cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laparoscopic appendectomy significantly reduces length of stay for perforated appendicitis.

Though ruptured appendicitis is not a contraindication to laparoscopic appendectomy (LA), most surgeons have not embraced LA as the first-line approach to ruptured appendicitis. In fact, in 2002, the Cochrane Database Review concluded: 1) the clinical effects of LA are “small and of limited clinical relevance,” and 2) the effects of LA in perforated appendicitis require further study. To study the effects of LA vs open appendectomy (OA) among adults with appendicitis. In 2003, 272 adults underwent appendectomy at a large County hospital, and were enrolled in a prospective clinical pathway that detailed their hospital course from time of diagnosis to discharge. Data included patient demographics, time elapse from diagnosis to surgery, surgical technique (LA vs. OA), operative diagnosis (acute vs perforated appendicitis) and post-operative length of stay (LOS). Complete data was obtained for 264 (97%) patients. Patient demographics were similar in the LA and OA groups (p > 0.05). Patients with LA had a significantly shorter LOS than OA by 1.6 days (p < 0.05). This LOS was significantly shorter among those with ruptured appendicitis vs. non-ruptured appendicitis (2.0 days vs. 0.3 day reduction, p = 0.0357). Rank-order multiple regression analysis, controlling for all other factors, showed laparoscopy to have a significant effect on postoperative LOS in all appendicitis cases, especially ruptured appendicitis. The two-day reduction in LOS among those with ruptured appendicitis who underwent LA was significant enough to overcome the smaller benefit of LA in acute appendicitis. From a hospital utilization point of view, LA should be considered as the first-line approach for all patients with appendicitis.
Factors in the design of spacecraft utilizing multiple electric thrusters

An analysis has been performed which describes the electrical interactions between simultaneously operating ion thrusters and between the ion thrusters and a spacecraft bus. The problem is reduced to a relatively simple equivalent circuit including all leakage paths. The influence of the various circuits elements on a spacecraft potential is studied. A thruster grounding scheme is introduced which is designed to minimize the electrical interactions and includes protection for both thrusters and spacecraft from possible damage due to neutralizer failure. The paper includes the results of various experiments which have been conducted to quantitatively define the elements of the equivalent circuit.
Performance of PEM Fuel Cells at Sub-Freezing Temperatures

The ability of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell to start up at sub-freezing temperatures, also called cold start, is paramount for its transportation application. The ability to cold start is governed by whether the fuel cell is able to overcome 0 °C before the produced ice terminates the electrochemical reaction. Therefore, fundamental understanding of the fuel cell performance at sub-freezing temperatures is highly needed to improve its cold start characteristics. In this work, we investigated the fuel cell sub-freezing operation through experimental investigation. PEFCs using various membranes and catalyst layer configurations were constructed. In particular, various catalyst layer thickness, ionomer-catalyst ratios, RHs, and membrane thicknesses were considered, and their influence on fuel cell cold start performance was investigated. The voltage, current, high-frequency resistance, and the coulombs passed before failure were recorded and presented to reveal the fuel cell cold start operation. Further, a simplified analysis of cold start was performed based on an electrode model. The cell voltage evolution and solid water build up were predicted and compared with the experimental data.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Pituitary-Placental Interaction: Hypophysectomy Modulates the Secretion of Mouse Placental Lactogen-I*

To determine whether the pituitary gland influences the concentration of mouse placental lactogen-I (mPL-I) in maternal serum, pregnant Swiss Webster mice were hypophysectomized or sham-operated on day 9 of gestation. Blood was collected on days 10–13 and 18, and the mPL-I concentration of the serum was measured by RIA. The serum mPL-I concentration of hypophysectomized mice was significantly higher than that of sham-operated and intact mice on days 10–13. There was no difference in mPL-I concentration on day 18 of pregnancy among the groups. Similar elevations in serum mPL-I concentration were observed when hypophysectomy was performed on day 10 of pregnancy. Steady state levels of placental mPL-I messenger RNA (mRNA) were analyzed by Northern hybridization. No differences were observed in the amount of mPL-I mRNA among hypophysectomized, sham-operated, and intact mice. These results demonstrate that the pituitary gland exerts inhibitory control over the maternal serum mPL-I concentration. This control d...
Lysosomal Enzyme Replacement of the Brain with Intravenous Non-Viral Gene Transfer

Purpose The delivery of non-viral plasmid DNA to brain across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) with intravenous administration of non-viral plasmid DNA encoding a lysosomal enzyme, β-glucuronidase (GUSB), was examined in GUSB null mice, a model of type VII mucopolysaccharidosis.
Physiological responses of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr) to simulated acid rain and ambient ozone in the field

Physiological processes in field-grown soybean (Glycine max L. Merr. 'Davis’) to determine if plant responses were altered by simulated acid rain and if the responses to acid rain were modified by the presence of gaseous pollutants. Applications of simulated acid rain (pH 3.2, 4.2, and 5.2), alone or in combination with gaseous pollutants, did not significantly affect photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance of water vapor, or chlorophyll content at periodic intervals during the 1984 season. Furthermore, in leaf samples collected during pod fill, the concentrations of 11 elements were not significantly affected by simulated acid rain, alone or in combination with gaseous pollutants. These data are evidence that combinations of ambient rain and gaseous pollutants at similar levels may not cause significant physiological disruption in field-grown Davis soybean, and provide mechanistic support for studies where no significant effects on yield were reported.
Meningioangiomatosis: A case report

