cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Scalp-Sparing Volume Modulated Radiation Therapy (VMAT) for Newly Diagnosed Gliomas: A Phase 2 Trial.

Purpose/Objective(s) Radiation is an important treatment modality for patients with newly diagnosed gliomas. However, conventional radiation may cause microvascular changes resulting in loss of scalp thickness, elasticity and vascularization. This may increase the risk of wound complication and affect patients’ quality of life. Scalp-sparing VMAT can significantly reduce scalp radiation dose. We conducted a single-arm phase 2 trial evaluating scalp thickness, quality of life, and toxicities in patients treated on a scalp-sparing VMAT with concurrent chemotherapy. Materials/Methods This study is a single-arm phase 2 single-institution study. Adult patients (≥18 years old) with newly diagnosed grade II-IV gliomas, KPS ≥60, with an estimated survival ≥3 months, received surgical resection or biopsy, and require radiation treatment were eligible. Patients with any prior cranial radiation, intolerance to radiation, co-morbidities affecting wound-healing were excluded. Scalp-sparing intensity modulated radiation (20 cc of scalp overlying the bone plate received ≤50 Gy) were used. The primary endpoint is incidence of wound infection and/or wound dehiscence 90 days or later post-radiation treatment. Scalp thickness was measured prior to, 9 months and 18 months following treatment. Incidence of wound infection, adverse events and quality of life was recorded. Results Forty-six patients were enrolled. 41 patients completed evaluation at 30 days after first treatment, and 18 patients completed 9-month time point at the time of abstract submission. Median age at enrollment was 59.7 yo (22.2-82.6 yo). Twenty-seven patients had WHO grade IV, 12 patients with grade III, and 2 patients with grade II gliomas. Forty patients also received concurrent temozolomide. The median radiation dose is 60 Gy. Mean D20cc was 3001 cGy (1533-4408 cGy) and mean D30cc was 2378 cGy (594 – 3930 cGy). Scalp thickness decreased by an average of 10% (2-31%) and 19% (6-32%) at 9 and 18 months following CRT respectively. No patients had wound infections or dehiscence. This meets the preset benchmark of 5%. Twenty-one patients experienced grade 1 or 2 alopecia within 30 days of CRT completion. Eight patients experienced grade 1 dermatitis and one experienced grade 2 dermatitis all of which were during radiation treatment. The finds compared favorable to historical control. Conclusion Scalp-sparing VMAT is a feasible technique. The treatment is well tolerated with no significant scalp related complications. Further study is warranted to confirm the clinical benefits. Author Disclosure A. Ali: None. M.Z. Niazi: None. D.W. Andrews: None. J. Evans: None. K. Judy: None. C. Farrell: None. J. Glass: None. L. Kim: None. N. Martinez: None. I. Alnahhas: None. M. Werner-Wasik: Advisory Board; ASTRA Zeneca. Stock; Illumina. leading operations of the committee; NRG Oncology. V. Bar-Ad: None. B.E. Leiby: None. W. Shi: Independent Contractor; Wenyin Shi. Research Grant; Novocure, BrainLab, Regeneron. Consultant; Varian, BrainLab, Zai lab.
HORMONALLY-MEDIATED NORADRENERGIC MODULATION OF MEMORY PROCESSES

Posttraining peripheral injections of some hormones can enhance or impair later retention performance of a learned experience. The studies reported here examined the possibility that activity of central noradrenergic (NA) systems may mediate hormonal effects on memory. The results indicate that, under a variety of training-treatment conditions, a transient decrease in brain NA concentrations predicts later retention performance. These findings suggest that hormonal and catecholamine responses to training may be important in modulating the storage of the recent information.
Environmental transformation of alkylated and inorganic forms of certain metals.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the environmental transformation of alkylated and inorganic forms of certain metals. Metals are introduced into the environment from various sources; these include fuel combustion, incineration, mining and industry, agricultural chemicals, and liquid and solid waste from animals and men. Understanding the behavior and transformation of metals and metal compounds is an important parameter in the overall evaluation of their potential environmental hazards. The study of metal and metal compound transformations in the environment requires a variety of different considerations than for organic chemicals, since the metal portion of the compound cannot be converted to innocuous end products, as with the organics. Also, many of the reactions are reversible and thus the kinetics become very important to the cycling of the metal through the environment. A variety of processes may take place, such as degradation of organometallic forms to inorganic forms and valence changes, methylation, or chelation of the metal.
Barriers to optimal care between physicians and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning adolescent patients.

