cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma affecting the testis: is it curable with doxorubicin-based therapy?

This study was designed to determine response, outcome, and patterns of failure of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who presented with a testicular mass. Consecutive patients presenting to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center between 1969 and 1999 treated with doxorubicin-based regimens and with radiotherapy and/or intrathecal therapy were considered for this study. We identified 43 patients whose median age was 61 years. Ann Arbor stage (AAS) was I in 22 patients, II in 7 patients, III in 1 patient, and IV in 13 patients. All 43 patients had intermediate-grade lymphomas according to the Working Formulation, and all 31 tumors assessed immunophenotypically were large B-cell lymphoma according to the World Health Organization classification. The International Prognostic Index score was > or = 2 in 18 patients (42%). Thirty-four patients achieved complete remission, 19 of whom relapsed, and 5 failed initial therapy. At 10 years, progression-free survival (PFS) was 20% +/- 9% and survival was 33% +/- 9%. Progression-free survival for patients with AAS I/II vs. III/IV was 36% +/- 13% vs. 0%, respectively (P = 0.004). At 10 years, the actuarial probability of failure in the central nervous system was 34% +/- 9% and was 21% +/- 9% in contralateral testis. Using the intent-to-treat method, patients receiving cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin/ vincristine/prednisone (CHOP), with additional scrotal radiotherapy and intrathecal methotrexate, had a 5-year PFS of 91% +/- 9% vs. 30% +/- 15% vs. 41% +/- 12% for those receiving only one or neither of these additional modalities (P = 0.053). Doxorubicin-based regimens alone appear unable to cure most patients with lymphoma involving the testis, but CHOP with prophylactic intrathecal therapy and adjuvant scrotal radiotherapy appears promising. This should be confirmed with prospective clinical trials and longer follow-up.
Effects of preoperative epidural administration of racemic ketamine for analgesia in sheep undergoing surgery.

Objective—To investigate the effects of preoperative epidural administration of racemic ketamine to provide analgesia in sheep undergoing experimental hind limb orthopedic surgery. Animals—12 adult sheep (weight range, 51.4 to 67.2 kg). Procedure—Sheep were anesthetized with guaifenesin, thiopental, and isoflurane; after induction of anesthesia, sheep received a lumbosacral epidural injection of ketamine (1 mg/kg; n = 6) or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (1 mL/7 kg; 6 [control group]). Respiratory and cardiovascular variables were recorded before and at intervals during and for 6 hours after anesthesia. During that 6-hour postoperative period, analgesia was evaluated subjectively with a numeric ranking scale that included assessments of comfort, posture, movement, and response to wound palpation; buprenorphine was administered when a score > 3 (maximum score, 10) was achieved. Rectal temperature, heart and respiratory rates, and lameness were evaluated daily for 2 weeks after surgery. Results—At all evaluati...
Ontogeny of B cells expressing IgM in embryonic and larval tissues of the American grass frog, Rana pipiens.

Affinity-purified, fluorochrome-tagged F(ab′)2 antibody fragments specific for heavy (μ) chains of Rana pipiens IgM were prepared from hyperimmune rabbit sera. By using two-color immunofluorescent procedures we observed that (1) the first cells expressing IgM, termed pre-B cells, lack detectable quantities of membrane or surface IgM but contain detectable quantities of cytoplasmic IgM (sμ–/cμ+), (2) sIgM+ B cells were the second type of IgM containing cell to appear in development, and (3) plasma cells, which contain copious quantities of cIgM, were the final phenotype to appear in the development of B cells expressing IgM. These cells were first observed in the pronephros of the developing urogenital system. Shortly after their appearance in the pronephros, cells in B lineages were observed in the liver. These observations (1) are consistent with recent studies of B lymphopoiesis in the aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) region in endothermic vertebrates, including mice, (2) suggest that there are fundamental ontogenetic and phylogenetic similarities between cells and tissues of developing vertebrate immune systems, and (3) evoke questions concerning the possible function(s) of lymphocytes in developing anurans up to metamorphosis and beyond. J. Exp. Zool. 286:736–744, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Perioperative specific management of blood volume loss in craniosynostosis surgery

Accurate assessment and replacement of blood loss and fluid–electrolyte deficit during craniosynostosis repair is difficult owing to patient size and the diversity of surgical technique. Forty-three patients undergoing primary craniosynostosis repair over a 10-year period were studied retrospectively to determine blood loss and fluid deficit and to assess blood transfusion practices during both intraoperative and postoperative periods. Blood loss was calculated on the basis of estimated red cell mass (ERCM) and fluid-electrolyte imbalance was investigated with blood samplings. Blood transfusion was considered appropriate if the postoperative or posttransfusion ERCM was within 12% of the preoperative value. Estimated fluid requirement (EFR) was used in 4 ml kg–1 h–1 except for neonates. Intraoperatively, 80% of all patients were appropriately managed with respect to blood transfusion and EFR. Postoperatively only 20% of the patients receiving transfusions were transfused appropriately. In 23.3% of these patients (10/43) unexpected respiratory distress developed immediately after their recovery from the anesthesia. With the measurement of estimated blood volume and allowable blood loss, appropriate transfusion could be achieved for the successful treatment of the primary craniosynostosis.
A Nonvolatile Organic Memory Device Using ITO Surfaces Modified by Ag‐Nanodots