Abstract A case of meningioangiomatosis without neurofibromatosis, a rare disorder, is described. These patients are usually young (mean age, 27 years) and frequently present with seizures that resolve following partial or total resection of the lesion. The lesions are firm and well demarcated grossly with areas of calcification. Only single lesions have been described. Neurofibrillary tangles, noted in the present case, have been reported previously, but their significance remains uncertain. The lesions are benign and surgery is recommended.
Cooperative Learning and Literacy: A Meta-Analytic Review

Abstract We conducted a meta-analysis on the effectiveness of cooperative and collaborative learning to support enhanced literacy outcomes. Interventions considered were provided in regular education settings (i.e., not pull-out instruction) with students from Grades 2 through 12. Reviewing more than 30 years of literacy research, we located 18 intervention studies with 29 study cohorts. Included studies primarily used standardized assessments to report on students’ reading, vocabulary, or comprehension achievement, which we analyzed separately. Overall, students had significantly higher literacy achievement scores when instructional interventions utilized cooperative and collaborative activity structures. The overall weighted mean effect sizes ranged from 0.16 to 0.22 (p < .01) with more than 94% of the point estimates being positive. Because cooperative or collaborative learning was always one of multiple intervention components, it was impossible to estimate the unique, added effects of cooperative/col...
How do large minority shareholders wield control

While high ownership concentrations in even the largest American corporations provide prima facie evidence that large minority shareholders wield control, the economics and finance literatures have mostly overlooked the question of how they do so. Using a simple framework adapted from work by Shleifer and Vishny (1986), this paper shows how minority shareholders can use takeover threats to discipline management. It then shows how they can bolster their threats, and hence their influence, simply by threatening to increase these minority stakes. When inside information is not too problematic, a relatively small stake can endow minority shareholders with considerable ongoing control.
Role of stress response sigma factor SigG in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes disease in humans and has been one of the most important human pathogens since it was first identified 125 years ago. It is estimated that approximately 9 million new cases of tuberculosis and 2 million deaths due to this disease occur each year (6). A unique feature of M. tuberculosis is its ability to persist as a latent infection, where it lies dormant and escapes detection by the host immune system. The environmental stress response in bacteria is controlled by the extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factors, which contribute to the resistance to stress conditions, such as high and low temperature, oxidative stress, carbon starvation, and low pH. The number of ECF sigma factors varies in different bacterial species. In this study, we focused on the ECF sigma factor gene, sigG. In a previous study it was found that sigG expression is 10- to 100-fold lower than the expression of the other M. tuberculosis sigma factor genes under normal in vitro growth conditions (9). However, a previous report showed that sigG was one of the most highly induced genes during macrophage infection and that its expression was increased 9.7-fold (2). The promoter region of sigG is similar to that of the recA gene, which has a key role in the SOS response (5). These data suggested that SigG is unlikely to play a significant role in bacterial physiology during in vitro growth in rich medium but that it may be conditionally up-regulated in response to certain environmental signals. In this study, we constructed a sigG deletion mutant and characterized its expression patterns and phenotypes compared to wild-type M. tuberculosis.
How meaning similarity influences ambiguous word processing: the current state of the literature

The majority of words in the English language do not correspond to a single meaning, but rather correspond to two or more unrelated meanings (i.e., are homonyms) or multiple related senses (i.e., are polysemes). It has been proposed that the different types of "semantically-ambiguous words" (i.e., words with more than one meaning) are processed and represented differently in the human mind. Several review papers and books have been written on the subject of semantic ambiguity (e.g., Adriaens, Small, Cottrell, & Tanenhaus, 1988; Burgess & Simpson, 1988; Degani & Tokowicz, 2010; Gorfein, 1989, 2001; Simpson, 1984). However, several more recent studies (e.g., Klein & Murphy, 2001; Klepousniotou, 2002; Klepousniotou & Baum, 2007; Rodd, Gaskell, & Marslen-Wilson, 2002) have investigated the role of the semantic similarity between the multiple meanings of ambiguous words on processing and representation, whereas this was not the emphasis of previous reviews of the literature. In this review, we focus on the current state of the semantic ambiguity literature that examines how different types of ambiguous words influence processing and representation. We analyze the consistent and inconsistent findings reported in the literature and how factors such as semantic similarity, meaning/sense frequency, task, timing, and modality affect ambiguous word processing. We discuss the findings with respect to recent parallel distributed processing (PDP) models of ambiguity processing (Armstrong & Plaut, 2008, 2011; Rodd, Gaskell, & Marslen-Wilson, 2004). Finally, we discuss how experience/instance-based models (e.g., Hintzman, 1986; Reichle & Perfetti, 2003) can inform a comprehensive understanding of semantic ambiguity resolution.
A meiotic tapas menu.