The objective of this article was to identify barriers to optimal care between physicians and LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning) adolescents. To this end, 464 anonymous, s...
Charged exciton linewidth narrowing via nuclear spin screening in an InAs QD ensemble

Differential transmission spectroscopy of InAs QDs reveals that the positively charged exciton homogeneous linewidth is broadened by the electron hyperfine interaction. Application of a Faraday magnetic field screens the interaction, narrowing the linewidth by 25%.
A Co-integration Analysis of the Dominican Republic's Aggregate Import Demand Function under a Floating Exchange Rate Regime

This paper presents an empirical examination of the responsiveness of aggregate imports to variations in relative prices and domestic economic activity in the Dominican Republic under a floating exchange rate regime implemented in 1985. Using the „bounds‟ testing approach to co-integration of Pesaran et al. (2001) and a method developed by Bardsen (1989) to derive long-run price and income elasticities of import demand for the period of 1985-2005, the findings show the existence of a co-integration relationship between imports, relative prices and domestic income. Total imports have a long-run price demand elasticity of -1.61, indicating that relative prices have a strong effect on their demand and thus signifying that the demand for imports is strongly affected by domestic inflationary pressures. Moreover, the long-run domestic income demand elasticity is +1.24, demonstrating that imports are strongly affected by domestic economic activity. This latter result is shown to have important implications for sustainable economic growth in the Dominican Republic, particularly in the light of its recent membership in the Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA).
The Contemporary Hazard of Cometary Impacts

Cosmic impacts pose a continuing hazard of loss of human life and property. Significant contemporary risk is associated with projectiles in the energy range from about 10 megatons of TNT up to the size of the K/T impactor. The lower threshold for damage is defined by the atmosphere of the Earth, which effectively shields us from smaller projectiles. Up to energies of about a gigaton of TNT, the effects are local or regional for impacts on the land, or coastal for ocean impacts, which can generate large tsunamis. A greater risk is associated with still larger impacts, which are capable of causing global ecological catastrophe, possibly leading to mass mortality from starvation and epidemics. If such an impact took place anywhere on Earth during our lifetimes, we would each be in danger, independent of where the projectile struck. Statistical estimates indicate that each human on this planet runs a risk of roughly 1 in 20,000 of dying from this cause. Prudence suggests that we should be concerned about such impacts and seek ways of avoiding them or mitigating their consequences. The primary objective of any program to deal with this hazard is to determine whether or not such a near-term impact is likely. The best approach for the asteroidal component is a comprehensive telescopic survey, which can discover all Earth-crossing asteroids larger than 1 km in diameter and provide decades of warning in which to plan ways to deflect or destroy a threatening object. Long-period comets, however, pose a much greater challenge, since they cannot be discovered long in advance of a possible impact, their orbits are harder to predict, and they are significantly more difficult to deflect or destroy.
Mild vitamin A deficiency and childhood morbidity--an Indian experience.

Over 1500 preschool urban Indian children were followed weekly for morbidity from 12 to 18 months. Examination for mild xerophthalmia (Bitots spots and night blindness) was done initially and at 6 and 12 months. Children with mild xerophthalmia at the start of a 6-month interval developed respiratory disease in the interval twice as often as children with normal eyes at the start of the interval. No association was found between mild xerophthalmia and incidence of diarrhea. (authors)
The Effects of a Team Charter on Student Team Behaviors

The authors contribute to growing evidence that team charters contribute positively to performance by empirically testing their effects on key team process outcomes. Using a sample of business students in a team-based task requiring significant cooperative and coordinative behavior, the authors compare emergent team norms under a variety of team charter intervention conditions. They find support for the assertion that the introduction of team charters does in fact manifest improved process outcomes, including communication, effort, mutual support, cohesion, and member satisfaction.
Supply Chain Management: It's All About the Journey, Not the Destination

With over three decades of the use of the term �supply chain management,� five academic and practitioner perspectives of supply chain management are described. Much ink has been devoted to defining and developing the concept and analyzing its use or nonuse. The focus of this article is on academic effort, with suggestions of how to proceed in the future.
System analysis of the ion-ring-compressor approach to fusion

An overall systems analysis of a fusion reactor scheme based on strong rings of high-energy ions generate d by adiabatic compression of low-energy rings is presented. Consideration of the reactor aspects of such a system reveals the potential for a number of technologically and economically interesting features; in particular, those associated with the expected high-? confinement characteristics of such minimum-B configurations. Although insufficient knowledge on some of the related physics questions exists, no insurmountable problems regarding th e feasibility of such a scheme can be discerned at this point. A preliminary design study for a N ? 300-MW reactor (N being the number of simultaneously employed rings) is presented.
The SRA Methyl-Cytosine-Binding Domain Links DNA and Histone Methylation

Summary Epigenetic gene silencing suppresses transposon activity and is critical for normal development [1, 2]. Two common epigenetic gene-silencing marks are DNA methylation and histone H3 lysine 9 dimethylation (H3K9me2) [1]. In Arabidopsis thaliana , H3K9me2, catalyzed by the methyltransferase KRYPTONITE (KYP/SUVH4), is required for maintenance of DNA methylation outside of the standard CG sequence context [3, 4]. Additionally, loss of DNA methylation in the met1 mutant correlates with a loss of H3K9me2 [5, 6]. Here we show that KYP-dependent H3K9me2 is found at non-CG methylation sites in addition to those rich in CG methylation. Furthermore, we show that the SRA domain of KYP binds directly to methylated DNA, and SRA domains with missense mutations found in loss-of-function kyp mutants have reduced binding to methylated DNA in vitro. These data suggest that DNA methylation is required for the recruitment or activity of KYP and suggest a self-reinforcing loop between histone and DNA methylation. Lastly, we found that SRA domains from two Arabidopsis SRA-RING proteins also bind methylated DNA and that the SRA domains from KYP and SRA-RING proteins prefer methylcytosines in different sequence contexts. Hence, unlike the methyl-binding domain (MBD), which binds only methylated-CpG sequences, the SRA domain is a versatile new methyl-DNA-binding motif.
On the quality of poisson approximations

