cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 3643: Fetal exposure to diethylstilbestrol and DNA methylation in adult women.

In utero diethylstilbestrol (DES) exposure has long term consequences including increased risk of vaginal and breast cancer. Epigenetic factors are suspected to contribute to some of these increased risks and animal studies show DES-mediated effects on DNA methylation in both uterine tissue and blood. However, there are currently no studies examining the effect of fetal DES exposure on DNA methylation in humans. Therefore, we investigated differences in DNA methylation between women exposed to DES in utero compared to unexposed women. All our study subjects were participants in the Sister Study -a prospective cohort focused on environmental and familial risk factors for breast cancer and other diseases. Within this study 1,156 women (2.3%) said that they were definitely or probably exposed to DES in utero. In a special sub study (including both women who reported positive exposure and women who reported no exposure), we confirmed exposure history with the woman9s mother and from those with matching mother daughter reports we randomly selected 100 exposed and 100 unexposed women. We analyzed DNA methylation patterns in blood using the Illumina 450k array to assess methylation at 473,844 CpG sites. Primary analysis did not reveal any differentially methylated CpGs (dmCpGs) below the false discovery rate (FDR, q Citation Format: S Sophia Harlid, Zongli Xu, Vijayalakshmi Panduri, Aimee D9Aloisio, Lisa DeRoo, Dale Sandler, Jack A. Taylor. Fetal exposure to diethylstilbestrol and DNA methylation in adult women. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3643. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-3643
Cystathioninuria in a patient with cystinuria

Abstract Cystathioninuria of moderate degree may be associated with cystinuria. In the proband of the family studied cystathioninuria appeared to be consequent to increased renal clearance of cystathionine. In other members of the family it is suggested that cystathioninuria may be a consequence of close association of the gene for cystathionine reabsorption with the alleles proposed by Rosenberg for cystine, lysine, ornithine and arginine transport. Cystathionine excretion was increased in the proband after a methionine load. It was also increased beyond the normal range in two other patients with cystinuria. This may indicate some proximity of the gene for cystathionine transport to the other alleles. It also suggests that the activity of cystathionase can be increased in vivo , even in subjects without cystathioninuria of the inherited type, by large doses of pyridoxine hydrochloride.
Sickle-Cell Anemia

Sickle-cell anemia is a genetic disorder characterized by abnormal hemoglobin. One out of every 500 black children in the United States is affected by this disease. Eight to ten percent of the black population has the sickle-cell trait. While other hemoglobinopathies have been identified that also produce erythrocyte sickling and destruction, the discussion here is limited to sickle-cell anemia (Hb SS disease) and sickle-cell trait (Hb SA disease).
Using Hands-On Design Challenges in a Product Development Master's Degree Program

A design challenge has been developed as the first experience in a new Master's degree program in product development, offered by a consortium of schools: the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Rochester Institute of Technology, and the University of Detroit Mercy. The program admits experienced technical specialists who have been identified by their employers as future leaders of product development. The program begins with a brief, intense design challenge that exposes the students to a multi-disciplinary problem and initiates reflection on systems architecture and organizational processes. The unique requirements of hands-on design challenges for graduate education in product development are discussed from a constructionist viewpoint. Implementation details of the design challenge are presented and the results from the first two years are analyzed. Students in the program rate the design challenge as a very good introduction to the program and agree that the exercise provides material for discussion of system architecture and organizational processes.
The Politics of “Regulatory Unreasonableness”: Bardach and Kagan's Going by the Book

"The Problem of Regulatory Unreasonableness" is the subtitle of Eugene Bardach and Robert A. Kagan's volume entitled Going by the Book.' In 323 pages of text the authors offer 11 chapters grouped in 3 parts. Part 1 is "The Problem of Regulatory Unreasonableness"; part 2 is "Flexible Enforcement and Its Limits"; part 3 is "Indirect Regulation." A distinctive feature of this volume is its definition of and consequent focus on regulatory unreasonableness. Regulatory unreasonableness is defined casually (at 58) as "the imposition of uniform regulatory requirements in situations where they do not make sense." But the authors give a more exact definition earlier in the book: "A regulatory requirement is unreasonable if compliance would not yield the intended benefits . . . . Further, a regulatory requirement is unreasonable if compliance would entail costs that clearly exceed the resulting social benefits. . . . Finally, unreasonableness means cost-ineffectiveness" (at 6). Their summary is apt: "Basically, 'unreasonableness' involves economic inefficiency" (at 6). The authors define two kinds of economically inefficient and thus unreasonable regulatory requirements. These are "'rule-level unreasonableness,' which has to do with aggregate economic inefficiency, and 'site-level unreasonableness,' which has to do with particular encounters between enforcers and the regulated" (at 7). The extended analysis of site-level unreasonableness is a novel focus and especially commends this book. Arguments about the costs and benefits at the level of aggregate effects are, after all, relatively common (as Bardach and Kagan's many references illustrate). On the other hand, this book is to my knowledge the only extended analytical treatment of site-level reactions and frustrations to regulations that as applied are experienced as unreasonable. This has to do, then, with a "mosaic of person-
Admission and Congestion Control for Large-Scale Wireless Mesh Access Networks

