cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modern management of adult thoracic empyema.

Seventy adult patients with thoracic empyema were treated at the University of Michigan Medical Center between 1978 and 1982. Twenty-two (31 %) of the empyemas were associated with pneumonia, 23 (33 %) occurred as postoperative complications, and seven (10%) were iatrogenic. When used as the initial mode of drainage, repeat thoracentesis was successful in only four of 11 cases (36%). Similarly, closed tube thoracostomy, as initial treatment, was successful in only 14 of 40 cases (35%). Rib resection, however, provided cure or control in 10 of 11 patients (91 %) when employed as the first treatment method. Eight of 12 patients (67%) with parapneumonic empyemas were treated successfully with closed tube thoracostomy, in contrast to only two of 17 patients (12%) with postoperative empyemas so treated. Eventual control or cure of empyema was achieved in 57 patients (81%), whereas 13 (19%) died (five from their empyema and eight with empyema as an active problem at the time of death). All of the five empyema-caused deaths occurred in patients who underwent chest tube drainage as the most invasive treatment modality. The mortality rate for immunosuppressed patients was 40% (four of 10 patients). This analysis of a large recent series of adult empyemas suggests that chest tube drainage is often inadequate and more aggressive management is likely to result in fewer treatment failures and fewer total procedures. Early rib resection, especially for postoperative empyemas and those in immunocompromised patients, is recommended.
Diagnosis of Outliers and Cyber Attacks in Dynamic PMU-Based Power State Estimation

The paper introduces a robust method to detect random errors and cyber-attacks targeting alternating current (AC) dynamic state estimation through false data injection. The dynamic state estimator uses measurements that are delivered at a high reporting rate from synchrophasors or phasor measurement units (PMUs). A statistical outlier detection algorithm using the S-estimator is implemented on successive batch-mode regression representations of the extended Kalman filter (EKF). The S-estimator is a robust regression estimator that resists the effect of outliers and bad measurements. Theoretically, an S-estimator offers an improved detection of outliers compared with other methods implemented in the smart grid literature such as the Huber M-estimator and the Generalized Huber M-estimator (GM-estimator). The S-estimator has the advantage of offering a high breakdown point and can resist both observation outliers and leverage points. The introduced S-based EKF accurately tracks the fast variations of states when the PMU data is either clean or contaminated by bad measurements and cyber attacks. The proposed filter also accurately tracks the states when errors and cyber attacks target the topology of the grid. The simulations are conducted on the IEEE 14-bus system.
Analytical Description and Experimental Results for Reverberation-Resistant Acoustic Tracking Signals

The emerging need to design and operate transportable undersea tracking systems in other than deep water scenarios is discussed in the context of the performance evaluation of undersea systems. In particular, a class of differentially encoded binary phase shift keyed (DPSK) signals are examined in regard to its ability to provide resistance-to-boundary interaction while still meeting the needs of the underwater tracking system. Receiver operating characteristics are presented for a variety of DPSK signals with emphasis on their resistance to interference that is characteristic of boundary reverberation. The parameters of the DPSK signals examined include the code length, bandwidth, and duration of the signal. Analysis and simulation predict, and experimental results verify, that longer code words provide a significant improvement in interference immunity. Acknowledgement is extended to M. Amaral, S. Jarvis and D. Moretti for their assistance in producing results.
Associations Among Childhood Household Dysfunction, Sexual Orientation, and DSM-5 Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Substance Use Disorders in Adulthood: Evidence From a National U.S. Survey.

Objectives This study examined the associations between childhood household dysfunction and adulthood past-year DSM-5 alcohol, tobacco, and other substance use disorders across sexual orientation subgroups (eg, lesbian/gay, bisexual, and heterosexual). Methods Prevalence estimates were based on National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC-III) data collected from structured diagnostic face-to-face interviews in a nationally representative sample of 36,309 U.S. adults. Multivariable regression was used to examine associations between childhood household dysfunction and past-year substance use disorders in adulthood. Results Sexual minorities, particularly sexual minority women, reported higher rates of childhood household dysfunction (eg, parental/household history of substance-related problems) and adulthood DSM-5 alcohol, tobacco, and substance use disorders. Results of multivariable analyses indicated that childhood histories of parental/household substance-related problems were associated with greater odds of past-year substance use disorders among sexual minorities than heterosexuals, and that such histories may moderate differences among sexual orientation subgroups. The risk of substance use disorders among sexual minority women relative to exclusively heterosexual women (ie, heterosexual-identified women without same-sex attraction or behavior) remained high, even when accounting for household dysfunction. In contrast, there were no such differences between sexual minority men and exclusively heterosexual men. Conclusions Sexual minorities are more likely to have childhood household dysfunction which in turn is associated with a higher risk of developing DSM-5 alcohol, tobacco, and substance use disorders in adulthood, especially among sexual minority women. Healthcare providers who care for individuals raised in dysfunctional households should carefully assess risk for substance use disorders and intervene as needed.
Epigenetic preconditioning with decitabine sensitizes glioblastoma to temozolomide via induction of MLH1.

