cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hemolymph ecdysteroid titer and midgut ecdysone 20-monooxygenase activity during the last larval stage of Diploptera punctata

Abstract Hemolymph ecdysteroid titers during the last larval stage (lasting 20–21 days) of Diploptera punctata were determined by radioimmunoassay. A small peak (1 γM on day 10) preceded a larger peak (> 10 γM on day 17). Although ecdysone was the predominant circulating ecdysteroid in the beginning of the last larval stage, the ratio of 20-hydroxyecdysone to ecdysone increased to about 7 1 at the time of the large ecdysteroid peak. Ecdysone was converted to 20-hydroxyecdysone by fat body, midgut and Malpighian tubules incubated in vitro . Conditions for the measurement of ecdysone 20-monooxygenase activity were established for midgut homogenates. Maximal activity was found on days 5–9 and activity declined in the second half of the last larval stage. By using differential centrifugation and marker enzymes, most midgut ecdysone 20-monooxygenase activity was found to be associated with microsomes. Antibodies to NADPH-cytochrome P -450 reductase inhibited microsomal ecdysone 20-monooxygenase activity, thus confirming the cytochrome P -450 nature of this enzyme. The antibodies inhibited the ecdysone 20-monooxygenase activity associated with mitochondria as strongly as they inhibited the microsomal enzyme activity, thus showing that the mitochondrial activity was a microsomal contamination and that there was little or no intrinsically mitochondrial ecdysone 20-monooxygenase in the midgut.
Nodular steatosis of the mitral valve.

A 52-year-old white male with end-stage liver disease secondary to primary sclerosing cholangitis had undergone transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) procedure, but had persistent portal hypertension. He was transferred to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center from another hospital with sepsis and in renal failure. Blood cultures yielded Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistant to most antibiotics. His renal function continued to worsen, with his blood urea nitrogen (BUN) value increasing to 39 mg/dL and the creatinine value to 3.1 mg/dL. He became oliguric and his weight increased 16 lb in 30 days. Imaging studies showed cirrhosis, ascites, splenomegaly, pleural effusions and distended gallbladder. His hospital course was complicated by progressively worsening liver function. The total bilirubin value was 36.7 mg/dL and the aspartate aminotransferase valuewas 220 IU/L. Blood lipids were not evaluated. The platelet value decreased to 34,000/mL. He became encephalopathic and was intubated. An echocardiogram performed 2 days prior to death was interpreted as showing an anatomically normalmitral valve withmild regurgitation. The family requested institution of terminal comfort measures and the patient died soon after. At autopsy, the patient had the expected findings associated with end-stage primary sclerosing cholangitis (cirrhosis, ascites, pleural effusion, hydrocele, renal failure, gynecomastia, esophageal and gastric varices, fibrocongestive splenomegaly). He was also found to have bronchopneumonia, myeloproliferative bone marrow changes, and alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, MZ type.
Effects of Spatial Subsidies and Habitat Structure on the Foraging Ecology and Size of Geckos

While it is well established that ecosystem subsidies—the addition of energy, nutrients, or materials across ecosystem boundaries—can affect consumer abundance, there is less information available on how subsidy levels may affect consumer diet, body condition, trophic position, and resource partitioning among consumer species. There is also little information on whether changes in vegetation structure commonly associated with spatial variation in subsidies may play an important role in driving consumer responses to subsidies. To address these knowledge gaps, we studied changes in abundance, diet, trophic position, size, and body condition of two congeneric gecko species (Lepidodactylus spp.) that coexist in palm dominated and native (hereafter dicot dominated) forests across the Central Pacific. These forests differ strongly both in the amount of marine subsidies that they receive from seabird guano and carcasses, and in the physical structure of the habitat. Contrary to other studies, we found that subsidy level had no impact on the abundance of either gecko species; it also did not have any apparent effects on resource partitioning between species. However, it did affect body size, dietary composition, and trophic position of both species. Geckos in subsidized, dicot forests were larger, had higher body condition and more diverse diets, and occupied a much higher trophic position than geckos found in palm dominated, low subsidy level forests. Both direct variation in subsidy levels and associated changes in habitat structure appear to play a role in driving these responses. These results suggest that variation in subsidy levels may drive important behavioral responses in predators, even when their numerical response is limited. Strong changes in trophic position of consumers also suggest that subsidies may drive increasingly complex food webs, with longer overall food chain length.
Outcome of patients with recurrent medulloblastoma or central nervous system germinoma treated with low dose continuous intravenous etoposide along with dose-intensive chemotherapy followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell rescue.

