cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is vaginal delivery preferable to elective cesarean delivery in fetuses with a known ventral wall defect

Abstract Objective: We sought to test the hypothesis that vaginal delivery compared with elective cesarean delivery results in improved neonatal outcome in fetuses with a known isolated ventral wall defect. Study Design: We performed a retrospective chart review. Results: Between 1989 and 1999, we identified 102 infants with a confirmed antenatal diagnosis of an isolated ventral wall defect with either the diagnosis of an omphalocele or gastroschisis. Sixty-six infants were delivered by cesarean and 36 were delivered vaginally. There were no significant demographic differences between the study groups or between the two sites except that one center (Cincinnati) usually delivered these fetuses by cesarean whereas the other (Louisville) usually delivered such fetuses vaginally. Overall, there were a greater number of infants with gastroschisis than omphalocele (gastroschisis, n=71; omphalocele, n=31). After we controlled for primary versus staged closure of ventral wall defect and gestational age at delivery; the medians and interquartile ranges for cesarean and vaginal delivery were 39 (25, 63) days versus 42 (26, 75) days, respectively ( P =.32), for neonatal length of stay and 13 (9, 18) days versus 13 (9, 26) days, respectively ( P =.16), for days to enteral feeding. After we controlled for the size of the defect and the amount of bowel resected, the odds of primary closure given a vaginal delivery was about half that given a cesarean delivery (odds ratio, 0.56; 95% confidence interval, 0.18-1.69), but this was not statistically significant. There was no statistically significant difference in the rates of neonatal death (2 [3%] vs 2 [6%]; P =.61) and neonatal sepsis (2 [3%] vs 4 [11%]; P =.18) for cesarean versus vaginal delivery. Maternal length of stay after delivery was found to be 1 day less after vaginal delivery [vaginal, 2 (2, 2) days; cesarean, 3 (2, 3) days; P =.0001]. There were 5 instances of maternal complications, and all 5 pregnancies were delivered by cesarean ( P =.16). Conclusion: Fetuses with an antenatal diagnosis of an isolated ventral wall defect may safely be delivered vaginally, and cesarean delivery should be performed for obstetric indications only. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;182:1527-34.)
Free amino acids in Phycomyces blakesleeanus during development

Abstract In Phycomyces blakesleeanus the total level of free amino acids and their relative distributions change strikingly during the development of sporangiophores. Very high levels of serine, glutamate and histidine are found. The variety of amino acids becomes more restricted in sporangiophores grown on nitrogen-rich media; levels of arginine increase dramatically. The distribution differs in mycelia. No unusual amino acids or oligopeptides were found.
Identification of sibling species within the “Sarsia tubulosa complex” at Friday Harbor, Washington (Hydrozoa: Anthomedusae)

Abstract The anthomedusa Sarsia tubulosa has long been considered a “variable” species at the Friday Harbor Laboratories and elsewhere. A series of morphological and behavioral observations, coupled with an extensive program of hybridization testing, has revealed the existence of at least three species of large Sarsia at Friday Harbor: Sarsia tubulosa (M. Sars, 1835), Sarsia princeps (Haeckel, 1879), and an undescribed species. Sarsia tubulosa and the undescribed species make up the bulk of the population. S. princeps is rare. The common species hybridize at such a low level in the laboratory that hybrids in nature are probably rare. Potential isolating mechanisms consist of a one-hour time difference in spawning (in the laboratory) and a partial species specificity of sperm chemotaxis. Since manipulation of the spawning time does not affect the level of hybridization and the species specificity of sperm chemotaxis is incomplete, some other mechanism of reproductive isolation is probably operating to maintain species separation in nature. The hybridization experiments do reveal a relationship between the level of species specificity of sperm attraction and the amount of hybridization, suggesting that sperm chemotaxis plays a role in fertilization in these animals.
Applications of chaotic neurodynamics in pattern recognition

Network algorithms and architectures for pattern recognition derived from neural models of the olfactory system are reviewed. These span a range from highly abstract to physiologically detailed, and employ the kind of dynamical complexity observed in olfactory cortex, ranging from oscillation to chaos. A simple architecture and algorithm for analytically guaranteed associative memory storage of analog patterns, continuous sequences, and chaotic attractors in the same network is described. A matrix inversion determines network weights, given prototype patterns to be stored. There are N units of capacity in an N node network with 3N2 weights. It costs one unit per static attractor, two per Fourier component of each sequence, and three to four per chaotic attractor. There are no spurious attractors, and for sequences there is a Liapunov function in a special coordinate system which governs the approach of transient states to stored trajectories. Unsupervised or supervised incremental learning algorithms for pattern classification, such as competitive learning or bootstrap Widrow-Hoff can easily be implemented. The architecture can be ''folded'' into a recurrent network with higher order weights that can be used as a model of cortex that stores oscillatory and chaotic attractors by a Hebb rule. Network performance is demonstrated by application to the problem of real-time handwritten digit recognition. An effective system with on-line learning has been written by Eeckman and Baird for the Macintosh. It utilizes static, oscillatory, and/or chaotic attractors of two kinds--Lorenze attractors, or attractors resulting from chaotically interacting oscillatory modes. The successful application to an industrial pattern recognition problem of a network architecture of considerable physiological and dynamical complexity, developed by Freeman and Yao, is described. The data sets of the problem come in three classes of difficulty, and performance of the biological network is favorably compared with that of several other network and statistical pattern recognition methods.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Wild galliform and gruiform birds (Aves, Galliformes and Gruiformes) in the archaeological record of Bulgaria