To improve the standard treatment paradigm for glioblastoma (GBM), efforts have been made to explore the efficacy of epigenetic agents as chemosensitizers. Recent data suggest possible synergy between decitabine (DAC), a DNA hypomethylating agent, and temozolomide (TMZ) in GBM, but the mechanism remains unclear. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of DAC on TMZ sensitization in a consecutively derived set of primary GBM cultures, with a focus on mismatch repair (MMR) proteins. Half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of TMZ were calculated in eleven consecutive patient-derived GBM cell lines before and after preconditioning with DAC. MMR protein expression changes were determined by quantitative immunoblots and qPCR arrays. Single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing of bisulfite (BS)-converted PCR amplicons of the MLH1 promoter was performed to determine methylation status. TMZ IC50 significantly changed in 6 of 11 GBM lines of varying MGMT promoter methylation status in response to DAC preconditioning. Knockdown of MLH1 after preconditioning reversed TMZ sensitization. SMRT-BS sequencing of the MLH1 promoter region revealed higher levels of baseline methylation at proximal CpGs in desensitized lines compared to sensitized lines. DAC enhances TMZ cytotoxicity in a subset of GBM cell lines, comprising lines both MGMT methylated and unmethylated tumors. This effect may be driven by levels of MLH1 via E2F1 transcription factor binding. Using unbiased long-range next-generation bisulfite-sequencing, we identified a region of the proximal MLH1 promoter with differential methylation patterns that has potential utility as a clinical biomarker for TMZ sensitization.
Abstract 14878: Exosomes From Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes vs Mesenchymal Stem Cells Demonstrate Differential Restoration of Myocardial Function in a Porcine Ischemia Reperfusion Injury Model

Introduction: Coronary artery disease is a leading cause of death worldwide. Ischemic injury leads to myocardial dysfunction, resulting in heart failure. Exosomes have emerged as a promising therap...
Improving the Outcomes of Immunocompromised Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Recent case studies have highlighted that certain immunocompromised individuals are at risk for prolonged SARS-CoV-2 replication, intra-host viral evolution of multiply-mutated variants, and poor clinical outcomes. The immunologic determinants of this risk, the duration of infectiousness, and optimal treatment and prevention strategies in immunocompromised hosts are ill-defined. Of additional concern is the widespread use of immunosuppressive medications (corticosteroids, IL-6 antagonists) to treat COVID-19, which may enhance and prolong viral replication in the context of immunodeficiency. We outline the rationale for four inter-related approaches to usher in an era of evidence-based medicine for optimal management of immunocompromised patients with COVID-19: 1) multicenter pathogenesis and outcomes studies to relate the risk of severe disease to the type and degree of immunodeficiency; 2) studies evaluating immunologic responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines; 3) studies evaluating the efficacy of monoclonal antibodies for primary prophylaxis; and 4) clinical trials of novel antiviral agents for the treatment of COVID-19.
Human Biomonitoring of Environmental and Occupational Exposures by GC-MS and Gas Sensor Systems: A Systematic Review

Environmental chemicals and contaminants coming from multiple external sources enter the human body, determining a potential risk for human health. Human biomonitoring (HBM), measuring the concentrations of biomarkers in human specimens, has become an emerging approach for assessing population-wide exposure to hazardous chemicals and health risk through large-scale studies in many countries. However, systematic mapping of HBM studies, including their characteristics, targeted hazardous pollutants, analytical techniques, and sample population (general population and occupationally exposed workers), has not been done so far. We conducted a systematic review of the literature related to airborne hazardous pollutants in biofluids to answer the following questions: Which main chemicals have been included in the literature, which bodily fluids have been used, and what are the main findings? Following PRISMA protocol, we summarized the publications published up to 4 February 2021 of studies based on two methods: gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and electronic noses (e-noses). We screened 2606 records and 117 publications were included in the analysis, the most based on GC/MS analysis. The selected HBM studies include measurements of biomarkers in different bodily fluids, such as blood, urine, breast milk, and human semen as well as exhaled air. The papers cover numerous airborne hazardous pollutants that we grouped in chemical classes; a lot of hazardous and noxious compounds, mainly persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), have been detected in biological fluids at alarming levels. The scenario that emerged from this survey demonstrates the importance of HBM in human exposure to hazardous pollutants and the need to use it as valid tool in health surveillance. This systematic review represents a starting point for researchers who focus on the world of pollutant biomonitoring in the human body and gives them important insights into how to improve the methods based on GC/MS. Moreover, it makes a first overview of the use of gas sensor array and e-noses in HBM studies.
Defining the Optimal Dosage of Methotrexate for Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Until recently, relatively little was known about the intracellular disposition of methotrexate (MTX) in leukemic lymphoblasts in patients. One reason for the paucity of such data is the unavailability of blast cells after the initial 2–4 weeks of chemotherapy, at which time >95% of patients have achieved a complete remission. In the absence of cellular pharmacokinetic and pharmaco-dynamic studies in patients, selection of the optimal dosage, route, and schedule of antileukemic drugs must be based largely on imprecise clinical results and less than optimal preclinical models. For the past forty years, the dosage of MTX for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has evolved largely on an empirical basis, such that today there is more than a 100-fold range in MTX dosages being used in different ALL treatment protocols worldwide (Table 1). Furthermore, childhood ALL comprises specific lineage and genetic subtypes that differ in their response to modern treatment protocols, yet little or no distinction is made for these differences in determining the dosage of MTX. This brief overview summarizes a series of clinical studies conducted at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, focused on the intracellular disposition and effects of methotrexate in leukemic lymphoblasts of children with newly diagnosed ALL.
Granule Cell Activation of Complex-Spiking Neurons in Dorsal Cochlear Nucleus

Dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) principal cells receive, in addition to their well known auditory inputs, various nonauditory inputs via a cerebellar-like granule cell circuit located in the superficial layers of the DCN. Activation of this circuit (granule cell axons make excitatory synapses on the principal cells but also contact inhibitory interneurons that project to the principal cells) produces strong inhibition of the principal cells. Here we investigate the role of cartwheel cells, homologs of cerebellar Purkinje cells, in producing this inhibition. The responses of type IV units (one type of principal cells) and of cartwheel cells were recorded to ortho- and antidromic activation of the granule cells (i.e., by stimulation of their inputs from the somatosensory cuneate and spinal trigeminal nuclei and by direct stimulation of their parallel fiber axons). Cartwheel cells were identified on the basis of recording depth and complex action potential shape. A four-pulse facilitation paradigm (four pulses at 50 msec intervals) was used; this stimulus allows separation of the apparently simple inhibitory somatosensory response of type IV units into a three-component (inhibition–excitation–inhibition) response. As expected, cartwheel cells are excited by granule cell activation; the latencies and four-pulse amplitudes of these responses correspond to the properties of the second, long-latency inhibitory component of type IV responses. The source of the first, short-latency inhibitory response is still unknown. Nevertheless, these results show that cartwheel cells convey inhibitory polysensory information to DCN principal cells.
Modeling Theory for Math and Science Education

Mathematics has been described as the science of patterns. Natural science can be characterized as the investigation of patterns in nature. Central to both domains is the notion of model as a unit of coherently structured knowledge. Modeling Theory is concerned with models as basic structures in cognition as well as scientific knowledge. It maintains a sharp distinction between mental models that people think with and conceptual models that are publicly shared. This supports a view that cognition in science, math, and everyday life is basically about making and using mental models. We review and extend elements of Modeling Theory as a foundation for R&D in math and science education.
Functional Impairment Differences among Youth with ADHD: The Role of Comorbid Anxiety and Mood Disorders

The objective of this research was to investigate differences in functional impairment between youth with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and an Anxiety Disorder (ADHD + AD) or a Mood Disorder (ADHD + MD) by comparing average impairment on one clinician-rated (Global Assessment of Functioning) and three parent-rated (Adaptability, Metacognition, and Psychosocial) measures of functional impairment. Participants for this study included 59 youth with 6-17 years of age who were receiving a psychoeducational assessment at a clinic in the Southeastern United States. Results were analyzed using a Multivariate Analysis of Covariance. Overall, youth with ADHD + MD had more functional impairment than youth with ADHD + AD or youth with just solely ADHD. Youth with ADHD + AD did not have significantly worse impairment on three of four archetypes of functional impairment compared to those with solely ADHD. Youth with ADHD + MD represent a unique ADHD cohort that has elevated impairment, highlighting the importance of addressing comorbid mood symptoms in the recommendations given during a psychoeducational assessment for ADHD, as well as adjusting the treatment of youth with ADHD and a comorbid internalizing disorder appropriately. Journal of Nature and Science, 1(1):e31, 2015.
Adaptive filtering with a H/sup /spl infin// criterion

H/sup /spl infin// optimal estimators guarantee the smallest possible estimation error energy over all possible disturbances of fixed energy, and are therefore robust with respect to model uncertainties and lack of statistical information on the exogenous signals. We have previously shown that if the prediction error is considered, then the celebrated LMS adaptive filtering algorithm is H/sup /spl infin// optimal. In this paper we consider prediction of the filter weight vector itself, and for the purpose of coping with time-variations, exponentially weighted, finite-memory and time-varying adaptive filtering. This results in some new adaptive filtering algorithms that may be useful in uncertain and non-stationary environment. Simulation results are given to demonstrate the feasibility of the algorithm and to compare them with well-known H/sup 2/ (or least-squares based) adaptive filters. >
Porque la economía no es una ciencia evolucionista.

