cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Changing metastatic patterns of osteosarcoma

The clinical courses of 111 patients with osteosarcoma treated at UCLA between 1971 and 1982 were reviewed to ascertain the evolution of the natural history of this disease. Only patients with classic high-grade intraosseous osteosarcoma of the extremity, scapula, or pelvis were considered. Patients with low-grade parosteal osteosarcomas; primary osteosarcomas of the face, skull, vertebra, or ribs; and osteosarcomas arising in Paget's disease or previously irradiated bones were not included. Fifty-nine patients developed clinically evident distant metastases. Of these, 36 developed pulmonary metastases alone as the initial site of recurrence. Eighteen of 19 (94.7%) patients treated between 1971 and 1974 by amputation alone developed pulmonary relapse as the initial site of recurrence, whereas only 18 of 40 patients (45%) treated after 1974 with surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy developed pulmonary metastases alone as the initial site of recurrence. Although no patients in the early group developed an extrapulmonary metastasis as the initial site of recurrence, 11 of 40 patients (27.5%) treated with adjuvant chemotherapy developed an extrapulmonary metastasis as the initial site of recurrent disease, and 11 patients developed simultaneous pulmonary and extrapulmonary metastases. Although it is impossible to attribute this alteration in metastatic pattern to adjuvant chemotherapy alone, it is apparent that nonpulmonary metastases are becoming more common among patients currently treated for osteosarcoma.
Sociolinguistic Horizons: Language and Sexuality

In this essay, I examine the current state of research on the connections between language and sexuality and argue that the time has arrived for such research to adopt a more vigorous use of the scientific method, which will allow for testing the predictions made by the various theoretical interventions that have been proposed since the 1990s. I begin by outlining the major theoretical debate within the field, namely, the question of the place of social identity within a theory of language and sexuality and then detail several areas and trends in the research, including research focused on lexical and grammatical variation, language and sexual identity, language and heterosexuality, language and eroticism, and finally experimental approaches to language and sexuality. I conclude with a call for more integration of deductive and inductive approaches within the field.
Selective removal of heavy metals from contaminated kaolin by chelators

The competitive desorption/dissolution of kaolin-adsorbed heavy metal mixtures and mixtures of adsorbed Cd with Mg and/or Ca by four chelators (NTA, EDTA, EGTA, and DCyTA) was investigated. Metals were adsorbed on kaolin at pH 7 and the effects of chelator type and concentration on the extent of metal dissolution was studied at a solution pH of 10. EGTA addition. EGTA was the most effective chelator in selectively removing Cd from kaolin in the presence of adsorbed alkaline-earth metals. Approximately 90% of the adsorbed Ca and Mg were retained on the kaolin until almost all (> 80%) of the cadmium was dissolved by EGTA chelator. NTA was the least effective chelator in selectively dissolving Cd from kaolin contaminated with both Cd and Ca (≈ 45% of the adsorbed Cd could not be removed). All four chelators exhibited some desorption/dissolution selectivity for Cd, Cu, and Pb adsorbed on kaolin. When the concentration of chelator in solution was insufficient to dissolve all adsorbed metals, the observed metal ordering for chelation and dissolution was Cd > Cu > Pb (for EGTA), Cd > Pb > Cu (for EDTA and DCyTA), and Cu > Cd > Pb (for NTA).
Marginal vacuoles in metastatic thyroid carcinoma: a case report.

A case of metastatic follicular carcinoma to the iliac bone in a 78-yr-old woman is presented. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) smears showed numerous, cohesive tumor cell groups with moderately abundant cytoplasm and distinctive, peripherally situated pink-staining vacuoles on May-Grunwald-Giemsa stain. The presence of marginal vacuoles strongly suggested the possibility of metastatic thyroid carcinoma. Immunohistochemical studies performed on a concomitant needle core biopsy showed immunoreactivity for thyroglobulin, supporting a thyroid derivation for this metastasis. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case in which marginal vacuoles ("flame cells") have been identified in a malignant thyroid condition.
Words, Words, Words

The Routledge Companion to the Study of Religion. Edited by John Hinnells. London and New York: Routledge, 2005. A Handbook to Ancient Religions. Edited by John Hinnells. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007. Critical Terms for the Study of Buddhism. Edited by Donald Lopez. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2005. A Companion to Philosophy of Religion. Edited by Philip Quinn and Charles Talioferro. Oxford: Blackwell, 1997. The Blackwell Companion to the Study of Religion. Edited by Robert A. Segal. Oxford: Blackwell, 2006. Critical Terms for Religious Studies. Edited by Mark C. Taylor. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1998.
Pancreatitis associated with neuroendocrine (islet cell) tumors of the pancreas.

