cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU-GG-J-94: Can We Predict the Severity of Artifacts on 4DCT from the Respiratory Irregularity during 4DCT Image Acquisition?

Purpose: To evaluate the correlation between the severity of artifacts on 4DCT and patient's respiratory irregularity. Method and Materials: The 4DCT from 10 different patients were studied. These patients went through two consecutive procedures in a single session: 4DCT with free breathing (FB) followed by another 4DCT with audio and visual (AV) instructions. Phillips big bore Multislice CT scanner with 4D CT capabilities were used to acquire the 4DCT scans. Real Time Position Management system by Varian was used to capture patient's breathing trace during 4DCT acquisition. Describe your methods to quantify 4DCT artifact and respiratory irregularity. Results: Our results of all ten patients indicate that there is an obvious correlation between severity of artifact and breathing irregularity. For each individual patient, the severity of the artifact increases with the breathing irregularity for 4D CT with free breathing. However, it is difficult to use a universal function to describe the correlation among all patients. The most possible cause can lay on the unique dependence of internal organ motion on external motion of each patient. Our results also indicate that the AV coaching helps to reduce the breathing irregularity during the CT acquisition and therefore results in mitigated artifact in 4DCT. Conclusion: We conclude that it is feasible to predict the severity of the artifacts on 4DCT by quantification of breathing irregularity. We also found coaching is helpful to reduce the breathing irregularity. Conflict of Interest: Research sponsored by Philips.
CT measurement of the frontal sinus - gender differences and implications for frontal cranioplasty.

Summary Objective To describe frontal sinus anatomy and explore gender variations that may have significance for cranioplasty and sinus surgery. Methods 150 subjects who underwent maxillofacial computed tomography (CT) between 1/1/2008 and 6/11/2008 were enrolled. Frontal sinus dimensions and forehead measurements were taken at midline and at 10, 20, and 30 mm to the left and right of midline using sagittal, coronal, and axial images. The data was analyzed for significant differences between measurements made at the selected points in the frontal sinus, for left to right variations, and for gender variations. Results Mean anterior table thickness ranged from 2.6 to 4.1 mm and was thinnest at 10 mm left and right of midline (2.9 and 2.6 mm). Mean anteroposterior depth of the frontal sinus ranged from 8.0 to 9.3 mm and did not vary significantly at any distance from midline. Frontal sinus height was greatest at midline (mean = 24.5 mm) and progressively lessened at lateral distances. Mean total width at the level of the supraorbital ridge was 52.2 mm. For all measurements, no significant left to right variation was noted. Comparing the sexes, males were found to have greater dimensions in most frontal sinus measurements, though these differences were only found to be significant at or close to midline. The male forehead was marked by more acute nasofrontal angle (119.9° versus 133.5°) and a steeper posterior forehead inclination (−7.2° versus −3.5°). The glabella was wider in males (44.4 versus 33.9 mm) and more frequently protruded beyond the ideal forehead slope line (51% versus 30%). Conclusions Using CT imaging, forehead and frontal sinus dimensions have been described. Generally, males had larger overall frontal sinus dimensions, and this was most pronounced in the medial area of the supraorbital ridge known as the glabella.
What is Speculation

I. Introduction and summary, 677.-II. Buying in order to resell, 678.-III. Concluding remarks, 686.
Individual differences and leadership: An overview

This issue of Leadership Quarterly is the second of three special issues focusing on individual differences and leadership. Our intention across the three issues is to update research and theory bearing upon this topic. Accordingly, three separate themes are being pursued. The first highlights recent advances in work on leadership functions and styles as well as the prediction of managerial performance. The purpose is to indicate how individual differences related to cognitive and creative capacities, problem-solving skills, and social competencies condition leader success. A second theme emphasizes social situational variables that determine, alter, or require the operation of particular leader qualities. Articles concerning this theme illustrate how variables such as organizational level, problem novelty, situational stress, and subordinate characteristics can determine when certain individual leadership characteristics are particularly critical for effective leadership. The final theme refers to methodological and measurement issues related to leader emergence and identification. Hence one focus is on the statistical analysis of data from individuals placed in alternate group situations. A second focus is on the methodological considerations and technologies related to managerial selection. The first special issue contained three articles which examined the role of differential cognitive qualities that are linked to effective organizational problem-solving. For example, Fleishman, Mumford, Zaccaro, Levin, Korotkin, and Hein (199 1) described
Organ culture with proinflammatory cytokines reproduces impairment of the beta-adrenoceptor-mediated relaxation in tracheas of a guinea pig antigen model.

