cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thyroid transcription factor-1, thyroglobulin, cytokeratin 7, and cytokeratin 20 in thyroid neoplasms.

Thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1), a member of the NKx2 family of homeodomain transcription factors, is a mediator of thyroid-specific transcription of the thyroglobulin (TG) gene. The combined immunohistochemical profile of TTF-1, TG, cytokeratin 7 (CK7), and cytokeratin 20 (CK20) in neoplasms of the thyroid gland and their metastases to other sites has not been defined previously. Formalin-fixed tissue of 43 thyroid tumors, including 31 carcinomas and 12 adenomas, and 16 metastasic lesions were immunostained using monoclonal antibodies to TTF-1, TG, CK7, and CK20. Immunoreactivity of the primary tumors (adenomas and carcinomas) for TTF-1 was seen in 32 cases (74%), TG 32 (74%), and CK7 34 (79%), whereas none (0%) showed positivity for CK20. The distribution of reactivity in the 31 carcinomas for TTF-1, TG, and CK7, respectively was papillary (8/8), (8/8), and (8/8); poorly differentiated (6/7), (4/7), and (6/7); oncocytic (Hurthle) cell (2/6), (6/6), and (4/6); follicular (4/4), (3/4), and (3/4); medullary (1/2), (0/2), and (1/2). One of four anaplastic carcinomas was focally immunoreactive showing positivity for TTF-1 only. Of the six follicular adenomas, five were positive for TTF-1, six for TG, and six for CK7. Among the six oncocytic cell adenomas, five were reactive for TTF-1, five for TG, and all six for CK7. Twelve (75%) of the 16 metastatic tumors were positive for TTF-1, 10 (63%) for TG, 15 (94%) for CK7, and none (0%) for CK20. In summary, TTF-1 and TG are demonstrable by immunohistochemistry in the majority of thyroid neoplasms. Compared with TG, an antibody to TTF-I is a similarly sensitive marker for thyroid tumors. Moreover, TTF-1 is a more sensitive marker for poorly differentiated carcinomas and metastasis. In most cases, its nuclear pattern of immunoreactivity facilitates interpretation. Thyroid tumors are CK7+/CK20-. The panel of antibodies for TG, TTF-1, CK7, and CK20 is useful when the thyroid origin of a metastatic tumor is a consideration.
Bibliography of the Philosophy in the Iberian Colonies of America

Catalogue of Manuscripts and Printed Works on Philosophy from the Colonial Period in Latin America.- Philosophical Works from Colonial Latin America.- Anonymous Works.- Appendix of some Colonial Philosophical Works which have become lost.- Bibliography of the Secondary Literature concerning the Philosophy of the Colonial Period of Latin America.
Relation of Left Ventricular Midwall Function to Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Arterial Structure and Function

Abstract —Left ventricular (LV) midwall shortening (MWS) is subnormal in relation to LV circumferential end-systolic stress (ESS) (ESS-corrected MWS) in many hypertensive patients with normal LV chamber function and predicts subsequent morbidity and mortality. However, little is known of the relations of LV midwall function to demographic and metabolic variables or to arterial geometry. Asymptomatic, unmedicated normotensive (n=366) or hypertensive (n=282) adults were assessed with echocardiography and carotid ultrasound. In normal adults, lower LV MWS and ESS-corrected MWS, an index of LV contractility, were related independently to high total peripheral resistance, high heart rate, and male gender (all P P =.001) and diastolic pressure ( P =.003), and for ESS-corrected MWS only, arterial relative wall thickness (RWT, P =.03). Among hypertensive patients, lower values for both midwall function indices were associated independently with higher peripheral resistance ( P P P P =.04), as well as male gender ( P P P =.0006) and arterial RWT ( P =.009); male gender ( P P =.004), diastolic pressure ( P =.042), and systolic carotid artery expansion ( P =.032). Lower ESS-corrected MWS in the entire population was independently associated with higher peripheral resistance and heart rate (both P P =.0006), arterial RWT ( P =.004); male gender; and lower diastolic pressure (both P P P =.006), and serum HDL cholesterol levels ( P =.04). Among a subset (n=60), ESS-corrected MWS was positively related to apolipoprotein A1 ( P =.004) and negatively to hemoglobin A1c ( P
A human ovarian carcinoma murine xenograft model useful for preclinical trials.

