cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Defining the risk of liver failure after minor hepatectomy: a NSQIP analysis of 7029 patients.

Abstract Background Post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) remains a significant complication after hepatic resection. This study aims to determine the rate of PHLF in patients undergoing resection of 3 or fewer segments and analyze the association of PHLF with perioperative characteristics and postoperative complications. Methods The American College of Surgeons hepatectomy-targeted National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried for patients undergoing left hemi-hepatectomy or partial resection from 2014 to 2018. The primary outcome was PHLF, defined by ISGLS. Multivariable logistic regression models assessed the association between PHLF, preoperative and operative variables and postoperative complications. Results Among 7029 patients, 187 (2.7%) experienced PHLF, with clinically significant (grade B/C) PHLF in 1.4%. PHLF was associated with older age, male gender, higher ASA classification, ascites, and elevated SGOT. Preoperative ascites (OR 4.94, 95%CI: 2.45–9.94, p Conclusion PHLF after minor hepatectomy is rare and associated with signs of preoperative liver dysfunction. The association with infectious complications suggests a multifactorial etiology and provides targets for quality improvement.
Polo-like kinase in trypanosomes: an odd member out of the Polo family.

Polo-like kinases (Plks) are evolutionarily conserved serine/threonine protein kinases playing crucial roles during multiple stages of mitosis and cytokinesis in yeast and animals. Plks are charact...
Effects of intense storm events on dolphin occurrence and foraging behavior.

As storms become increasingly intense and frequent due to climate change, we must better understand how they alter environmental conditions and impact species. However, storms are ephemeral and provide logistical challenges that prevent visual surveys commonly used to understand marine mammal ecology. Thus, relatively little is known about top predators’ responses to such environmental disturbances. In this study, we utilized passive acoustic monitoring to characterize the response of bottlenose dolphins to intense storms offshore Maryland, USA between 2015 and 2017. During and following four autumnal storms, dolphins were detected less frequently and for shorter periods of time. However, dolphins spent a significantly higher percentage of their encounters feeding after the storm than they did before or during. This change in foraging may have resulted from altered distributions and behavior of their prey species, which are prone to responding to environmental changes, such as varied sea surface temperatures caused by storms. It is increasingly vital to determine how these intense storms alter oceanography, prey movements, and the behavior of top predators.
Effect of Liquid Organic Fertilizer and Zeolite on Plant Available Water Content of Sand and Growth of Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne)

The use of high permeability soils with low plant available water content (PAWC) for cultivation of plants in the greenhouses, green roofs, and urban green spaces requires frequent irrigation, which leads to high water consumption. This paper presents an innovative method consisting of combined use of sustainably produced liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) extracted from landscape grass waste and clinoptilolite zeolite for improving PAWC of sand. The study included four substrates, namely sand (S), sand with 20% zeolite (SZ), sand treated with LOF (SLOF), and sand with 20% zeolite treated with LOF (SZLOF), to evaluate the effect of LOF and zeolite on PAWC of sand. The effect of three growth medium treatments, sand that received LOF fertilizer (LOF1), sand with 20% zeolite that received LOF fertilizer (ZLOF), and sand that received inorganic fertilizer (CF1), through a greenhouse experiment during two growing seasons (fall and summer) on productivity of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and properties of its growth medium was also evaluated. Combined use of LOF and zeolite increased the volumetric water content of sand by 29, 154, and 220% at 0, 30, and 100 centibar (CB) suctions compared to S substrate, respectively, and increased the dry biomass yield (DBY) of perennial ryegrass by 42% in ZLOF during the summer season compared to CF1 growth medium. Additionally, the content of organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus increased by 25, 120, and 84%, respectively, for ZLOF treatment compared to 33, 40, and 53% for LOF1 treatment. The outcomes of the experiments demonstrate the feasibility of using LOF and zeolite to improve the PAWC of sand and DBY of perennial ryegrass.
Gene Expression Analysis of the Pre-Diabetic Pancreas to Identify Pathogenic Mechanisms and Biomarkers of Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) occurs as a result of the autoimmune destruction of pancreatic β-cells by self-reactive T cells. The etiology of this disease is complex and difficult to study due to a lack of disease-relevant tissues from pre-diabetic individuals. In this study, we performed gene expression analysis on human pancreas tissues obtained from the Network of Pancreatic Organ Donors with Diabetes (nPOD), and showed that 155 genes were differentially expressed by ≥2-fold in the pancreata of autoantibody-positive (AA+) at-risk individuals compared to healthy controls. Only 48 of these genes remained changed by ≥2-fold in the pancreata of established T1D patients. Pathway analysis of these genes showed a significant association with various immune pathways. We were able to validate the differential expression of eight disease-relevant genes by QPCR analysis: A significant upregulation of CADM2, and downregulation of TRPM5, CRH, PDK4, ANGPL4, CLEC4D, RSG16, and FCGR2B was confirmed in the pancreata of AA+ individuals versus controls. Studies have already implicated FCGR2B in the pathogenesis of disease in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. Here we showed that CADM2, TRPM5, PDK4, and ANGPL4 were similarly changed in the pancreata of pre-diabetic 12-week-old NOD mice compared to NOD.B10 controls, suggesting a possible role for these genes in the pathogenesis of both T1D and NOD disease. The loss of the leukocyte-specific gene, FCGR2B, in the pancreata of AA+ individuals, is particularly interesting, as it may serve as a potential whole blood biomarker of disease progression. To test this, we quantified FCGR2B expression in peripheral blood samples of T1D patients, and AA+ and AA- first-degree relatives of T1D patients enrolled in the TrialNet Pathway to Prevention study. We showed that FCGR2B was significantly reduced in the peripheral blood of AA+ individuals compared to AA- controls. Together, these findings demonstrate that gene expression analysis of pancreatic tissue and peripheral blood samples can be used to identify disease-relevant genes and pathways and potential biomarkers of disease progression in T1D.
Leveraging judgmental anchors and cognitive dissonance to change dating behavior expectations