Background Adults and children with recurrent malignant central nervous system (CNS) tumors have a poor prognosis despite high dose chemotherapy with a conventional stem cell rescue regimen. In this study we evaluated the results of low dose, continuous infusion etoposide over 21 days added to a conventional high-dose regimen of carboplatin and thiotepa in eight patients with relapsed pediatric CNS tumors. Procedure Patients with high risk CNS tumors were treated with etoposide 25 mg/m2/day by continuous intravenous (IV) infusion from day −22 to day −2, carboplatin 667 mg/m2/dose IV (or area under the curve = 9 mg/ml/min according to the Calvert formula on days −8, −7, and −6, and thiotepa 300 mg/m2/dose IV on days −5, −4, and −3, followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell rescue on day 0. Results Eight adults and children, with a mean age of 12.9 years (age range 5.6–27.8 years), with relapsed primary CNS tumors (metastatic medulloblastoma (7), germinoma (1)), were enrolled. The mean survival post-transplant was 4.8+ years, (range 8–160+ months). The 2- and 5-year overall survival rates were 75% and 50% respectively. None of the survivors required additional salvage irradiation. Conclusion The strategy of low dose chronic exposure to a topoisomerase inhibitor along with ablative carboplatin and thiotepa with stem cell rescue showed promising survival outcomes in these relapsed patients. This treatment strategy deserves further evaluation in a larger group of high-risk or relapsed primary CNS tumors. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;53:33–36. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Toward a neo-Darwinian synthesis of neoclassical and behavioral economics

Abstract There is a schism within economics between the neoclassical and behavioral schools. A primary cause of the behavioral ascent is the experimental evidence of deviations between actual behavior and the neoclassical prediction of behavior. While behavioral scholars have documented these “anomalies,” they have made little progress explaining the origin of such behavior. This paper proposes a biological and evolutionary foundation for the anomalies of behavioral economics by separating proximate and ultimate causation. Such a foundation may allow for a re-uniting of economics; a neo-Darwinian synthesis of neoclassical and behavioral economics.
Immunologic characterization of serum factors responsible for cold urticaria

Abstract Serum factors from 2 patients with primary acquired cold urticaria have been characterised. These serum factors, which can passively transfer cold urticaria to normal recipients, are low in titer, have short skin-fixation times, and are relatively thermostable. Reduction with dithiothreitol or mercaptoethanol followed by alkylation with iodoacetamide destroyed the cold urticaria transfer activity. The passive transfer factor in both cases was recovered in Sephadex G-200 gel filtration fractions that primarily contained IgM immunoglobulins. Cold urticaria transfer activity was obtained in euglobulin fractions produced by dialysis of whole serum against lowionic strength low-pH buffers. While the fractions contained low concentrations of all classes of immunoglobulins, only IgM was present in significant amounts (20 to 40 per cent of whole serum IgM). Cold urticaria passive transfer activity persisted after specific adsorption of IgA, IgG, or IgE from various fractions or whole sera. It was, however, removed after complete adsorption of IgM. These data suggest that the serum factors responsible for cold urticaria in these patients belong to the IgM class. Possible mechanisms for the urtication phenomenon are discussed.
Some ultrastructural effects of insulin, hydrocortisone and prolactin on mammary gland explants.

The effects of insulin, hydrocortisone, and prolactin on the morphology of explants from midpregnant mouse mammary glands were studied. Insulin promotes the formation of daughter cells within the alveolar epithelium which are ultrastructurally indistinguishable from the parent cells. The addition of hydrocortisone to the medium containing insulin brings the daughter cells to a new, intermediate level of ultrastructural development by effecting an extensive increase of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) throughout the cytoplasm and an increase in the lateral paranuclear Golgi apparatus. When prolactin is added to the insulin-hydrocortisone medium, the daughter cells complete their ultrastructural differentiation. There is a translocation of the RER, Golgi apparatus, and nucleus and the appearance of secretory protein granules within the cytoplasm. There is excellent correlation between the ultrastructural appearance of the alveoli and their capacity to synthesize casein.
Towards beautification of freehand sketches using suggestions

Beautification of freehand sketches is integral for building robust sketch understanding systems and sketch-based interfaces for CAD. Many of the current methods for beautification do not consider some important information implied in the sketches such as spatial relationships (geometric constraints) between primitives. In addition, as the freehand input is ambiguous in nature, correctly interpreting the visual scene the user has in mind is a difficult problem. To this extent, we present our ongoing work, a suggestive interface for constraint-driven beautification of freehand sketches which provides multiple interpretations of the freehand input, from which the user can choose the intended result. A preliminary user study has been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Characterization of the Genomic Architecture and Mutational Spectrum of a Small Cell Prostate Carcinoma

We present the use of a series of laboratory, analytical and interpretation methods to investigate personalized cancer care for a case of small cell prostate carcinoma (SCPC), a rare and aggressive tumor with poor prognosis, for which the underlying genomic architecture and mutational spectrum has not been well characterized. We performed both SNP genotyping and exome sequencing of a Virchow node metastasis from a patient with SCPC. A variety of methods were used to analyze and interpret the tumor genome for copy number variation, loss of heterozygosity (LOH), somatic mosaicism and mutations in genes from known cancer pathways. The combination of genotyping and exome sequencing approaches provided more information than either technique alone. The results showed widespread evidence of copy number changes involving most chromosomes including the possible loss of both alleles of CDKN1B (p27/Kip1). LOH was observed for the regions encompassing the tumor suppressors TP53, RB1, and CHD1. Predicted damaging somatic mutations were observed in the retained TP53 and RB1 alleles. Mutations in other genes that may be functionally relevant were noted, especially the recently reported high confidence cancer drivers FOXA1 and CCAR1. The disruption of multiple cancer drivers underscores why SCPC may be such a difficult cancer to manage.
Portable global positioning units to complement accelerometry-based physical activity monitors