Abstract Objective. To establish a murine xenograft model of human ovarian carcinoma. Methods. A slurry of fresh human tumor from patients with intraperitoneal malignancies was heterotransplanted intraperitoneally into nude (nu/nu) and severely combined immunodeficient mice (CB-17, SCID). Xenograft growth was assessed by serial examination and necropsy. The xenografts were passaged to new animals when tumors were palpably greater than 1 cm 3 . Histopathologic analysis of the xenografts was performed at each passage as well as immunohistochemical staining for p53 mutations. Persistent expression of human genes by the xenografts at higher passages was assessed by RT-PCR amplification of the human β–globin gene. This xenograft model was used in the preclinical evaluation of an adenoviral vector containing a β-galactosidase reporter gene and a wild-type p53 gene. Results. Tumor growth was not established in any of the nude mice heterotransplanted with tissue from six different ovarian cancer patients. Eleven of 13 specimens established xenograft growth when injected in SCID mice. Nine xenografts have been subsequently passaged between 6 and 24 animal generations to date. All xenografts retained histopathologic similarities to their original human tumors and the p53 expression patterns remained stable through higher passages. Within 24 h after intraperitoneal administration of an adenoviral vector, transduction of the reporter gene was evident in the xenografts. In addition, administration of an adenoviral vector containing a wild-type p53 gene significantly decreased the tumor burden compared to controls ( P Conclusions. This murine xenograft model of human ovarian carcinoma appears to be reliable and reproducible and has utility for the study of novel therapeutics.
A novel multiparametric approach for analysis of cytoplasmic immunoglobulin light chains by flow cytometry.

We describe a novel flow cytometric approach using a two-step acquisition technique to determine the cytoplasmic immunoglobulin light chains (LC) expression. Samples were prepared by a lysed-whole-blood technique and incubated with CD38-PE (phycoerythrin) and CD45-FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate). The cells were fixed and acquired on an FACSCalibur flow cytometer (first acquisition). The cells were then permeabilized, incubated with either kappa-FITC or lambda-FITC and reacquired (second acquisition). Analysis of the data was performed by gating on the differing intensities of CD38 and evaluating them for the presence of a shifting FITC-positive population from the first acquisition to the second acquisition. The FITC fluorescence intensity of the second acquisition was equal to the sum of surface CD45 expression obtained during the first acquisition and the cytoplasmic LC expression obtained during the second acquisition. Thus, the shifting (increase) of FITC fluorescence intensity during the second acquisition is specifically due to the cytoplasmic expression of either the kappa or lambda LC. We studied 15 multiple myeloma (MM) patients and 10 controls (samples from patients without plasma cell dyscrasias). None of the controls showed evidence of any clonal populations. Thirteen of 15 MM patients exhibited clonal plasma cells (CD38 bright), ranging from 0.01% to 34% of total events collected. In addition, we identified another minute clonal population of lymphocytes (CD38 dim, CD45 bright, low forward and side scatter) in 12 of 13 MM patients with clonal plasma cells. This population, ranging from 0.01% to 0.6% of total events collected, had the same LC restriction as the clonal plasma cells. Patients with a ratio of minor clonal population to clonal plasma cells less than 0.07 tended to remain in partial or complete remission than those with a ratio ≥0.07 (4/5 versus 1/4, P < .1, χ2). We conclude that this method is highly sensitive and permits us to identify the minute clonal population of lymphocytes in MM patients. Our preliminary observations with a small cohort of patients imply that this minute clonal population may have important prognostic significance. The prognostic significance should be confirmed by further studies.
Nonrepresentable relation algebras generated by functional elements

There are nonrepresentable relation algebras generated by their functional elements. This solves a problem posed many years ago. The number of generating functional elements can be as low as 2. This leaves open the problem whether there is a nonrepresentable relation algebra generated by a single functional element.
The ASCEND-II system ― a flowsheeting application of a successive quadratic programming methodology

Abstract This paper describes ASCEND-II, an interactive equation based flowsheeting system capable of doing performance, design and optimization calculations with comparable ease. The optimization capability is a new, as yet unpublished, successive quadratic programming method operating in the reduced space which is the size of the degrees of freedom for the problem. Its performance is very encouraging. We spend considerable time describing the ASCEND-II system details because we believe the concepts underlying it make the system a powerful aid for design. It allows one to evolve toward the solution to a problem by allowing one to add and delete model complexity, interactively alter which variables are to be calculated and which fixed, single step through the convergence of a model, move easily from design to optimization and back, use any variable as an objective to be maximized or minimized, and to place an upper or lower bound on any variable desired.
Combining microarray and genomic data to predict DNA binding motifs

The ability to detect regulatory elements within genome sequences is important in understanding how gene expression is controlled in biological systems. In this work, microarray data analysis is combined with genome sequence analysis to predict DNA sequences in the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides that bind the regulators PrrA, PpsR and FnrL. These predictions were made by using hierarchical clustering to detect genes that share similar expression patterns. The DNA sequences upstream of these genes were then searched for possible transcription factor recognition motifs that may be involved in their co-regulation. The approach used promises to be widely applicable for the prediction of cis-acting DNA binding elements. Using this method the authors were independently able to detect and extend the previously described consensus sequences that have been suggested to bind FnrL and PpsR. In addition, sequences that may be recognized by the global regulator PrrA were predicted. The results support the earlier suggestions that the DNA binding sequence of PrrA may have a variable-sized gap between its conserved block elements. Using the predicted DNA binding sequences, a whole-genome-scale analysis was performed to determine the relative importance of the interplay between the three regulators PpsR, FnrL and PrrA. Results of this analysis showed that, compared to the regulation by PpsR and FnrL, a much larger number of genes are candidates to be regulated by PrrA. The study demonstrates by example that integration of multiple data types can be a powerful approach for inferring transcriptional regulatory patterns in microbial systems, and it allowed the detection of photosynthesis-related regulatory patterns in R. sphaeroides.
5′-Diphosphoadenosine 3′-Phosphate Is a Potent Inhibitor of Bovine Pancreatic Ribonuclease A ☆ ☆☆