A total of 453 bones (294 of galliform and 159 of gruiform birds) from 28 archaeological sites are considered here, 34 per cent of the total ornithoarchaeological wild bird finds collected in Bulgaria so far. They cover a period from the Early Neolithic to the Middle Ages. Eleven species (six galliform and five gruiform), 87.5 and 45.5 per cent, respectively, of the Holocene avifauna of both orders, have been identified. One species, Tetrao tetrix, has totally disappeared and three others, Grus grus, Otis tarda and O. tetrax, now breed beyond the borders of Bulgaria and the Balkans. Some of the sites of the large gamefowl species indicate their wider distribution in the past. Phasianus colchicus is present as early as the Eneolithic period. The wild galliform and gruiform species were important as a source of meat for the local population up to the Middle Ages, in spite of widespread breeding of domestic poultry. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Management of Subclavian Arterial Injuries following Inadvertent Arterial Puncture during Central Venous Catheter Placement

Subclavian artery injuries after central venous catheter placement constitute a rare but potentially fatal complication. In this case series, the authors describe several endovascular treatment options in the management of iatrogenic subclavian arterial injuries resulting from inadvertent arterial placement of central catheters.
Perception speed and behavior: a theoretical note.

In feedback control systems, delay of the feedback information can produce oscillations or other distortions of system output. Previously unrelated work by others, when viewed as aspects of a single functional process, point co the potential effect of temporal factors in sensory processes on aspects of behavior. The three areas of research to be related are as follows: 1. Human behavior is disrupted if conditions external to S produce a delay in sensory feedback. The experimental techniques involved electromechanical delay of visual, auditory or tactile feedback (Chase, Sumon, & Rapin, 1961). The disrupted behaviors grossly simulate stuttering or neuropachological disability. 2. Physiological mechanisms, related to the functioning of the reticular activating system, can vary the latency of afferent transmission. Thus, a mechanism for variable internal sensory delay exists (Magoun, 1958). 3. Psychophysical measurement shows that perception speeds can differ in differenc sensory modalities. These differences reflect stable individual difference and also vary with direction of attention (Angel1 & Pierce, 1892; Stone, 1926). The present authors hypothesize that physiological changes in latency of either afferent transmission or perceptual registration may produce changes in behavior similar to thac induced by externally delayed feedback. Psychophysical measures of relative perception speed reflect the changes in lacency and, thus, these measures of perception speed might be profitably employed in attempts to explain some of the normal individual differences in motor skills and aspects of parkinsonian disability. Normal behavior.-The speed of perception normally differs in differenc sensory modalities. These intermodal differences in perception speed vary among individuals. For individuals showing unusually long perceptual delays in given modalities, one would expect to find corresponding relative slowness or inefficiency of those behaviors which depend on the specific modalities for feedback control. For example, Ss with below average speed in auditory and kinesthetic perception should show slowness in speech; Ss slow in visual and kinesthetic perception should be poor in visual-motor coordination tasks, and Ss slow only in kinesthesis should be slow specifically in making simple arm movements. These deductions, never tested, follow directly from the facts concerning externally delayed feedback and from the data concerning normal individual differences in perception speed.
Fixed Exchange Rates and Disinflation in Emerging Markets: How Large Is the Effect?

We examine developing countries which have institutional quality ratings for the effects of exchange rate rigidity on inflation. The level of institutional development exerts no effect on the impact of currency regimes. However, the interaction of institutional quality and exchange rates has, in the most plausible specifications, a negative impact on inflation. This suggests that fixed exchange rates exert at most a contingent effect on inflation, and indicates that countries in Eastern Europe and Latin America contemplating currency pegs would be better off improving institutional quality prior to adopting the euro or dollar and expecting a large subsequent disinflationary effect.
Photonic Devices Using Colloidal Quantum Dot Composites

We report We report the development of waveguides and microresonators using colloidal CdSe quantum dot composites. Results of steady state and time resolved photoluminescence performed on the dots in various hosts are also presented.
Probing catalytic reactions at surfaces

