cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PMA9: BAYESIAN OR CLASSICAL DESIGN AND ANALYSIS: DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE??

INTRODUCTION: The utility of research results is measured primarily by its effects on decisions. Underpinning research are methods appropriate to the question or hypothesis. The role of Classical and Bayesian approaches remains in dispute in health services research. The goal of this study was to determine if results differ when both analytic techniques are used with the same dataset. METHOD: We searched MEDLINE and related databases for English-language articles published 1 January 1978 through 31 August 1999. We combined Bayesian and Classical statistics search terms, and their variants, with randomized control trials (RCTs) and meta analyses. RESULTS: Searches found 18 studies in 14 publications that met all criteria for review—9 RCTs, 8 meta-analyses and 1 epidemiological estimate. Statistical analyses using both methods agreed in 5 RCTs, 4 meta-analyses, and for the epidemiological estimates. For 4 RCTs where results disagreed, Classical analysis the experimental intervention was efficacious compared to the control and Bayesian reanalysis concluded the experimental intervention was not proven efficacious. Classical meta-analyses of the four studies where results disagreed concluded the experimental intervention was not better than the control; Bayesian reanalysis concluded the intervention was efficacious. CONCLUSION: The conventional wisdom that Classical and Bayesian methods will give similar answers is not supported by this study. Disagreement on many fundamental beliefs between Classical and Bayesian statistics means continuing debate. One way to resolve this debate is for proponents of each technique to decide together the circumstances for use of each method and analytic framework. If the experts do not agree on the methodological requirements, other decision-makers likely will force their own views, driven mainly by other pressures like cost control.
Potential location of a bladder tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 9q at 9q13 to 9q22.1

Allelic losses involving chromosome 9q occur in a significant percentage of bladder tumors. Experimental evidence suggests that a putative tumor suppressor gene located on this chromosome may play a role in the development of bladder cancer. The precise location of this potential tumor suppressor gene is not clear. Previous studies have targeted a large region between 9p12-13 and 9q22 or 9p12 and 9q34.1 as the likely site. To further delineate the location of this gene, we examined 49 tumors by loss of heterozygosity (LOH) analysis, using seven microsatellite polymorhpic loci spanning from 9p21 to 9q34 of the chromosome. LOH was found in at least one of the loci in 20 (41%) of the tumors examined, and the majority (12 of 17; 71%) of the losses on 9q involved large segments or the entire chromosome arm. Although many of the tumors with large losses on 9q also involved 9p21, several tumors with small losses did not involve the 9p marker. Conversely, there were tumors with 9p21 losses that did not involve the q-arm. These data agree with recent findings that distinct tumor suppressor genes associated with bladder cancer are located on separate arms of chromosome 9. Among tumors with single locus LOHs, the most common deletion was located in 9q 13-21.2, which was detected by probe D9S15. This also is the smallest area of critical loss when LOH patterns of tumors with partial or interstitial losses were examined. Results of the study therefore suggest that a potential tumor suppressor gene may reside within or near the region of 9q13-22.1.
A phase I, dose escalation trial of ZD0473, a novel platinum analogue, in combination with gemcitabine.

To develop a combination regimen for clinical testing, we performed a dose escalation study of ZD0473 in combination with gemcitabine. ZD0473 is a novel platinum analogue with an aliphatic cyclic carrier ligand. In vitro and in vivo studies suggest that it possesses a different spectrum of antitumor activity from cisplatin and carboplatin. In single-agent studies of ZD0473, myelosuppression was the predominant toxicity and responses were observed. In this combination phase I trial, 36 patients with advanced cancer were accrued to four dose levels, with doses of ZD0473 and gemcitabine ranging from 60 to 120 mg/m2 and 600 to 750 mg/m2, respectively. ZD0473 was administered on day 1 and gemcitabine was given on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle. Hematologic toxicity was dose-limiting. Grade 3 and 4 thrombocytopenia and neutropenia occurred during 60% and 41% of all cycles. Nonhematologic toxicities were mild and reversible. Two partial responses and 19 patients with stable disease were observed. The recommended phase II doses are 90 mg/m2 of ZD0473 and 750 mg/m2 of gemcitabine for lightly pretreated patients and 600 mg/m2 for heavily pretreated patients. The combination of ZD0473 and gemcitabine is associated with dose-dependent thrombocytopenia and neutropenia as well as having promising clinical activity.
Experimental characterization of emulsion formation and coalescence by nuclear magnetic resonance restricted diffusion techniques