Like Muhammad Ali's 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle,” this past fall (September 13–18), the 7th European Meiosis Meeting held in San Lorenzo de El Escorial brought us “Meiosis in Madrid.” This is a sister conference to the Gordon Meiosis series held every other year in the United States, and is an international small-format forum for sharing hot, new results, with an emphasis on unpublished work. At the conference, 21 countries were represented by 167 participants, with a nearly equal split between male and female scientists. The aim of the meeting was to present and promote in-depth discussions about all aspects of meiotic chromosome dynamics, recombination, and segregation. Rather than providing a comprehensive description of the meeting abstracts, this report will briefly describe meeting highlights, guided in large part by feedback from session chairs.
Measurement of interfacial free energy for ice/water system

Abstract The interfacial free energy between ice and water was determined by measuring the undercooling required to allow freezing to proceed through fine-pore cellulose acetate filters. Their pore size was determined from the minimum gas pressure needed to produce bubbling through the water-wetted filters. The value 31.7 ± 2.7 ergs / cm 2 for the interfacial free energy for the ice-water interface was computed from the proportionality between the undercooling and the gas pressure. Detailed description of the apparatus and the experimental procedures is given.
Fatigue lifetime prediction with the aid of SAW NDE

The present studies concentrated on predicting the remaining fatigue life for single fatigue cracks in the Paris regime of macrocrack propagation. Acoustic surface waves were used to interrogate the crack during cyclic fatigue. The inversion of the obtained scattering data provided crack depth and crack length as a function of the number of cycles applied in tension-tension fatigue. Auxiliary experiments were conducted to study the acoustic response of the crack to tensile and compressive loads, thought to open and close the crack. The technique may allow for new insights into the physics of the “crack closure” effect.
A new regiospecific synthesis of aryl ketones from palladocycles

Abstract Aromatic palladocycles undergo facile reaction with acid halides to reglospecifically provide aryl ketones In high yield.
Some Properties of the Cosmic-Ray Ionizing Particles That Generate Penetrating Showers

The mean free path of the ionizing particles that produce penetrating showers has been measured in various materials at 260 and 3260 m above sea level. It has been found that in both places the mean free path is much larger in Pb than in C, and that it increases with the thickness of the absorbers. Possible interpretations are discussed.
Designing Adult Code Simulations for Antepartum and Postpartum Nurses

Poster Presentation Purpose for the Program To improve the ability of nurses in the postpartum and antepartum units to respond in the event of a maternal code. Even very experienced nurses expressed that though they knew how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the maternal code experience was overwhelming and they felt unprepared. Proposed Change The leadership of the antepartum and postpartum units and the nursing simulation faculty at the hospital collaborated to propose a simulation‐based learning experience for the registered nurse (RN) staff of these units. Simulation‐based learning provides an opportunity to practice skills in a safe environment while helping the nurse develop critical thinking skills, promote effective communication, and work collaboratively with other members of the team. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation Over a period of months, the program faculty (simulation staff, nurse educators, and staff nurses) created two maternal code simulations. The final program involved three stages: skills sessions, simulated code scenarios, and debriefings. During the skill sessions the staff reviewed skills, such as use of the defibrillator, contents of the code cart, medications used in a code, and communication techniques. The participants toured the simulation lab before the actual simulation to see how the room was set up and how the manikin worked. When it was time for each scenario, participants were given role cards to remind them of critical activities during a code. The primary nurse received a report on the mock patient and the simulation started. One half of the group participated in each simulation whereas the other half watched the scenario on a live feed in a conference room. Immediately after each scenario a debriefing session took place. Consistent themes during debriefing included discussions about the role of the nurse in a code situation, effective communication in an emergency, and the value of effective team work. Without exception, results of the 196 written evaluations indicated that staff nurses felt more knowledgeable and confident about adult codes after the simulation. Implications for Nursing Practice Based on the overwhelming positive feedback of simulation‐based learning, the program was offered again the following year to all RN staff. Anecdotally, many nurses in the second year of the simulation program commented that they also felt more confident in other emergencies in the units after having participated in the maternal code simulation the previous year. The current plan is to offer simulation‐based learning experiences to all RNs in the antepartum and postpartum units annually.
Hydrogen Ion Entry as a Controlling Factor in the Acid-growth Response of Green Pea Stem Sections