We report on a single-layer organic memory device made of poly(N-vinylcarbazole) embedded between an Al electrode and ITO modified with Ag nanodots (Ag-NDs). Devices exhibit high ON/OFF switching ratios of 10 4 . This level of performance could be achieved by modifying the ITO electrodes with some Ag-NDs that act as trapping sites, reducing the current in the OFF state. Temperature dependence of the electrical characteristics suggest that the current of the low-resistance state can be attributed to Schottky charge tunnelling through low-resistance pathways of Al particles in the polymer layer and that the high-resistance state can be controlled by charge trapping by the Al particles and Ag-NDs.
Applications of the Jefferson Lab free-electron laser for photobiology

A versatile free electron laser (FEL) user facility has recently come on line at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) providing high average (kilowatt-level) power laser light in the infrared. A planned upgrade of the FEL in this facility will extend the wavelength range through the visible to the deep UV and provide the photobiology community with a unique light source for a variety of studies. Planned and potential applications of this FEL include: IR studies of energy flow in biomolecules, IR and visible imaging of biomedical systems, IR and visible studies of photodynamic effects and UV and near visible studies of DNA photodamage.
Design and Analysis of a Two-Stage Security Screening and Inspection System

Abstract Security inspections are becoming a commonplace activity in locations ranging from airports to museums and shopping malls. Theses inspections can result in significant operational costs to a facility and to entry delays for the individuals being inspected. In this paper we focus specifically on passenger inspections at US airports. We consider a two-stage inspection system in which we are able to control the service rate of the first inspector. The relationship between the inspection service rate and accuracy is assumed described by a known speed and accuracy operating characteristic curve. Using a queuing model we derive the optimal design for the passenger security inspection operation at a given arrival rate, and also evaluate the utility of any investments in inspection rate improvement. The primary performance metric for the security inspection system is the average waiting time of the arriving entities or passengers. The optimal result specifies the number of inspectors at each stage, the service rate of the first inspector, and the total system cost. Numerical results with an example system are presented.
A new method for coin flipping by telephone

A new one-way function that permits generation of random events is presented. This one-way function is based on decimal sequences.
Implications of current radar research on antennas and propogation

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Sensors Directorate is evolving the Outdoor Radar Range (ORR) to provide the research community with state-of-the-art testbed capabilities for the next decades. In this work, a general overview of the ORR will be presented, with particular emphasis on potential research activities of interest for both the antennas/propagation and the radar communities.
Rootfinding for a transcendental equation without a first guess: polynomialization of Kepler's equation through Chebyshev polynomial expansion of the sine

The Kepler equation for the parameters of an elliptical orbit, E-e sin(E) = M, is reduced from a transcendental to a polynomial equation by expanding the sine as a series of Chebyshev polynomials. The single real root is found by applying standard polynomial rootfinders and accepting only the polynomial root that lies on the interval predicted by rigorous theoretical bounds. A complete Matlab implementation is given in full because it requires just seven lines. For a polynomial of degree fifteen, the maximum absolute error over the whole range e ∈ [0, 1] and all M is only 4 × 10-10. Other transcendental equations can similarly be reduced to polynomial equations through Chebyshev expansions.
Self-financed efficiency incentives: case study of Mexico

Numerous countries use public funds to subsidize residential electricity for a variety of socioeconomic objectives. These subsidies lower the value of energy efficiency to the consumer while raising it for the government. Further, while it would be especially helpful to have stringent Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for end uses in this environment, they are hard to strengthen without imposing a cost on ratepayers. In this second-best world, where the presence of subsidies limits the government’s ability to strengthen standards, we find that efficiency-induced savings in subsidy payments can be a significant source of financing for energy efficiency incentive programs. Here, we introduce the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) Energy Efficiency Revenue Analysis (LEERA) model to estimate the greatest appliance efficiency improvements that can be achieved in Mexico by the revenue neutral financing of incentive programs from savings in subsidy payments yielded by the same efficiency improvements. We analyze Mexico’s tariff structures and the long-run marginal cost of supply to calculate the marginal savings for the government from appliance efficiency. We find that these avoided subsidy payments alone can provide enough revenue to cover the full incremental manufacturing cost of refrigerators that are 29 % more efficient and televisions that are 36 % more efficient than baseline models. For room air conditioners (ACs), the same source of financing can contribute up to one third of the incremental manufacturing cost of a model that is 10 % more efficient than baseline. We analyze the sensitivity of our results to the most important parameters and find our main conclusion that efficiency-induced avoided subsidy payments will contribute significantly to financing efficiency incentive programs in Mexico to be significant and robust.
Social opportunity and ethanol drinking in rats.