As a first step toward the development of stable, selective, and potent inhibitors of those members of the pancreatic RNase superfamily that induce biological responses, we have focussed on low molecular weight compounds and studied their interactions with the active-site of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A (RNase A). A new inhibitor is described, 5'-diphosphoadenosine 3'-phosphate, which binds to RNase A more tightly than any previous low molecular weight compound: its Ki value of 1.3 microM at pH 7 is 8-fold lower than that for uridine-vanadate, a transition-state analog, and 110-fold lower than that for 2'-CMP, one of the best-characterized RNase A ligands. The new inhibitor is found to contact RNase A residues that are conserved in several homologous mammalian RNases and hence should be able to serve as a basis for the design of even tighter-binding inhibitors of these enzymes.
Self-Rating of Poor Health: A Comparison of Cuban Elders in Havana and Miami

This study examined the prevalence of self-reported ‘poor health’ among Cuban elders in Havana (n = 1,183) and Miami (n = 288) and explored the roles of chronic conditions and functional disability in their self-reports. A logistic regression model of reported poor health was estimated for each group, testing both independent and interactive effects of chronic conditions and functional disability. Despite differences in sociodemographic characteristics and disease/disability profiles between Cuban elders in the two cities, an equal proportion of each group (13%) reported poor health. Financial strain and functional disability were common predictors of self-reported poor health across the groups. Gender and chronic conditions were significant only in the Havana sample, among whom the likelihood of reporting poor health increased with female gender and the presence of chronic conditions. In the Havana sample, not only did chronic conditions have an independent effect, but also its interaction with functional disability was significant. The overall results suggest a particular role of chronic conditions in determining subjective health among elders in Havana. Findings are discussed in a sociocultural context.
Interaction between XIAP and Smac/DIABLO in the Mouse Brain after Transient Focal Cerebral Ischemia

The X chromosome-linked inhibitor-of-apoptosis protein (XIAP) contributes to apoptosis regulation after a variety of cell death stimuli. XIAP inhibits the caspase reaction via binding to caspases, and is inhibited via binding to the second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase (Smac)/DIABLO to tightly control apoptotic cell death. However, the interaction among XIAP, Smac/DIABLO, and caspases after in vivo cerebral ischemia is not well known. To clarify this issue, the authors examined time-dependent expression and interaction among XIAP, Smac/DIABLO, and activated caspase-9 by immunohistochemistry, Western blot analysis, and immunoprecipitation using an in vivo transient focal cerebral ischemia model. To examine the relationship of the XIAP pathway to the caspase cascade, a pan-caspase inhibitor was administered. XIAP increased concurrently with the release of Smac/DIABLO and the appearance of activated caspase-9 during the early period after reperfusion injury. The bindings of XIAP to Smac/DIABLO and to caspase-9 and the binding of Smac/DIABLO to caspase-9 reached a peak simultaneously after transient focal cerebral ischemia. Neither XIAP nor Smac/DIABLO expression was affected by caspase inhibition. These results suggest that the XIAP pathway was activated upstream of the caspase cascade and that interaction among XIAP, Smac/DIABLO, and caspase-9 plays an important role in the regulation of apoptotic neuronal cell death after transient focal cerebral ischemia.
Comparative measures of potential to kinetic energy conversion

Presented for comparison are estimates of the conversion of available potential energy to kinetic energy as obtained from three sets of objective analyses of the large-scale atmospheric motions of the northern hemisphere for January 1964. The analyses of the geopotential heights made twice daily of the 85, 70, 50, 30, and 20 cb levels are used. Relatively large differences in the energy conversion estimates as a function of the zonal wave number are found which are due solely to differences in the analyses. An estimate is also presented of the seasonal variation of the release of kinetic energy for the 85–20 cb layer. A discussion of some of the deficiencies of the techniques used is given. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1969.tb00474.x
Who Are Those Guys? Constructing the Oilfield’s New Dominant Masculinity:

Slippages between dominant-nonhegemonic masculinities and hegemonic masculinities obscure and confuse the importance of these masculinities for understanding the hierarchal gender order. This article uses in-depth interviews (N = 22) with oilfield workers, and observations at drilling sites to clarify how men can construct a socially dominant-nonhegemonic masculinity and subordinate a previously hegemonic masculinity. This study shows how a recursive relationship between industry and organizational safety policies enable men to construct a new dominant masculinity predicated on safety at work, while socially dominant men remain complicit with hegemonic masculinity in the domestic sphere. The discussion underscores the importance of distinguishing between dominant-nonhegemonic and hegemonic masculinities, which promotes our understanding of the hierarchal relationship among masculinities, femininities, and the struggle for gender dominance.
Analysis of finite length annealing schedules