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is explored as a technique for noninvasively monitoring emulsion droplet for- mation and destabilization. The method makes use of the fact that the diffusion of oil molecules within oil-in-water emulsion droplets results in attenuation of a coherent magnetic signal that emanates from those molecules. If oil diffusion is limited by the size of the droplet, the shape of a plot of attenuation over time is directly affected by the droplet radius. We use this approach to determine noninvasively the effect of surfactant type, surfac- tant concentration, pH, and ionic strength on droplet sizes within a 40 wt% octane and water emulsion, stabilized by Tween 20 or β-lactoglobulin (β-Lg). We find that addition of the low-molecular-weight Tween 20 forms finer emulsion droplets than does addition of the protein, and that the Tween 20 emul- sion is sensitive to surfactant concentration below a threshold "saturation" concentration. The droplet sizes in β-Lg-containing emulsions increase as pH increases above the isoelectric point and as ionic strength increases. The fact that the NMR technique does not mistake clusters of droplets for single large droplets makes the analysis of these effects unambiguous. We further ex- tend the use of NMR diffusion techniques to monitor the effect of surfactant type, surfactant concentration, and convection on the rate of droplet coalescence. The ability of NMR methods to distinguish between large single droplets and droplet clusters makes it well-suited to monitor coalescence processes indepen- dently from flocculation. JAOCS 75, 463-475 (1998).
A protein kinase C activity localized to neuropeptide Y–like neurons mediates ethanol intoxication in Drosophila melanogaster

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) regulates acute ethanol sensitivity and voluntary alcohol consumption in rodents. In Drosophila melanogaster, NPY-like neuropeptide F (NPF) and its receptor NPFR1 display a parallel function, suggesting that an evolutionarily conserved mechanism may underlie similar behavioral effects of ethanol in diverse organisms. We have used the fly model to uncover novel genes and molecular pathways important for acute ethanol response. Here we report a critical role of the conserved protein kinase C (PKC) pathway in mediating the intoxicating effect of ethanol. Flies expressing a pseudo-substrate inhibitor of PKC, directed by npf-gal4, displayed decreased ethanol sensitivity. Furthermore, the RNA interference analysis suggests that a calcium-independent PKC isoform (PKC98E, related to mammalian novel PKCs) is largely responsible for the behavioral phenotype. Finally, we provide evidence that the NPF/PKC-dependent mechanism selectively affects acute sensitivity but not rapid tolerance to ethanol intoxication. These findings reveal an uncharacterized role of PKC in NPY/NPF-mediated acute ethanol sensitivity in flies and possibly mammals.
Can Paleoceanographic Tracers Constrain Meridional Circulation Rates

Abstract The ability of paleoceanographic tracers to constrain rates of transport is examined using an inverse method to combine idealized observations with a geostrophic model. Considered are the spatial distribution, accuracy, and types of tracers required to constrain changes in meridional transport within an idealized single-hemisphere basin. Measurements of density and radioactive tracers each act to constrain rates of transport. Conservative tracers, while not of themselves able to inform regarding rates of transport, improve constraints when coupled with density or radioactive observations. It is found that the tracer data would require an accuracy one order of magnitude better than is presently available for paleo-observations to conclusively rule out factor-of-2 changes in meridional transport, even when assumed available over the entire model domain. When data are available only at the margins and bottom of the model, radiocarbon is unable to constrain transport while density remains effective o...
How e-WOM recommendations influence product consideration and quality of choice: A motivation to process information perspective

Abstract A laboratory experiment examines the effects of electronic word-of-mouth (e-WOM) on consumer consideration and choice of an experience product. Specifically, we manipulated the number of consumer recommendations and the optimality of the recommended product in a realistic online shopping environment. The results indicate that e-WOM is likely to result in more time considering the recommended product. For consumers more motivated to process information, e-WOM recommendations lead to more time spent on the choice task overall. Further, consumers with less motivation to process information make suboptimal decisions based on e-WOM recommendations. Consumers with a high motivation to process information are willing to accept recommendations and switch from declared attribute preferences, but choose only optimal products.
Quantifying song bout production during zebra finch sensory-motor learning suggests a sensitive period for vocal practice.

Using an event-triggered recording system, the quantity of daily song bout production was measured weekly in male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) during sensory-motor learning and at one year of age. Our aim was to ask whether the development of a stereotyped vocal pattern involves a practice-driven component. If so, we hypothesized that juvenile males learning song should sing more often than adults reciting a vocal pattern they had already learned, and that greater levels of juvenile singing should be associated with improvement in the quality of the adult song. Across the period measured (36–365 days of age), subjects showed an inverted U-shaped pattern of daily song bout production. Song bout production was lowest during subsong, with increased production associated with plastic song and song crystallization, although individual differences were large. Daily song bout production decreased in adulthood. Higher levels of song bout production during plastic song correlated with fewer sequencing errors in adult song patterns (r2=0.77). In contrast, quantity of singing during song crystallization showed no relationship to vocal stereotypy (r2=0.002). Our data suggest a sensitive period for vocal practice during zebra finch sensory-motor learning with consequences for the note-sequence fidelity of the adult vocal pattern.
Undergraduate psychiatric education and attitudes of medical students towards psychiatry

