cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using multi-year national survey cohorts for period estimates: an application of weighted discrete Poisson regression for assessing annual national mortality in US adults with and without diabetes, 2000–2006

Monitoring national mortality among persons with a disease is important to guide and evaluate progress in disease control and prevention. However, a method to estimate nationally representative annual mortality among persons with and without diabetes in the United States does not currently exist. The aim of this study is to demonstrate use of weighted discrete Poisson regression on national survey mortality follow-up data to estimate annual mortality rates among adults with diabetes. To estimate mortality among US adults with diabetes, we applied a weighted discrete time-to-event Poisson regression approach with post-stratification adjustment to national survey data. Adult participants aged 18 or older with and without diabetes in the National Health Interview Survey 1997–2004 were followed up through 2006 for mortality status. We estimated mortality among all US adults, and by self-reported diabetes status at baseline. The time-varying covariates used were age and calendar year. Mortality among all US adults was validated using direct estimates from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS). Using our approach, annual all-cause mortality among all US adults ranged from 8.8 deaths per 1,000 person-years (95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.0, 9.6) in year 2000 to 7.9 (95% CI: 7.6, 8.3) in year 2006. By comparison, the NVSS estimates ranged from 8.6 to 7.9 (correlation = 0.94). All-cause mortality among persons with diabetes decreased from 35.7 (95% CI: 28.4, 42.9) in 2000 to 31.8 (95% CI: 28.5, 35.1) in 2006. After adjusting for age, sex, and race/ethnicity, persons with diabetes had 2.1 (95% CI: 2.01, 2.26) times the risk of death of those without diabetes. Period-specific national mortality can be estimated for people with and without a chronic condition using national surveys with mortality follow-up and a discrete time-to-event Poisson regression approach with post-stratification adjustment.
The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer Biomarkers Task Force Recommendations Review

The clinical successes in cancer immunotherapy have led to a critical need for biomarkers in cancer immunotherapy. It is of the utmost importance to know who is most likely to benefit from these therapies (predictive biomarkers) but also who is starting to respond (prognostic biomarkers) and how the therapy functions in order to make rational combination choices (mechanism of action biomarkers). The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Biomarkers Task Force addressed the state of the art and made a series of recommendations for the field, which is summarized here.
Pulmonary Complications of Radiation Therapy

Radiation-induced lung injury is a potentially serious complication of thoracic radiation which can present within 6 months of treatment as radiation pneumonitis and/or later as radiation-induced fibrosis. The incidence of radiation-induced lung injury has been estimated as high as 35% in some series. The pathogenesis of radiation-induced lung injury is secondary to damage of the alveolar capillary subunit caused by ionizing radiation. The underlying mechanisms are direct cell death and inflammation propagated by release of inflammatory cytokines. The persistence of inflammation and poor repair after pneumonitis results in fibrosis. The diagnosis of radiation pneumonitis requires a high index of suspicion as the presenting symptoms are non-specific and can be confused with other respiratory illnesses. Radiologic findings are also not specific, but changes will typically be confined to the radiation portal. Risks for developing radiation-induced lung injury are multifactorial including treatment- and patient-related factors. Systemic corticosteroid remains the main treatment of choice for radiation pneumonitis. No effective therapy exists for the treatment of radiation-induced fibrosis. To date there have been no effective preventive strategies for radiation lung injury reported in the literature aside from shrinking radiation portals.
Cardiac Computed Tomography Imaging

Alternatives to nuclear cardiology procedures include the use of computed tomography (CT) for cardiac imaging. These procedures are widely available since the advent of the 64-slice CT instrumentation. Assessment of the location and severity of coronary artery calcium (CAC) as well as non-invasive imaging of coronary artery anatomy with coronary CT angiography (CTA) can provide useful information in patients with suspected CAD. This chapter will discuss CAC and coronary CTA imaging, their indications and relevance to nuclear cardiology procedures.
Predictive Value of Chromogranin A and a Pre-Operative Risk Score to Predict Recurrence After Resection of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors.

