cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Histogenesis of the nuclei griseum pontis, corporis pontobulbaris and reticularis tegmenti pontis (Bechterew) in the mouse. An autoradiographic study.

By means of autoradiography the time, site of origin and migration pathways of neuroblasts destined for three nuclei in the hindbrain of the mouse have been determined. The cells of the nuclei griseum pontis and corporis pontobulbaris arise on gestation days 12 through 16 in the rhombic lip from the obex to the lateral recess. Most cells migrate within 48 hours via the pontobulbar body to the base of the pons to form the nucleus griseum pontis; some migrate only a short distance along the pathway and collectively form the nucleus corporis pontobulbaris. Most cells of the nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis (Bechterew) arise in the primitive basal ependymal plate of the pons on gestation days 12 and 13 and migrate ventrally into the tegmentum. Some probably arise at the rhombic lip and migrate via the pontobulbar body to the base of the pontine flexure where they turn dorsally into the tegmentum.
Characterization of the Cx32/hDlg Complex and its Role in Tumor Suppression

Gap junctions provide an intercellular pathway for the propagation of signals, which are necessary for cellular differentiation and development, metabolic homeostasis, and in excitable tissue, electrical coupling. This exchange of electrical and molecular signals allows individual cell events to synchronize into the functional response of an entire organ. Previous studies indicate that the disruption of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) leads to a loss of growth control that contributes to the development of human cancer. The most direct evidence supporting the role of GJIC in transformation involved the introduction of the gap junction protein connexin32 (Cx32) into communication-deficient human tumors and tumor cell lines. Cx32 resulted in restoration of GJIC in liver epithelial and glioma cells leading to an inhibition of tumorigenicity. In this study, we are focusing on the intermolecular interactions that define the Cx32 structure when associated with the tumor suppressor protein human Discs Large (hDlg). Previously, we have shown that Cx32 interacts with the C-terminal half of hDlg, and in the absence of this interaction, hDlg aberrantly localizes to the nucleus. Using the yeast two-hybrid and HA Tag IP/Co-IP assays, we are defining the minimal region of hDlg required for the Cx32/hDlg interaction. Additionally, studies have reported that Cx32 can also interact with another MAGUK family member, Zonula Occludens-1 (ZO-1). ZO-1 interacts with other connexins via its PDZ2 domain; therefore, we are investigating the interaction between Cx32 and ZO-1 to identify if a common mechanism of binding exists with hDlg. These data provide new insights into the regulation of MAGUK family scaffolding proteins and Cx32 interactions.
Virus Particles and Murine Leukemia Virus Complement-Fixing Antigen in Neoplastic and Nonneoplastic Cell Lines

Twenty-seven lines of murine tissue cultures derived from 12 different cell pools and grown on various media were examined with the electron microscope for morphologically detectable virus particles. They were also tested for complement-fixing mouse leukemia virus antigens and for recoverable virus. A 100-percent correlation between results obtained by these two methods is reported.An additional 19 lines from 8 different cell pools were examined for either virus particles or complement-fixing antigens. All lines were assayed for neoplastic transformation. Seven cell pools gave rise to lines showing evidence of contamination with leukemia virus. Since most of these lines had also undergone "spontaneous" neoplastic transformation in vitro, this virus cannot be excluded as a possible cause of the neoplastic change, or of influencing it. The remaining cell pools gave rise to lines with no evidence of contamination with leukemia virus;but most of these lines also underwent similar transformation. These results suggest that "spontaneous" neoplastic transformation can occur in the absence of detectable mouse leukemia virus.
Family Ties: Communicating Identity Through Jointly Told Family Stories This paper is based on the author's dissertation study and was presented on the Top Four Panel of the Family Communication Division at the National Communication Association Convention, November 2003, Miami, FL.

Family stories work to construct family identity. Little research, however, has examined storytelling in families. This study examined storytelling content and process to assess the extent to which families jointly integrated or fragmented a shared sense of identity and how these discursive practices relate to family qualities. Results of a study involving 58 family triads indicate relationships between story theme (e.g., accomplishment vs. stress), person referencing practices (e.g., we-ness vs. separateness), and interactional storytelling behaviors (e.g., engagement, turn-taking). Moreover, story framing, perspective-taking, statements about selves-in-the-family, and identifying as a “storytelling family” emerged consistently as positive predictors of family satisfaction and functioning. The results offer a portrait of how families communicate identity and functioning in joint storytelling interactions and further position storytelling as a communication phenomenon worthy of consideration.
Implicit finite-difference simulations of seismic wave propagation

We propose a new finite-difference modeling method, implicit both in space and in time, for the scalar wave equation. We use a three-level implicit splitting time integration method for the temporal derivative and implicit finite-difference operators of arbitrary order for the spatial derivatives. Both the implicit splitting time integration method and the implicit spatial finite-difference operators require solving systems of linear equations. We show that it is possible to merge these two sets of linear systems, one from implicit temporal discretizations and the other from implicit spatial discretizations, to reduce the amount of computations to develop a highly efficient and accurate seismic modeling algorithm. We give the complete derivations of the implicit splitting time integration method and the implicit spatial finite-difference operators, and present the resulting discretized formulas for the scalar wave equation. We conduct a thorough numerical analysis on grid dispersions of this new implicit ...
Double-Blind Fluoxetine Trial in Comorbid MDD-CUD Youth and Young Adults

