cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SUPPRESSION OF MEXICAN BEAN BEETLE DEVELOPMENT BY FOLIAR APPLICATIONS OF AZASTEROLS AND REVERSAL BY CHOLESTEROL

Suppression of growth and molting occurred in Mexican bean beetle (Epilachna varivestis) larvae confined with bean plants treated with 25-azacholesterol (25-A) or 3β-methoxy-25-azacholesterol (3-M-25-A). No larvae confined with bean plants dipped into 10 ppm of 3-M-25-A completed development and over half failed to complete the first ecdysis. Three larvae treated with 25-A developed everted wing pads on the last instar. Addition of an equal weight of cholesterol to the dipping solution completely nullified the inhibitive effects of a dose of 25-A 100 × greater than that required for inhibitive effects. Treatemnt of the bean plants with a combination of 25-A and a JH mimic resulted in additive and possibly synergistic pathological developmental effects in confined larvae. Resume ARRET DU DEVELOPPEMENT CHEZ EPILACHNA VARIVESTIS PAR APPLICATIONS FOLIAIRES D'AZASTEROLS ET ROLE PROTECTEUR DU CHOLESTEROL Des larves d'Epilachna varivestis elevees sur des plants de haricots trempes dans des solutions d'acetone et eau contenant soit du 25-azacholesterol (25-A) ou du 3β-methoxy-25-azacholesterol (3-M-25A), cessent de muer et leur croissance est stoppee. Avec des plants de haricots trempes dans une solution a 10 p.p.m. de 3 M-25A, aucune larve n'acheva son developpement et plus de la moitie des 100 larves experimenTEes ne purent achever leur lere mue. Les pupes obtenues ne pesaient frequemment que la moitie du poids des TEmoins. Trois larves traiTEes avec 25-A developperent des ebauches alaires inversees au cours du dernier stade. Il a eTE reconnu que ces azasterols inhibent les D22 et D22,24 sterolreductases dans le tissu larvaire de l'intestin moyen des larves de Manduca sexta (Tobacco Hornworm). Ces enzymes interviennent dans la transformation des principaux phytosTErols des feuilles de haricots (stigmasterol, β-sitosterol et campesterol) en cholesterol. Comme il y a moins de 1% de cholesterol dans les feuilles de haricots, nous avons essaye de compenser l'effet inhibiteur du 25-A en ajoutant du cholesterol aux solutions du bain. L'addition de 1000 ppm de cholesterol annule completement les effets inhibiteurs de 1000 ppm de 25-A (100 fois plus que la dose necessaire pour provoquer des effets inhibiteurs). Des larves de Manduca sexta elevees sur plants de tabac a l'azasterol ne sont pas affecTEes, bien que leur developpement soit grandement retarde par de petites quantiTEs de ces azasterols ajouTEs a un aliment synthetique depourvu de cholesTErol. Sans doute, la haute teneur en cholesterol des feuilles de tabac (9% des sterols totaux) est suffisante pour satisfaire les besoins en cholesterol des larves. Des traitements de plants de haricots avec une combinaison de 25-A plus la substance mimetique de l'hormone juvenile (E) − 4 − [(6,7 − epoxy − 3 − ethyl − 7 − methyl − 2 − nonenyl) oxy] − 1,2 − (methylenedioxy) benzene, ont provoque des effets pathologiques surajouTEs et peut etre synergiques sur le developpement des larves d'Epilachna.
Changes in the volatile hydrocarbon content of Prudhoe Bay Crude Oil treated under different simulated weathering conditions

Abstract Changes have been determined in the concentrations of volatile saturate and aromatic hydrocarbons in Prudhoe Bay Crude Oil (PBC) weathered under three different simulated environmental conditions. A combination of light and water sprayed upon the surface of the oil produced the largest relative decreases in volatile saturate and most aromatic hydrocarbons. After 24 days, detectable amounts of monoaromatic hydrocarbons were absent in all three weathered oils, as were the saturate hydrocarbons from C8 to C10. Retention of aromatic hydrocarbons appeared to be related to molecular weight, as enrichments of triaromatics (phenanthrenes) were observed in weathered PBC relative to the original crude oil. These data are discussed with respect to effects resulting from spilled oil impacting benthic organisms residing in intertidal and shallow subtidal communities.
Prevalence of sleep deficiency and use of hypnotic drugs in astronauts before, during, and after spaceflight: an observational study