Abstract Two experiments were designed to evaluate the effects of pairings of ethanol sipper conditioned stimulus (CS) with social opportunity unconditioned stimulus (US) on ethanol sipper CS-directed drinking in rats. In both experiments, rats were deprived of neither food nor water, and initiation of drinking of unsweetened 3% ethanol was evaluated, as were the effects of increasing the concentration of unsweetened ethanol (3–10%) across sessions. In Experiment 1, Group Paired ( n =8) received 35 trials per session wherein the ethanol sipper CS was presented for 10 s immediately prior to 15 s of social opportunity US. All rats initiated sipper CS-directed drinking of 3% ethanol. Increasing the concentration of ethanol in the sipper CS [(3%, 4%, 6%, 8%, 10% (vol./vol.)] across sessions induced escalation of daily g/kg ethanol intake. To evaluate the hypothesis that the drinking in Group Paired was due to autoshaping, Experiment 2 included a pseudoconditioning control that received sipper CS and social opportunity US randomly with respect to one another. All rats in Group Paired ( n =6) and in Group Random ( n =6) initiated sipper CS-directed drinking of 3% ethanol and daily mean g/kg ethanol intake in the two groups was comparable. Also comparable was daily g/kg ethanol intake, which increased for both groups with the availability of higher concentrations of ethanol in the sipper CS, up to a maximum of approximately 0.8 g/kg ethanol intake of 10% ethanol. Results indicate that random presentations of ethanol sipper CS and social opportunity US induced reliable initiation and escalation of ethanol intake, and close temporally contiguous presentations of CS and US did not induce still additional ethanol intake. This may indicate that autoshaping CR performance is not induced by these procedures, or that high levels of ethanol intake induced by factors related to pseudoconditioning produces a ceiling effect. Implications for ethanol drinking in humans are discussed.
Optical characterization of a vertical cavity surface emitting laser for a coherent population trapping frequency reference

Characterization of a vertical cavity surface emitting laser source for a frequency reference that uses coherent population trapping with atomic rubidium is reported. The frequency reference requires a low-noise laser that operates in a single transverse mode at 794.7nm. We show that biasing the laser at low output power and modulating it at higher frequency than its low relaxation oscillation frequency are necessary to obtain symmetric modulation sidebands and improve the long-term performance of the frequency reference.
Impact of Trench and Ramp Film Cooling Designs to Reduce Heat Release Effects in a Reacting Flow

Abstract : Increasing combustor fuel-air ratios are a recent area of concern in gas turbine film cooling due to the potential for heat release on the surface of film-cooled components. This investigation compared four different cooling designs on their heat release potential: namely fanned, normal and radial trenched, and ramped. Measurements of heat flux to the downstream surface, when subjected to a reacting mainstream flow, provide a qualitative comparison between the four tested configurations. Furthermore, this work studied the effect of multiple injection points in series along the surface of a flat plate. An upstream set of normal holes and an upstream slot are evaluated on their ability to protect the downstream coolant flow from the fuel rich mainstream. Results are presented in terms of heat flux, augmentation of heat flux, and adiabatic wall temperature calculations. Downstream heat release is suspected to be a result of coolant interaction with local free radical concentrations. Concentrations, volume flow rates and jet to mainstream momentum ratio dictate local equivalence ratio and hence, the available local enthalpy generation.
Concentración del virus de la necrosis pancreática infecciosa mediante ultrafiltración de flujo tangencial combinado con filtración de exclusión

SUMMARY The infectious pancreatic necrosis virus, IPNV, is the etiological agent of a highly contagious disease that affects young salmon. The virus is mostly horizontally transmitted; therefore virus quantitation in water is mandatory for a proper sanitary management in the salmon industry as well as in the environment close to the hatcheries. To evaluate the water as a risk factor for IPNV infection in cultured or wild animals, it is necessary to titrate the virus with a suitable sensitivity. Therefore, a methodology that allows IPNV concentration to be determined in water using two kinds of ultrafiltration was developed. One, based on the tangential flow of the sample along the surface of a membrane, the other based on the retention of the viral particles at the surface of membranes with controlled pore diameter. Reagents and conditions were selected to reduce virus inactivation and/or virus binding to the filters. Finally, a protocol was developed that allows the concentration of IPNV in three orders of magnitude and with a total recovery of infectivity to be determined. This method can be performed in less than one day including virus titration using the fluorescent foci method
Nitric Oxide Synthase Isoforms Undertake Unique Roles During Excitotoxicity

Background and Purpose— Excitotoxicity is a component of many neurodegenerative diseases. The signaling events that lead from excitotoxic injury to neuronal death remain incompletely defined. Pharmacological approaches have shown that nitric oxide production is critical for the progression of neurodegeneration after the initiation of excitotoxicity by the glutamate analog kainate. Although nitric oxide additionally triggers blood–brain barrier (BBB) breakdown, the breakdown does not in itself inevitably lead to neuronal cell death, because neuroprotective pharmacological means can be used subsequently to prevent the neural death. Methods— In this study, we use a genetic approach to analyze the contribution of 3 nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms, neuronal NOS, endothelial NOS, and inducible NOS, to neurodegeneration and BBB breakdown in this setting. Results— We find that neuronal NOS is critical for the progression of kainate-stimulated neurodegeneration, whereas endothelial NOS is required only for BB...
Contributions of R.H. Ritchie to the understanding of charged particle penetration phenomena