Chromogranin A (CgA) may be prognostic for patients with neuroendocrine tumors; however, the clinical utility of this test is unclear. Patients undergoing resection for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNET) were selected from the eight institutions of the US Neuroendocrine Tumor Study Group database. Cox regression was used to identify pre-operative variables that predicted recurrence-free survival (RFS), and those with p 5x ULN (HR 4.3, p = 0.01), tumor grade 2/3 (HR 3.7, p = 0.01), resection for recurrent disease (HR 6.2, p 4 cm (HR 4.5, p = 0.1). Each variable was assigned 1 point. Risk-score testing in the unique validation cohort of 63 patients revealed a 95% negative predictive value for recurrence in patients with zero points. This simple pre-operative risk scoring system resulted in a high degree of specificity for identifying patients at low-risk for tumor recurrence. This test can be utilized pre-operatively to aid informed decision-making.
UNIT 7.26 Assessment of Telomere Length, Phenotype, and DNA Content

Telomere sequences at the end of chromosomes control somatic cell division; therefore, telomere length in a given cell population provides information about its replication potential. This unit describes a method for flow cytometric measurement of telomere length in subpopulations using fluorescence in situ hybridization of fluorescently-labeled probes (Flow-FISH) without prior cell separation. After cells are stained for surface immunofluorescence, antigen-antibody complexes are covalently cross-linked onto cell membranes before FISH with a telomere-specific probe. Cells with long telomeres are included as internal standards. Addition of a DNA dye permits exclusion of proliferating cells during data analysis. DNA ploidy measurements of cells of interest and internal standard are performed on separate aliquots in parallel to Flow-FISH. Telomere fluorescence of G0/1 cells of subpopulations and internal standards obtained from Flow-FISH are normalized for DNA ploidy and telomere length in subsets of interest is expressed as a fraction of the internal standard telomere length. Keywords: fluorescence in situ hybridization; Flow-FISH; telomeres; telomere length; cell surface immunofluorescence
Induction of the metal transporter ZIP8 by interferon gamma in intestinal epithelial cells: Potential role of metal dyshomeostasis in Crohn's disease.

Abstract Transition metals are required for intestinal homeostasis and provide essential nutrients for the resident microbiota. Abnormalities in metal homeostasis are common in Crohn's disease (CD), but remain poorly defined and causes appear multifactorial. There has been renewed interest in understanding these mechanisms with the discovery of an association between a coding variant in SLC39A8 (rs13107325; ZIP8 A391T) and increased CD risk. SLC39A8 encodes the protein ZIP8, a metal transporter that is induced under inflammatory stimuli; however, studies of its gut-specific functions are lacking. Here, we show that SLC39A8 mRNA is differentially expressed in active CD with a high positive correlation with markers of disease severity, including CXCL8, TNFα, IFNγ, and calprotectin. SLC39A8 expression exhibits a negative correlation with SLC39A4 and SLC39A5, two key zinc importers in absorptive enterocytes, and a lack of correlation with two manganese transporters, SLC39A14 and SLC11A2. Immunohistochemistry demonstrates ZIP8 expression in intestinal epithelial cells and immune cells of the lamina propria. Patients with CD exhibit variable patterns of ZIP8 subcellular localization within IECs. In ileal enteroids, SLC39A8 was induced by IFNγ and IFNγ + TNFα, but not by TNFα alone, independent of NF-κB activation. IFNγ also down-regulated SLC39A5. To explore the functional implications of disease-associated genetic variation, in over-expression experiments in HEK293A cells, ZIP8 A391T was associated with increased TNFα-induced NF-κB activation, consistent with a loss of negative regulation. Taken together, these results suggest a potential role for ZIP8 in intestinal inflammation, induced by IFNγ in the intestinal epithelial compartment, and that perturbations in negative regulation of NF-κB by ZIP8 A391T may contribute to CD pathogenesis.
Ambivalence in Labels, Freedom in Lives: Older Women’s Discursive Constructions of Their Bisexual Identities

