sum transfers, (2) matching aid, (3) base equalizing aid, and (4) tax relief aid. In addition to the individual city predictions on taxes and spending SOFA provides the following summary statistics: (1) mean level of spending, (2) coefficient of variation of spending, (3) values for a utilitarian, Rawlsian, and egalitarian objective functions, (4) the central government tax rate needed to finance aid, and (5) the percent of families in the region who prefer the private provision of the “public” service. A copy of the program and a program users manual containing a detailed derivation of the model as well as user's instructions are available from the authors upon request.
Adapting perspectives to facilitate knowledge assimilation

The notion of perspective when supported in knowledge representation can allow the representation of multiple and varying points of view, some of which may even be inconsistent with one another. In an object-based knowledge representation methodology created and used by the authors, a perspective is defined by consolidating a number of objects and a number of those objects` associated attributes and methods into a view. This view can help partition a knowledge domain into separate portions. A separate portion represents an individual`s view of the knowledge domain. Representation of multiple and varying perspectives may add to the existing knowledge as well as reveal paths to additional knowledge. A simple example is presented where perspectives are used to represent game playing strategies and levels of expertise in those strategies. Players` perspectives are adapted and changed to provide additional knowledge and insight into further game playing strategies. Results show improvement in the playing of the games. Additionally, a more complex problem for applying these techniques is introduced.
High cervical spinal subdural hemorrhage as a harbinger of craniocervical arteriovenous fistula: an unusual clinical presentation.

Abstract Background context Craniocervical dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF) is rare as compared with the typical thoracolumbar dAVFs of the spine and usually presents with hemorrhagic manifestation, predominantly intracranial subarachnoid hemorrhage. Purpose We describe the first case of craniocervical dAVF with initial presentation as neck pain and spinal subdural hemorrhage. Study design Case report. Methods We present the case of a 59-year-old woman who presented with sudden onset of neck pain at an outside institution emergency department (ED) and was discharged after negative cervical spine radiographs. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine performed because of persistent pain demonstrated presence of high cervical spinal subdural hematoma and she was managed conservatively. She subsequently presented to our ED a week later with headache and was found to have an intraventricular hemorrhage on computed tomography scan of the head, which on subsequent workup with an angiography revealed the presence of a craniocervical dAVF. Results Surgical obliteration of the fistula was performed with use of intraoperative angiography as an adjunct to confirm complete fistula obliteration. She had an excellent clinical outcome with no deficits at her last follow-up at 9 months. Conclusions Even though hemorrhagic presentation is fairly common in craniocervical dAVFs, there is no report of a craniocervical dAVF presenting with spinal subdural hemorrhage. The present case further highlights the propensity of these vascular lesions to bleed and emphasizes the clinical importance of including these lesions in the differential diagnosis of hemorrhage in the vicinity of foramen magnum region, whether subarachnoid or subdural in location. Physicians treating spinal pathologies should be aware of this entity and clinical presentation, as an angiography needs to be considered in these cases to direct appropriate referral and treatment.
Hemodynamic effects of dobutamine in patients following mitral valve replacement.

Mitral valve replacement is frequently complicated by a low cardiac output syndrome and elevated pulmonary arterial pressures. In the present study, we used dobutamine to increase cardiac index and measured the pulmonary hemodynamic effects in 10 patients with increased pulmonary vascular tone following mitral valve replacement. Using increasing doses of dobutamine up to 10 micrograms.kg-1.min-1, we observed a statistically significant increase in mean cardiac index (from 2.39 +/- .14 liters.min-1.m-2 to 3.52 +/- .33, P less than 0.01) and mean heart rate (from 71.6 +/- 5.2 beats.min-1 to 84.3 +/- 8.1, P less than 0.01). This was associated with stable mean systemic arterial pressures and mean pulmonary arterial pressures. Both mean systemic and pulmonary vascular resistances decreased significantly (from 1210 +/- 99 dynes.sec.cm-5 to 809 +/- 90 [P less than 0.01], and from 195.9 +/- 30.6 dynes.sec.cm-5 to 129.4 +/- 41.2 [P less than 0.01] respectively) with dobutamine. Intrapulmonary shunt flow increased significantly in the five patients studied. Though increases in heart rate and pulmonary shunt flow may limit it use, dobutamine increases cardiac output and decreases pulmonary vascular resistance in patients with increased pulmonary arterial pressure following mitral valve replacement.
A cost-effectiveness analysis of inhaled corticosteroid delivery for children with asthma in the emergency department.