Misperceptions about common or appropriate dating behaviors are prevalent within the undergraduate population. This research sought to counteract those misperceptions by using numerical anchors and cognitive dissonance to create positive dating behavior expectations. The introduction of high numerical anchors led dating behavior expectations about respect and trust to assimilate in a healthier direction toward the anchor value. A dissonance manipulation resulted in higher levels of psychological discomfort and a unique method of assessing magnitude of dissonance was conducted, although no substantial effect of dissonance was observed on future dating behavior intentions. Overall, future dating behavior intentions for respect, trust, communication and helping behaviors were in healthy directions. Additionally, dating behavior intentions assessed four to six weeks after the study remained in a healthy direction. These findings contribute to our knowledge regarding the use of numerical anchors, cognitive dissonance, and undergraduate dating behavior expectations and intentions.
An appeal to the ladies of Hyderabad: scandal in the Raj: by Benjamin B. Cohen, Cambridge, Harvard UP, 2019, 347 pp., $28.95 (hardcover), ISBN: 9780674987654

This book offers an arresting account of a scandal which dominated public discourse in Hyderabad, a princely state in colonial India, during the late nineteenth century, and continued to reverberat...
Maternal COVID-19 leaves a lasting immunological impression on the fetus.

Whether COVID-19 during pregnancy affects the health of children is unclear. Data now show that SARS-CoV-2 infection of mothers can prime the fetal immune response indirectly even when the virus does not infect the fetus.
Progress on the development of skin friction sensors.

A skin friction measuring system is described which will operate to 2000 F for short periods of time and continuously to 1300 F. A prototype system has been constructed and is being placed in operation. Information on alternative feasible systems is presented. Emphasis is placed on presenting research results in the form of useful design information and experimental data.
Penetration of Beam on Plastic Foundation

The beam on an elastic foundation is a classical problem with a long history. With few exceptions, nonlinear problems of this type have hardly been touched. The purpose of this note is to present the solution to a simple, nonlinear problem.
mcfTRaptor: Toward unobtrusive on-the-fly control-flow tracing in multicores

Abstract Software testing and debugging has become the most critical aspect of the development of modern embedded systems, mainly driven by growing software and hardware complexity, increasing integration, and tightening time-to-market deadlines. Software developers increasingly rely on on-chip trace and debug infrastructure to locate software bugs faster. However, the existing infrastructure offers limited visibility or relies on hefty on-chip buffers and wide trace ports that significantly increase system cost. This paper introduces a new technique called mcfTRaptor for capturing and compressing functional and time-stamped control-flow traces on-the-fly in modern multicore systems. It relies on private on-chip predictor structures and corresponding software modules in the debugger to significantly reduce the number of events that needs to be streamed out of the target platform. Our experimental evaluation explores the effectiveness of mcfTRaptor as a function of the number of cores, encoding mechanisms, and predictor configurations. When compared to the Nexus-like control-flow tracing, mcfTRaptor reduces the trace port bandwidth in the range from 14 to 23.8 times for functional traces and 10.8–18.6 times for time-stamped traces.
Emergence: From Chaos to Order

From the Publisher: From one of today's most innovative thinkers comes the first book to carefully explore emergence - a surprisingly simple notion (the whole is more than the sum of its parts) with enormous implications for science, business, and the arts. In this work, John Holland, a leader in the study of complexity at the Santa Fe Institute, dramatically shows that a theory of emergence can predict many complex behaviors, and has much to teach us about life, the mind, and organizations. In Emergence, Holland demonstrates that a small number of rules of laws can generate systems of surprising complexity. Board games provide an ancient and direct example: Chess is defined by fewer than two dozen rules, but the myriad patterns that result lead to perpetual novelty and emergence. It took centuries of study to recognize certain patterns of play, such as the control of pawn formations. But once recognized, these patterns greatly enhance the possibility of winning the game. The discovery of similar patterns in other facets of our world opens the way to a deeper understanding of the complexity of life, answering such questions as: How does a fertilized egg program the development of a trillion-cell organism? How can we build human organizations that respond rapidly to change through innovation? Throughout the book, Holland compares different systems and models that exhibit emergence in the quest for common rules or laws.
TRAIL (Apo2 ligand) and TWEAK (Apo3 ligand) mediate CD4+ T cell killing of antigen-presenting macrophages.