The ability of green pea (Pisum sativum var. Alaska) stem sections to elongate in response to H+ has been reinvestigated. Contrary to the conclusions of Barkley and Leopold, (Plant Physiol. 1973. 52: 76-78) these sections elongate in response to H+ whenever H+ entry through the cuticle is facilitated by slits, holes, or removal. Both live and frozen-thawed sections can undergo acid-induced elongation. Green pea stems behave as predicted by the acid-growth theory.
Spinal metastases from myxoid liposarcoma warrant screening with magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND. Myxoid liposarcoma (MLS) has an unusual tendency for extrapulmonary metastasis, particularly to the spine and soft tissues. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of spinal metastasis, treatment outcomes, and optimal screening method for spinal metastasis in patients with MLS. METHODS. Data from patients with had spinal metastases were obtained from the authors' institutional soft tissue sarcoma database. The accuracy with which positron emission tomography (PET) scans and bone scans identified metastatic lesions was compared with the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Clinical response to treatment was based on pain, neurologic scores, and survivorship analysis. RESULTS. There were 33 patients who developed spinal metastasis after a median 36 months of follow-up (range, from 7.5 months to 33 years). Known spinal metastases were detected by bone scans in 16% of patients and by PET scans in 14% of patients. Patients who underwent surgery had high-grade spinal cord compression more often than patients who did not undergo surgery (72% vs 19%, respectively; P = .002). Pain and neurologic function were improved or maintained in all patients who received radiation alone (n = 8 patients) and in all but 1 patient who underwent surgery (n = 18 patients). The median overall survival was 51.4 months from the time of primary diagnosis and 21.9 months from the time of first metastasis. CONCLUSIONS. Bone scans and PET scan lack sufficient sensitivity to detect spinal metastasis from MLS. Treatment of metastasis is palliative, but local treatment can yield long-term disease control in select patients. Screening with whole-spine MRI may lead to the earlier detection of spinal metastasis. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Regulatory T cells and Th17 cells in viral infections: implications for multiple sclerosis and myocarditis

In immune-mediated diseases, Treg and proinflammatory Th17 cells have been suggested to play either suppressor (beneficial) or effector (detrimental) roles, respectively. Tissue damage in viral infections can be caused by direct viral replication or immunopathology. Viral replication can be enhanced by anti-inflammatory responses and suppressed by proinflammatory responses. However, Tregs could suppress proinflammatory responses, reducing immunopathology, while Th17 cell-induced inflammation may enhance immunopathology. Here, the roles of Treg and Th17 cells depend on whether tissue damage is caused by direct virus replication or immunopathology, which differ depending on the virus, disease stage and host immune background. Although the precise mechanisms of tissue damage in multiple sclerosis and myocarditis are unclear, both viral replication and immune effector cells have been proposed to cause pathogenesis. Personalized medicine that alters the balance between Treg and Th17 cells may ameliorate viral pathology during infections.
Altered expression of middle and inner ear cytokines in mouse otitis media.

Objectives/Hypothesis—The inner ear is at risk for sensorineural hearing loss in both acute and chronic otitis media (OM), but the underlying mechanisms underlying sensorineural hearing loss are unknown. Previous gene expression array studies showed cytokine genes might be upregulated in the cochleas of mice with acute and chronic otitis media. This implies that the inner ear could manifest a direct inflammatory response to OM that may cause sensorineural damage. Therefore, to better understand inner ear cytokine gene expression during OM, quantitative RTPCR and immunohistochemistry were performed on mouse models to evaluate middle and inner ear inflammatory and remodeling cytokines. Study Design—Basic science experiment. Methods—An acute OM model was created in Balb/c mice by a transtympanic injection of S. pneumoniae in one ear; the other ear used as a control. C3H/HeJ mice were screened for unilateral chronic OM with the non-infected ear serving as control. Results—Both acute and chronic OM caused both the middle ear and inner tissues in these two mouse models to over express numerous cytokine genes related to tissue remodeling (TNFα, FGF, BMP) and angiogenesis (VEGF), as well as inflammatory cell proliferation (IL-1α,β, IL-2, IL-6). Immunohistochemistry confirmed that both the middle ear and inner ear tissues expressed these cytokines. Conclusion—Cochlear tissues are capable of expressing cytokine mRNA that contributes to the inflammation and remodeling that occur in association with middle ear disease. This provides a potential molecular basis for the transient and permanent sensorineural hearing loss often reported with acute and chronic OM. Level of Evidence—N/A
The Paths To Subhalf-Micrometer Optical Lithography

The limitations of subhalf-micrometer optical lithography in depth of focus, field size, and overlay accuracy, are discussed. The existing depth of focus budget as well as those for the near and the ultimate future are given. The optical depth of focus is explored in the point of view of microlithographers and means to overcome the depth of focus limit are suggested. Field size requirement of projected IC products is compared with the capability of known and projected optical systems followed with a discussion on methods to overcome the field size limit. The configuration of imaging optics is characterized and discussed by 1X versus reduction systems, refractive versus catadioptric and reflective systems, step-and-repeat versus step-and-scan systems. Overlay accuracy is discussed in terms of off-axis versus through-the-lens alignment, bright-field versus dark-field, actinic versus nonactinic alignment, followed with an overlay budget outlining the specification of the contributors to alignment errors. If all speculations are fulfilled, it is feasible to consider 0.18 μm resolution with 0.07 μm overlay.
Electrochemical Redundant Microsensor Arrays for Glucose Monitoring with Patterned Polymer Films