Objective To determine the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of 3 inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) delivery options for children with asthma treated in and discharged from the emergency department (ED). Study design We conducted cost-effectiveness analysis using a decision tree to compare 3 ED-based ICS delivery options: usual care (recommending outpatient follow-up), prescribe (uniformly prescribing ICS), and dispense (uniformly dispensing ICS). Accounting for expected follow-up rates, prescription filling, and medication compliance, we compared projected rates of ED relapse visits and hospitalizations within 1 month of ED visit across all 3 arms. Direct and indirect costs were compared. Results The model predicts that the rate of return to ED per 100 patients within 1 month of the ED visit was 10.6 visits for the usual care arm, 9.4 visits for the prescription arm, and 8.4 visits for the medication-dispensing arm. Rates of hospitalization per 100 patients were 2.4, 2.2, and 1.9, respectively. Direct costs per 100 patients for each arm were $23 400, $20 800, and $19 100, respectively. Including indirect costs related to missed parental work, total costs per 100 patients were $27 100, $22 000, and $20 100, respectively. Total cost savings per 100 patients comparing the usual care arm with the medication dispensing arm was $7000. Conclusions This decision analysis model suggests that uniform prescribing or dispensing of ICS at the time of ED visit for asthma may lead to a decreased number of ED visits and hospital admissions within 1 month of the sentinel ED visit and provides a substantial cost-savings.
Development of the central nervous system in the larvacean Oikopleura dioica and the evolution of the chordate brain.

Abstract In non-vertebrate chordates, central nervous system (CNS) development has been studied in only two taxa, the Cephalochordata and a single Class (Ascidiacea) of the morphologically diverse Urochordata. To understand development and molecular regionalization of the brain in a different deeply diverging chordate clade, we isolated and determined the expression patterns of orthologs of vertebrate CNS markers ( otxa , otxb , otxc , pax6 , pax2/5/8a , pax2/5/8b , engrailed , and hox1 ) in Oikopleura dioica (Subphylum Urochordata, Class Larvacea). The three Oikopleura otx genes are expressed similarly to vertebrate Otx paralogs, demonstrating that trans-homologs converged on similar evolutionary outcomes by independent neo- or subfunctionalization processes during the evolution of the two taxa. This work revealed that the Oikopleura CNS possesses homologs of the vertebrate forebrain, hindbrain, and spinal cord, but not the midbrain. Comparing larvacean gene expression patterns to published results in ascidians disclosed important developmental differences and similarities that suggest mechanisms of development likely present in their last common ancestor. In contrast to ascidians, the lack of a radical reorganization of the CNS as larvaceans become adults allows us to relate embryonic gene expression patterns to three subdivisions of the adult anterior brain. Our study of the Oikopleura brain provides new insights into chordate CNS evolution: first, the absence of midbrain is a urochordate synapomorphy and not a peculiarity of ascidians, perhaps resulting from their drastic CNS metamorphosis; second, there is no convincing evidence for a homolog of a midbrain–hindbrain boundary (MHB) organizer in urochordates; and third, the expression pattern of “MHB-genes” in the urochordate hindbrain suggests that they function in the development of specific neurons rather than in an MHB organizer.
The surface laplacian, high resolution EEG and controversies

The surface Laplacian estimate (i.e., current source density) as obtained with spline functions is evaluated in the context of some recent controversies concerning high resolution EEG and source localization. In simulation studies, the spline-Laplacian provides much better estimates of cortical surface potential than is obtained from raw scalp potential, provided dense electrode arrays (e.g., 64 or more electrodes) are used. Spline-Laplacians (which are relatively independent of volume conductor model) provide estimates of cortical potential distribution which are quite similar to those obtained with a cortical imaging algorithm based on a four sphere model.
Plasma 10-hydroxynortriptyline and renal function in elderly depressives.

ferences in clinical effects in such patients, and these may be related to differences in pfasma concentrations of active drug forms. In elderly patients, plasma concentration of unconjugated EIO-hydroxynortriptyline (ElOOH-NT), the major hydroxylated metabolite of NT (Berts Pottash et al. 1983), though plasma NT did not differ between groups. This is consistent with a correlation between @asma IOOH-NT~T ratio and age reported in a mixedage sample (Bertilsson et al. 1979). One factor influencing plasma E-IO-OH-NT in the elderly may be renal function, Renal func-
Is Public Relations a Real Job? How Female Practitioners Construct the Profession

This study examined how female practitioners' discourses shape perceptions of public relations as an emerging field in Russia. Interviews with 25 practitioners from Moscow public relations agencies showed that a prism of a real job and a woman's job can help explain how socio-economic, professional, and gender-defined contexts influence practitioners' perceptions of public relations and provided evidence for understanding public relations as a socially constructed gendered profession. The study found that Russian women construct their professional identities in gendered ways that may limit their career opportunities.
Uniform modal damping of rings by an extended node control theorem