Background The association of pancreatitis with neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas is uncommon, whereas its association with exocrine pancreatic cancer is well recognized. Since the latter, but not the islet cell tumor, is thought to originate within the ductal system, it is not surprising that pancreatitis is less likely to result from the islet cell tumor. The senior author has recently noted that the first recognizable indication of an islet cell carcinoma may be one or more discrete attacks of acute pancreatitis. Methods and results Acute pancreatitis, resulting from an islet cell tumor, has been observed in five patients, in one of whom it had become chronic. In four of the patients, the tumor was malignant. A review of the English language literature reveals 14 such patients with pancreatitis, and 2 others have been noted in other languages (a total of 21 patients). The tumor was malignant in 15 of the 21 patients (71%). Although the development of pancreatitis was found to result from the obstruction of the duct in most patients, at least three seemed unrelated. In 12 of 21 cases (57%), an acute attack of pancreatitis, usually recurrent, was the initial syndrome, in contradistinction to pancreatitis resulting from exocrine tumors, which has usually been chronic in nature. Conclusion Pancreatitis, particularly acute pancreatitis, may result from an islet cell tumor. Although unusual, its occurrence may be the first signal of the presence of the tumor. In our experience, obstruction of the pancreatic duct by the islet cell carcinoma appears to be the important etiologic factor.
Specialist-Level Preparation in School Violence and Youth Gang Intervention.

Surveys regarding the level and scope of training provided in both traditional child and youth issues and that of school violence and youth gang prevention were sent to 213 school psychology training programs. Ninety specialist-level programs were included in the final study. Results indicated the majority of programs provided substantial intervention training for more traditional behavioral concerns (e.g., ADHD, conduct problems). Training in school violence prevention and, in particular, youth gang prevention/intervention, were lower priorities for training. The hypothesis was not supported that programs located in or near metropolitan areas are more likely to offer training in school violence and gang interventions. These results are discussed within the context of practitioner preparation for violence intervention. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Sex differences in visual attention toward infant faces

Abstract Parental care and alloparental care are major evolutionary dimensions of the biobehavioral repertoire of many species, including human beings. Despite their importance in the course of human evolution and the likelihood that they have significantly shaped human cognition, the nature of the cognitive mechanisms underlying alloparental care is still largely unexplored. In this study, we examined whether one such cognitive mechanism is a visual attentional bias toward infant features, and if so, whether and how it is related to the sex of the adult and the adult's self-reported interest in infants. We used eye-tracking to measure the eye movements of nulliparous undergraduates while they viewed pairs of faces consisting of one adult face (a man or woman) and one infant face (a boy or girl). Subjects then completed two questionnaires designed to measure their interest in infants. Results showed, consistent with the significance of alloparental care in human evolution, that nulliparous adults have an attentional bias toward infants. Results also showed that women's interest in and attentional bias towards infants were stronger and more stable than men's. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that, due to their central role in infant care, women have evolved a greater and more stable sensitivity to infants. The results also show that eye movements can be successfully used to assess individual differences in interest in infants.
Contrasting effects of chronic hypoxia and nitric oxide synthase inhibition on circulating angiogenic factors in a rat model of growth restriction

Objective We hypothesized that nitric oxide (NO) inhibition has synergistic effects with chronic hypoxia in altering maternal serum levels of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and placental growth factor (PlGF). We tested our hypothesis in a rodent model of intrauterine growth restriction induced by chronic hypoxia and NO inhibition with N G -nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). Study design Timed pregnant adult Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to the following groups: (1) 20% (oxygen) O 2 + saline (n = 7); (2) 20% O 2 + L-NAME (n = 8); (3) 14% O 2 + saline (n = 5); (4) 14% O 2 + L-NAME (n = 5); (5) 10% O 2 + saline (n = 6); and (6) 10% O 2 + L-NAME (n = 6). Seven nulliparous females served as nonpregnant controls. L-NAME (50 mg/rat/day) or saline was administered via subcutaneous osmotic pumps, inserted on day 17 of gestation. A hypoxic chamber was used to assure mild (14% O 2 ) or severe (10% O 2 ) hypoxic environment after surgical placement of the minipumps and until the animals were killed on day 21 of gestation before the onset of labor. Maternal blood was collected preceding death. Free serum levels of VEGF, PlGF, and sFlt-1 were measured by highly specific immunoassays. Two composite indices were calculated (sFV: log [(sFlt-1)/VEGF] and sFP: log [(sFlt-1)/PlGF] and compared among groups. Results Fetal growth restriction was induced by both severe hypoxia (10% O 2 ) and L-NAME infusion (2-way analysis of variance, P = .02 O 2 levels, P P P P P = .037) compared with nonpregnant controls. Serum VEGF levels were not altered by either hypoxia or L-NAME infusion ( P = .348 O 2 levels, P = .205 L-NAME). In contrast, L-NAME significantly increased sFlt-1 serum levels independent of O 2 levels ( P = .032, L-NAME treatment, P = .991 O 2 levels). Chronic hypoxia significantly decreases the circulating levels of PlGF ( P P P P = .655). Conclusion Chronic NO inhibition as well as hypoxia induce fetal growth restriction and significantly change maternal circulating levels of sFlt-1 and PlGF, but not of VEGF. The primary effect of chronic hypoxia is in decreasing circulating levels of PlGF that contrasts with that of NO inhibition, which selectively increases sFlt-1 levels. Their effect is thus not synergistic, suggesting independent pathways.
Dependence of ejection force on tableting speed—A compaction simulation study