Redundant microsensor arrays for glucose sensing were fabricated using photopolymerization of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEG-DA) with 2-hydroxy-2-methyl phenyl-propanone as photoinitiator to encapsulate the enzyme glucose oxidase. Silicon micro fabrication technologies were used to fabricate microelectrode sensor arrays on flexible polyimide sheets. These microarray sensors were individually addressable as observed using square-wave voltammetry. Redox polymer, poly[4-vinylpyridine Os(bipyridine)2Cl]-co-ethylamine, was first immobilized on the electrode surface and then glucose oxidase was entrapped in PEG-DA hydrogels. The redox polymer was found to exchange electrons with glucose oxidase in biocompatible PEG-DA hydrogels. The entrapped glucose oxidase was found to respond linearly to glucose in solution (0–20 mM) as determined using square-wave voltammetry.
A Desaturase Gene Involved in the Formation of 1,14-Nonadecadiene in Synechococcus sp. Strain PCC 7002

The marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002 synthesizes two alkenes, 1-nonadecene and 1,14-nonadecadiene. Whereas the genetic basis for the biosynthesis of the terminal double bond in both alkenes has been characterized, the origin of the internal double bond in 1,14-nonadecadiene has not. In this study, we demonstrate that a gene encoding an uncharacterized desaturase is involved in the formation of the internal double bond of 1,14-nonadecadiene. Further, at low temperatures, the desaturase gene is essential for growth, and in wild-type cells the levels of 1,14-nonadecadiene increase relative to that of cells grown at 38°C. These data suggest that 1,14-nonadecadiene plays a role in responding to cold stress.
The relationship between ischemia-induced left ventricular dysfunction, coronary flow reserve, and coronary steal on regadenoson stress-gated (82)Rb PET myocardial perfusion imaging.

Background Gated rubidium-82 (82Rb) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging studies are acquired both at rest and during pharmacologic stress. Stress-induced ischemic left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) can produce a significant decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) from rest to stress. We determined the prevalence on PET of stress LVD with reduced ejection fraction (EF) and its association with absolute global and regional coronary flow reserve (CFR), and with relative perfusion defect summed difference score (SDS).
Body position, sleep states, and cardiorespiratory activity in developing low birth weight infants

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of body position (supine vs prone) on cardiorespiratory activity during quiet and active sleep in growing low birth weight (LBW) infants. The effect of postconceptional age on cardiorespiratory activity in the two positions was also evaluated. Fifty-one healthy, growing, appropriate for gestational age LBW infants (795-1600 g), ranging from 26-37 weeks in gestational age, were evaluated. All subjects were enrolled in an ongoing study of the effects of quality of dietary energy on the rate and composition of weight gain. Infants were randomly assigned to the supine or prone position for the first 3 h of the 6-h studies; the position was reversed for the second 3 h. Continuous recordings of cardiorespiratory activity were performed along with simultaneous minute by minute assignment of behavioral sleep state. Measurements of heart rate (HR), heart period variability (RR-SD), respiratory rate (f), and respiratory variability (fSD) were made each minute. Low birth weight infants had higher HR and f and lower RR-SD and fSD in the prone position compared to the supine position, during both quiet and active sleep. With increasing postconceptional age, positional differences in HR increased during quiet sleep and differences in RR-SD increased during both sleep states. These data demonstrate systematic differences in cardiorespiratory control related to body position during sleep. We speculate that such positional differences are due to variations in autonomic control, and may, in turn, contribute to variations in susceptibility to sudden infant death syndrome.
Electron microscopic identification of rotavirus group antigen with gold-labelled monoclonal IgG

Colloidal gold was complexed with monoclonal IgG to the inner capsid of human rotavirus. The complex was then used as an immunoelectron microscopic marker to identify the location of the group-specific antigen of rotavirus.
Loss of Heterozygosity Analysis of Benign, Atypical, and Anaplastic Meningiomas

OBJECTIVE Up to 70% of typical meningiomas demonstrate allelic loss at chromosome 22q. Allelic loss at additional chromosomal loci is associated with atypia and anaplasia in meningiomas. The pattern of allelic loss or loss of heterozygosity (LOH) follows a nonrandom, multistep pattern. METHODS All surgical meningioma samples obtained from 1991 to 1992 at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center were analyzed according to current World Health Organization criteria. Samples without constitutional deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) were excluded from this analysis. Individual hematoxylin and eosin slides from 43 patients were microdissected, and the DNA was harvested and amplified in the presence of 24 pairs of polymerase chain reaction primers, representing 24 microsatellite loci. The polymerase chain reaction products were subjected to capillary gel electrophoresis and a fluorescence-based DNA analysis system. LOH was defined as ratios of allelic peak heights falling within a conservative threshold of less than 0.5 or more than 2.0. Fisher's exact test and receiver operator characteristic curves were used to test the relationship between benign versus atypical and malignant pathological features and LOH at specific loci or combinations of loci. RESULTS On review by two independent pathologists, 34 benign meningiomas, 6 atypical meningiomas, and 3 anaplastic meningiomas were identified. The mean number of alleles with LOH was 1.5 +/- 1.2 for benign meningiomas, 6.7 +/- 2.7 for atypical meningiomas, and 8.3 +/- 2.3 for anaplastic meningiomas (P < 0.001). The most important individual loci to predict malignancy were D1S407 (P = 0.006), L-myc (P < 0.001), D10S520 (P = 0.003), D10S1173 (P = 0.042), D11S1920 (P < 0.001), D14S555 (P = 0.041), D17S1289 (P < 0.001), D22S417 (P = 0.001), D22S431 (P = 0.019), and D22S532 (P = 0.028). Combining the LOH data across loci, the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve was 0.993, corresponding to virtually perfect prediction of pathological characteristics. CONCLUSION Microsatellite marker analysis of allelic loss is a useful method of predicting atypia and anaplasia in meningiomas. More regions of allelic loss are seen in anaplastic and atypical meningiomas as compared with benign meningiomas. This study confirms previously reported chromosomal regions of allelic loss in atypical and anaplastic meningiomas and suggests additional chromosomal regions that may represent heretofore uncharacterized deletions within meningiomas. This type of genetic fingerprint ultimately may serve both a diagnostic and therapeutic role.
Remote Temperature Sounding in the Presence of Cloud by Zenith Scanning