The human marrow produces ∼1010 monocytes daily, and this production must be balanced by a similar rate of destruction. Monocytes/macrophages can undergo apoptosis after activating CD4+ T cells, suggesting one mechanism that may contribute to macrophage homeostasis. Previous reports indicate that Fas-Fas ligand interactions are the principle molecules mediating this response. However, D10, an Iak-restricted cloned Th2 line, will similarly induce apoptosis in Ag-presenting macrophages, and D10 cells lack Fas ligand. To confirm that D10 cells kill macrophages through Fas-independent pathways, D10 cells were shown to kill MRL lpr/lpr (Iak) macrophages in an Ag-dependent fashion, indicating additional mechanisms. Recent reports demonstrate that TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), interacting with Apo2, and TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK), interacting with Apo3, will induce apoptosis in some cells. Using Abs to TRAIL and an Apo3-IgG Fc fusion protein, we demonstrated that D10 cells express both TRAIL and TWEAK. The Apo3 fusion protein, but not human IgG, inhibited D10-induced macrophage apoptosis, as did anti-TRAIL. Further studies demonstrated that AE7, a cloned Th1 line, and splenic T cells express TWEAK, TRAIL, and Fas ligand, and inhibiting these molecules also inhibited macrophage killing. These results indicate that D10 cells induce macrophage apoptosis through TRAIL- and TWEAK-dependent pathways. Because normal T cells also express these molecules, these results support the concept that T cells have multiple pathways by which to induce macrophage apoptosis. These pathways may be important in immune processes such as macrophage homeostasis as well as in down-regulation of immune responses and elimination of macrophages infected with intracellular organisms.
European Integration: A Plan to Make the Grade

Since World War II, millions of immigrants have settled into European societies. While many of these ethnic minorities are entering their second and third generation within their host countries there is still a deep sense of disunity and alienation. Some researchers suggest that the best way to acculturate these migrants into society is through structural integration where migrants are exposed to and involved in institutions such as the educational system. To examine the importance of education's impact on socio-cultural integration, this article examines the effect of educational structures on the socio-cultural integration of Europe's ethnic minority populations, including foreign-born migrants. More specifically, this report examines the relationship between socio-cultural integration and starting age and duration of compulsory education. This article is available in Res Publica Journal of Undergraduate Research: http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/respublica/vol16/iss1/ 10
Does preserved kidney volume predict 1 year donor renal function after laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy

The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether preserved kidney volume predicts donor renal function at 1-year post-surgery. Data of patients who underwent laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy between October 2006 and September 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients underwent computed tomography scan with an estimation of kidney volume by using an automated segmentation algorithm. We also calculated kidney volume adjusted for donor body surface area and donor preserved kidney volume ratio (split volume). Estimated glomerular filtration rate was estimated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation. Predictors of the estimated glomerular filtration rate at 1 year were assessed by multiple linear regression. The 1-year estimated glomerular filtration rate was available in 140 patients. The median age was 40 years, and median adjusted preserved kidney volume was 160.5 cc/1.73 m2 (interquartile range 143.7–177.9). Median estimated glomerular filtration rate was 92.4 (interquartile range 81.9–101.2) and 61.2 mL/min/1.73 m2 (interquartile range 53.4–68.7), respectively, at baseline and at 1 year. Preserved kidney volume adjusted to body surface area (P = 0.02) with age (P = 0.002) and preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (P < 0.001) were independent predictors of estimated glomerular filtration rate at 1 year. However, split kidney volume was not statistically related to estimated glomerular filtration rate at 1 year (P = 0.47). In order to maximize preservation of donor renal function, the pre-donation kidney volume adjusted to body surface area might be a useful parameter to consider when deciding on living kidney donation.
Evolution in age-structured populations

The populations of many species of animals and plants are age-structured, i.e. the individuals present at any one time were born over a range of different times, and their fertility and survival depend on age. The properties of such populations are important for interpreting experiments and observations on the genetics of populations for animal and plant breeding, and for understanding the evolution of features of life-histories such as senescence and time of reproduction. In this new edition Brian Charlesworth provides a comprehensive review of the basic mathematical theory of the demography and genetics of age-structured populations. The mathematical level of the book is such that it will be accessible to anyone with a knowledge of basic calculus and linear algebra.
Acculturative stress, anxiety, and depression among Mexican immigrant farmworkers in the midwest United States.