The challenge of previously sensitized guinea pigs with aerosolized ovalbumin resulted in impairment of the β-adrenoceptor-mediated relaxation as measured by the in vitro isometric assay of tracheas preconstricted with endothelin-1 or carbamylcholine. Numbers and affinities of β-adrenoceptors in lung membranes of these animals were not altered under these conditions, although the antigen challenge caused an inflammatory response, as evident from the accumulation of inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids. In order to investigate the pathophysiologic role of inflammation in hyperreactive airways, isolated guinea pig tracheas were cultured with proinflammatory cytokines such as human recombinant tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), or interleukin-2 (IL-2). None of these cytokines affected the contractile response of tracheas to carbamylcholine. After preconstriction with carbamylcholine, the TNF-α- and IL-1β-pretreated tissues produced a significant reduction in the maxim...
Effects of chronic kidney disease on liver transport: quantitative intravital microscopy of fluorescein transport in the rat liver

Clinical studies indicate that hepatic drug transport may be altered in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Uremic solutes associated with CKD have been found to alter the expression and/or activity of hepatocyte transporters in experimental animals and in cultured cells. However, given the complexity and adaptability of hepatic transport, it is not clear whether these changes translate into significant alterations in hepatic transport in vivo. To directly measure the effect of CKD on hepatocyte transport in vivo, we conducted quantitative intravital microscopy of transport of the fluorescent organic anion fluorescein in the livers of rats following 5/6th nephrectomy, an established model of CKD. Our quantitative analysis of fluorescein transport showed that the rate of hepatocyte uptake was reduced by ∼20% in 5/6th nephrectomized rats, consistent with previous observations of Oatp downregulation. However, the overall rate of transport into bile canaliculi was unaffected, suggesting compensatory changes in Mrp2-mediated secretion. Our study suggests that uremia resulting from 5/6th nephrectomy does not significantly impact the overall hepatic clearance of an Oatp substrate.
Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA is a major interleukin 2-induced transcript in a cloned T-helper lymphocyte.

Abstract A cDNA library was constructed using mRNA from interleukin 2 (IL2)-stimulated cloned murine T lymphocytes to isolate cDNA clones of mRNAs that were induced by IL2 and present at maximal levels in late G 1 /early S phase of the cell cycle. When the library was screened by differential hybridization, over half of the clones isolated were found to cross-hybridize, indicating that there was a predominant IL2-induced mRNA in these cells. This cDNA was identified as encoding murine glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH; EC 1.2.1.12). The in vitro translation product of this cDNA was a 36-kDa protein using both hybridization-selected RNA and in vitro transcribed RNA. We estimate that GAPDH mRNA comprises approx. 0.7% of total mRNA in the cloned T cells in late G 1 . GAPDH mRNA is induced two- to fivefold over resting levels upon IL2 stimulation, due in part to an increased rate of transcription. GAPDH enzymatic activity is induced approx. sevenfold over resting levels. The induction of GAPDH mRNA is inhibited only slightly by CHX under conditions in which cell proliferation is inhibited. In addition, the induction of GAPDH is directly due to the effect of IL2, and not in conjunction with any serum components, since IL2 will induce GAPDH mRNA under serum-free conditions. Finally, when genomic DNA is probed with a full-length GAPDH cDNA, a complex pattern of bands is observed, whereas if a 5′ end probe is used, a much simpler pattern is obtained, indicating that many of the GAPDH pseudogenes in the murine genome lack 5′ sequence information.
Reputation, training, fee, and androgyny: Their comparative effects on impressions of therapist credibility†

Two hundred and forty-eight college students viewed a vignette from a therapy-analogue session. Before Ss viewed the vignette, they all read a summary that described the vignette plus an additional description that stressed different aspects of the therapist. One-fifth of the Ss were told of the therapist's excellent reputation, one-fifth were told of the therapist's excellent training and credentials, one-fifth were told of the therapist's high fee, and one-fifth were told of the therapists' androgenous personality. The remaining one-fifth of the Ss, who served as controls, were told nothing further; they only received the standard description of the vignette. After the vignette, Ss completed measures designed to assess their perception of therapist credibility and attractiveness. The results indicate that the androgenous therapist was rated as most credible and attractive (whereas the high-fee-charging therapist was least credible and attractive.) Explanation for these results and implications are discussed.
Perturbação respiratória durante o sono em doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica

A doenca pulmonar obstrutiva cronica e uma condicao frequente e e hoje a quarta principal causa de mortes nos Estados Unidos. A prevalencia de perturbacao respiratoria durante o sono, ou sindrome de superposicao, como anteriormente denominada, ainda nao foi determinada devido a publicacao de relatos conflitantes. Esta condicao deve continuar sendo investigada devido aos efeitos adversos causados por transtornos respiratorios relacionados ao sono em pacientes com doenca pulmonar de base. Neste relato, discutiremos brevemente os mecanismos envolvidos na origem da perturbacao respiratoria durante o sono em doenca pulmonar obstrutiva cronica e auxiliaremos o leitor a distinguir aqueles pacientes que se beneficiariam de uma avaliacao do padrao do sono mais detalhada, com a discussao de topicos de gerenciamento e opcoes de tratamento.
Observation of coherent synchrotron radiation from the NSLS VUV ring