Abstract A questionnaire eliciting attitudes toward psychiatry from medical students was administered to one medical school class before and after a full-time Behavioral Sciences block in the first year of medical school and before and after the psychiatry clerkship in the third year. The data suggest that attitudes of medical students toward psychiatry can be appreciably enhanced and maintained by comprehensive quality programs in undergraduate psychiatry. The data further suggest that a Behavioral Sciences course is an untapped and unrecognized source of attitude enhancement.
FETAL HYDROCEPHALUS AND EAR ANOMALIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MATERNAL USE OF ISOTRETINOIN

A 16 year old mother took 40 mg of isotretinoin (13-cis retinoic acid) daily for cystic acne during the first 130 days of pregnancy. An enlarged fetal head necessitated Caesarian section. The live born infant showed an increased cranialfacial ratio, low set and simplified auricles and an atretic ear canal A.D.. Neurological responses were depressed with poor visual tracking and minimal pupillary constriction to light. At age 5 months there had been no developmental progress. Brain stem evoked responses were abnormal on the right and non-elicitable on the left. An intravenous pyelogram was negative. The CT findings included aqueductal stenosis and an area of cerebral tissue loss in the right occipital region. The right hemicranium was enlarged compared to the left. In rats and rabbits, isotretinoin is similar to vitamin A in producing teratogenic effects involving the ears and brain. Taken together with our observation on the outcome in this human infant, it is suggested that sexually active women under treatment for acne not be given isotretinoin unless an effective form of contraception is utilized and the potential risk to the fetus is described. Should conception ensue, the physician and patient should discuss the desirability of continuing the pregnancy.
Thank you for taking the time to listen to me: a reflection on clinical practice in the era of patient consumerism.

Thank You for Taking the Time to Listen to Me: A Reflection on Clinical Practice in the Era of Patient Consumerism
Wiring diagrams: regulatory circuits and the control of skeletal myogenesis

During the past year, targeted mutagenesis in mice has begun to clarify the roles of individual members of the MyoD family of myogenic regulators in vertebrate development. In this review, we discuss these studies both in the context of tissue interactions necessary to induce skeletal muscle precursor cells during embryogenesis and the molecular circuitry that regulates the terminal differential of these cells.
Protective effect of antiribella human immunoglobulin

Previous experience with immune serum globulin (ISG) indicated 1) that it did not prevent viremia in children with rubella infection, and 2) that it did not prevent congenital rubella. This report describes the protective effect of an experimental lot of high titer antirubella human immunoglobulin (RIG) in 33 children exposed to the Brown strain of rubella virus (RV). RIG was given to 22 of the susceptible children 24 or 96 hours after intranasal exposure to RV. Six other children received ISG. The dose of RV was either 104TCInD50 or 101TCInD50, and the dose of immunoglobulin was 0.3 ml/kg of body weight. In the group that received RIG: 1) passively acquired rubella antibody was detected transiently after inoculation in 15 children; 2) no detectable viremia was observed; 3) pharyngeal shedding of RV was decreased and 4) the rubella specific IgM response was depressed. RIG was more effective when given at 24 hours against low dose virus challenge, preventing or delaying seroconversion; it was less effective in modifying infection when given at 96 hours after high dose challenge. These data suggest that RIG may be useful for the prevention of congenital rubella.
Governmental structure, trustee selection, and public university prices and spending: Multiple means to similar ends

estimate the effects of multiple instruments for exercising political control over public university prices and spending. I find that public universities located in states with governmental structures that enhance political control and universities whose trustees are selected by nonacademic stakeholders charge significantly lower prices than universities located in states with decentralized systems
Primary productivity studies during early years of West Point Reservoir, Alabama ― Georgia

SUMMARY. 1. Phytoplankton density (organisms ml−1), standing crop (chlorophyll a mg m−2) and primary productivity (mg C m−2 d−1) were measured during years 2 (1976) to 5 (1979) after impoundment on West Point Lake. 2. West Point waters had low alkalinity (<0.4 meq 1–1) and low conductivity (<75 μs cm−1 at 20°C) but N and P concentrations typically exceeded those considered apt to cause nuisance blooms of algae. Abiogenic turbidity was normally higher in the upstream areas of the reservoir than in the downstream areas and was several times higher in winter-spring than in summer-autumn due to increased rains and runoff. 3. Primary productivity varied greatly both temporally and spatially. A mean value of 684 mg C m−2 d−1 was well within the mesotrophic range and did not approach the highly eutrophic state predicted. Productivity increased from a low of 550 mg C m−2 d−1 in 1976 to high of 763 mg Cm−2d−1 in 1979. 4. Observed variation in both chlorophyll a and primary productivity was more predictable in the cool (December-March) than in the warm (June-September) season and with plant nutrient data than without it. With plant nutrient data in the cool season 84% and 86% of the variation (R2) in chlorophyll a and productivity, respectively, were accounted for by the regression equations. During the warm season, with plant nutrient data, regression equations accounted for 44% and 68% of the variation in chlorophyll a and productivity, respectively. Higher R2 values in cool seasons resulted from the overriding influence of abiogenic turbidity on phytoplankton communities.
Characteristics of ruby passive Q switching with a Dy 2+ :CaF 2 solid-state saturable absorber

