cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
NEPHROTIC SYNDROME ASSOCIATED WITH INHALED ALLERGENS

Abstract Three cases are described in which the nephrotic syndrome appeared to be associated with inhalant allergens. One such case has been reported previously. In three of these four cases there was demonstrable hypersensitivity to pollen allergens, while in the fourth case mould allergy was found. Proteinuria and œdema appeared to be exacerbated in all four cases with increased exposure to inhalant allergens, and in the pollen-sensitive patients the proteinuria appeared to subside while they were being treated with hyposensitisation injections.
On the ultrastructure of the carp erythrocyte.

An den ultradunnen Schnittpraparaten von Erythrozyten der KarauscheCarassius auratus wurde ihre submikroskopische Struktur mit dem Elektronenmikroskop sowie auch mit dem Lichtmikroskop untersucht. Im Cytoplasma der Erythrocyten kann man immer die undurchsichtigen Granula beobachten, welche durch ein feines Kanalchen in Zusammenhang mit der Zell- und Kernmembran stehen. Es ist festgestellt, dass der Kern aus achromatischen Faden mit Schraubenwindung, undurchsichtigen Chromatingranula und Kernmembran von Doppelnatur besteht. Die Befunde der Schnitte stimmen mit den schon fruher vonYasuzumi und seinen Mitarbeitern nachgewiesenen Resultaten uberein.
Molecular Basis of Cardiac Action Potential Repolarization

The action potential (AP) is generated by transport of ions through transmembrane ion channels. Rate dependence of AP repolarization is a fundamental property of cardiac cells, and its modification by disease or drugs can lead to fatal arrhythmias. Using a computational biology approach, we investigated the gating kinetics of the rapid (IKr) and slow (IKs) K+ currents during the AP in order to provide insight into the molecular basis of their role in AP repolarization. Results show that IKr intensifies during the late AP plateau by progressively recovering from inactivation and generating a pronounced late peak of open-state occupancy. The delayed peak makes IKr an effective determinant of AP repolarization. IKs builds an available reserve of channels in closed states near the open state that can open rapidly to generate current during the AP repolarization phase. By doing so, IKs can provide repolarizing current when other currents (e.g., IKr) are compromised by disease or drugs, thus preventing excessive AP prolongation and arrhythmic activity.
Drift currents induced by reflection of propagating inertial and internal waves at rigid boundary

Abstract Reflection of propagating inertial and internal waves at a rigid boundary gives rise to oscillatory fluid motions parallel to it. The interaction of these motions with the boundary induces a small steady drift current at the boundary. An expression is derived for the magnitude of such induced currents at a sloping boundary, with possible application to the generation of weak currents often observed in the benthic boundary layers of the deep ocean.
Reducing U.S. health care spending: is it realistic or even desirable?

Background:Many people believe that U.S. health care spending (16.3 percent of gross domestic product) and especially the health care spending growth rate (6.7 percent) are unsustainable by our economy and must be reduced. Its tremendous cost, along with indisputable quality and other problems, has
Fibroblast Transformation by Fps/Fes Tyrosine Kinases Requires Ras, Rac, and Cdc42 and Induces Extracellular Signal-regulated and c-Jun N-terminal Kinase Activation

The small GTP-binding proteins Ras, Rac, and Cdc42 link protein-tyrosine kinases with mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascades. Ras controls the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), while Rac and Cdc42 regulate the c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs). In this study, we investigated whether small G protein/MAPK cascades contribute to signal transduction by transforming variants of c-Fes, a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase implicated in cytokine signaling and myeloid differentiation. First, we investigated the effects of dominant-negative small G proteins on Rat-2 fibroblast transformation by a retroviral homolog of c-Fes (v-Fps) and by c-Fes activated via N-terminal addition of the v-Src myristylation signal (Myr-Fes). We observed that dominant-negative Ras, Rac, and Cdc42 inhibited v-Fps- and Myr-Fes-induced growth of Rat-2 cells in soft agar, indicating that activation of these small GTP-binding proteins is required for fibroblast transformation by Fps/Fes tyrosine kinases. To determine whether MAPK pathways are activated downstream of these small G proteins, we measured ERK and JNK activity in the v-Fps- and Myr-Fes-transformed Rat-2 cells. Both ERK and JNK activities were elevated in the transformed cells, suggesting that these pathways are involved in cellular transformation. Dominant-negative mutants of Ras (but not Rac or Cdc42) specifically inhibited ERK activation by v-Fps and Myr-Fes, demonstrating that ERK activation occurs exclusively downstream of Ras. All three dominant-negative small G proteins inhibited JNK activation by v-Fps and Myr-Fes, indicating that JNK activation by these tyrosine kinases requires both Ras and Rho family GTPases. These data demonstrate that multiple small G protein/MAPK cascades are involved in downstream signal transduction by Fps/Fes tyrosine kinases.
The desire for sons and excess fertility: a household-level analysis of parity progression in India.