Abstract Objective This study compared the acute phase (12-week) efficacy of fluoxetine versus placebo for the treatment of the depressive symptoms and the cannabis use of adolescents and young adults with comorbid major depression (MDD) and a cannabis use disorder (CUD) (cannabis dependence or cannabis abuse). We hypothesized that fluoxetine would demonstrate efficacy versus placebo for the treatment of the depressive symptoms and the cannabis use of adolescents and young adults with comorbid MDD/CUD. Methods We conducted the first double-blind placebo-controlled study of fluoxetine in adolescents and young adults with comorbid MDD/CUD. All participants in both treatment groups also received manual-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivation enhancement therapy (MET) during the 12-week course of the study. Results Fluoxetine was well tolerated in this treatment population. No significant group-by-time interactions were noted for any depression-related or cannabis-use related outcome variable over the 12-week study. Subjects in both the fluoxetine group and the placebo group showed significant within-group improvement in depressive symptoms and in number of DSM diagnostic criteria for a CUD. Large magnitude decreases in depressive symptoms were noted in both treatment groups, and end-of-study levels of depressive symptoms were low in both treatment groups. Conclusions Fluoxetine did not demonstrate greater efficacy than placebo for treating either the depressive symptoms or the cannabis-related symptoms of our study sample of comorbid adolescents and young adults. The lack of a significant between-group difference in these symptoms may reflect limited medication efficacy, or may result from efficacy of the CBT/MET psychotherapy or from limited sample size.
Dynamic pricing and inventory control: robust vs. stochastic uncertainty models—a computational study

In this paper, we consider a variety of models for dealing with demand uncertainty for a joint dynamic pricing and inventory control problem in a make-to-stock manufacturing system. We consider a multi-product capacitated, dynamic setting, where demand depends linearly on the price. Our goal is to address demand uncertainty using various robust and stochastic optimization approaches. For each of these approaches, we first introduce closed-loop formulations (adjustable robust and dynamic programming), where decisions for a given time period are made at the beginning of the time period, and uncertainty unfolds as time evolves. We then describe models in an open-loop setting, where decisions for the entire time horizon must be made at time zero. We conclude that the affine adjustable robust approach performs well (when compared to the other approaches such as dynamic programming, stochastic programming and robust open loop approaches) in terms of realized profits and protection against constraint violation while at the same time it is computationally tractable. Furthermore, we compare the complexity of these models and discuss some insights on a numerical example.
Solar flares as resulting from the temporary interruption of energy flow to the corona: A case of hydromagnetic resonance

The hypothesis that solar flares may be caused by a choking off of the normal energy flux to the corona by the strong closed magnetic fields of a plage is examined. If the energy flux into a plage from the photosphere is of the order of 108 ergs/cm2 sec, and if a substantial fraction of this energy is carried in the form of Alfven waves, then the rate of dissipation of the waves is slower than the rate at which energy is injected. Since the waves must propagate along the magnetic field and cannot reenter the photosphere, they must remain within the plage; hence, the magnetic and kinetic energy in a small-scale motion (either waves, turbulence, or high-energy particles) must increase with time, eventually causing disruption of the volume when the small-scale energy density exceeds the energy in the mean field. It is believed that the unusually broad wings in the emission lines represent evidence of this phenomenon. The accumulation of waves is manifested as a resonance which occurs initially only at discrete locations in the magnetic field, but later is expected to involve the whole flare volume. The response of a typical volume of flare dimensions due to a trapping of the normal wave supply to the corona is studied through use of the virial equation. For magnetic fields typical of a plage, the region expands in a time scale of 102–103 sec, with a velocity in the neighborhood of 10–20 km/sec. Small-scale velocities within the region, however, have reached 100–300 km/sec, indicating that almost all the energy in the flare resides in small-scale forms. The energy density of the flare region exhibits a behavior much more explosive than the expansion rate. There is a rapid rise to maximum in 102 sec or less, and a slow subsequent decline taking about 103–104 sec due to the dilution of energy caused by expansion of the region. The predicted temporal behavior of the energy density coincides qualitatively with the light curves observed during flares, and it is suggested that the rise and decline of the energy density is to be associated with the optical flare. The total flare is defined as the time required for the energy density of the chromosphere and corona to return to the pre-flare state. During this time (about one hour) a large flare can derive the necessary 1032 ergs from normal photospheric energy output.
Indices of Corporate Reputation: An Analysis of Media Rankings and Social Monitors' Ratings

Corporate reputational rankings and ratings are proliferating. This article examines a variety of corporate reputational rankings published by various general media, specialized publications and social monitors. We compare these reputational rankings and ratings in terms of their methodologies, the criteria they rely on to assess companies, and their results. The analysis reinforces the need for a more coherent conceptual framework to assess corporate reputations.
Measurement of intracellular chloride activity in mouse liver slices with microelectrodes