Hazelrigg, G. A., "The Use of Green's Theorem to Find Global Optimal Solutions to a Class of Impulsive Transfer," American Astronautical Society, Paper 68-092, Sept. 1968. Marec, J. P., Optimal Space Trajectories, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1979. Palmore, J. I., "An Elementary Proof of the Optimality of Hohmann Transfers," Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 7, No. 5, 1984. Prussing, J. E., "Simple Proof of the Global Optimality of the Hohmann Transfer," Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 15, No. 4, 1992.
Clinician adherence to recommendations for screening of adolescents for sexual activity and sexually transmitted infection/human immunodeficiency virus.

Objectives To evaluate clinician adherence to guidelines for documentation of sexual history and screening for sexually transmitted infection (STI)/HIV infection during routine adolescent well visits. Secondary objectives were to determine patient and clinician factors associated with sexual history documentation and STI/HIV testing. Study design Retrospective, cross-sectional study of 1000 randomly selected 13- to 19-year-old routine well visits at all 29 pediatric primary care practices affiliated with a children's hospital. We evaluated frequency of documentation of sexual history and testing for gonorrhea (GC)/chlamydia (CT) and HIV testing. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with documentation and testing. Results Of the 1000 patient visits reviewed, 212 (21.2%; 95% CI, 18.7-23.7) had a documented sexual history, of which 45 adolescents' (21.2%; 95% CI, 15.7-26.8) encounters were documented as being sexually active. Overall, 26 (2.6%; 95% CI, 1.6-3.6) patients were tested for GC/CT and 16 (1.6%; 95% CI, 0.8-2.4) were tested for HIV infection. In multivariable analyses, factors associated with sexual history documentation included older patient age, non-Hispanic black race/ethnicity, nonprivate insurance status, and care by female clinician. Factors associated with GC/CT testing included male gender, non-Hispanic black race/ethnicity, and nonprivate insurance. HIV testing was more likely to be performed on older adolescents, those of non-Hispanic black race/ethnicity, and those with nonprivate insurance. Conclusions Pediatric primary care clinicians infrequently document sexual histories and perform STI and HIV testing on adolescent patients. Future studies should investigate provider beliefs, clinical decision-making principles, and perceived barriers to improve the sexual health care of adolescents and evaluate interventions to increase rates of adolescent sexual health screening.
Comment on optical theorem in heavy ion scattering

Abstract The difference cross section given by the optical theorem (generalized to charged systems) is shown to have oscillations as a general property. While not arising from any specific behavior of the deflection function, these oscillations are shown to be enhanced when glory scattering of heavy ions occurs.
Measurement of γHV68 Infection in Mice

γ-Herpesviruses (γ-HVs) are notable for their ability to establish latent infections of lymphoid cells1. The narrow host range of human γ-HVs, such as EBV and KSHV, has severely hindered detailed pathogenic studies. Murine γ-herpesvirus 68 (γHV68) shares extensive genetic and biological similarities with human γ-HVs and is a natural pathogen of murid rodents2. As such, evaluation of γHV68 infection of mice inbred strains at different stages of viral infection provides an important model for understanding viral lifecycle and pathogenesis during γ-HVs infection. Upon intranasal inoculation, γHV68 infection results in acute viremia in the lung that is later resolved into a latent infection of splenocytes and other cells, which may be reactivated throughout the life of the host3,4. In this protocol, we will describe how to use the plaque assay to assess infectious virus titer in the lung homogenates on Vero cell monolayers at the early stage (5 - 7 days) of post-intranasal infection (dpi). While acute infection is largely cleared 2 - 3 weeks postinfection, a latent infection of γHV68 is established around 14 dpi and maintained later on in the spleen of the mice. Latent infection usually affects a very small population of cells in the infected tissues, whereby the virus stays dormant and shuts off most of its gene expression. Latently-infected splenocytes spontaneously reactivate virus upon explanting into tissue culture, which can be recapitulated by an infectious center (IC) assay to determine the viral latent load. To further estimate the amount of viral genome copies in the acutely and/or latently infected tissues, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) is used for its maximal sensitivity and accuracy. The combined analyses of the results of qPCR and plaque assay, and/or IC assay will reveal the spatiotemporal profiles of viral replication and infectivity in vivo.
Average evoked response and stimulus intensity in identical and fraternal twins

A group of 30 monozygotic (MZ) and 30 dizygotic (DZ) adult twins were studied, using visual and auditory average evoked response (AER) techniques. Vertex evoked responses were found to show very great similarity in MZ twin pairs and little similarity in DZ twin pairs. Greater heritability of positive than of negative components and a heritability of AER parameters of change with stimulus intensity suggest a functional neurophysiological, rather than a simple anatomic source, of the AER twin similarities.
Swivels and stators in the Hsp40-Hsp70 chaperone machine.