Summary Background Sleep deprivation and fatigue are common subjective complaints among astronauts. Previous studies of sleep and hypnotic drug use in space have been limited to post-flight subjective survey data or in-flight objective data collection from a small number of crew members. We aimed to characterise representative sleep patterns of astronauts on both short-duration and long-duration spaceflight missions. Methods For this observational study, we recruited crew members assigned to Space Transportation System shuttle flights with in-flight experiments between July 12, 2001, and July 21, 2011, or assigned to International Space Station (ISS) expeditions between Sept 18, 2006, and March 16, 2011. We assessed sleep–wake timing objectively via wrist actigraphy, and subjective sleep characteristics and hypnotic drug use via daily logs, in-flight and during Earth-based data-collection intervals: for 2 weeks scheduled about 3 months before launch, 11 days before launch until launch day, and for 7 days upon return to Earth. Findings We collected data from 64 astronauts on 80 space shuttle missions (26 flights, 1063 in-flight days) and 21 astronauts on 13 ISS missions (3248 in-flight days), with ground-based data from all astronauts (4014 days). Crew members attempted and obtained significantly less sleep per night as estimated by actigraphy during space shuttle missions (7·35 h [SD 0·47] attempted, 5·96 h [0·56] obtained), in the 11 days before spaceflight (7·35 h [0·51], 6·04 h [0·72]), and about 3 months before spaceflight (7·40 h [0·59], 6·29 h [0·67]) compared with the first week post-mission (8·01 h [0·78], 6·74 h [0·91]; p Interpretation Sleep deficiency in astronauts was prevalent not only during space shuttle and ISS missions, but also throughout a 3 month preflight training interval. Despite chronic sleep curtailment, use of sleep-promoting drugs was pervasive during spaceflight. Because chronic sleep loss leads to performance decrements, our findings emphasise the need for development of effective countermeasures to promote sleep. Funding The National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Message ferries as generalized dominating sets in intermittently connected mobile networks

Message ferrying is a technique for routing data in wireless and mobile networks in which one or more mobile nodes are tasked with storing and carrying data between sources and destinations. To achieve connectivity between all nodes, message ferries may need to relay data to each other. While useful as a routing technique for wireless mobile networks in general, message ferrying is particularly useful in intermittently connected networks where traditional MANET routing protocols are not usable. A wireless and mobile network is said to possess intrinsic message ferrying capability if a subset of the nodes can act as message ferries by virtue of their own mobility pattern, without introducing additional nodes or modifying existing node mobility. Our goal in this work is to provide a formalism by which one can characterize intrinsic message ferrying capability. We first observe that the use of message ferries is the mobile generalization of the well-known use of connected dominating set-based routing in wireless networks. We next consider the problem of identifying the set of nodes in a mobile network which can act as message ferries by virtue of their mobility pattern. To this end, we define the concept of a connected message ferry dominating set (CMFDS) in a manner that achieves data delivery within certain performance bounds. We then develop algorithms that can be used to find such a set within a mobile, wireless network. The general CMFDS algorithm is built around a core algorithm that determines whether a single node in the network can act as a ferry. We provide some illustrative examples to show the application of our algorithm to several mobility patterns.
Compton's Theory of X-ray Scattering

READERS of NATURE may be interested in a short account of two experimental tests of Compton's theory of scattering which at present are being carried out here. Both of these tests deal with the total energy of the recoil electrons produced by hard X-rays.
Evolutionary relationships of a new genus and three new species of Omomyid primates (Willwood Formation, Lower Eocene, Bighorn Basin, Wyoming)

Abstract Studies of new finds of omomyid primates from the lower Eocene Willwood Formation of northwest Wyoming reveal the presence of a new genus and two new species of anaptomorphines and a new species of omomyine. All were apparently short-lived immigrants into the Bighorn Basin. The new genus and speciesTatmanius szalayi is typified by a diminutive single-rooted p3 and a bilobed-rooted p4 with a crown smaller than ml. These traits were probably derived fromPseudotetonius and parallel similar conditions inTrogolemur andNannopithex. The new speciesArapahovius advena is the first occurrence ofArapahovius outside the Washakie Basin, where it appears to have also been a vagrant species.Steinius annectens, sp. nov., is larger than the olderSteinius vespertinus and strengthens the alliance between this genus and BridgerianOmomys carteri, although which species ofSteinius is closer toOmomys is not yet clear. The available evidence suggests a derivation ofOmomys (Omomyini) fromSteinius and all Washakiini from the anaptomorphineTeilhardina, which would indicate that Omomyinae were at least diphyletic. Preliminary evidence suggests that the geographic distributions of at least some Willwood omomyids correlate with paleosol distributions.
Galactose Metabolism in Suckling and Adult Isolated Rat Hepatocytes

Summary: The metabolism of galactose during the postnatal developmental period has been examined in isolated parenchymal cells of livers from fasted rats aged 7, 14, 21, 28, and 42 days, by measuring the disappearance of 1 and 4 mM 1-[14C]galactose from the incubation media as well as [14C]galactose conversion to [14C]glucose and [14C]lactate and oxidation to [14CO2]. Cells from 7- and 14-day-old suckling animals consistently utilized galactose more rapidly (4 times greater) than those of adult. Hepatocytes of suckling rats also converted greater amounts of galactose to glucose and oxidized galactose 2-3 times faster than the adult. The conversion to glucose by suckling cells occurred with minor recycling of labeled C-1 galactose to C-6 of glucose. A comparison with [1-14C]glucose as substrate showed that oxidative rates by the young cells were 3 times faster for galactose than for glucose. This was not due to the presence of a direct galactose oxidative pathway as assessed by the [14CO2] yield from C-1 and C-2 labeled galactose. Incubation of hepatocytes with galactose appeared to augment the production of glucose from endogenous precursors, 33 nmoles/mg cells in 30 min. The enhanced glucose output from endogenous sources in isolated suckling hepatocytes incubated with galactose contrasts with the sugar's suppression of glucose output observed in isolated perfused liver even though galactose metabolism in both preparations are similarly greater in the suckling than in the adult.
Results of the AANS membership survey of adult spinal deformity knowledge: impact of training, practice experience, and assessment of potential areas for improved education: Clinical article.