Abstract We report the observation of multiparticle coherent emission in the very far infrared from bunched electrons in an electron storage ring. The emission occurs in quasi-periodic bursts, and only when the electron beam current exceeds a threshold value, suggesting an instability-driven modulation of the electron bunch density. For the operating conditions reported, the spectral content of the coherent emission is peaked near a wavelength of 7 mm. This wavelength is much shorter than the nominal electron bunch length, indicating the presence of a density modulation within the bunch.
Atmospheric controls on Eurasian snow extent

Composite analyses, based on weekly snow-cover charts, temperature, sea level pressure, cyclone tracks and a rotated PCA of daily filtered 700 hPa geopotential height are used to examine relationships between the dominant modes of low-frequency atmospheric variability and mid-winter snow extent over the Eurasian continent. Two of the circulation modes examined have been identified previously and represent the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the Eurasian Type 1 (EU1) pattern. A third, termed the Siberian pattern (SIB), has not been identified previously, and describes variability in 700 hPa height over central Asia and southern Siberia. The most coherent snow-cover signals occur in the transient snow regions over Europe and south-western Asia, where variations in snow extent are largely controlled by temperature. Snow signals in east Asia are difficult to explain, but appear to be primarily determined by the availability of precipitation. For the NAO, snow-cover signals are largely restricted to central Europe. This result is initially surprising, as the NAO is associated with large temperature anomalies over a large part of the Eurasian continent. However, east of the Ural Mountains temperature anomalies in NAO extremes are confined to northern regions where mean temperatures are well below freezing, and air temperatures have little influence on snow extent. In extremes of the EU1 and SIB patterns, significant snow-cover signals are found in south-western Asia, where variability in the amplitude of the Eurasian wave train results in large differences in air temperature and cyclone activity over the transient snow regions. No coherent snow-cover signals are associated with extremes of the Siberian High. Copyright © 1999 Royal Meteorological Society
Role stressors and customer-oriented boundary-spanning behaviors in service organizations

The authors investigate three types of customer-oriented boundary-spanning behaviors (COBSBs) a frontline service employee may perform that are associated with linking a service organization to its potential or actual customers: external representation, internal influence, and service delivery. The authors propose and test a withdrawal model to explain the negative effects of role conflict and role ambiguity on COBSBs across a sample of 220 lower-level, nonprofessional service providers of a major retail bank and a sample of 90 higher-level, professional service providers from the business credit division of an international financial services corporation. The results demonstrate that (1) indirect paths through job satisfaction and organizational commitment entirely account for the negative effects of the role stressors on COBSBs, (2) the indirect negative effects of the role stressors are stronger on external representation and internal influence behaviors, and (3) role conflict also has a significant positive direct relationship with internal influence behaviors.
When Consumers Don't Recognize 'Benign' Intention Questions as Persuasion Attempts

We demonstrate that the mere-measurement effect occurs because asking an intention question is not perceived as a persuasion attempt. In experiments 1 and 2, we show that when persuasive intent is attributed to an intention question, consumers adjust their behavior as long as they have sufficient cognitive capacity to permit conscious correction. In experiment 3 we demonstrate that this finding holds with product choice and consumption, and we find that persuasion knowledge mediates the effects. In experiment 4, we show that when respondents are educated that an intention question is a persuasive attempt, the behavioral impact of those questions is attenuated.
Direct method for transient stability studies in power system analysis

This paper deals with recent advances in developing direct methods for studying the transient stability problem of single-machine and multimachine power systems. The paper starts out with the construction of the mathematical model that is usually employed in the analyis of power system transient stability. Computer simulation methods are then briefly discussed, and it is indicated why accurate direct methods for transient stability investigations would be most welcome. It is shown that the classical direct methods, which are based on energy considerations, can be derived and generalized by means of Lyapunov's second method. The main purpose of the paper is to give an exposition of the interesting results that have been obtained by applying Lyapunov's second method to the transient stability problem of single-machine and multimachine power systems. In the final portion of the paper some areas for further research are discussed.
Transnational Capital, the US State and Latin American Trade Agreements

Abstract This paper examines the role of US-based transnational corporations in advancing trade, investment, regulatory and intellectual property rights provisions within NAFTA and DR–CAFTA. I explore the linkages between US firms, the US state and investment patterns in Mexico, Central America and the Dominican Republic in order to develop a framework for understanding the political economy of these regional trade agreements. I locate the timing of each of these agreements within the context of the goals of a transnational interest bloc that includes US-based transnational firms, US state officials and regional business interests and state bureaucracies in Latin America, with each trying to utilise regional agreements as a substitute for failed multilateral initiatives as well as a springboard for advancing a more aggressive set of protections for investors within bilateral investment treaties. In order to determine the extent to which transnational firms based in the USA have influenced these trade agre...
Repurposing the Past: The Phantastron and appropriating history as a DIY approach