Characteristics of ruby passive Q switching with a Dy2+:CaF2 solid-state saturable absorber are investigated with output couplers of various reflectivities and saturable absorbers of different thicknesses. Numerical simulation is used to investigate the behavior of ruby passive Q switching with a Dy2+:CaF2 saturable absorber and to interpret the experimental results.
Children with autism's response to novel stimuli while participating in interventions targeting joint attention or symbolic play skills

Thirty-five children diagnosed with autism were randomly assigned to either a joint attention or a symbolic play intervention. During the 5-8 week treatment, three novel probes were administered to determine mastery of joint attention skills. The probes consisted of auditory and visual stimuli, such as a loud spider crawling or a musical ball bouncing. The current study examined affect, gaze, joint attention behaviors, and verbalizations at three different time points of intervention. Results revealed that children randomized to the joint attention group were more likely to acknowledge the probe and engage in shared interactions between intervener and probe upon termination of intervention. Additionally, the joint attention group improved in the proportion of time spent sharing coordinated joint looks between intervener and probe. These results suggest that generalization of joint attention skills to a novel probe did occur for the group targeting joint attention and provides further evidence of the effectiveness of the joint attention intervention.
Genetic analysis of group composition and breeding system in a wild common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) population

We established pedigree relations in three wild common marmoset social groups for which observational data were available, together with genotypes of some individuals from neighboring groups. Relatedness of 40 individuals were based on 11 microsatellite loci amplified from nDNA obtained noninvasively from plucked hair. The wild marmosets were only half as variable as a captive population characterized previously: 2–6 alleles/locus; HO = 0.41 and HE = 0.35. Parentage exclusion probabilities were 61.8% for an offspring and one alleged parent and 90.7% for an offspring with one confirmed and one alleged parent. Each group (n = 5–14 individuals) had two breeding females and ≥2 adult males. Within each group the infants and reproductively inactive adults were closely related to at least the breeding females; the latter were related to each other as closely as mother/infant pairs or sisters. Relatedness of adult males was lower, indicating recent intergroup dispersal. Genetic data confirm Callithrix jacchus live in relatively stable extended family groups of closely related individuals. Matings occurred preferentially among the least related adults and most infants were fathered by the dominant male. The genetic data are consistent with polygynmonandry as are the field observations. Callithrix have variable mating systems, ranging from monogamy to polyandry to polygyny within social groups plus extragroup copulations; our data provide no evidence for polyandry and are inconclusive with respect to extragroup paternity. Nevertheless, noninvasive multilocus genotyping methods will resolve these questions when longer-term studies of entire populations are undertaken.
SOME OBSERVATIONS ON CARDIAC AUTOMATISM IN CERTAIN ANIMALS

Certain aspects of the acetylcholine hypothesis of cardiac automaticity have been tested in vitro with spontaneously beating cardiac tissue from rabbits, rats, dams, and hagfish. The beat of atria from rabbits and rats may be depressed or excited by acetylcholine, depending upon the state of the tissue. Proguanil and cocaine inhibition of the beat in the rat may be antagonized by acetylcholine so that reversal of the depression occurs. The action of acetylcholine on the hearts of clams was found to be strictly inhibitory. Proguanil and cocaine, in contrast to their action on mammalian atria, exert a stimulatory effect on the heart of the molluscs studied. In fact, cocaine stimulated these hearts when they were inhibited by acetylcholine. Studies on the non-innervated hagfish heart revealed that this tissue is completely insensitive to the action of acetylcholine. Extracts prepared from beating hearts of this species will accelerate hypodynamic hearts of the hagfish as well as of the mussel. An extract of the neurogenic lobster heart was without effect on the hagfish heart. Proguanil was likewise ineffective in concentrations which produced inhibition and excitation in rat and clam hearts respectively. It was concluded that acetylcholine does not play a role in the myogenic automatism of all species, and that another mechanism is responsible is suggested on the basis of results obtained in the hagfish hearts.
A probabilistic framework for quantification of aftershock ground-motion hazard in California: Methodology and parametric study