CONTEXT: The desire for sons often influences fertility behavior in India. Women with a small number or low proportion of sons may be more likely than other women to continue childbearing. METHODS: Data from India’s 2005-2006 National Family Health Survey were used to examine several hypotheses regarding the association between sex composition of children and parity progression among parous women aged 35-49. Descriptive analyses and multivariate logistic regression analysis that controlled for possible confounders were performed separately by parity. RESULTS: Women with more sons than daughters were generally less likely than those with more daughters than sons to continue childbearing; parity progression driven by the desire for sons accounted for 7% of births. At any given parity the last-born child of women who had stopped childbearing was more likely to be a son than a daughter (sex ratios 133-157). In multivariate analyses women without any sons were more likely than women without any daughters to continue childbearing at parities 1-4 (odds ratios 1.4-4.5). At most or all parities continued childbearing was positively associated with having had a child who died and negatively associated with levels of women’s education and media exposure and with household wealth. CONCLUSIONS: The desire for sons appears to be a significant motivation for parity progression. Although population policies that reduce family size are essential also imperative are policies that reduce desire for sons by challenging the perception that sons are more valuable than daughters.
Differential responses of aquatic consumers to variations in leaf-litter inputs

Terrestrial support of aquatic food webs is becoming well established in the science of ecology. However, while terrestrial subsidies of energy have been shown to exert strong effects on aquatic food webs, it is less clear how variations in these subsidies, via natural or anthropogenic factors, will affect recipient ecosystems. To assess the influence of variations in terrestrial subsidies on an aquatic food web, we manipulated leaf-litter inputs in artificial ponds. Decreasing litter inputs did not affect any of the response variables in artificial ponds. This may be because the minimal amount of terrestrial carbon present combined with autochthonous production was enough to sustain the food web and/or the food web was altered in ways not detected by the experimental design. However, increasing leaf-litter inputs increased the percent survival and developmental rate of larval wood frogs (Rana sylvatica). Conversely, increasing litter input appeared to have no influence on zooplankton or salamander larvae. Increasing litter inputs also increased the dissolved organic carbon content and decreased the percent saturation of dissolved oxygen in artificial ponds. As system respiration in aquatic systems is frequently dominated by microbial respiration, we hypothesize that the effects of increasing litter input on wood frogs were the result of an increase food resources (i.e., microbes) for tadpoles. The lack of a response by salamander larvae and zooplankton may be due to the densities of zooplankton in tanks providing enough food for salamanders in all treatments, variation among specific zooplankton species in their ability to exploit these resources and transfer energy to salamanders, or omnivory among zooplankton offsetting the affects of leaf-litter inputs. Additional work is needed to determine the influence of litter inputs on zooplankton and salamanders in this community. These data demonstrate that variations in leaf-litter inputs can influence food web structure; however, the importance of these variations will likely be dependent upon the trophic position of various consumers.
Endoscopic endoluminal radiofrequency ablation of Barrett’s esophagus: initial results and lessons learned

Ablating Barrett’s epithelium may reduce the risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma. This study reports the experience of a single surgeon using an endoscopic endoluminal device that delivers radiofrequency energy (the BARRx device) to ablate Barrett’s esophagus. All patients who underwent ablation of Barrett’s epithelium with the BARRx system were reviewed for length of Barrett’s metaplasia, presence of high-grade dysplasia, postprocedure complications, completeness of ablation at first follow-up endoscopy, need for additional ablation, completeness of ablation at second follow-up endoscopy, and concomitant performance of a Nissen fundoplication. Sixty-six patients underwent Barrett’s ablation. The median length of the Barrett’s esophagus was 3 (range, 1–14) cm. Twelve patients (18%) had high-grade dysplasia. There were no immediate procedure-related complications. Four strictures occurred: three in patients with ≥12-cm segments of Barrett’s and one in a 6-cm segment. Twenty-nine of 49 patients (59%) who had planned 3-month follow-up endoscopy had complete ablation. Five patients had planned two-stage ablation. Twenty patients with incomplete ablation had additional ablation. Twenty-seven patients had planned follow-up endoscopy at ≥1 year: 25 of 27 (93%) had biopsy-proven normal esophageal mucosa. The median length of Barrett’s esophagus in patients with initially incomplete ablation was 6 cm, compared with 2 cm in the initially complete ablation patients. Seven Nissen fundoplications were present at the time of ablation, whereas six were performed concomitantly with the ablation without increased difficulty. Complete ablation of Barrett’s esophagus with radiofrequency endoluminal ablation is achievable in >90% of patients. Patients with longer segments are likely to require additional ablation. Patients with very long segments are at risk for stricture and should be approach cautiously. Performance of a fundoplication is not hindered by concomitant ablation.
OLIG gene targeting in human pluripotent stem cells for motor neuron and oligodendrocyte differentiation

OLIG gene targeting in human pluripotent stem cells for motor neuron and oligodendrocyte differentiation
In search of endocrine progenitor/stem cells in the human pancreas.