Abstract Contributions of R.H. Ritchie to the understanding of phenomena associated with the penetration of charged particles in condensed matter are reviewed. Ritchie was the first to predict the existence of the surface plasmon and to suggest how it might be observed experimentally, and has since made many contributions related to it. He pioneered in developing theoretical concepts and methods in numerous other areas including energy loss of charged particles, transport theory, nonlinear response of solids, the charged-particle wake, stopping power for slow ions, self-energy of slow electrons, and theoretical electron microscopy. Other trailblazing work of his, including various aspects of radiation dosimetry, and instrument theory and design, are discussed briefly.
Antibodies to Recombinant-Derived Glycoprotein B after Natural Human Cytomegalovirus Infection Correlate with Neutralizing Activity

Glycoprotein B (gB) of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) was partially purified by lentil-lectin column chromatography from cells infected with an adenovirus-gB recombinant. This antigen, which contained specifically reactive proteins of approximately 130 and 55 kDa, was used to investigate gB antibody levels after natural HCMV infection in 48 individuals. All sera had IgG antibody to gB as detected by radioimmunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. Quantitative RIP showed a strong correlation between gB antibody and neutralizing activity (r = .74, P less than .001) but a weak correlation between gB antibody and total HCMV-specific IgG (r = .36, P less than .02). When gB antibody was specifically absorbed from 20 serum specimens, neutralizing antibody titer was reduced a median of 48% (range, 0-98%). These data confirmed that antibodies to gB are a large component of the neutralizing antibody response to HCMV and support a role for this protein in the development of subunit vaccines.
Tocqueville on human misery and human liberty

Abstract Tocqueville understands Rousseau's history as presupposing the authenticity of Pascal's experience of being a self-conscious mortal. As human beings become more human or historical, they come to know and experience more of what was always true about the contingency of the human being's particular existence. Pascal had already know everything fundamental than Rousseau knew. I use both Tocqueville's “Memoir on Pauperism” and part of the second volume of Democracy in America to show how he accounts for and uses the historical observation that human progress increases self-consciousness and discontent and hence leads to revolution or some other form of misanthropic self destructiveness.
Role of branched-chain ketoacids in protein metabolism

Ketoanalogues of three branched-chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, and valine) are the principal constituents of ketoacid-amino acid mixtures currently under clinical trial in the United States [1], Canada, and France [2] as dietary supplements for patients with chronic renal failure. They have also been studied as agents of possible therapeutic value in portal-systemic encephalopathy [3], congenital hyperammonemia [4], post-operative N wasting [5], muscular dystrophy [6], McArdle's disease [7], and as feed additives for farm animals [8–11]. In addition to their possible uses, these branched-chain ketoacids (BCKA) play a role in normal amino acid metabolism, owing to their rapid interconvertibility (by transamination) with branched-chain amino acids (BCAA). Most of their potential therapeutic uses stem from effects of these compounds on protein turnover. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current knowledge concerning the role of endogenous BCKA in protein metabolism and the effect of exogenous BCKA on N balance, with particular reference to renal failure. Other aspects of BCKA metabolism have been reviewed recently [12–15].
Examining the mechanisms that link β-amyloid and α-synuclein pathologies

β-amyloid (Aβ) and α-synuclein (α-syn) are aggregation-prone proteins typically associated with two distinct neurodegenerative disorders: Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease. Yet α-syn was first found in association with AD plaques several years before being linked to Parkinson's disease or Lewy body formation. Nowadays, a large subset of AD patients (~50%) is well recognized to co-exhibit significant α-syn Lewy body pathology. Unfortunately, these AD Lewy body variant patients suffer from additional symptoms and an accelerated disease course. Basic research has begun to show that Aβ and α-syn may act synergistically to promote the aggregation and accumulation of each other. While the exact mechanisms by which these proteins interact remain unclear, growing evidence suggests that Aβ may drive α-syn pathology by impairing protein clearance, activating inflammation, enhancing phosphorylation, or directly promoting aggregation. This review examines the interactions between Aβ and α-syn and proposes potential mechanistic links between Aβ accumulation and α-syn pathogenesis.
Architectural Design Decisions in Open Software Development: A Transition to Software Ecosystems

Managing architectural design decisions (ADDs) in software development process is an essential task for architectural knowledge management. As software ecosystems become a new software development paradigm in software engineering processes, it is important and necessary to capture and represent ADDs in open software development, and to evolve architectural knowledge with minimum knowledge evaporation in the open ecosystem community. So far, little work has been done on managing architectural decisions in software ecosystems in current software architecture research and practice. In this research position paper, we discuss the typical characteristics of software ecosystems which may influence architecture decision-making processes in software development, and identify the essential aspects that should be considered for managing ADDs in the context of software ecosystem. In addition, we discuss major challenges of managing ADDs for software ecosystems, and we also propose possible directions in research to solve the problems.
The World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS): a short screening scale for use in the general population.