AbstractOlder bisexual women report a less positive sense of their sexual identity, less belonging in LGBTQ communities, and worse mental health outcomes compared to lesbian counterparts. These pat...
Transforaminal Access During Lumbar Endoscopy

There are three basic methods for access to the disc and epidural space during lumbar endoscopy. The inside-out technique was initiated by Kambin and Hijikata as arthroscopic microdiscectomy. Kambin’s original technique required visualization of the annulus using a round cannula followed by the use of 3 and 5 mm trephines inside the cannula to fenestrate the visualized annulus. Access was known as Kambin’s “safe” triangle. Anthony T. Yeung, M.D., modified Kambin’s approach with a blunt 2-hole dilator to anesthetize the annulus, then bluntly fenestrate the anesthetized annulus, followed by insertion of a beveled cannula over the dilator. This was generically known as the inside-out technique or Yeung Endoscopic Spine System (YESS™). Yeung’s philosophy and technique emphasizes visualizing the disc for intradiscal therapy. It was developed with Richard Wolf and FDA approved in 1997. Hoogland, Yeung’s fellow endoscopic pioneer, utilized an outside-in technique with disposable reamers outside the dilator, marketed as the Joimax technique that was later modified by Hoogland as MaxMore. A “targeted” technique known generically as percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) later emerged.
Psychological Treatments: The Family

Taking care of a patient with schizophrenia is best done with the help of the patient’s family. Families are a resource, but they may need support and guidance in order to be most effective. This chapter provides practical advice on how to work with families, including how to recognize when a family needs more help and how to modify a stressful family environment, without assigning blame. The stress-diathesis model usefully explains to families how the interaction between genetic- and disease-related weaknesses and stress can cause symptoms in their relative. According to the expressed emotion model, reducing critical comments may reduce relapse risks for those patients who get stressed easily in social interactions, including family interactions. Included in this chapter is a section on a new model of care (“Open Dialogue”) that engages and enlists in help the patient’s larger social network.
The Omani and Bahraini Paths to Development: Rare and Contrasting Oil-based Economic Success Stories

Oman and Bahrain are Middle Eastern success stories. There are some key similarities. Both have followed pragmatic development strategies built on a stable foundation of strengthened governance structures and enhanced economic liberalization. These improvements occurred in somewhat different settings, with Oman developing in a more authoritarian environment, whereas Bahrain enjoyed greater democracy but somewhat less stability. While both countries have relied on oil revenues to support their development efforts, it appears that, in contrast to their less successful oil producing neighbours, each country had just enough oil to do some good, but not enough to do serious damage.
Optimizing Linearizable Bulk Operations on Data Structures

We study the problem of ensuring the correctness of concurrent programs that perform mutating foreach and range operations over concurrent data structures. We introduce three algorithms which vary in the location and the granularity of concurrency control metadata. Our algorithms make the linearization of bulk operations visible to concurrent elemental operations, which enables them to scale well, keep overhead low, and operate within tight memory bounds. In our experimental evaluation, we demonstrate that our techniques do not hinder the performance of elemental operations in elemental-only workloads, and allow scalability among concurrent mutating bulk operations. Furthermore, in mixed workloads, our algorithms outperform the baseline, sometimes by an order of magnitude or more.
Established Methods of Classifying Luxury Fashion Brands

Quantitative and qualitative data about the performance of luxury brands are regularly gathered in an attempt to create benchmarks for the classification of all brands. Quantitative reports do not give a complete picture of the entire luxury market, however. Several luxury companies are private and don’t reveal their financial results. Yet, innovation in the luxury sector stems from these very brands, which indicates that there are probably other ways to examine what is at the basis of their success.
Effect of neodymium substitutions on electromagnetic properties in low temperature sintered NiCuZn ferrite