: Motives to isolate endocrine precursor cells vary between clinical and basic research needs. In our case, the object has been to identify cell populations that could be used for cell replacement in situations of β-cell deficiency, such as type 1 diabetes. Initially, as was the case with most laboratories oriented toward translational islet research, experimentation was geared more toward cell replication than to the identification and isolation of putative endocrine cell precursors.
An oncogene abounds in brains

Abstract With the realization that viral genes responsible for oncogenic transformation are derived from normal vertebrate genes, molecular biologists have begun to assume that these normal cellular ‘oncogenes' are important regulators of cell growth and differentiation 2,3 . Two recent reports 1,6 now show that the product of one such cellular oncogene is expressed at unusually high levels specifically in neural cells. These reports open the way for the proliferating discoveries of molecular oncology to be brought to bear on some aspects of developmental neurobiology.
Molecular simulations to estimate thermodynamics for adsorption of polar organic solutes to montmorillonite

Summary Ideally, one could use molecular mechanics or quantum mechanics to predict the magnitude of organic solute adsorption from water to soil minerals. Reproduction and/or prediction of mineral and interfacial structures remains challenging, but calculation of meaningful energy relations through computational chemistry techniques is even more difficult than structural calculations. This paper attempts to define the necessary and relevant components for an overall scheme that allows translation of computed interaction enthalpies to experimental adsorption enthalpies and vice versa. While the scheme could be applied to quantum calculations, we test it for the possibility of using empirical molecular mechanics to estimate relative energies for the adsorption of non-ionic organic solutes in clay mineral-water-solute systems. We used molecular dynamics’ simulations to estimate relative clay–organic interaction enthalpies for a series of nitro-aromatic solutes and hydrated, K-saturated montmorillonite, for comparison with experimental adsorption isotherm data for the same clay-nitroaromatic systems. The trend of computed interaction enthalpies (e.g. −234 ± 17 kJ mol−1 for trinitrobenzene and −154 ± 16 kJ mol−1 for p-nitrobenzene) agreed modestly well with the trend of adsorption maxima from the experiments. Furthermore, we developed several variants on a thermodynamic cycle framework for comparing computed interaction energies with experimentally determined adsorption enthalpies. The algorithms, which include estimates for enthalpy changes both in bulk solution and in the clay interlayer, show promise: for p-dinitrobenzene and for 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, the overall predicted adsorption enthalpies (e.g. −13 ± 22 and −67 ± 23 kJ mol−1, respectively) were in modest agreement with experiments (−18 ± 1 and −28 ± 4 kJ mol−1, respectively). We discuss shortcomings of the methods, in hopes of encouraging better estimates for the various energy terms, improvement of the algorithms, and more valid comparisons between quantum mechanical or molecular mechanical interaction energies and experimental enthalpies.
Bioimpedance rise in response to histone deacetylase inhibitor is a marker of mammary cancer cells within a mixed culture of normal breast cells

Detection of a few cancer cells within a complex cellular mixture is a key challenge presented by clinical human biopsy samples. We have designed and tested a microfabricated bioimpedance device that can detect a few human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells in a mixed cell culture model of a breast tissue sample. The normal tissue components were modelled using non-cancerous MCF10A human breast epithelial cells and normal human HS68 fibroblasts. The sensor is a silicon chip 0.5 cm in diameter that contains one counter electrode and four 40 μm-wide multi-branched sensing electrodes. The cells’ bioimpedances were characterized in pure monocultures and in mixed cell cultures following a brief cultivation on the sensor. After cell seeding, a stable bioimpedance signal was achieved indicative of cell attachment. A cancer-selective bioimpedance signal was elicited by addition of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor with selective actions on the cytoskeleton in breast cancer cells. SAHA elicited a 50% rise in peak bioimpedance in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells by 15 h. In mixed cultures of MDA-MB-231, MCF10A, and HS68 cells, the contribution of cancer cells present in the mixture dominated impedance response to SAHA. A single adherent cancer cell on any one of four electrodes in a background of ∼100 normal cells resulted in ≥5% increase in bioimpedance. The estimated sensitivity of this device is therefore one cancer cell among a background of 400 normal cells or the equivalent of 25 cancer cells in a biopsy sample of 10 000 cells.
Processes governing the supply of iron to phytoplankton in stratified seas

[1] The impact of iron speciation on phytoplankton dynamics in the marine environment is currently not well understood. In this study, we modified the existing CIAO model of the Ross Sea to include major aspects of iron chemistry and examined the processes governing the supply of iron to phytoplankton. We suggest that the melting of sea ice and ensuing stratification dictates the speciation and bioavailability of iron. Photoreduction is the key process governing the supply of bioavailable Fe to the resident phytoplankton of the Ross Sea. Access to organically complexed iron is of greater significance in strongly stratified waters dominated by diatoms than in weakly stratified waters dominated by Phaeocystis antarctica. Light may control phytoplankton taxonomic composition in the Ross Sea by impacting both photosynthetic performance and iron speciation. The efficiency with which iron fuels phytoplankton carbon incorporation is greater in seasonal ice zones than in permanently ice-free waters. Therefore, changes in the physical structure of the Southern Ocean could impact iron bioavailability, independent of any change in iron supply.
Inositol hexaphosphate inhibits tumor growth, vascularity, and metabolism in TRAMP mice: a multiparametric magnetic resonance study.