Abstract Steady-state membrane potential (Vm) and intracellular Cl− activity (aCli) were measured with double-barreled Cl−-selective microelectrodes in mouse liver slices. In bathing solutions (33.8° C) containing pyruvate, glutamate, fumarate, and glucose, Vm and aCli were −27.6 ± 1.0 mV and 32.6 ± 1.5 mM, respectively. This apparent value of aCli exceeded the level required for passive distribution of this ion (aCleq = 26.4 ± 1.3 mM) by 6.2 ± 1.0 mM. This difference was essentially unchanged in experiments where (i) Na+ was replaced by choline, (ii) HCO3− was removed, and (iii) Cl− was replaced by gluconate. These data argue against the presence of Na+- or HCO3−-coupled Cl− transport mechanisms in the plasma membrane of mouse liver cells. This implies that aCli is in fact at equilibrium and interference with the response of Cl−-selective microelectrodes by intracellular anions is responsible for the apparent difference between aCli and aCleq. We found that Cl−-selective microelectrodes containing Corning 477315 ligand are sensitive to taurocholate, a representative bile salt. Their selectivity to taurocholate is about 60-times their selectivity towards Cl−. This suggests that interference of bile acids at concentrations normally present in hepatocytes with determinations of aCli can account for the apparent difference aCli − aCleq.
Chemical differentiation in relation to the morphology of the single-needle pinyons.

Abstract Wood of single-needle pinyon pines ( P. monophylla —including subsp. monophylla , subsp. fallax and subsp, californiarum ) was sampled from 363 trees in 35 localities throughout their range in the southwestern United States and Baja California (Mexico) and was analysed for monoterpene composition. The results for populations of P. monophylla subsp. fallax from the southern part of its range approached to a limited extent P. discolor , suggesting either a limited introgression or parallel evolution. An isolated population of subsp, californiarum from Sierra la Asamblea (Baja California) produced 41% β-pinene, vs P. monophylla , while no morphological differences were detected between this population and others of the same subspecies. Statistical analysis of the monoterpene data for the P. monophylla taxa separated the populations of subsp, californiarum from the rest; the other two taxa separated only partially from each other. The fat content of the megagametophyte placed subsp. californiarum between subsp, monophylla and subsp, fallax , while composition of fatty acids separated P. edulis from P. monophylla , with the subspecies of the latter indistinguishable from each other. Quantitative morphological work indicated P. edulis to be the most distinct taxon, with subsp, fallax and subsp, californiarum closest and with subsp, monophylla in an intermediate position but substantially closer to the last two taxa. Although the taxonomic implications of the quantitative morphological and chemical data were sometimes contradictory, the results seemed best expressed by treatment of the single-needle pinyons as a single species, P. monophylla , comprised of three subspecies- monophylla, fallax and californiarum .
Neuroglial relationships in the thoracic ganglion of the fiddler crab, Uca.

A cytological and ultras Uitasructural investigation was undertaken on the thoracic ganglion of the fiddler crab Uca sp., in an attempt to find morphological evidence for functional relationships between neurons and extraneuronal cells. Neurons of several sizes and four types of extraneuronal cells were present in this tissue. These included capsular cells intimately associated with neurons and “endothelial cells” closely associated with a complex branching vascular system. The vascular system ramifies with vessels which decrease in diameter, terminating in extravasculax spaces in intimate contact with the capsular cells. The findings suggest that extraneuronal cells mediate between the vascular system and the metabolically active neurons via modifications which include: (1) A complex branching vascular system, (2) perivascular processes containing numerous clumped mitochondria and complex arrangements of 200 A spaces between cytoplasmic islands; (3) a parallel array of canalicular elements within capsular cell processes; (4) multicomponent bodies found in several locations including the cytoplasm of extraneuronal cells and the neuronal cytoplasm. These findings support the hypothesis that extraneuronal cells transport macromolecular materials and are thus involved in meeting the metabolic requirements of neurons.
Association between small for gestational age and paternally inherited 5' insulin haplotypes.

To test the association between small for gestational age and polymorphisms in the insulin gene in newborns and their mothers, as well as the effect of the parental transmission of haplotypes. Pairs of healthy African-American full-term newborns (N=207) and mothers were recruited from Memphis TN and Jackson MS with birth weights ranging from 2210 to 4735 g. Six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in the insulin (INS) and insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) genes were genotyped in mothers and newborns. Haplotypes composed of three SNPs in the 5′ region of the INS–IGF2 locus were computationally inferred. Odds ratios for risk of small for gestational age (SGA) birth were calculated for individual SNPs and inferred haplotypes in the newborns and in the mothers using logistic regression. For 162 mother – newborn pairs the parental transmission of the haplotypes could be inferred, and the risks for SGA birth were calculated for the three common haplotypes in this sample. Three INS SNPs exhibited significant association with risk for SGA birth. The SNP alleles associated with increased risk for SGA were opposite in the maternal and newborn genomes, implying opposing influences on the rate of fetal growth. Consistent with these results, haplotypes composed of complementary nucleotide sequences (CAC at rs3842738, rs689 and rs3842748, respectively, in the newborn versus GTG in the mother) were significantly associated with risk for SGA birth. In analyses of haplotypes according to parental transmission, the same trend in risk for SGA was observed for both maternally and paternally transmitted haplotypes, although a significant difference in risk was observed only for paternally transmitted haplotypes. Polymorphisms near the 5′ end of the INS–IGF2 locus are significantly associated with risk for SGA birth with a major effect due to the paternally transmitted haplotype, which is preferentially expressed due to imprinting.
Orphans against Autoimmunity