Abstract Nd 3+ ions substituted Ni 0.37 Cu 0.14 Zn 0.52 Fe 2 O 4 (Nd 3+ ions content=0, 0.01, 0.04, 0.6, 1.5 wt%) were prepared by the usual standard ceramic method at 1030 °C sintering temperature, and the composition dependence of the physical and magnetic properties has been investigated. SEM micrographs and EDX analysis revealed that it is no obvious impurities up to Nd 3+ ions content wt%=0.04. For higher Nd 3+ ions content samples (0.6 and 1.5 wt%), there are two kind of impurities Cu-rich and Nd-rich iron oxide phase. The saturation magnetization of the 0.01 wt% Nd 3+ ions content sample is higher as result of that the A–B sites distance and YK-angles are shorter and smaller. The saturation magnetization of 0.04–1.5 wt% Nd 3+ ion content sample are reduced, since the total magnetic moments of the AB site are decreased. For the 0.6 wt% sample, the Curie temperature increasing is as result of the Cu-rich iron oxide separating out. The maximum enhancements of permeability μ ′ are improved to 11.2% (0.04 wt%) and 29.2% (0.6 wt%) at the 6.7 and 13.8 MHz, respectively. However, it is notice that small amount substitutions of Nd 3+ increase the high frequency electromagnetic characteristics, can be applied to NFC technology and WPT technologies.
Primary Orbital Melanoma: An Investigation of a Rare Malignancy Using the National Cancer Database

Objectives Primary orbital melanoma (POM) is a rare disease with limited data on survival and best treatment practices. Here we utilize the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to determine the overall survival (OS) and covariates that influence mortality. Study design Retrospective cohort study. Methods All patients diagnosed with POM from 2004 to 2016 were identified in the NCDB. Patient and oncologic data were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate models for the primary outcome of OS. Results A total of 129 patients were identified. Median OS was 36.9 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 24.1-78.7 months) with mean 5-year survival of 42.0% (CI 33.2%-53.2%). Treatments received included surgery alone (43.4%), radiation alone (23.3%), and surgery followed by radiation (20.2%). The multivariate model demonstrated an increased risk of death associated with age over 80 years (hazard ratio [HR] 3.41, CI 1.31-8.86, P = .012), a Charlson-Deyo comorbidity score of 2 or greater (HR 5.30, CI 1.87-15.03, P = .002), and no treatment (HR 2.28, CI 1.03-5.06, P = .042). For every 1 cm increase in tumor size, there was an increased risk of death (HR 1.06, CI 1.00-1.13, P = .039). When compared to surgery alone, no other treatment modality had an effect on OS. Conclusions This study leveraged multiyear data from the NCDB to provide prognostic and demographic information on the largest known cohort of POM cases. Increased age, increased comorbidities, not receiving treatment, and larger tumor size were associated with increased mortality. There was no clear survival advantage for specific treatments. Level of evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 131:1790-1797, 2021.
On the Importance of High-Resolution in Large-Scale Ocean Models

Eddying global ocean models are now routinely used for ocean prediction, and the value-added of a better representation of the observed ocean variability and western boundary currents at that resolution is currently being evaluated in climate models. This overview article begins with a brief summary of the impact on ocean model biases of resolving eddies in several global ocean–sea ice numerical simulations. Then, a series of North and Equatorial Atlantic configurations are used to show that an increase of the horizontal resolution from eddy-resolving to submesoscale-enabled together with the inclusion of high-resolution bathymetry and tides significantly improve the models’ abilities to represent the observed ocean variability and western boundary currents. However, the computational cost of these simulations is extremely large, and for these simulations to become routine, close collaborations with computer scientists are essential to ensure that numerical codes can take full advantage of the latest computing architecture.
A molecular orbital theory of organic chemistry—VIII

Abstract The perturbational MO (PMO) method described in earlier papers of this series is used to develop a simple and gneeral theory of aromaticity, which seems to account weel for the available evidence and to be in accord with recent SCF MO calculations. This treatment also provides a very simple interpretation of both thermal and photochemical electrocyclic reactions, following the general rule that such reactions seem always to take place via aromatic transition rates.
Embedding k-D meshes into optimum hypercubes with dilation 2k−1 (extended abstract)

It is shown that, for every k, and for every k-dimensional mesh M, there is a one-to-one embedding of M into its optimum size hypercube with dilation at most 2k-1.
ISOLATION AND PRELIMINARY CHARACTERIZATION OF BACTERIOPHAGES FOR BACILLUS SUBTILIS