By constructing a master equation for the distribution of outcomes from simulated annealing, we are able to characterize this process exactly for arbitrary annealing schedules on extremely small problems. Two sorts of numerical experiments are reported, using this formalism. First, annealing schedules are found which minimize the cut cost of partitioning a highly symmetric weighted graph, using a fixed number of Monte Carlo search steps. The experiments yield some surprising results, which sharpen our understanding of the problems inherent in trying to optimize a stochastic search. For example, optimal annealing schedules are not monotone decreasing in temperature. Second, we construct configuration spaces of random energies and varying connectivity. These are used to compare different annealing schedules which are common in the literature. The experiments also provide an occasion to contrast annealing schedules derived from asymptotic, worst-case bounds on convergence to the global optimum with adaptive schedules which attempt to maintain the system close to equilibrium throughout the annealing process.
The flushing of two deep-sea basins, southern California borderland

A time series of water temperature, salinity, and nutrient measurements has been made in San Pedro and San Nicolas Basins of the southern California borderland between I977 and 1988. These basins exhibit temporally coincident changes in temperature and nutrient content defining a period of basin flushing (1982-1984) and a period of stagnation (1984-1987). During the flushing period, cooler, oxygenand NO,--rich water replaces warmer, oxygenand NO,--depleted bottom water. Flushing produces a decrease of 0.2”C in the average temperature of San Pedro Basin bottom water (790-900 m) and an increase in the average oxygen content by 12 pM. These values are 0. I and 3 for San Nicolas Basin (1,400-l ,800 m). The residence time of water in San Pedro Basin during the flushing period is 12+6 months and (j-t2 months in San Nicolas Basin. A box model approach: constrained by the time-series data for the stagnation period, was used to determine values of the effective vertical eddy diffusivities for the 790-m horizon in San Pedro Basin and 1,400-m horizon in San Nicolas Basin (1.3+0.4 and 9.9k3.4 cm* SK’ respectively).
Dishabituation of flexor withdrawal activity mediated by the functionally transected human spinal cord

Abstract Dishabituation of lower limb flexor activity was studied in 8 patients with a chronic, functionally complete transection of the cervical spinal cord. The EMG activity of the right tibialis anterior muscle and the associated dorsiflexion of the right ankle was habituated to criterion by applying a 40-msec pulse train at 500-msec intervals to the medial plantar surface of the right foot. The dishabituating stimulus, a pulse train to the dorsal aspect of the right foot or the posterior plantar surface, was then applied. After a 500-msec interval, the habituating stimulus was applied once again to determined the extent of dishabituation. A 4-sec stimulus-free interval was then imposed, followed by an additional presentation of the habituating stimulus. The results indicated that dishabituation was achieved in all subjects, but that following the stimulus-free interval, responsiveness to the habituating stimulus fell to the level observed prior to applying the dishabituating stimulus. This outcome was interpreted as being consistent with the view that dishabituation does not represent a disruption of the underlying habituation process, and instead is due to a transient excitatory state that is superimposed upon the habituation process. Additional findings pertained to the effects of using other stimulus sites and to varying the interval between the dishabituating stimulus and the subsequent presentation of the habituating stimulus.
Is International Trade a Substitute for Migration

If a goal of immigration reform is to lessen the flow of unauthorized immigrants into the U.S., could international trade be used to deter immigration rather than adopting legal barriers? The purpo...
Colectomy Performance Improvement within NSQIP 2005–2008

Background All open and laparoscopic colectomies submitted to the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) were evaluated for trends and improvements in operative outcomes. Methods 48,247 adults (≥18 y old) underwent colectomy in ACS NSQIP, as grouped by surgical approach (laparoscopic versus open), urgency (emergent versus elective), and operative year (2005 to 2008). Primary outcomes measured morbidity, mortality, perioperative, and postoperative complications. Results The proportion of laparoscopic colectomies performed increased annually (26.3% to 34.0%), while open colectomies decreased (73.7% to 66.0%; P Conclusion It appears that laparoscopic colectomies are growing in popularity over open colectomies, but the need for emergent open procedures remains unchanged. Across all colectomies, however, key postoperative and perioperative complications have improved over time. Participation in ACS NSQIP demonstrates quality improvement and may encourage greater enrollment.
Intrinsic defects in perpendicularly magnetized multilayer thin films and nanostructures

Intrinsic magnetic defects in perpendicularly magnetized nanostructures reduce the predictability of device and developing recording technologies. In addition to a distribution of local anisotropy fields, we show that such defects also exhibit variations in local anisotropy axes. The magnetic defects are identified by the application of in-plane and out-of-plane magnetic fields and magnetic force microscopy imaging. Those defects that control magnetization reversal in arrays of patterned Co/Pd multilayers are highly dependent on applied field orientation. The symmetry of the defects with respect to the applied field direction indicates that the anisotropy consists of a canted axis, deviating from the surface normal. Micromagnetic simulations confirm that variations in anisotropy axis can cause a significant change in reversal field depending on the location and orientation of the defects, consistent with experimental results.
Chemical affinity and pH effects on chlorite dissolution kinetics under geological CO2 sequestration related conditions