In this issue of Immunity, Hermann-Kleiter et al. (2008) identify a nuclear orphan receptor, NR2F6, as a negative regulator of the T helper 17 cell subset and report that NR2F6-deficient mice develop late-onset autoimmune disease.
Optimality and suboptimality of multiple-description vector quantization with a lattice codebook

The asymptotic analysis of multiple-description vector quantization (MDVQ) with a lattice codebook for sources with smooth probability density functions (pdfs) is considered in this correspondence. Goyal et al. (2002) observed that as the side distortion decreases and the central distortion correspondingly increases, the quantizer cells farther away from the coarse lattice points shrink in a spatially periodic pattern. In this correspondence, two special classes of index assignments are used along strategic groupings of central quantizer cells to derive a straightforward asymptotic analysis, which provides an analytical explanation for the aforementioned observation. MDVQ with a lattice codebook was shown earlier to be asymptotically optimal in high dimensions, with a curious converging property, that the side quantizers achieve the space filling advantage of an n-dimensional sphere instead of an n-dimensional optimal polytope. The analysis presented here explains this behavior readily. While central quantizer cells on a uniform lattice are asymptotically optimal in high dimensions, the present authors have shown that by using nonuniform rather than uniform central quantizer cells, the central-side distortion product in an MDSQ can be reduced by 0.4 dB at asymptotically high rate. The asymptotic analysis derived here partially unifies these previous results in the same framework, though a complete characterization is still beyond reach.
A plate meter inadequately estimated herbage mass in a semi-arid grassland.

A resting plate meter was tested in the laboratory and on a field site to determine its effectiveness for estimating peak herbage mass on semi-arid grasslands. In laboratory tests, data from the plate meter closely predicted the herbage mass of four perennial bunch grasses (thirteen of sixteen tests with r 2 ≥ 0·90) but the closeness of the prediction varied with the pressure of the plate. Field tests took place on a southern Arizona, USA semi-arid grassland in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Twenty teams of two or three people sampled the site; five teams in each year measured eight to thirteen plate heights and clipped the vegetation beneath. Consistent with a need for yearly calibration, a significantly different (P < 0·05) linear relationship was detected between 3 of the 4 years which was associated with differences in average herbage mass of dry matter (DM) (1525 kg ha−1 for 2005, 2093 kg ha−1 for 2006, 1338 kg ha−1 for 2007 and 1370 kg ha−1 for 2008). Plate height poorly predicted herbage mass within years (r 2 = 0·21, 0·51, 0·49 and 0·41 respectively) with plate heights explaining half or less of the variability in field herbage mass and having a mean prediction error of 466 kg DM ha−1. The plate meter technique had limited potential for estimating peak herbage mass in semi-arid grasslands.
The Physics of Nanonet Fabrics and Its Applications in Electronic, Opto-electronic, Biosensing, Energy Storage, and MEMS Devices and Systems

Flexible electronics provides new opportunities to broaden the range of application of electronic component in addressing the grand challenges of energy, health care, sensing and display technologies. While there have been considerable progress in this area based on advances of conducting polymers, newer approaches based on nanonet fabrics, transfer-printed thin films, and flexible interconnects offers higher performance and more reliable alternatives. In this article, we discuss the electrical, optical, biosensing, and energy storage potential of nanonet fabrics. Our analysis show that an entirely new conceptual framework that combines classical techniques along with nonlinear percolation model, fractal geometry of surfaces, and stochastic transport models are necessary to design and optimize the highest performance components and systems based on such nanonet technology. The key ideas turn out to elegantly simple intuitive generalization of stand textbook approaches. And once these techniques are understood and mastered, the design of nanonet components appears to be no more difficult than those based on classical bulk devices.
HIV testing for pregnant women: A rights-based analysis of national policies

Ethical and human rights concerns have been expressed regarding the global shift in policies on HIV testing of pregnant women. The main purpose of this research was to conduct a policy analysis using a human rights-based approach of national policies for HIV testing of pregnant women. We collected HIV testing policies from 19 countries including: Cambodia, China, Guyana, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Moldova, Papua New Guinea, Russian Federation, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Ukraine, United States, Uzbekistan, Zambia and Zimbabwe. We analysed the HIV testing policies using a standardised framework that focused on government obligations to respect, protect and fulfil. Our results highlight the need for more attention to issues of pregnant women's autonomy in consenting to HIV testing, confidentiality in antenatal care settings and provision of counselling and care services. We conclude with a discussion about potential implications of the current testing policies and provide recommendations for ways that HIV testing policies can more effectively uphold the human rights of pregnant women.
Continued fraction representations of the dipole moment function and the electronic transition moment function of diatomic molecules