Object Adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery is increasing in the spinal neurosurgeon's practice. Methods A survey of neurosurgeon AANS membership assessed the deformity knowledge base and impact of current training, education, and practice experience to identify opportunities for improved education. Eleven questions developed and agreed upon by experienced spinal deformity surgeons tested ASD knowledge and were subgrouped into 5 categories: 1) radiology/spinopelvic alignment, 2) health-related quality of life, 3) surgical indications, 4) operative technique, and 5) clinical evaluation. Chi-square analysis was used to compare differences based on participant demographic characteristics (years of practice, spinal surgery fellowship training, percentage of practice comprising spinal surgery). Results Responses were received from 1456 neurosurgeons. Of these respondents, 57% had practiced less than 10 years, 20% had completed a spine fellowship, and 32% devoted more than 75% of their practice to spine. The ov...
Expression of idiotype 315 (Id315) and I-A antigens in MOPC-315 tumor cells grown in vivo

Abstract MOPC-315 murine myeloma grown intraperitoneally as ascites cells in BALB/cJ mice were removed at successive days after transplantation. They were stained for Id 315 and I-A markers by indirect immunofluorescence techniques by means of FITC conjugates. Flow cytometry (FCM) measurements on cell surface markers were correlated with the phase of the cell cycle by quantitating cellular DNA of cells stained with propidium iodide. Variations in cell size due to cell growth were determined by low-angle light scattering. FCM data on the two cell surface markers were normalized for unit cell surface and cell volume. Cells grew rapidly in the early days (5–7) of tumor growth. No significant variation in the expression of surface markers was observed during this period. Parallel with a slowdown in cell growth, the expression of Id 315 increased about threefold between the 7th and 9th days. The increase in the Id 315 marker was dependent on the cell cycle, with G 1 cells having the highest density. No cell cycle dependence was observed for the I-A marker.
Does gender influence outcome in pediatric trauma

Abstract Introduction: Recent experimental data suggests that sex hormones play an important role in host response to injury. Studies on the influence of gender on outcome in adult trauma populations have yielded mixed results, with some demonstrating no difference between men and women and others showing a slight advantage to female gender. To date, there have been no studies evaluating the role of gender in pediatric trauma patients. We hypothesize that since the hormonal milieu in pre-pubertal children is the same in both boys and girls, there should be no gender-related differences in outcome between them. Furthermore, as children progress through puberty, any role that sex-hormones play in outcome should become apparent. Methods: A five-year (1994–1999) retrospective review of the Pennsylvania Trauma Outcome Study database was performed and information regarding all children ≤16 years was abstracted. We evaluated the effects of age (≤10 years and 11–16 years), gender, injury severity (measured by Injury Severity Score, ISS), and type of injury on mortality. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square and multivariate logistic regression (Stata, College Station, Texas). P Results: 17,690 children were admitted to Pennsylvania trauma centers during the study period; 67% were male and the overall mortality was 3.8%. There was no gender-related difference in mortality in children ≤ 10 years of age with mild (ISS ≤ 15; p = .4), moderate (ISS 16–24; p = .9), or severe (ISS > 25; p = .5) injuries, head injuries (p = .5), or injury to the trunk (p = .6) or extremities (p = .4). In contrast, girls 11–16 years of age with a head injury had a 3 times higher risk of mortality than boys (OR 3.09, 95% CI 2.63–3.64) despite equivalent admission GCS and ISS. Conclusion: As expected, gender does not influence mortality in children ≤ 10 years of age. On the other hand, adolescent girls appear to have a higher than expected mortality from head injuries. Whether this is a result of hormonal influences or other factors have yet to be determined. TABLE—ABSTRACT P115 . Head injury Male (died/total) Female (died/total) P -value ≤10 years 151/2593 96/1385 0.4 >10 years 118/1847 62/712 0.04
Effect of Ropinirole on Sleep Outcomes in Patients with Restless Legs Syndrome: Meta‐Analysis of Pooled Individual Patient Data from Randomized Controlled Trials