Abstract The kinetic dissolution of Flagstaff Hill chlorite (CCa-2 from Clay Minerals Society), (Mg 4.55 Al 1.23 Fe 0.12 )(Al 1.04 Si 2.96 )O 10 (OH) 8 , was investigated using a well-mixed flow-through reactor at 100 °C, pH values ranging from 3.0 to 7.5, and variable saturation states. The objective was to measure the dependence of chlorite dissolution rate on pH as well as on degree of undersaturation under conditions applicable to geologic carbon storage. A batch experiment was conducted to determine the equilibrium constant of the dissolution reaction at 100 °C for the chlorite mineral phase used in this study. A series of experiments was run at varying CO 2 partial pressures (0–60 bars) and different flow rates (0.01–0.25 ml/min). We use our experimental results in conjunction with previously published data to separate the effects of pH and solution saturation state. At constant pH, the chlorite dissolution rate decreases slowly as a function of the Gibbs free energy of reaction ( ∆G r ), which is a quantitative measure of the degree of undersaturation. The undersaturation required (− Δ G r > 100 kJ/mol) to reach a limiting far-from-equilibrium rate (the “dissolution plateau”) is roughly an order of magnitude larger than expected from transition state theory, but similar to that determined for smectite (− Δ G r > 130 kJ/mol) (Cama et al., 2000). Hence, chlorite dissolution behaves as if the chlorite were close to equilibrium even in solutions that are strongly undersaturated. The chlorite dissolution rate ( R ) as a function of pH and chemical affinity (Δ G r ) at 100 °C can be fit reasonably well with the following expression: R = 10 − 7.64 a H 1.05 + 10 − 11.56 1 − exp − 0.01677 Δ G r R T 1.3 The rate law obtained in this study provides a basis for modeling chlorite mineral dissolution over a range of pH and saturation conditions, which is essential in applications such as subsurface CO 2 sequestration.
Accurate estimation of the number of tuples satisfying a condition

We present a new method for estimating the number of tuples satisfying a condition of the type attribute rel constant, where rel is one of "=", ">", "
Estimation of mutation rates from parentage exclusion data: applications to STR and VNTR loci

Nonpaternity is a common source of bias in estimating mutation rates when they are obtained from family data showing discordance of parental and children's genotypes. With the availability of hypervariable DNA markers, this source of bias can be largely eliminated. However, the proportion of cases where parentage exclusion is caused by presumed mutation(s) of parental alleles must be adjusted to obtain a valid mutation rate estimate. The present work derives the basis of this adjustment factor, called the proportional bias. This proportional bias depends upon the allele frequency distribution at the locus. The maximum and minimum bounds of the proportional bias depend on the number of alleles at the locus. Using data from Caucasian populations at tandem repeat loci commonly used for parentage testing and forensic identification purposes, we show that when mutation rates are estimated at these loci, the proportional bias is generally very close to the maximum possible value for the observed number of alleles (or binned fragment sizes) at each locus. The expected proportional bias decreases with increasing mutation rate at a locus. For the short tandem repeat loci, without bias correction, the direct count method can result in an underestimation of up to 60% of their true value. In contrast, for the minisatellite VNTR loci, even with crude measurements on allele sizes, we show that the absolute proportional bias is generally below the coefficient of variation of the direct estimates.
A new index for measuring perpendicularity of animal movements in relation to patch boundaries

We introduce a new index for measuring perpendicularity of animal movements with respect to a boundary (e.g., a habitat patch edge), and provide a computer algorithm for its calculation. Our index, η, improves on an approach that measures perpendicularity with respect to a fixed boundary direction. This is because η accounts for moment-to-moment trajectories relative to nearest-neighbor boundary attributes at the scale of an animal's movement. Our algorithm prp calculates η efficiently and accurately with both synthetic data and large telemetry datasets. In addition, we have included routines in prp which account for scenarios inherently problematic to perpendicularity estimators.
Use of rigorous vector coupled-wave theory for designing and tolerancing surface-relief diffractive components for magneto-optical heads

A rigorous coupled wave model is presented, experimentally validated, and used for tolerancing surface relief diffractive elements. Applications of the model in the design and tolerancing of components for magneto optical (M-O) data storage heads are investigated.
Electron microscopy of supported metal particles: I. Behavior of Pt on titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, and carbon