An admission and congestion control scheme is proposed for large-scale wireless mesh access networks that stabilizes the network under heavy traffic loads within a cooperative and distributed medium access control framework. The scheme utilizes only local information available at the controlling router, and yet guarantees to deliver the data of the admitted user to the destination router unless the user is dropped over the first hop. We first show that the scheme can stabilize the network, and then demonstrate its stability properties through simulations. A high-fidelity and large-scale simulator is created that implements measurement-based models for radio signal propagation and interference calculation, and captures the stochastic network behavior resulting from random traffic arrivals, admission control, and queueing. Simulation results confirm that the scheme indeed stabilizes the network and thus provides stable per-session throughput under heavy traffic loads.
Quartic force fields for excited electronic states: rovibronic reference data for the 1 (2)A' and 1 (2)A″ states of the isoformyl radical, HOC.

Quartic force fields (QFFs) have been shown to be an effective, accurate, and relatively compact means of computing rovibrational spectroscopic data for numerous molecules with numerous applications. However, excited states have been nearly excluded from the this approach since most accurate QFFs are based on the “gold standard” coupled cluster singles, doubles, and perturbative triples [CCSD(T)] method which is not readily extended to excited states. In this work, rovibronic spectroscopic data is provided for the isoformyl radical, a molecule of significance in combustion and astrochemistry, both through the traditional means of variational access to excited states with CCSD(T) and in the novel extension of QFFs routinely to treat electronically excited states through the standard coupled cluster excited state approach, equation of motion (EOM) CCSD. It is shown here that the new EOM-based QFF provides structural parameters and rotational constants that are quite close to those from a related CCSD(T)-based QFF for the 1 2A″ excited state of HOC. The anharmonic vibrational frequency percent differences between the two QFFs are less than 0.4% for the O–H stretch, less than 1.9% for the C–O stretch, and around 3.0% for the bend. Even so, the pure excited state EOM-QFF anharmonic frequencies are still very good abinitio representations that may be applied to systems where electronically excited states are not variationally accessible. Additionally, rovibrational spectroscopic data is provided for the 1 2A′ ground state of HOC and for both the ground and excited state of DOC.
Folk Psychology and Moral Evaluation.

Assessments of an action done intentionally, as we might expect, influence judgments of moral responsibility. What we don’t expect is the converse – judgments of moral responsibility influencing assessments of whether an action was done intentionally. Yet this is precisely how people decide, according to Knobe and Mendlow and Nadelhoffer. Known as the biasing effect, I evaluate whether the studies actually support it. I argue that the studies are at best inconclusive and that even if they demonstrated that people fall under the biasing effect, such tendencies ought to have no bearing upon philosophical analyses of the concept of intentional action.
Extending T-mode canonical correlation analysis to T-mode pre-filtered canonical correlation analysis: a novel approach to discover shared patterns between two image time series

This article introduces T-mode pre-filtered canonical correlation analysis (CCA) as an extension to T-mode CCA for identifying recurring spatial patterns over time shared between two image time series. T-mode pre-filtered CCA does this by first pre-filtering the individual image time series using T-mode PCA and then identifying the joint spatial variability between the principal components of the two series. There are two major advantages of the T-mode pre-filtered CCA over the T-mode CCA. Since the T-mode principal components are orthogonal, estimation of the inverse matrix for CCA becomes possible when the original data sets are highly correlated, which is mostly true in the case of image time series. The second advantage is that reducing the dimensionality of the original data decreases the number of variables substantially (typically from hundreds down to less than 10) compared to the number of observations and thus resolves the statistical requirement for such methods to have substantially more obser...
The economics of waste water--Aquaculture systems

Due to recent environmental legislation and growing scarcities of popular seafoods, there is considerable interest in innovative systems that can strip nutrients biologically from waste water and produce potentially useful materials. While many variations of such systems exist, the systems described here are based on the secondary sewage-marine aquaculture system developed at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution with an option of using thermal effluent as a heat source. The design, performance and resulting costs of operational systems for commercial production scaled up by factors of ten, 100 and 1,000 are projected and compared. The largest of these systems would be able to handle the waste water from a city of 100,000 people. Despite uncertainties in the systems, our analysis shows that large-scale systems using sewage as a nutrient source and free heat from power plant effluent (or located in a warm climate) could be profitable.
A Blind Source Separation Approach to Structure from Motion

We present an alternate approach to the problem of structure from motion (SfM) with noisy point measurements. With no information available about the joint density of three-dimensional points, the assumption of independence is the only reasonable one. With this assumption alone, the process of the factorization of the observed projections of inaccurately measured 3 dimensional points into motion and shape matrices is a blind source separation (demixing) problem in the presence of noise. This approach is very general, allowing the extension of all previous work on source separation to be applied to SfM in an information theory context. A significant reduction in the error of the estimation of the motion and shape matrices over other methods is possible.
Response-dependent versus response-independent presentation of cocaine: Differences in the lethal effects of the drug.