Background A self-report screening scale of adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the World Health Organization (WHO) Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) was developed in conjunction with revision of the WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). The current report presents data on concordance of the ASRS and of a short-form ASRS screener with blind clinical diagnoses in a community sample. Method The ASRS includes 18 questions about frequency of recent DSM-IV Criterion A symptoms of adult ADHD. The ASRS screener consists of six out of these 18 questions that were selected based on stepwise logistic regression to optimize concordance with the clinical classification. ASRS responses were compared to blind clinical ratings of DSM-IV adult ADHD in a sample of 154 respondents who previously participated in the US National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R), oversampling those who reported childhood ADHD and adult persistence. Results Each ASRS symptom measure was significantly related to the comparable clinical symptom rating, but varied substantially in concordance (Cohen's kappa in the range 0.16-0.81). Optimal scoring to predict clinical syndrome classifications was to sum unweighted dichotomous responses across all 18 ASRS questions. However, because of the wide variation in symptom-level concordance, the unweighted six-question ASRS screener outperformed the unweighted 18-question ASRS in sensitivity (68.7% v. 56.3%), specificity (99.5% v. 98.3%), total classification accuracy (97.9% v. 96.2%), and kappa (0.76 v. 0.58). Conclusions Clinical calibration in larger samples might show that a weighted version of the 18-question ASRS outperforms the six-question ASRS screener. Until that time, however, the unweighted screener should be preferred to the full ASRS, both in community surveys and in clinical outreach and case-finding initiatives.
A synergistic view of autonomous cognitive systems

As advances in neuroscience, cognitive science and robotics continue to elucidate the physical basis of autonomous behavior in animals, many deep questions remain open, including: What sort of system can evolve and support perception, cognition and action? What general principles or attributes can be defined for such a system? If so, how do these principles and attributes make complex behavior possible? In this paper, we report on the early stages of research to address these questions from a complex systems and systems biology perspective. We argue that flexible modularity and hierarchical interaction of synergies in a modular system are fundamental to the possibility of cognition. We describe a minimal model comprising three interacting core subsystems that embodies the principles of flexible modularity and synergy. Finally, we present a simple neural model of action generation based on the principles of interacting modular synergies.
Iridium–Ruthenium–gold cluster complexes: Structures, and skeletal Rearrangements

Abstract Three new IrRuAu trimetallic cluster complexes: IrRu3(CO)13AuPPh3, 1, HIrRu3(CO)12(AuPPh3)2, 2 and IrRu3(CO)12(AuPPh3)3, 3 were obtained in low yields from the reaction of HIrRu3(CO)13 with [(AuPPh3)3O][BF4]. Compounds 1 and 3 were subsequently obtained in much better yields (82%) and (84%) from the reactions of [AuPPh3][NO3] and [(AuPPh3)3O][BF4] with [PPN][IrRu3(CO)13], respectively. The molecular structures of all three compounds were established by single crystal x-ray diffraction methods. Compounds 1 and 2 contain an Au(PPh3) group that bridges one triangular face of a tetrahedral IrRu3 cluster. Compound 2 contains a second Au(PPh3) capping group that bridges an Ir–Ru–Au triangle. Compound 3 consists of a pentagonal bipyramidal Au3IrRu3 cluster that has three gold atoms and two of the ruthenium atoms in the equatorial plane. There is a bond between the apical Ir and Ru atoms. Compounds 2 and 3 exhibit dynamical activity in the metal skeleton that leads to a rapid averaging of the inequivalent Au(PPh3) groups on the NMR timescale at room temperature.
Massive proliferation of Grateloupia intestinalis (Hooker fil. et Harvey) Setchell ex Parkinson (Rhodophyta, Halymeniaceae), a non-native species in Valparaíso Bay, central Chile

Se informa la proliferacion masiva de Grateloupia intestinalis, una especie no reportada previamente en la bahia de Valparaiso, Chile. Un total de 74 ejemplares fueron recolectados al azar en el intermareal bajo de Playa Cochoa (32o57´21,8´´S-71o32´57,7´´W) en octubre de 2006. El material fue herborizado y se realizaron cortes histologicos para su observacion con microscopia optica. Los especimenes recolectados se caracterizan por un talo de color rojo vinoso, linear, ligulado, con uno o dos apices, ligeramente gelatinoso y ondulado. Los especimenes alcanzan aproximadamente 18 cm de largo y 1 cm de ancho. Los cortes transversales muestran una corteza con tres a cuatro cubiertas de celulas elipticas entre las cuales se presentaron tetrasporangios cruciados esparcidos. La medula es laxa dejando en el centro un espacio lleno de mucilago. No se observaron plantas cistocarpicas. En la costa de Chile central no ha sido registrada otra proliferacion de G. intestinalis como la observada en Playa Cochoa. Aunque se habia encontrado en el sur del pais, esta informacion no era explicita por encontrarse en una publicacion sobre Gigartinales y Rhodymeniales, en la cual esta especie solo se menciona entre el material de herbario trabajado. Se sugiere que G. intestinalis seria una especie no nativa para la costa de Chile
Model-based Theory Combination