Abstract Transmission electron microscopy has been used to investigate the structure and growth characteristics of platinum on thin films of titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, and carbon. Significant differences in the sintering characteristics of the metal on the various supports was observed after these systems had been treated in hydrogen at temperatures over the range 425 to 1075 °K. Sintering occurred on all supports but the metal dispersion was significantly more stable on titanium oxide than the other supports. Examination of platinum on titanium oxide at high resolution showed that the metal particles were predominately hexagonal in outline, of uniform thickness and very thin, indicating a pill-box morphology. Electron diffraction and lattice spacing measurements showed that the titanium oxide support was reduced to Ti 4 O 7 in the presence of platinum. In the absence of platinum only the rutile form of TiO 2 was observed. We conclude that platinum catalyzes the reduction of TiO 2 to Ti 4 O 7 and deposits as thin pill-box structures on the surface of the Ti 4 O 7 . The unique structural features of the type observed for platinum on titanium oxide was not observed with the other supports, and is believed to result from a strong metal-support interaction.
Acronychal Risings in Babylonian Planetary Theory

The Astronomical Diaries (ADT), and a few known collections for individual planets, contain observations of five synodic phenomena of superior planets: heliacal rising (F), first station (), acronychal rising (0), second station (^), and heliacal setting (£2). A date is given for each, in the case of F often both an observed date and a 'true' or 'ideal' date on which the rising is considered to have occurred even if it was not observed, as due to clouds, found by a measurement of the interval in degrees of time between the rising of the planet and the rising of the sun. However, location is recorded differently for each class of phenomena. Heliacal risings and settings, F and £2, are located by zodiacal sign, or by beginning or end of zodiacal sign. In some cases F contains a measured distance from a nearby 'normal' (standard) star or planet, for conjunctions of planets with stars or with each other were considered ominous. But it does not appear that measurements of distances from stars at F were used to establish location more precisely than by zodiacal sign, and distances from planets cannot be used to establish location. First and second stations, and ^, usually contain a measured distance from a normal star, presumably to determine when the planet was stationary, but sometimes only a location by zodiacal sign. Acronychal rising 0 contains no location at all. It could have been assumed that the planet was in the zodiacal sign opposite the sun, but no location for the sun is given in the Diaries. (It is curious that acronychal risings were observed at all since there are no omens associated with them. Yet an acronychal rising of Jupiter appears already in the second earliest known Diary, ADT -567, and one may wonder why.) Sometimes observations contain the remark 'not observed' (nu pap), which presumably indicates an inference of the date and location from nearby preceding or following observations. The dates and longitudes of the same phenomena reported in the Diaries are computed in the ephemerides to a degree of precision exceeding the observations in the Diaries. The ephemerides are published in ACT, and the further analysis in HAMA is essential. In a recent study of Babylonian planetary theory (Swerdlow, 1998), I set out a method by which the parameters of the ephemerides can be derived from synodic times between phenomena, recoverable from the dates in the Diaries, and locations no more precise than by zodiacal sign. The method depends upon a constant difference between synodic time and synodic arc, AT - AX = C, found in the ephemerides of all planets except Venus, which allows A X to be found from AT. With the exception of 0 and ^ of Mars, which occur in the retrograde arc, the ephemerides use the same functions for computing all phenomena of the superior planets by complete synodic arcs and synodic times even though the synodic arcs and times between consecutive heliacal risings or settings, which
Preliminary observations on the use of midodrine in treating orthostatic hypotension in familial dysautonomia

Midodrine, a peripheral α-adrenergic agonist, was evaluated in 7 female and 2 male patients with familial dysautonomia (FD), a disorder characterized by decreased sympathetic innervation. Prior to and after three months of midodrine treatment, each patient's response to postural change was assessed by arteriosonde readings of blood pressure and heart rate, corrected QT-interval measurements, Doppler evaluation of renal blood flow and circulating atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels. The initial midodrine dose (2.5 mg three times daily) was raised until subjective symptoms improved. Doses were reduced if patients felt jittery or developed erect hypertension (systolic > 180 mmHg or diastolic > 110 mmHg). Midodrine, at an average dose of 0.25 mg/kg per day, improved subjective symptoms in all patients. With treatment, magnitude of blood pressure responses was variable. Although mean erect blood pressure did not increase significantly for the aggregate, it did increase in six of nine patients. In addition, the QTc interval normalized and erect renal perfusion improved. Changes in supine mean blood pressure and supine circulating ANP correlated directly. We judge midodrine to be useful in management of orthostatic hypotension in patients with familial dysautonomia.
Insect Succession in a Stored-Corn Ecosystem in Southeast Georgia

Insect populations infesting a small bulk of corn stored in southeastern Georgia were followed for 8 yr by monthly sampling beginning 8 mo after the corn was placed in storage. The species composition of the insect community changed as the corn deteriorated. Nine species became dominant at some stage of succession. Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) was the dominant species when the first sample was taken. It was succeeded a month later by Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.), which declined rapidly after 2 mo of dominance and died out during the third year. Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens) was dominant at various times during the first 4 yr. Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky was dominant during the second year and again briefly during the third. Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard), a hymenopterous parasite of S. zeamais , was the most abundant species in one sample taken during the third year. Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) was a significant component of the insect community throughout much of the storage period and was the predominant species during much of the third through fifth years. Latheticus oryzae Waterhouse became dominant during the fifth year, after the grain had become heavily damaged and large quantities of frass, flour, and insect remains had accumulated. It remained the most abundant species for 3 yr. Cynaeus angustus (LeConte) became dominant for a brief period during the eighth year and was succeeded by Trogoderma inclusum LeConte, which was the predominant species when the last sample was taken.
The role of endoscopy in the evaluation and management of intestinal strictures in inflammatory bowel disease