“Probablemente ningun economista hoy afirmaria que la ciencia ha llegado a una formulacion definitiva, ni tampoco que ha llegado a un resultado detallado o a una caracterizacion fundamental de teoria.”Thorstein Veblen
Social Justice Feminism

For the past three years, women leaders from national groups, grassroots organizations, academia and beyond have gathered to address dissonance in the women's movement, particularly dissatisfaction with the movement's emphasis on women privileged on account of their race, class, or sexuality. At these meetings of the New Women's Movement Initiative (NWMI), advocates who no longer want to do feminism have articulated a desire for social justice feminism. This article analyzes what such a shift might mean for feminist practice and legal theory. Drawing on history, specifically the work of the women behind the Brandeis brief in the Muller v. Oregon workers' hours' restriction case and the National Women's Conference of 1977, this article takes initial steps at broadly defining social justice feminism as that which is productive, constructive, and healing. Moving from practice to theory, it suggests a new way of articulating and understanding the feminist work that is being done in this current stage of feminist jurisprudence, after the path-breaking interventions of anti-essentialism and intersectionality. This article also sets forth certain methodological tools for doing social justice feminism and then uses them to examine the recent Supreme Court case, Long Island Care at Home v. Coke, a case upholding the lack of wage protections for certain domestic workers. With this article, we hope to advance the conversation that has already begun, both in the world of practice as evidenced by the work of the NWMI, as well as the world of feminist legal theory. Social justice brings to feminism a particular emphasis on fairness and transformation; it is a modification that signals change. At this critical time, with efforts to exacerbate the divides of race and gender, social justice feminism provides a new paradigm for talking about and examining these and other issues that threaten movements dedicated to dismantling oppression and bettering people's lives.
Hemodynamic characteristics of cyanotic adults with single-ventricle physiology without Fontan completion.

Objective. The aim of the current study is to describe the long-term clinical and hemodynamic characteristics of adult patients with single-ventricle physiology who have not undergone the Fontan operation and consequently have remained cyanotic. Design. Adult patients at the Ahmanson/UCLA Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center with non-Fontan single-ventricle physiology who had undergone cardiac catheterization between 2005 and 2011 were included. Echocardiographic and cardiac catheterization data were reviewed. Results. Mean estimated single ejection fraction was 56 ± 8%. Eight of 13 subjects had documented E/E′ data with a mean of 6.44. Seven subjects had both A′ and E′ data documented, of which two subjects exhibited A′ > E′. Mean ventricular end-diastolic pressure (MVEDP) was 15.77 ± 4.91 mm Hg, and was >12 mm Hg in eight of the 13 patients (62%). MVEDP was also analyzed by age, and in the single-ventricle patients was 13.55 ± 4.12 mm Hg in those 50 years of age (P = .003). MVEDP prior to inhaled pulmonary vasodilator administration was 14.75 ± 5.5 mm Hg, compared to 15.00 ± 6.78 mm Hg in the postvasodilator group (P = .48). Subjects with end-diastolic pressure (EDP) 12 had a mean BNP of 234.5 ± 127.36 pg/mL (P = .11) Conclusions. Cyanotic adult single-ventricle patients not palliated with Fontan completion have preserved single-ventricle systolic function but develop elevated ventricular filling pressure with increasing age. Only invasive hemodynamic measurements demonstrated elevated ventricular filling pressures, while traditional echo/Doppler criteria for diastolic dysfunction were not met. Aging with cyanotic single-ventricle physiology is associated with a greater degree of filling pressure elevations than in the general population. Single-ventricle patients with EDP >12 exhibited markedly elevated BNP compared to those with normal EDP.
Speed sensorless induction motor drives for electrical actuators: schemes, trends and tradeoffs

This paper evaluates documented schemes for speed sensorless drives, and discusses the trends and tradeoffs involved in selecting a particular scheme. These schemes combine the attributes of the direct and indirect field-oriented control (FOG) or use model adaptive reference systems (MRAS) with a speed-dependent current model for flux estimation which tracks the voltage model-based flux estimator. Many factors are important in comparing the effectiveness of a speed sensorless scheme. Among them are the wide speed range capability, motor parameter insensitivity and noise reduction. Although a number of schemes have been proposed for solving the speed estimation, zero-speed FOC with robustness against parameter variations still remains an area of research for speed sensorless control.
Unusual case of respiratory obstruction during induction of anaesthesia.

A plexiform neuroma of the left ary-epiglottic fold and arytenoids caused respiratory obstruction during induction of anaesthesia in an 18-month-old child. The tumour was responsible for frequent attacks of croup, failure to grow and anatomical deformity of the chest. The tumour was diagnosed during an attempt to intubate for hydrocoelectomy and right inguinal hernia repair.
Acute and long lasting central actions of organophosphorus agents.

Abstract This review concerns aspects of anticholinesterase (anti-ChE) research that differ from those of the classical studies of these agents; to clarify the focus of this review, let me first allude to three classical aspects of anti-ChE research. Animal research as well as records of purposeful or accidental administration of anti-ChE's of both organophosphorus (OP) or carbamate and related types were initiated more than 100 years ago (see Holmstedt, 1959 , 1963 ; Koelle and Gilman, 1949 ; Karczmar, 1970a ). Initially, peripheral, particularly neuromyal effects of these drugs were studied in depth, whereas their central actions that were described included essentially only their toxic effects, i.e., respiratory depression and convulsions ( cf. Gilman, 1946 ; Krop and Kunkel, 1954 ). Behavioral and functional central actions of OP and carbamate drugs, while sporadically reported in the Thirties and Forties came into their own much later ( Sjostrand, 1937 ; Izergina, 1949 ; cf. Karczmar, 1970b ). The second characteristic aspect of the early studies of anti-ChE's is as follows: in conjunction with the discoveries of the Twenties through Forties concerning ChE's, acetylcholine (ACh) and cholinergic transmission and with the discovery of the action of physostigmine ( Stedman et al. , 1932 ) and OP drugs (see Bodansky, 1945 ) on ChE's it was felt that pharmacological effects of these drugs are due solely to ChE, particularly AChE, inhibition. Only in the Forties evidence militating against this concept was presented. The third classical concept, actually a corollary of the notion that OP and carbamate drugs act via their inhibition of ChE's, is that their action is short-lived or relatively short-lived as it depends on dissociation of the ChE-carbamate complex in the case of physostigmine and related drugs or on regeneration of ChE's in that of OP drugs, a process that may take at most days, or hours ( Srinivasan et al. , 1976 ). More recent studies suggest that it may be not so. Accordingly, this paper is intended as a brief summary of research concerning these three novel aspects of action of anti-ChE's: their central including behavioral and mental health effects; their actions that may not depend on ChE inhibition—which is also the subject of other papers of this issue; and, finally, their chronic and delayed actions.
The development of the facial muscles in man

