cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Utility of magnetic resonance imaging for suspected appendicitis in pregnant women

Objective The purpose of this study was to estimate the rate and risk of appendix nonvisualization and alternative diagnoses made with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for suspected appendicitis in pregnant women. Study Design We performed a retrospective cohort study of consecutive pregnant women who underwent MRI for suspected appendicitis at a single center from 2007-2012. Data on clinical presentation, imaging, and surgical pathologic evidence were extracted from electronic medical records. Odds ratios estimated risk factors for nondiagnosis. Radiologic diagnoses were identified, and rates of diagnoses were calculated. Subgroup analysis was performed among women who underwent initial imaging with ultrasound scanning. Results Over the 5-year period, 171 pregnant women underwent MRI for suspected appendicitis. The rate of nonvisualization was 30.9% (n = 53). Of the remaining 118 women with a visualized appendix, 18 women had imaging findings that were consistent with appendicitis and underwent appendectomy. Twelve cases of appendicitis were confirmed on pathologic evaluation (66.7%). Women with nonvisualization of the appendix on MRI were more likely to be beyond the first trimester (odds ratio, 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.0–4.5). Seventy-four women had disease diagnosed on MRI (43.3%). In the group of 43 women who had a nondiagnostic ultrasound scanning before the MRI, the rate of subsequent diagnostic MRI was 65% (n = 28). Conclusion MRI yields a high diagnostic rate and accuracy in pregnant women with suspected appendicitis and provides alternative diagnoses to guide further management. Given the high rate of appendix nonvisualization on ultrasound scanning that has been reported in the literature, we recommend MRI as the imaging modality of choice for this population in settings in which MRI is readily available.
A Typological Approach to Individual Urban Travel Behavior Prediction

With the use of cluster analysis a sample of 1018 residents of the San Francisco Bay Area was classified into eleven types of urban residents on the basis of overall similarity of personal and environmental characteristics, and independently into nine types of travel behavior.The relations between the two typologies, and the comparative travel behavior of the types of urban resident were investigated in an attempt to gain insight into the determinants of urban travel. The probability of the correct assignment of a travel behaviour type to an urban resident type was of the order of 0·30.Monte Carlo simulation methods were used to test empirically whether the value of a given travel behavior characteristic for a given urban resident type can be assumed to be higher (or lower) than the value in the general population, thus testing the predictability of the travel behavior of the various urban resident types. Conversely, the prediction of the urban traveler's personal characteristics given his travel behavior...
traditional agriculture, central places, and postdisaster urban relocation in Peru1

In the aftermath of the 1970 earthquake-avalanche disaster in Peru, survivors of the devastated city of Yungay refused to let their city be relocated in a safer area. Research suggests that as well as having strong emotional ties to the site of their destroyed home, the survivors' refusal to relocate demonstrates a rational assessment of the functional prerequisites for urban growth. These folk perceptions of urban settlement parallel closely the basic formulations of central place theory from geography.
The Role of Marketing Processes in Making Cultural Meanings

An overview of the market system as a cultural institution is presented, and the concept of cultural meaning for material artifacts is discussed. The authors propose a system for representing cultural meaning of objects; this system can summarize the convergence of meaning for most material objects across individuals, subcultures, and time.
Increased urinary excretion of PGE2 during inappropriate antidiuresis induced by DDAVP.

Increased urinary excretion of PGE 2 during inappropriate antidiureses induced by DDAVP. Increased urinary prostaglandin E excretion (U PGE 2 V) and renal production of PGE 2 have been implicated in the mediation of escape from inappropriate antidiuresis induced by vasopressin (AVP). AVP-induced increases in PGE 2 have been linked to its pressor activity. We examined the effects of the non-pressor AVP analogue, 1,desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP), on U PGE 2 V in a rat model of inappropriate antidiuresis in which the escape response is not apparent. A dose of DDAVP known to cause antidiuresis (10 ng/hr), was given by osmotic minipump to rats during a water diuresis established by ad libitum ingestion of 5% dextrose in water (D/W). This dose of DDAVP reduced plasma sodium (P [Na + ] ) to 127 ± 2 mEq/liter within 24hr. P [Na + ] in controls given 5% D/W alone was 151 ± 2. In the first eight hr after DDAVP, U PGE 2 V was fivefold higher than in control animals, an increase which was sustained for 48hrs. Plasma renin (PRA) was threefold higher in control rats compared to rats that had received DDAVP, consistent with volume expansion in the latter. Despite declines in P [Na + ] and PRA and increased U PGE 2 V in DDAVP treated rats, evidence of escape from inappropriate antidiuresis (secondary decline in Uosm or rise in urine volume (V) or P [Na + ] ) was lacking. Moreover, DDAVP induced similar fivefold increases in U PGE 2 V when given to fluid deprived rats, demonstrating that increases of U PGE 2 V during inappropriate antidiuresis were not mediated by volume expansion. Administration of indomethacin to volume repleted DDAVP treated rats did not significantly increase Uosmol or decrease V compared to values observed in rats receiving DDAVP alone. The results indicate that an increase in U PGE 2 V per se is not sufficient to trigger escape from inappropriate antidiuresis. They also suggest that increased U PGE 2 V can be mediated directly through the antidiuretic as well as the pressor activity of AVP.
Beyond discovery: design for a new material world