The principles of remote sounding of vertical temperature profiles in planetary atmospheres containing cloud layers are presented for an approach that uses measurements at different angles to the local vertical to eliminate the unknown cloud effects. A numerical example for a model of the earth's atmosphere shows that soundings separated by 40 deg in zenith angle permit the recovery of the temperature profile with an error that is not significantly greater than that obtained in the clear atmosphere case, and without serious horizontal smear. It is proposed that the method will be valuable for the interpretation of measurements made by instruments on spin-stabilized spacecraft on planetary missions, since in these cases the required angular coverage is obtained automatically for most trajectories.
Specificity and mechanism of JMJD2A, a trimethyllysine-specific histone demethylase

JMJD2A is a JmjC histone demethylase (HDM) that catalyzes the demethylation of di- and trimethylated Lys9 and Lys36 in histone H3 (H3K9me2/3 and H3K36me2/3). Here we present the crystal structures of the JMJD2A catalytic domain in complex with H3K9me3, H3K36me2 and H3K36me3 peptides. The structures reveal that histone substrates are recognized through a network of backbone hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions that deposit the trimethyllysine into the active site. The trimethylated epsilon-ammonium cation is coordinated within a methylammonium-binding pocket through carbon-oxygen (CH...O) hydrogen bonds that position one of the zeta-methyl groups adjacent to the Fe(II) center for hydroxylation and demethylation. Mutations of the residues comprising this pocket abrogate demethylation by JMJD2A, with the exception of an S288A substitution, which augments activity, particularly toward H3K9me2. We propose that this residue modulates the methylation-state specificities of JMJD2 enzymes and other trimethyllysine-specific JmjC HDMs.
Estimating geoid height change in North America: past, present and future

The forthcoming GRAV-D gravimetric geoid model over the United States is to be updated regularly to account for changes in geoid height. Its baseline precision is to be at the 10–20 mm level over non-mountainous regions. The aim of this study is to provide an estimate of the magnitude, time scale, and spatial footprint of geoid height change over North America, from mass redistribution processes of hydrologic, cryospheric and solid Earth nature. Geoid height changes from continental water storage changes over the past 50 years and predicted over the next century are evaluated and are highly dependent on the used model. Groundwater depletion from anthropogenic pumping in regional scale aquifers may lead to geoid changes of 10 mm magnitude every 50–100 years. The GRACE time varying gravity fields are used to (i) assess the errors in a glacial isostatic adjustment model, which, if used to correct the GRAV-D model, may induce errors at the 10 mm geoid height level after ~20 years, (ii), evaluate geoid height change over ice mass loss regions of North America, which, if they remain unchanged in the future, may lead to geoid height changes at the 10 mm level in under a decade and (iii), compute sea level rise and its effect on the geoid, which is found to be negligible. Coseismic gravitational changes from past North American earthquakes are evaluated, and lead to geoid change at the 10-mm level for only the largest thrust earthquakes. Finally, geoid change from volcanic processes are assessed and found to be significant with respect to the GRAV-D geoid model baseline precision for cataclysmic events, such as that of the 1980 Mt. St. Helens eruption. Recommendations on how to best monitor geoid change in the future are given.
Plasma corticosteroids in Cushing's syndrome.

Circadian rhythm of plasma corticosteroids and the plasma corticosteroid response during both the 4-hour ACTH test and the 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test (1 mg-DST) have been studied in seven cases of Cushing's syndrome. The early morning baseline values were normal in five out of seven, but elevated in all cases at 10 p.m. The plasma corticosteroid response during the ACTH test was increased in five cases (Morbus Cushing 3, adrenal adenoma 1, ectopic ACTH syndrome 1), normal in one (Morbus Cushing) and subnormal in one (adrenal carcinoma). In contrast to plasma corticosteroid values of less than 6.2 μg/100 ml during 1 mg-DST in patients without Cushing's syndrome, no values lower than 8.4 μg/100 ml were obtained on 14 occasions in six cases of Cushing's syndrome. Despite sources of error these procedures, particularly the 1 mg-DST, are valuable in the diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome. A striking agreement between urinary excretion of 17-KGS and plasma corticosteroids was obtained during the DST of Liddle. Greatly elevated baseline values of plasma corticosteroids and a subnormal response during the 4-hour ACTH test suggest the presence of extra-pituitary spontaneous Cushing's syndrome.
Simulated field testing of high performance grouts for post-tensioning