Herein, employing anatomical and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we evaluated non-invasively, the in vivo, chemopreventive efficacy of inositol hexaphosphate (IP6), a major constituent of high fiber diets, against prostate tumor growth and progression in transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) model. Male TRAMP mice, beginning 4 weeks of age, were fed with 1, 2 or 4% (w/v) IP6 in drinking water or only drinking water till 28 weeks of age and monitored using MRI over the course of study. Longitudinal assessment of prostate volumes by conventional MRI and tumor vascularity by gadolinium-based DCE-MRI showed a profound reduction in tumor size partly due to anti-angiogenic effects by IP6 treatment. As potential mechanisms of IP6 efficacy, decrease in the expression of glucose transporter GLUT-4 protein together with an increase in levels of phospho-AMP-activated kinase (AMPKTh172) were observed in prostate tissues of mice from IP6 fed-groups, suggesting that IP6 is interfering with the metabolic events occurring in TRAMP prostate. Investigative metabolomics study utilizing quantitative high-resolution 1H-NMR on prostate tissue extracts showed that IP6 significantly decreased glucose metabolism and membrane phospholipid synthesis, in addition to causing an increase in myo-inositol levels in the prostate. Together, these findings show that oral IP6 supplement blocks PCa growth and angiogenesis in TRAMP model in conjunction with metabolic events involved in tumor sustenance. This results in energy deprivation within the tumor, suggesting a practical and translational potential of IP6 treatment in suppressing growth and progression of prostate cancer in humans.
Projection imaging of myocardial perfusion: minimizing the subendocardial dark-rim artifact

Summary We demonstrate that projection imaging of first-pass myocardial perfusion is robust to a major cause of the so-called subendocardial dark-rim artifact (DRA); thereby proposing radial k-space sampling as the preferred acquisition scheme for DRA-free perfusion imaging. Background
Can we be too uncertain about uncertainty responses

Smith et al. propose that the most parsimonious explanation for identical responses of humans and nonhumans under the same conditions is not always the simplest cognitive explanation but could be the one that has the most logical consistency across species. The authors provide convincing evidence and a reasonable argument for declarative consciousness as a shared psychological property in humans, monkeys, and dolphins.
PTrace: derivative-free local tracing of bicriterial design tradeoffs

This paper presents a novel method, PTrace, to locally and uniformly trace convex bicriterial Pareto-optimal fronts for bicriterial optimization problems that, unlike existing methods, does not require derivatives of the objectives with respect to the design variables. The method computes a sequence of points along the front in a user-specified direction from a starting point, such that the points are roughly uniformly spaced as per a spacing constraint from the user. At each iteration, a local quadratic model of the front is used to estimate an appropriate weighted sum of objectives that, on optimization, will give the next point on the front. A single objective optimization on this weighted sum then generates the actual point, which is then used to build a new local model. The method uses convexity-based heuristics to improve on mildly sub-optimal results from the optimizer and reuses cached points to improve the optimization speed and quality. We test the method on a synthetic and a 6-T SRAM power-performance tradeoff test case to demonstrate its effectiveness.
Global Patterns of Isolation by Distance Based on Genetic and Morphological Data

The isolation-by-distance model predicts that genetic similarity between populations will decrease exponentially as the geographic distance between them increases, because of the limiting effect of geographic distance on rates of gene flow. Many studies of human populations have applied the isolation-by-distance model to genetic variation between local populations in a limited geographic area, but few have done so on a global level, and these few used different models and analytical methods. I assess genetic variation between human populations across the world using data on red blood cell polymorphisms, microsatellite DNA markers, and craniometric traits. The isolation-by-distance model provides an excellent fit to average levels of genetic similarity within geographic distance classes for all three data sets, and the rate of distance decay is the same in all three. These results suggest that a common pattern of global gene flow mediated by geographic distance is detectable in diverse genetic and morphological data. An alternative explanation is that the correspondence between genetic similarity and geographic distance reflects the history of dispersal of the human species out of Africa.
A Fully Implantable 96-channel Neural Data Acquisition System

A fully implantable neural data acquisition system is a key component of a clinically viable brain-machine interface. This type of system must communicate with the outside world and obtain power without the use of wires that cross through the skin. We present a 96-channel fully implantable neural data acquisition system. This system performs spike detection and extraction within the body and wirelessly transmits data to an external unit. Power is supplied wirelessly through the use of inductively coupled coils. The system was implanted acutely in sheep and successfully recorded, processed and transmitted neural data. Bidirectional communication between the implanted system and an external unit was successful over a range of 2 m. The system is also shown to integrate well into a brain-machine interface. This demonstration of a high channel-count fully implanted neural data acquisition system is a critical step in the development of a clinically viable brain-machine interface.
Modulation of bilayer structures derived from diacetylenic phosphocholines containing oxygen linker β to diacetylene