For millennia, materials have paced the evolution of technology. Their central importance in the advance of human civilization has been acknowledged in the naming of Ages, from Stone, Bronze and Iron to Silicon. While to the general public the structure of materials remains largely shrouded in medieval alchemical mystery, the specialists knowledge has seen an explosive growth over the past half century in the ability to observe, predict and manipulate multiscale material microstructures over a hierarchy of length scales. As an Age of Discovery draws to a close, a new confluence of natural philosophies has brought an Age of Design in which a rekindling of human creativity offers both new materials and ways of creating them beyond the dreams of the alchemist.
Formation and properties of thorium peroxide

Abstract The initial gelatinous product of the reaction between hydrogen peroxide and aqueous thorium chloride solution has a fixed peroxidic oxygen-to-thorium atom ratio of five to three and a variable initial chloride ion content of 0.3–0.5 chloride ions per thorium. The compound does not hydrolyze and is stable in the presence of liquid water, but decomposes with loss of active oxygen if it is dried at room temperature. Conductometric titrations indicate that the formation reaction proceeds by a combination of replacement of hydroxyl groups from the initial hydrolyzed thorium ion and direct addition of peroxidic anions.
Curing of polyimides

The imidization of films of the polyamic acid obtained from reaction of pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) with oxydianiline (ODA) was studied by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (with the Polymer Labs DMTA), Two process regions are observed. The first process is characterized by decomplexation of the NMP/polyamic acid complex, plasticization, and imidization. The heating rate determines the character of the first process. At high temperatures (above 300°C) the second process becomes apparent. It is connected to the increase in chain mobility at these temperatures which allow molecular packing processes (densification, ordering) to occur. The ordering leads to an increase of the storage modulus. The particular transition temperature increases with annealing time.
A zooarchaeological investigation into the meat industry established at the Cape of Good Hope by the Dutch East India Company in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries

A zooarchaeological investigation into the meat industry established at the Cape of Good Hope by the Dutch East India Company in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries . Rutgers University, 2011....
Adaptive Expertise during Simulated Flight

The present research examined pilot ability to perform simulated flight maneuvers in routine and nonroutine instrument flight situations as a function of expertise. Twenty-one pilots were asked to fly nine simulated instrument flight maneuvers using a modified version of Microsoft Flight Simulator©. Each of the flight maneuvers involved performing routine control movements on up to three axes (airspeed, altitude, and/or heading). For the first seven trials, all instruments operated properly. During the final two trials, the attitude indicator experienced a partial vacuum failure that was either announced or unannounced. Pilot control movements, eye fixations, and flight status were recorded. Percent goal completion within specified bounds (commercial pilot standards) was calculated for each trial. Eye fixations were not analyzed. The results indicated an overall expertise effect for routine flight. However, during unannounced failure, expert performance dropped to novice levels. The results are discussed ...
Hemodynamic Sequelae of Sustained Elevation of Left Atrial Pressure

A comparison of hemodynamic findings in 63 cases of mitral stenosis and in 35 cases of chronic left ventricular failure is presented. It is shown that circulatory dynamics of the 2 conditions are similar and only minor differences were detected.
Elastic characterization of nanoporous gold foams using laser based ultrasonics.

Abstract A resonance based laser ultrasonics technique is explored for the characterization of low density nanoporous gold foams. Laser generated zero group velocity (ZGV) lamb waves are measured in the foams using a Michelson interferometer. The amplitude spectra obtained from the processed time-domain data are analyzed using a theoretical model from which the foam Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio are obtained. The technique is non-contact and nondestructive, and the ZGV resonance modes are spatially localized, allowing for spatial mapping of the bulk sample properties. The technique may be suitable for process control monitoring and mechanical characterization of low density nanoporous structures.
Taking Los Angeles Apart: Some Fragments of a Critical Human Geography

This essay, is a presentation of a succession of brief, tentative, and often incongruous readings of the human geography of contemporary Los Angeles, an urban region of both telling uniqueness and ...
Modeling of wrinkled laminar flames with intermittency and conditional statistics

A new approach for modeling wrinkled laminar flames using the concept of intermittency is proposed and examined. The flow field is conditioned according to the indicator function I(x,t) , which has a value of unity when the mixture is completely burned and of zero when the mixture is unburned. A two-zone analysis is developed with two sets of conditioned equations depicting the flow behavior in each zone. Closure of these conditioned equations is provided by a second-order closure scheme and models tentatively proposed for the interfacial terms. A sample calculation is carried out for a homogeneous decaying grid-generated turbulence with two distinct scalar fields to evaluate the performance of the model. The calculation results seem to be reasonable although there are no experimental data for a direct comparison. Parametric studies of flame brush thickness characteristics indicate that the model predictions agree qualitatively with experimental observation.
Abnormalities in CD4+ T-lymphocyte subsets in inflammatory rheumatic diseases