ABSTRACTPurpose:This study examines the usefulness of complementing accelerometry-based physical activity measurement with spatial data from portable global positioning system (GPS) units to determine where physical activity occurs.Methods:First, using the geographic distribution of data points and
Physiological significance of the geometrical shape of the left ventricle: Course and curvature of the individual myocardial fibers

A mathematical description of the course of myocardial fibers in the wall of the left ventricle is developed. By use of this mathematical description, an equation giving the curvature of the individual myocardial fibers is derived, and numerical solutions of this equation are presented.
Synthesis of Double C-Glycoside Analogue of sTn

A sTn double C-glycoside, sTn analogue 2, was synthesized using samarium chemistry developed in our laboratory. Complications in the oxidation reaction affording aldehyde acceptor were overcome by double protection of amide and the use of a room-temperature ionic liquid as solvent. Studies are underway to conjugate the sTn double C-glycoside hapten 2 to KLH carrier protein for biological evaluation as a vaccine.
Spherical states in 44Sc

Abstract Conventional shell-model calculations of energy levels in 44Sc, and of strengths for proton stripping and neutron pickup to states in 44Sc, are reported. The results are in excellent agreement with a set of states observed below 1.5 MeV in 44Sc. There are at least 18 states below this energy which are not accounted for by the shell-model results.
A modular backend computing system for continuous civil structural health monitoring

This paper describes a computing backend for a water pipe monitoring system. Today, most such systems are divided into event-triggered and continuous monitoring, but they all lack systematic handling of data. Many systems simply store data in files with specific naming conventions and ad hoc formats, making them difficult to retrieve, maintain, disseminate, and analyze. To address these problems, our backend supports data management and dissemination. Unlike previous systems that store data in files or conventional databases before analysis, our modular architecture not only saves data in efficiently searchable ways by indexing as a baseline dataset but also detected events in discrete time manner and other processed data. To facilitate analysis, we design a plug-in structure to allow processing modules to perform inline processing and shorten detection time. For data dissemination, our architecture can compose multiple visualizations including geographical maps to create powerful tools to yield new insight into massive datasets. The backend system enables Internet web service for visualization, data management, and remote sensor control for better integration. Our system is applicable to not only water pipelines but also bridges and civil structures in general. Our proposed backend system has been implemented and validated through field deployment. One such system has been running for over 1.5 years and has collected millions of records to date. A Google Map integrated visualization service has been developed to demonstrate lively collected records in real-time. This is expected to be more helpful for better understanding of civil structures’ behavior in the long term.
MORPHINE: DUAL EFFECTS ON PLASMA CATECHOLAMINES

present studies demonstrate that morphine can increase, decrease, or not affect plasma catecholamines depending on the dose and on the experimental conditions under which it is given. In the conscious dog, morphine (30 mg s.c.) produces a marked elevation of plasma epinephrine but not norepinephrine. In contrast, morphine (15 mg i.v.) prevents the rise of both plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine in the anesthetized, laparotomized dog. Since neither dose of morphine changes plasma catecholamines significantly in the non-laparotomized, anesthetized dog, we suggest (a) that the catechol-lowering effect is due to the analgesic properties of morphine, and (b) that the catechol-raising effect is due to activation of separate central nervous system pathways which are suppressed by barbiturate anesthesia.
Expansions in terms of generalized telegraph polynomials and complementry function

Two sets of particular solutions. the genaeralized telegraph polynomials and thye compplementary functions, are constructed for the generalized telegraph equation.Theor relations with the generlized heat polynomialks and the rdial wave polynomials are established. From their asymptotic estimates, we obtain sufcient conditions for the convergence of the series om terms of terms of these functions certain initial value pronlems can be solved in series in series of these of these funtions.
Fejér-Riesz type inequalities for Bergman spaces

We obtain Fejer–Riesz type inequalities for the weighted Bergman spaces on the unit disk of the complex plane. We show that the Fejer–Riesz inequalities can be expressed as boundedness and compactness problems for certain Toeplitz operators.
Insulin resistance and hypertension: In vivo and in vitro insulin action in skeletal muscle in spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar Kyoto rats