Abstract Using a compaction simulator, it has been shown that tablet ejection force increases with increasing tableting speed during compression of powders lubricated with 1% magnesium stearate. Faster tableting speed corresponds to higher coefficient of friction, μ , but does not affect residual radial die wall (RDW) stress. The higher μ suggests the presence of less lubricant at the tablet–die wall interface due to the shorter time available for migration of lubricant to the interface. This mechanism can also explain the sudden occurrence of powder sticking problem upon formulation scale up. The elevated ejection force due to higher μ also results in higher RDW stress at the moment of slip initiation, which proportionally increases ejection force.
Ionization spectra in solid xenon

Abstract A simple radial ionization chamber for solid and liquid xenon and argon has been built and tested, and solid xenon ionization spectra are presented for the first time. Energy resolution for external, uncollimated γ-rays is 14% FWHM at 341 keV in solid and liquid argon and 16% FWHM at 0.5 MeV in solid and liquid xenon. This design may have applications in nuclear ββ decay.
Scheduling in a general purpose operating system

In recent years there has been a great deal written and published about scheduling and storage management in time sharing systems. During the same period there has been a significant trend toward the development of more general purpose operating systems on large computers. Such systems support a high volume batch processing operation and at the same time provide modes of computation usually associated with time sharing systems. They are multiprogramming and multiprocessor systems that execute jobs that enter the job stream from local and remote card readers, and from local and remote on-line consoles. Some jobs are interactive during execution and some are not. Many jobs use interactive file creation and editing and debugging processors even though they are basically batch jobs.
Balance laws of micromorphic continua revisited

Abstract By subjecting the global energy balance law of Micromorphic Continua to invariance under arbitrary constant velocity translations and arbitrary constant angular velocity rotations all balance laws of Micromorphic Continua are derived.
The Politics of Growth-Oriented Urban Alliances: Comparing Old Industrial and New Sunbelt Cities

This article applies major propositions about local growth politics to two types of cities and to an extended time frame normally absent in previous studies. Houston typifies the "new," or Sunbelt, city, and Milwaukee represents the "old" manufacturing centers of the North. Findings indicate that both cities historically have relied heavily on public-private partnerships to promote emerging sectors of the economy. However, the composition and strategies of their growth-oriented alliances varied significantly over time. The data also suggest revising assumptions about federal programs, finance capital, political entrepreneurs, and the links between public agencies and private business in the prevailing model of growth-oriented elites.
Multishot partial‐k‐space EPI for high‐resolution fMRI demonstrated in a rat whisker barrel stimulation model at 3t

A multishot partial-k-space EPI technique is presented and validated by fMRI at high spatial resolution. High-resolution phase maps corrected by phase-encoded reference scans have less off-resonance effects. Phantom studies demonstrate that this method can substantially improve partial-k-space EPI image formation. BOLD fMRI at submillimeter spatial resolution (156 × 156 × 2000 μm3, 0.049 μl) was achieved in a rat whisker barrel stimulation model using this technique. The study included eight rats, five of which were administered an intravascular contrast agent (monocrystalline iron oxide nanocolloid (MION)) after the BOLD experiments. In two rats the highest BOLD responses were in the deep layers (IV–VI), and in six rats the highest responses were on the surface and in the deep cortical layers. Most of the pixels that exhibited high BOLD responses had high blood volume weightings. The benefits of this technique are expected to increase for high-resolution fMRI at higher magnetic fields, where T is shorter. Magn Reson Med 50:1215–1222, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Identification of nonalcoholic and alcoholic beers: Effects of consumption practices and beer brand

Because nonalcoholic beer provides sensory cues that simulate alcoholic beer, this beverage may be more effective than other placebos in contributing to a credible manipulation of expectancy to receive alcohol. The present experiment assessed the sensory identification of nonalcoholic and alcoholic beers. Subjects with higher beer consumption practices were more accurate than subjects with lower beer consumption practices in the identification of nonalcoholic beers. Brand of nonalcoholic beer affected the identification performance of subjects with lower beer consumption practices.
Cross-Country Evidence on the Effectiveness of Foreign Investment Policies