Abstract The monoclonal antibodies anti-2H4 and anti-4B4 identify the suppressor-inducer (CD4+2H4+) and helper-inducer (CD4+4B4+) subpopulations of CD4 (T4+) lymphocytes, respectively. The cell surface phenotype of peripheral blood lymphocytes and synovial fluid lymphocytes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory joint diseases was analyzed by use of these and other well-characterized anti-T-cell monoclonal antibodies. In the synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, there was a markedly decreased percentage of T4+2H4+ suppressor-inducer cells (3.1 ± 1 percent) and an increased percentage of T4+4B4+ helper-inducer cells (29.1 ± 9 percent) as compared with the proportions found in the peripheral blood of normal individuals (T4+2H4+: 19.0 ± 6 percent, T4+4B4+: 23.0 ± 7 percent). Moreover, patients with other chronic and acute inflammatory joint diseases exhibited highly similar synovial T-cell findings to those of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis (T4+2H4+: 4.2 ± 3 percent, T4+4B4+: 33.1 ± 9 percent). In contrast, there were no significant differences between the normal control subjects and patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the percentage of T4+2H4+ cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes, nor were there significant differences between normal control subjects, patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and patients with other joint diseases (osteoarthritis, gout, B27+ spondyloarthropathy, and psoriatic arthritis) in the number of T4+4B4+ cells or in the T4/T8 ratio of peripheral blood lymphocytes. However, very low numbers of T4+2H4+ (suppressor-inducer) peripheral blood lymphocytes were seen in a subgroup of patients, including five of seven with Reiter's syndrome and several patients with systemic rheumatic disease syndromes. In addition, although the percentage of T4+2H4+ cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with osteoarthritis (13.7 ± 7 percent) and gout (14.3 ± 7 percent) was decreased compared with that of normal controls (19.0 ± 6 percent) (osteoarthritis versus normal controls p
Interface Style and Training Task Difficulty as Determinants of Effective Computer‐Assisted Knowledge Transfer*

The transfer of expert knowledge to novices is one means of improving decision quality. Research needs to identify (1) the knowledge to be transferred to novices, and (2) the best method for transferring that knowledge. Studies that compare the judgment behavior of experienced and novice auditors address the first issue. The present study addresses the second issue in the context of using a computer-assisted training (CAT) program. CAT was selected for study because of evidence that it can both improve the effectiveness and reduce the costs of training. An experiment was conducted in which two factors were manipulated: (1) the design of the human-computer interface of the CAT program, and (2) the content of training tasks. The judgment of interest involved causal reasoning about the relationships between various internal control procedures and possible errors. The results indicate that alternative styles of interaction with a CAT program differ in terms of learning effectiveness. In addition, there was also evidence that training task content affected learning.
Monandrous social organization of pigtailed langurs ( Simias concolor ) in the Pagai Islands, Indonesia

Between June 1986 and October 1992, in 3 periods totaling 12 months, we studied social organization of pigtailed langurs (Simias concolor)in the Pagai Islands, Indonesia. With one possible exception, all of 20 family groups contained only 1 adult male each. Nine of them contained only 1 adult female,and 11 contained ≥2 adult females. Mean group size is 4.1 individuals. Home ranges varied from 7 to 20 ha, and population density averages 21 animals/km2. Simias concoloris sexually dimorphic⤖n a museum sample males average 29% heavier than females, and their canine teeth are on average nearly twice the length of female canines. Combined data from several studies indicate that 60% of S. concolorgroups contain an adult pair plus young,and 40% are multifemale groupings. We sggest that any 1-male mating system that comprises a mixture of 1-female and multifemale groups in the same population should be termed monandry.
Relativistic Invariance and Quantum Phenomena

The principal theme of this discourse is the great difference between the relation of special relativity and quantum theory on the one hand, and general relativity and quantum theory on the other. Most of the conclusions which will be reported on in connection with the general theory have been arrived at in collaboration with Dr. H. Salecker,1 who has spent a year in Princeton to investigate this question.
On a third kind of characteristic numbers of the spheroidal functions.