Romig, W. R. (University of California, Los Angeles), and A. M. Brodetsky. Isolation and preliminary characterization of bacteriophages for Bacillus subtilis. J. Bacteriol. 82:135-141. 1961.-A simplified procedure for direct isolation of phages for Bacillus subtilis from soil was developed. Phage enrichment was accomplished by growing streptomycin-resistant B. subtilis in medium previously inoculated with the soil sample. Contaminating soil bacteria were eliminated by adding bactericidal quantities of streptomycin and the phages were isolated by conventional agar layer techniques. By this method 1 or more subtilis phages were isolated from 15 of 18 soil samples tested. Several of these phages were unusually sensitive to chloroform and all of them were relatively unstable when stored at refrigerator temperatures. Of 6 phages retained for study, 1 was temperate for B. subtilis, but attempts to obtain stably lysogenic bacteria following infection with this phage were unsuccessful. All 6 phages had identical host ranges and were able to lyse all strains of B. subtilis tested, as well as several related species of Bacillus.
Complex systems: Why do they need to evolve and how can evolution be supported

We live in a world characterized by evolution—that is, by ongoing processes of development, formation, and growth in both natural and human-created systems. Biology tells us that complex, natural systems are not created all at once but must instead evolve over time. We are becoming increasingly aware that evolutionary processes are ubiquitous and critical for social, educational, and technological innovations as well.
Prostitution and Women's Agency: A Feminist Argument for Decriminalization

In this paper, I consider different meanings and experiences of prostitution in order to think about how profitably to reconfigure the conditions of prostitution, offering a defense of decriminalization as the first of what will need to be many steps in the process of producing a more open sexual discipline within which women and men can operate. To this end, my paper proceeds in four parts. First I set out the three main competing views of prostitution within feminism, ignoring here non-feminist accounts of both prostitution and women’s sexuality. Second, I draw on the work of Michel Foucault to explain why sexuality needs to be seen as central to feminist analyses and why the abolitionist perspective on prostitution that dominates U.S. public policy and feminist analyses is ultimately detrimental to women’s agency. Third, I compare prostitution to pornography, which is legal, while prostitution mostly is not. Through this comparison I try to assess whether pornography’s phenomenological distinction from prostitution can explain or justify its legal distinction from prostitution. Finally, I look briefly at two models of legalized prostitution, one in rural Nevada, the other in the Netherlands in order to assess the benefits of legalization versus decriminalization. Based on these policy models, I argue that decriminalization of prostitution is an imperfect but necessary step in the long road to producing a less-misogynistic discourse and material practice of female sexuality.
Motivating continued knowledge sharing in crowdsourcing: The impact of different types of visual feedback

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of system-generated visual feedback and continued contribution on individuals’ motivation to share knowledge in a crowdsourcing environment. Design/methodology/approach – An experimental setting was designed to investigate participants’ motivation to contribute knowledge in a crowdsourcing environment. Responses from a total of 101 participants were analyzed. The independent variables were visual feedback and time. The dependent variable was the participants’ self-expressed willingness to further contribute in the experimental knowledge-sharing activity. Findings – A significant main effect of time was found, showing overall gains in the mean willingness to participate over time. It was also found that the mean willingness of the control and top assimilation groups were higher than the mean willingness of the rank contrast and status groups. The mean difference obtained for the control group was mainly during the first half of the knowledge-...
Cocaine exposure during the early postnatal period diminishes medial frontal cortex Gs coupling to dopamine D1-like receptors in adult rat