The drug self-administration paradigm is routinely used to assess the abuse liability of psychoactive compounds. Investigations of the behavioral effects of drug use, however, often involve the response-independent (experiment-delivered) administration of the compound. It is frequently assumed that response-independent presentation of a compound has the same effects as response dependent deliveries. The present study examined directly the effects of response-dependent (self-administered) versus response-independent (experimenter-delivered) administration of cocaine on food intake and lethality. Littermate triads were exposed to either cocaine (0.33 mg/infusion) or saline using a yoked-box procedure. One member of the triad self-administered the drug under a fixed-ratio 2 schedule. The other two rats received response-independent infusions of either cocaine or saline. Groups of triads were exposed to two different cocaine access conditions. Daily sessions were terminated after 6 h for one group and after the delivery of 80 infusions for the other. The mean number of infusions delivered each session was 47 (+/- 12) and 70 (+/- 11), respectively, for the 6-h and 80-infusion condition. Under the 80-infusion condition, response-independent infusions of cocaine resulted in a significantly higher rate of mortality compared to littermates self-administering identical amounts of the drug. A fewer number of deaths occurred under 6-h condition; however, only rats exposed to response-independent infusions died under both access conditions. These data indicate that the presence or absence of response dependency can profoundly alter the lethal effects of cocaine.
Aging and motor variability: A test of the neural noise hypothesis

Experimental tests of the neural noise hypothesis of aging, which holds that aging-related increments in motor variability are due to increases in white noise in the perceptual-motor system, were conducted. Young (20-29 years old) and old (60-69 and 70-79 years old) adults performed several perceptual-motor tasks. Older adults were progressively more variable in their performance outcome, but there was no age-related difference in white noise in the motor output. Older adults had a greater frequency-dependent structure in their motor variability that was associated with performance decrements. The findings challenge the main tenet of the neural noise hypothesis of aging in that the increased variability of older adults was due to a decreased ability to adapt to the constraints of the task rather than an increment of neural noise per se.
Conditional probability amplitudes in wave mechanics

The total wave function of a system ψ(x, y) is expressed as a product of a marginal amplitude function f(y) and a conditional amplitude function ϕ(x | y). The original Schrodinger equation Hψ = Eψ is reduced to a Schrodinger equation for the marginal amplitude H′f = Ef. The factorization of ψ is in principle exact. It achieves a partial separation of the variables x and y.
Heavy‐chain variable regions in carcharhine sharks: Development of a comprehensive model for the evolution of VH domains among the gnathanstomes

We determined the sequence of 18 DNA clones encoding VH regions of sandbar shark and bull shark. All of these sequences exhibit key structural coding features characteristic of known VH genes of higher vertebrates. These VH sequences disclosed considerable diversity, and can be divided into six families according to the criterion of 80% DNA sequence identity. The overlapping of some VH gene clones to two or more families is a particular feature found in carcharhine sharks, which suggests that VH diversification is a continuing process. The basic sequence patterns of heavy-chain V regions found in all representative gnathanstomes and in VH of the shark heavy immunoglobulin IgW provides evidence for selection of canonical residues in all VH structures. Elasmobranch VH sequences can be divided into two classes or clans, one comprising the 'classical' VH set and the other comprising VHS related to those of IgW (V omega). Phylogenetic analyses place the VH cluster as the root of all the classic VHS and indicates that the V omega set is most probably that of the primordial heavy chain.
Supersolid He 4 likely has nearly isotropic superflow

We extend previous calculations of the zero temperature upper bound for the superfluid fraction ${f}_{s}$ vs localization, from the fcc lattice to the experimentally realized (for solid $^{4}\mathrm{He}$) hcp and bcc lattices. The superfluid velocity is assumed to be a one-body function, and dependent only on the local density, taken to be a sum over sites of Gaussians of width $\ensuremath{\sigma}$. Localization is defined as $\ensuremath{\sigma}∕d$, with $d$ the nearest-neighbor distance. As expected, for fcc and bcc lattices the superfluid density tensor is proportional to the unit tensor. To numerical accuracy of three places (but no more), the hcp superfluid density tensor is proportional to the unit tensor. This implies that a larger spread in data on ${f}_{s}$, if measured on pure crystals, is unlikely to be due to crystal orientation. In addition, to three decimal places (but no more) the curves of ${f}_{s}$ vs $\ensuremath{\sigma}∕d$ are the same for both the hcp and fcc cases. An expected value for the localization gives an ${f}_{s}$ in reasonable agreement with experiment. The bcc lattice has a similar curve of ${f}_{s}$ vs $\ensuremath{\sigma}∕d$, but is generally smaller because the lattice is more dilute.
Metabolism of limonoids in calamondin: Conversion of calamin to cyclocalamin