Traditional methods for combining theory solvers rely on capabilities of the solvers to produce all implied equalities or a pre-processing step that introduces additional literals into the search space. This paper introduces a combination method that incrementally reconciles models maintained by each theory. We evaluate the practicality and efficiency of this approach.
Helminth Parasites from the Kit Fox, Vulpes macrotis (Carnivora: Canidae), from New Mexico

ABSTRACT: Fifty-three kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis) were collected from 9 counties in New Mexico from 1996 to 1998 and examined for helminth parasites. Forty-seven (88.7%) were infected. The cestodes found included Dipylidium caninum in 15 (28.3%), Mesocestoides variabilis in 29 (54.7%), and Taenia multiceps in 1 (1.9%). The nematodes include Ancylostoma caninum in 2 (3.8%), Toxocara canis in 2 (3.8%), Toxocara cati in 1 (1.9%), Toxascaris leonina in 32 (60.4%), and Physaloptera rara in 31 (58.5%) foxes. This is the first report of these parasites in kit foxes from New Mexico. Taenia multiceps, Ancylostoma caninum, Toxocara canis, Toxocara cati, and P. rara are recorded for the first time in kit foxes.
Increased efficiency and faster turn-on in magnetrons using the transparent cathode

The “transparent cathode” was proposed [1] as a technique to increase the efficiency of, and reduce the start time of oscillations in a relativistic A6 magnetron [2]. Particle-in-cell computer simulations using MAGIC [3] were extensively performed and documented [1,4]. Recently experiments were performed and output powers approaching 1 GW in S-band were measured in experiments using a short pulse (9 ns) electron beam [5]. These results were in excellent agreement with MAGIC simulations. More recent MAGIC simulation results on an A6 magnetron using axial extraction (diffraction output) and a transparent cathode demonstrated 1.4 GW output power in S-band with nearly 70% conversion efficiency. This paper describes our recent results (latest trends) and discusses plans for application of the transparent cathode in commercial magnetrons.
OPPOSING LEVELS OF SELECTION CAN CAUSE NEUTRALITY: MATING PATTERNS AND MATERNAL-FETAL INTERACTIONS

A biallelic viability model based on human data for maternal-fetal interactions reported by Hedrick (1997) gives the interesting result of neutral stability at all gene frequencies. I show that there are two levels of selection, within and among families, acting in opposing directions in this model and that the neutral stability occurs when the two levels of selection exactly balance one another, as they do in a randomly mating population. Deviations from random mating disrupt the balance and consequently destroy the neutral stability. However, with inbreeding avoidance, which characterizes the human histocompatibility loci, within-family selection is strengthened and among-family selection is weakened. This favors the invasion of new alleles and contributes to a high equilibrium level of genetic diversity at loci with maternal-fetal interactions affecting offspring viability in the pattern described by Hedrick. This pattern of selection is remarkably similar to that observed for the maternal effect selfish genes, Medea in flour beetles and scat in the mouse, and the Gp-9 gene in the fire ant.
Correlated distributions in the photodissociation of HNCO to NH(X3Σ−, a1Δ) + CO(X1Σ+) near the barrier on S1

Abstract The photodissociation of HNCO is examined at 230.1 nm, near the threshold to NH(a 1 Δ ) + CO(X 1 Σ + ). CO products are generated from NH(X 3 Σ − ) + CO(X 1 Σ + ) and NH(a 1 Δ ) + CO(X 1 Σ + ). Although the two contributions overlap spectroscopically , they are resolved in velocity space when using photofragment ion imaging. For both channels the CO rotational distribution is cold and non-statistical. A high resolution variant of imaging is employed to obtain NH(a 1 Δ) distributions correlating with specific J CO levels. Combining these measurements with NH(a 1 Δ) photofragment yield spectra and rotational distributions, we establish that decomposition to NH(a 1 Δ) + CO(X 1 Σ) evolves over a small barrier on S 1 , estimated at 400–600 cm −1 .
Methods of Aging and Muscle Flexing and Their Effects upon the Tenderness of Turkey Meat

Abstract RECENTLY several devices and procedures have been introduced which modify ice slush chilling. With the introduction of each new piece of equipment, many questions arise as to the effect on rate of chilling, percentage water uptake, and consumer acceptability. Many factors contribute to the relative tenderness or lack of tenderness of turkey meat. Present evidence indicates that aging is the factor contributing most to the tenderness value. The rate of aging can be modified by ante-mortem treatment, killing procedure, and cooling procedure. Tenderness is a rat e process (Klose et al., 1959; Pool et al., 1959) and the rate of tenderization is definitely controlled by certain biochemical reactions (de Fremery and Pool, 1960). Thus, it is of value to determine the effect of rate of mechanical cooling and muscle flexing on the tenderness of the final product. The purpose of this research was to ascertain whether or not there were …
Method to correct intensity inhomogeneity in MR images for atherosclerosis characterization