The effect of cocaine exposure during early postnatal ages on coupling of dopamine (DA) D(1)- and D(2)-like receptors to their respective Gs/olf and Gi was examined in striatum and medial frontal cortex (MFC). Sprague-Dawley rats were subcutaneously injected with either 50 mg/kg cocaine or vehicle during postnatal day (PnD) 11-20 and dopaminergic D(1)- and D(2)-like receptor signaling was evaluated at PnD 60. Results showed that cocaine exposure did not affect the magnitude of both DA D(1)- and D(2)-like receptor coupling to their respective Gs/olf and Gi in striatum. However, in the medial frontal cortex, the basal and the DA D(1)-like receptor and Gs association were reduced in cocaine-exposed brains. However, there was no change in basal or DA D(2)-like receptor-Gi linkage in medial frontal cortex. Since frontal cortex plays a critical role in regulating cognition and working memory, disruption of DA-modulated circuits or alteration of dopaminergic activity resulting from postnatal cocaine exposure may result in abnormal responses to environmental challenges leading to long-term behavioral changes.
Dopamine autoreceptor regulation of release and uptake in mouse brain slices in the absence of D3 receptors

The effects of the dopamine D(3) receptor, a putative autoreceptor, have been investigated by comparing behavioral and neurochemical properties of wild-type mice and mice with a genetic deletion of the D(3) receptor. The D(3) knock-out mice were modestly hyper-responsive to a novel environment relative to wild-type mice, and, consistent with this, quantitative in vivo microdialysis revealed elevated striatal dopamine extracellular levels. The dynamic actions of autoreceptors on electrically evoked dopamine release were examined in striatal brain slices from these animals and monitored with fast scan cyclic voltammetry at carbon-fiber microelectrodes. Quinpirole, a dopamine receptor agonist with potency at both D(2) and D(3) receptors, inhibited evoked dopamine in a dose-dependent manner with a slightly higher dose required in the knock-out animals (EC(50) of 60+/-10 nM in wild-type animals and 130+/-40 in D(3) knock-out animals; both curves had a Hill slope near 2). Dopamine synthesis inhibition with alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine caused released dopamine levels to decrease in each genotype. However, regulation of secretion by autoreceptors was still operant. Dose-response curves to quinpirole were unchanged in D(3) knock-out tissue, but secretion-regulated release exhibited a Hill slope decreased to 1 in the wild-type animals. In both genotypes, similar quinpirole-evoked increases in uptake rate were evident following synthesis inhibition. These data are consistent with the D(3) receptor having a small but significant role as a dopamine autoreceptor that partially regulates secretion, but not synthesis, in the caudate-putamen.
Essiac tea: Scavenging of reactive oxygen species and effects on DNA damage

Essiac, a tea reportedly developed by the Ojibwa tribe of Canada and widely publicized as a homeopathic cancer treatment, is prepared from a mixture of four herbs Arctium lappa, Rumex acetosella, Ulmus rubra and Rheum officinale. Each of these herbs has been reported to possess antioxidant and anti-cancer activity. Essiac itself has also been reported to demonstrate anti-cancer activity in vitro, although its effects in vivo are still a matter of debate. We prepared an extract of Essiac tea from a concentration of 25 mg/mL and boiled it for 10 min. From this preparation we used concentrations of 5, 10, 25 and 50% to measure Essiac effects. In this study, we examined the effects of Essiac on free radical scavenging and DNA damage in a non-cellular system, as well as the effects Essiac on lipid peroxidation using the RAW 264.7 cell line. We observed, using electron spin resonance, that Essiac effectively scavenged hydroxyl, up to 84% reduction in radical signal at the 50% tea preparation concentration, and superoxide radicals, up to 82% reduction in radical signal also at the 50% tea preparation concentration, as well as prevented hydroxyl radical-induced DNA damage. In addition, Essiac inhibited hydroxyl radical-induced lipid peroxidation by up to 50% at the 50% tea preparation concentration. These data indicate that Essiac tea possesses potent antioxidant and DNA-protective activity, properties that are common to natural anti-cancer agents. This study may help to explain the mechanisms behind the reported anti-cancer effects of Essiac.
THE SYNTHESIS OF A VERNOLEPIN PROTOTYPE

Abstract The growth inhibitory sesquiterpene dilactones vernolepin, vernodalin and vernomenin1 feature a novel angularly vinylated 2-oxa-3-decalinone functional moiety whose synthesis has been the subject of several recent reports.2 We herewith describe the culmination of model studies initiated a number of years ago,3 which have led to an efficient and facile synthesis of the prototype vinylated oxadecalinone .
Integration of genomics, proteomics, and imaging for cardiac stem cell therapy