A review of the major contributions from modern surface science to the understanding of the chemistry of heterogeneous catalysis is provided. A number of basic concepts, including the nature of surface bonds, the dynamics of surface reactions, and the identification of the intermediates and elemental steps that comprise the catalytic processes, are surveyed. The localized nature of the surface chemical bond, the drastic changes that varying surface coverages introduce on surface energetics and kinetics, and the key role that subtle energy barrier differences among competing reactions play in defining the overall selectivity of catalytic processes are particularly noted. A discussion on the implications of these microscopic concepts to catalysis is then provided. A critical analysis of the limitations encountered when extrapolating results from well-defined model systems to more realistic reaction conditions using supported catalysts and on the ways those problems have been addressed is also presented. A more comprehensive summary of the knowledge acquired to date on the surface chemistry of hydrocarbon conversion reactions on transition metals is provided. Finally, some ideas on the future directions of surface science in connection with catalysis are advanced.
Ancillary effects of simulation

Simulation can often be one of the first modeling tools implemented at a manufacturing site. When this occurs, much effort must be used to get current manufacturing data into the simulation model. The amount of time and data needed to get the simulation running to an acceptable validation level and to maintain that validation level over time, should lead to an effort to automate the loading of factory data into simulation. If this automation effort is efficient and comprehensive, it can become the cornerstone of a system that benefits manufacturing from more than just simulation analysis. The other benefits range from the development of a simple times theoretical analysis of the line to the complex development of an infinite capacity planning system. This paper will discuss a real world example of the extra benefits received from implementing simulation at a semiconductor manufacturing plant.
By-product recovery and valorisation in the kraft industry: A review of current trends in the recovery and use of turpentine and tall oil derivatives

Abstract Recent trends in the field of turpentine and tall oil recovery and valorisation in the kraft industry are reviewed. References from 1972 onwards are included. Review articles are cited for those interested in older references.
Two-dimensional condensation anisotropic crystallization: H2/Ni(110)

Abstract The effects of hydrogen adsorption and desorption on the structure and morphology of Ni(1 1 0) have been investigated with STM over a wide range of temperatures and pressures. The adsorption of hydrogen at moderate coverage results in the formation of –Ni–H– strings and missing rows of Ni atoms oriented along the [1 1 0], in agreement with previous work. At low hydrogen coverage only missing rows of Ni atoms are observed; no added rows are seen, suggestive of unresolved, mobile Ni x –H y , precursors to the –Ni–H– chains. The appearance and accumulation of the added –Ni–H strings is concomitant with the sharp, nearly vertical rise in work function reported by others, suggesting that the formation of the added row, Ni–H overlayer is due to the two-dimensional condensation of isolated –Ni–H– moieties at a critical pressure dictated by the surface temperature. During H 2 (g) desorption, the Ni liberated from the Ni–H overlayer fills the Ni missing rows, migrates along the [1 1 0] to [0 0 1] steps or agglomerates into anisotropic islands of monoatomic step height (i.e. anisotropic 2D crystallization). The islands coalesce in time to yield isotropic structures which serve as sources of Ni for further Ni–H adsorption.
Reliability of calculating the cepstral peak without linear regression analysis

Measures of cepstral peak prominence, using the smoothing algorithm and linear regression analysis software developed by Hillenbrand, have been shown to be reliable predictors of dysphonia in voice samples.(1-4) Recently, the Computerized Speech Laboratory [(CSL) Kay Elemetrics, Pinebrook, New Jersey] has introduced cepstral analysis as a component of that software package. The cepstral peak, in this instance, is calculated by the voice clinician analyzing the phonatory sample by subtracting the value of the peak from the apparent baseline signal. This study compares the ability of cepstral peak values calculated from the CSL software to predict dysphonia reliably with that of the values produced by the smoothing algorithm and linear regression analysis of Hillenbrand. The results of this study show that linear regression analysis is an important step in calculating the cepstral peak prominence, thus limiting the usefulness of software programs that do not employ this step.
Detecting Earthquakes around Salton Sea Following the 2010 Mw7.2 El Mayor-Cucapah Earthquake Using GPU Parallel Computing

Abstract The recently developed matched filter technique is effective in detecting earthquakes during intensive aftershock or swarm sequences. However, currently our detection code can only process on single-CPU computers, which takes a long time to perform the cross-correlation between continuous seismic data and template events. In this paper, we present a GPU-based computation method to significantly accelerate the detection algorithm. By dividing the procedure into several routines and processing them in parallel, we achieve ∼40 times speedup for one Nvidia GPU card compared to sequential CPU code. We apply the paralleled code to search around the Salton Sea geothermal field for missing earthquakes in a 90-day time window around the occurrence time of the 2010 M w7.2 El Mayor-Cucapah earthquake. We obtain ∼70 times more earthquakes than listed in the official Southern California Seismic Network catalog. These newly detected events could be used to help to better understand how earthquakes are triggered in the immediate vicinity of a mainshock rupture.
Analysis of urinary calculi using an infrared microspectroscopic surface reflectance imaging technique