No previous studies have examined the psychological functioning of immigrant farmworkers in the midwest United States. The purposes of the present study were threefold: (1) to assess the prevalence levels of anxiety and depression in a sample of Mexican immigrant farmworkers in the midwest United States; (2) to explore the relationships among acculturative stress, anxiety, and depression; and (3) to examine the variables that best predict anxiety and depression. The overall sample revealed elevated levels of anxiety and depression. Immigrant farmworkers with heightened levels of acculturative stress reported high levels of anxiety and depression. Family dysfunction, ineffective social support, low self-esteem, lack of choice in the decision to immigrate and live a migrant farmworker lifestyle, high education levels, and low levels of religiosity were significantly associated with high levels of anxiety and depression. The overall findings suggest that Mexican immigrant farmworkers who experience elevated levels of acculturative stress may be “at risk” for experiencing high levels of anxiety and depression. The findings highlight the importance of establishing prevention and treatment services for migrant farmworkers that aim to increase levels of emotional support, self-esteem, and coping skills.
The Acceptability Cline in VP Ellipsis

This paper lays the foundations for a processing model of relative acceptability levels in verb phrase ellipsis (VPE). In the proposed model, mismatching VPE examples are grammatical but less acceptable because they violate heuristic parsing strategies. This analysis is presented in a Minimalist Grammar formalism that is compatible with standard parsing techniques. The overall proposal integrates computational assumptions about parsing with a psycholinguistic linking hypothesis. These parts work together with the syntactic analysis to derive novel predictions that are confirmed in a controlled experiment.
Optimal flash rate and duty cycle for flashing visual indicators.

This experiment examined the ability of observers to determine, as quickly as possible, whether a visual indicator was steadily on or flashing. Six flash rates (periods) were combined factorially with three duty cycles (on-off ratios) to define 18 ?types' of intermittent signals. Experimental sessions were divided into six runs of 100 trials, each run utilizing one of the six flash rates. On any given trial in a run, the probability of a steady signal occurring was 0.5 and the probability of a flashing signal occurring was 0.5. A different duty cycle was employed daily for each experimental session. In all, 400 trials were devoted to each of the flash rates at each duty cycle. Accuracy and latency of response were the dependent variables of interest. The results show that the observers view the light for an interval of time appropriate to the expected flash rate and duty cycle; whether they judge the light to be steady or intermittent depends upon whether the light is extinguished during the predetermined waiting period. Adoption of this temporal criterion delays responding in comparison to those tasks involving responses to light onset. The decision or response criteria held by the observers are also sensitive to the parameters of the flashing light: observers become increasingly willing to call a flashing light ?steady' as flash duration increases.
Prevalence of Decreased Vitamin D Levels is High among Veterans with Diabetes and/or CKD

Objective. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with a variety of skeletal and extraskeletal problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among veterans in sunny Louisiana. Methods. Using the VA computerized patient record system, we searched for all 25 (OH) Vitamin D and 1, 25 (OH) vitamin D levels that were measured between 2007 and 2009. The information collected for each patient included age, body mass index, creatinine, history of diabetes and hypertension, and levels of vitamin D and PTH. We determined the number of individuals who were vitamin D insufficient and deficient. Results. Among 2990 studies evaluated, the mean concentration of 25 (OH) D was 2 2 . 5 ± 0 . 2 ng/mL, and that of 1, 25 (OH) vitamin D was 2 9 . 2 ± 0 . 4 ng/mL. Among them, only 695 subjects (23%) had normal values, while 889 (30%) had insufficiency, and 1405 (47%) had deficiency. Subjects with diabetes (1041) had significantly ( 𝑃 0 . 0 0 0 1 ) lower levels (21 and 25 ng/mL) of both 25 (OH) and 1,25 (OH) vitamin D compared to subjects without diabetes (23 and 32 ng/mL). Similarly, subjects with chronic kidney disease (1128) had much lower vitamin D levels than subjects without CKD. Among subjects with diabetes, those with chronic kidney disease (512) had much lower levels of both 25 (OH) and 1,25 (OH) vitamin D than with those with normal creatinine levels. Conclusions. We conclude that vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency is highly prevalent in veterans, more so among subjects with diabetes and/or CKD.
Animal behaviour: Personality in the wild

Behavioural traits can influence an individual animal's fitness, and trait combinations can change over its lifetime, according to a study of wild trout during a key period in their development.
The Integration of a Fragmented Self in the Works of Angelina Muñiz-Huberman

Literary creation is always a transposition of individual and collective experiences... This article is available in Studies in 20th Century Literature: http://newprairiepress.org/sttcl/vol27/iss2/4 The Integration of a Fragmented Self in the Works of Angelina MuMz-Huberman
Functionalized three-arm poly(ε-caprolactone) maleic acid microspheres for controlled protein release

The objective of this work was to fabricate a novel class of protein carriers from double-bond-functionalized multiarm poly(e-caprolactone) maleic acid (PGCLM) microspheres and to examine protein sustained-release profiles in vitro over a period of a few months. The double-emulsion technique was used to formulate terminal functionalized three-arm PGCLM microspheres having three different types of functional groups (-OH, -COOH, and -C = C-), and one of the functional groups (>C = C C = C C = C< bonds and -COOH pendant group) on the microsphere surface for potential additional chemical or/and biochemical modifications, such as the formation of crosslinked network surface structure. The incorporation of terminal hydrophilic functional maleic acid into hydrophobic three-arm PGCL chains significantly improved the loading efficiency of OVA and its release profiles. These functionalized biodegradable microspheres may provide a good alternative to linear aliphatic polyester-based drug delivery systems and resulted in development of a long-acting, injectable drug carrier for sustained drug release over a period of few months.
Raman spectroscopy of Kevlar 49 fibre