We are developing methods to characterize atherosclerotic disease in human carotid arteries using multiple MR images having different contrast mechanisms (T1W, T2W, PDW). To enable the use of voxel gray values for interpretation of disease, we created a new method, local entropy minimization with a bicubic spline model (LEMS), to correct the severe (/spl ap/80%) intensity inhomogeneity that arises from the surface coil array. This entropy-based method does not require classification and robustly addresses some problems that are more severe than those found in brain imaging, including noise, steep bias field, sensitivity of artery wall voxels to edge artifacts, and signal voids near the artery wall. Validation studies were performed on a synthetic digital phantom with realistic intensity inhomogeneity, a physical phantom roughly mimicking the neck, and patient carotid artery images. We compared LEMS to a modified fuzzy c-means segmentation based method (mAFCM), and a linear filtering method (LINF). Following LEMS correction, skeletal muscles in patient images were relatively isointense across the field of view. In the physical phantom, LEMS reduced the variation in the image to 1.9 % and across the vessel wall region to 2.5 %, a value which should be sufficient to distinguish plaque tissue types, based on literature measurements. In conclusion, we believe that the correction method shows promise for aiding human and computerized tissue classification from MR signal intensities.
Macrophage-specific expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator promotes skeletal muscle regeneration

Macrophages (Mp) and the plasminogen system play important roles in tissue repair following injury. We hypothesized that Mp-specific expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is sufficient for Mp to migrate into damaged muscle and for efficient muscle regeneration. We generated transgenic mice expressing uPA only in Mp, and we assessed the ability of these mice to repair muscle injury. Mp-only uPA expression was sufficient to induce wild-type levels of Mp accumulation, angiogenesis, and new muscle fiber formation. In mice with wild-type uPA expression, Mp-specific overexpression further increased Mp accumulation and enhanced muscle fiber regeneration. Furthermore, Mp expression of uPA regulated the level of active hepatocyte growth factor, which is required for muscle fiber regeneration, in damaged muscle. In vitro studies demonstrated that uPA promotes Mp migration through proteolytic and nonproteolytic mechanisms, including proteolytic activation of hepatocyte growth factor. In summary, Mp-derived uPA promotes muscle regeneration by inducing Mp migration, angiogenesis, and myogenesis.
A basis method for robust estimation of constrained MLLR

Constrained Maximum Likelihood Linear Regression (CMLLR) is a widely used speaker adaptation technique in which an affine transform of the features is estimated for each speaker. However, when the amount of speech data available is very small (e.g. a few seconds), it can be difficult to get sufficiently accurate estimates of the transform parameters. In this paper we describe a method of estimating CMLLR robustly from less data. We do this by representing the CMLLR transform matrix as a weighted sum over basis matrices, where the basis is constructed in such a way that the most important variation is concentrated in the leading coefficients. Depending on the amount of data available, we can choose to estimate a smaller or larger number of coefficients.
Activation and Inhibition of Indoleacetic Acid Oxidase Activity from Peas.

The inhibition of indoleacetic acid oxidase activity by chlorogenic acid is markedly variable. Aqueous extracts of acetone precipitates from etiolated pea epicotyls contain heat-stable substances which decrease the inhibition produced by chlorogenic acid and also have a small activating effect. Low concentrations of pcoumaric acid (1 µ/ml) can stimulate this action. The possible role of activators and inhibitors in the in vivo regulation of indoleacetic acid oxidase activity is discussed.
New Antibiotic Dosing in Infants

To prevent the devastating consequences of infection, most infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit are exposed to antibiotics. However, dosing regimens are often extrapolated from data in adults and older children, increasing the risk for drug toxicity and lack of clinical efficacy because they fail to account for developmental changes in infant physiology. However, newer technologies are emerging with minimal-risk study designs, including ultra-low-volume assays, pharmacokinetic modeling and simulation, and opportunistic drug protocols. With minimal-risk study designs, pharmacokinetic data and dosing regimens for infants are now available for ampicillin, clindamycin, meropenem, metronidazole, and piperacillin/tazobactam.
Using Local Microbiologic Data To Develop Institution-Specific Guidelines for the Treatment of Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia

Background While current guidelines recommend consideration of local microbiologic data when selecting empiric treatment for hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), few specifics of how to do this have been offered. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of HAP pathogens in 111 consecutive patients who acquired HAP during July to December 2004 and had a corresponding positive culture finding for a bacterial pathogen. These data were used to develop institution-specific guidelines. Results The most common bacteria identified were Staphylococcus aureus , Acinetobacter baumannii , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa , which were associated with 38%, 25%, and 19% of pneumonias, respectively. Susceptibility of Gram-negative bacteria to piperacillin-tazobactam and cefepime was 80% and 81%, respectively. The isolation of organisms resistant to piperacillin-tazobactam or cefepime was significantly more frequent in patients who had been hospitalized ≥ 10 days. Of Gram-negative isolates resistant to piperacillin-tazobactam or cefepime, ciprofloxacin was active against 80%. New treatment guidelines were developed that divided the American Thoracic Society/Infectious Diseases Society of America “late onset/risk of multidrug-resistant pathogens” group of patients into two subcategories: “early-late” pneumonias ( 90% of late-onset pneumonias at our institution. Conclusions Current guidelines suggest adding either an aminoglycoside or a fluoroquinolone to β-lactam therapy for empiric Gram-negative coverage. However, in our institution, adding ciprofloxacin would not appreciably enhance the likelihood of providing initial appropriate antibiotic coverage. This underscores the importance of employing a systematic analysis of local data when developing treatment guidelines.
Importance of biliary excretion of indomethacin in gastrointestinal and hepatic injury.