This study empirically evaluates the effectiveness of government policies toward foreign enterprises and foreign direct investment activity. Foreign investment policies are difficult to quantify, but we overcome this difficulty by employing an index that reflects a country's general regulatory environment and treatment of foreign businesses. The evidence on the effectiveness of foreign investment policy measures is captured by a panel regression model, which pools together a cross-section of 153 countries over the period 1995–2001. The statistically significant explanatory power of the policy index is robust to the presence of a host of conditioning variables, some of which serve as fundamental foreign investment determinants that lie largely outside the direct control of national policy.
Transcriptional Remodeling and G1 Arrest in Dioxygen Stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which lack a functional SOD1 gene, encoding the cytosolic Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1), exhibit a variety of metabolic defects in aerobic but not in anaerobic growth. We test here the hypothesis that some of these defects may be due to specific transcriptional changes programmed for cell survival under dioxygen stress. Analysis of the budding pattern and generation time showed that the slower proliferation of an sod1Δ mutant strain under air was due to an increase from 42 to 89 min spent in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. This delay in G1 was not due to an overall decline in biosynthetic activity since total protein and mRNA synthesis was not reduced even under 100% O2. However, rRNA synthesis was strongly decreased, e.g. by 80% in the mutant under 100% O2 (in comparison to N2). Under these conditions, the mutant permanently arrested in G1; this arrest was due to an inhibition of the Start function that prepares yeast for S phase. This Start arrest was due to an inhibition of transcription of the autoregulated G1 cyclins, CLN1 and CLN2; the transcription of the constitutive G1 cyclin, CLN3, was unaffected by the stress. Expression of a hyperstable Cln3 prevented the G1 arrest, indicating that it was due solely to the inhibition of cell cycle-dependent cyclin expression. This remodeling of transcription in oxidative stress was seen also in the inhibition of glucose derepression of SUC2 expression. In contrast, the signaling and activation of mating pheromone (FUS1) and copper-responsive (CUP1) promoter activity were not affected by dioxygen stress, while genes encoding other anti-oxidant enzymes (SOD2, CTT1 and CTA1) were strongly induced. The UBI loci, encoding ubiquitin, were particularly good examples of this pattern of negative and positive transcriptional response to the stress. UBI1-UBI3 expression was repressed in the mutant under 100% O2, while expression of UBI4 was strongly induced. The data demonstrate that extensive remodeling of transcription occurs in yeast under a strong dioxygen stress. This remodeling results in a pattern of expression of gene products needed for defense and repair, and suppression of activities associated with normal proliferative growth.
Effects of Dietary Selenium and Training on Mitochondrial Function in Young Horses

Introduction Exercise training results in improved mitochondrial efficiency but it is unclear if dietary selenium level can further modify mitochondrial function. Methods American Quarter Horse yearlings (n = 20; mean ± SE 18 ± 0.2 months) balanced with regard to age and sex were randomly assigned to four dietary Se and exercise training treatments for 14 weeks: 0.1 mg Se/kg DM with (n = 5) or without (n = 5) training or 0.3 mg Se/kg DM with (n = 5) or without (n = 5) training. Trained horses were exercised 4 d/wk for 30 min/d. At week 14, all horses underwent a 2 hr, 27.5 km submaximal exercise test (SET). Permeabilized muscle fibers obtained from the gluteus medius of horses at rest were analysed for mitochondrial function via high resolution respirometry. Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity with Complex I substrates was determined using the respiratory control ratio (RCR) of state 3 (with ADP) and state 2 (without ADP; leak respiration). Electron transport system capacity (ETSC) was determined by uncoupling phosphorylation and respiration using carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone. Cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) and citrate synthase (CS) activities were assessed in resting muscle samples obtained at week 0 and 14, and in response to the SET. Data were analysed using a mixed model ANOVA. Results Leak, state 3, ETSC, CS and CCO were higher (P<0.05) at wk 14 compared to wk 0 in all horses, but were not affected by training or Se level. Additionally, CS and CCO were unaffected by the SET. Conclusions Mitochondrial number (CS activity) and efficiency were unaffected by training and dietary Se level, but did increase over time, perhaps due to growth of horses. A more strenuous training protocol may be needed to induce mitochondrial adaptations. Ethical Animal Research This project was approved by the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Animal Care Committee at the University of Florida (approval number 016-12ANS). Sources of funding: Partial financial support of this project was provided by Alltech, Nicholasville, KY, USA. Competing interests: none.
Points very close to the smallest ideal of βS

Given any infinite set of subsets of a discrete semigroupS we determine precisely whether they extend to (neighborhoods of) a point in the smallest two sided ideal of βS, the Stone-Cech compactfication ofS. We utilize this information to study the smallest ideal of (βN, +).
Global asymptotic stability of the size distribution in probabilistic models of the cell cycle.

Probabilistic models of the cell cycle maintain that cell generation time is a random variable given by some distribution function, and that the probability of cell division per unit time is a function only of cell age (and not, for instance, of cell size). Given the probability density, f(t), for time spent in the random compartment of the cell cycle, we derive a recursion relation for φ n(x), the probability density for cell size at birth in a sample of cells in generation n. For the case of exponential growth of cells, the recursion relation has no steady-state solution. For the case of linear cell growth, we show that there exists a unique, globally asymptotically stable, steady-state birth size distribution, φ *(x). For the special case of the transition probability model, we display φ *(x) explicitly.
Automated delineation of regional target volumes for patients with head and neck cancer treated conformally