Abstract The Raman spectrum of poly( p -phenylene terephthalate) fibre, Kevlar 49, is reported. Fibre which had been exposed to heat, stress and radiation indicated that within experimental error, no general change takes place in the chemical structure of the material as a whole. However the spectrum of a filament under stress shows that all bands in the spectrum become increasingly polarized with increased stress. The spectral characteristics of the stress fibre lead to a possible explanation of the polymer's response to deformation — opening of the angles in the amide linkage of the polymeric chain and improved alignment of crystallites along the fibre axis.
Structural Studies of the High Mobility Group Globular Domain and Basic Tail of HMG-D Bound to Disulfide Cross-Linked DNA †

HMG-D is an abundant high mobility group chromosomal protein present during early embryogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster. It is a non-sequence-specific member of a protein family that uses the HMG domain for binding to DNA in the minor groove. The highly charged C-terminal tail of HMG-D contains AK motifs that contribute to high-affinity non-sequence-specific DNA binding. To understand the interactions of the HMG domain and C-terminal tail of HMG-D with DNA in solution, a complex between a high-affinity truncated form of the protein and a disulfide cross-linked DNA fragment was studied using heteronuclear NMR techniques. Despite its relatively high affinity for the single “prebent” site on the DNA, Kd = 1.4 nM, HMG-D forms a non-sequence-specific complex with the DNA as indicated by exchange broadening of the protein resonances at the DNA interface in solution. The secondary structural elements of the protein are preserved when the protein is complexed with the DNA, and the DNA-binding interface maps to...
Spectra of Argon, Oxygen, and Nitrogen Mixtures

The green bands which are associated with the 5577 A oxygen line for oxygen and argon mixtures have been obtained with an ozonizer discharge tube. Nitrogen was found to greatly enhance the intensity of the green if the discharge tube was maintained at the temperature of liquid air. Spectrograms with a plate factor of 1.9 A/mm partially resolve the rotational structure of the overlapping vibrational bands. A 20 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ difference appears between several bands. It is assumed that this spectrum results from loosely bound molecular states which may be represented by $\mathrm{A}(^{1}S_{0})\mathrm{O}(^{1}S_{0})$ and $\mathrm{A}(^{1}S_{0})\mathrm{O}(^{1}D_{2})$. There are no bands associated with the 2972 A line. The 5577 A line and associated bands have been observed in a dc arc through 3 atmospheres of commercial argon.A green glow is found to dominate the spectrum of an oxygen and nitrogen mixture if the discharge is maintained at - 192\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. This spectrum consists of the 5577 A line, a continuum, and a few diffuse bands.
Arcanobacterium haemolyticum in children with presumed streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis or scarlet fever.

Arcanobacterium haemolyticum was cultured from pharyngeal specimens obtained from 12 of 129 children with pharyngotonsillitis, some of whom had a scarlatiniform rash. This organism should be considered to be a cause of infections that are clinically similar to those caused by β-hemolytic streptococci.
A new computationally efficient technique for modeling periodic structures with applications to EBG, FSSs and metamaterials

In this paper we describe a novel technique for analyzing periodic structures that bypasses the use of the periodic boundary condition (PBC), and thus circumvents the slowness problem encountered in the construction of the periodic Green's function when using the Method of Moments (MoM), and the instability problem arising in the Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) analysis for wide angles of incidence. The basic strategy followed in the proposed approach is to generate the desired solution of the periodic problem by first analyzing a truncated version of the same, and then predicting the asymptotic limit of the solution of the truncated problem by using an efficient extrapolation technique that needs to work with only a moderate-size truncated structure to generate the desired solution of the doubly-infinite periodic configuration.
Direct computation of the degree 4 Gopakumar–Vafa invariant on a Calabi–Yau 3-fold

Abstract In this work we compute the topological Euler characteristic of the moduli space of stable sheaves of Hilbert polynomial 4 n + 1 on P 2 to be 192, using tools of algebraic geometry. This Euler characteristic is equal up to sign to the degree 4 BPS (Gopakumar–Vafa) invariant of local P 2 , a (noncompact) Calabi–Yau 3-fold. This is a new result verifying an instance of conjecture motivated by physics.
Audio-taped exposure therapy in a case of obsessional neurosis

A patient-recorded audio-tape of intrusive ideation was employed as the anxiety evoking stimulus during the course of exposure therapy with an obsessional neurotic. Detailed records of the patient's subjective anxiety within and across treatment sessions documented the remission of self-reports of obsessional ideation. Treatment gains were maintained at 1-year follow-up.
Biomechanical and clinical evaluation of the expandable intramedullary fixation device

The use of an expandable intramedullary device for internal fixation of metacarpal or phalangeal bones is described. The device is applicable to transverse fractures, short oblique fractures, or transverse osteotomies. The device consists of a cylindrical apparatus made of titanium that allows collapse in the circumferential diameter. It is introduced into the medullary canal in its collapsed state, and on release expands to its normal diameter in the canal with the fracture reduced over it. A biomechanical evaluation compared the stability of this device with other commonly employed fixation methods. A retrospective review is presented of the first 43 patients in whom the device was implanted.
Prevention of vasa vasorum neovascularization attenuates early neointima formation in experimental hypercholesterolemia.