This investigation highlights the use of infrared microspectroscopy for the morphological analysis of urinary stones. The research presented here has utilized the reflectance mode of an infrared microscope for use in creating chemically specific maps of cross-sectioned renal calculi surfaces, precisely showing the placement of renal stone components in a calculus sample. The method has been applied to renal stones of both single and multiple components consisting primarily of hydroxyapatite, calcium oxalate monohydrate and calcium oxalate dihydrate. Factors discussed include the photometric accuracy of the spectra obtained, a comparison of the surface reflectance method with existing methods such as diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and attenuated total internal reflection (ATR) analysis, and the influence of specular reflectance between polished and unpolished sample spectra. Full spectral maps of cross-sectioned renal stones provided positive localization of components using qualitatively accurate spectra similar in appearance to DRIFTS spectra. Unlike ATR and DRIFTS spectra, surface reflectance spectra lack photometric accuracy and are therefore not quantifiable; at present, however, spectra are suitable for qualitative analysis. It was found that specular reflectance increases minimally with a highly polished stone cross-section surface, though qualitative data is not affected. Surface reflectance imaging of sections of renal stones is useful for determining the identity of stone components while simultaneously providing precise locations of mineral components within the stone using presently available instruments.
Pharmacotherapy of Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are complex, chronic disorders that are difficult to treat. In addition, the 2 primary eating disorders, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, may have acute, life-threatening consequences. Medication trials for eating disorders have been hampered by high dropout rates, high placebo response, short trial duration, insufficient doses, and difficult outcome measures. Only 1 medication has been FDA approved for any eating disorder to date, and that is for fluoxetine in the treatment of bulimia. Clearly, new large-scale, independent studies using novel agents, and studying the use of medications for both short- and long-term outcomes, are needed.
Modeling mixed-mode dynamic crack propagation nsing finite elements: Theory and applications

Previous work in modeling dynamic fracture has assumed the crack will propagate along predefined mesh lines (usually a straight line). In this paper we present a finite element model of mixed-mode dynamic crack propagation in which this constraint is removed. Applying linear elasto-dynamic fracture mechanics concepts, discrete cracks are allowed to propagate through the mesh in arbitrary directions. The fracture criteria used for propagation and the algorithms used for remeshing are described in detail. Important features of the implementation are the use of triangular elements with quadratic shape functions, explicit time integration, and interactive computer graphics. These combine to make the approach robust and applicable to a broad range of problems. Example analyses of straight and curving crack problems are presented. Verification problems include a stationary crack under dynamic loading and a propagating crack in an infinite body. Comparisons with experimental data are made for curving propagation in a cracked plate under biaxial loading.
ATP-Dependent Roles of the DEAD-Box Protein Mss116p in Group II Intron Splicing In Vitro and In Vivo

The yeast DEAD-box protein Mss116p functions as a general RNA chaperone in splicing mitochondrial group I and group II introns. For most of its functions, Mss116p is thought to use ATP-dependent RNA unwinding to facilitate RNA structural transitions, but it has been suggested to assist in the folding of one group II intron (aI5γ) primarily by stabilizing a folding intermediate. Here we compare three aI5γ constructs: one with long exons, one with short exons, and a ribozyme construct lacking exons. The long exons result in slower splicing, suggesting that they misfold and/or stabilize nonnative intronic structures. Nevertheless, Mss116p acceleration of all three constructs depends on ATP and is inhibited by mutations that compromise RNA unwinding, suggesting similar mechanisms. Results of splicing assays and a new two-stage assay that separates ribozyme folding and catalysis indicate that maximal folding of all three constructs by Mss116p requires ATP-dependent RNA unwinding. ATP-independent activation is appreciable for only a subpopulation of the minimal ribozyme construct and not for constructs containing exons. As expected for a general RNA chaperone, Mss116p can also disrupt the native ribozyme, which can refold after Mss116p removal. Finally, using yeast strains with mitochondrial DNA containing only the single intron aI5γ, we show that Mss116p mutants promote splicing in vivo to degrees that correlate with their residual ATP-dependent RNA-unwinding activities. Together, our results indicate that, although DEAD-box proteins play multiple roles in RNA folding, the physiological function of Mss116p in aI5γ splicing includes a requirement for ATP-dependent local unfolding, allowing the conversion of nonfunctional RNA structure into functional RNA structure.
DISPOSITIONAL ASSESSMENT WITH ALCOHOLICS.