Purpose/Objective: Despite advances in radiotherapy planning and delivery systems, conformal head and neck radiotherapy continues to require labor-intensive target delineation on axial slices of a treatment-planning CT scan. In addition to being time-consuming and complex, manual contouring is also potentially inaccurate. The purpose of this study was to design a computer algorithm that could accurately and automatically contour the cervical lymph node levels (Ia-V) for patients receiving conformal radiotherapy/IMRT.
Time-gated perturbation Monte Carlo for whole body functional imaging in small animals

This paper explores a time-resolved functional imaging method based on Monte Carlo model for whole-body functional imaging of small animals. To improve the spatial resolution and quantitative accuracy of the functional map, a Bayesian hierarchical method with a high resolution spatial prior is applied to guide the optical reconstructions. Simulated data using the proposed approach are employed on an anatomically accurate mouse model where the optical properties range and volume limitations of the diffusion equation model exist. We investigate the performances of using time-gated data type and spatial priors to quantitatively image the functional parameters of multiple organs. Accurate reconstructions of the two main functional parameters of the blood volume and the relative oxygenation are demonstrated by using our method. Moreover, nonlinear optode settings guided by anatomical prior is proved to be critical to imaging small organs such as the heart.
Serum high-density lipoproteins in the crab, Cancer antennarius—III. Density-gradient profiles and lipid composition of subclasses

1. Prestaining the serum total lipoprotein (LP) fraction and density-gradient ultracentrifugation revealed up to five LPs, all in the high-density class (HDL; 1.187 greater than d greater than 1.080 g/ml). These are group-designated as HDL1, HDL2 and HDL3, lowest to highest buoyant density, respectively. The number and precise density of the LPs varied with individual crab and were not gender specific. 2. The percentage of total mass due to triacylglycerides was progressively higher from HDL1 and HDL3, whereas that of phospholipids, cholesterol and combined fat was progressively lower. The percentage mass of combined fat was higher in females than males. 3. As in hemolymph, the LP of eggs was entirely HDL; instances of each HDL subclass were seen, but HDL3 was predominant. Compared with serum HDL, egg HDL was strikingly low in triacyglyceride mass and relatively high in protein. 4. Hemolymph HDL titers of individual females varied independently with egg size through most of the year, but was positively correlated with the egg size in October to December when 2-3-fold increases in HDL titer occur in the female population.
Amidino-substituted aromatic heterocycles as probes of the specificity pocket of trypsin-like proteases☆

Abstract A number of amidino-substituted heterocycles were synthesized and examined for their inhibitory effect against arginine-directed esteroproteases, including human and bovine thrombin (EC 3.4.21.5), human factor Xa and plasmin (EC 3.4.21.7), bovine trypsin (EC 3.4.21.4), porcine pancreatic Kallikrein (EC 3.4.21.8), and boar acrosin (EC 3.4.21.10). Inhibition was competitive and reversible in all cases, and the K i values were taken to reflect binding conditions in the specificity pockets of the enzymes. A remarkably potent blocking agent was found in 5-amidinoindole. Compared to the established inhibitor benzamidine, it proved one to two orders of magnitude more effective against the majority of the proteases, the exceptions being trypsin and plasmin. Improved hydrophobic interaction, fortuitous hydrogen bonding, and charge transfer complex formation were considered in accounting for the considerable activity of the compound. Placement of the amidino moiety in the 6-position rather than in the 5-position on the indole ring resulted in a striking loss of inhibitory potency against human and bovine thrombin, factor Xa, and Kallikrein, yet slightly improved the affinity with respect to acrosin. Tightness of binding of the inhibitors to the enzymes was pH dependent and was significantly reduced below pH 7.0.
Changing Locus of Control: Steelworkers Adjusting to Forced Unemployment

Using an abbreviated version of Levenson’s (1981) locus of control scale, we examine change over time in the locus of control of displaced steelworkers. The first data collection occurred approximately six months after plant shutdown, the second occurred a year later. Utilizing a multidimensional measurement model, we test the major assumption that locus of control is a stable personality characteristic. The results of our analysis suggest that the measurement model is stable over time. However, we find evidence that locus of control changes over time. We argue that heightened perceptions of both internal and external control among men forced into unemployment may in part be a function of the reference group to which workers compare their perceived success or failure. Moreover, locus of control may be a function of the reality of institutional constraints in the face of unemployment.
Exclusion Bypass in Peripheral Vascular Surgery

Although the technique of end-to-end proximal aortic anastomosis for peripheral bypass surgery has been widely accepted, the distal exclusion of the proximal native circulation has not been given much attention. Experimentally it has been shown that an end-to-end anastomosis at the distal end of the bypass graft has better hemodynamics and flows than an end-to-side. A group of 20 patients are reported here in whom a total exclusion bypass was carried out proximal and distally. One single case of aorto bifemoral is reported, 6 ileo-femoral, 12 femoro-popliteal, and 1 femoro-femoral bypass. Gortex grafts were used in all instances. Blood flows measured beyond the distal anastomosis show an increase in flow after the proximal native vessel is excluded completely at the distal anastomotic site. This technique, therefore, is advocated and recommended over the classic proximal and distal end-to-side anastomosis for ileo- femoral and femoro-popliteal bypass reconstructions.
In utero sonogram in prune belly syndrome