Vasa vasorum (VV) neovascularization is a key feature of early atherosclerosis and adds substantial endothelial exchange-surface to the coronary vessel wall. Thus, it is conceivable that VV neovascularization favors the entry of pro-inflammatory and pro-atherosclerotic blood components into the coronary vessel wall. We sought to investigate the effects of Thalidomide (Th), a potent anti-angiogenic drug on vasa vasorum (VV) neovascularization, vessel wall inflammation, and neointima formation in early experimental atherosclerosis. Female domestic swine, 3 months old, were fed normal (N, n = 12) or high-cholesterol diet (HC, n = 12) for 3 months. In each group six pigs were randomized to 200 mg Thalidomide daily for the diet period (N + Th, HC + Th). LADs were scanned with micro-CT (20 μm cubic voxel size) to determine VV spatial density (#/mm²). Fresh-frozen coronary tissue was used for western blotting (VEGF, TNF-α, LOX-1, Iκβα and Gro-α) and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA, NFκβ). Treatment with Thalidomide preserved VV spatial density [2.7 ± 0.3 (N), 6.4 ± 0.7 (HC), 3.5 ± 0.8 (HC + Th); p = ns HC + Th vs. N] and inhibited the expression of VEGF, TNF-α and LOX-1, but not NFκβ activity in the coronary vessel wall. Immunofluorescence analyses revealed co-localization of vWF but not SMA and NFκβ, TNF-α as well as VEGF in HC and HC + Th coronaries. Intima-media thickness was significantly inhibited in HC + Th compared to HC. Serum levels of hs-CRP and TNF-α did not differ among the groups. Our study supports a role of VV neovascularization in the development of and a therapeutic potential for anti-angiogenic intervention in early atherosclerosis.
Longer First Introns Are a General Property of Eukaryotic Gene Structure

While many properties of eukaryotic gene structure are well characterized, differences in the form and function of introns that occur at different positions within a transcript are less well understood. In particular, the dynamics of intron length variation with respect to intron position has received relatively little attention. This study analyzes all available data on intron lengths in GenBank and finds a significant trend of increased length in first introns throughout a wide range of species. This trend was found to be even stronger when using high-confidence gene annotation data for three model organisms (Arabidopsis thaliana, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Drosophila melanogaster) which show that the first intron in the 5′ UTR is - on average - significantly longer than all downstream introns within a gene. A partial explanation for increased first intron length in A. thaliana is suggested by the increased frequency of certain motifs that are present in first introns. The phenomenon of longer first introns can potentially be used to improve gene prediction software and also to detect errors in existing gene annotations.
A Functional Fibroblast Growth Factor-1 Immunoglobulin Fusion Protein

Proteins of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family play diverse roles in embryonic development, angiogenesis, and wound healing. The most well studied targets of FGF activity typically are cells of mesodermal and neuroectodermal origin; in addition, expression of FGF-1 (acidic FGF) is increased at several sites of chronic immunologic injury, and recent studies show that FGF-1 also may interact with cells of the immune system. In some human T cells, FGF-1 can induce signals necessary for production of interleukin-2, a key cytokine required for T cell proliferation. To better characterize the interaction of FGF-1 with FGF receptors on T cells, a fusion protein was constructed containing a portion of the constant region of human IgG1 (Fc) at the amino terminus of FGF-1. The Fc-FGF-1 fusion protein retained FGF function as determined by stimulation of tyrosine phosphorylation and DNA synthesis in NIH 3T3 cells. Binding of the intact fusion protein to FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1) on T cells was demonstrated by immunoprecipitation of the receptor bound to Fc-FGF-1 and by flow cytometry showing binding of fusion protein to T cells expressing FGFR1. This functional Fc-FGF-1 protein should prove useful in identifying FGFR-expressing cells.
Impact of Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity on the Prediction of Tile Flow

Preferential flow through macropores and other structural voids in field soils most often occurs at or near saturation. Our earlier research revealed significant differences in the value of the saturated hydraulic conductivity (K,) of a glacial till soil in central Iowa when obtained with five different measurement techniques. The five techniques included one laboratory constant-head permeameter method and four in situ methods: disc permeameter, Guelph permeameter, velocity permeameter, and double-tube permeameter. Differences in measured K s values were attributed to differences in sample size, the existence or absence of open-ended macropores, and measurement principles. In this study, we used the different K, estimates in a two-dimensional numerical model, CHAIN―2D, to predict water flow into a subsurface tile drain in the same field. Comparisons between predicted and ohserved tile flows were made during four crop growing seasons. Preferential flow observed in the tile drain during large storm events was predicted best by the model when using K s values measured with the disc permeameter method, which least disturbed the boundary conditions of the flow field and better accounted for the macropore structures of the field soil. Quantitative and qualitative findings suggest that the disc permeameter was best suited for the field site.
Ultrastructure indicative of ion transport in tectal, Deiters, and tunnel cells: differences between gerbil and chinchilla basal and apical cochlea.