Historical models may often provide some of the greatest inspiration for the creation of new technologies. A DIY approach appropriating older paradigms in technology is discussed, with special attention paid to how old concepts can become relevant within a modern context. The author's electronic instrument, the Phantastron, is introduced as an example of this DIY approach. The Phantastron's creation is detailed in practice and methods such as repurposing, redesigning, hacking and circuit bending upon a historical design are described. A wider angle is then cast upon the concept of repurposing older technologies, and the works of other artists and DIY makers are considered. The concept that antiquated technology is in the common domain and ready to be utilised in the synthesis of new ideas is discussed. Finally, a generalised DIY approach to integrating historical ideas into new creations is posited.
Harnessing the Energy of Fusion: Presidential Address, American Head and Neck Society

In 1999, Drs Robbins and Shaha 1 delivered the inaugural presidential lectures, which highlighted the traditions and history of our 2 founding societies. Last year, President Medina 2 drew our attention to some formidablechallenges with respect to workforce, the direct consequences of poor reimbursement, and the potential that we might lose our impact on head and neck disease if we fall prey to "tragic optimism." These concerns were recently echoed by Academy President Jack Gluckman, 3 who identified head and neck surgery as a "specialty in crisis."
Tibial intercondylar eminence fractures in adults: arthroscopic treatment.

Results obtained from the surgical treatment of 15 cases of type II and III tibial intercondylar eminence fractures—according to the classification of Meyers and McKeever [12, 13]—are reported in this paper. The average age of the patients observed was 22 years (range 18–41). All patients underwent an arthroscopic procedure of reduction and fixation. We used a bioabsorbable suture in ten patients and a nonabsorbable suture in five patients. The suture was passed at the ACL insertion, then pulled out through drilled tunnels and tied onto the anterior surface of the tibial metaphysis. Two of the 15 patients treated underwent an additional arthroscopic procedure because of arthrofibrosis, 2 months after the first surgical intervention. All patients were examined clinically and radiographically with an average follow-up of 18 months. According to the IKDC scoring system, recovery of the 13 patients not undergoing additional intervention was graded as normal or near normal. In 14 patients, anterior laxity was inferior to 5 mm at the KT-1000 arthrometer evaluation. Absorbable or nonabsorbable suture fixation is effective for obtaining a secure fixation and achieves good clinical and functional mid-term results.
Variability in the Structures of Luminescent [2‐(Aminomethyl)pyridine]silver(I) Complexes: Effect of Ligand Ratio, Anion, Hydrogen Bonding, and π‐Stacking

The reaction of 2-(aminomethyl)pyridine (2-amp) with silver(I) salts of triflate (OTf–), trifluoroacetate (tfa–), and tetrafluoroborate (BF4–) produce monomeric, dimeric, bridged, and polymeric structural motifs. The structural characteristics are dependent upon the ratio of ligand/metal in the structure as well as the ability of the anion to coordinate to the metal centers and form hydrogen bonds to the bound ligands. The silver coordination environment takes on several geometries including near linear (6), trigonal (4), tetrahedral (1), and both trigonal-bipyramidal and square-based pyramidal in a single structure (2). Structures 2, 3, and 5 also display short Ag–Ag contacts ranging from 2.8958(3) to 3.0305(4) A. The species with metal–metal interactions, which are connectively very similar to their metal-isolated counterparts of 1, 4, and 6, are held together only by weak π-stacking interactions or hydrogen bonds to their respective anions. Low-temperature luminescence spectra were collected for all compounds and are compared. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)
Ophthalmia Nodosa Caused by Tarantula Hairs

A young woman presented with ocular discomfort after handling her pet tarantula. Multiple fine hairs were detected on the eyelids, in the palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva, and in the corneal epithelium and stroma. In addition, foreign body granulomas were found in the conjunctiva. Six months later, peripheral chorioretinal lesions were seen. The clinical and histologic findings in this case closely resemble the findings in ophthalmia nodosa caused by caterpillar hairs.
Educational Attainment and Religiosity: Exploring Variations by Religious Tradition

This study examines the relationship between educational attainment and various dimensions of religiosity. On the basis of a network closure argument, we hypothesize that the relationship between education and religiosity varies by religious tradition. Analyzing data from the 1972 – 2006 General Social Survey, we found that educational attainment predicted increased attendance at religious services, decreased levels of prayer, increased inclination to view the Bible as a book of fables, and decreased inclination to view the Bible as the literal word of God. These relationships, however, significantly interacted with religious tradition. Increased education largely resulted in greater religiosity among evangelical Protestants, black Protestants, and Catholics but not among mainline Protestants and the nonaffiliated. Overall, this study shows that education does not uniformly decrease religiosity and highlights the importance of considering religious tradition in future research.
Bottom-Up Building of an Innovative Organization: Motivating Employee Intrapreneurship and Scouting and Their Strategic Value