A series of fresh property tests and accelerated corrosion tests were used to develop grouts that combine favorable grouting properties with good corrosion protection. The grouts were then pumped into a clear duct with multiple drapes to observe their behavior under simulated field conditions. Two high performance grouts for post-tensioning applications are recommended from this testing. For horizontal applications, a low water-cement ratio grout with fly ash (Class C) is recommended. For vertical applications (such as tall bridge piers), a low water-cement ratio grout containing antibleed admixture is recommended.
Effect of Tomato Cultivar and Fertilizer Regime on the Survival of Liriomyza trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae)

A comparison of host-plant suitability was made with Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) reared from chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat) on selected cultivars of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum; ‘Big Boy’, ‘Cherry’, ‘Early Girl’, ‘Patio’, ‘Supersteak’, ‘VF 6718’, and ‘VF 7718’). Mean numbers of pupae or adults per plant and the survivorship of pupae and emergence of adults were used as criteria to analyze the suitability of these cultivars as hosts. Little survival was observed on six of the seven cultivars. Lowest (0.24) and highest (0.60) percentage of pupa survival was obtained with the cultivars ‘VF 7718’ and ‘VF 6718’, respectively. The suitability of two cultivars, ‘Patio’ and ‘Beefsteak’, as hosts for L. trifolii was significantly improved by increasing total fertilizer delivered to the plant. Higher fertilizer levels increased plant size, larva survival, and size of pupae. The effect of tomato cultivar and fertilizer regime on development of L. trifolii and the possible movement of this species from a bedding-plant nursery to commercial tomato fields are discussed.
Evaluating a brief measure of social self-efficacy among U.S. adolescents.

Preliminary data were collected to evaluate the performance of a social self-efficacy measure among 4,061 public high school adolescents. Principal-axis factor analysis was followed by a 4-way between-groups analysis of variance (ANOVA) to test for differences in the Total score means on selected demographic estimates and their interactions. Relations between the Total score and selected risk behaviors were examined through a series of one-way ANOVAs and the Tukey HSD test. Factor analysis results suggested a one-factor model best explained the factor structure of the scale items (factor loading range = .64–.77, eigenvalue = 4.05, h2 = .51). Females reported a significantly higher mean Total social self-efficacy rating than males, while White students reported a significantly higher mean Total social self-efficacy rating than Black and Asian students. Statistically significant lower mean Total social self-efficacy ratings were also noted for those who reported physical fighting, avoiding school, and being...
Chemisorption of co on clean and carbonized osmium

Abstract Photoemission and desorption studies indicate that CO is molecularly adsorbed on clean Os while adsorption of CO on a carbonized Os surface produces a different CO structure, Spectral data for this structure are consistent with molecular adsorption in which the CO axis is nearly parallel to the surface and both C and O are involved in bonding.
The effects of parathion on acquisition and retention of shuttlebox avoidance-conditioning in the goldfish Carassius auratus

Abstract Goldfish (Carassius auratus) were trained to avoid darkness in a shuttlebox conditioning apparatus. Two different protocols were used: In the first, 48 h prior to training, fish were exposed to water, acetone (vehicle control), 10, 100 or 300 μg litre−1 parathion for 24 h. In the second, fish were subjected for 24 h to water, acetone 10, 100, or 300 μg litre−1 parathion immediately following training; they received 10 additional training trials as retention tests 24 h after the exposure. The performance of the parathion-treated fish and the control fish was compared by two-way ANOVA and Duncan's New Multiple Range test. The performance of the acetone control fish did not differ from that of the water control. Exposure prior to training had a dose-related inhibitory effect on acquisition of the avoidance response, namely, 10 μg litre−1 had little effect, 100 μg litre−1 had a median effect, and 300 μg litre−1 had the greatest effect. The effect of post-training exposure on retention was also dose-related, but both the 100 and 300 μg litre−1 dosages markedly inhibited retention. These results agree with previous findings that anticholinesterase agents inhibit learning. Additionally, these results indicate that an ecologically relevant dosage of parathion (100 μg litre−1) can alter basic learning processes in goldfish.
Region-specific relationships between refractive error and ciliary muscle thickness in children.