Explicit consideration of the X2 Π state of OH and the X1Σ+ state of HF is used to demonstrate that continued fraction approximations provide particularly good representations to the dipole moment functions and allow for extrapolation outside the region for which data is available. Continued fractions also prove useful for representing other molecular properties which are functions of the internuclear separation. As a second example a study of the B1Σu÷ − X1Σg+ electronic transition of H2 is included.
The effect of deuterium oxide on survival of mice with ascites tumor.

Abstract The effect of deuterium oxide (D 2 O) on the survival of mice inoculated with Ehrlich's mouse ascites tumor has been studied. Mice maintained on 25% and 30% D 2 O drinking water showed an improved survival time of about 6 days, whereas 40% D 2 O drinking water had no effect on survival time. The effect is interpreted in terms of inhibition of tumor cell division and systemic toxicity.
Proton Relay Mechanism of General Acid Catalysis by DNA Topoisomerase IB

Type IB topoisomerases cleave and rejoin DNA through a DNA-(3′-phosphotyrosyl)-enzyme intermediate. A constellation of conserved amino acids (Arg-130, Lys-167, Arg-223, and His-265 in vaccinia topoisomerase) catalyzes the attack of the tyrosine nucleophile (Tyr-274) at the scissile phosphodiester. Previous studies implicated Arg-223 and His-265 in transition state stabilization and Lys-167 in proton donation to the 5′-O of the leaving DNA strand. Here we find that Arg-130 also plays a major role in leaving group expulsion. The rate of DNA cleavage by vaccinia topoisomerase mutant R130K, which was slower than wild-type topoisomerase by a factor of 10−4.3, was stimulated 2600-fold by a 5′-bridging phosphorothiolate at the cleavage site. The catalytic defect of the R130A mutant was also rescued by the 5′-S modification (190-fold stimulation), albeit to a lesser degree than R130K. We surmise that Arg-130 plays dual roles in transition state stabilization and general acid catalysis. Whereas the R130A mutation abolishes both functions, R130K permits the transition state stabilization function (via contact of lysine with the scissile phosphate) but not the proton transfer function. Our results show that the process of general acid catalysis is complex and suggest that Lys-167 and Arg-130 comprise a proton relay from the topoisomerase to the 5′-O of the leaving DNA strand.
Making it real--the environmental burden of disease. What does it take to make people pay attention to the environment and health?

The health impact of exposure to environmental chemicals can be an elusive and difficult concept to grasp. We lack complete data and understanding on the extent to which the industrial chemicals present in our everyday lives—in our food, water, air, and the products we use every day—impact our health. Four articles published in this issue of the JCEM begin to shed light on the price we are paying (1–4). The articles calculate the economic burden of just seven chemicals and chemical classes on 10 outcomes in three broad categories (male reproductive disorders, neurobehavioral deficits and diseases, and obesity and diabetes). Overall, they find an economic toll of €157 billion (median cost). These findings are extremely timely. Increasing rates of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including neurodevelopmental outcomes, obesity and diabetes, and certain cancers, make factoring the role of the environment into prevention efforts imperative (5–8). The rising rate of NCDs is not only a First World problem. Chronic diseases are also escalating in the developing world, particularly in younger age groups, outstripping the decrease in communicable disease (8, 9). These increases in NCDs are not just due to your father’s and mother’s genes; they have environmental origins. Their increases make environmental chemicals a plausible contributor to disease and provides an opportunity for changing the trajectory of chronic diseases worldwide. The burden of industrial chemicals will continue to grow unless we change our path. Worldwide, chemical production is projected to build upon its rapid growth over the past 40 years at a rate of 3.4% annually until 2030 (10, 11). There are 70 000 to 100 000 chemicals in global commerce; almost 5000 are produced in high volumes (over 1 million tonnes per year) by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, with increasing production coming from India, China, Brazil, South Africa, and Indonesia (12). Today, the amount of chemicals manufactured and used in commerce is not in millions or even billions of pounds, but in the trillions. In the United States in 2012, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that slightly over 9 trillion pounds of industrial chemicals (about 4 trillion kilograms) were manufactured and imported (13). The papers in this issue of the JCEM integrate three key data elements to quantify the health burden of certain industrial chemicals: the relationship between exposure and health outcome, the prevalence of exposure, and the monetary cost per case of illness. Each of these elements is based on methods that are evolving. The bottom line is that the authors’ calculation of €157 billion may represent only the tip of the iceberg of the true burden of environmental chemicals.
"Close-fitting sleeves"--recognition of structural defects in duplex DNA.