This article proposes a theoretical model to understand the ways in which organizations can increase employees’ voluntary intrapreneurship and motivated business information seeking and sharing, scouting, via relationship building. Three management strategies—managerial receptiveness to innovative effort, employee empowerment, and communication symmetry—have been tested for their effects on quality of organization–employee relationship (OER), and the effects of OERs on employee’s intrapreneurship and scouting. A survey was conducted with 528 employees of organizations that have a minimum of 300 employees in the United States. Results suggest that organizations become innovative and adaptive to the organizational environment as they cultivate relationships with employees because they can motivate employees to engage in voluntary intrapreneurship and scouting in and around the organization.
Point cloud segmentation with LIDAR reflection intensity behavior

Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) scans are increasingly being used for 3D map construction and reverse engineering. The utility and benefit of the processed data maybe enhanced if the objects and geometry of the area scanned can be segmented and labeled. In this paper, we present techniques to model the intensity of the laser reflection return from a point during LIDAR scanning to determine diffuse and specular reflection properties of the scanned surface. Using several illumination models, the reflection properties of the surface are characterized by Lambertian diffuse reflection model and Blinn-Phong, Gaussian and Beckmann specular models. Experimental set up with eight different surfaces with varied textures and glossiness enabled measurement of algorithm performance. Examples of point cloud segmentation with the presented approach are presented.
Wireless sensor network security: a secure sink node architecture

Sensor network comprises of scattered sensor nodes with limited computational capabilities and battery power. The existing security solutions for traditional wireless networks can not be used because of the constraints associated with sensor network. We present secure sink node architecture as two-tiered scheme for sensor network security. The architecture protects the sink node from unauthorized access by surrounding it with two protection layers. Sink nodes listen to only inner layer nodes and inner nodes are allowed to communicate with only outer layer nodes. These protection layers are formed in an intelligent manner without violating constraints specific to sensor network. In order to enhance security, protection layers are re-adjusted in case of an attack. We present statistical analysis to elucidate the performance of proposed architecture.
Age As a Determinant of Adverse Events in Medically Treated Cryptogenic Stroke Patients With Patent Foramen Ovale

Background and Purpose— Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is associated with cryptogenic stroke. There is no study that assessed the effect of age on adverse event rates in cryptogenic stroke patients with PFO. The purpose of this retrospective analysis from PFO in Cryptogenic Stroke Study (PICSS) database was to assess the effect of age on the risk of adverse events in medically treated cryptogenic stroke patients with PFO. Methods— 250 cryptogenic stroke patients from PICSS were followed-up for 24 months, with death and recurrent ischemic stroke as primary endpoints. Hazard ratios were calculated for determination of relative risk in cryptogenic stroke patients with and without PFO in 3 age groups (younger than 55, 55 to 64, and 65 years or older). Results— Among the 2 younger age groups, the presence of PFO did not significantly affect the risk of adverse events (P=0.15; hazard ratio=0.21; 95% CI, 0.02 to 1.78; 2-year event rates, 2.0% versus 9.3%; and P=0.70; hazard ratio=0.72; 95% CI, 0.14 to 3.73; 2-year e...
Optimization of freeform lightpipes for light-emitting-diode projectors.

Standard nonimaging components used to collect and integrate light in light-emitting-diode-based projector light engines such as tapered rods and compound parabolic concentrators are compared to optimized freeform shapes in terms of transmission efficiency and spatial uniformity. We show that the simultaneous optimization of the output surface and the profile shape yields transmission efficiency within the etendue limit up to 90% and spatial uniformity higher than 95%, even for compact sizes. The optimization process involves a manual study of the trends for different shapes and the use of an optimization algorithm to further improve the performance of the freeform lightpipe.
Development and evaluation of two prototypes for providing weather map data to blind users through sonification

While most aspects of web accessibility are technically easy to solve, providing accessible equivalents of data visualizations for blind users remains a challenging problem. Previous attempts at accessible equivalents focused on sonification of population data. This paper describes the creation of two prototypes for providing real-time weather information in a sonified format for blind users. A structured requirements gathering using interviews and surveys led to the development of the first sonification prototype using both keyboard and touchscreen (with a tactile overlay) access to weather data on a PC and Mac. This prototype was evaluated for usability by five blind users. Based on the feedback from the usability evaluation, a second prototype on a new platform (Android tablet computer) was created. We discuss the development and evaluation process for the sonification prototypes, with a detailed description of the usability evaluations performed in the field. The studies show that when working at the intersection of users with disabilities and new technologies, it's important to be flexible and adjust quickly to get the most out of field studies.
Harold Garfinkel, Ethnomethodology and Workplace Studies

Known primarily as the author of a method for studying work, Harold Garfinkel — and ethnomethodological studies of work, or workplace studies — also offer an important alternative theory of work. First articulated in the late 1940s and early 1950s as a theory of communication, organization, and information, it has been Garfinkel's proposal that mutual understanding (orienting objects, meaning, and identities) in interactions, including technical situations of work, requires constant mutual orientation to situated constitutive expectancies — taken-for-granted methods of producing order that constitute sense — accompanied by displays of attention, competence, and trust. Based on this premise, researchers need to enter worksites to learn the order properties of work. Conventional theories, by contrast, treat social orders (including work) as resulting from individual interests, external constraint, and/or some conjunction between the two. For Garfinkel, however, individual motivation, power, and constraint m...
Acute effect of EtOH on Mg2+homeostasis in liver cells: evidence for the activation of an Na+/Mg2+exchanger

The acute administration of ethanol mobilizes a considerable amount of Mg2+ from perfused rat livers and isolated hepatocytes in a dose-dependent fashion in the absence of release of cellular K+ or...
Vegetation patterns and environmental gradients in tropical dry forests of the northern Yucatan Peninsula.