Abstract A set of real positive numbers γαn(c) was found recently to be associated with the spheroidal functions of real order α > -1 as a consequence of their double orthogonality on (-1, 1) and (- ∞, ∞). In the range -1 -1.
The human breast and the ancestral reproductive cycle

This paper, using modern Darwinian theory, proposes an explanation for the increasingly high incidence of breast cancer found among pre-and post-menopausal women living today in westernized countries. A number of factors have been said to be responsible: genetic inheritance (BRCA-1), diet (specifically the increased consumption of dietary fat), exposure to carcinogenic agents, lifetime menstrual activity, and reproductive factors. The primary aim of this paper is to demonstrate the value of a perspective based on Darwinian theory. In this paper, Darwinian theory is used to explore the possibility that the increased incidence of breast cancer is due primarily to the failure to complete in a timely manner the reproductive developmental cycle, beginning at menarche and continuing through a series of pregnancies and lactation. On the basis of comparative data, we assume that most women in ancestral populations began having children before age 20 or so and tended to remain either pregnant or nursing for most of their adult lives. If a woman did not have a child by age 25 or so, she probably would never have one. Therefore, selection would probably not have acted against deleterious traits, such as cancer, that appeared after that age, just as it does not act against such traits in old age.
Minimally invasive surgery in the neonate: review of current evidence

Minimally invasive surgery has been one of the most important surgical advances in the last 15 years. The development of smaller instruments has allowed pediatric surgeons to apply this rapidly evolving technology to neonates. Congenital neonatal deformities including tracheoesophageal fistula, patent ductus arteriosus, duodenal atresia and anorectal malformations are now being managed with minimally invasive surgery. This article summarizes the status of these techniques in neonates.
Sealed-Tube Ignitron Rectifiers

IN the past decade the advantages of the rectifier, when compared to other forms of conversion equipment, have led to the development of multianode steel tank and glass-bulb rectifiers. The desirable structural features and operating characteristics, however, have not been fully realized when pump-evacuated tanks and fragile glass-bulb rectifiers have been applied to small conversion units of low-voltage rating. Development of a means of starting or igniting1 a cathode spot, each positive half cycle, on a pool of mercury has stimulated the design of a practicable half-wave or single-anode rectifier. The low density of ionization during the inverse cycle so reduced the shielding necessary to prevent arcback and, in consequence, the arc losses, that these rectifiers could be efficiently applied in the lower-voltage (250 volts d-c) fields.
Does this book make me look fat? The effect of protagonist body weight and body esteem on female readers' body esteem

Abstract Effects of visual representations of the thin ideal in the media have been widely explored, but textual representations of the thin ideal in novels have received scant attention. The chick literature genre has been criticized for depicting characters who worry about their body weight and who have poor body esteem. Excerpts from two chick lit novels were used to examine the effect of a protagonist's body weight and body esteem on college women's ( N = 159) perceptions of their sexual attractiveness and weight concern. Two narratives were used to minimize the possibility that idiosyncratic characteristics of one excerpt might influence the study's results. Underweight (vs. healthy weight) protagonists predicted readers’ lower perceived sexual attractiveness. Protagonists with low body esteem (vs. control) predicted readers’ increased weight concern. Scholars and health officials should be concerned about the effect chick lit novels might have on women's body image.
1244 EFFECTS OF A DOUBLE-WALLED INCUBATOR ON THE PARTITION OF BODY HEAT LOSS OF PREMATURE INFANTS

We measured metabolic heat production (M) and body heat loss (HL) of 8 AGA premature infants by indirect calorimetry in a double-walled incubator (Air-Shields) with (DW) and without (SW) the inner wall. The infants had birth weights of 1.47-1.89 kg; they were 6-19 days old. Each infant was studied in SW and DW on the same day with incubator servocontrolled to maintain abdominal skin temperature at 36.5°C. After thermal equilibration, oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2), and insensible water loss (IWL) were measured continuously for 1.5-2.5 hours in each incubator. Temperatures (T) were recorded every 15 min at 18 sites (4 body, 14 environmental). M and HL were calculated and HL partitioned into evaporation (E), radiation (R), and the sum (C) of convection and conduction. Air T was lower in the DW, 33.8 vs 34.8°C; mean wall T was higher in the DW, 32.3 vs 31.7°C. Operative environmental T was 32.9°C in both incubators. The means are shown below, VO2 and VCO2 in ml/(kg-min), IWL in ml/(kg.h), and M, HL, E, R, C in kcal/(kg.h): (*P<0.05, paired t) With SW and DW both servocontrolled to keep abdominal skin T constant, there were no significant differences in VO2, IWL or total HL. The only difference was in the partition of heat loss, with DW reducing loss by R in exchange for increased loss by C.
CS in parallel: modules for adding parallel computing to CS courses, from CS2 to theory of computation (abstract only)

Parallel computing with more and more cores is here to stay. This workshop presents four independent, class-tested, primarily hands-on modules for incrementally adding parallelism in undergraduate CS courses, each requiring 1 to 3 class days and versatile for diverse courses and curricula: parallelizing loops and sharing memory on Intel's Manycore Testing lab (for a second CS course or for computer organization); parallel web crawler in Java or C++ (second CS course); parallel sorting (algorithms); A- calculus theory for communicating sequential processes (theory of computation). Workshop materials provided, drawn from CSinParallel.org. Intended audience: CS instructors. Laptop recommended (Windows, Mac, Linux).
Synergistic inactivation of plasma α1-proteinase inhibitor by aldehydes of cigarette smoke with styrene oxide and 1,2-dichloroethane