Abstract We describe a near term pregnant woman whose ultrasound examination revealed oligohydramnios and distorted fetal body and dilated fetal ureters, which was confirmed after birth to be prune belly syndrome. The newborn underwent an abdominal sonogram on the second day of life. Neither kidney could be identified definitely. Subsequently, at autopsy, small dysplastic kidneys were found, consistent with a lethal variant of prune belly syndrome.
Newborn screening and cascade testing for FMR1 mutations

We describe an ongoing pilot project in which newborn screening (NBS) for FMR1 mutations and subsequent cascade testing are performed by the MIND Institute at the University of California, Davis Medical Center (UCDMC). To date, out of 3,042 newborns initially screened, 44 extended family members have been screened by cascade testing of extended family members once a newborn is identified. Fourteen newborns (7 males and 7 females) and 27 extended family members (5 males and 22 females) have been identified with FMR1 mutations. Three family histories are discussed in detail, each demonstrating some benefits and risks of NBS and cascade testing for FMR1 mutations in extended family members. While we acknowledge inherent risks, we propose that with genetic counseling, clinical follow-up of identified individuals and cascade testing, NBS has significant benefits. Treatment for individuals in the extended family who would otherwise not have received treatment can be beneficial. In addition, knowledge of carrier status can lead to lifestyle changes and prophylactic interventions that are likely to reduce the risk of late onset neurological or psychiatric problems in carriers. Also with identification of carrier family members through NBS, reproductive choices become available to those who would not have known that they were at risk to have offspring with fragile X syndrome.
Avoiding global congestion using decentralized adaptive agents

Everyone wants to go to a bar called El Farol if it is not crowded but would rather stay home if it is. Unfortunately, the only way to know whether or not the bar is crowded is to go. While this scenario appears far removed from the typical communications literature, it provides a simple paradigm for analyzing public goods like the Internet, which may simultaneously suffer from congestion and coordination problems, e.g., multiple users trying to connect to the same server or to use the same resource simultaneously. This paper reviews previous solutions to the El Farol Santa Fe bar problem, which typically involve complex learning algorithms. A simple adaptive strategy similar to many signal processing algorithms such as LMS and its signed variants is proposed. The strategy is investigated via simulation, and the algorithm is analyzed in a few simple cases. Unlike most signal processing applications, the objective of the adaptation is not fast and accurate parameter estimation but rather the achievement of a degree of global coordination among users.
The potential for supershear earthquakes in damaged fault zones – theory and observations

The potential for strong ground shaking in large earthquakes partly depends on how fast the earthquake rupture propagates. It is observed that strike-slip earthquakes usually propagate at speeds slower than the Rayleigh wave speed (v_R) but occasionally jump to speeds faster than the S wave speed (v_s), or supershear speeds. Supershear earthquakes can be more catastrophic and cause unusually large ground motions at long distances. Here we use both fully dynamic rupture simulations and high-resolution seismic observations to show that supershear earthquakes can be induced by damaged fault zones, the low-velocity layers of damaged rocks that typically exist around major faults and serve as waveguides for high-frequency energy. In contrast to supershear ruptures in homogeneous media, supershear ruptures in damaged fault zones can occur under relatively low fault stress and propagate stably at speeds within the range usually considered as unstable.
Calcium-Enhanced Twitching Motility in Xylella fastidiosa Is Linked to a Single PilY1 Homolog

The plant-pathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiosa is restricted to the xylem vessel environment, where mineral nutrients are transported through the plant host; therefore, changes in the concentrations of these elements likely impact the growth and virulence of this bacterium. Twitching motility, dependent on type IV pili (TFP), is required for movement against the transpiration stream that results in basipetal colonization. We previously demonstrated that calcium (Ca) increases the motility of X. fastidiosa, although the mechanism was unknown. PilY1 is a TFP structural protein recently shown to bind Ca and to regulate twitching and adhesion in bacterial pathogens of humans. Sequence analysis identified three pilY1 homologs in X. fastidiosa (PD0023, PD0502, and PD1611), one of which (PD1611) contains a Ca-binding motif. Separate deletions of PD0023 and PD1611 resulted in mutants that still showed twitching motility and were not impaired in attachment or biofilm formation. However, the response of increased twitching at higher Ca concentrations was lost in the pilY1-1611 mutant. Ca does not modulate the expression of any of the X. fastidiosa PilY1 homologs, although it increases the expression of the retraction ATPase pilT during active movement. The evidence presented here suggests functional differences between the PilY1 homologs, which may provide X. fastidiosa with an adaptive advantage in environments with high Ca concentrations, such as xylem sap.
Routine immunophenotyping in acute leukemia: Role in lineage assignment and reassignment