Poisson processes (possibly nonhomogeneous) are constructed in the function spaces D q ≡D([0, 1] q , R) and Dq q x ⋯ x D q in order to approximate superpositions of uniformly sparse point processes and partial sums of infinitesimal integer-valued nonnegative random variables. Bounds for the Prohorov distance are computed, where the Prohorov distance is defined on the space of all probability measures on D q, with the Skorohod metric being used on D q. These bounds yield functional central limit theorems (invariance principles) and rates of convergence for functional central limit theorems involving convergence to the Poisson process. In this regard, this paper is an extension of Section 6 of Dudley [4].
Management of psychiatric comorbidity in fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic musculoskeletal pain condition of unknown etiology that predominantly affects women. Lifetime mood and anxiety disorders are common in patients with fibromyalgia and affect the course and severity of fibromyalgia. Recent fibromyalgia clinical trials have included clinical assessments to identify comorbid psychiatric disorders and determine the impact of comorbidity on treatment response. Options for the treatment of fibromyalgia patients with comorbid major depressive disorder or anxiety disorders include antidepressants with dual effects on serotonin and norepinephrine (eg, venlafaxine, duloxetine), which reduce pain in patients with fibromyalgia and have antidepressant and anxiolytic activity. Other possible treatments for anxiety or sleep disturbances associated with fibromyalgia include the alpha-2-delta ligands (eg, pregabalin, gabapentin) that reduce pain in fibromyalgia patients, have anxiolytic effects, and enhance slow-wave sleep. Antidepressants or alpha-2-delta ligands should be combined with established mood stabilizers in patients with comorbid fibromyalgia and bipolar disorder. There is also evidence to support exercise and cognitive-behavioral therapy in the treatment of fibromyalgia and mood or anxiety disorders. Many patients would likely benefit from combinations of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments.
Radiation‐induced xerostomia in cancer patients. Effect on salivary and serum electrolytes

Saliva and serum electrolyte concentrations were monitored in 30 patients given a course of xerostomia-producing cancer radiotherapy. The mean flow rate of stimulated whole saliva decreased 83.3% during a 6-week treatment period. The striking reduction in saliva output was accompanied by significant increases in saliva Na+, Cl-, Ca++, Mg++ and Prot.- concentrations and by a decrease in saliva HCO3- content. The xerostomic saliva was more concentrated and had a greater salinity than the pretreatment saliva in each instance. In contrast, none of the serum electrolytes measured was significantly altered by the subtotal salivary shutdown.
The distribution of ammonium salts among a size and composition dispersed aerosol

Abstract The chemical and physical processes that govern the distribution of ammonium salt condensate over a size- and composition-dispersed aerosol particle population are considered. From an analysis of the concentration profiles of ammonia, nitric acid, and hydrochloric acid vapors surrounding an aerosol particle, the single particle fluxes of these species are derived. By evaluating the time scales for equilibration of the vapor-phase species with a population of aerosol particles, it is found that ammonium salts in the gas and aerosol phases are not always in equilibrium, especially under less polluted and cooler conditions. The principles that govern the distribution of ammonium salts on aerosol particles of different size and composition are identified, and it is found that thermodynamic equilibrium often does not uniquely determine the distribution of ammonium salt condensate. Thus it is concluded that both transport and thermodynamic properties of the aerosol population govern the distribution of ammonium salt condensate.
Exploring the atomic structure and conformational flexibility of a 320 Å long engineered viral fiber using X-ray crystallography

Protein fibers are widespread in nature, but only a limited number of high-resolution structures have been determined experimentally. Unlike globular proteins, fibers are usually recalcitrant to form three-dimensional crystals, preventing single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In the absence of three-dimensional crystals, X-ray fiber diffraction is a powerful tool to determine the internal symmetry of a fiber, but it rarely yields atomic resolution structural information on complex protein fibers. An 85-residue-long minimal coiled-coil repeat unit (MiCRU) was previously identified in the trimeric helical core of tail needle gp26, a fibrous protein emanating from the tail apparatus of the bacteriophage P22 virion. Here, evidence is provided that an MiCRU can be inserted in frame inside the gp26 helical core to generate a rationally extended fiber (gp26-2M) which, like gp26, retains a trimeric quaternary structure in solution. The 2.7 A resolution crystal structure of this engineered fiber, which measures ∼320 A in length and is only 20–35 A wide, was determined. This structure, the longest for a trimeric protein fiber to be determined to such a high resolution, reveals the architecture of 22 consecutive trimerization heptads and provides a framework to decipher the structural determinants for protein fiber assembly, stability and flexibility.
About Intermediate Linguistics