Study Objective. To compare the effects of ropinirole with those of placebo on sleep, as evaluated by specific domains of the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) sleep scale, as well as the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) scale, in patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS). Design. Meta-analysis of six randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trials conducted in the United States and Europe. Patients. A total of 1679 patients aged 18–79 years with primary moderate-to-severe RLS who received ropinirole (835 patients) or placebo (844 patients). Measurements and Main Results. A systematic review of MEDLINE (January 1980-January 2007) and clinical trial registers was performed to identify placebo-controlled trials of ropinirole that used the 12-item MOS sleep scale to assess sleep in patients with RLS. Individual patient data from both published and nonpublished trials were pooled for meta-analysis. In the eligible studies, immediate-release ropinirole 0.25-6 mg or placebo had been given for at least 12 weeks. In addition, sleep scale summary scores for the domains of sleep quantity, adequacy, disturbance, and daytime somnolence had to have been assessed at baseline and at 12 weeks. Our meta-analysis found that at baseline study patients slept an average of 5.8 hours/night. At the end of 12 weeks, ropinirole-treated patients slept a mean of 2.5 hours/week more and had a 21% greater improvement from baseline in sleep adequacy scores compared with patients receiving placebo. Ropinirole-treated patients also had 14% less sleep disturbance and 8% less daytime somnolence than patients receiving placebo. Clinicians rated 63% of ropinirole-treated patients and 47% of patients receiving placebo as responders based on the CGI-I scale. Mixed effects analysis of covariance was used to estimate treatment effect adjusting for study center as a random effect, as well as the following fixed effects known to affect sleep: baseline sleep characteristics, age, sex, and chronic medical conditions. All differences were statistically significant (p<0.05), even after adjusting for multiple comparisons. Conclusion. Pooled data from six similarly designed clinical trials provide evidence that ropinirole improves sleep quantity and adequacy, and lessens sleep disturbance and daytime somnolence in patients with primary RLS.
Long-term outcomes for individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication: Part I – what is a “good” outcome?

Over the past 20 years, there have been many advances in the field of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Despite these advances, there are no data on the long-term outcomes of AAC interventions. This study evaluated the long-term outcomes for a group of seven young men (ages 19 – 23 years) who had used AAC systems for at least 15 years and were part of the first generation to have received AAC services since they were in preschool. Outcomes were measured in the following domains: (a) receptive language; (b) reading comprehension; (c) communicative interaction; (d) linguistic complexity; (e) functional communication; (f) educational and vocational achievement; (g) self-determination; and (h) quality of life. The outcomes for the group were diverse, with individual variations across all measures. Evaluation of the data raised many issues surrounding the challenges of outcomes measurement; these are discussed with suggestions for future research.
The Prevalence of DSM-IV Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Meta-Analytic Review

This article describes a comprehensive meta-analysis that was conducted to estimate the prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV). A systematic literature review identified 86 studies of children and adolescents (N = 163,688 individuals) and 11 studies of adults (N = 14,112 individuals) that met inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis, more than half of which were published after the only previous meta-analysis of the prevalence of ADHD was completed. Although prevalence estimates reported by individual studies varied widely, pooled results suggest that the prevalence of DSM-IV ADHD is similar, whether ADHD is defined by parent ratings, teacher ratings, or a best estimate diagnostic procedure in children and adolescents (5.9–7.1 %), or by self-report measures in young adults (5.0 %). Analyses of diagnostic subtypes indicated that the predominantly inattentive type is the most common subtype in the population, but individuals with the combined type are more likely to be referred for clinical services. Additional research is needed to determine the etiology of the higher prevalence of ADHD in males than females and to clarify whether the prevalence of ADHD varies as a function of socioeconomic status or ethnicity. Finally, there were no significant prevalent differences between countries or regions of the world after controlling for differences in the diagnostic algorithms used to define ADHD. These results provide important support for the diagnostic validity of ADHD, and argue against the hypothesis that ADHD is a cultural construct that is restricted to the United States or any other specific culture.
Effect of a carrier gas on homogeneous condensation in a supersonic nozzle

The classical liquid drop theory for condensation was used in a computer solution to determine the effects of a carrier gas on homogeneous condensation. Zinc was used as the condensing vapor with helium, argon, or xenon as carrier gas in a nominal Mach 5 nozzle. It was found that the rate of accumulation of condensate is strongly dependent on the amount of carrier gas and can be rapidly increased by either increasing the mass fraction of carrier gas of low molecular weight or by decreasing the molecular weight of the carrier gas (for a given mass fraction). It was also found that for a change in nozzle angle of a factor of two, the area ratio at which the onset of condensation occurred changed very little. This was also true for a change in nozzle size (throat diameter) for a factor of two. Nomenclature A = nozzle area Cp = specific heat of mixture in the stagnation chamber g = mass fraction of condensed liquid / = nucleation rate k = Boltzman's constant L = latent heat ra = mass rate of flow NA = Advogadro's number p = pressure of the mixture PD = pressure at drop surface pv = partial pressure of the vapor PVS = saturation pressure of the vapor corresponding to T pZo = partial pressure of the vapor in the stagnation chamber pz = partial pressure of the zinc in the expanding mixture p0 = pressure of the mixture in the stagnation chamber r = radius of a liquid drop r* — critical drop radius r' = the integrated value of dr/dx from the saturation point Ru = universal gas constant R* = radius of the throat of the nozzle S = the sum in the equation for gr; denned in Eq. (24) T = the gas temperature TD = the temperature of the droplet Ts = saturation temperature corresponding to pv To = gas temperature in the stagnation chamber u = gas velocity x = distance downstream from the throat Ax = increment in x used in S y = initial mass fraction of the vapor in the stagnation chamber dc = thermal accommodation coefficient of the carrier gas <xv = thermal accommodation coefficient of the vapor 5 = constant in Tolman's equation for cr [Eq. (13)] lie — molecular weight of the carrier gas (Av — molecular weight of the vapor p = total density of the mixture PL = density of the liquid or = surface tension <rm = surface tension of a flat surface d = nozzle half angle £ = a variable defining the point in the nozzle where a given drop was formed
Recruitment of Early STEM Majors into Possible Secondary Science Teaching Careers: The Role of Science Education Summer Internships.