This paper presents a proposed method of aftershock probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (APSHA) similar to conventional ‘mainshock’ PSHA in that it estimates the likelihoods of ground motion intensity (in terms of peak ground accelerations, spectral accelerations or other ground motion intensity measures) due to aftershocks following a mainshock occurrence. This proposed methodology differs from the conventional mainshock PSHA in that mainshock occurrence rates remain constant for a conventional (homogeneous Poisson) earthquake occurrence model, whereas aftershock occurrence rates decrease with increased elapsed time from the initial occurrence of the mainshock. In addition, the aftershock ground motion hazard at a site depends on the magnitude and location of the causative mainshock, and the location of aftershocks is limited to an aftershock zone, which is also dependent on the location and magnitude of the initial mainshock. APSHA is useful for post-earthquake safety evaluation where there is a need to quantify the rates of occurrence of ground motions caused by aftershocks following the initial rupture. This knowledge will permit, for example, more informed decisions to be made for building tagging and entry of damaged buildings for rescue, repair or normal occupancy. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Width of High Signal and Extension Posterior to Biceps Tendon as Signs of Superior Labrum Anterior to Posterior Tears on MRI and MR Arthrography

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of our study was to determine the accuracy of two signs for superior labrum anterior to posterior (SLAP) tears: increased width of high signal between the superior labrum and glenoid, and high signal posterior to the biceps tendon.MATERIALS AND METHODS. Forty-one patients with SLAP tears and 40 patients without a tear at surgery who had undergone MRI or MR arthrography were retrospectively evaluated. The MR studies were combined and interpreted in a blinded manner. The reviewers measured the width of high signal that extended to the articular surface on oblique coronal images and determined whether the high signal extended posterior to the biceps. A Student's t test was used to determine statistical significance between the means of the signal width.RESULTS. High-signal width was greater in patients with a SLAP tear than in the control group on both MRI and MR arthrography (both p = 0.003). The sensitivity and specificity of at least 2.0 mm on MRI are 39% (11/28) and 89% (24/27) and...
Teaching communication and compassionate care skills: An innovative curriculum for pre-clerkship medical students

Background: Physicians require communications training to improve effective and compassionate care. Clinicians discuss challenging communication issues in existing hospital “Schwartz Rounds.”Aims: To improve communication skills, the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University designed “Schwartz Communication Sessions” for the mandatory 2-year pre-clerkship Doctoring course. Alongside learning interviewing, physical examination, and professionalism skills, the new Schwartz curriculum provides medical students with the rationale and proficiency for effective communication with patients, families and the healthcare team.Methods: First-year students experience a graduated curriculum of three sessions on themes such as empathy and professionalism using innovative methods. Sessions highlight cases and videos depicting successful and ineffective interactions, large and small group discussions, role play and skills practice, guest patient presentations, and multi-disciplinary panels. The second-year student...
Who Captures the Value Created with Human Capital? A Market-Based View

When firms create value with employees’ human capital, who captures this value—employees or their employing firms? This paper explains that the answer to this question depends both on the type of human capital deployed and characteristics of the labor market from which the firm hired the employees. When labor markets are highly competitive, individuals will capture more of the value their general human capital and discretionary firm-specific human capital creates, and firms and individuals will share the value created by required firm-specific and co-specialized human capital. When labor markets are less competitive, who captures the value created with a particular type of human capital depends on the reasons why the labor market is less competitive and each party’s bargaining power and negotiation skill. The paper closes with the implications of the theory developed in this paper for human resources, organizational behavior, and strategic management scholarship and practice.
Paraguay: A Semi-Authoritarian Regime?:

Despite the oft-touted “transitions to democracy” paradigm, in much of the world, hybrid regimes that are better-termed “semi-authoritarian” proliferate, displaying the trappings of democracy, such as elections, but not the substance of democracy. This article, utilizing the Paraguayan case, generalizes to the broader theoretical examination of these newer forms of nondemocracy, providing a counterpoint to some of the transitions literature.
Posterior plagiocephaly: craniosynostosis or skull molding?

The surgical indication in posterior plagiocephaly has been and still is a subject of discussion. Unlike other types of craniosynostosis, this particular type of cranial deformity does not show the typical radiological findings that are encountered in cases of prematurely fused cranial sutures. Furthermore, in most cases even the inspective evaluation during the surgical operation fails to demonstrate the actual fusion of the lambdoid suture. The mild clinical manifestations of the condition and the observation that physical maneuvers, such as, forexample, wearing constrictive helmets, may suffice to correct the malformation add further uncertainties to surgical correction. In recent years, there has been an apparent increase in the incidence of posterior plagiocephaly following changes in the sleeping habits of infants as a result of the recommendation of the American Task Force on Infant Position and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, which has favored a supine position. The phenomenon has prompted a series of reports aimed at differentiating posterior plagiocephaly resulting from a true early fusion of the lambdoid suture, which requires early surgical correction, from a deformational modification of the calvarium caused by prolonged and excessive pressure exerted on the posterior aspect of the skull in early infancy, which may not need surgical treatment. Unfortunately, in spite of great interest in the problem, the differential diagnosis between the two conditions remains obscure. In clinical practice, the surgical indication appears still to be based mainly on the evidence of a rapidly worsening cranial deformation rather than on sound objective criteria.
Estimates on enstrophy, palinstrophy, and invariant measures for 2-D turbulence ✩