Abstract [ 14 C] Calamin fed to the detached stem of calamondin ( Citrus reticulata var. austere x Fortunella sp) seedlings was metabolized to cyclocalamin.
Rosiglitazone works synergistically with gemcitabine to induce cell death in pancreas cancer cell lines

Advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a currently incurable disease. Gemcitabine has been used as front line therapy with minimal success. Here we investigated whether combination of gemcitabine with compounds that may act through diverse pathways (thiazolidenediones, her-2/neu +/− EGFR inhibitors) can enhance gemcitabine's cytotoxic activity in human pancreatic cancer cell lines. Cell survival was measured by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT) proliferation assay. We found that rosiglitazone, a thiazolidinedione, at its IC50 (50μM) significantly enhanced gemcitabine cytotoxic activity (IC50: 10 μM alone vs. 0.7 μM in the presence of rosiglitazone, see Fig 1) after a 72 hour incubation in SL pancreatic cancer cells. The pathways involved in this synergy are being investigated by western blot, gel retardation, and lucipherase assays in order to assess the status of target genes. We conclude that the combination of novel agents such as rosiglitazone with classical chemotherapy agents such as gemcitabine may lead to new chemotherapy regimens with greater efficacy and lower toxicity. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2004) 75, P61–P61; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2003.11.231 Figure 1. Download figure to PowerPoint
Latest lymphoma classification is skin deep

Comment on Willemze et al, page [3768][1] Cutaneous lymphomas have a distinct natural history that requires a separate classification system, as put forward by Willemze and colleagues in this issue of Blood . Primary cutaneous lymphomas are the second most common type of extranodal lymphoma (
Crystal and molecular structure of trans-(tricarbonyl)bis(trans-2,2,3,4,4-pentamethyl-1-phenylphosphetane)iron

The title compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space groupP21/a witha=13.092(2) A,b=15.853(2) A,c=15.406(3) A,β=103.00(1)°,V=3116(1) A3, andDcalc=1.237 g cm−3 forZ=4. The structure was solved by direct methods, and refined to a finalR value of 0.057. The phosphetane ligands adopt a nonlinear trans relationship. The four-membered rings are non-planar and have different flap angles of 6.1 and 20.3°. Virtual coupling is evident in the13C NMR spectrum of the title compound. Comparison of the13C NMR spectral data of this molecule with the parent phosphine ligand, the ligand oxide, and the mono-phosphine iron complex is provided.
An equity first, risk-based framework for managing global climate change

Abstract This paper presents an alternative framework to the approach currently embodied in the Kyoto Protocol for managing global climate change post-2012. The framework has two key provisions. The first is that each person in the world would be ‘allowed’ an equal amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This is labeled the equity-first provision. The second provision focuses on incorporating risk concepts into the setting of GHG emission reductions. It is proposed that the global climate be managed as to avoid three categories of risks: (I) Substantial regional economic, political, and/or biological impacts; (II) Severe global economic, political, and/or biological impacts; and (III) Extinction of humans. Acceptable risk thresholds are suggested to be one-in-a-million, one-in-one-hundred-million, and one-in-ten-billion, respectively. This equity-first, risk-based framework overcomes many criticisms of the current Kyoto Protocol: it explicitly involves all countries on earth; it avoids several administrative issues that are anticipated to plague a global carbon emissions trading market; and it avoids several contentious issues associated with pegging carbon emission reductions to 1990 levels. Because the framework is risk-based and emissions are tied to population and not historic emission levels, the basic framework would not have to be frequently renegotiated, as will be needed for the Kyoto-style approach to take the world past that agreement's 2012 endpoint.
Melting and phase transitions of nitrogen under high pressures and temperatures

Dense nitrogen exhibits fascinating molecular and extended polymorphs as well as an anomalous melt maximum at high temperatures. However, the exact solid-liquid phase boundary is still the subject of debate, as both creating and probing hot dense nitrogen, solid and fluid alike, poses unique experimental challenges. Raman studies of nitrogen were performed to investigate the melting curve and solid-solid phase transitions in the pressure-temperature range of 25 to 103 GPa and 300 to 2000 K. The solid-liquid phase boundary has been probed with time-resolved Raman spectroscopy on ramp heated nitrogen in diamond anvil cell (DAC), showing a melting maximum at 73 GPa and 1690 K. The solid-solid phase boundaries have been measured with spatially resolved micro-confocal Raman spectroscopy on resistively heated DAC, probing the δ-ɛ phase line to 47 GPa and 914 K. At higher pressures the θ-phase was produced upon a repeated thermal heating of the ζ-phase, yet no evidence was found for the ι-phase. Hence, the present results signify the path dependence of dense nitrogen phases and provide new constraints for the phase diagram.
Parameters of gaseous ion effects on the mammalian trachea. A. Duration of effects. B. Minimal effective ion densities.