The present research examined the relationships among multiple client characteristics, multiple treatments, and multiple outcomes in an alcoholism setting. Results showed that with regard to employment and abstinence outcome measures, inpatient therapy was better than outpatient therapy for clients experiencing low life instability, low problem severity, and a high socioeconomic status. For clients with the opposite pattern of characteristics, outpatient therapy produced more positive results on the same outcome measures. Results also showed that regardless of client characteristics, inpatients improved more with regard to social activities and outpatients improved more with regard to legal convictions and accidents.
Complex Transfer of Care of Surgical Patients in the Emergency Department: Ethical and Resource Utilization Issues

The emergency department (ED) presentation of a medically and surgically complex pediatric patient with a request to transfer medical care creates challenges for efficient evaluation and treatment. A case study of a female infant with a cloacal anomaly who presented to the ED of an academic tertiary children's hospital where she was previously unknown addresses the issues involved, including resource utilization, long ED length of stay, and establishing new physician-patient relationships. The ultimate goal is to efficiently treat acute medical and surgical issues and to establish a trusting relationship between providers, patient, and family that will lead to the best possible medical and surgical outcome.
Prediction of image detail

In the problem of image interpolation, most of the difficulties arise in areas around edges and sharp changes. Around edges, many interpolation methods tend to smooth and blur image detail. Fortunately, most of the signal information is often carried around edges and areas of sharp changes and can be used to predict these missing details from a sampled image. A method for adding image detail based on the cone of influence, the evolution of the wavelet coefficients across scales, is presented.
Soil erosion risk scenarios in the Mediterranean environment using RUSLE and GIS: An application model for Calabria (southern Italy)

Abstract Soil erosion by water (WSE) has become a relevant issue at the Mediterranean level. In particular, natural conditions and human impact have made the Calabria (southern Italy) particularly prone to intense WSE. The purpose of this investigation is to identify areas highly affected by WSE in Calabria by comparing the scenarios obtained by assuming control and preventive measures and actions, as well as actual conditions generated by forest fires, also in the presence of conditions of maximum rainfall erosion. Geographic Information System techniques have been adopted to treat data of reasonable spatial resolution obtained at a regional scale for application to the RUSLE model. This work is based on the comparison of such data with a basic scenario that has been defined by the present situation (present scenario). In this scenario: (i) R has been assessed by means of an experimental relation adjusted to Calabria on the basis of 5-min observations; (ii) K has been drawn from the soil map of Calabria including 160 soilscapes; (iii) LS has been estimated according to the RUSLE2 model by using (among other subfactors) a 40-m square cell DTM; (iv) C has been derived by processing the data inferred from the project Corine Land Cover, whose legend includes 35 different land uses on three levels; and (v) P has been hypothesized as equal to 1. For the remaining three hypothesized scenarios, the RUSLE factors have been adjusted according to experimental data and to data in the literature. In particular, forest areas subject to fire have been randomly generated as far as fire location, extension, structure, and intensity are concerned. The values obtained by the application of the RUSLE model have emphasized that land management by means of measures and actions for reducing WSE causes a notable reduction of the erosive rate decreasing from ~30 to 12.3 Mg ha − 1 y − 1 . On the other hand, variations induced by hypothetical wildfires in forests on 10% of the regional territory bring WSE over the whole region to values varying from 30 to 116 Mg ha − 1 y − 1 . This study can be offered to territorial planning authorities as an evaluation instrument as it highlights the merits and limitations of some territorial management actions. In fact, in Calabria no observations exist concerning the implications of these actions.
Electrical Conduction through Molecules

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an intuitive description of the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of molecules and then introduced several simple toy models that capture the basic physics. These toy models are also used to motivate the rigorous non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) theory and applied using the Hiickel Hamiltonian to a phenyl dithiol molecule coupled to gold contacts. With both the simple toy models and the NEGF-Hiickel calculations one can find that the three most important properties that determine the I-V characteristics of a molecule are: the position of the energy levels of the molecule relative to the Fermi energy of the contacts. Second, the broadening of the energy levels due to the coupling to the contacts determine the magnitude of the current through the molecule. Lastly, the charging of the molecule broadens the conductance peaks by the charging energy per electron U. This can explain many experimental observations without invoking any additional inelastic scattering. Also, the asymmetry of this charging effect can explain why symmetric molecules give asymmetric I-V when coupled unequally to the two contacts.
From text to speech summarization

In this paper, we present approaches used in text summarization, showing how they can be adapted for speech summarization and where they fall short. Informal style and apparent lack of structure in speech mean that the typical approaches used for text summarization must be extended for use with speech. We illustrate how features derived from speech can help determine summary content within two ongoing summarization projects at Columbia University.
Coupled Lu–Hf and Sm–Nd geochronology constrains prograde and exhumation histories of high- and ultrahigh-pressure eclogites from western Norway