Author's Summary— In a fifth-quarter course, too, standards must be high. A conversation course should meet rigid practical tests. The material should be interesting. “Civilization” material—as important as method—is redefined. In the syntax course historical and functional approach together simplify rather than complicate.
Superfulleride formation and electronic properties of C60 on K/Rh(111) surfaces

Despite the high electron affinity of C60, photoemission and work function measurements of C60 on Rh(111) surfaces containing submonolayer amounts of K show that a low value of the work function is not sufficient to cause extensive charge transfer (> 1 electron) from the substrate to the C60 molecule. However, when appropriate amounts of C60 are evaporated onto potassium multilayers of controlled thickness at 100 K, interdiffusion occurs and potassium superfullerides, KxC60 with 6 <x < 12, form on the surface. The resulting phases can be purified by annealing the sample to ≈ 325 K for x → 12, or higher temperatures for lower K stoichiometries, to drive out excess K.
Evidence for expression of estrogen receptor cofactor messenger ribonucleic acid in the ovary and uterus of domesticated animals (sheep, cow and pig).

Abstract Expression levels of estrogen receptor cofactors (coactivators or corepressors) in specific tissue compartments and cells are thought to influence the expression of estrogen responsive genes and thereby influence overall hormonal responsiveness of target tissues. To date, the presence of cofactors has been reported in tissues from humans, rats and mice. We analyzed the presence and distribution of messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs) encoding several transcriptional cofactors in the ovary and uterus of three domestic animal species, the sheep, cow and pig. Northern analysis for cofactors SRC-1, GRIP1, RAC3, p300, RIP140, and SPA showed expression in ovaries from all three species. In addition, lower expression of SRC-1, GRIP1, RAC3, p300, and RIP140 mRNAs was observed during the luteal phase (day 10–12 of the estrous cycle) than at estrus (day 0); however, SPA transcript levels remained unchanged. We then examined expression of mRNAs for changing (SRC-1, RIP140) and constitutively expressed (SPA) cofactors in ovine ovaries. SRC-1 and RIP140 transcripts in corpus luteum were lower compared to the surrounding ovarian tissue. SPA mRNA expression, however, was similar in corpus luteum and surrounding tissues. To determine which ovarian cell types express SRC-1, RIP140, and SPA, in situ hybridization was performed on sheep ovaries. Silver grains corresponding to these cofactors were seen in ovarian granulosa, theca and stromal cells, but appeared to be most abundant in the granulosa cells. Expression of SRC-1 and RIP140 in corpus luteum, however, was reduced compared to expression in follicular cells. Finally, we examined cofactor expression in ovine, bovine, and porcine uterus. Northern blot analysis for SRC-1, GRIP1, RAC3, p300, and RIP140 mRNAs showed higher expression in extracts of the endometrium compared to whole uterus. We provide the first evidence for the presence of estrogen receptor cofactor mRNAs in the ovary and uterus of three domestic animal species. We suggest that coactivators are conserved among species and associated with hormonal responsiveness of reproductive tract tissues in sheep, cow and pig.
Spatial summation in human thermal pain perception: comparison within and between dermatomes.

Spatial summation of thermal pain has recently been reported when stimulus presentations were restricted within a single dermatome. The present study examined whether the magnitude of spatial summation of human thermal pain perception would vary when stimuli were presented within vs. between adjacent dermatomes. Noxious contact heat stimuli from 43°C to 51°C (5 sec duration) were applied to the forearm using areas of 0.21–2.10 cm2. Subjects rated the intensity and unpleasantness of pain using visual analog scales. For stimuli from 45°C to 51°C, there was a significant increase in ratings with increasing stimulus area for both intensity and unpleasantness. When two thermodes were used simultaneously in adjacent dermatomes, the ratings did not differ significantly from those for the same stimulus area in a single dermatome. We conclude that spatial summation both within and between dermatomes plays a significant role in thermal pain perception across the range from threshold to tolerance.
Effects of estradiol on feeding and locomotion in REM deprived rats

Abstract Ovariectomized female rats were deprived of REM sleep by being confined to 6.5 cm platforms surrounded by water for 96 hr. Stress controls were emersed in water 1 hr/day. Exogenous estradiol benzoate (5 μg/day) stimulated activity and reduced feeding significantly more in stress and normal controls. On the assumption that REM sleep helps maintain catecholamine functioning in the brain, the data are discussed in terms of estradiol influencing weight regulatory behavior through brain catecholamines.
MRSMRS: Mining repetitive sequences in a MapReduce setting