A shortage of highly qualified math and science teachers pervades the U.S. public school system. Clearly, recruitment of talented STEM educators is critical. Previous literature offers many suggestions for how STEM teacher recruitment programs and participant selection should occur. This study investigates how early STEM majors who are not already considering teaching careers experienced a summer teaching recruitment internship and how it influenced their ideas about teaching and learning and interest in teaching high school as a possible future career. Using multiple qualitative data sources including interviews and daily internship reflections, a multi-case comparative case study was developed. The findings support that some interns substantially increased their interest in teaching careers, while other interns’ interest did not change or decreased. The impact of the recruitment internship was related to extent to which interns (1) found teaching rewarding, (2) focused on student learning rather than behavior, and (3) developed close connections with students and appreciated their individuality. Implications for future recruitment efforts and research on teacher recruitment are provided.
Efficacy and Safety of Sequential Treatment with Parenteral Sulbactam/Ampicillin and Oral Sultamicillin for Skeletal Infections in Children

Nine children with osteomyelitis and/or septic arthritis were treated sequentially with parenteral sulbactam/ampicillin and oral sultamicillin. Causative pathogens were identified in six cases; all were susceptible to the combination of ampicillin and sulbactam. The mean duration of parenteral therapy was 7.1 days (6-11 days), and the average hospital stay was 10.3 days (6-18 days). Peak serum bactericidal titers of greater than or equal to 1:8 were achieved in all patients during parenteral therapy; only one child receiving oral therapy did not achieve a titer of greater than or equal to 1:4. At follow-up, all of the children were cured clinically and there was no evidence of relapse. Adverse reactions to oral therapy were minimal. The regimen of parenteral sulbactam/ampicillin and oral sultamicillin used sequentially is effective and safe for the treatment of skeletal infections in children. The use of this approach significantly reduced the duration of hospitalization.
SOLID ELECTROLYTE POTENTIOMETRY STUDY OF BUTENE OXIDATION OVER VANADIUM PHOSPHATE CATALYSTS

Abstract The technique of solid electrolyte potentiometry (SEP) has been used to follow the oxygen activity in vanadium phosphate (VPO) catalysts during the catalytic oxidation of butene. Reaction products and oxygen activity were monitored concurrently in an effort to correlate selectivity for partial oxidation of butene to maleic anhydride, furan and crotonaldehyde with oxygen activity in the catalyst. It was found that partial oxidation selectivity increased with decreased oxygen activity in the catalyst. Additionally, the activity for total oxidation and oxygen activity were found to be dependent on the past history of the catalyst for a catalyst with a P/V ratio of 1.07. A high temperature reduction of the catalyst was able to freeze the catalyst into a form that was selective for partial oxidation. Models to account for the rate and oxygen activity data from this study suggest that subsurface oxygen is involved in the oxidation of butene over VPO catalysts and causes the non-selective total oxidation reaction.
Resistance to antiangiogenic therapy

Despite the high radiographic response rate in recurrent glioblastoma to antiangiogenic therapy, the impact of these agents on improving overall survival have been disappointing. A lack of survival benefit has resulted in an increased effort to better understand the mechanisms underlying resistance to antiangiogenic therapy. Adaptive (evasive) resistance and intrinsic (pre-existing) nonresponsiveness have emerged as modes of resistance to antiangiogenic therapy with multiple mechanisms believed to contribute to each type. This increasing knowledge regarding these mechanisms of resistance has led to an increased focus on the tumor microenvironment in aiding in the determination of the optimal biologic dose of antiangiogenic therapy. Although there is a lack of durable responses to current antiangiogenic treatments, there is an important role for angiogenesis inhibitors in the treatment of high-grade gliomas. Current efforts are underway regarding optimizing antiangiogenic therapy as an adjunctive treatment to radiation and chemotherapy.
Preliminary characterization of some plant carboxylic ester hydrolases

Abstract Carboxylic ester hydrolase preparations were obtained from wheat seeds (Triticum aestivum L. “Anderson”) and from acetone powders of 5- to 7-day-old cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. “Stono”), soybean (Glycine max L. Merr. “Lee”), and corn (Zea mays L. “GT 112 × CI. 21”) seedlings. Evidence obtained from electrophoretic mobilities, substrate specificities, and inhibitor studies indicated that the four species of plants contained complex systems of ester hydrolases. Ester hydrolases were partially and tentatively identified with criteria established for animal serum enzymes.
COMPLEMENT DEFICIENCY AND CHROMOSOMAL BREAKS IN A CASE OF SWISS-TYPE AGAMMAGLOBULINÆMIA

Abstract A 3-month-old boy with " Swiss-type " agammaglobulinaemia and a family history of this disease had an abnormally high number of chromosomal breaks, a deficiency of a specific component of complement (C'lq), and the ability to make " salivary antigen piece " but not salivary IgA. Transplant of irradiated adult thymus into the peritoneal cavity was successful but did not favourably alter the course of the illness.
Unusual magnetic signature of the Hadriaca Patera Volcano: Implications for early Mars