Abstract The first step in the ubiquitous cellular process of nucleotide excision-repair must involve the recognition of a lesion or structural distortion in DNA. This is followed by incision in the strand perceived as damaged; and then coordinated steps of local degradation and re-synthesis occur to replace the defective DNA segment with a new stretch of nucleotides, making use of the intact complementary strand as template. The repair patch is ultimately ligated at its 3′ end to the contiguous preexisting DNA strand to restore the integrity of the normal DNA structure. Crucial to this repair scheme is the fact that the genome consists of double-stranded DNA, so that when one strand is damaged the information for its repair can, in principle, be recovered from the other strand. We will review a bit of the early speculation about the nature of the damage recognition step and then discuss the complexity of that event as we currently understand it. An important conceptual to this field resulted from my collaboration with Robert Haynes in which we suggested that “the recognition step in the repair mechanism could be formally equivalent to threading the DNA through a close-fitting ‘sleeve’ which gauges the closeness-of-fit to the Watson-Crick structure” (Hanawalt and Haynes, 1965).
Worsening of Congestive Heart Failure in Amyloid Heart Disease Treated by Calcium Channel-Blocking Agents

Case 1: A 61-year-old man with endomyocardial biopsyproved cardiac amyloid and compensated CHF presented with supraventricular tachycardia requiring cardioversion. After cardioversion, physical examination revealed atria1 fibrillation with a ventricular rate of 70 beatslmin, a jugular venous pressure of 12 cm HzO, cardiomegaly, and a blood pressure of 115175 mm Hg. An electrocardiogram showed atria1 fibrillation and bifascicular block. One month before admission, Swan-Ganz catheterization revealed a mean right atria1 pressure of 16 mm Hg, right uentricular pressure of 3217 mm Hg, pulmonary artery pressure of 36118 mm Hg, and pulmonary artery wedge pressure of 17 mm Hg. Cardiac output at rest was 4.6 liters1 min. At that time, nifedipine was administered, with no acute change in pressures, and the patient was dismissed on nifedipine therapy, 10 mg 3 times daily. After a few days, he discontinued the use of nifedipine because of a transient ischemic attack. In the hope that diastolic function could be improued by reducing the systemic vascular resistance and in view of a normal (68% ) ejection fraction, verapamil therapy was initiated, 80 mg 3 times daily, in addition to furosemide and pota.&um.2,3 Verapamil was also used to prevent recurrence of the previous supraventricular tachyarrhythmia. Ten days later, the patient became dyspneic at rest and had gained
Remote sensing reflectance measured with and without a vertical polarizer

Remote-sensing reflectance (Rrs ratio of the water- leaving radiance to the downwelling irradiance above the surface) with and without a vertical polarizer in front of the sensor were derived for measurements made at 90 degrees to the solar plane and in a direction 30 degrees to nadir. These measurements were carried out to see if a vertical polarizer mounted in front of a sensor would improve the Rrs results. For 28 pairs of measurements with chlorophyll- a concentrations ranging from 0.07 to 38 mg/m3, solar zenith angles from 18 degrees to 66 degrees, clear to cloudy skies, and for optically shallow and deep waters, there was no significant variation between the polarized and unpolarized Rrs values. Statistical comparisons of polarized to unpolarized results provided R2 values of 0.987, 0.987, 0.994, and 0.999 with slopes 1.007, 1.005, 0.983 and 0.998 for wavelengths at 410, 440, 550 and 630 nm, respectively. These results suggest that although the underwater light field is partially polarized, a vertical polarizer in front of a sensor will provide close results to unpolarized sensor, if the measurements were made in a direction 90 degrees to the solar plane and 30 degrees to the nadir.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Beltrami spectrum for incompressible fluid flows

Recently V. Yakhot, S. Orszag, and their co-workers have suggested that turbulent flows in various regions of space organize into a coherent hierarchy of weakly interacting superimposed approximate Beltrami flows. A mathematical framework is developed here to study organized Beltrami hierarchies in a systematic fashion. This framework is applied to several important classes of examples with universal Beltrami hierarchies. An analysis of the persistence of such Beltrami hierarchies is also presented for general solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations.
Magnetic reconnection in a collisionless plasma: Evidence for the current sheet acceleration

The magnetic reconnection process in a collisionless plasma is studied based on a particle simulation. It is found that the magnetic field reversal and particle energization take place mainly in the midplane of the outflow region and the particle acceleration by slow shocks is not important. This result is consistent with the collisionless reconnection model proposed by Hill [1975].
Spin-valley Kondo effect in multielectron Si quantum dots

We study the spin-valley Kondo effect of a silicon quantum dot occupied by $\mathcal{N}$ electrons, with $\mathcal{N}$ up to 4. We show that the Kondo resonance appears in the $\mathcal{N}=1,2,3$ Coulomb blockade regimes, but not in the $\mathcal{N}=4$ one, in contrast to the spin-$1∕2$ Kondo effect, which only occurs at $\mathcal{N}=\text{odd}$. Assuming large orbital level spacings, the energy states of the dot can be simply characterized by fourfold spin-valley degrees of freedom. The density of states (DOS) is obtained as a function of temperature and applied magnetic field using a finite-$U$ equation-of-motion approach. The structure in the DOS can be detected in transport experiments. The Kondo resonance is split by the Zeeman splitting and valley splitting for double- and triple-electron Si dots, in a similar fashion to single-electron ones. The peak structure and splitting patterns are much richer for the spin-valley Kondo effect than for the pure spin Kondo effect.
Analytical solutions for the electromagnetic fields of flattened and annular Gaussian laser modes. II. Large F-number laser focusing