Abstract The basis for promiscuous binding by Hsp40-class molecular chaperones has been revealed by the X-ray structure of a peptide bound to the client protein binding domain of the yeast Hsp40 Ydj1. A model for the Hsp40 dimer in a bivalent association with the client protein and Hsp70 raises the question of whether the Hsp40-Hsp70 chaperone machine should be regarded as a molecular motor.
Enzymatic Modification of Transfer RNA

The molecular events leading to the synthesis of mature tRNA are only now becoming amenable to experimental study. In bacterial and mammalian cells tRNA genes are transcribed into precursor tRNA. These molecules, when isolated, contain additional nucleotides at both ends (20) of the mature tRNA and lack most modified nucleosides. Presumably, specific nucleases ("trimming" enzymes) cut the precursor to proper tRNA size. The C-C-A nucleotide sequence of the amino acid acceptor end common to all tRNA's does not seem to be coded by tRNA genes (30), and may be added to the trimmed molecules by the tRNA-CMP-AMP-pyrophosphorylase (71). Modifications at the polynucleotide level of the heterocyclic bases or the sugar residues give rise to the modified nucleosides in tRNA. Although newly available substrates have allowed the detection of more of the enzymes involved in these reactions, there is still no knowledge about the sequence of modification or trimming events leading to the synthesis of active tRNA. Progress in these studies may not be easy because enzyme preparations free of nucleases or other tRNA modifying enzymes are required. The role of the modified nucleosides in the biological functions of tRNA is still unknown. Possibly pseudouridine is required for ribosome mediated protein synthesis; some other modified nucleosides in tRNA are not required for this reaction, but may enhance its rate. What might be the role of the large variety of modified nucleosides in tRNA? One is tempted to speculate that such nucleosides are important in other cellular processes in which tRNA is thought to participate such as virus infection, cell differentiation, and hormone action (2, 3). Mutants in a number of tRNA-modifying enzymes are needed in order to extend our knowledge of their purpose and of tRNA involvement in other biological processes. But unless tRNA-modifying enzymes specific for a particular tRNA species exist, no simple selection procedure can be devised. Possibly some of the regulatory mutants of amino acid biosynthesis may prove to affect tRNA-modifying enzymes (72). Transfer RNA's are macromolecules well suited for the study of nucleic acid-protein interactions. The tRNA molecules are structurally very similar, and they interact with a large number of enzymes or protein factors (2, 3). Each aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, for instance, very precisely recognizes a set of cognate isoacceptor tRNA's (2, 73). The availability of the tRNA- modifying enzymes adds another dimension to the problem of the nature of specific recognition of tRNA by proteins. There are some tRNA-modifying enzymes, such as the uracil-tRNA methylase, which may recognize all tRNA species, while others, such as the isopentenyl-tRNA transferase, probably recognize only a selected set of tRNA molecules, even with different amino acid accepting capacities. With well-characterized RNA precursor and tRNA molecules we can hope to delineate those features of primary, secondary, and tertiary structure involved in the specific interactions of tRNA with these enzymes.
Learning How to Learn by Nancy McCormick Rambusch. Baltimore: Helicon Press, 1962, 180 pp. $4.50

(1962). Learning How to Learn by Nancy McCormick Rambusch. Baltimore: Helicon Press, 1962, 180 pp. $4.50. The Educational Forum: Vol. 27, No. 1, pp. 112-113.
Misoprostol use during the third stage of labor