The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) has been reported to be insulin-resistant compared to the Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) parent strain. Because insulin resistance usually reflects a defect in insulin action at the muscle, we compared the ability of muscle (gastrocnemius) to store glycogen in response to a standard oral glucose challenge in SHR to that in WKY. As a control, we examined the glycogen response in liver in these two rat strains. However, in vivo insulin action reflects both tissue responsiveness as well as substrate and hormone availability at the tissue level. To evaluate tissue responsiveness in vitro, we examined two parameters of insulin action: 1) muscle glycogen synthesis using 3H-glucose and 2) muscle glucose transport using 3H-2-deoxy-glucose (3H-2-DG). Thirteen-week-old male rats were studied after overnight fasting. Liver glycogen increased similarly (mean +/- SD shown) in response to glucose gavage feeding in both groups [WKY: 15.2 +/- 6.9 to 50.6 +/- 17.9 micromol/g wet wt (P < .05); SHR: 30 +/- 18 to 63.5 +/- 33.3 micromol/g wet wt (P < .01)]. On the other hand, muscle glycogen increased in WKY [13.7 +/- 2 to 17.8 +/- 1.1 micromol/g wet wt (P < .05)], whereas in SHR there was no significant change [14.6 +/- 2.1 to 15.3 +/- 2.99 micromol/g wet wt P = NS)]. Results of in vitro studies demonstrated that glycogen synthesis increased from 377 +/- 120 to 439 +/- 175 disintegrations per minute (dpm) 3H-glucose/mg extensor digitorum longus (EDL) in WKY when insulin increased from 0 to 1000 microU/mL (P < .05), whereas SHR the increase was from 289 +/- 89 to 565 +/- 187 (P < .05). Glucose transport increased from 483 +/- 74 to 785 +/- 369 dpm 3H-2-DG/mg EDL in WKY when insulin was increased from 0 to 500 microU/mL (P < .03), whereas in SHR the increase was 516 +/- 61 to 997 +/- 347 (P < .001). In summary, liver glycogen increased in response to feeding in a similar manner in both WKY and SHR, whereas muscle glycogen increased only in WKY. We conclude that in vivo muscle glycogen accumulation may represent an index of insulin resistance in SHR. In contrast, in vitro data suggest that both muscle glucose transport and glycogen synthesis were stimulated to a comparable degree by insulin in EDL strips from WKY and SHR; there were no significant differences between WKY and SHR. Further studies are needed to clarify these differences.
Transient thermal stress-intensity factors for short edge cracks with equal depth of crack tips

Abstract Stress intensity factors were determined for very short edge cracks with different inclinations but equal depths of crack tips from the heated edge of a plate under transient thermal stresses. The critical orientation of edge cracks was found experimentally.
An Exact Analysis of the Method-One Maintainability Demonstration Plan in MIL-STD-471

The direct method in sequential analysis is used for an exact analysis of the Method-One maintainability demonstration plan in MIL-STD-471. Method-One is a nonparametric binomial sequential test and consists of three plans: A, B1, B2.
RADIALLY ORIENTED FIBRIN CRYSTALLISATION: A New Test for Endotoxin Sensitivity in Man

Abstract Radially oriented acicular crystalline aggregates could be induced by incubating heparinised blood with bacterial endotoxins. These aggregates did not appear in the blood of 37 healthy volunteers but were observed in the blood of 130 patients, predominantly those with vasculitis, psoriasis, and bacterial infections. Study of these asteroid structures, which resemble "sunbursts", led to the view that they are oriented crystals of fibrin radiating from a central platelet mass undergoing lysis.
Neonatal Screening by Tandem Mass Spectrometry

After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. List the major categories of diseases detectable by expanded newborn screening. 2. Give examples of the benefits and limitations of screening by tandem mass spectrometry. 3. Describe the appropriate follow-up for an abnormal screening result. The screening of newborns for inherited metabolic disorders is a well-established public health activity, first implemented in the early 1960s for the presymptomatic identification of patients who have phenylketonuria (PKU). Since then, significant technological advances, most importantly the development of tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), have enabled the detection of an increasing number of metabolic disorders in newborn blood. This article reviews the basic technology of MS/MS and its application to newborn screening, with the aim of highlighting the benefits and pointing out some limitations of this powerful technology. Early screening for PKU used the bacterial inhibition assay of Guthrie, in which inhibition of bacterial growth on an agar medium, introduced by the addition of a phenylalanine analog, was overcome by the presence of dried blood discs containing high levels of phenylalanine (such as from a PKU patient). This approach later was adapted for the detection of leucine in patients who have maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), methionine in patients who have classic homocystinuria, and tyrosine in patients who have tyrosinemia. Over the years, other techniques have been implemented to screen for additional disorders, including congenital hypothyroidism, biotinidase deficiency, galactosemia, hemoglobinopathies, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The classic criteria used to determine whether a disorder is suitable for screening include: 1) the disorder is clinically and biochemically well defined, 2) it is associated with significant morbidity or mortality, 3) an effective treatment is available, and 4) there is a simple and safe screening test. (1) By the early 1990s, all states offered screening for at least PKU and congenital hypothyroidism, …
Cytokine release syndrome after blinatumomab treatment related to abnormal macrophage activation and ameliorated with cytokine-directed therapy.