Eclogites from the Western Gneiss Region (WGR), Norway, that formed over a wide range in temperature (∼600 °C to N850 °C) and pressure (high- and ultrahigh-pressure conditions; UHP) have a diverse range of Lu–Hf and Sm–Nd ages that correlate with their P–T histories. Three eclogites (∼676–850 °C and ∼2.0–2.85 GPa) yield Lu–Hf ages of 419.5±4.3 Ma, 416.3±3.7 and 412.0± 4.7 Ma, and two Sm–Nd ages of 402.7±4.6 and 398.3±5.5 Ma. The former are interpreted to date early garnet growth and the latter are interpreted to date near-peak metamorphism. These results support previous proposals that, for eclogites which recrystallized below Lu–Hf and Sm–Nd closure temperatures, the differences in ages for the two isotopic systems constrain the period of prograde garnet growth. In the case of the WGR, garnet growth is estimated to have occurred over a period of at least 20 m.y., beginning at ∼425–420 Ma. In contrast, two UHP eclogites (N800 °C and N3 GPa) yield significantly younger and overlapping Lu–Hf and Sm– Nd ages of390–370Ma; these ages are significantly younger than agesthat are generally accepted for peak eclogite-facies conditions in the WGR, although they overlap 40 Ar/ 39 Ar ages that have been previously determined on white mica from the same samples or localities, indicating that the Lu–Hf and Sm–Nd ages may reflect rapid exhumation and cooling during the latest stages of HP and UHP metamorphism in the WGR. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Sexual differentiation of vasopressin projections of the bed nucleus of the stria terminals and medial amygdaloid nucleus in rats.

The vasopressin-immunoreactive (AVP-ir) projections of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST) and medial amygdaloid nucleus (MA) are much denser in males than in females even if males and females are treated with similar amounts of testosterone. Previous studies have established that testosterone influences AVP-ir projections during development, but not whether these effects of testosterone were permanent. This study tested the effects of various hormonal manipulations during development on the ability of testosterone to influence the AVP immunostaining in cells of the BST and MA and of fibers in the lateral septum of adult rats. In the first experiment, male rats that were castrated at 3 months of age (control males) had more AVP-ir cells in the BST and a higher density of AVP-ir fibers in the lateral septum than neonatally castrated male rats, whose cell numbers and fiber density did not differ from female rats that were ovariectomized neonatally or at 3 months of age (control females). This suggested that testicular secretions influence sexual differentiation of AVP-ir fiber pathways after birth. The second experiment showed that males castrated at the day of birth or at 1 week after birth had less AVP-ir cells in the BST and MA and a lower AVP-ir fiber density in the lateral septum than male rats castrated at the third week after birth or control males. This indicated that testicular secretions influenced the differentiation of AVP-ir pathways around postnatal day 7. This was further confirmed in the third experiment, in which testosterone propionate treatment at the seventh postnatal day significantly raised AVP-ir fiber density in the lateral septum of neonatally gonadectomized male and female rats and fully restored the number of AVP-ir cells in the BST of neonatally castrated males. Combined, these data suggest that testosterone levels around the seventh postnatal day determine the sexual differentiation of AVPir projections to the lateral septum.
Binding sites for ETS family of transcription factors dominate the promoter regions of differentially expressed genes in abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Background— Previously, we identified 3274 distinct differentially expressed genes in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) tissue compared with nonaneurysmal controls. As transcriptional control is responsible for these expression changes, we sought to find common transcriptional elements in the promoter regions of the differentially expressed genes. Methods and Results— We analyzed the up- and downregulated gene sets with Whole Genome rVISTA to determine the transcription factor (TF) binding sites overrepresented in the 5-kb promoter regions of the 3274 genes. The downregulated gene set yielded 144 TF binding sites that were overrepresented in the subset when compared with the entire genome. In contrast, the upregulated gene set yielded only 13 distinct overrepresented TF binding sites. Interestingly, as classified by TRANSFAC, 8 of the 13 TFs binding to these regions belong to the ETS family. Additionally, nuclear factor kB and its subunits p50 and p65 showed enrichment. Immunohistochemical analyses of 10 TFs from the upregulated set showed 9 to be present in AAA tissue. Based on gene ontology analysis of biological process categories of the upregulated target genes of enriched TFs, 10 TFs had enrichment in immune system process among their target genes. Conclusions— Our genome-wide analysis provides further evidence of ETS and nuclear factor kB involvement in AAA. Additionally, our results provide novel insight for future studies aiming to dissect the pathogenesis of AAA and have uncovered potential therapeutic targets for AAA prevention.
Reordering based integrative expression profiling for microarray classification