[1] Typically, Martian volcanoes show either a total absence of crustal magnetism or a local magnetic mimimum. Hadriaca Patera is the only volcano on Mars with a clear positive magnetic anomaly directly over the volcanic edifice, as determined by electron reflection magnetometry. Hadriaca's topography, lava flow crater ages, gravity anomaly, position relative to the Hellas rim and past aqueous environment provide geological constraints on possible scenarios to explain this unusual magnetic signature. The two most probable scenarios are a) pre-Hellas thermoremanent magnetization (TRM) of a deep-seated magma body followed by post-Hellas intrusive partial thermal demagnetization and b) post-Hellas emplacement of the volcano and TRM in a global magnetic field. It is thus likely that Mars had at least one of the following: highland volcanism in pre-Hellas times (older than any datable volcanic feature on the planet) or an active dynamo some time after the Hellas impact.
The Trend in International Health Inequality

The 2002 projections of the United Nations Population Division (UNPD) (2003) assume that life expectancy at birth in Africa will continue to decline over the next five or ten years then start climbing again after about 2010—reaching 65 years by the middle of the twenty-first century about 18 years greater than its present level. If these projections hold we can expect the trend of rising between-country health inequality to persist for at least five or ten more years. After that point inequality will track downward again just as it did through much of the past half-century. It is important to note however that these projections assume that HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in Africa will peak some time before 2010 then decline over the next four decades. The current trend of rising between- country inequality is likely to persist for a longer period if the assumed declines in HIV/AIDS prevalence rates do not come about so soon. (excerpt)
Percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale and atrial septal defect in adults: the impact of clinical variables and hospital procedure volume on in-hospital adverse events.

Background Percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale/atrial septal defect (PFO/ASD) is an increasingly common procedure perceived as having minimal risk. There are no population-based estimates of in-hospital adverse event rates of percutaneous PFO/ASD closure. Methods We used nationally representative data from the 2001-2005 Nationwide Inpatient Sample to identify patients ≥20 years old admitted to an acute care hospital with an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code designating percutaneous PFO/ASD closure on the first or second hospital day. Variables analyzed included age, sex, number of comorbidities, year, same-day use of intracardiac or other echocardiography, same-day left heart catheterization, hospital size and teaching status, PFO/ASD procedural volume, and coronary intervention volume. Outcomes of interest included length of stay, charges, and adverse events. Results The study included 2,555 (weighted to United States population: 12,544 ± 1,987) PFO/ASD closure procedures. Mean age was 52.0 ± 0.4 years, and 57.3% ± 1.0% were women. Annual hospital volume averaged 40.8 ± 7.7 procedures (range, 1-114). Overall, 8.2 ± 0.8% of admissions involved an adverse event. Older patients and those with comorbidities were more likely to sustain adverse events. Use of intracardiac echocardiography was associated with fewer adverse events. The risk of adverse events was inversely proportional to annual hospital volume (odds ratio [OR] 0.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.86-0.96, per 10 procedures), even after limiting the analysis to hospitals performing ≥10 procedures annually (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.85-0.98). Adverse events were more frequent at hospitals in the lowest volume quintile as compared with the highest volume quintile (13.3% vs 5.4%, OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.55-3.78). Conclusions The risk of adverse events of percutaneous PFO/ASD closure is inversely correlated with hospital volume. This relationship applies even to hospitals meeting the current guidelines, performing ≥10 procedures annually.
Novel murine model for colon cancer: non-operative trans-anal rectal injection.

Background This study was conducted to develop a modified murine model of colon cancer that is non-operative. Currently, the most accurate orthotopic murine model of colon cancer requires an invasive procedure involving cecal injection of colon cancer cells and therefore limits the ability to perform immunological studies subsequent to cecal resections. Materials and methods Murine colon cancer (CT26) cells were injected submucosally into the distal, posterior rectum of BALB/c mice. Care was taken not to pass transmurally into the pelvic cavity. Different magnifications (10× versus 100×) were used for injection, and primary tumor growth and metastatic disease were studied. Results In the initial study, 3/7 mice injected using 10× magnifications had notable, large tumor originating from the rectal wall, and histology revealed that all excised tumors were poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. In the second study, 8/10 mice injected using 100× magnifications had notable tumor originating from the rectal well, and 4/8 mice had abnormal lung tissue with pathological evidence of hemorrhagic pulmonary edema. The use of 10× magnification resulted in 43% tumor take. In sharp contrast, 80% tumor take was observed with 100× magnification. The overall success of tumor take was 65% using the trans-anal rectal injection model. Conclusions Our modified orthotopic murine model of colon cancer offers an alternative non-operative murine model for colon cancer and is less invasive than the traditional orthotopic model (i.e., cecal injection). This model may allow for more accurate investigations of inflammation and immune responses to surgical intervention without the influence of previous abdominal surgery.
Weighted log-rank statistic to compare shared-path adaptive treatment strategies