Blinatumomab is a CD19/CD3-bispecific T-cell receptor-engaging (BiTE) antibody with efficacy in refractory B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Some patients treated with blinatumomab and other T cell-activating therapies develop cytokine release syndrome (CRS). We hypothesized that patients with more severe toxicity may experience abnormal macrophage activation triggered by the release of cytokines by T-cell receptor–activated cytotoxic T cells engaged by BiTE antibodies and leading to hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). We prospectively monitored a patient during blinatumomab treatment and observed that he developed HLH. He became ill 36 hours into the infusion with fever, respiratory failure, and circulatory collapse. He developed hyperferritinemia, cytopenias, hypofibrinogenemia, and a cytokine profile diagnostic for HLH. The HLH continued to progress after discontinuation of blinatumomab; however, he had rapid improvement after IL-6 receptor-directed therapy with tocilizumab. Patients treated with T cell-activating therapies, including blinatumomab, should be monitored for HLH, and cytokine-directed therapy may be considered in cases of life-threatening CRS. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00103285.
Guidelines for nutritional support of HIV-infected children.

Pediatric HIV disease often leads to marked failure to thrive and multiple nutritional deficiencies, particularly protein calorie malnutrition. Nutrition management may be difficult when children develop recurrent fevers, respiratory distress, diarrhea and malabsorption, vomiting, developmental delays, neurologic impairment, or other conditions that alter caloric needs, interfere with food intake, or reduce nutrient absorption. Malnutrition itself may produce an acquired irnmunodeficiency similar to that caused by HIVfl 2 Cellular immunity defects (including lymphopenia, anergy, and reversed T4 to T8 lymphocyte ratios), abnormal macrophage function, wasting, recurrent fevers, gastrointestinal dysfunction. and increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections all have been described in patients with protein calorie malnutrition and other nutritional deficiencies. Thus, although malnutrition may ultimately be the inescapable result of progressive HIV disease, early nutritional intervention may reduce susceptibility to or severity of infections, provide some protection to the immune system, and lead to a better quality of life for HIV-infected children. Few studies have addressed the nutritional needs of HIV-infected adults or children. 3"5 These guidelines therefore combine what little is known with pragmatic approaches to common nutritional problems encountered in the management of HIV-infected children.
Temperature dependence of the crossbridge cycle during unloaded shortening and maximum isometric tetanus in frog skeletal muscle

The primary objective of this study was to determine if the rate limiting step in the crossbridge cycle was the same during maximum rate of shortening and during maintenance of maximum tension in an isometric contraction. To this end the temperature dependence,Q 10, of the crossbridge cycle was estimated during unloaded shortening and maximum isometric tetanus. Isolated semitendinosus muscles from the frog were studied at 0 and 10° C. Crossbridge cycling during unloaded shortening was determined from the velocity of unloaded shortening estimated by the slack step technique. Crossbridge cycling during maintained isometric tetanus was determined from the steady rate of energy liberation during the tetanus after allowance for energy liberation due to Ca2+ cycling. TheQ 10 of the velocity of unloaded shortening was 2.5 and that of the steady rate of energy liberation was 4.6. After correction for the temperature dependence of energy liberation associated with Ca2+ cycling (5.7), the estimatedQ 10 of the steady rate of energy liberation became 3.9. These estimates of theQw of the crossbridge cycle are significantly different. These results support the conclusion that the rate limiting steps during unloaded shortening and maximum isometric force maintenance occur at different steps in the crossbridge cycle. Further the high Q10 of the energy liberation due to Ca2+ cycling may relate to the high concentration of parvalbumin in frog muscle. A second objective of this study was to document in the same muscle the variation of Q10s of mechanical and energetic properties of contraction. Over this temperature range the Q10s ranged from 1.1 to 5.7.
The lipid laden macrophage index as a marker of aspiration in patients with type I and II laryngeal clefts.

Abstract Objectives Laryngeal clefts are uncommon congenital anomalies that may cause pulmonary aspiration, leading to considerable morbidity including recurrent pneumonias. The lipid laden macrophage index (LLMI) is a potential marker of pulmonary aspiration. The objective of this study was to assess the utility of the lipid laden macrophage index as a marker of severity of pulmonary aspiration in children with laryngeal clefts and its role in the management of these patients. Methods An institutional review board approved retrospective review of all patients with laryngeal cleft who had also underwent direct laryngoscopy with rigid bronchoscopy and flexible bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage. The LLMI was measured from the lavage and compared to clinical and radiological data. Results Forty-four patients with laryngeal clefts (31 type I clefts and 13 type II clefts) underwent assessment with flexible bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage. The median age at first outpatient visit in our Center for Aero-digestive Disorder was 0.92 years in patients with type I clefts and 1.66 years in patients with type 2 clefts. All patients in this study had at least one modified barium swallow (MBS) performed to assess for aspiration. The mean LLMI was significantly higher in patients with type II (mean ± SEM) 81.8 ± 11.9 clefts compared to type I clefts 44.9 ± 5.6. Conclusions We recommend obtaining LLMI in patients with laryngeal cleft. The lipid laden macrophage index is increased in patients with more severe laryngeal clefts, thus potentially predicting those patients whom would most benefit from early surgical intervention.
Petroleum Hydrogeology: ABSTRACT