Abstract Patterns of plant species composition and their relationships to soil and topographic variables were investigated in tropical dry forests across the north central Yucatan, Mexico. Seven sites were studied in the oldest accessible forests along a 200-km transect oriented northwest to southeast; an eighth site was located in a little-disturbed area located 75 km northeast of the transect. Two of the sites were on Mayan ruins. All sites were sampled using 9 - 24, 10 m × 20 m plots (n = 132) for woody stems ≥ 3.0 cm diameter breast height. The important natural forest species were Bursera simaruba, Caesalpinia gaumeri, Gymnopodium floribundum, Piscidia piscipula, and Thouinia paucidentata. The two most important woody species in ruin woodlands were Brosimum alicastrum and Croton lundellii. Forest plots (n =108) had 17 species on average, ruin plots (n = 24) nine species. Mean basal area of stems at the forest plots (20.7 m2.ha−1) was lower than in ruin plots (28.4 m2.ha−1). Detrended Correspondence A...
Phylogeny, origin, and biogeographic history of Aesculus L. (Sapindales) - an update from combined analysis of DNA sequences, morphology, and fossils

Conflicting phylogenies and biogeographic hypotheses for Aesculus L. were reevaluated using data integrating morphology, fossils, and DNA sequences. A more robust phylogeny of Aesculus was constructed by increasing taxon and character sampling to include 42 morphological characters and five DNA regions including rpsl6, trnHK, matK, ITS, and part of the LEAFY gene. Our analyses revealed three well-supported major lineages in Aesculus. These are sect. Calothyrsus excluding A. californica, sect. Macrothyrsus + A. californica, and sect. Aesculus + sect. Pavia + sect. Parryana. The relationship of sect. Aesculus to sect. Parryana + sect. Pavia is strongly supported and previously unreported. Relationships among the three major clades remained incompletely resolved. Biogeographic and divergence time analyses using DIVA and Multidivtime support a Paleocene origin of Aesculus in eastern Asia and western North America, and showed that the genus subsequently dispersed into eastern North America, Central America, and Europe. Our results support that Aesculus originated as an element of the Paleogene mesophilic flora in the Beringian region with multiple eastward migrations characterizing the early spatial history of this genus. This biogeographic history supports Trans-Beringian migration of plants in the very early Paleogene.
No Evolutionary Response to Four Generations of Laboratory Selection on Antipredator Behavior of Aedes albopictus: Potential Implications for Biotic Resistance to Invasion

Aedes albopictus (Skuse) is an invasive container-dwelling mosquito and an important disease vector that co-occurs with the native mosquito, Aedes triseriatus (Say), and the predatory midge, Corethrella appendiculata (Grabham). Larval Ae. triseriatus show significantly greater antipredatory responses when compared to larval Ae. albopictus in the presence of predation cues from C. appendiculata. The potential for evolution of antipredatory behavioral responses to C. appendiculata in Ae. albopictus is unknown. We used a controlled laboratory selection experiment to test whether Ae. albopictus could evolve antipredatory behavioral responses to C. appendiculata predation. We subjected replicate Ae. albopictus populations to four generations of predation by C. appendiculata or a predator-free control treatment and compared the behavior and life history of Ae. albopictus in the two treatments in each generation. There were no differences in Ae. albopictus behavioral responses between predation and control lines in any of the four generations. There was also no evidence of differences in life histories between predation and control lines. Ae. albopictus is superior as a competitor compared with Ae. triseriatus, which it has replaced in areas where C. appendiculata are rare. Our results suggest limited potential for Ae. albopictus to evolve stronger antipredatory behavioral responses to C. appendiculata predation and imply that C. appendiculata will continue to act as an impediment to invasion by Ae. albopictus and replacement of Ae. triseriatus and to promote coexistence of these competitors.
Propagation in Curved Waveguides

Asymptotic approximations to the waves guided by a curved, elastic waveguide, whose curvature is small and changes slowly over a wavelength are discussed using the JWKB method. The antiplane shear problem is treated. The asymptotic method is carefully explained and a brief comparison with similar and contrasting asymptotic approaches made. The conclusions reached are: (1) Provided the caustic is outside the guide, the presence of the curvature affects the mode shape and modulates the amplitude, but leaves the dispersion relation almost unchanged from that of a guide having no curvature. (2) A caustic can often form inside the guide. Its presence alters the modes, the modulated amplitude and the dispersion rather dramatically. The region of guided propagation becomes that between the caustic and the upper concave surface, though the lower convex surface continues to influence the propagation, and the wavenumber becomes dependent on the curvature.
Barriers To Achieving E-Health Literacy