Previous studies from this laboratory have shown that α1proteinase inhibitor (α1-PI) can be inactivated by aldehydes found in the cigarette smoke as well as by industrial chemicals. Studies presented here demonstrate the synergistic inactivation of α1-PI by styrene oxide or 1,2-dichloroethane when mixed with acrolein or pyruvic aldehyde and vice-versa. The data suggest that smokers exposed to chemicals in industry may be more prone to lung emphysema due to synergistic inactivation of α1-PI by chemicals and cigarette smoke components.
A path-analytic study of a model of salesperson performance

Researchers have been giving increased attention to determinants of salesperson performance. Despite this research interest, empirical work has generally ignored interrelationships among the determinants of salesperson performance. This paper reports the results of a study that focused on predictors of salesperson performance and the relationships among these predictors. The investigation included variables previously examined in sales management research as well as variables heretofore not investigated.
A Model of the Perceived Competence of Conflict Strategies.

This study examines how strategic communication is linked to specific relational features. We hypothesize that perceptions of a communicator's competence mediate the effects of conflict strategies on the relational outcomes measured by trust, control mutuality, intimacy, and satisfaction. The components of competence were specific and general appropriateness, effectiveness, and global competence; these were included in LISREL analyses to investigate How the variables conflict, competence, and relational outcomes were linked. Participants reported on their partners’ conflict strategies, their own perceptions of the partner's competence, and relational variables. The results reveal that integrative strategies were positively linked to competence, whereas distributive and avoidant strategies were negatively linked to competence. The results support the view that competence perceptions mediate the link between conflict messages and relational outcomes.
Discrimination of malignant lymphomas and leukemia using Radon transform based-higher order spectra

A new algorithm that can be used to automatically recognize and classify malignant lymphomas and leukemia is proposed in this paper. The algorithm utilizes the morphological watersheds to obtain boundaries of cells from cell images and isolate them from the surrounding background. The areas of cells are extracted from cell images after background subtraction. The Radon transform and higher-order spectra (HOS) analysis are utilized as an image processing tool to generate class feature vectors of different type cells and to extract testing cells' feature vectors. The testing cells' feature vectors are then compared with the known class feature vectors for a possible match by computing the Euclidean distances. The cell in question is classified as belonging to one of the existing cell classes in the least Euclidean distance sense.
Metacognition in HIV-1 seropositive asymptomatic individuals: Self-ratings versus objective neuropsychological performance

This study examined the relationship between actual and self-reported neuropsychological deficits, depression, and HIV-1 serostatus. The subjects, who consisted of 479 individuals, 256 who were HIV seronegative (SN) and 233 who were HIV-1 seropositive though still asymptomatic (ASP), were administered a standardized neuropsychological screening battery consisting of measures of attention, motor speed, psychomotor speed, verbal memory, verbal fluency, and depression. To assess subjects' subjective sense of their cognitive status, the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ), a 25-item self-report questionnaire, was also administered. The results of MANOVA failed to reveal group differences between the SN and ASP groups on the measures of neuropsychological function. Similarly, the ASP and SN groups did not differ on the number or severity of reported cognitive failures. However, a positive correlation was found between CFQ scores and level of depression. These results do not support the hypothesis that ASP individuals are aware of cognitive decline prior to detection using standard neuropsychologic screening instruments. The data do suggest that the presence of depressed mood, independent of serostatus or actual neuropsychological impairment, is associated with increased cognitive complaints.
Evaluation of traditional diet and corn gluten feed substituted alternative diet for pond-raised hybrid catfish on production and xanthophyll level

Abstract In the United States, catfish industry is a mature industry with a long history of success. However, the industry faces numerous challenges while it evolves and adapts to shifting inputs and market demands, such as the dramatic increase in the price of feed ingredients and requests for more consistent fillet color. There is considerable interest in reducing the cost of production diets either by reducing the protein content or by using alternative ingredients such as corn gluten feed. Towards this goal, a pond study was conducted to evaluate the utilization of alternative feed containing 20% corn gluten feed compared to traditional feed without corn gluten feed for the production of channel-blue hybrid catfish. Both alternative and traditional feeds were formulated with two protein contents (28% and 32%). In addition to traditional parameters, the xanthophyll contents on the fish fillets were determined. Upon initiation of the pond trial, 600 hybrid catfish fingerlings were stocked in each of 20 0.04-ha ponds, with a mean weight of 34.5 g/fish. Fish were fed four experimental diets once daily to apparent satiation over a summer growing season. No significant differences were found in growth performance and feed utilization among the four treatments, including gross and net yield, total amount of feed fed, estimated feed conversion ratio and survival. No significant differences were found in mean individual fish weight and mean total body length at harvest, relative weight index and dressout (headed and gutted). However, intraperitoneal fat ratio was significantly lower in fish fed the alternative feeds indicating lower energy content of the diet. No significant differences were observed in hematology and immune response indices. Xanthophyll levels in diets and in fillet were linearly related, but without discernible yellow color. These data generally indicate that channel-blue hybrids can efficiently utilize all the four experimental diets with satisfying production result.
Increased saccadic distractibility in tardive dyskinesia: functional evidence for subcortical GABA dysfunction.