Diagnostic evaluation of acute leukemia at Roswell Park Cancer Institute has routinely included immunophenotyping by multiparameter flow cytometry. In a retrospective analysis of 646 cases, morphology and cytochemistry established lineage in 612, but not in 34 (5%), of which 26, 5, and 3 were myeloid, undifferentiated, and lymphoid, respectively, based on immunophenotyping. In addition, immunophenotyping changed the lineage assigned based on morphology and cytochemistry in 11 cases (2%); 8 changed from lymphoid to myeloid, and 3 from myeloid to lymphoid. The data support routine inclusion of at least limited immunophenotyping in the diagnostic evaluation of acute leukemia.
Ischemic steal syndrome following arm arteriovenous fistula for hemodialysis

Arteriovenous fistulae in the arm are commonly used for hemodialysis in end-stage renal disease. Although physiological steal with reverse flow in the artery distal to the fistula is common, hand ischemia or infarction are rare. The ischemic steal syndrome (hand or forearm ischemia) is usually a result of arterial disease proximal or distal to the fistula and/or poor collateral supply to the hand. The diagnosis is primarily clinical; however, markedly reduced digital pressures and pulse volume recordings support the diagnosis. Management requires imaging for focal stenoses or disease in arteries proximal and distal to the fistula from the aorta to the hand. We present a case caused by subclavian artery occlusion that was initially missed due to focusing investigation only on the fistula. We describe the percutaneous treatments and surgical revisions that attempt to restore flow to the hand without compromising the fistula.
Lake-specific responses to elevated atmospheric nitrogen deposition in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, U.S.A.

We explored variability among subalpine lakes sharing very similar climate and atmospheric conditions, but differing in watershed characteristics, hydrology, and food web structure. Special attention was given to nitrogen (N) dynamics because the study area receives some of the highest levels of atmospheric N deposition in the Rocky Mountains. We asked if the effect of regional N deposition would be manifested uniformly among neighboring lakes both in terms of ambient conditions and responses to greater nutrient inputs. Catchment vegetation appeared to be the main determinant of ambient nitrate (NO3), phosphate (PO4), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations, although in-lake differences in recycling produced variable and contrasting NH4 levels. Phytoplankton chlorophyll atemporarily responded to early season NO3 peaks in the lakes with rocky watersheds, but chlorophyll means over the ice-free season were remarkably similar among lakes despite differences in both nutrient supply and zooplankton grazing. In most cases, phosphorus was limiting to phytoplankton growth, although the importance of N deficiencies was greater in lakes with forested watersheds and fringing wetlands.
Novel rpoB Mutations Conferring Rifampin Resistance on Bacillus subtilis: Global Effects on Growth, Competence, Sporulation, and Germination

Previously, spontaneous rifampin resistance mutations were isolated in cluster I of the rpoB gene, resulting in amino acid replacements (Q469R, H482R, H482Y, or S487L) in the Bacillus subtilis RNA polymerase β subunit (W. L. Nicholson and H. Maughan, J. Bacteriol. 184:4936-4940, 2002). In this study, each amino acid change in the β subunit was observed to result in its own unique spectrum of effects on growth and various developmental events, including sporulation, germination, and competence for transformation. The results thus establish the important role played by the RNA polymerase β subunit, not only in the catalytic aspect of transcription, but also in the regulation of major developmental events in B. subtilis.
Performance and consensus

Top management consensus on corporate objectives and on the competitive weapons employed to attain them was studied in 12 non-diversified public corporations. It was found that while agreement on both is associated positively with economic performance, agreement on means is significantly more important—in fact, agreement on goals without agreement on means correlates with poor performance. This suggests that strategy makers should concentrate on reaching consensus concerning means rather than ends (corporate goals) when formulating strategies for single-mission enterprises.
Treatment of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Results of Dana-Farber ALL Consortium Protocol 87-01

PURPOSE: To improve efficacy and reduce toxic- ity of treatment for children with acute lymphoblas- tic leukemia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients from all risk groups, including infants and those with T-cell disease, were treated between 1987 and 1991. Standard-risk (SR) patients did not receive cranial irradiation, whereas high-risk (HR) and very high-risk (VHR) patients participated in a randomized comparison of 18 Gy of cranial irradiation conventionally fractionated versus two fractions per day (hyperfractionated). RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 9.2 years, the 9-year event-free survival (EFS ± SE) was 75% ± 2% for all 369 patients, 77% ± 4% for the 142 SR patients, and 73% ± 3% for the 227 HR/VHR patients (P = .37 comparing SR and HR/VHR). The CNS, with or without concomitant bone marrow involvement, was the first site of relapse in 19 (13%) of the 142 SR patients: 16 (20%) of 79 SR boys and three (5%) of 63 SR girls. This high incidence of relapses necessitated a recall of SR boys for additional th...
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: a case study in the politics of financial reform