PURPOSE To determine if there is a relationship between refractive error and ciliary muscle thickness in different muscle regions. METHODS An anterior segment optical coherence tomographer was used to measure cycloplegic ciliary muscle thicknesses at 1 mm (CMT1), 2 mm (CMT2), and 3 mm (CMT3) posterior to the scleral spur; maximum (CMTMAX) thickness was also assessed. An autorefractor was used to determine cycloplegic spherical equivalent refractive error (SPHEQ). Apical ciliary muscle fibers were obtained by subtracting corresponding CMT2 values from CMT1 and CMTMAX. Multilevel regression models were used to determine the relationship between ciliary muscle thickness in various regions of the muscle and refractive error. RESULTS Subjects included 269 children with a mean age of 8.71 ± 1.51 years and a mean refractive error of +0.41 ± 1.29 diopters. In linear models with ciliary muscle thicknesses and SPHEQ, SPHEQ was significantly associated only with CMT2 (β = -11.34, P = 0.0008) and CMT 3 (β = -6.97, P = 0.007). When corresponding values of CMT2 were subtracted from CMT1 and CMTMAX, apical fibers at CMT1 (β = 14.75, P < 0.0001) and CMTMAX (β = 18.16, P < 0.0001) had a significant relationship with SPHEQ. CONCLUSIONS These data indicated that in children the posterior ciliary muscle fibers are thicker in myopia (CMT2 and CMT3), but paradoxically, the apical ciliary muscle fibers are thicker in hyperopia (CMTMAX and CMT1). This may be the first evidence that hyperopia is associated with a thicker apical ciliary muscle region.
Gastrointestinal Involvement in a Case of Hereditary Angioedema: Could the Early Weaning Have Had a Role?

ABSTRACT Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a noninflammatory disorder due to reduced C1-inhibitor level and/or function and characterized by recurrent, circumscribed, and self-limiting episodes of cutaneous and mucous membrane swellings involving different organs. A heterogeneous group of mutations in the C1-inhibitor gene have been found. HAE might present with diverse clinical pictures, even within families with the same mutation, but the cause of this variability is not known yet. We describe the case of type II HAE in a young adult presenting with recurrent abdominal pain for many years, occasionally associated with ascites. We suppose that an early weaning might have influenced his phenotype, making his gastrointestinal tract a “vulnerable organ,” in which hereditary angioedema could express itself.
Rational tuning of the thiolate donor in model complexes of superoxide reductase: Direct evidence for a trans influence in FeIII-OOR complexes

Iron peroxide species have been identified as important intermediates in a number of nonheme iron as well as heme-containing enzymes, yet there are only a few examples of such species either synthetic or biological that have been well characterized. We describe the synthesis and structural characterization of a new series of five-coordinate (N4S(thiolate))Fe(II) complexes that react with tert-butyl hydroperoxide ((t)BuOOH) or cumenyl hydroperoxide (CmOOH) to give metastable alkylperoxo-iron(III) species (N4S(thiolate)Fe(III)-OOR) at low temperature. These complexes were designed specifically to mimic the nonheme iron active site of superoxide reductase, which contains a five-coordinate iron(II) center bound by one Cys and four His residues in the active form of the protein. The structures of the Fe(II) complexes are analyzed by X-ray crystallography, and their electrochemical properties are assessed by cyclic voltammetry. For the Fe(III)-OOR species, low-temperature UV-vis spectra reveal intense peaks between 500-550 nm that are typical of peroxide to iron(III) ligand-to-metal charge-transfer (LMCT) transitions, and EPR spectroscopy shows that these alkylperoxo species are all low-spin iron(III) complexes. Identification of the vibrational modes of the Fe(III)-OOR unit comes from resonance Raman (RR) spectroscopy, which shows nu(Fe-O) modes between 600-635 cm(-1) and nu(O-O) bands near 800 cm(-1). These Fe-O stretching frequencies are significantly lower than those found in other low-spin Fe(III)-OOR complexes. Trends in the data conclusively show that this weakening of the Fe-O bond arises from a trans influence of the thiolate donor, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations support these findings. These results suggest a role for the cysteine ligand in SOR, and are discussed in light of the recent assessments of the function of the cysteine ligand in this enzyme.
The New Economics of Corruption: A Survey and some New Results:

Governments of all political colours in countries of all levels of wealth are aected by corruption scandals with a frequency and intensity that seems to be always on the increase. Corruption has become a `hot issue' and is now a major topic of political competition, even in the industrialized democracies. Yet, to a large extent, economists have remained vague about what can be done to reduce it. A main concern is the lack of evidence in support of the main policy alternatives. This paper reviews the state of economic knowledge on the phenomenon of corruption, with special emphasis on the theory behind the most common policy proposals and the evidence that supports them. During the last thirty years or so economists from dierent ®elds have made scattered contributions to the analysis of corruption, so that by now a certain body of literature has emerged. The ®rst published piece on corruption that received wide attention is Rose-Ackerman, though the topic was also in the minds of people doing research in the economics of crime, agency theory, rent-seeking, and development economics. While theories abounded, a lack of data on corruption to test the theoretical contributions allowed con icting theories on the causes and consequences of corruption to coexist. As a result, the ®eld has been unable to provide coherent policy guidelines to curb corruption and has remained somewhat disconnected from the discussion arena, a place mainly dominated by lawyers, businessmen and judges. More recently, an emerging body of empirical research has begun to appear, employing subjective indices on corruption produced for businessrelated purposes. We organize the literature into two broad themes: theories about the causes of corruption and theories of its eects. With regard to the latter, we show how the new data has shed light on a controversy that originated in the 1960s about the theoretical possibility that corruption may