Abstract In mammals, GABAergic projections from the substantia nigra reticulata to the superior colliculus provide tonic inhibition to tectal neurons involved in the generation of saccades. Dysfunction of this pathway has been shown to produce saccadic "distractibility" in the experimental monkey. In two oculomotor paradigms, control of saccadic eye movements was tested in chronic schizophrenic patients with ( n = 18) and without ( n = 16) tardive dyskinesia (TD) and normal controls ( n = 8). The three groups were matched by mean age; the TD and non-TD patient groups had similar duration of illness, benztropine and chlorpromazine equivalent doses and educational levels. A twofold increase in saccadic distractibility was observed in TD compared to non-TD schizophrenic patients, and both patient groups demonstrated a greater saccadic distractibility than normals. Furthermore, schizophrenic patients (both with and without TD) showed significantly increased latency for "volitional" saccades compared to the normal controls. These findings may provide further evidence for basal ganglia GABA dysfunction in tardive dyskinesia, as well as demonstrate oculomotor abnormalities in schizophrenic individuals.
MR Imaging of Soft Tissue Tumors: An Overview.

Over the past decade, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has been established as the most widely used examination for the detection of a suspected soft tissue mass and often for depiction of the extent and the characterization of the mass. Sensitivity of the examination for the detection of soft tissue masses is high but specificity is limited. With experience accrued over the past decade, radiologists are increasingly able to predict the histology of lesions based on MR imaging criteria. However, because of the overlap of morphologic features of benign and malignant soft tissue masses, a benign-appearing mass should not be considered benign unless the tumor can be specifically named and its histology predicted by well-established MR imaging features. When a mass is not thought to be an overt sarcoma and there is uncertainty as to whether it is benign or malignant, the tumor should be characterized as indeterminate and approached as a sarcoma until proven otherwise. This article reviews MR imaging in diagnosing and staging soft tissue masses and briefly discusses the radiologistOs approach to percutaneous biopsy of indeterminate soft tissue masses.
PRIOR RESIDENCE EFFECT IN THE DART-POISON FROG, DENDROBATES PUMILIO

Each of 32 male, Dendrobates pumilio (red phase) were allowed to establish a territory in one half of a 40 liter aquarium. Each enclosure contained a substrate of Sphagnum, a potted plant, and a water dish. Males occupying the same aquarium were prevented from seeing one another by an opaque barrier. In the first experiment, residents were presented with a conspecific intruder matched for size and color. Based on a numerical index of aggression, residents were consistently dominant over intruders. When reciprocal trials were conducted, the results were reversed (i.e. residents were dominant over males to which they previously had been subordinate). The success of resident males was not influenced by the size of conspecific intruders. In addition, residents consistently dominated a sympatric confamilial intruder (Phyllobates lugubris). Removal experiments revealed that resident males recognize and defend their enclosures after 3, and to a lesser degree, 6 days of isolation. We also examined the effect of territorial markers on the prior residence effect by stepwise removal of the plant and Sphagnum. Residents aggressively defended enclosures in both experiments. When Sphagnum was removed from the resident's enclosures and placed in a previously unused aquaria, 7 of 10 males exhibited dominance over conspecific intruders.
Visual sensitivity and mindfulness meditation

Practitioners of the mindfulness form of Buddhist meditation were tested for visual sensitivity before and immediately after a 3-mo. retreat during which they practiced mindfulness meditation for 1...
A Variational Continuous Assimilation Technique

Abstract A variational assimilation technique is presented which continuously adjusts a model solution by introducing a correction term to the model equations. The technique is essentially a modification of the adjoint technique. The Variational Continuous Assimilation (VCA) technique optimizes the correction to the model equations rather than the initial conditions as is done in the adjoint technique. The VCA-technique characteristics were examined by inserting independent analyses into a simple quasi- geostrophic model using both the VCA technique and the adjoint technique. Because the model equations do not have to be satisfied exactly in the VCA technique, some of the effects of systematic model errors can be removed from the assimilation. Thus, the VCA technique was able to consistently fit the data better than the adjoint technique. Predictions from the results from the assimilation techniques showed that the forecast from the adjoint technique's solution was consistently inferior to those from the ...
Interest rate rules and price determinacy: The role of transactions services of bonds ☆

Abstract Interest rate rules have been associated with price indeterminacy when they do not respond aggressively enough to inflation. Price indeterminacy is typically associated with indeterminacy of real bond balances, suggesting that the missing element is a meaningful role for government bonds. We assume that government bonds provide arbitrarily small transactions services and show that this can dramatically change the local and global determinacy conditions. In particular, the specification of fiscal policy affects the aggressiveness with which monetary policy must respond to inflation to deliver local determinacy—a range of passive monetary policies, even an interest rate peg, may yield determinacy.
Limits on the value of δT and γ for MgSiO3 perovskite