E-health literacy is the ability to gather and appropriately process health information retrieved online. Like traditional health literacy, higher levels of e-health literacy may work to support health decision making and thereby improve health outcomes. Some populations frequently identified as at risk for health disparities, are also in danger of falling in to the e-health literacy “gap.” The following paper explores the barriers to attaining e-health literacy for vulnerable populations. The paper illustrates how a narrow focus on increasing technology access is insufficient to address disparities in e-health literacy, and provides a preliminary agenda for health promotion professionals to better address the e-health literacy gap in research and practice.
A survey of cord bloods for abnormal hemoglobin, with further observations on hemoglobin IBurlington

Abstract Six hundred fifteen samples of cord blood from a population largely of Northern European ancestry were examined for electrophoretically detectable hemoglobin abnormalities. Hemoglobin I Burlington , a hemoglobin with an abnormal α polypeptide chain, was found in the father of a child with an abnormal fetal hemoglobin. The results of recombination studies and of finger-printing of the tryptic digest of hemoglobin I Burlington suggest that it has the same structure as a previously studied 17 example of hemoglobin I. The child, who at birth had the fetal ( α 2 I γ 2 F ) form of hemoglobin I ( α 2 I β 2 A ), at 22 months had both adult forms of the α chain variant, hemoglobin I ( α 2 I β 2 A ), and hemoglobin I 2 ( α 2 I δ 2 A 2 ). The component designated "μ" in Fig. 3 is apparently composed of α A chains.
ROMK inwardly rectifying ATP-sensitive K+ channel. I. Expression in rat distal nephron segments.

The inwardly rectifying, ATP-sensitive K+ channel (ROMK) was localized by in situ hybridization in the rat kidney. Tissue in situ hybridization revealed that transcripts encoding the ROMK channel w...
Comment on "characteristics of B-cell lymphomas in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients during the combined antiretroviral therapy era: an ANRS CO16 LYMPHOVIR cohort study".

Author(s): Chang, Po-Yin; Detels, Roger; Martinez-Maza, Otoniel; Zhang, Zuo-Feng; Jacobson, Lisa P; Margolick, Joseph B; Variakojis, Daina; Rinaldo, Charles R; Hussain, Shehnaz K
Abstract FO02-01: Lessons learned from 20 years of chemoprevention research

A preventive strategy is more attractive than treating progressive or advanced cancer, but neither the primary care community nor medical oncologists have embraced chemoprevention as their own responsibility, despite the fact that professional organizations have endorsed primary prevention as a standard of care. In order for a preventive strategy to be both effective and efficient, we need an easily identified target population, criteria for identifying those who would benefit from risk reduction, a safe and effective agent, an informed group of practitioners who can provide care to the high-risk group, and an educated population of patients who understand the advantages and the risks of taking a drug to modify their risk. Despite strong evidence that it is efficacious, chemoprevention has been underused. For breast cancer risk reduction, for example, the number needed to treat to prevent a single case of breast cancer are comparable to similar costs of statins to reduce cardiovascular events or of antihypertensives to lower the risk of stroke. Reasons not to adopt and initiate strategies to reduce risk include the fear of adverse effects, medication costs, lack of reasonably accurate and feasible methods for assessing personal and individual risks, and the lack of established risk thresholds that clearly and objectively maximize benefit and minimize harms. Lack of reimbursement for the cost of risk counseling and for the agents administered to reduce risk are also impediments to widespread adoption of preventive strategies. Methods to improve this situation include both professional and public education, tort reform, inclusion of preventive drugs in health care insurance coverage, and the identification of safer, more effective agents for risk reduction. Citation Format: Victor G. Vogel. Lessons learned from 20 years of chemoprevention research. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; 2012 Oct 16-19; Anaheim, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Prev Res 2012;5(11 Suppl):Abstract nr FO02-01.
Notes on the first half year’s experience at the Yale Plan Clinics [CAAAL 3301]

On March 1, 1944, two free clinics for the guidance of inebriates were established in Connecticut: one at Hartford and one at New Haven. These two guidance centers, known as the Yale Plan Clinics, are a joint project of the Laboratory of Applied Physiology of Yale University and the Connecticut State Prison Association.The brief period during which the Clinics have been in operation limits the scope of this preliminary report. Conclusions are hardly permissible at this juncture and the trends will be described for what their suggestive value may be. This report is offered in response to inquiries which reflect the great interest that the Clinics share with all new ventures.The aims and the organization of the Clinics have been fully described in an earlier issue of this Journal.* Because of the temporary revision of some aims, and consequently of some procedures, since the inception of the Clinics, a brief restatement is given here as an introduction to the factual report.
Dönitz, U-Boats, Convoys: The British version of his memoirs from the Admiralty's secret anti-submarine reports