SUMMARY Adaptive treatment strategies (ATSs) more closely mimic the reality of a physician’s prescription process where the physician prescribes a medication to his/her patient, and based on that patient’s response to the medication, modifies the treatment. Two-stage randomization designs, more generally, sequential multiple assignment randomization trial designs, are useful to assess ATSs where the interest is in comparing the entire sequence of treatments, including the patient’s intermediate response. In this paper, we introduce the notion of shared-path and separate-path ATSs and propose a weighted log-rank statistic to compare overall survival distributions of multiple two-stage ATSs, some of which may be shared-path. Large sample properties of the statistic are derived and the type I error rate and power of the test are compared with the standard log-rank test through simulation.
Affective Consequences of Refusing to Help in Communal and Exchange Relationships

Two studies illustrate the importance of a distinction between communal and exchange relationships in understanding reactions to helping and refusing to help. In Study 1, refusing to help caused declines in positive affect when a communal (but not an exchange) relationship with the help seeker was desired. In Study 2, recalling a refusal to help a communal (but not an exchange) partner caused declines in positive affect. Recalling when some-one else helped or refused to help did not produce analogous changes. Results demonstrate that there are differential reactions to refusing to help in communal and exchange relationships, differential reactions apply to naturally occurring relationships as well as desired relationships created by laboratory manipulations, and affective reactions in communal relationships are not due to merely knowing the other has (or has not) been helped. The authors suggest that they reflect the impact that helping or failing to help may have on communal relationships.
Drosophila Aurora-A kinase inhibits neuroblast self-renewal by regulating aPKC/Numb cortical polarity and spindle orientation

Regulation of stem cell self-renewal versus differentiation is critical for embryonic development and adult tissue homeostasis. Drosophila larval neuroblasts divide asymmetrically to self-renew, and are a model system for studying stem cell self-renewal. Here we identify three mutations showing increased brain neuroblast numbers that map to the aurora-A gene, which encodes a conserved kinase implicated in human cancer. Clonal analysis and time-lapse imaging in aurora-A mutants show single neuroblasts generate multiple neuroblasts (ectopic self-renewal). This phenotype is due to two independent neuroblast defects: abnormal atypical protein kinase C (aPKC)/Numb cortical polarity and failure to align the mitotic spindle with the cortical polarity axis. numb mutant clones have ectopic neuroblasts, and Numb overexpression partially suppresses aurora-A neuroblast overgrowth (but not spindle misalignment). Conversely, mutations that disrupt spindle alignment but not cortical polarity have increased neuroblasts. We conclude that Aurora-A and Numb are novel inhibitors of neuroblast self-renewal and that spindle orientation regulates neuroblast self-renewal.
Data driven neural-based measurement discrimination for IC parametric faults diagnosis

Describes experimental results obtained with the use of data driven neural-based system for statistical IC fault diagnosis. Measurement discrimination is established through a reduction method involving data pre-processing in a fashion consistent with a specific definition of parametric faults. The effects of this preprocessing are examined in the context of a realistic IC parametric fault diagnostic problem. >
Effects of Insulin Resistance and Obesity on Lipoproteins and Sensitivity to Egg Feeding

Objective— This study was undertaken to determine if insulin resistance without and with obesity influences LDL response to dietary cholesterol and saturated fat. Methods and Results— We fed 0, 2, and 4 egg yolks per day to 197 healthy subjects in a 4-week, double-blind, randomized, crossover design. Subjects were dichotomized on body mass index (<27.5 and ≥27.5 kg/m2) and insulin sensitivity (insulin-sensitivity index ≥4.2×1.0−4 and <4.2×1.0−4 min−1 μU/mL), yielding insulin-sensitive (IS, n=65), insulin-resistant (IR, n=75), and obese insulin-resistant (OIR, n=58) subjects. Mean fasting baseline LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were higher in IR and OIR subjects (3.44±0.67 and 3.32±0.80 mol/L) than in IS subjects (2.84±0.75 mmol/L) (P<0.001). Progressive triglyceride elevations and HDL-C decreases were seen across the 3 groups. Ingesting 4 eggs daily yielded significant LDL-C increases of 7.8±13.7% (IS) and 3.3±13.2% (IR) (both P<0.05) compared with 2.4±12.6% for OIR (NS). HDL-C increases were 8.8±10.4%, 5...
Saturated long-chain fatty acids activate inflammatory signaling in astrocytes

This study describes the effects of long-chain fatty acids on inflammatory signaling in cultured astrocytes. Data show that the saturated fatty acid palmitic acid, as well as lauric acid and stearic acid, trigger the release of TNFα and IL-6 from astrocytes. Unsaturated fatty acids were unable to induce cytokine release from cultured astrocytes. Furthermore, the effects of palmitic acid on cytokine release require Toll-like receptor 4 rather than CD36 or Toll-like receptor 2, and do not depend on palmitic acid metabolism to palmitoyl-CoA. Inhibitor studies revealed that pharmacologic inhibition of p38 or p42/44 MAPK pathways prevents the pro-inflammatory effects of palmitic acid, whereas JNK and PI3K inhibition does not affect cytokine release. Depletion of microglia from primary astrocyte cultures using the lysosomotropic agent l-leucine methyl ester revealed that the ability of palmitic acid to trigger cytokine release is not dependent on the presence of microglia. Finally, data show that the essential ω-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid acts in a dose-dependent manner to prevent the actions of palmitic acid on inflammatory signaling in astrocytes. Collectively, these data demonstrate the ability of saturated fatty acids to induce astrocyte inflammation in vitro. These data thus raise the possibility that high levels of circulating saturated fatty acids could cause reactive gliosis and brain inflammation in vivo, and could potentially participate in the reported adverse neurologic consequences of obesity and metabolic syndrome.
Baseball injuries to the hand