Abstract A detailed discussion is presented on the relationship of δT0, the Anderson-Gruneisen parameter, to other thermoelastic parameters for MgSiO3 perovskite. For this solid, δT0 can be expressed as a linear function of the value of q, where q = ( ∂ ln γ ∂ ln V ) T ; γ is the Gruneisen parameter; and zero subscripts indicate ambient pressure. In this linear relationship between δT0 and q, a large δT0 demands a large q. The case is made that q is very likely near 1, and thus, δT0 at high temperature is limited to the lower end of published values of δT0, i.e. around 4.2. We present alternative relationships not involving q that also suggest that for perovskite δT0 is near 4. The value of γ0 can be calculated by several theoretical methods and it can be determined experimentally by several techniques. Since there is some confusion regarding the various definitions of γ0, we present a brief review of various ways in which this parameter is determined. Many of these determinations lead to values of γ0 near 1.4, although two theoretical determinations and one experimental determination lead to a higher value near 2.0. After examining all the data, we conclude that the lower values of δT0 and γ0 are to be preferred, although the matter is not completely closed.
The Propeptide Binding Site of the Bovine γ-Glutamyl Carboxylase

Abstract γ-Glutamyl carboxylase is an integral membrane protein required for the posttranslational modification of vitamin K-dependent proteins. The main recognition between the enzyme and its substrates is through an 18-amino acid propeptide. It has been reported that this binding site resides in the amino-terminal third of the γ-glutamyl carboxylase molecule (Yamada, M., Kuliopulos, A., Nelson, N. P., Roth, D. A., Furie, B., Furie, B. C., and Walsh, C. T. (1995) Biochemistry34, 481–489). In contrast, we found the binding site in the carboxyl half of the γ-glutamyl carboxylase. We show that the carboxylase may be cleaved by trypsin into an amino-terminal 30-kDa and a carboxyl-terminal 60-kDa fragment joined by a disulfide bond(s), and the propeptide binds to the 60-kDa fragment. The sequence of the amino terminus of the 60-kDa fragment reveals that the primary trypsin-sensitive sites are at residues 349 and 351. Furthermore, the tryptic fragment that cross-links to the propeptide also reacts with an antibody specific to the carboxyl portion of the γ-glutamyl carboxylase. In addition, cyanogen bromide cleavage of bovine γ-glutamyl carboxylase cross-linked to the peptide comprising residues TVFLDHENANKILNRPKRY of human factor IX yields a cross-linked fragment of 16 kDa from the carboxyl half of the molecule, the amino-terminal sequence of which begins at residue 438. Thus, the propeptide binding site lies carboxyl-terminal to residue 438 and is predicted to be in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum.
Differential acquisition of lever pressing in inbred and outbred mice: comparison of one-lever and two-lever procedures and correlation with differences in locomotor activity.

Recent progress in mouse genetics has led to an increased interest in developing procedures for assessing mouse behavior, but relatively few of the behavioral procedures developed involve positively reinforced operant behavior. When operant methods are used, nose poking, not lever pressing, is the target response. In the current study differential acquisition of milk-reinforced lever pressing was observed in five inbred strains (C57BL/6J, DBA/2J, 129X1/SvJ, C3H/HeJ, and BALB/cJ) and one outbred stock (CD-1) of mice. Regardless of whether one or two levers (an ‘‘operative’’ and ‘‘inoperative’’ lever) were in the operant chamber, a concomitant variable-time fixed-ratio schedule of milk reinforcement established lever pressing in the majority of mice within two 120-min sessions. Substantial differences in lever pressing were observed across mice and between procedures. Adding an inoperative lever retarded acquisition in C57BL/6J, DBA/2J, 129X1/SvJ, and C3H/HeJ mice, but not in CD-1 and BALB/cJ mice. Locomotor activity was positively correlated with number of lever presses in both procedures. Analyses of durations of the subcomponents (e.g., time to move from hopper to lever) of operant behavior revealed further differences among the six types of mice. Together, the data suggest that appetitively reinforced lever pressing can be acquired rapidly in mice and that a combination of procedural, behavioral, and genetic variables contributes to this acquisition.
Bacteremia in Young Urban Women Admitted with Pyelonephritis