Jak P. Mallmann Showell requires no intro- duction to students of the Battle of the Atlantic. In some 40 book-length and shorter works authored or edited over the span of some three decades in Engl...
LOGISTICS REVOLUTION AND LOGISTICS INFORMATION SYSTEM

With the advance went of science and technology, the arrival of information revolution makes enterprises absolutely change their logistics systems in order to adapt to the market environment. This article firstly describes general the logistics development situation and our countrys logistics developing actuality, and analyses the revolutionized procedural model of the logistics enterprise. Then the article compares logistics information with commodity business information, and presents the logistics information system that suits the new logistics environment.
Beyond the plasma cell: emerging therapies for immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis

Systemic immunoglobulin light chain (LC) amyloidosis (AL) is a potentially fatal disease caused by immunoglobulin LC produced by clonal plasma cells. These LC form both toxic oligomers and amyloid deposits disrupting vital organ function. Despite reduction of LC by chemotherapy, the restoration of organ function is highly variable and often incomplete. Organ damage remains the major source of mortality and morbidity in AL. This review focuses on the challenges posed by emerging therapies that may limit the toxicity of LC and improve organ function by accelerating the resorption of amyloid deposits.
Influence of dietary lysine on growth and carcass composition of high-lean-growth gilts fed from 34 to 72 kilograms.

One hundred eight high-lean-growth gilts (34.4 kg BW) were used to determine the dietary lysine requirement to maximize growth, carcass characteristics, and protein accretion from 34 to 72.5 kg BW. The experiment was a randomized complete block design; initial BW served as the blocking factor. Six dietary treatments were included, ranging from .54 to 1.04% (.10% increments) digestible lysine (.69 to 1.25% total lysine). Pigs were housed in pens of three, with six replicate pens per treatment. Pig weights and feed consumption were collected weekly to calculate ADG, ADFI, and gain:feed (G/F). Initially, five pigs were slaughtered to determine baseline carcass composition. When the mean weight for pigs in a pen reached 55 and 72.5 kg, one pig per pen was randomly selected and slaughtered for carcass measurements. The right side of each carcass was ground twice and sampled to determine carcass composition and tissue accretion rates. Average daily gain was increased by dietary lysine from 34 to 55 kg (linear, P < .01), from 55 to 72.5 kg (linear, P < .10), and from 34 to 72.5 kg (linear, P < .01). Although ADFI from 34 to 55 and from 55 to 72.5 kg was not influenced by dietary lysine, ADFI for the entire experiment tended to decrease (quadratic, P < .10) as digestible lysine increased. Increased dietary lysine resulted in improved G/F from 34 to 55 kg (linear, P < .01) and from 55 to 72.5 and 34 to 72.5 kg (quadratic, P < .01). Average backfat thickness was not influenced by dietary lysine at 55 kg but decreased (linear, P < .05) as dietary lysine increased at 72.5 kg. At 55 kg, longissimus muscle area was larger (linear, P < .05) for gilts fed increased digestible lysine. However, longissimus muscle area was similar for all treatments at 72.5 kg. Gilts fed increased digestible lysine had greater CP accretion from 34 to 55 kg (linear, P < .01), 55 to 72.5 kg (linear, P < .05; quadratic, P < .10), and from 34 to 72.5 kg (quadratic, P < .05). Based on the feed intake observed in this study, the high-lean-growth gilt requires at least 22 g/d total lysine intake from 34 to 72.5 kg to maximize CP accretion.
Effect of brood rearing on honey consumption and the survival of worker honey bees

SUMMARYThe cost of rearing a worker honey bee (Apis mellifera) was measured in terms of honey lost by the colony and the lifespan of the adult worker bees. Test colonies for each experiment were created by collecting bees from many different sources into a large cage and then subdividing those bees to make a group of uniform colonies. Colonies were evaluated outdoors in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA, during February when there was pollen but no nectar for bees to collect. Brood production did not have a significant effect on adult survival during the first cycle of brood rearing, but colonies that reared more brood during the first brood cycle had greater adult mortality during the next brood cycle. Bees used 121 g of honey to produce 1 000 cells of mixed-aged brood (eggs, larvae and pupae in a normal brood nest) and about 163 mg of honey to rear one worker bee to the pupal stage. In colonies containing brood of all stages, the weight of brood was nearly equal to (about 25% less than) the weight of honey th...
The Nature of Inhibitor Binding Sites in Butyrylcholinesterase

Evidence suggesting the presence of a specific "hydrophobic" binding site in horse serum butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) is presented. The data indicate that the site exhibits definite size limitations. Assuming van der Waals forces to be dominant in the binding of the alkyl side chain of some N 1-alkylnipecotamide homologs to BuChE, an enzyme-alkyl chain distance of the complex of 4.1 A can be calculated for a C4-C10 chain. This research is being supported by the National Science Foundation (GB-4453 and GB-7383) and a grant from Eli Lilly and Company.