A. Duration of Effects Groups of mice exposed to high densities of unipolar light air ions for 72 hours exhibited persistent alterations in the functional efficiency of their tracheas. These effects lasted at least 4 weeks, and in the case of animals treated with (+) ions included diminished ciliary activity, pale and contracted tracheal mucosa, and enhanced vulnerability to trauma. Following treatment with (-) ions, animals displayed increased ciliary activity with no other detectable changes. It required at least 60 minutes of exposure to ions to induce such "permanent" functional changes. B. Minimal Effective Ion Densities The minimal ion densities producing changes in ciliary activity within an arbitrary period of 30 minutes were determined with extirpated tracheal strips from rabbits and guinea pigs. The threshold value for (-) ions was approximately 2.5 x 103 ions/cm.2/sec. and that for (+) ions was in the range between 1 x 104 and 2.5 x 105 ions/cm.2. The minimal ion densities producing changes in ciliary activity within an arbitrary period of 30 minutes were determined with extirpated tracheal strips from rabbits and guinea pigs. The threshold value for (-) ions was approximately 2.5 x 103 ions/cm.2/sec. and that for (+) ions was in the range between 1 x 104 and 2.5 x 105 ions/cm.2. The evidence indicates that ion-induced functional changes in the ciliated epithelium of the pulmonary tree are the results of direct contact of ions with surface cells and do not involve participation of the central nervous system or circulation. So far as ciliary activity is concerned, the number of ions required to produce a change in rate is very small.
Necrotizing infection of the spine.

STUDY DESIGN: Case report of multifocal necrotizing fasciitis with lumbar involvement. OBJECTIVES: To raise awareness of an unusual, but potential, focus of a multifocal necrotizing infection in a diabetic patient. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Necrotizing fasciitis is a rapidly spreading infection of the soft tissue and fascia. These infections can be polymicrobial, are challenging to treat, and often have grave consequences. The spine may rarely be involved in such infections. METHODS: We describe a patient with long-standing diabetic foot ulcers, which evolved to a necrotizing infection. This infection spread hematogenously to several noncontiguous locations, including the lumbar spine, and was heralded by gas production at the sites of involvement. The spine was treated aggressively and infection eradicated at this site. RESULTS: Despite eradicating the spinal component of this infection, other sites were challenging to clear, and the patient went on to die of multisystem organ failure. CONCLUSIONS: Necrotizing infections rarely involve the spine. Heightened awareness of this potential focus of infection may facilitate its detection. As with other sites, aggressive surgical debridement of this potentially fatal condition is imperative.
Computational design of active, self-reinforcing gels.

Many living organisms have evolved a protective mechanism that allows them to reversibly alter their stiffness in response to mechanical contact. Using theoretical modeling, we design a mechanoresponsive polymer gel that exhibits a similar self-reinforcing behavior. We focus on cross-linked gels that contain Ru(terpy)2 units, where both terpyridine ligands are grafted to the chains. The Ru(terpy)2 complex forms additional, chemoresponsive cross-links that break and re-form in response to a repeated oxidation and reduction of the Ru. In our model, the periodic redox variations of the anchored metal ion are generated by the Belousov−Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction. Our computer simulations reveal that compression of the BZ gel leads to a stiffening of the sample due to an increase in the cross-link density. These findings provide guidelines for designing biomimetic, active coatings that send out a signal when the system is impacted and use this signaling process to initiate the self-protecting behavior.
CNS biochemical and pharmacological effects of the isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane (lindane) in the mouse.

Abstract γ-Hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH), the active ingredient of the insecticide lindane, has been shown to be a seizure-inducing agent in mammals. γ-HCH and two non-convulsant isomers of HCH (α and δ) were compared as to their CNS-related pharmacological and biochemical effects. γ-HCH was a potent seizure-inducing agent in mice while the α or the δ isomer significantly decreased mouse motor activity. Acute administration of γ-HCH increased the severity of seizure activity of either pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) or picrotoxin (PIC). However, acute exposure to α- or δ-HCH inhibited the seizure activity due to PTZ but increased that of PIC. γ-, α-, and δ-HCH inhibited the binding of 3H-TBOB (a ligand for the GABA-A receptor linked chloride channel) to mouse whole brain membranes with IC50 values of 4.6, 20.0, and 31.8 μ m , respectively. All three isomers were weak inhibitors of GABA-stimulated uptake of 36Cl into mouse brain neurosynaptosome preparations in vitro, being much less potent than PIC, an agent known to act at the chloride channel. At concentrations producing no effect by itself, γ-HCH increased the effect of PIC on GABA-stimulated chloride uptake. In combination with PTZ, the δ and α isomers decreased the effect of PTZ in vitro while the γ isomer increased the effects of PTZ. These effects correspond to observations made on seizure activity. The results show that the non-seizure-inducing isomers of HCH have biochemical and pharmacological effects in the CNS which differ from those of the insecticidally relevant γ isomer. The actions of the HCH isomers in the CNS appear to be mediated, at least in part, through GABA-A receptor linked chloride channel sites.
Idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome in children and adolescents.