A spherical Hankel function series solution for the vector components of a general flattened Gaussian laser field is derived, based on the angular spectrum of plane waves. This perturbative series is valid for spot sizes greater than ten wavelengths, creating a complete vector solution for a general flattened Gaussian laser profile for all focusing conditions when coupled to the model developed in Part I of this investigation [J. Opt. Soc. Am. B23, 2157 (2006)]. The focusing and propagation properties of these fields are then explored numerically. Finally, the exact solution is compared to the perturbative Hermite-Gaussian (0,0) laser mode by comparing the focal plane boundary conditions imposed in each and is found to be a separate and distinct solution under tight focusing conditions.
A Self-Reorganizing Slot Allocation protocol for multi-cluster sensor networks

This paper presents a self-reorganizing slot allocation (SRSA) mechanism for TDMA based medium access control (MAC) in wireless sensor networks. With TDMA, a node can achieve significant energy savings by remaining active only during allocated slots for transmissions and receptions. In multi-cluster networks, it is often necessary for nodes to use either CDMA or FDMA for preventing interference across neighbor clusters. The goal of this paper is to provide an alternative design that can reduce inter-cluster TDMA interference without having to use spectrum expensive CDMA or FDMA. The primary contribution of this paper is to demonstrate that with adaptive slot allocation, it is possible to reduce such interference under low loading conditions, which is often the case for sensor networks with monitoring applications. The second contribution is to design a feedback based adaptive allocation reorganization protocol that can significantly reduce those interferences without relying on any global synchronization mechanisms. We present the design of SRSA and provide a simulation based characterization of the protocol in comparison with TDMA-over-CDMA, TDMA with random slot allocation and CSMA MAC protocols. The results indicate that with moderate cluster overlapping and low traffic, SRSA can significantly reduce inter-cluster TDMA interference while delivering TDMA-over-CDMA like energy efficiency, at the cost of higher delivery latency compared to TDMA-over-CDMA. Assuming its low complexity and narrow-band operation unlike TDMA-over-CDMA, SRSA can be an ideal sensor MAC protocol for applications that can tolerate relatively larger delivery latency but not frequent packet drops.
Complicated otitis media caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum.

Fusobacterium necrophorum is implicated as an aetiological agent in a variety of necrotic diseases, such as Lemierre's syndrome (LS) in humans. LS was initially described as septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein secondary to an acute oropharyngeal infection. Other primary sources of infection include parotitis, otitis media, sinusitis, odontogenic infection and mastoiditis. In the pre-antibiotic era LS carried a high mortality. This has been reduced as a result of the widespread use of antibiotics, but there is still a definite morbidity and mortality associated with infection with this virulent organism. We report three cases of complicated otitis media caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum. The patients were treated successively with intravenous metronidazole and surgery.
Initial clinical experience with the Strut-Adjusted Volume Implant brachytherapy applicator for accelerated partial breast irradiation

PURPOSE: Accelerated partial breast irradiation is becoming increasingly popular. The Cianna single-entry high-dose-rate applicator, Strut-Adjusted Volume Implant (SAVI, Cianna Medical, Ali- so Viejo, CA), contains peripheral struts allowing greater planning flexibility for small-breasted women, technically easier insertion, and normal tissue exposure minimization. This study evaluates early clinical experience. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Thirty patients treated with the SAVI with a median followup of 12 months were evaluated. The median age was 59.5. Tumor size averaged 0.9 cm. Fifteen cancers were ductal carcinoma in situ (50%), 1 was invasive lobular (3.3%), 4 were tubular (6.7%), and the rest infiltrating ductal (40%). Most of them were estrogen receptor (ER) positive (90%). Nine women (30%) were premenopausal. RESULTS: Dosimetry was outstanding with median V90, V150, and V200 of 96.2%, 24.8, and 12.8 cc. There were no symptomatic seromas, and one report of asymptomatic fat necrosis seen on mammogram at 1 year. In patients who had skin spacing of less than 1 cm, the median skin dose was 245 cGy/fraction. The median rib and lung dose per fraction for those patients with either structure less than 1 cm was 340 and 255 cGy (75% of prescribed dose), respectively. There have been no local recurrences to date. CONCLUSIONS: Early clinical experience with the SAVI demonstrates the ease of placement of a single-entry brachytherapy device combined with the increased dose modulation of interstitial brachytherapy. Dose to normal structures has remained exceedingly low. Almost half of evaluated patients were not candidates for other single-entry brachytherapy devices because of skin spacing or breast size, demonstrating an expansion of candidates for single-entry partial breast brachytherapy.
Low Striatal Glutamate Levels Underlie Cognitive Decline in the Elderly: Evidence from In Vivo Molecular Spectroscopy