Recent research suggests DNA repeats play critical roles in cellular regulatory functions and disease development. Also, repeat variability among different species, or the same species, is an important indicator for the development of specific phenotypes. Similarities in repetitive sequences among different species have been shown to indicate deeply conserved functions. Patterns such as ultra conserved elements (UCEs), tandem repeats, and palindromes have been of interest. Researchers utilize various computational approaches to aid in the identification of each of these types of patterns. The challenge associated with identifying repeats across a collection of genomes arises from the amount of data stored within DNA. The human genome alone consists of more than 3.1 billion base pairs, and intermediate data generated by alignment- and hash-based approaches are substantial. This sort of all-against-all analysis on a large collection of genomic sequence data often requires data to be reprocessed when new genomes are collected. To handle data of this scale, we utilize the Hadoop Distributed File System running on a cluster of 11 relatively inexpensive nodes, each containing a quad-core commodity processor. Furthermore, to alleviate redundant computation, intermediate data are organized in HBase, allowing us to incrementally process new genomic data without having to reprocess existing genomes. Our approach lends a cost-effective, flexible, robust, and scalable solution to the challenge of identifying various types of repetitive sequences across a collection of genomes. In this study, we benchmark our method using a collection of 6 genomes, summing to an approximate total of 14.2 billion base pairs. Three case studies are presented, demonstrating a 10.4 times speedup over previous state-of-the-art approaches and linear scalability.
Raising gestational choline intake alters gene expression in DMBA-evoked mammary tumors and prolongs survival

Choline is an essential nutrient that serves as a donor of metabolic methyl groups used during gestation to establish the epigenetic DNA methylation patterns that modulate tissue-specific gene expression. Because the mammary gland begins its development prenatally, we hypothesized that choline availability in utero may affect the gland's susceptibility to cancer. During gestational days 11-17, pregnant rats were fed a control, choline-supplemented, or choline-deficient diet (8, 36, and 0 mmol/kg of choline, respectively). On postnatal day 65, the female offspring received 25 mg/kg of a carcinogen 7,12-dimethylbenz[alpha]anthracene. Approximately 70% of the rats developed mammary adenocarcinomas; prenatal diet did not affect tumor latency, incidence, size, and multiplicity. Tumor growth rate was inversely related to choline content in the prenatal diet, resulting in 50% longer survival until euthanasia, determined by tumor size, of the prenatally choline-supplemented rats compared with the prenatally choline-deficient rats. This was accompanied by distinct expression patterns of approximately 70 genes in tumors derived from the three dietary groups. Tumors from the prenatally choline-supplemented rats overexpressed genes that confer favorable prognosis in human cancers (Klf6, Klf9, Nid2, Ntn4, Per1, and Txnip) and underexpressed those associated with aggressive disease (Bcar3, Cldn12, Csf1, Jag1, Lgals3, Lypd3, Nme1, Ptges2, Ptgs1, and Smarcb1). DNA methylation within the tumor suppressor gene, stratifin (Sfn, 14-3-3sigma), was proportional to the prenatal choline supply and correlated inversely with the expression of its mRNA and protein in tumors, suggesting that an epigenetic mechanism may underlie the altered molecular phenotype and tumor growth. Our results suggest a role for adequate maternal choline nutrition during pregnancy in prevention/alleviation of breast cancer in daughters.
Modification of interfacial reactivity by the microenvironment. Metallation of porphyrins in monolayer films and assemblies

Abstract An investigation of metallation of several surfactant porphyrins in organized monolayer assemblies and at a monolayer film-solution interface is reported. The several surfactant porphyrins all readily incorporate Cu2+ in solution; in contrast metallation of the same compound with Cu2+ in assemblies and at a film-solution interface occurs at widely differing rates. The ease of metallation in the organized media can be correlated with the microenvironment of the porphyrin; porphyrins in hydrophilic sites in or near the interface are readily metallated while those in more hydrophobic sites are not. Several different metal ions can be incorporated into porphyrins lying near the hydrophilic interface; however, the order of reactivity differs appreciably from that observed in solution. Thus Mg2+, which is difficult to incorporate in solutions, is readily introduced, Co2+, Ni2+, Mn2+ and Zn2+ react well in both solution and assemblies while Ni2+ and Fe2+, which undergoes facile reaction in solution, are not incorporated into the assemblies.
Nonlinear Observers for Constrained Systems

Three procedures for designing robust observers to estimate the state variables of nonlinear constrained systems have been developed in this work. All observers are based on the sliding mode methodology and assume that the number of transducers matches that of the degrees of freedom of the system. The conceptual differences between the proposed observer designs are in the number and selection of the sliding surfaces along with the formulations pertaining to their nominal models. The observers have been applied to estimate the state variables of a crank-slider mechanism of a single cylinder engine. The simulation results demonstrate the capabilities of the observers in accurately estimating the state variables of the system, including the superfluous ones, in the presence of significant structured and unstructured uncertainties. In addition, the results show that the nominal constraint equations are satisfied by the estimated state variables.© 2009 ASME
Evaporation from cranberry

Cranberry is an economically important crop in Central and Northern Wisconsin. A good understanding of the hydrology of the cranberry system is needed for optimal management of the crop, and for prediction of the fates of crop production chemicals. A key component of the hydrology of a crop-soil-management system is evapotranspiration. We measured the evapotranspiration from a cranberry bed in Central Wisconsin using the energy budget-Bowen ratio method. Gradients of vapor pressure were determined by alternately measuring the dewpoint temperature of streams of air from 0.5 and 1.0m above the crop. Temperatures were measured at the same two heights using aspirated thermocouples, periodically exchanged between heights with a device described in Appendix A. Evapotranspiration was found to be about 110% of the equilibrium evaporation rate, appreciably below the Priestley-Taylor empiricism that is known to be applicable to other crops in Wisconsin. Computer simulations reproduced the evapotranspiration rates if all of the radiation leaving the lower boundary of the canopy was absorbed by the layer of horizontal, leafless vines that covered the soil. Thus this vine layer appears to play an important role in the energy and water balances of the crop.
Recovery of plants from leaf protoplasts of hybrid-poplar and aspen clones