We construct semi-integral curves which bound the projection of the global attractor of the 2-D Navier–Stokes equations in the plane spanned by enstrophy and palinstrophy. Of particular interest are certain regions of the plane where palinstrophy dominates enstrophy. Previous work shows that if solutions on the global attractor spend a significant amount of time in such a region, then there is a cascade of enstrophy to smaller length scales, one of the main features of 2-D turbulence theory. The semi-integral curves divide the plane into regions having limited ranges for the direction of the flow. This allows us to estimate the average time it would take for an intermittent solution to burst into a region of large palinstrophy. We also derive a sharp, universal upper bound on the average palinstrophy and show that it is achieved only for forces that admit statistical steady states where the nonlinear term is zero.
Hitting a Tiny Target in the Dark

The success of sexual reproduction in mammals depends on segregation of the male sex chromosomes, X and Y, during the cell division process that produces gametes (meiosis). This requires that in male germ cells, the X and Y chromosomes reliably pair and exchange genetic material ( 1 ). This process, known as recombination or crossing-over, serves to physically interlock homologous chromosomes and ensure their proper segregation during the first meiotic cell division. Failure of X-Y recombination has dire consequences—either germ cell death or X-Y missegregation ( 1 , 2 ). On page 916 ( 3 ) of this issue, Kauppi et al. identify multiple mechanisms that ensure efficient X-Y pairing and recombination during meiosis in the mouse. The processes that underlie these recombination events are distinct from those governing crossing-over on the other non–sex-determining chromosomes (autosomes) and play important roles in integrating the Y chromosome into a successful meiotic program.
Lamivudine for the treatment of hepatitis B virus-related liver disease after renal transplantation: Meta-analysis of clinical trials

Background. Numerous reports have appeared on lamivudine use for the treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection after renal transplantation (RT). However, the efficacy and safety of lamivudine after RT remain unclear. Methods. The authors evaluated the efficacy and safety of initial lamivudine monotherapy in RT recipients with hepatitis B by performing a systematic review of the literature with a meta-analysis of clinical trials. The primary outcomes were hepatitis B (HB) e antigen (Ag) and HBV-DNA clearance (as measures of efficacy); the secondary outcomes were biochemical response (as measures of efficacy), dropout rate, and lamivudine resistance (as measures of tolerability). The authors used the random effects model of DerSimonian and Laird, and outcomes were analyzed on an intent-to-treat basis. Results. The authors identified 14 clinical trials (184 patients); all of these were prospective cohort studies. The mean overall estimate for HBV-DNA and HBeAg clearance, alanine aminotransferase normalization, and lamivudine resistance was 91% (95% confidence interval [CI], 86%–96%), 27% (95% CI, 16%–39%), 81% (95% CI, 70%–92%), and 18% (95% CI, 10%–37%), respectively. HBeAg seroconversion rate was assessed in four (28%) trials and ranged between 0% and 46%. The P value was greater than 0.05 for our test of study homogeneity. There was no association between rate of patients who were male patients or had cirrhosis, race, age, lamivudine dose, and HBV-DNA or HBeAg clearance. Increased duration of lamivudine therapy was positively associated with frequency of HBeAg loss (r0.51, P0.039) and lamivudine resistance (r0.620, P0.019). Only 2 (14%) of 14 studies reported a dropout rate greater than 0%. Conclusions. Our meta-analysis showed that the majority of RT recipients with hepatitis B had high virologic and biochemical response with lamivudine. Tolerance to lamivudine was good. However, lamivudine resistance was frequent with prolonged therapy, potentially limiting its long-term efficacy after RT.
Passive French Drain

Major environmental concerns of the low-level radioactive waste management operations at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) are that the groundwater in this location is near the soil surface and that there is a possibility of water infiltrating the disposal trenches at old solid waste storage areas (SWSA's). In the current SWSA (SWSA 6), a group of trenches (49-Trench area) collect and hold water with seasonal fluctuations ranging from 1 to 2 m. This seasonal wetting of the buried waste has resulted in the movement of 9OSr to a surface stream within the disposal area. To reduce infiltration and prevent waste leaching, the entire 0.44-ha 49-Trench area was sealed with a bentonite clay cover in October 1976. Subsequent monitoring indicated that the cover had not corrected the trench water problem, which suggested a faulty seal, an alternate recharge source, or both.
Overwintering, Oviposition, and Larval Survival of Hunting Billbugs (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Implications for Adult Damage in North Carolina Turfgrass.