Abstract Phospholipids with diacetylenes present in the acyl chains form tubules and helices in aqueous dispersions. In order to modulate the morphology of bilayer structures and to understand the role of diacetylene in lipid-bilayer assembly, two diacetylenic phosphocholines, 1,2-bis(9,16-dioxa-hexacosa-11,13-diynoyl)- sn -3-phosphocholine and 1,2-bis(15-oxa-pentacosa-10,12-diynoyl)- sn -3-phosphocholine, in which the diacetylene is linked to the acyl chain by an oxygen spacer have been synthesized. Lipid dispersions were characterized by calorimetric, film balance and microscopic techniques. Placement of oxygen spacer influences the morphology of the bilayer assemblies formed in aqueous solution. When both ends of the diacetylene were linked to the acyl chain by oxygen atoms, liposomes (diameters ranging from 0.3–3.4 μm) were observed by optical microscopy. Linking only the terminal portion of the acyl chain to the diacetylene with an oxygen atom resulted in a lipid which formed tubular microstructures as well as vesicles. Diameter of the tubular structures ranged from 0.4–4.7 μm. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis of replicas of a freeze fractured sample of the dispersion revealed that the tubular structures were hollow cylinders consisting of an aqueous core surrounded by a wall of lipid.
Neonatal asteroid hyalosis

Abstract Asteroid hyalosis, noted in 0.83% of routine eye examinations, 1 is uncommon in younger patients and is more frequently seen in patients more than 60 years old. It has been considered to be related to an aging process, and when it occurs in younger patients, ocular disease is typically associated. 1 We report a 4-week-old patient with Down syndrome and bilateral congenital cataracts who had unilateral asteroid hyalosis.
Effects of site design on consumer emotions: role of product involvement

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of low task relevant cues presented on apparel web sites on consumer emotions (pleasure and arousal) that in turn influence consumer response behaviors (purchase intention and approach behavior) and examine the influence of product involvement as a moderator of the relationship between such cues and emotions.Design/methodology/approach – A total of 157 female students participated in an online experiment using mock web sites. The paper employed a 2×2 between‐subjects factorial design: low task relevant web cues (presence vs absence) and product involvement (low vs high).Findings – The results revealed that low task relevant web cues induce more pleasure and arousal for online browsers with low levels of clothing product involvement than for those with high levels of clothing product involvement. The results also showed that emotions mediated the relationship between low task relevant web cues and various consumer response behaviors.Research...
Bacterial PCB biodegradation

The environment has become polluted with a variety of xenobiotics, including PCBs, as a result of the industrial development of useful halogenated compounds. While the PCBs may not exhibit the acute toxicity originally ascribed to them, they and their attendant byproducts remain as significant factors for adverse effects in the ecological food-chain. The use of microorganisms for bioremediation of PCBs is reviewed. This paper further details three new isolates obtained by conventional enrichment technics which show significant degradation capabilities for Aroclor 1242. These were identified by morphology, staining, and fatty acid analysis as Comamonas testosteroni, Rhodococcus rhodochrous, and a strain of Pseudomonas putida. These isolates demonstrated somewhat selective degradations of the congeners within Aroclor 1242; comprising total losses of 13.8, 19.1, and 24.6%, respectively. Each organism can attack dichloro-through tetrachlorobiphenyls. Analysis of chromatographic patterns from anaerobically digested Aroclor 1242 samples treated by these bacteria demonstrated decreases in di- through penta-substituted biphenyls. Each of these isolates, with discrete specificities, showed preferences for ‘open’ 2,3-sites, indicative of the action of 2,3-dioxygenase enzymes. The identification of many intermediates in the foregoing transformations was established by GC-MS analyses. Several variations in metabolic pathways, centering on the meta cleavage product 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-6-phenylhexa-2,4-dienoic acid (HOPDA) were suggested from these data. It is concluded that the described strains may be of future bioremediation use in processes which have an initial anaerobic dechlorination stage.
Residues of Spinosad in Meat, Milk, and Eggs

Spinosad is an insect control agent that is derived from a naturally occurring soil bacterium and has a high level of activity against insects that infest a variety of crops. Dairy and poultry feeding studies were conducted to determine the magnitude of spinosad residues in animal products that would result from the consumption of typical feed commodities containing residues of spinosad. Dairy cows were dosed for 28 days with spinosad at rates equivalent to 0, 1, 3, and 10 μg/g in the diet. Chicken hens were dosed for 42 days with spinosad at rates equivalent to 0, 0.1, 0.3, 1, and 5 μg/g in the diet. Milk, eggs, and tissue samples were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and/or immunoassay methods. Spinosad residues occurred in all of the sample types but were lowest in eggs, skim milk, and lean meat and were highest in the fat. Keywords: Spinosad; spinosyn; residues; beef; chicken; meat; milk; eggs
Tests of phylogenetic hypotheses under generalized models

Abstract Prospective topologies of phylogenetic trees can be tested as hypotheses using statistics based on parsimony. If the unknown branch lengths of the trees are different for different characters, the method still works. When the transition probabilities between the states of characters are unequal in a known or unknown degree, the method still works. Hybridization or horizontal gene transfer in the history of a group can never be rejected; whether it can be confidently detected is problematical. Only four species are treated here and only binany character.
The Impact of Warfarin on Patients with End Stage Renal Disease