Glutamate (Glu), the principal excitatory neurotransmitter of prefrontal cortical efferents, potentially mediates higher order cognitive processes, and its altered availability may underlie mechanisms of age-related decline in frontally based functions. Although animal studies support a role for Glu in age-related cognitive deterioration, human studies, which require magnetic resonance spectroscopy for in vivo measurement of this neurotransmitter, have been impeded because of the similarity of Glu's spectroscopic signature to those of neighboring spectral brain metabolites. Here, we used a spectroscopic protocol, optimized for Glu detection, to examine the effect of age in 3 brain regions targeted by cortical efferents—the striatum, cerebellum, and pons—and to test whether performance on frontally based cognitive tests would be predicted by regional Glu levels. Healthy elderly men and women had lower Glu in the striatum but not pons or cerebellum than young adults. In the combined age groups, levels of striatal Glu (but no other proton metabolite also measured) correlated selectively with performance on cognitive tests showing age-related decline. The selective relations between performance and striatal Glu provide initial and novel, human in vivo support for age-related modification of Glu levels as contributing to cognitive decline in normal aging.
Automation of banking functions and its managerial implications

The pattern of automation of business functions in banks is analyzed. Previous experience with automation and business volume of a function are identified as predictors of automation adoption. It is shown that automation of a function cannot be associated with lower average costs for that function. >
Magnetic resonance spectroscopy markers of disease progression in multiple sclerosis.

Importance Predicting disease evolution is becoming essential for optimizing treatment decision making in multiple sclerosis (MS). Multiple sclerosis pathologic damage typically includes demyelination, neuro-axonal loss, and astrogliosis. Objective To evaluate the potential of magnetic resonance markers of central nervous system injury to predict brain-volume loss and clinical disability in multiple sclerosis. Design, Setting, and Participants Participants were selected from the Multiple Sclerosis Center at the University of California–San Francisco. The preliminary data set included 59 patients with MS and 43 healthy control individuals. The confirmatory data set included 220 patients from an independent, large genotype-phenotype research project. Main Outcomes and Measures Baseline N -acetylaspartate (NAA) level, myo -inositol (mI) in normal-appearing white and gray matter, myelin water fraction in normal-appearing white matter, markers of axonal damage, astrogliosis, and demyelination were evaluated as predictors in a preliminary data set. Potential predictors were subsequently tested for replication in a confirmatory data set. Clinical scores and percentage of brain-volume change were obtained annually over 4 years as outcomes. Predictors of outcomes were assessed using linear models, linear mixed-effects models, and logistic regression. Results N -acetylaspartate and mI both had statistically significant effects on brain volume, prompting the use of the mI:NAA ratio in normal-appearing white matter as a predictor. The ratio was a predictor of brain-volume change in both cohorts (annual slope in the percentage of brain-volume change/unit of increase in the ratio: −1.68; 95% CI, −3.05 to −0.30; P = .02 in the preliminary study cohort and −1.08; 95% CI, −1.95 to −0.20; P = .02 in the confirmatory study cohort). Furthermore, the mI:NAA ratio predicted clinical disability (Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite evolution: −0.52 points annually, P P = .01) in the preliminary data set and predicted Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite evolution (−0.23 points annually; P = .01), Expanded Disability Status Scale evolution (0.57 points annually; P = .04), and Expanded Disability Status Scale sustained progression (odds ratio, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.94; P = .009) in the confirmatory data set. Myelin water fraction did not show predictive value. Conclusions and Relevance The mI:NAA ratio in normal-appearing white matter has consistent predictive power on brain atrophy and neurological disability evolution. The combined presence of astrogliosis and axonal damage in white matter has cardinal importance in disease severity.
Quality-of-Care Indicators for the Neurodevelopmental Follow-up of Very Low Birth Weight Children: Results of an Expert Panel Process

OBJECTIVE. To develop a set of quality indicators for the neurodevelopmental follow-up care of very low birth weight (VLBW; METHODS. We reviewed the scientific literature on predictors of neurodevelopmental outcomes for VLBW children and the clinical practice guidelines relevant to their care after hospital discharge. An expert panel with members nominated by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the Vermont Oxford Network, and the California Children9s Service was convened. We used a modified Delphi method to evaluate and select the quality-of-care indicators. RESULTS. The panel recommended a total of 70 indicators in 5 postdischarge follow-up areas: general care; physical health; vision, hearing, speech, and language; developmental and behavioral assessment; and psychosocial issues. Of these, 58 (83%) indicators were in preventive care, 5 (7%) were in acute care, and 7 (10%) were in chronic care. CONCLUSION. The quality indicators cover follow-up care for VLBW infants with various medical conditions. Given the elevated rates of long-term neurodevelopmental disabilities and the potential impact of poor health care, this new set of indicators provides an opportunity to assess and monitor the quality of follow-up care with the ultimate aim of improving the quality of care for this high-risk population.