Cardiac stem cell therapy is beginning to mature as a valid treatment for heart disease. As more clinical trials utilizing stem cells emerge, it is imperative to establish the mechanisms by which stem cells confer benefit in cardiac diseases. In this paper, we review three methods—molecular cellular imaging, gene expression profiling, and proteomic analysis—that can be integrated to provide further insights into the role of this emerging therapy.
Fine structure of the prostomial eyes of Armandia brevis (Polychaeta: Opheliidae).

Embedded in the brain of Armandia brevis are three prostomial ocelli, each composed of two cells. The pigment cell, surrounds a photoreceptor, and forms a pigmented cup and a transparent unpigmented diaphragm. The terminal part of the photoreceptor lies within a receptoral cavity. Its surface is elaborated into folds containing tubular infoldings. The brain of Armandia contains, in addition to ocelli, photoreceptor-like cells partially enclosed by unpigmented epithelioid cells. The prostomial ocelli of Armandia closely resemble the ocelli in the dorsal nerve cord of the protochordate Amphioxus (Eakin and Westfall, 1962). It is suggested that the similarity is the result of evolutionary convergence. The prostomial ocelli of Armandia and nereid polychaetes (Eakin and Westfall, 1964) have similarities suggesting homology.
Modeling Agreement among Raters

Abstract An approach to the modeling of agreement among raters is proposed. By examining a hierarchy of log-linear models, it is shown how one can analyze the agreement among the raters in a manner analogous to the analysis of association in a contingency table. Specific attention is given to the problems of the K-rater agreement and the agreement between several observers and a standard. Examples are used to illustrate how this approach provides a general framework for modeling agreement in a variety of problem situations.
Cardiac consequences of massive acetaminophen overdose.

Abstract Ingestion of > 10 g of acetaminophen is a well-known cause of hepatic necrosis, but cardiac toxicity with this drug is uncommon. 1–3 Herein we describe cardiac findings in a patient who took 35 g of acetaminophen and died 8 days later.
Effects of gradual coronary artery occlusion and exercise training on gene expression in swine heart.

Gradual occlusion (O) of the swine left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) with an ameroid occluder results in complete O within 3 weeks, collateral vessel development, and compensatory hypertrophy. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the independent and combined effects of O and exercise training (E) on gene expression in the swine heart. Adult Yucatan miniature swine were assigned to one of the following groups (n = 6–9/group): sedentary control (S), exercise-trained (E), sedentary swine subjected to LCX occlusion (SO), and exercise-trained swine with LCX occlusion (EO). Exercise consisted of progressive treadmill running conducted 5 d/wk for 16 weeks. Gene expression was studied in myocardium isolated from the collateral-dependent left ventricle free wall (LV) and the collateral-independent septum (SEP) by RNA blotting. E and O each stimulated cardiac hypertrophy independently (p < 0.001) with no interaction. O but not E increased atrial natriuretic factor expression in the LV, but not in the SEP. E decreased the expression of β-myosin heavy chain in the LV, but not in the SEP. E retarded the expression of collagen III mRNA in SEP; but not in the LV. Exercise training and coronary artery occlusion each stimulate cardiac hypertrophy independently and induce different patterns of gene expression.
Critical analysis of methods of treatment of rectal carcinoma, particularly electrocoagulation

Abstract The great majority of carcinomas of the rectum can be reached by the examining finger and are located below the peritoneal floor. Such carcinomas are accessible for treatment through the anus by (a) surgical excision, (b) irradiation and (c) electrocoagulation. In our hands, electrocoagulation in conjunction with irradiation has proved quite as satisfactory as the results reported for radical surgical excision.
The acquisition of cognitive knowledge through clinic experiences