Background: Current network-based microarray analysis uses the information of interactions among concerned genes/gene products, but still considers each gene expression individually. We propose an organized knowledgesupervised approach - Integrative eXpression Profiling (IXP), to improve microarray classification accuracy, and help discover groups of genes that have been too weak to detect individually by traditional ways. To implement IXP, ant colony optimization reordering (ACOR) algorithm is used to group functionally related genes in an ordered way. Results: Using Alzheimer’s disease (AD) as an example, we demonstrate how to apply ACOR-based IXP approach into microarray classifications. Using a microarray dataset - GSE1297 with 31 samples as training set, the result for the blinded classification on another microarray dataset - GSE5281 with 151 samples, shows that our approach can improve accuracy from 74.83% to 82.78%. A recently-published 1372-probe signature for AD can only achieve 61.59% accuracy in the same condition. The ACOR-based IXP approach also has better performance than the IXP approach based on classic network ranking, graph clustering, and random-ordering methods in an overall classification performance comparison. Conclusions: The ACOR-based IXP approach can serve as a knowledge-supervised feature transformation approach to increase classification accuracy dramatically, by transforming each gene expression profile to an integrated expression files as features inputting into standard classifiers. The IXP approach integrates both gene expression information and organized knowledge - disease gene/protein network topology information, which is represented as both network node weights (local topological properties) and network node orders (global topological characteristics).
Paternalism in Medicine, Law, and Public Policy

“If protection against themselves is confessedly due to children and persons under age,” John Stuart Mill asks, “is not society equally bound to afford it to persons of mature years who are equally incapable of self-government?”1 Mill answers his own question negatively, rejecting paternalism toward adults absolutely. “Because it would be better for him” or “because it will make him happier” can never, in Mill’s view, justify restricting the liberty of a sane adult.2 Many modern liberals, also committed to individual liberty, abandon Mill’s absolutist stand against paternalism, and in fact Mill himself does not maintain it consistently. But, more than Mill, these later liberals stress that some adults always, and all adults sometimes, are incapable of exercising liberty.
An Empirical Study of Performance Benefits of Network Coding in Multihop Wireless Networks

Recently, network coding has gained much popular- ity and several practical routing schemes have been proposed for wireless mesh networks that exploit interflow network coding for improved throughput. However, the evaluation of these protocols either assumed simple topologies and traffic patterns such as opposite flows along a single chain, or small, dense networks which have ample overhearing of each other's transmissions in addition to many overlapping flows. In this paper, we seek to answer the fundamental question: how much performance benefit from network coding can be expected for general traffic patterns in a moderate-sized wireless mesh network? We approach this question via an empirical study of both coordinated and oppor- tunistic coding based protocols subject to general traffic patterns. Our study shows the performance benefits under both types of coding for general traffic patterns are extremely limited. We then analyze and uncover fundamental reasons for the limited performance benefits.
Vitamin D: Are We Ready to Supplement for Breast Cancer Prevention and Treatment?

Vitamin D deficiency is a potentially modifiable risk factor that may be targeted for breast cancer prevention and treatment. Preclinical studies support various antitumor effects of vitamin D in breast cancer. Numerous observational studies have reported an inverse association between vitamin D status, including circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels, and breast cancer risk. The relationship between vitamin D and mammographic density, a strong predictor of breast cancer risk, remains unclear. Studies analyzing the link between genetic polymorphisms in vitamin D pathway genes and breast cancer incidence and prognosis have yielded inconsistent results. Vitamin D deficiency among breast cancer patients has been associated with poorer clinical outcomes and increased mortality. Despite a number of clinical trials of vitamin D supplementation, the efficacy, optimal dosage of vitamin D, and target blood level of 25(OH)D for breast cancer prevention have yet to be determined. Even with substantial literature on vitamin D and breast cancer, future studies need to focus on gaining a better understanding of the biologic effects of vitamin D in breast tissue. Despite compelling data from experimental and observational studies, there is still insufficient data from clinical trials to make recommendations for vitamin D supplementation for breast cancer prevention or treatment.
Congenital left main atresia in an adult diagnosed with multidetector computed tomography.

A 53-year-old female underwent non-invasive coronary angiography with 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) due to chest discomfort and an abnormal exercise treadmill test. Although there was no evidence of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, MDCT demonstrated the absence of the left coronary ostium and left main trunk. The left anterior descending (LAD) and left circumflex (LCx) arteries were located at their normal position, but …
Genetics of Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease and its clinical manifestations, including myocardial infarction, are heritable traits, consistent with a role for inherited DNA sequence variation in conferring risk for disease. Knowledge of the new sequence variations in the genome that confer risk has the potential to illuminate new causal biologic pathways in humans and to thereby further improve diagnosis and treatment. Here, we review recent progress in mapping genetic loci related to coronary disease and risk factor phenotypes, including plasma lipoprotein concentrations. Genome-wide linkage (in families) and association (in populations) studies have identified more than a dozen genetic loci related to coronary disease. A key challenge now is to move from mapping loci to pinpointing causal genes and variants, and to develop a molecular understanding of how these genes lead to coronary disease.
Normal and Abnormal Function of the Hypothalamic Pituitary-Adrenocortical System in Man*