The hunting billbug, Sphenophorus venatus vestitus Chittenden, is one of the most widely recognized billbug turfgrass pests. Since 2000, damage to warm-season turfgrass caused by hunting bill bugs has increased and a need for information on hunting billbug biology is necessary for the development of management plans. Field and laboratory studies were conducted to collect data on overwintering, oviposition behavior, larval survival at various levels of soil moisture, and adult damage. Turfgrass samples from ‘Tifway 419’ bermudagrass(Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers x Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt Davy) on golf courses were collected to determine overwintering behavior, and 10 female adult billbugs were collected weekly to determine oviposition behavior.Survival of medium-sized larvae (head capsule width: 1.0 and 1.7 mm) was evaluated in containers with 20, 40,60, or 80% of the total pore space occupied by water. Zero, two, four, or six adult billbugs were placed in bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, or tall fescue containers and images were collected for 4 weeks to determine adult damage. We observed that hunting billbugs overwinter as adults and all larval sizes. Adults became active in March and began to oviposit, which continued through October. Larval mortality was lowest with 20% of the total pores pace occupied by water, while increases in moisture caused significant mortality. Adults caused a greater reduction in warm-season turfgrass cover than cool-season turfgrass cover. This research builds on the existing biological information for the hunting billbug biology in transition zones and will be pivotal in developing practical and sustainable management plans.
Hydrogen Chloride and Ammonia Permeation Resistance of Tetrafluoroethylene−Perfluoroalkoxy Copolymers

Hydrogen chloride and ammonia permeation resistance were measured through two grades of tetrafluoroethylene−perfluoroalkoxy copolymers using standard manometric procedures. Hydrogen chloride showed a lower permeation coefficient than ammonia due to the combined effect of different molecular size and interaction with perfluoroalkoxy (PFA). The permeability coefficients of these two gases were comparable to those of oxygen and nitrogen. The two grades of PFA differed only in molecular weight or chain length. The molecular weight had little affect on permeation when the samples were cooled slowly. Slowly cooled samples always showed better permeation resistance than those cooled quickly. The influence of sample preparation was quite pronounced, demonstrating that process can be as important as polymer grade in determining the ultimate permeation resistance of various PFA grades.
Deepening Learning in High School Computer Science through Practices in the NGSS (Abstract Only)

High school computer science teaching can be informed by how science and engineering practices are defined in K-12 curriculum standards. In the United States, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are seen as broadly stated and widely accepted statements of what children should know about science and engineering to be literate citizens and to prepare for careers in STEM. While the NGSS do not identify practices for computer science, our experience is that the broadly defined engineering practices can serve as an appropriate framework for thinking about computational work. Our interpretation differs from efforts that use computation to teach science or mathematics, instead we apply NGSS approaches to teach computer science. We anticipate that K-12 teachers who are working with these standards as well as with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) will find, as we have, a crossover from the emphasis in these standards on inquiry, argumentation, and overall deeper learning to the pedagogical orientation of curricula such as the high school introductory course Exploring Computer Science (ECS). This poster will show how a portion of the NGSS, carried over from the precursor Science and Engineering Framework and called the "Condensed Practices" can be used with activities in ECS to deepen student learning and help teacher adoption. Handouts are available showing (1) knowledge, skills, and abilities for computational thinking, (2) curriculum guidance for teachers wishing to use the NGSS to inform ECS teaching and (3) suggestions for professional development in NGSS for computational thinking for all K-12 teachers.
Early language mediates the relations between preschool inattention and school-age reading achievement.

Objective Early inattention is associated with later reading problems in children, but the mechanism by which this occurs is unclear. We investigated whether the negative relation between preschoolers' ADHD symptoms and 8-year-old reading achievement is directly related to the severity of inattention or is mediated by early language skills. Method Children (n = 150; 76% boys) were evaluated at 3 time points: preschool (T1), mean (SD) age = 4.24 (.49) years; 1 year later (T2), mean (SD) age = 5.28 (.50) years; and during school age (T3), mean (SD) age = 8.61 (.31) years. At T1, parents' Kiddie-SADS responses were dimensionalized to reflect ADHD severity. Children completed the Language domain of the NEPSY (i.e., A Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment) at T1 and again at T2. At T3, children completed the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, Second Edition Word Reading, Pseudoword Decoding, Reading Comprehension, and Spelling subtests, and their teachers completed ratings of Reading and Written Expression performance in school. The mediating effect of T2 Language on the relation between preschool Inattention and age 8 Reading was examined using the nonparametric bootstrapping procedure, while controlling for T1 Language. Results Language ability at T2 mediated the path from preschool inattention (but not hyperactivity/impulsivity) to 8-year-old reading achievement (both test scores and ratings) after controlling for preschoolers' language ability. Conclusions Early attentional deficits may negatively impact school-age reading outcomes by compromising the development of language skills, which in turn imperils later reading achievement. Screening children with attentional problems for language impairment, as well as implementing early intervention for both attentional and language problems may be critical to promote reading achievement during school years. (PsycINFO Database Record
Simultaneous maxillary and nasal reconstruction