Morphogenesis and histogenesis of the facial muscles is described in human embryos and fetuses 4.2–360.0 mm (crown-rump length). The microscopic study was performed on 50 specimens that had been variously serially-sectioned and stained. Graphic or wax reconstructions were made from transverse serial sections at 11 representative ages. Three late fetuses and a term infant were studied grossly. Second branchial arch mesenchyme in early embryos (4.2–6.5 mm) becomes increasingly dense, but is not subdivided into distinct premuscle masses. By 8–20 mm, sheet-like collections (laminae) of premyoblasts and early myoblasts extend from the superficial part of the arch into the temporal, occipital, cervical and mandibular regions. Premuscle condensations deep in the arch become the stapedius, posterior digastric and stylohyoid muscles. The infraorbital lamina and the occipital platysma appear by 20–23 mm. The superficial muscles differentiate rapidly between 26 and 37 mm. Most are composed of myoblasts at 41 mm. By 80 mm, all the muscles contain myotubes and are in their definitive positions. At 80–140 mm, the myotubes become young muscle fibers. From 140 mm to 360 mm (term) the muscles increase in size and gain definitive attachments. Superficial muscles differentiate later than the deep and those in the cervicomandibular and occipital regions differentiate earlier than those in the frontal and midfacial regions. The muscle masses form pari passu with the muscular branches of the facial nerve which develop deep to them.
Study of laminar thermal boundary layers occurring around the leading edge of a vertical isothermal wall using a specklegram technique

The influence of a 45 degree leading edge on the development of a thermal boundary layer on a vertical isothermal wall has been investigated by measuring detailed temperature profiles with a He- Ne laser specklegram technique. A digital image processor was employed to improve the accuracy in evaluating the space of fringes, which were constructed from the specklegram. A matrix of five different temperatures and four different vertical locations was considered in the investigation. The leading edge effect was evident in the vicinity of the edge (x = 7.8 mm and 14.2 mm) showing a strong nonsimilarity, and the thermal boundary layers occurred around the leading edge. Classical theory did not properly describe the actual situation near the leading edge, where the theory assumed an abrupt starting of the boundary layer. In an attempt to improve the agreement in temperature profiles, the Grashof number was modified by extending x to an equivalent plate length x 0. In the region farther from the leading edge (x = 50.0 mm), where similarity in temperature profiles was well established, agreement with theory was dramatically improved with substitution of x 0 forx. A linear decrease in the extension ratio x 0/x with Gr x 1/4 i.e., x 0/x= -0.4 · Gr x 1/4 + 12.63 where the Grashof number was based on x, was observed for Grashof numbers up to 8.0 × 105. For Gr x ≥8.0 × 105, the leading edge effect became negligibly small and the ratio x 0/x approached unity.
Anterior cruciate ligament: an anatomical exploration in humans and in a selection of animal species

Purpose Many anatomical anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) studies have indicated that the human ACL is composed of two functional bundles: the antero-medial (AM) and postero-lateral (PL). The purpose of this study is to compare the ACL anatomy among human and assorted animal species.
On the role of unequal exchange in the containment of transposable element copy number

A population genetics model of the role of asymmetric pairing and unequal exchange in the stabilization of transposable element copy number in natural populations is proposed and analysed. Monte Carlo simulations indicate that the approximations incorporated into the analysis are robust in the relevant parameter ranges. Given several simple assumptions concerning transposition and excision, equal and unequal exchange, and chromosome structure, predictions of the relative numbers of transposable elements in various regions of the Drosophila melanogaster genome are compared to the observed distribution of roo/B104 elements across chromosomal regions with differing rates of exchange, and between X chromosomes and autosomes. There is no indication of an accumulation of elements in the distal regions of chromosomes, which is expected if unequal exchange is reduced concomitantly with normal crossing over in the distal regions. There is, however, an indication of an excess of elements relative to physical length in the proximal regions of the chromosomes, which also have restricted crossing over. This observation is qualitatively consistent with the model's predictions. The observed distribution of elements between the mid-sections of the X chromosomes and autosomes is consistent with the predictions of one of two models of unequal exchange.
Immunoexpression Status and Prognostic Value of mTOR and Hypoxia-induced Pathway Members in Primary and Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinomas

The need for effective targeted therapies for renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) has fueled the interest for understanding molecular pathways involved in the oncogenesis of kidney tumors. Aiming to analyze the expression status and prognostic significance of mTOR and hypoxia-induced pathway members in patients with clear cell RCC (ccRCC), tissue microarrays were constructed from 135 primary and 41 metastatic ccRCCs. Immunoexpression levels were compared and correlated with clinicopathologic parameters and outcome. PTEN levels were significantly lower in primary and metastatic ccRCCs compared with benign tissues (P<0.001). Levels of phos-AKT, phos-S6, and 4E-binding protein-1 (4EBP1) were higher in metastatic ccRCC (P≤0.001). For phos-S6 and 4EBP1, levels were higher in primary ccRCC compared with benign tissues (P<0.001). c-MYC levels were higher in metastatic ccRCC (P<0.0001), and incremental p27 levels were observed in benign, primary ccRCC, and metastatic ccRCC (P<0.0001). HIF-1α levels were significantly higher in primary and metastatic ccRCCs compared with benign tissues (P<0.0001). In primary ccRCC, levels of all mTOR and hypoxia-induced pathway members were significantly associated with pT stage (P≤0.036), p27 levels with Fuhrman grade (P=0.031), and 4EBP1, p27, and HIF-1α levels with tumor size (P≤0.025). Tumor size, HIF-1α, and phos-S6 levels were associated with disease-specific survival (DSS) (P≤0.032) and tumor progression (P≤0.043). In conclusion, both mTOR and hypoxia-induced pathways were activated in primary and metastatic ccRCC. PTEN loss seems to be an early event during tumorigenesis. Tumor size, HIF-1α, and phos-S6 expression were found to be independent predictors of both DSS and tumor progression in primary ccRCC.
A framework for block-based timing sensitivity analysis

Since process and environmental variations can no longer be ignored in high-performance microprocessor designs, it is necessary to develop techniques for computing the sensitivities of the timing slacks to parameter variations. This additional slack information enables designers to examine paths that have large sensitivities to various parameters: such paths are not robust, even though they may have large nominal slacks and may hence be ignored in traditional timing analysis. We present a framework for block-based timing analysis, where the parameters are specified as ranges -- rather than statistical distributions which are hard to know in practice. We show that our approach -- which scales well with the number of processors -- is accurate at all values of the parameters within the specified bounds, and not just at the worst-case corner. This allows the designers to quantify the robustness of the design at any design point. We validate our approach on circuit blocks extracted from a commercial 45nm microprocessor.
Growth control and metabolism

mTOR is the target of the immunosuppressive drug rapamycin and the central component of a nutrient- and hormone-sensitive signaling pathway that regulates cell growth and proliferation. We now appreciate that this pathway becomes deregulated in many human cancers and has an important role in the control of metabolism and aging. We have identified two distinct mTOR-containing proteins complexes, one of which regulates growth through S6K and another that regulates cell survival through Akt. These complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2, define both rapamycin-sensitive and insensitive branches of the mTOR pathway. I will discuss new results from our lab on the regulation and functions of the mTORC1 and mTORC2 pathways.
Comments on the ring-opening polymerization of morpholine-2,5-dione derivatives by various metal catalysts and characterization of the products formed in the reactions involving R2SnX2, where X = OPri and NMe2 and R = Bun, Ph and p-Me2NC6H4

(3S,6S)-3-Isopropyl-6-methyl-morpholine-2,5-dione (1), and (3S,6S)-3,6-dimethyl-morpholine-2,5-dione (2), do not enter into ring-opening polymerization reactions with metal catalyst precursors commonly employed for lactides, and with Sn(II) octanoate, only low molecular weight oligomers are obtained. Reactions with R2SnX2 compounds, where R = Ph, Bun and p-Me2NC6H4 and X = OPri or NMe2, reveal that ring-opening of the morpholine-2,5-diones does occur, but that polymerization is terminated by the formation of kinetically-inert products such as {Ph2Sn[μ,η3-OCH(Me)CONCH(Pri)COOPri]}2 (3), and {[Bun)2Sn[μ,η3-OCH(Me)CONCH(Me)CONMe2]}2 (4), with elimination of HX. Ph3SnOPri is seen to react reversibly with morpholine-2,5-diones in toluene-d8 by 1H NMR spectroscopy while (Bun)3SnNMe2 reacts by ring opening to give (Bun)3SnOCH(Me)C(O)NHCHMeC(O)NMe2. The new organotin compounds have been characterized by 1H, 13C{1H} and 118Sn NMR spectroscopy and compounds 1, 2, 3 and 4 by single crystal X-ray crystallography.
Seasonal measurements of serum glucose and serum cortisol in a natural population of Fundulus heteroclitus L