The prevalence of intestinal strictures in Crohn’s disease is quite high, especially for those with ileal or ileocolonic disease. Strictures resulting in obstructive symptoms are the indication for surgery in a significant portion. In the modern era, the prevalence of colorectal strictures in ulcerative colitis has decreased, perhaps to as low as 3%. In general, the finding of a stricture in Crohn’s disease is less ominous than in ulcerative colitis in terms of the risk of malignancy. Endoscopy allows for direct visualization and biopsy of colorectal strictures and may help patients avoid surgery; however, cases of malignant strictures with negative endoscopic biopsies have been reported. Numerous case series have demonstrated that endoscopic balloon dilation of Crohn’s-related colorectal or anastomotic strictures is technically feasible, relatively safe, and in many cases effective in preventing or delaying surgical resection or stricturoplasty. Local injection of corticosteroids such as betamethasone or triamcinolone following balloon dilation may provide additional benefit, although this has not been definitively proven. Other endoscopic techniques that may ultimately prove effective but need further study include the use of electrocautery or laser phototherapy.
Two-dimensional kinematics of the flat-walking Tennessee Walking Horse yearling

Gaited horse research is limited, with the majority of the research focusing on the measurement of the temporal variables of adult-gaited horses. The objective was to measure the fore and hind limb kinematics of the flat-walking Tennessee Walking Horse (TWH) yearling. Four TWH yearlings were filmed at 60 Hz being led at a consistent flat walk that followed breed standards. Reflective markers attached along palpation points of the joint centres of the fore and hind limbs were tracked for five strides for each yearling. During stance, the elbow (154±3°), carpal (185±3°), fore (222±9 and 221±9°) and hind fetlocks (216±11°), hip (111±3°), stifle (157±4°) and tarsal (167±9°) joints demonstrated peak extension with the forelimb fetlock joint having double peaks of extension. During swing, the same joints demonstrated peak flexion with the elbow (109±3°) and hip (88±6°) peak flexion occurring later in the swing phase. The carpal (54±4°) joint demonstrated a greater range of motion than the tarsus (40±9°) with less vertical displacement. The hind fetlock (60±10°) had greater range of joint motion compared with the forelimb fetlock (45±8°), but lacked the double peak of extension during swing. Kinematic measurements will assist in objectively defining the gait for both clinical and performance applications.
Dynamic mechanism design in correlated environments

We consider the problem of implementing a principal's decision truthfully in a private-value, correlated environment in which agents receive information over time. This setting comprises a deviation from the literature of dynamic mechanism design that typically employs the assumption that the distribution of an agent's private signal is independent of other agents' private information history conditional on past public decisions. We derive sufficient conditions for designing monetary transfers that guarantee implementation of the desired policy in a periodic expost incentive compatible equilibrium. For risk neutral agents in a finite state, finite action Markovian environment this set of sufficient conditions reduces to a finite set of linear inequalities. This is an appealing feature given that the agent is faced with a partial observation stochastic optimization problem with progressively increasing information state. The class of mechanisms considered in our methodology include the dynamic VCG algorithm that has been developed for the case where agents' dynamics are coupled only through the principal's decision. Besides implementing the desired policy, the principal may want to impose specifications on the expected revenue or model her uncertainty regarding her knowledge of agents' perceived environment. We show how our conditions for periodic ex post incentive compatibility can be incorporated as part of a robust optimization approach to policy implementation that takes these additional requirements into account.
Two-color method for optical astrometry: theory and preliminary measurements with the Mark III stellar interferometer.

The two-color method for interferometric astrometry provides a means of reducing the error in a stellar position measurement attributable to atmospheric turbulence. The primary limitation of the method is shown to be turbulent water vapor fluctuations. Secondary atmospheric effects caused by diffraction from small refractive-index inhomogeneities and differential refraction for the observation of stars away from zenith are shown to introduce errors that behave as white noise and which should not be significant. Other potential error sources due to photon noise, systematic instrumental effects, and imperfect data reduction are also considered. The improvement in accuracy possible with the two-color method is estimated as a factor of 5-10 over the corresponding one-color measurement. Some preliminary two-color measurements with the Mark III stellar interferometer at Mt. Wilson are presented, which demonstrate a factor of about 5 reduction in the amplitude of the atmospheric fluctuations in a stellar position measurement.
Molecular signaling in the regulation of mucins