Introduction. A deficiency in vitamin K through the utilization of warfarin may result in increased vascular calcification and complications. This study aimed to determine the impact of warfarin administration on patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) in a large, national sample. Methods. A retrospective analysis using the 2005–2010 National Inpatient Sample (NIS), a part of the Health Care Utilization Project (HCUP), was completed using ICD-9 diagnosis codes to capture patients with ESRD prescribed and not prescribed warfarin. Statistical analysis was through ANOVA and chi-squared testing. Results. From 2005–2010, 927,814 patients with ESRD were identified nationally. 3.5% (32,737) were prescribed warfarin. Patients prescribed warfarin had an average age of 64 years and 51% were male. For every comorbid condition (amputation, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, cerebrovascular accident, diabetes, hypertension, myocardial infarction, peripheral vascular diasese, and valvular disease) patients prescribed Warfarin had significantly higher rates of disease as compared to their nonwarfarin ESRD counterparts. ESRD patients prescribed warfarin had significantly shorter length of stay but increased hospital charges. They were more likely to be discharged to home and had significantly decreased in-hospital mortality. Conclusion. Patients with ESRD taking warfarin are more likely to have comorbidities and/or complications but have a decreased LOS and in-hospital mortality compared to their ESRD counterparts not administered warfarin.
Improving treatment through research: directing attention to the role of development in adolescent treatment success.

Treatment of adolescents with alcohol use problems can be as successful as in adults, but the success often is short-lived, with most treated adolescents relapsing within a few months. Developmental differences among adolescents may contribute to this high rate of relapse, and treatment approaches that pay direct attention to the patients’ developmental status may improve outcomes. To date, studies assessing adolescent alcohol treatment rarely have investigated the association between developmental stage and outcome. In addition, even experts do not fully agree on the developmentally appropriate outcomes that should be evaluated in adolescent treatment studies. Research methods and variables used to assess the outcome of adolescent alcohol treatment often rely on those used in treatment studies of adults. Developmental factors that may directly influence adolescents’ amenability to treatment, such as pubertal status, psychological development (e.g., executive mental functions), social relationships, and developmental transitions, have not been adequately investigated. Studies using concepts from developmental science are needed to determine how individual characteristics, various contextual influences (e.g., from peers, family, or the social environment), and the interactions of these factors influence alcohol use behavior, amenability to treatment, and treatment outcomes. Knowledge gained in studies directly examining developmental factors should help in the design of more effective treatment programs with lower relapse rates.
Evaluation of the RPi‐ber late blight resistance gene for tuber resistance in the field and laboratory

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the efficacy in tubers of a late blight resistance gene, RPi-ber, originating from Solanum berthaultii. Experiments were conducted in the field and laboratory. Inoculation of tubers in field trials occurred via sporangia produced on infections in the foliage. Laboratory trials were conducted by inoculating whole tubers and tuber slices with sporangia of Phytophthora infestans. In all trials, those progeny with RPi-ber were essentially immune to strains of P. infestans that were incompatible with RPi-ber in the foliage. However, even when tested against strains of P. infestans that were compatible with RPi-ber in the foliage, there was still a resistance effect at the RPi-ber region.
Estimation of Upper Limits on Human Radiation Absorbed Doses from Carbon-11-Labeled Compounds

Radiation absorbed dose estimates for short-lived PET tracers are commonly based on biodistributions in rodents which (because of more rapid distribution and other species differences) may have limited relevance to humans. The initial purpose of this study was to estimate an intravenously injectable quantity of 11C which could not, on a priori grounds, exceed regulatory limits on radiation absorbed doses for individual organs. Upper limits on organ cumulative activities were estimated by assuming that 11C-labeled compounds are instantaneously distributed in the blood plasma, and then transferred solely and irreversibly to a single organ. The rate-constant (min-1) for each organ was taken to be its fractional cardiac output, since the plasma volume of 3 liters is recirculated each minute. The method was extended by using measured time courses of radioactivity in human arterial plasma available from previous PET studies with several 11C compounds in place of the assumption that the injected radioactivity was initially instantaneously distributed throughout the plasma. Calculations for 11C L-deprenyl, cogentin, cocaine, N-methylspiperone, putrescine and 2-deoxy-D-glucose, assuming transfer limited to a single organ, gave the kidneys rather than the thyroid as critical organ in each case. The upper-limit self-doses were 140, 210, 320, 360, 450 and 750 mrad/mCi, respectively, indicating that 34, 24, 15, 14 and 6.5 mCi, respectively, could be administered in a single PET study. These results suggest a strategy for human studies with 11C-labeled compounds: a preliminary study at the 3.5-mCi level would yield 11C arterial plasma data which could in turn be used to give a refined upper limit on radiation absorbed doses. For many 11C compounds, this strategy would demonstrate that sufficient radioactivity could be injected to give acceptable human PET images and would avoid the death of animals for biodistribution studies.
American Environmentalism: Philosophy, History, and Public Policy

PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTALISM Philosophical Ideas and Concepts Concepts of Nature in the Western Intellectual Tradition Rights Natural Rights and Natural Law Utilitarianism Kantianism as an Alternative to Utilitarianism Ethical Egoism and Social Darwinism Environmental Justice Conclusion: Where Do We Go from Here? Notes Neoclassical Economics The Rise of Neoclassical Economics Economics, Public Policy, and the Freedom-Authority Divide Efficiency versus Equity: An Unbridgeable Gulf? Notes Environmental Ethics: An Overview Anthropocentrism, Neoclassical Economics, and the Scientific Method Weak Sustainability Strong Sustainability Ecological Sustainability Normative Sustainability Intrinsic Value Theory and Its Discontents The Ethical Dilemma in a Nutshell Notes HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTALISM Pre-American Attitudes about the Natural Environment The Ancient Greeks The Biblical Tradition Europeans in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance Native Americans Conclusion: The March of Anthropocentric Progress Notes The Enlightenment and the American Founders The Enlightenment Project John Locke, the Social Contract, and Private Property American Enlightenment Figures Humanity and Classification The Enlightenment: Friend or Foe of Environmentalism? Notes The Nineteenth Century Lewis and Clark and the Advent of Manifest Destiny John James Audubon-The Ornithologist as Environmental Steward Henry David Thoreau on Government and Society The Gilded Age and American Urbanization Notes The Twentieth Century Progressivism and Twentieth-Century Social Movements John Muir, Gifford Pinchot, Theodore Roosevelt, and the Preservation-Conservation Debate From Progressivism to the New Deal: The Evolving Role of Government in Natural-Resource Protection Environmental Activism Comes of Age The Rise of the Modern American Environmental Movement Notes POST MODERN AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS AND POLICY Environmental Interest Groups The Interest-Group Theory of Democracy Well-Known Environmental Groups in the American Landscape The Strengths and Weaknesses of the NGO Model Notes The Foundations of Twenty-First-Century Sustainability Famous International Conferences and Agreements American Environmental Law in a Federal System Management Systems, Standards Organizations, and Certifications Environmentalism for Dummies Notes Conclusion: The Path Forward Common Pitfalls The Quest for Energy and Its Environmental Consequences Who Pays and Who Plays Tradeoffs and Choices: Life Cycle Management (LCM) Notes References Index
The Impact of Computerized Test Banks as a Study Aid in an Introductory Marketing Course

This article reports the results of an empirical study assessing the effectiveness of a Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI) tutorial program for an introductory marketing course. The results indicate examination performance was enhanced by the CAI study tool, but level of question difficulty did not affect test performance.
Photon-subtracted two-mode squeezed vacuum states and applications to quantum optical interferometry

We study the application of photon-subtracted two-mode squeezed vacuum states (TMSVS), where identical photon numbers are subtracted from each beam, to the problem of quantum optical interferometry with the photon-number parity measurements scheme. Previously, Anisimov et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett.104, 103602 (2010)] have studied the prospect of using the TMSVS for parity measurements based interferometry. However, the joint photon number distribution of this state before beam splitting is thermal-like in each mode, meaning that its statistics are super-Poissonian and that the most probable state of the field is the double vacuum and that the average photon number is low. Furthermore, with these states the sensitivity of the phase-shift measurement is extremely sensitive to the size of the phase shift to be measured for large average photon numbers. The simultaneous subtraction of 1, 2, or 3 photons from each mode has the effects of increasing the average photon numbers of each mode and rendering the statistics nearly Poissonian and in some cases sub-Poissonian. We show that phase uncertainties for such states are less sensitive to the phase shift itself at large average photon numbers. We also show that the photon-subtracted TMSVS also lead to increased resolution.
Electrocardiographic Signs of Remote Myocardial Infarction

Twelve-lead electrocardiogram is an integral part of the evaluation of an acute and a remote myocardial infarction (MI). Electrocardiographic signs of an acute ST-elevation MI are more precise than those of an acute non–ST-elevation MI. Recognition of a remote MI is more difficult because once the repolarization abnormalities (ST-segment and T-wave changes) stabilize after an acute MI resolves, then the Q wave remains as the only universally recognized sign of MI. In addition, there is no specific sign of a non–Q-wave MI or a non–ST-elevation MI, or in fact of an ST-elevation MI that did not result in Q waves. The fragmented QRS (fQRS) is another recently described sign of a remote MI. It is defined by the presence of an additional R wave (R′) or notching in the nadir of the S wave, or the presence of >1 R′ (fragmentation) in 2 contiguous leads corresponding to a major coronary artery territory. The specificity of fQRS is inferior to that of a Q wave for an MI scar (89% vs 99%). However, fQRS has a superior sensitivity and a negative predictive value compared with a Q wave. In addition, there is an incremental gain in the sensitivity up to 91.4% when these 2 signs (fQRS and Q wave) are combined. The repolarization abnormalities of MI may also persist indefinitely as a sign of a remote MI in few patients. These abnormalities include persistent ST elevation, ST depression, nonspecific ST-T wave changes, and T-wave inversion.
Marching into battle: synchronized walking diminishes the conceptualized formidability of an antagonist in men.