Purpose A retrospective review of a single institution's experience with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in children and adolescents was performed to evaluate management and outcomes in an effort to establish a treatment protocol. Methods All patients diagnosed with idiopathic CTS from ages 1 to 16 years of age between 1983 and 2013 were reviewed. The results of diagnostic testing and efficacy of therapeutic interventions were analyzed. The Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire was sent to all patients following medical or surgical management. Results A total of 20 patients with 31 involved wrists met criteria for entrance into the study. The mean age at diagnosis was 14.4 years. Orthosis fabrication was used as the initial treatment in 30 of 31 wrists and was successful in completely alleviating symptoms in 9 of 30 wrists. A steroid injection was performed in 11 of 31 wrists, completely relieving symptoms in 5 of 11 wrists. Carpal tunnel release was performed in 10 of 31 wrists. Following surgery, patients had complete relief of symptoms in 5 of 10 wrists and partial relief of symptoms in 5 of 10 wrists. Questionnaire response incidence was 55% (11 of 20), with an average long-term follow-up of 17.6 years. Eight questionnaire respondents continued to have mild to moderate symptoms while performing activities of daily living. Conclusions Once metabolic, anatomical, and hereditary causes of pediatric CTS are ruled out, a reasonable treatment course should follow that of adults with orthosis fabrication, followed by injection, and then surgery for those that are refractory to nonsurgical treatment. Type of study/level of evidence Prognostic IV.
The nociception flexion (R‐III) reflex: A potentially useful tool in exercise and pain studies

Abstract There is a need to better understand relationships between physical activity and pain. Improvements in understanding often stem from methodological advancements. This paper provides an overview of the nociception flexion reflex. The nociception flexion, or R‐III, reflex is a tool that has been fruitfully employed in studies of pain, but has not yet been used much in studies involving physical activity and pain. The methodology of the nociception flexion reflex is described and selected methodological concerns discussed. A brief description of the nociceptive system is included to provide a context for interpreting nociception flexion reflex data. Factors that have been shown empirically to modify the R‐III reflex are summarized. Many of these experiments also provide validity evidence for the reflex as a measure of a portion of the nociceptive system. The relatively few sport, exercise, and physical activity studies that have used the nociception flexion reflex are reviewed. Suggestions are made ...
EPR spectra of argento-cyanide and diargento-cyanide radicals trapped in K3Ag(CN)4 crystals

Abstract Three paramagnetic entities, all electronic doublets, have been detected by EPR spectroscopy in γ-irradiated single crystals of K3Ag(CN)4 at 100 K. The g and 107Ag hyperfine interaction tensors have been measured and located in the crystal structure. One of the species is identified as Ag(CN)33−, a planar radical having the unpaired electron principally confined to a Ag 5p orbital oriented perpendicular to the symmetry plane. A second mononuclear cyanide is a AgII species, probably Ag(CN)42− or Ag(CN)53−. The third radical, formed upon annealing and further y irradiation contained two equivalent Ag nuclei and is believed to be a centrosymmetric species Ag2(CN)67−.
Origins of baseline variance and the Law of Initial Values

The Law of Initial Value (LIV) asserts that the magnitude of a phasic psychophysiological response is dependent on the initial baseline level. Although results in accord with the LIV are often observed, exceptions are frequent, especially for between-subjects analyses. A general assumption in studies of the LIV is that a given baseline difference is equivalent regardless of its functional origin. The present study examined the relationships between basal heart period variance, arising from alternate sources, and the magnitude of the chronotropic response to a speech stressor. Results reveal that baseline differences due to orthostatic manipulations, which are known to be largely of autonomic origin, yielded larger LIV effects than did individual differences in basal heart period, which include a significant nonautonomic component. The minimal LIV-like effects of baseline differences associated with non-autonomic factors, relative to variations in autonomic control, may contribute to the inconsistent appearance of between-subjects LIV effects.
Screening, characterization, and cloning of the gene for N-carbamyl-D-amino acid amidohydrolase from thermotolerant soil bacteria.