Mucins are large, highly glycosylated proteins involved in the protection of epithelia. The 20 different mucins show a diverse and highly regulated distribution among different epithelia. Most of the studies on mucin regulation done to date have been on the membrane mucins MUC1 and MUC4 and the gel-forming mucins. Multiple mechanisms have been implicated in that regulation, including examples at the transcriptional, transcript stabilization and post-translational levels. Several signaling pathways have been demonstrated to be involved, most frequently the canonical Erk MAP kinase pathway, but also the cytokine-JAK-STAT pathway and TGFbeta-SMAD pathways. Diversity in Erk signaling is achieved through multiple activation mechanisms and multiple downstream transcriptional factors that are affected. Given the still limited amount of information available on regulation of most of the mucins, other mechanisms and pathways are likely to be uncovered in the future.
MARKET SEGMENTATION AND INTERNATIONAL ASSET PRICES: EVIDENCE FROM THE LISTING OF WORLD EQUITY BENCHMARK SHARES

This article provides an empirical analysis of the announcement effect of the listing of the seventeen World Equity Benchmark Shares (WEBS) on the returns of the corresponding market index returns and closed-end country fund premiums. I find that the announcement of the listing of the WEBS resulted in a positive market price reaction for the market indexes. Furthermore, there was a significant decline in premiums for closed-end country funds. The findings are consistent with models of international asset pricing under market segmentation and they illustrate that the listing of internationally tradable securities is an effective mechanism for integrating international capital markets. JEL classification: G14, G15
Theory for the Dielectric Function of Granular Composite Media

A new theory for the dielectric function of composite solids is formulated which displays both the optical dielectric anomaly and the percolation threshold, thereby providing a basis for a unified understanding of the optical and percolation transport properties of granular materials. The results of the theory are shown to be in good agreement with experimental data.
Antipatharian corals of Ascension Island

Seven species of antipatharian corals (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Antipatharia) are recorded from Ascension Island; five of these for the first time. Tanacetipathes spinescens and Stichopathes occidentalis were the two most commonly collected species.
Modified modal theory of transient response in layered media

A modified modal theory is developed for the transient response due to a line source placed in a two‐layer slab medium. The double integral is evaluated by deformation on the complex wave number plane followed by a second deformation from the real frequency axis to the steepest descent path on the complex frequency plane. We first show that causality is preserved such that before the arrival time of the direct wave or the head wave, whichever takes the least time, the transient response vanishes. With the preservation of causality, we proceed to find the complete transient response at all times. The results obtained from the modal theory are then checked with those generated from direct numerical calculations with computers. Comparisons are also made with the explicit inversion technique which is applicable to the present case but appears to have severe restrictions that the modal theory does not have in generalizing to the solution of other transient problems.
Evaluating the Accuracy of the Quasiharmonic Approximation

The quasiharmonic approximation (QH) allows the configurational entropy of a molecule to be estimated on the basis of a molecular dynamics simulation, through construction of a Gaussian probability distribution of conformations with variances equal to those provided by the simulation. At its introduction in 1981, the QH method was successfully applied to simple molecular systems with only one highly occupied energy well, and fluctuations were analyzed in a system of internal bond-angle-torsion coordinates. However, more recent studies have applied the QH method to complex biomolecular systems and have relied upon Cartesian coordinates. The present study evaluates the accuracy of the QH method through comparisons with more detailed methods. The chief findings are that the QH method can markedly overestimate the configurational entropy for systems with multiple occupied energy wells and that such errors tend to be magnified by the use of Cartesian coordinates instead of bond-angle-torsion coordinates.
NADPH-dependent flavoenzymes catalyze one electron reduction of metal ions and molecular oxygen and generate hydroxyl radicals

This study reports a new property of the important NAD(P)H-dependent flavoenzymes, glutathione reductase, lipoyl dehydrogenase and ferredoxin-NADP+ oxidoreductase, that can catalyze a one electron reduction of metal ions such as chromium(VI) and vanadium(V). During the enzymatic reduction process, molecular oxygen is reduced to H2O2, which reacts with the reduced metal complexes to generate hydroxyl radicals. Since the hydroxyl radicals have been suggested to play an important role in Cr(VI) toxicity, this study provides a basis for a recent observation that Cr(VI) mutagenesis is strongly oxygen dependent. These results also point to an enzymatic pathway for the metabolism of some metal ions and concomitant generation of hydroxyl radicals.
An ESCA study of rhodium(III)-exchanged zeolite catalysts

Samples of both the often investigated rhodium(III)-zeolite Y and the seldom investigated rhodium(III)-zeolite A were prepared and studied by techniques of electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) both in the originally exchanged condition and after activation to the state in which they would be employed in a catalytic capacity. The ESCA data agree with previously reported ESR data which indicated that Rh(III) may be thermally reduced to Rh metal in the zeolite Y lattice, and that this reduction takes place under much milder conditions than comparable reduction of any other metal previously reported. Contrarily, the ESCA data indicated that Rh(III) was not reduced on the zeolite A, and this lack of reduction may be the explanation for the poor catalytic effect of Rh(III) supported on zeolite A. It is postulated that the metallic Rh produced by the activation of Rh(III)-exchanged zeolite Y and not the Rh(III) species is the true catalytic species in the so-called Rh(III)-zeolite catalysts. (BLM)