Observations of the pressure and composition of interstitial fluids permit more intelligent interpretation of the geological data on the solid rocks in a prospective area. In plains areas, oil-field waters usually are End_Page 1687------------------------------ static, although regional tilting has shifted the location of some oil fields. In mountainous areas artisan flow occurs, which commonly flushes certain parts of prospective oil-bearing strata. The flushed areas usually can be recognized by a characteristic water composition. In zones of recent rapid sedimentation such as the Gulf Coast, shale is less compacted than normal and associated lenticular sandstone contains fluids under abnormally high pressure. Similar abnormal pressure is found in front of overthrust mountains because of the rapid addition of stratigraphic sections by tectonic processes. This suggests that during compaction of shale the pore water follows bedding planes and usually does not migrate across the strata or along fault. High pore pressure in shale facilitates large-scale gravity slumping and sliding which are more common than have been supposed. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1688------------
Thermomagnetic analysis of meteorites. III - C3 and C4 chondrites

Results are presented for thermomagnetic analysis in a controlled oxygen atmosphere of samples from thirteen C3 chondrites and two C4 chondrites. The examined meteorites are found to have rather diverse thermomagnetic properties, so they are placed into three groups on the basis of their thermomagnetic behavior and magnetic mineralogy: (1) those possibly containing magnetite before heating, but which display a large increase in saturation moment upon cooling to room temperature; (2) those containing magnetite as their major magnetic phase, but which show little change in saturation moment following the heating-cooling cycle; and (3) those which contain iron metal in addition to other magnetic phases. Upper limits are placed on the magnetite content of the five meteorites in group 1 by assuming that the initial saturation moment is due entirely to magnetite, and quantitative estimates of the magnetite content of the four meteorites in group 2 are determined from ambient-temperature saturation magnetization measurements. The data for the six meteorites in group 3 are discussed in terms of nickel content and troilite oxidation. It is concluded that since the magnetic and bulk mineralogies of carbonaceous chondrites are more varied and complex than indicated by whole-rock elemental analyses, the origin of such meteorites cannot be described by a simple model.
The Escherichia coli galK2 papillation assay: its specificity and application to seven newly isolated mutator strains.

Abstract The Escherichia coli dnaE and dnaQ genes encode, respectively, the α (polymerase) and e (proofreading) subunits of DNA polymerase III. Mutations in these genes resulting in mutator or antimutator phenotypes provide important tools to understand the mechanisms by which mutations occur. One way to isolate such strains is the use of papillation assays. We used one such assay based on the reversion of the galK2 allele in cells grown on MacConkey-Gal plates. Here, we describe the identification of the galK2 mutation and its possible reversion pathways, and the characterization of 7 mutators isolated using this system. 1 mutator resided in dnaE and 6 in dnaQ. Sequencing of the galK2 allele revealed a G · C → T · A tranversion at base pair 571 that changed a glu codon (GAA) to a stop codon (TAA). The analysis of 319 revertants showed that a Gal+ phenotype can be achieved by A · T → G · C transition, A · T → T · A transversion and A · T → C · G transversion. We characterized the mutator phenotypes of the newly isolated mutators by determining (i) their mutation frequencies to resistance to rifampicin and nalidixic acid in both wild-type and mutL backgrounds, (ii) their temperature sensitivity and medium dependence and (iii) their mutational specificity (by analyzing the nature of galK revertants). Based on the genomic locations of their mutations, specificity of reversion pathways and magnitude of mutator effects, the mutators can be grouped into 3 classes. These classes may represent different mutational mechanisms that include defective base insertion, defective proofreading and interference with the postreplicative mismatch-repair system.
Psychosocial predictors of drive for muscularity in male collegiate athletes

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the simultaneous relation of general and sport-specific pressures about body weight and shape, negative affect, and body satisfaction to drive for muscularity (DM) in male collegiate athletes. Participants were 183 male athletes who were drawn from three NCAA Division I institutions and represented 17 different sports. As hypothesized, after controlling for BMI and sport type, sport-specific pressures, negative affect, and body satisfaction were significant predictors, and accounted for 15–34% of the variance in muscularity-oriented body image and muscularity behaviors; general pressures however were not significantly related. These findings offer insight into the personal and social antecedents of DM in male athletes, and serve as a starting point for future research on DM in this population.
Comparison of central and peripheral visual field properties in the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial

Abstract PURPOSE: To compare the results of peripheral kinetic visual field testing and central static perimetry for patients enrolled in the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial to determine (1) whether loss and recovery of visual field sensitivity in the far periphery was different from that observed in the central visual field and (2) whether the far peripheral visual field provided additional useful information that was not available in the central visual field results. METHODS: Both affected and fellow eyes of 448 patients with optic neuritis in the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial were evaluated according to the trial protocol during the patients' first 3 years in the study. Central static visual field tests were performed with program 30-2 on the Humphrey Field Analyzer, and peripheral kinetic testing consisted of plotting the I 3e and II 4e isopters on the Goldmann perimeter. Both test procedures were conducted according to the trial protocols, and quality control assessments and clinical evaluations were performed on all the visual fields. RESULTS: For both affected and fellow eyes at all 11 visits, there was a greater number of abnormal visual fields in the central static perimetry results than in the peripheral kinetic data. Only 2.9% of affected eyes had an abnormal peripheral visual field with a normal Humphrey mean deviation during year 1. At baseline, 97.1% of affected eyes had an abnormal Humphrey mean deviation on central static testing, whereas only 69.9% had abnormal peripheral kinetic visual fields. Approximately 80% of the I 3e and II 4e isopters for affected eyes that were abnormal at baseline were within normal limits at 30 days, but it took until week 19 for even 70% of the Humphrey mean deviations to return to normal. In addition, the II 4e isopters (more peripheral than the I 3e isopters) that were abnormal at baseline showed a somewhat greater percentage of improvement from baseline through day 30 than the abnormal I 3e isopters. Although this difference is statistically significant, it is probably not clinically significant. For visits after week 19, approximately 25% to 30% of affected eyes had an abnormal Humphrey mean deviation, whereas only 10% to 15% of peripheral kinetic fields were abnormal. CONCLUSIONS: For the affected eye in optic neuritis, the central visual field shows greater abnormalities than the far peripheral visual field. When the results obtained through Humphrey automated central static visual fields and Goldmann peripheral kinetic isopters are compared, the far periphery appears to recover more rapidly and more completely than the central field, at least in more severe cases of optic neuritis. In most cases, recovery in optic neuritis can probably be monitored effectively with automated perimetry of the central visual field alone. However, in cases of severe loss of the central visual field, a peripheral kinetic visual field obtained with a Goldmann perimeter may provide additional information about the patient's vision in the far periphery.
The application of fluorescent in situ hybridization to detect Mbcr/abl fusion in variant Ph chromosomes in CML and ALL

We investigated the usefulness of fluorescent in situ hybridization with different-colored major breakpoint cluster region (Mbcr) and Abelson oncogene (abl) probes in clinical practice. In standard Ph chromosomes with a Mbcr breakpoint, these probes produced a fusion of Mbcr and abl signals that was visible in interphase and metaphase cells. The normal range for apparent Mbcr/abl fusion signals in interphase nuclei was established in bone marrow from 25 normal controls. We tested the probes on 35 bone marrow specimens from five normal subjects and 29 patients with various kinds of Ph chromosomes and chronic myelogenous leukemia or acute lymphocytic leukemia. This method produced Mbcr/abl fusion signals in patients with a standard Ph chromosome, simple or complex variants of Ph chromosomes, and "Ph-negative chronic myelogenous leukemia." In metaphase cells of patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia, this method established Ph chromosomes with minor bcr (mbcr) breakpoints. Fluorescent in situ hybridization is a relatively inexpensive and rapid method. When this method is used in conjunction with conventional chromosome analysis, the cytogeneticist can combine the power of complete karyotype studies and the resolution of molecular techniques for patients suspected of having a Ph chromosome.
Experimental evidence of habitat provision by aggregations of Riftia pachyptila at hydrothermal vents on the East Pacific Rise

Habitat created or modified by the physical architecture of large or spatially dominant species plays an important role in structuring communities in a variety of terrestrial, aquatic, and marine habitats. At hydrothermal vents, the giant tubeworm Riftia pachyptila forms large and dense aggregations in a spatially and temporally variable environment. The density and diversity of smaller invertebrates is higher in association with aggregations of R. pachyptila than on the surrounding basalt rock seafloor. Artificial substrata designed to mimic R. pachyptila aggregations were deployed along a gradient of productivity to test the hypothesis that high local species diversity is maintained by the provision of complex physical structure in areas of diffuse hydrothermal flow. After 1 year, species assemblages were compared among artificial aggregations in low-, intermediate-, and high-productivity zones and compared to natural aggregations of R. pachyptila from the same site. Hydrothermal vent fauna colonized every artificial aggregation, and both epifaunal density and species richness were highest in areas of high chemosynthetic primary production. The species richness was also similar between natural aggregations of R. pachyptila and artificial aggregations in intermediate- and high-productivity zones, suggesting that complex physical structure alone can support local species diversity in areas of chemosynthetic primary production. Differences in the community composition between natural and artificial aggregations reflect the variability in microhabitat conditions and biological interactions associated with hydrothermal fluid flux at low-temperature hydrothermal vents. Moreover, these local ecological factors may further contribute to the maintenance of regional species diversity in hydrothermal vent communities on the East Pacific Rise.
Giant Coronary Artery Aneurysm After Takeuchi Repair for Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery

A 33-year-old woman with an anomalous left coronary artery arising from the pulmonary artery who had undergone Takeuchi repair at age 7 years presented for evaluation. The Takeuchi procedure creates an aortopulmonary window and an intrapulmonary tunnel that baffles the left coronary artery to the aorta. A mediastinal mass was identified as a giant aneurysm of the left coronary artery resulting in compression of the pulmonary artery and left upper pulmonary vein. The patient underwent open repair with patch closure at the aortic entrance of the left coronary Takeuchi repair and resection and evacuation of the aneurysm. A saphenous vein graft to the left anterior descending artery was performed. Postoperative echocardiography demonstrated normal left ventricular function. This is the first reported case of giant aneurysm formation after Takeuchi repair. The reported complications have included the development of pulmonary artery stenosis at the intrapulmonary baffle, baffle leak, decreased left ventricular function, and mitral regurgitation. In conclusion, late complications of the Takeuchi procedure are common, underscoring the importance of lifelong follow-up at a center with experience in treating coronary anomalies.
Expansion of centered triangulations

Abstract We use a construction of A. Bouchet for covering triangulations by means of nowhere-zero dual flows, but slightly modified, to prove that whenever G is a simple graph, which is not a star, two-cell embedded in a surface S , and m is a non-negative integer not divisible by 2, 3, or 5, there is a covering two-cell embedding of G ( m ) in a surface S , orientable if and only if S is orientable, such that each face of the embedding of G and the faces above it in the embedding of G ( m ) have the same length.
An experimental test of the efficiency of family selection in chickens.

Responses to single trait selection on individual phenotype and sire-family mean phenotype for survivor's egg weight and rate of lay were measured for a single generation in 13 replicates. Each replicate-selection criterion-trait subclass consisted of eight sire families or 72 females measured and was reproduced from the best 25% of the families or individuals. The realized heritability of egg weight was 0.39 and that of rate of lay was 0.31, both of which were significantly greater than zero but not significantly different from the predicted values based on halfsib correlations in the base population.
Comparative Genomic Hybridization of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Correlation With Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization in Paraffin-embedded Tissue

Background: Proto-oncogene MYC, mapped to chromosomal band 8q24 and the genes for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF at 7q21 ) and its receptor, MET, at chromosomal band 7q31, have an important role in the biology and growth of normal and neoplastic liver. Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) studies have reported frequent abnormalities of chromosomes 1 and 8 in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) of various clinical and pathological stages. Chromosome 7 involvement is reported to be less frequent.
Naturalism and generality

Abstract Naturalistic epistemologists frequently assume that their aim is to identify generalities (i.e. general laws) about the effectiveness of particular reasoning processes and methods. This paper argues that the search for this kind of generality fails. Work that has been done thus far to identify generalities (e.g. by Goldman, Kitcher and Thagard) overlooks both the complexity of reasoning and the relativity of assessments to particular contexts (domain, stage and goal of inquiry). Examples of human reasoning which show both complexity and contextuality are given. The paper concludes with a discussion of the kind of multivariate model of reasoning that naturalistic epistemologists can use to evaluate processes and methods for specific domains.
Designing lexicographic codes with a given trellis complexity

We generalize constructions of lexicographic codes to produce locally optimal codes with a desired trellis decoding complexity. These constructions are efficient for high-rate codes and provide a means for automated code design. As a byproduct, we improve known bounds on the parameters of lexicodes.
A spatial analysis of the moderating effects of land use on the association between alcohol outlet density and violence in urban areas

Aims. While there is substantial evidence of an association between alcohol outlet density and assault, it is unlikely this association is constant across the urban environment. This study tested the moderating influence of land use on the outlet-violence association. Design. Cross-sectional ecological study that controlled for spatial autocorrelation. Setting, Participants and Measurements. Police-recorded data on simple and aggravated assaults were obtained for all 302 block groups (mean population = 1038) in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. Addresses of alcohol outlets for Cincinnati were obtained from the Ohio Division of Liquor Control, geocoded to the street level, and aggregated to census block groups. Data on eight categories of land use were obtained from the Cincinnati Area Geographic Information System, with location quotients computed for each block group. Findings. We found substantial evidence that the impact of total alcohol outlet density, bar density and carryout density on assault density was moderated by land use. Conclusions. By taking into account local characteristics, policy-makers can make more informed decisions when regulating the placement and density of alcohol licenses in urban areas. Similarly, more systematic knowledge of how the association between alcohol outlet density and assault varies across the urban landscape should reduce harm and promote responsible retailing. Nevertheless, ours is one of the first studies to address the moderating effect of land use and we encourage further research to test the stability and generalisability of our results.[Pridemore WA, Grubesic TH. A spatial analysis of the moderating effects of land use on the association between alcohol outlet density and violence in urban areas. Drug Alcohol Rev 2011]. Language: en