Abstract 1. 1. Seasonal measurements of serum glucose from field populations of Fundulus heteroctitus reveal two peaks; one during the winter months which appeared to be temperature dependent and a second during the summer, correlated with the spawning season. 2. 2. Serum cortisol levels were measured using a radioimmunoassay procedure. No consistent seasonal trends were evident and, in general, cortisol levels were variable throughout the study. 3. 3. There were no statistically significant differences between male and female fish for either of the components measured. 4. 4. Serum cortisol levels were lower than those reported in the literature for this species and were not affected by fish size. There was no simple direct relationship between salinity and serum cortisol levels.
Ambient to high-temperature fracture toughness and cyclic fatigue behavior in Al-containing silicon carbide ceramics

A series of in situ toughened, Al, B and C containing, silicon carbide ceramics (ABC-SiC) has been examined with Al contents varying from 3 to 7 wt.%. With increasing Al additions, the grain morphology in the as-processed microstructures varied from elongated to bimodal to equiaxed, with a change in the nature of the grain-boundary film from amorphous to partially crystalline to fully crystalline. Fracture toughness and cyclic fatigue tests on these microstructures revealed that although the 7 wt.% Al containing material (7ABC) was extremely brittle, the 3 and particularly 5 wt.% Al materials (3ABC and 5ABC, respectively) displayed excellent crack-growth resistance at both ambient (25 °C) and elevated (1300 °C) temperatures. Indeed, no evidence of creep damage, in the form of grain-boundary cavitation, was seen at temperatures at 1300 °C or below. The enhanced toughness of the higher Al-containing materials was associated with extensive crack bridging from both interlocking grains (in 3ABC) and uncracked ligaments (in 5ABC); in contrast, the 7ABC SiC showed no such bridging, concomitant with a marked reduction in the volume fraction of elongated grains. Mechanistically, cyclic fatigue-crack growth in 3ABC and 5ABC SiC involved the progressive degradation of such bridging ligaments in the crack wake, with the difference in the degree of elastic vs. frictional bridging affecting the slope, i.e. Paris law exponent, of the crack-growth curve.
Costs of Reducing Global Carbon Emissions

Po rojecting the costs of reducing carbon emissions is extremely important, and exceedingly difficult. Such projections are an integral component of cost-benefit analyses of alternative policies; for example, for the global climate policy analysis described by William Nordhaus in this symposium. Moreover, the nature of the climate change problem dictates that costs be incurred long before benefits can be realized or accurately measured. Consequently, the political spotlight predictably focuses on the cost estimates whenever specific policy options are contemplated. Projecting the costs of reducing carbon emissions is difficult because many assumptions must be made about how the world will evolve over a very long period of time with and without a control program. Typically, some of these assumptions, like population growth, are taken from outside sources. Other factors, like the response of energy demand to changes in economic output or energy prices, are the result of modeling the behavior of economic actors in response to exogenous stimuli. Considerable uncertainty exists about both the exogenous factors and the best way to model the behavioral responses. The global nature of the climate change problem adds yet another complication to the cost analysis. Scientists have concluded that it is the global concentration of carbon in the atmosphere that influences climate. Moreover, since carbon in the atmosphere gets mixed more or less uniformly, emissions anywhere change concentrations everywhere, but with a long lead time. Current global carbon emissions are estimated to be only about 4 percent of the stock of CO2 in the atmosphere attributable to human activity (and about
Cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis following simple, complex partial, and generalized tonic‐clonic seizures

We observed postictal pleocytosis in 7 of 62 cerebrospinal fluid specimens obtained from 27 patients with epilepsy. Each patient had a known seizure disorder; none had any other cause for the pleocytosis. The maximum number of leukocytes was 12/mm3; the maximum number of erythrocytes was 190/mm3. Postictal pleocytosis was more common in samples obtained within 12 hours of the last seizure. Although previous studies have emphasized that pleocytosis is more common after repetitive generalized tonic-clonic seizures, we found increased leukocyte counts in cerebrospinal fluid after single simple, complex partial, or generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
Review: The Use of Pergolide and Lisuride, Two Experimental Dopamine Agonists, in Patients with Advanced Parkinson Disease

ABSTRACT Pergolide, an experimental dopamine agonist, was administered to 56 patients with advanced Parkinson disease who were no longer satisfactorily responding to levodopa, including 45 patients with diurnal oscillations in performance: “on-off” phenomena, Lisuride, an experimental dopamine agonist was administered to 63 patients with advanced Parkinson disease, Pergolide or lisuride, when added to levodopa, resulted In a significant decrease in disability in both the “on” and the “off” period, and an increase in the number of hours in which patients were “on”. Forty-one of 56 patients (73%) improved on Pergolide, Thirty-seven of 63 patients (59%) Improved on lisuride, Mean dose of pergolide was 2.5 mg. (range 0.2 to 10.0 mg.). Mean dose of lisuride was 2.6 mg, (range 0.2 to 5.0 mg,). Pergolide was discontinued in 18 patients because of adverse effects, Including an organic confusional syndrome (six patients), dyskinesias (four patients) and cardiovascular abnormalities (three patients). Lisuride was discontinued in 26 patients because of adverse effects, including an organic confusional syndrome (15 patients), dyskinesias (five patients) and vasospasm (two patients). Pergolide was discontinued in nine patients and lisuride in 12 because of a lack of effect or a declining effect. Both drugs are equally useful in patients with advanced Parkinson disease.
MECHANISMS OF ALUMINUM TOLERANCE IN TRITICUM AESTIVUM L. (WHEAT). II. DIFFERENTIAL PH INDUCED BY SPRING CULTIVARS IN NUTRIENT SOLUTIONS