Background and Aims: A mechanism for protection of gastrointestinal (GI) and hepatic cells from damaging detergent actions of bile acids appears to involve the bile component, phosphatidylcholine (PC). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) induce intestinal injury in direct proportion to their ability to be excreted into bile, and are known to chemically associate with PC. We investigated the role of bile acids and PC in the mechanism of indomethacin-induced epithelial injury. Methods: Rats were injected orally or intravenously with radiolabeled indomethacin and their bile was collected over time for determination of NSAID secretion. Bile from rats treated with or without indomethacin was used in studies of red blood cell (RBC) hemolysis as a measure of membrane cytotoxicity. The bile salt, sodium deoxycholate (SDC), and indomethacin were tested alone and in combination with PC on RBC and on hepatic HepG2 cells. Results: Intravenously or orally given indomethacin was quantitatively excreted (approximately 50%) into bile over a 2-h study period. Bile from a rat treated with indomethacin or bile with exogenous indomethacin was cytotoxic to RBC, and the injury was prevented by the addition of PC. Hepatocytes exposed to SDC showed injury that could be dose-dependently prevented by PC, and reversed by indomethacin. Conclusions: Biliary PC plays an important physiological role in protecting GI and hepatic epithelia from the cytotoxic actions of bile salts. The ability of NSAIDs excreted into the bile to associate with mixed bile salt micelles and reduce the protective action of the PC may be a critical component in the drugs' pathogenic mechanism.
Empowering individuals in the prevention of genetic disease

As the International Human Genome Project nears the term of a long gestation, the ethical and social implications of complex new genetic technologies will require a new breed of clinicians for a safe delivery. Clinical genetic care has been time intensive as performed by medical specialists. Empowering individuals to take advantage of new opportunities for genetic testing to prevent disease will require clinician education and decision support in the context of individual values.
Host defence to bacterial infection in the neonate

Host defence to bacterial infection is mainly determined by opsonins, i.e., IgG antibodies and complement, and phagocytic cells, which co-operate to remove bacterial invaders from host tissues. Various studies have clearly documented distinct defects in both arms of host defence in the newborn period. Chemotaxis, i.e., directed migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) is impaired in the neonate. Phagocytosis of bacteria by neonatal PMN is normal, but post-phagocytic events, particularly metabolic activation and bacterial killing are impaired, the latter defect apparently due to diminished generation of reactive oxygen species. Both classical and alternative pathway activity of complement are mildly diminished (50-80% of adult values) in the term newborn, but are more severely decreased in the premature infant (20-40% of adult values in 28 to 36 weeks prematures). Opsonic activity of transplacentally-derived IgG when compared to maternal IgG is strikingly deficient against staphylococci and group B streptococci (GBS), in the latter case depending on the GBS serotype. Since opsonization is a key process in antibacterial defence, it is speculated that these opsonic defects of IgG may be an essential determinant of the neonate's susceptibility to disease due to these bacteria.
Robust control of mitotic spindle orientation in the developing epidermis.

Progenitor cells must balance self-amplification and production of differentiated progeny during development and homeostasis. In the epidermis, progenitors divide symmetrically to increase surface area and asymmetrically to promote stratification. In this study, we show that individual epidermal cells can undergo both types of division, and therefore, the balance is provided by the sum of individual cells’ choices. In addition, we define two control points for determining a cell’s mode of division. First is the expression of the mouse Inscuteable gene, which is sufficient to drive asymmetric cell division (ACD). However, there is robust control of division orientation as excessive ACDs are prevented by a change in the localization of NuMA, an effector of spindle orientation. Finally, we show that p63, a transcriptional regulator of stratification, does not control either of these processes. These data have uncovered two important regulatory points controlling ACD in the epidermis and allow a framework for analysis of how external cues control this important choice.
How older adults use cognition in sentence-final word recognition.

ABSTRACTThis study examined the effects of executive control and working memory on older adults’ sentence-final word recognition. The question we addressed was the importance of executive functions to this process and how it is modulated by the predictability of the speech material. To this end, we tested 173 neurologically intact adult native English speakers aged 55–84 years. Participants were given a sentence-final word recognition test in which sentential context was manipulated and sentences were presented in different levels of babble, and multiple tests of executive functioning assessing inhibition, shifting, and efficient access to long-term memory, as well as working memory. Using a generalized linear mixed model, we found that better inhibition was associated with higher accuracy in word recognition, while increased age and greater hearing loss were associated with poorer performance. Findings are discussed in the framework of semantic control and are interpreted as supporting a theoretical view...