Leaf protoplasts were isolated from shoot cultures of two hybrid poplar clones (Populus alba × P. grandidentata ‘Crandon’, NC-5339 and P. nigra ‘Betulifolia’ × P. trichocarpa, NC-5331) and the Upright European Aspen (P. tremula ‘Erecta’) and were cultured in contact with screen discs floated in liquid medium. Protoplast culture was influenced by the growth medium of the source shoot cultures, the protoplast purification procedure, the plating density, and the presence or absence of a coconut water and casein hydrolysate supplement added to the culture medium. The protoplast-derived cells divided more quickly and with higher incidence than previously reported for hybrid poplars. Shoots were regenerated from the protoplast-derived calli and were maintained as shoot cultures. Plants were developed from microcuttings rooted ex vitro and were grown-on in the greenhouse and field.
On Banach spaces with few spreading models

If the set of spreading models of a Banach space X is countable (up to equivalence), then it cannot contain a strictly increasing infinite chain of spreading models generated by normalized weakly null sequences. Moreover, such a space X must have a spreading model which is 'close' to c 0 or l p for some 1 < p < oo.
The regional distribution of somatostatin and neuropeptide Y in control and Alzheimer's disease striatum.

Abstract Somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) and neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity (NPYLI) were measured in subdissections of both normal and Alzheimer's disease (AD) striatum at 5 coronal levels. Concentrations of both neuropeptides were relatively homogeneously distributed in the coronal and anterior-posterior planes except for a trend towards increased concentrations in the tail of the caudate and the posterior putamen. The nucleus accumbens showed 2–3-fold higher concentrations of both SLI and NPYLI than the rest of the striatum. There were no significant differences between control and AD brains. The high concentrations of SLI and NPYLI in the nucleus accumbens suggest that this region may receive somatostatin-neuropeptide Y afferents and that somatostatin and neuropeptide Y may play a role in the modulation of motor activity.
Estimating Substitution and Expansion Effects: Comment

In recent years there has been a proliferation of estimated supply and demand elasticities for the agricultural sector. The combination of duality theory, flexible functional forms, and powerful computing resources have made it easy to estimate complete supply and demand systems with relatively few restrictions on the elasticities. As a profession we must sort through these numerous estimates, many of which are contradictory, and identify the sensible ones. A recent article by Lopez in this Journal illustrates this methodology. This comment uses the Lopez results to demonstrate how hitherto underutilized theoretical insights can be usefully employed in evaluating published elasticities. The first issue involves the expected signs of "off-diagonal" elasticities for uncompensated supplies and demands, the analysis of which dates back to Hicks' work in 1939. He predicted that, in the absence of significant fixities, we should expect goods to be gross complements in production. This concept has been further developed and refined. The assumptions necessary to generate this "normal" case are reviewed in the second section. Then the relationship between gross and compensated elasticities is examined. In both of these sections empirical results from the Lopez article are found to contradict predicted outcomes based on economic theory, and an attempt is made to analyze these discrepancies.
Does there exist a political business cycle: A Box-Tiao analysis

Theories of the political business cycle are by now common. They range from the elegant theoretical work of Nordhaus (1975) to the essentially empirical work of Tufte (1978). They all assume that politicians manipulate the economy to aid their reelection efforts; in particular, politicians manipulate macroeconomic policy to create a boom just before election day. Golden and Poterba (1980) provide an excellent review of this literature. Both Tufte and Nordhaus provide casual evidence for the existence of a political business cycle. Using inflation and unemployment rates as indicators of macroeconomic outcomes, Tufte and Nordhaus predict at a minimum, that unemployment should be decreasing before election day. If presidents are really manipulating the economy very well, then unemployment should be at a minimum in the October before the election, and hence should be rising after the election. In the Nordhaus version, the economy pays for the pre-election boom with a post-election surge in the inflation rate. Nordhaus also suggests that the president should engineer a recession early in his term to reduce inflationary expectations. Tufte (1978: 20) presents graphs of the unemployment series and claims that visual examination shows them to be generally consistent with the hypothesis. However, he provides no statistical tests of the hypothesis, nor does he estimate the quantitative impact of elections on unemployment. Tufte does not examine the inflation series. Nordhaus restricts himself to comparing unemployment rates in the two years preceeding and following an election, with a simple nonparametric test supporting the hypothesis. The literature provides several good empirical tests of the political business cycle hypothesis. Both Paldam (1979) and McCallum (1978) test for the existence of four year cycles, and find none. However they do not test for discontinuous changes in the series around election day. Golden and Poterba examine whether the use of policy instruments changes near election day (and
Mycoplasma iowae : relationships among oxygen, virulence, and protection from oxidative stress