Ultrastructural examination revealed an epithelium of about five tectal cells (TCs) roofing the outer tunnel (OT) in the mid to upper, but not the basal, region of gerbil and chinchilla cochlea. Structures in TCs that are apparently specialized for retrieval of K(+) released into tunnel fluid from outer hair cells (OHCs) include surface fimbriae in the gerbil and canalicular reticulum in the chinchilla. A tunnel roof of organelle-rich TCs appeared to be better equipped for ion resorption than a roof composed of organelle-poor Hensen cells (HCs). Fimbriae, filopodia, and the cell body of TCs descended to contact the third Deiters cell (DC3) in the gerbil, and the hypertrophied DC3 phalanx rose to contact TCs in the chinchilla, which suggests a solute exchange between TCs and DCs. Previously unrecognized structures that are speculated to provide ATP ligand for cochlear purinoreceptors occurred in the chinchilla DC and gerbil TC. The observation of a microtubule stalk in DCs indicated that they also function in cochlear mechanics. A newly delineated lateral tunnel cell (LTC) intervened between the DC3 and HC in both species. The apicomedial plasmalemma of all DCs fitted closely to the base of OHCs and enveloped afferent nerves. The morphologic specializations reported here provide further support for the proposed transcellular lateral flow route for K(+) currents generated by sound exposure and neural activity. The previously demonstrated expansion of Boettcher cells, outer sulcus cell roots, type Il and IV fibrocytes, and apical microvilli on HCs and Claudius cells (CCs) in the base of the cochlea is postulated here to mediate a basal parallel current that could supply the increased K(+) transport required for the basally elevated electric potential (EP).
On the optimal regulation of an axi-symmetric rigid body with two controls

We present a partial solution to the problem of optimal feedback reorientation of the symmetry axis of an axially-symmetric rigid body. The performance index is quadratic in the state and the control variable, and the optimal reorientation maneuver requires the use of only two control torques. Because of the passivity characteristics and the cascade structure of the system, we first state two optimal regulation problems for the dynamics and the kinematics subsystems, separately. In this case one is able to find explicit solutions to the associated Hamilton-Jacobi equations. For the complete system the optimal regulation problem is not solvable in general. We present solutions for two partial cases: where there is no penalty on the control input, so that one can asymptotically recover the cost for the kinematics by making the dynamics sufficiently fast, and where restrictions are imposed by optimality considerations on the aforementioned control law to avoid high gain. (Author)
S ETA B. D ADOYAN , The Fatimid Armenians: Cultural and Political Interaction in the Near East , Islamic History and Civilization: Studies and Texts, vol. 18, ed. Ulrich Haarmann and Wadad Kadi (Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1997). Pp. 222. $72.00 cloth.

Rather than expound a thesis, this study establishes the fundamental facts of Armenian history from the 4th century to the 12th century on the basis of multiple difficult and sometimes hitherto unexploited sources. If there is an overall thesis, it is that Armenian sectarianism was so prevalent that it accounts for the fragmentary picture of Armenian history given by any single source. Orthodox Armenian sources ignore or dismiss sectarians. Sectarians wrote no history. And Arab historians make only annalistic references to Armenians, unaware of their sectarian divisions.
Economic and service comparison of conventional bus and automated transit--a case study

The paper discusses the findings of an automated guideway transit (AGT)--bus comparative analysis carried out for the city of Trenton, NJ, for 1985. Four transit modes were originally assessed: demand-responsive bus, light rail, scheduled bus and automated guideway transit. Two of these, light rail and demand-responsive bus, were eliminated as relatively ineffective in the area concerned. The other two systems, conventional bus and AGT, were examined in detail as extreme alternatives. Area-wide AGT represents the ultimate in urban mobility while conventional line-haul buses offer easily introduced short-term improvements. The analysis showed that while AGT would offer a high level of mobility to compete with car travel and could enhance future development in Trenton, investment requirements were prohibitive. The analysis of the fixed-route bus system network showed that a significant increase in use could be achieved by increasing frequencies along certain corridors for a relatively modest investment. /TRRL/
EFFECTS OF PROLACTIN, GROWTH HORMONE AND ACTH, ALONE AND IN COMBINATION, UPON ORGAN WEIGHTS AND ADRENAL FUNCTION IN NORMAL RATS.