Twenty winter cultivars of Triticum aestivom L. (wheat) were grown in solution culture with and without aluminum (A1) (74 gM, 2.0 mg L-') for 14 days. Exposure to s increased root growth of the most tolerant cultivar, while both root and shoot growth were depressed in all other cultivars. On the basis of a root tolerance index (RTI = weight of roots grown with A1/ weight of roots grown without A1), cultivar tolerance to A1 ranged 9-fold, from 0.13 + 0.01 to 1.16 + 0.10. Symptoms of A1 toxicity were most evident on roots. Aluminum-affected roots were relatively short and thick and had numerous undeveloped laterals. Leaves of some cultivars showed chlorosis resembling iron deficiency, and others showed purple stems typical of phosphate deficiency. Plants of all cultivars grown with and without A1 depressed the pH of nutrient solutions, presumably until NH4+ was depleted, at which point the pH increased. Cultivar tolerance7 expressed both as the root tolerance index and a shoot tolerance index, was negatively correlated with the negative log of the mean hydrogen ion (H+) concentration, the minimum pH and the slope of the pH decline, each calculated from pH data collected during the first 9 days of the experimental period before any sharp rises in pH occurred. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the A1 tolerance of a given cultivar is a function of its ability to resist acidification of the nutrient solution and hence to limit the solubility and toxicity of A1.
Components of contemporary college grade meanings

Abstract Responses provided by over 6000 students, faculty, parents, and corporate personnel directors to questions concerning the social purposes and personal traits presumably indexed by grades were evaluated on the basis of factor analysis. Results for the social purposes set yielded a four-factor solution: (1) information, (2) motivation, (3) standards, and (4) pleasing parents. Analysis of the trait set produced a three-factor solution: (1) interpersonal skills, (2) ability to perform in a system, and (3) intelligence. When questions concerning respondents' college GPAs and their belief that grades predict success were evaluated, items defining the information factor of the social purposes set correlated positively with both GPA and the belief that grades predict success; items defining the motivation factor correlated with the view that grades predict success but not with GPA; items defining the standards factors did not correlate with either measure; and items defining the pleasing parent factor correlated negatively with GPA but not with the belief that grades predict success. For trait items, results indicated that if grades were seen to index either intelligence or ability to perform in a system they correlated with GPA and the belief that grades predict success; if they were seen to index personal adjustment, they failed to correlate with either GPA or the belief that grades predict success. Considered in conjunction with other analyses, results suggest that college grade meaning is comprised of four major components: social meaning, trait meaning, personal meaning, and procedural meaning.
Digital Music and Online Sharing: Software Piracy 2.0?

Considering the similarities and unique characteristics of online file sharing and software piracy.
Evaluation of the effects of age and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction on corneal sensitivity in horses.

Objective—To determine effects of age and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) on corneal sensitivity in horses. Animals—20 adult horses allocated into 3 groups (PPID group, old [> 15 years old] horses with PPID [n = 5]; old group, old [> 15 years old] horses without PPID [9]; and young group, young [≤ 10 years old] horses without PPID [6]). All horses with PPID had hirsutism and abnormal fat deposition or laminitis; none of the old or young horses had hirsutism, abnormal fat deposition, or laminitis. Procedures—A Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer was used to measure the corneal touch threshold (CTT) in both eyes of each horse. The nylon monofilament was applied at a maximum length of 60 mm to the central region of the cornea and length was decreased by 5-mm increments until a consistent blink response was elicited. Tear production was assessed in all eyes via the Shirmer tear test (STT). Results—Mean ± SD CTT was significantly greater for young horses (47.50 ± 4.52 mm) than for horses in the old (28.0...
EXCRETION OF MALE HORMONES1

Funk, Harrow and Lejwa (1) found that men in the prime of life excreted in the urine 4 to 5 times as much male hormone as men from 50 to 70 years of age. Buhler (2) found a similar relationship between age and quantity. Womack and Koch (3) reported that the urine of boys under 10 years of age contained no male hormone, urine of adolescent boys contained the same amount as that of adult men, and that normal and pregnant women excreted as much male hormone as mature men. This latter finding has been abundantly confirmed (4, 5, 6, 7). On the other hand it has been demonstrated that the male organism excretes large amounts of female sex hormone (8). In fact the stallion (9) excretes more female sex hormone than any other organism and the testis of the stallion is the richest known tissue source of this hormone. Zondek (10) believes that the stallion metabolises the male hormone as soon as formed to female hormone. However, Zondek (11) also believes that the female hormone has an extragonadal but endogenous as...
Effect of bleomycin on an RNA-DNA hybrid

Summary The antitumor antibiotic bleomycin degrades the poly(dT) portion of a poly(rA)poly(dT) hybrid formed by the action of reverse transcriptase. The poly(rA) moiety of the hybrid is not degraded by the drug. This provides firm evidence that the secondary structural differences between RNA and DNA are not responsible for the specificity of bleomycin toward DNA.