The poultry-associated bacterium Mycoplasma iowae colonizes multiple sites in embryos, with disease or death resulting. Although M. iowae accumulates in the intestinal tract, it does not cause disease at that site, but rather only in tissues that are exposed to atmospheric O2. The activity of M. iowae catalase, encoded by katE, is capable of rapid removal of damaging H2O2 from solution, and katE confers a substantial reduction in the amount of H2O2 produced by Mycoplasma gallisepticum katE transformants in the presence of glycerol. As catalase-producing bacteria are often beneficial to hosts with inflammatory bowel disease, we explored whether M. iowae was exclusively protective against H2O2-producing bacteria in a Caenorhabditis elegans model, whether its protectiveness changed in response to O2 levels, and whether expression of genes involved in H2O2 metabolism and virulence changed in response to O2 levels. We observed that M. iowae was in fact protective against H2O2-producing Streptococcus pneumoniae, but not HCN-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and that M. iowae cells grown in 1% O2 promoted survival of C. elegans to a greater extent than M. iowae cells grown in atmospheric O2. Transcript levels of an M. iowae gene encoding a homolog of Mycoplasma pneumoniae CARDS toxin were 5-fold lower in cells grown in low O2. These data suggest that reduced O2, representing the intestinal environment, triggers M. iowae to reduce its virulence capabilities, effecting a change from a pathogenic mode to a potentially beneficial one.
Improvement of dy/dy dystrophic diaphragm by 3,4-diaminopyridine.

Concerns have been raised that inotropic agents may worsen function of dystrophic muscle due to structural fragility. Studies tested the hypothesis that force increments elicited by potassium (K+) channel blockade can be maintained during the course of repetitive stimulation. In vitro twitch force of dy/dy dystrophic mouse diaphragm was significantly lower than normal (796 versus 1271 g/cm2). 3,4-Diaminopyridine (DAP) increased twitch force of dystrophic diaphragm by 111 ± 12% (P < .0001) and increased force at stimulation frequencies of 5–50 Hz by 41–77%. During fatigue-inducing stimulation, force augmentation by DAP was well maintained in dystrophic muscle throughout 25 Hz (P = .0047) and 50 Hz (P = .0059) stimulation. These findings indicate that the K+ channel blocker DAP augments the force of dystrophic muscle to values close to that of normal muscle over a range of stimulation frequencies. Furthermore, these functional increments can be achieved without causing force to eventually deteriorate below that of untreated dystrophic muscle during fatiguing stimulation. It is possible that DAP may be useful for the clinical management of a variety of disorders causing muscle weakness. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Muscle Nerve 26: 71–78, 2002
Antibacterial activity of stimulated guinea pig peritoneal exudate cell culture supernates

Abstract Guinea pigs infected with Mycobacterium bovis BCG at least 5 weeks previously yield peritoneal exudate cells which, when stimulated in culture for 2–3 days with specific antigen (PPD), elaborate into the culture medium a factor which is antibacterial for listeria and corynebacteria, but not against other organisms tested. Concentrations of colchicine and vinblastine above 10 −7 M completely inhibited its production. The yield of the factor was also found to be dependent on the choice of culture medium, the source of serum, and whether or not the scrum was heated at 56 °C for 30 min. It was weakly antagonized by the anions, RNA, and cyclic and noncyclic nucleotides, but not by lysozyme. It did not lyse M. lysodcikticus and had at least 100 times more activity than egg white lysozyme against listeria. Nonadherent cells from BCG-infected guinea pigs, plus PPD, stimulated adherent monolayer cells from normal guinea pigs to produce this material, but they did not stimulate adherent, cells from rabbit peritoneal exudates to its production.
School Integration for Students with Mental Handicaps: A Cross-Cultural Perspective.

Abstract Descriptive information was presented which related to the school integration of students with mental handicaps in four western European countries. The investigator based his findings on a five‐month visit to Great Britain, Italy, Switzerland, and West Germany. Observations, interviews, and documents were synthesized to draw conclusions about educational programs. Preliminary inferences were drawn about the development of educational models in these countries and the United States. Potential variables were identified which influence systems change toward integrated school models. ∗ The completion of the research was supported by a Fulbright Senior Research Fellowship. I would like to thank Eileen Gambrill for being a catalyst, Georg Feuser for being my sponsor, Heidi Rose for being a facilitator, and Cory Gaylord‐Ross for her continued support. My appreciation goes to the following individuals for their assistance in this work: Jens Bartholin, Karin Bernath, Giancarlo Cottoni, Nora Ferro, John Fi...
Learning Competent Fathering: A Longitudinal Analysis of Marital Intimacy and Fathering

Although scholars have documented many links between marital relationships and parenting, these associations are not commonly explained in terms of behavior that is learned or achieved over time. This paper examines the idea that good fathering—conceptualized here as competent fathering—is the result of a developmental process, and that a loving, committed relationship between parents creates a context in which traits supportive of caring fathering are likely to be learned and practiced. After setting the stage conceptually, we provide a modest initial test of this hypothesis to discern the associations between three components of marital intimacy (emotional intimacy, commitment, and passion) and fathering. Results yielded positive, moderate concurrent associations between marital intimacy and fathering, and positive, low associations between these variables longitudinally. These associations give a degree of support to the notion of fathering as a developmental process, and confirm the sensitivity of fathering to the marital context.
Inheritance of proliferative breast disease in breast cancer kindreds