Abstract Objectives: To systematically review the efficacy of misoprostol compared with placebo or other uterotonics in preventing maternal morbidity associated with the third stage of labor. Methods: We identified, retrieved, evaluated, abstracted data, and assessed the quality of all published studies (from January 1996 to May 2002) which assessed misoprostol's efficacy in minimizing uterine blood loss during the third stage of labor. Seventeen studies included 28 170 subjects; of these, approximately one-half received misoprostol with the remainder receiving either a placebo or another uterotonic agent. An estimate of the odds ratio (OR) and risk difference for dichotomous outcomes was calculated using a random- and fixed-effects model. Continuous outcomes were pooled using a variance-weighted average of within-study difference in means. Results: In assessing studies comparing misoprostol with placebo, those who received oral misoprostol had a decreased risk of needing additional uterotonics (OR 0.64, 95% confidence interval 0.46, 0.90). Compared with placebo, use of misoprostol was associated with an increased risk for shivering and pyrexia. In contrast, in studies comparing misoprostol with oxytocin, oxytocin was associated with significantly lower rates of postpartum hemorrhage, maternal shivering and pyrexia. In studies comparing misoprostol with Syntometrine, misoprostol was associated with higher rates of the need for additional uterotonic agent as well as shivering. Conclusions: Misoprostol was inferior to oxytocin and other uterotonics with regard to any of the third stage of labor outcomes assessed. However, when compared to placebo, misoprostol had a decreased risk of needing additional uterotonics. Thus, in less-developed countries where administration of parenteral uterotonic drugs may be problematic, misoprostol represents a reasonable agent for the management of the third stage of labor. Additional randomized clinical trials examining objective outcome measures (i.e. need for blood transfusion or 10% hemoglobin change) may further define benefits and risks of misoprostol use during the third stage of labor.
Transport rate of calcareous sand in unidirectional flow

This paper examines the transport of calcareous sand in unidirectional flow and its prediction through existing sediment transport models. A flume experiment of four sand samples collected on Oahu, Hawaii, provides 29 sets of sediment transport data in the bed-form and suspended transport stages. The measured transport data are compared with direct predictions from four energy-based transport models developed for siliceous particles. Corrections for the grain-size, fall velocity, and critical velocity of calcareous sand based on recent research are applied to the models and the results are compared with the direct calculations and measured data. The comparison illustrates the important role particle shape plays in the transport of calcareous sand. All four sediment transport models give consistent predictions and good agreement with the majority of the measured data. Two of the models respond positively to the corrections in both the bed-form and suspended transport stages indicating that such an approach may provide an interim solution for the transport of calcareous sand.
Ukrainian Rushnyky: Binding Amulets and Magical Talismans in the Modern Period

The traditional ritual use of rushnyky among the Eastern Slavs continued to flourish throughout the Soviet period, despite the Communist Party’s efforts to curtail what was dismissed as superstitious folkloric survivals in village life. The paper briefly examines use of the rushnyk in the traditional Ukrainian village setting, followed by close readings of a number of towels from the author’s collection. These include careful analysis of a funeral/memorial rushnyk from the mid-20th c. that functioned as a mimetic grave for a soldier lost on the front. Attention is paid to the curious politicization of the ritual towel in Ukraine not only in the Soviet period, but subsequently in independent Ukraine, particularly in the recent country-wide creation of a "Rushnyk of National Unity"—the stitching of an oversized towel as a means to symbolize the binding of the disparate (and often combative) regions of the newly independent nation. This and other examples cited demonstrate innovation in the use of ritual towels and how they are being employed in new contexts where they can play a symbolic (if no longer fully understood ritual/magic) role.
Preliminary studies of an acid-labile factor (ALF) in human sera that inactivates platelet-activating factor (PAF).

Abstract Rabbit PAF is known to be a potent inducer of in vitro platelet aggregation and secretion of platelet constituents, including serotonin, histamine, ADP, and prostaglandins. Normal rabbit serum contains an acid-labile factor (R-ALF) that rapidly inactivates PAF. Since PAF is acid-stable, it can now be recovered by rapidly acidifying blood samples obtained from IgE-sensitized rabbits experiencing antigen-induced anaphylaxis. This report describes the presence of a similar acid-labile factor in normal human serum (H-ALF). It is itself, or is associated with, lipoproteins and can be partially purified by Sepharose 6B column chromatography or by a two-step ultracentrifugation procedure. The presence of H-ALF may be of great importance during inflammation because it so rapidly degrades PAF in a manner analogous to the control of other potent mediators of inflammation such as histamine, slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A), and eosinophil chemotactic factor of anaphylaxis (ECF-A).
TimeBank evolution as a community resource for TimeML parsing

TimeBank is the only reference corpus for TimeML, an expressive language for annotating complex temporal information. It is a rich resource for a broad range of research into various aspects of the expression of time and temporally related events. This paper traces the development of TimeBank from its initial—and somewhat noisy—version (1.1) to a substantially revised release (1.2), now available via the Linguistic Data Consortium. The development path is motivated by the encouraging empirical results of TimeML-compliant annotators developed on the basis of TimeBank 1.1, and is informed by a detailed study of the characteristics of that initial release, which guides a clean-up process turning TimeBank 1.2 into a consistent and robust community resource.