Purpose – The desirability of financial reform to avoid another financial melt‐down is widely accepted, but the likelihood of reform is uncertain. The purpose of this paper is to present a case study of evolution and reform attempts at US mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and provides an instructive model of the likely long‐term success of attempts to reform the financial system.Design/methodology/approach – A model of the legislative and regulatory change process is first developed, considering the range of influences that arise. The history of reform attempts for US government sponsored mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are examined in the context of this model.Findings – The model predicts that reform will often be thwarted. US government sponsored mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac helped fuel the housing bubble and required a government bail‐out. Sentiment for reform was high, but what happened next was – nothing. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have a long history of successful ...
Common Plasmid Specifying Tobramycin Resistance Found in Two Enteric Bacteria Isolated from Burn Patients

Tobramycin-resistant burn wound isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae, together with Escherichia coli K-12 transconjugants from these two strains, were examined for plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). All the resistant strains contained a common, high-molecular-weight, covalently closed circular DNA plasmid that was absent in the tobramycin-susceptible E. coli recipient strain. The common plasmid residing in E. cloacae was designated pIE098, and that residing in K. pneumoniae was designated pIE099. Both plasmid species were found to have a molecular mass of approximately 60 x 10(6) daltons and a guanine-plus-cytosine content of 50 mol%. The DNA that was extracted from all of the tobramycin-resistant strains tested was able to hybridize to 86 to 100% with pIE098 and pIE099 [(3)H]DNA generated by EcoRI to produce fragments of a size similar to those generated by BamHI. This study illustrates the usefulness of simple screening methods for antibiotic resistance plasmids in a hospital epidemiological situation.
Quantum Theory and Electron Pair Bond

It is shown for some simple examples that the stable molecular quantum state of a polyatomic system, is nearly identical with a state, by which there are built so many electron pairs between each pair of atoms, as the corresponding chemical formula shows.
Probabilistic Logic Programming with Well-Founded Negation

Knowledge representation and inference in AI have been traditionally divided between logic-based and statistical approaches. During the past decade, the rapidly developing area of Statistical Relational Learning aims to combine the two frameworks for representation and inference. In many cases, these works include probabilistic reasoning within Logic Programming frameworks. These attempts are restricted in the sense that they use only two-valued negation-as-failure semantics. However, well-founded semantics is a widely accepted three-valued-logic negation semantics scheme, which is implemented in certain Logic Programming frameworks. In this paper we introduce probabilistic inference under the well-founded semantics scheme in a single Probabilistic Logic Programming framework, where the uncertainty can be described using both statistical information (probabilities) and a third logic value.
Supporting dynamic distributed work processes with a component and event based approach

There is a long standing tension between efforts to provide coherent models of work processes and the support for the way in which work actually takes place. The well laid groundwork of extensive research on formalisms has led to a more recent focus on supporting dynamic ad-hoc work activities that are nonetheless driven by a notion of work process (P.J. Kammer et al., 2000). The widely distributed character of the Internet expands the need for dynamic and adaptive capabilities. Process enactment may extend not only across widely distributed organizational groups, but across organizational boundaries, requiring the interaction of independently executing processes in a manageable way and support for fluidly created relationships between process participants, be they individuals, groups, or organizations. The paper proposes an approach based on lightweight ubiquitous technologies and a dynamic component based view of process, to support distributed and adaptive enactment of work activities for software development. We use the term "process architecture" to describe the run-time infrastructure relating the various process elements, for example people, artifacts, automated processes, and resources. These elements, including traditional process engines, interact though layered event based mechanisms that allow dynamic composition of process architectures on-the-fly.
The impact of utilization review on costs and utilization.

This paper examines the performance of a utilization review program using data from Aetna’s utilization review (UR) customers compared to a representative sample of its customers which had no utilization review during the study period. Statistical adjustments were made for the utilization management status, employee demographics, plan benefits, group size, year effects and seasonality. The study period covered from the first quarter of 1987 through the last quarter of 1988. The data suggest that UR reduces overall medical expenses by 4.4 percent, and inpatient expenses by 8.1 percent after a year of experience, largely by reducing length of stay.
The Puzzle of the Optimal Social Composition of Neighborhoods

Commentators rightly decry the excessive segregation of American neighborhoods by race and social class. If all demographic groups were randomly distributed throughout a metropolitan area, however, there would be great diversity within each neighborhood, but no diversity among them. There is much evidence that most people, including most African Americans, would object to that outcome because it would prevent households from choosing among varying social environments. Drawing in part on Robert Putnam's distinction between bonding and bridging social capital, this paper explores the perplexing normative issue of the optimal residential distribution of different social groups.
Sodium Tanshinone II A Injection Adverse Reaction of Analysis

Sulfotanshinone Sodium Injection is a common drug used to treat angina pectoris,myocardial infarction and ventricular premature contraction.The curative effect far exceeded all expectations and adverse drug reaction happened least.The paper discusses adverse drug reaction of sulfotanshinone sodium Injection, we believe that the reason of adverse drug reaction may be instability of Injection,irritant of the surrounding, causing ulceration,monomer purified not enough and active ingredient changed into circulation.Otherwise the paper advises matters needing attention for all the doctor to make a reference.