Previous studies have emphasized that genetic susceptibility to breast cancer is rare and is expressed primarily as premenopausal breast cancer, bilateral breast cancer, or both. Proliferative breast disease (PBD) is a significant risk factor for the development of breast cancer and appears to be a precursor lesion. PBD and breast cancer were studied in 103 women from 20 kindreds that were selected for the presence of two first degree relatives with breast cancer and in 31 control women. Physical examination, screening mammography, and four-quadrant fine-needle breast aspirates were performed. Cytologic analysis of breast aspirates revealed PBD in 35% of clinically normal female first degree relatives of breast cancer cases and in 13% of controls. Genetic analysis suggests that genetic susceptibility causes both PBD and breast cancer in these kindreds. This study supports the hypothesis that this susceptibility is responsible for a considerable portion of breast cancer, including unilateral and postmenopausal breast cancer.
The effect of dietary protein on Trichinella spiralis infection and inflammatory reactions in the tongue in CD1 mice

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of changes of host dietary protein concentrationon the propagation and expulsion of adult worms of Trichinella spiralis by mice and the larva-induced inflammatory response in tongue muscle. Five week old CD1 female mice were fed low (4%) or normal (26%) protein diets respectively for six weeks and infected with 200 larvae of T. spiralis . The low (4%) protein diet exerted a significant weight loss in infected mice in that dietary group compared to mice fed the 26% protein diet and infected. The (4%) protein deficient diet diminished the expulsion of T. spiralis from the intestinal tract. Counts of adults worms on Days 10, 14, post-infection (PI) and of larvae on Day 35 PI of mice fed the (4%) proteindiet were significantly increased compred to counts in mice on the normal (26%) protein diet. The severity of the inflammatory response to T. spiralis larvae was proportinal in tongue muscle to the adequacy of dietary protein. The low (4%) protein diet induced leucopenia, with the suppression of peripheral and tissue eosinophilia and its related allergic response. The low (4%) protein diet also delayed, and weakened the inflammatory response to the invading prasites compared to the normal (25%) protein diet.
Effect of adrenalectomy on calcium metabolism in vitamin D-treated and rachitic rats

The effect of adrenalectomy on radiocalcium distribution in rachitic and vitamin D-treated rats was studied. Adrenalectomy resulted in an increased deposition of radiocalcium in the femurs of both rachitic and vitamin D-treated rats when compared with their respective shamoperated controls. However, kinetic analysis of the data on the skeletal uptake of radiocalcium demonstrated that accretion rates of bone mineral were decreased by adrenalectomy at least in vitamin D-treated animals. Vitamin D administration, on the other, hand increased the accretion rate over that of rachitic controls in both adrenalectomized and non-adrenalectomized animals. In addition vitamin D was shown to enhance intestinal absorption as well as skeletal deposition of radiocalcium in the adrenalectomized rachitic rat.
Assessments of Trust in Intimate Relationships and the Self-Perception Process

Assessments of trust in intimate relationships are often based on perceptions of a partner's behaviors; however, people's own actions, increased self-awareness, and individual differences (e.g., exchange or communal orientation) may also affect their trust in their partners. Communally or exchange-oriented members of heterosexual dating couples, students in a U.S. university, displayed either trusting or irrelevant behaviors under conditions of increased self-awareness. They then completed measures of interpersonal trust. The participants' trusting behaviors significantly determined their level of trust; heightened self-awareness and a communal orientation further enhanced the participants' trust in their partners.
Ewing's sarcoma of the cavernous sinus: case report.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE The Ewing's sarcoma (ES) family of tumors is a relatively rare entity, presenting most commonly in children. While the most common sites for this group of tumors are the trunk and the extremities, this case is unique in that we describe a long-term follow-up with an ES presenting in the cavernous sinus. CLINICAL PRESENTATION We report the case of a 13-year-old girl presenting with the symptoms of classic orbital apex syndrome. Magnetic resonance imaging disclosed a cavernous sinus mass engulfing the optic nerve and extending into the superior orbital fissure. INTERVENTION Evaluation of this patient included intracranial magnetic resonance imaging angiography and biopsy of the cavernous sinus mass lesion. Histopathological findings yielded a diagnosis of ES. Further work-up demonstrated that the patient's thyroid was also involved. The tumor was treated with radiation therapy to both sites and, subsequently, after confirmed metastases to other sites, 11 cycles of doxorubicin-based chemotherapy, as well as bone marrow transplantation. However, the patient succumbed to the illness 18 months after her initial diagnosis. CONCLUSION The cavernous sinus is an unusual site for ES, but given the vascularity and the frequency of this tumor in childhood, the diagnosis should be entertained. This patient with an ES of cavernous sinus may be the first reported case with a long-term follow-up in the literature.