The objective of this study was to determine the rate of bacteremia in young women admitted to the hospital with presumed pyelonephritis and compare it with other published rates. The study design was a retrospective, structured chart review and a review of published reports of bacteremic pyelonephritis. An urban county teaching hospital provided the setting for the study. The patients were nonpregnant women (n = 98) 44 years of age or younger who were without bladder dysfunction and who had not been admitted to an intensive care unit. Further criteria for participation included discharge with the diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis. Blood cultures were ordered for 69 women; the results of 64 were noted in the chart. Twenty-three women (35.9% of those cultured; 23.4% of all patients) were diagnosed with bacteremia. In patients for whom blood culture results were obtained, trends developed between those patients with bacteremia and those with complicated pyelonephritis, defined as a known or newly discovered genitourinary abnormality or a risk factor (P = 0.044), those who were black (P = .044), those with higher pulses on admission (P = .050), those with more white blood cells per high-powered field after urinalysis (P = 0.007), and those whose fever lasted longer (P = 0.033). Blood culture results were positive in two patients whose urine cultures were negative. This comparatively high bacteremia rate supports routine ordering of blood cultures for urban women suspected of having pyelonephritis.
Can Changes in Clinical Practice Decrease The Incidence of Candidemia in Very Low Birth Weight Infants (VLBWI)

Background: The use of antibiotics and systemic steroids are/were common practice in the care of VLBWI. Several publications associated the use of cephalosporins and steroids with increased candidemia. We believe there are no reports of restricting use of cephalosporins and/or steroids that resulted in decreased candidemia. Methods: We reviewed the records of VLBWI admitted to our NICU from 2000 to 2009. An effort to restrict the use of third generation cephalosporins and steroids was started in 2002. We compared the rate of candidemia between the periods as well as to Vermont-Oxford Network data. Birthweight, gestational age, gender, medications (cephalosporins, steroids, meropenem, prophylactic fluconazole), frequency of central lines and surgery were statistically analyzed. Results: Of 457 infants studied, 45 had candidemia. Birthweight, gestational age and gender were comparable between groups. There was a significant decrease in the incidence of candidemia, use of cephalosporins and steroids between the two periods (65.6% vs 44.1%, p < 0.01; 21.8% vs 6.5%; p < 0.001 respectively. No significant changes were found in use of H2 blockers, meropenem, prophylactic fluconazole, central lines and surgery. Figure Conclusions: We observed a significant decrease in incidence of candidemia in association with a decrease in use of cephalosporins and steroids in VLBWI. Although several confounders cannot be excluded, changes in these clinical practices may in part be responsible for the decreased candidemia.
Prospective Associations Among Youth Assets in Young Adults and Tobacco Use

Background Developmental assets protect adolescents from tobacco use; however, their influence during the transition to young adulthood is unknown. Purpose To determine the prospective associations among assets and tobacco use in older adolescents and young adults. Methods Prospective analyses were conducted using five waves of annual data collected from 467 randomly selected ethnically diverse youth (baseline age, 15–17 years) from 2003 to 2008. Logistic regression was conducted in 2013 to prospectively examine associations between ten Wave 1 assets with no tobacco use in the past 30 days over the five waves of the study (no use). Assets that were significantly associated with no use were included in a second analysis to examine the cumulative effect of Wave 1 assets on no use. Results Youth who possessed Family Communication, Relationship with Mother, Aspirations for the Future, Parental Monitoring, or Responsible Choices assets had significantly higher odds of no tobacco use. There were significant interactions between Relationship with Father, Non-Parental Adult Role Models, Future Educational Aspirations, and Peer Role Models assets and family structure, gender, or both. There was a significant interaction between cumulative assets and family structure. For youth in two-parent households at Wave 1, those with more assets had significantly greater odds of reporting no tobacco use over five waves compared to those with the fewest assets. Conclusions The influence of assets in adolescents can influence tobacco use into young adulthood. Family structure and gender can influence the asset–tobacco use relationship.
Whither NCI and NSABP

BELOW IS a review of the events leading to the actions of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) regarding the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast Project (NSABP), the steps taken in relation to one specific institution, and comments on the wider meaning of these actions. As principal investigator at one of the two institutions singled out by the NCI for several press releases in connection with its recent investigation of NSABP, I am impelled to comment on the substance of what has occurred, the method by which events have been handled, and the implications of this for clinical research. Some undisputed NSABP accomplishments need to be noted. The treatment of breast cancer in women in the United States and throughout most of the civilized world has been altered as a result of NSABP studies over the past 30 or more years. The data pool at NSABP from over 40 000 patients with
Binding of receptor-hydrocortisone complexes to isolated nuclei from embryonic neural retina cells

Hydrocortisone (HC) induces glutamine synthetase in the embryonic chick neural retina. The binding of cytoplasmic receptor-hydrocortisone (R-HC) complexes to isolated retina nuclei has been studied in a cell-free system. Optimal conditions, specificity and quantitative aspects of binding were determined. The isolated nuclei retained binding specificity for the R-HC complex prepared from retina cytosol. Free HC, estradiol-receptor complexes from retina cytosol and HC-receptor complexes from mouse brain cytosol or from chick serum did not bind to the nuclei. Assuming monovalency of the binding sites, the number of nuclear acceptor sites per retina cell for the R-HC complex was estimated to be in the range of 1500. These sites were resistant to RNAse but sensitive to DNAse.