For the production of D-amino acids, thermotolerant bacteria producing N-carbamyl-D-amino acid amidohydrolase were isolated from soil by enrichment culture at 45°C with N-carbamyl-D-amino acids as the sole nitrogen source. The enzyme activities and substrate specificities of these strains were examined by the resting cells reaction. One of the enzymes, produced by Pseudomonas sp. strain KNK003A, was purified and characterized, and the amino acids of its N-terminal region were sequenced. A DNA fragment containing the gene for a thermostable N-carbamyl-D-amino acid amidohydrolase was then cloned into Escherichia coli. The gene encoded a peptide of 312 amino acids, with a calculated molecular weight of 35,000. The similarity of the deduced amino acid sequences of this enzyme and a related enzyme from a mesophile, Agrobacterium sp. strain KNK712, was 60%. A database was searched for similar sequences.
Nanometer tracking of single quantum dot array fluorescence : Application to bone biomechanics

We report the use of spatial arrays of single quantum dots (QD) as fluorescent probes to quantify deformations and displacements of bone tissue components (e.g. collagen and carbonated apatite) at the nanometer to micrometer level under mechanical load. Quantum dot bright emission and robustness allow nanometer localization and motion tracking by center of gravity (COG) analysis. Coupons of milled cortical bone are loaded in a purpose-built dynamic mechanical loading system that fits on a microscope stage. We used QD streptavidin conjugates to label the bone specimen prior to mechanical loading. COG of the laser-induced QD fluorescence diffraction spot is measured and tracked in real time (<0.1 sec) as the tissue is loaded quasi-statically. The technique has been validated by comparing the average values of tangent elastic moduli obtained by the QD/COG method to measurements made with an attached micro-strain gage and a calibrated load cell. Two or more colors of QD can be used to measure relative motions of different bone tissue components, as well as to measure small out-of-plane motions that cannot be detected otherwise.
L2 Earth atmosphere observatory : formation guidance, metrology, and control synthesis

The Earth Observatory Formation at L2, a Lagrange libration point, is a unique large aperture (25 m diameter) space telescope concept that will improve the knowledge and understanding of dynamic, chemical and radiative mechanisms that cause changes in the atmosphere, and can lead to the development of models and techniques to predict short and long-term climate changes. The results of this concept definition study show that the telescope concept is feasible, and can have technology readiness in the 2020 time frame. Further advanced development in several subsystems is needed, such as higher efficiency Xenon ion thrusters with throttling, and optical quality large membrane mirror with active shape control. It presents an analysis and solution of guidance, sensing, control, and propulsion problems for a formation of two spacecraft on the Sun-Earth line in the neighborhood of the Sun-Earth L2 point, that observes Earth s atmosphere during continuous solar occultation by the Earth. A system architecture is described for the observatory, and its components that include unique mission specific metrology. The formation must follow a powered trajectory with strictly limited fuel use to observe solar occultation. A configuration of ion thrusters and reaction wheels for translation and attitude control is designed along with algorithms for orbit following and formation control. Simulation results of the orbital and formation dynamics are presented that verify performance of the control systems.
The Role of Offshore Convergence on Coastal Rainfall during TAMEX IOP 3

Abstract The role of offshore convergence on the coastal rainfall maximum along the northwestern coast of Taiwan is analyzed based on TAMEX (Taiwan Area Mesoscale Experiment) data and numerical experiments using the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research (PSU–NCAR) Mesoscale Model (MM5). From a case study during TAMEX IOP 3, moderate rainfalls (∼40 mm h–1) are observed along the northwestern coast of Taiwan associated with the arrival of three rainbands in succession during 1000–1600 LST. These rainbands form over the Taiwan Strait with northeast–southwest or north–south orientation. They intensify off the northwestern coast. There is a tendency for the most intense echoes to align in a northeast–southwest orientation off the northwestern coast. An orographically enhanced convergence zone with a northeast–southwest orientation occurs in the area where the deflected southerly flow converges with the prevailing southwesterly flow that is modified by the storm...
Delivery Strategies for Stem Cell-Based Therapy

Before stem cell-based therapies can become a clinical reality, technologies for cell delivery must be developed that can control differentiation and pluripotency, maintain a hospitable environment for cell survival and function, and provide a structural framework for regenerative healing of the target tissue. Insights gained from developmental and stem cell biology should guide the design of devices and techniques to facilitate stem cell-based therapies. Several strategies have been developed for surgical delivery of stem cells, including synthetic and biologic matrices for cell seeding, complex biochemical delivery devices for maintenance and modulation of stem cell properties, and smart constructs with the ability to adapt to the dynamic in vivo environment after implantation. In aggregate, surgical delivery of complex stem cell-seeded constructs has the potential to revolutionize surgical therapies for a wide range of diseases in order to provide a more regenerative platform for tissue and organ healing.
Central mechanism of umami taste perception and effect of dietary protein on the preference for amino acids and sodium chloride in rats