The first half of this manuscript is devoted to a review of the methods used and the results obtained in the published measurements of the normal responses to tests of the three main types of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) activity in man. These are, I, basal, unstressed activity leading to appropriate levels of total daily production of cortisol in the characteristic circadian pattern; II, responses to feedback stimulation of HPA activity by metyrapone administration; and III, responses to tests of the effects of stress on the HPA system including the effects of hypoglycemia, induced fever, vasopressin administration, and ACTH injections and infusions. The advantages and shortcomings of each type of procedure are discussed. The second half of this paper describes the authors' attempts to establish the limits of normality of standard and modified methods of evaluating the HPA system. The defined limits of normality have been used to assess the HPA function in 158 patients with known or suspected disorders of the HPA system. In normal controls, halfhourly plasma cortisol determinations established the normality of circadian and postprandial fluctuations and of mean plasma cortisol concentration, 6.2 +/- 0.3 (SEM) micrograms/dl, which were closely approximated by determinations every 6 h. Metyrapone, given in a dose of 500 mg every 2 h for 24 h increased urinary 17-OHCS excretion to 10.5-32.6 mg/day or to 1.7-7.8 times basal excretion rate. Increasing rates of insulin infusion disclosed significant relationships between resulting plasma glucose and cortisol concentrations. The slopes of the delta cortisol/delta glucose responses were similar after insulin infusions (0.46 +/- 0.05) and after insulin injections, 0.15 U/kg (0.43 +/- 0.09), and were always greater than 0.20 micrograms/mg. This index provides a useful objective measure of the normality of responses to hypoglycemic stress, 0.20-0.87 micrograms/mg. Adrenocortical responses to iv infusions of ACTH (cosyntropin 0.25 mg) may be equivocal at 2 h but are clear cut at 4, 6 and 8 h. Of 158 patients in whom hypopituitarism was known or suspected because of the presence of a pituitary tumor, acromegaly, hyperprolactinemia, or clinical features, HPA function was found to be entirely normal in 88 patients and partially or severely abnormal in the remaining 70 patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Validation of a sea ice model using forward simulation of ERS-1 SAR data: a case study in the Beaufort Sea

A sea ice dynamics/thermodynamics model is validated using a one-year time series of data from the C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instrument aboard Earth Resources Satellite 1 (ERS-1). Common validation problems using geophysical parameter estimates produced by operational algorithms are avoided by coupling a simple backscatter model to the physical model to generate a time series of estimated SAR backscatter values, which can be directly compared to the observed time series. Comparison of actual and estimated SAR backscatter shows good agreement during the winter and spring seasons. Differences during the summer and early autumn period are attributed to surficial changes, namely wet snow, meltponds, and young ice covered by frost flowers, that are not included in the ice physics model but affect the C-band backscatter. After adding these effects to the backscatter model, very good agreement is observed throughout the year between the sea ice/backscatter model and the ERS-1 time series, with RMS differences about 10% of the full range of backscatter values. The paper demonstrates the utility of the forward simulation approach for model validation and discusses potential future improvements and applications.
Local anti-infective therapy: mechanical and physical approaches. A systematic review.

Background:Although mechanical non-surgical therapy (scaling and root planing) is the most common means of initial treatment of periodontal diseases, the relative clinical efficacy of various methods, including manual versus machine-driven, with or without adjunctive agents, has not been determined. Rationale:This systematic review analyzes the literature in an effort to identify the most effective therapies, based on both clinical and patient-centered outcomes. Focused Question:In patients with periodontitis, what is the effect of mechanically-driven instrumentation (e.g., power-driven) and/or subgingival irrigation with and without manual instrumentation compared to manual instrumentation alone? Search Protocol:Two investigators examined MEDLINE and the Cochrane Oral Health Group specialized registry for clinical trials published in English. Hand searches were performed of the International Journal of Periodontics & Restorative Dentistry, Journal of Clinical Periodontology, Journal of Periodontology, an...
Small molecule and monoclonal antibody therapies in neurooncology.

Background: The prognosis for most patients with primary brain tumors remains poor Recent advances in molecular and cell biology have led to a greater understanding of molecular alterations in brain tumors. These advancesare being translated into new therapies that will hopefully improve the prognosis for patients with brain tumors. Methods: We reviewed the literature on small molecule targeted agents and monoclonal antibodies used in brain tumor research and brain tumor clinical trials for the past 20 years. Results: Brain tumors commonly express molecular abnormalities. These alterations can lead to the activation of cell pathways involved in cell proliferation. This knowledge has led to interest in novel anti-brain-tumor therapies targeting key components of these pathways. Many drugs and monoclonal antibodies have been developed that modulate these pathways and are in various stages of testing. Conclusions: The use of targeted therapies against brain tumors promises to improve the prognosis for patients with brain tumors. However, as the molecular pathogenesis of brain tumors has not been linked to a single genetic defect or target, molecular agents may need to be used in combinations or in tandem with cytotoxic agents. Further study of these agents in well-designed cooperative clinical trials is needed.