We conducted an epidemiological and etiological study of softball injuries to the hand in order to inform emergency medicine personnel of the high frequency and causative factors of these injuries. Injuries to the hand and fingers from baseball and softball comprised 2.2% of emergency department visits during this study. Most frequent injuries were: 1) sprain and sprain-fracture of the proximal IP joint (31.6%); and 2) the so-called "mallet" or "baseball finger" injury to the distal joint (18.9%). The 16-inch softball was the cause of more than two-thirds of all these injuries, most of which occurred in patients between the ages of 11 and 30. Treatment recommendations are beyond the scope of this article.
Managing Cancer Pain: Basic Principles and Invasive Treatments

Severe pain associated with cancer continues to be a substantial problem for patients, physicians, and the health-care system. During the past 2 decades, major advances have occurred in the understanding of the pathogenesis of pain. Likewise, considerable advances have occurred in the conceptualization of and clinical approach to cancer pain. This article briefly summarizes the basic principles of the treatment of cancer pain and in particular describes the World Health Organization 3-step "analgesic ladder" for the treatment of cancer pain. In addition, several invasive approaches for managing various refractory cancer pain syndromes are discussed.
Hemispheric laterality in music and math

Hemispheric laterality may be a useful concept in teaching, learning, training, and in understanding more about human development. To address this issue, a measure of hemispheric laterality was compared to musical and mathematical ability. The Human Information Processing Survey (HIPS) instrument, designed to measure hemispheric laterality, was administered to 101 participants who were then asked to provide a measure of their conceptual aptitude for mathematics and music. Scores were then compared through canonical correlation to test the hypothesis that perceived mathematical ability may be explained by left-brain hemisphere preference and musical by the right hemisphere. A relatively strong correlation was found between music ability and right-brain hemisphere preference. A relationship between math and left-brain hemisphere preference or integrated brain processing scores was found to be marginal. Ramifications to learning are discussed.
A study of user password strategy for multiple accounts

Despite advances in biometrics and other technologies, passwords remain the most commonly used means of authentication in computer systems. Users maintain different security levels for different passwords. In this study, we examine the degree of similarity among passwords of different security levels of a user. We conducted a laboratory experiment with 80 students from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). We asked the subjects to construct new passwords for websites of different security levels. We collected the lower-level passwords (e.g., passwords for online news sites) constructed by the subjects, combined them with a comprehensive wordlist, and performed dictionary attacks on their constructed passwords from the higher-level sites (e.g., banking websites). We could successfully crack almost one-third of their constructed passwords from the higher-level sites with this method. This suggests that, if a user's lower-level password is leaked, it can be used effectively by an attacker to crack some of the user's higher-level passwords.
An integrated framework for the design of optimal web banners

In this paper, we present an integrated framework for the optimization of Internet banner advertising. The framework consists of three parts: statistical predictive modeling on web data, optimization through mixed integer programming, and the use of information repository technology. The integrated, quantitative approach allows for the automatic improvement of banner advertising strategies and nonintrusive personalized advertising at a variety of banner display levels.
Superiority of lipoprotein particle number to detect associations with arterial thickness and stiffness in obese youth with and without prediabetes

Background The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) lipoprotein profile provides additional cardiovascular risk information beyond traditional lipids in high-risk adults. Similar studies have not been conducted in youth. Objective To evaluate the relationship between the NMR profile and preclinical vascular measures in youth. Methods We studied 96 obese youth with prediabetes (mean age = 18.1 ± 3.6 years, 63% female, 78% African American) and 118 obese normoglycemic controls (mean age = 18.0 ± 3.1 years, 75% female, 62% African American) cross sectionally. Traditional lipids (triglycerides, total, high-density lipoprotein [HDL], and low-density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol), NMR particle size (particle concentration [P] and size) and vascular thickness (carotid IMT) and stiffness (pulse wave velocity [PWV]) were measured. Independent associations between lipoproteins with carotid IMT and PWV after adjustment for group, age, race, sex, BMI z score, blood pressure, HOMA-IR, and A1c were studied. Results NMR analysis revealed youth with prediabetes exhibited a more atherogenic profile with higher levels of small LDL-P and HDL-P and lower levels of intermediate and large HDL-P ( P P Conclusions NMR lipoprotein subclasses have improved sensitivity compared to traditional lipids to detect lipoprotein abnormalities in normoglycemic and prediabetic obese youth and are independently associated with preclinical vascular thickness and stiffness. NMR lipids may enhance cardiovascular risk assessment in youth.