Groups of normal rats were injected for 10 days with large daily doses of prolactin (10 mg), growth hormone (10 mg) or ACTH (80 IU), or all 3 combined. Body weight and length were increased by prolactin as well as by growth hormone. The combination of all 3 hormones produced large milkfilled mammary glands and splanchnomegaly of the liver, kidney, heart and spleen. Kidney and heart weights were increased mainly by ACTH injection. ACTH alone increased adrenal weight and the blood corticosterone level 10-fold and reduced the adrenal ascorbic acid level to 100 mg/100 g. Relative to the effects of ACTH given alone, growth hormone and prolactin decreased the effect of ACTH on adrenal weight by 40%, and on blood corticosterone level by 50%. The adrenal ascorbic acid level was reduced to only 200 mg/100 g of adrenal weight in the rats receiving the 3 hormones. Depot fat was greatly reduced by all 3 hormones, while brown fat was increased by ACTH. Thymus weight was reduced by ACTH or combined hormone treatment. P...
Classify human motions using micro-Doppler radar

In this paper, human motion model and RCS (radar cross section) simulation of radar returns from human are investigated. Micro-Doppler signatures [1-6] induced by human motions are studied. It shows that the time-frequency representation of micro-Doppler signature provides distinctive time-varying features for human motions. Motion of different body part has different micro-Doppler signature. Thus, micro-Doppler can be a promising method for classifying human activities. Measurement data using an experimental X-band micro-Doppler radar were collected and the results are compared with the corresponding simulation results. The classification of human motions based on micro-Doppler signatures is also discussed.
Novel and Accurate Method for Determination of Glass Transition Temperature of Spin-Labeled Polymer by ESR Microwave Power Saturation

A novel method to determine a glass transition temperature (Tg) of spin-labeled polymer applying the continuous-wave electron spin resonance (CW-ESR) has been developed. Poly(cyclohexyl acrylate) (PCHA), polystyrene (PS), poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA), poly(propylene glycol) (PPG), and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were labeled by attachment of nitroxide radicals; the temperature-dependent microwave power saturation measurements were carried out. The saturation factor, S, determined from the microwave power saturation measurement, had different temperature dependence above and below the Tg of the spin-labeled polymer because of the different temperature dependence of the spin−lattice relaxation time. The inflection point in the temperature dependence of S was defined as a Tg, ESR. The Tg, ESR was in good agreement with the Tg, DSC determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for the PCHA, PS, PMA, and PPG. The Tg, ESR of the PCHA labeled at the chain end was about 3 K lower than that of the one label...
Involvement of dynorphin and the kappa opioid receptor in feeding

Dynorphin-(1-17) produces a highly specific increase in food ingestion. Similar enhancement of food ingestion is found with dynorphin fragments (1-10), (1-11), (1-13) and (3-13) but not with (1-8) and (1-9). Dynorphin B (rimorphin) also enhances food intake. The highly specific kappa agonist U-50,488 also enhances food intake as do a number of other kappa-opiate receptor agonists. These studies provided further for the role of a highly specific dynorphin-kappa opioid receptor in the modulation of feeding.
The problem of finding a restriction strategy more effective than the set of support strategy

This article is the seventeenth of a series of articles discussing various open research problems in automated reasoning. Here we focus on formulating a new restriction strategy for curtailing the number of clauses generated and retained during the completion of an assignment. The problem proposed for research asks one to find a strategy that sharply restricts the tendency of an automated reasoning program to deduce far too many conclusions, many of which are redundant or irrelevant. The new strategy must be more powerful than the set of support strategy on a substantial set of problems. We suggest possible test problems from Tarskian geometry and the equivalential calculus for evaluating a proposed solution to this research problem.
The Isolation and Characterization of cDNA Encoding the Mouse Bifunctional ATP Sulfurylase-Adenosine 5′-Phosphosulfate Kinase

Biosynthesis of the activated sulfate donor, adenosine 3′-phosphate 5′-phosphosulfate, involves the sequential action of two enzyme activities: ATP sulfurylase, which catalyzes the formation of adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate (APS) from ATP and free sulfate, and APS kinase, which subsequently phosphorylates APS to produce adenosine 3′-phosphate 5′-phosphosulfate. Oligonucleotide primers were derived from a human infant brain-expressed sequence tag putatively encoding a portion of APS kinase. Using these primers, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was performed on mRNA from neonatal normal mice resulting in amplification of a 127-bp DNA fragment. This fragment was subsequently used to screen a mouse brain λgt11 cDNA library, yielding a 2.2-kb clone. Primers were designed from the 5′-end of the 2.2-kb clone, and 5′-rapid amplification of cDNA ends was used to obtain the translation start site. Sequence from the overlapping clones was assembled into a 2475-bp composite sequence, which contains a single open reading frame that translates into a 624-deduced amino acid sequence. Northern blots of total RNA from neonatal mice yielded a single message species at approximately 3.3 kb. Southern blot of genomic DNA digested with several restriction enzymes suggested the gene is present as a single copy. Comparison against sequence data bases suggested the composite sequence was a fused sulfurylase-kinase product, since the deduced amino acid sequence showed extensive homology to known separate sequences of both ATP sulfurylase and APS kinase from several sources. The first 199 amino acids corresponded to APS kinase sequence, followed by 37 distinct amino acids, which did not match any known sequence, followed by 388 amino acids that are highly homologous to known ATP sulfurylase sequences. Finally, recombinant enzyme expressed in COS-1 cells exhibited both ATP sulfurylase and APS kinase activity.