Paralleling behaviours in other species, synchronized movement is central to institutionalized collective human activities thought to enhance cooperation, and experiments demonstrate that synchrony has this effect. The influence of synchrony on cooperation may derive from an evolutionary history wherein such actions served to signal coalitional strength to both participants and observers—including adversaries. If so, then synchronous movement should diminish individuals' estimations of a foe's formidability. Envisioned physical size and strength constitute the dimensions of a representation that summarizes relative fighting capacity. Experiencing synchrony should therefore lead individuals to conceptualize an antagonist as smaller and weaker. We found that men who walked synchronously with a male confederate indeed envisioned a purported criminal as less physically formidable than did men who engaged in this task without synchronizing.
A new site-specific integration system for mycobacteria.

Summary Site-specific integration into the mycobacterial chromosome can produce stable transformants useful for understanding pathogenesis. However, gene expression can be problematic at certain sites of integration. We have used the Streptomyces φ C31 integration system to integrate vector DNA into Mycobacterium smegmatis , M. bovis BCG, and M. tuberculosis through site-specific recombination. A single dominant insertion site was found in M. smegmatis , as previously reported. Three different insertion sites were found in M. bovis BCG. In M. smegmatis , integrated vectors appear to be far more stable than episomal plasmids during unselected passage in vitro, although excision products are detectable. Plasmids based on the φ C31 integration system could make useful tools for the study of mycobacterial genetics.
Effect of valproic acid on body weight, food intake, physical activity and hormones: results of a randomized controlled trial

The objective of this study was to identify mechanisms through which valproic acid (VPA) causes weight gain. Healthy participants (N = 52) were randomized to VPA or placebo in a double-blind study. Energy intake (EI) was measured in the laboratory at lunch and dinner, and physical activity (PA) was measured with accelerometry. Glucose levels and hormones [Peptide YY(3-36), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), leptin, ghrelin, insulin] that regulate EI were measured. Assessments occurred at baseline and week 3. Change from baseline was evaluated with mixed models (alpha = 0.05). Weight significantly increased in the VPA group (+0.49 kg), but not the placebo group. The VPA group increased fast food fats cravings and decreased glucose levels compared with placebo. Change in weight, EI and PA did not differ by group. Within group analyses indicated that the VPA group increased PA, hunger, binge eating, depression and GLP-1. VPA-associated weight gain is not likely due to changes in PA or the gut hormones studied. Although EI did not increase when measured after 3 weeks of treatment, VPA decreased glucose levels and increased motivation to eat; hence, EI might have increased in the short-term. Research testing VPA on short-term (1 week) EI, metabolism, and substrate partitioning is warranted.
Staphylococcus aureus Induces Hypoxia and Cellular Damage in Porcine Dermal Explants

ABSTRACT We developed a porcine dermal explant model to determine the extent to which Staphylococcus aureus biofilm communities deplete oxygen, change pH, and produce damage in underlying tissue. Microelectrode measurements demonstrated that dissolved oxygen (DO) in biofilm-free dermal tissue was 4.45 ± 1.17 mg/liter, while DO levels for biofilm-infected tissue declined sharply from the surface, with no measurable oxygen detectable in the underlying dermal tissue. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated that biofilm-free dermal tissue had a significantly lower relative effective diffusion coefficient (0.26 ± 0.09 to 0.30 ± 0.12) than biofilm-infected dermal tissue (0.40 ± 0.12 to 0.48 ± 0.12; P
Droplet laser plasma sources of EUV radiation

This paper reports on the latest developments of EUV point sources of sufficient power and longevity for EUV lithography applications. Moreover, this paper gives an overall perspective of the developments required for laser plasmas to meet the requirements of the ITRS roadmap for EUV.
Response Classes in the Dorsal Cochlear Nucleus and Its Output Tract in the Chloralose-Anesthetized Cat

Neurons in the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) can be classified into three major physiological classes on the basis of responses to pure tone and broadband noise stimuli. A circuit diagram that associates these classes with different cell types has been proposed. According to this proposal, type II cells are inhibitory interneurons that respond well to tones and poorly to broadband noise, type IV cells are projection neurons with the opposite behavior, and type III cells are an inhomogeneous class with intermediate properties. To test the associations proposed, I compared the response type distribution in the DCN with its output tract, the dorsal acoustic stria (DAS), in chloralose-anesthetized cats. Axonal recordings in the DAS showed type III and IV responses as in DCN, but no type II responses. Compared with reports in decerebrate animals, fewer type IV neurons were encountered having sustained inhibition that generated strongly nonmonotonic responses to tones in both DCN and DAS. The presence of type II responses in the nucleus, but not in the output tract, offers strong support for the proposed association with DCN interneurons. On the other hand, the distinction between type III and IV responses needs refinement because the differences are only graded and because both types of responses occur in DAS, which shows that they are both associated with projection neurons.