Abstract Preference for amino acids can take two basic forms. The first may be associated with dietary deficiencies of specific essential amino acids and would be expected to favor the ingestion of that particular amino acid. This preference would disappear once the deficiency was corrected. The other type may bear some resemblance to changes in preference for sweet, salty, and umami taste solutions during nutritional manipulation of basic macro‐ or micronutrient substitutes such as carbohydrates, proteins, or minerals. These preferences would depend upon the specific nutrient imbalance. Although many studies have examined taste preference changes following manipulations in micronutrient status, very few have examined taste preference changes following alterations in the quality or quantity of dietary protein due to maintenance of amino acids homeostasis and adaptation to various states of protein nutrition. Data from our studies using a bovine circumvallate preparation suggest the following: 1) the bioch...
COUNTING HOUSEWORK - NEW ESTIMATES OF REAL PRODUCT IN THE UNITED-STATES, 1800-1860

Women engaged primarily in the provision of domestic services for family members make important contributions to total output. This article provides estimates of the size and sectoral allocation of the nonmarket household work force in the United States between 1800 and 1860. Those estimates are then used as a basis for several alternative imputations of the value of these women's work, which modify the historical picture of economic growth over this period.
Pion cross section parametrizations for intermediate energy, nucleus-nucleus collisions

Space radiation and cosmic ray transport codes require simple and accurate models for hadron production in intermediate energy, nucleus-nucleus collisions. Several arithmetic parametrization models for pion production are compared to laboratory frame data. It is found that models based on high energy parametrizations are unable to describe intermediate energy, differential cross section data. However, simple thermal model parametrizations, when appropriately transformed from the center of momentum to the laboratory frame, are able to account for the data. Heavy ion transport codes that require algebraic cross section formulas can therefore use arithmetic parametrizations at high energy, but should use thermal model parametrizations at intermediate energy.
Response of Axially Stressed Edge-Illuminated Holographic Gratings in PQ/PMMA Photopolymers

A free-space unslanted, edge-illuminated, tunable Bragg filter in Phenanthrenquinone doped Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PQPMMA) operating at 1550 nm has been realized with a tuning range larger than 4 nm. The grating is ~1 cm long with a rejection efficiency of ~90% and a full-width at half-maximum spectral width of ~0.35 nm in its unstressed state. The tunability of the grating was achieved by stretching and compressing the sample.
Darwin’s second “abominable mystery”: Why are there so many angiosperm species?

The rapid diversification and ecological dominance of the flowering plants beg the question "Why are there so many angiosperm species and why are they so successful?" A number of equally plausible hypotheses have been advanced in response to this question, among which the most widely accepted highlights the mutually beneficial animal-plant relationships that are nowhere better developed nor more widespread than among angiosperm species and their biotic vectors for pollination and dispersal. Nevertheless, consensus acknowledges that there are many other attributes unique to or characteristic of the flowering plants. In addition, the remarkable coevolution of the angiosperms and pollination/dispersal animal agents could be an effect of the intrinsic adaptability of the flowering plants rather than a primary cause of their success, suggesting that the search for underlying causes should focus on an exploration of the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that might facilitate adaptive evolution and speciation. Here, we explore angiosperm diversity promoting attributes in their general form and draw particular attention to those that, either individually or collectively, have been shown empirically to favor high speciation rates, low extinction rates, or broad ecological tolerances. Among these are the annual growth form, homeotic gene effects, asexual/sexual reproduction, a propensity for hybrid polyploidy, and apparent "resistance" to extinction. Our survey of the literature suggests that no single vegetative, reproductive, or ecological feature taken in isolation can account for the evolutionary success of the angiosperms. Rather, we believe that the answer to Darwin's second "abominable mystery" lies in a confluence of features that collectively make the angiosperms unique among the land plants.
Sensor Network Self-Organization Using Random Graphs

Sensor networks are deployed in, and react with, chaotic environments. Self-organizing peer-to-peer networks have admirable survivability characteristics. This chapter discusses random network formalisms for designing, modeling, and analyzing survivable sensor networks. Techniques are given for determining critical values. Applications in system security and surveillance networks are given.
AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH FOR CO2 FLUX CORRECTION CAUSED BY HEAT AND WATER VAPOUR TRANSFER

Energy and CO2 fluxes are commonly measured above plant canopies using an eddy covariance system that consists of a three-dimensional sonic anemometer and an H2O/CO2 infrared gas analyzer. By assuming that the dry air is conserved and inducing mean vertical velocity, Webb et al. (Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc. 106, 85-100, 1980) obtained two equations to account for density effects due to heat and water vapour transfer on H2O/CO2 fluxes. In this paper, directly starting with physical consideration of air-parcel expansion/compression, we derive two alternative equations to correct for these effects that do not require the assumption that dry air is conserved and the use of the mean vertical velocity. We then applied these equations to eddy flux observations from a black spruce forest in interior Alaska during the summer of 2002. In this ecosystem, the equations developed here led to increased estimates of CO2 uptake by the vegetation during the day (up to about 20%), and decreased estimates of CO2 respiration by the ecosystem during the night (approximately 4%) as compared with estimates obtained using the Webb et al. approach.