Summary This study measures the changes in nasal morphology which accompany simultaneous rhinoplastic and orthognathic reconstruction. The sample includes 25 patients treated over a four-year period, using either facial degloving access or more limited nasal skeletonization in combination with oral incisions. Midfacial and maxillary procedures were performed, as were mandibular osteotomies, intercurrent to both nasal reduction and augmentation. Radiographic, photographic, and clinical assessment selected for skeletal stability and nasal airflow, followed by nasal dorsum, nasal tip, alar and columellar bases, and labial modifications. The relationships of skeletal to soft tissue movements thus obtained are discussed by way of establishing norms, comparing the two approaches, and integrating recent innovations of both rhinoplastic and orthognathic surgery to this abbreviated mode of anatomic and functional reconstruction.
A Novel Emergency Department-based Community Notification Method for Clinical Research Without Consent

Objective We used an emergency department (ED)-based method to provide targeted, individualized consultation; community notification; and public disclosure and collect data regarding willingness to participate in prospective resuscitation research requiring waiver of consent. Methods We conducted a prospective survey of convenience cohort in an urban ED. We targeted the community of ED patients with pulmonary disease for individualized notification and public disclosure using a 1) large poster, 2) scripted oral presentation describing an emergency intubation clinical trial, and 3) video demonstration. Results Approximately 10% of our annual ED census, 6,936 subjects, enrolled. Of that total, 29 were also subjects in a prospective coincident endotracheal resuscitation intubation study, which enrolled a total of 262 subjects. ED community notification was provided to 22 of the 29 (75.9%) subjects prior to the visit during which they were intubated (13 agreed to participate, six declined, and three undecided) and seven of the 29 subjects subsequent to enrollment in the intubation study (five agreed to participate and two undecided). Fourteen of the 29 patients who participated in both projects had undergone endotracheal intubation at least once prior to community notification: 10 agreed to participate in the study, two declined, and two were undecided. Conclusions Emergency department–based community notification and public disclosure is a viable way to provide information to a target population and collect data about the success of the notification. Feedback data collection is critical to an ethical understanding of the success of community notification for the institutional review board and investigators. Collection of feedback data should be required as a subject protection for exception from informed consent in emergency settings.
Genome-wide excision repair in Arabidopsis is coupled to transcription and reflects circadian gene expression patterns

Plants are exposed to numerous DNA-damaging stresses including the exposure to ultraviolet (UV) component of solar radiation. They employ nucleotide excision repair to remove DNA-bulky adducts and to help eliminate UV-induced DNA lesions, so as to maintain their genome integrity and their fitness. Here, we generated genome-wide single-nucleotide resolution excision repair maps of UV-induced DNA damage in Arabidopsis at different circadian time points. Our data show that the repair of UV lesions for a large fraction of the genome is controlled by the joint actions of the circadian clock and transcription by RNA polymerase II. Our findings reveal very strong repair preference for the transcribed strands of active genes in Arabidopsis, and 10-30% of the transcription-coupled repair is circadian time-dependent. This dynamic range in nucleotide excision repair levels throughout the day enables Arabidopsis to cope with the bulky DNA lesion-inducing environmental factors including UV.
Partial Portal Decompression: Initial Clinical Experience with Small-Stoma Portacaval Shunt

To test the hypothesis that partial portal decompression to treat variceal hemorrhage will diminish subsequent encephalopathy, 50 consecutive patients were studied following small-stoma (10–12 mm) side-to-side portacaval shunt (PCS). During follow-up averaging 26 months, 6 patients (12%) died. Four patients (8%) re-bled, only 1 from varices. All patients (100%) had patent shunts at subsequent angiography and/or ultrasonography. Despite consistent (100%) post-shunt reversal or stagnation of portal flow on duplex scan, encephalopathy on clinical and psychometric grounds was observed in only 3 patients (6%).
The influences of thickness, dye constitution and concentration on the optical properties of dichroic LCDs

ABSTRACT Investigations has been done on the optical properties of dichroic liquid crystal displays variing the chemical constitution of the dyes and both the thickness of the layer and the concentration. Colour measurements were taken to reveal the nature of changes in colour. To complete the examinations UV tests were used to check the stability of the various dyes. Investigations has been done on the optical properties of dichroic liquid crystal displays variing the chemical constitution of the dyes and both the thickness of the layer and the concentration.