The considerable amount of time that medical students spend in clinical encounters with patients implies an expectation of many educators and clinicians, based on little reported research, that cognitive knowledge will increase as a result. In this study, 119 junior medical students were assigned to various paediatric subspecialty clinics. Using a correlated t-test, students' performances on those written examination items that corresponded to subspecialty clinics attended were compared with their performances on items for clinics not attended. Attendance in the clinics was not found to enhance mean test performances significantly (t = 0.8; df = 113; P less than 0.21). However, significantly greater variation in test performance was observed for clinics attended than those not attended (t = 581.3; df = 112; P less than 0.001). Discussion includes possible reasons for these results, other benefits the students may have received, and implications for clinic teaching.
Preliminary geochemical results at Steamboat Springs, Nevada

The oldest rocks near Steamboat Springs consist of metamorphosed volcanic and sedimentary rocks of unknown age intruded by granodiorite that is probably related to the Sierra Nevada batholith. The younger rocks are largely volcanic, consisting of Tertiary andesite, late Tertiary or early Pleistocene basalt and Pleistocene or possibly Recent pumiceous rhyolite. The valleys are filled with alluvium, except a small area consisting of siliceous sinter deposited by the hot springs. The springs arc on the northeast edge of the Steamboat Hills, which lie in a structural trough about six miles wide. The springs appear to be structurally related to recent faults and genetically related to the magmatic source of the recent volcanic domes of pumiceous rhyolite. Many of the springs are at or near the boiling point for this altitude; the geothermal gradient is very high, commonly exceeding one degree F per foot of depth within the explored range. Water analyses indicate a parent saline water diluted to varying degrees by water of low concentration; saline magmatic water is believed to mix with meteoric water at some unknown depth below the surface. Heavy rains have marked superficial effects on the discharge, salinity, and temperature. The discharge responds to changes in atmospheric pressure, a relationship previously found only in wells piercing artesian aquifers, but artesian conditions are either obscured or are absent. Associated gases are principally CO2, H2S, nitrogen, and minor amounts of oxygen, hydrogen, and argon. High-temperature vapors also contain mercury. Cinnabar, stibnite, pyrite, and other sulfides have crystallized at depths of five to 50 feet below the surface in sinter and gravels reworked by hot water after burial under new sinter. Some siliceous muds deposited from the springs contain gold and antimony equivalent to commercial ores, and also considerable silver, mercury, copper, and arsenic. The muds are believed to precipitate largely from the thermal water at shallow depth, and rise in mechanical suspension, most abundantly during stages of high discharge; some precipitation may continue at the surface. The acidity or alkalinity of the waters appears to be significantly related to the temperature of the springs, with the most alkaline waters tending to occur in the highest temperature springs and wells. This may be a very significant factor in the chemistry of ore-bearing solutions. A conspicuous acid type of rock alteration is taking place near the surface at and above water level; it is believed to be largely due to sulfuric acid formed by oxidation of H2S. Presumably a different type of alteration is taking place below water level, where rocks are In contact with near-neutral and alkaline water.
Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of one major coronary artery when the contralateral vessel is occluded

Abstract Objectives . In 193 patients we evaluated the safety and efficacy of angioplasty of a critical stenosis of the right coronary artery (52 patients) or the left anterior descending coronary artery (141 patients), with the contralateral coronary artery occluded and the circumflex artery without significant stenosis. Backgroud . Attempted angioplasty of either the left anterior descending or the dominant right coronary artery when the contracteral vessel te occluded may trigger overwhelming left ventricular dysfunction or hemodynamic collapse, or both. Methods . Immediate and late outcome (33 ± 18 months) in the study group were compared with outcome in 214 patients who had angioplasty in both the left anterior descending and right coronary arteries and in 194 patients who had coronary artery surgery and were matched for number and location of significant lesions, ejection fraction, age, gender and study period. Results . Left ventricular function was normal (38%) or mildly (34%), moderately (22%) or severely (6% compromised. There were 11 (5.7%) emergency and 5 (2.6%) elective coronary artery operations, 3 (1.6%) myocardial infarctions and 1 in-hospital death in tht study group. After discharge there were 25 (13.1%) elective coronary operations, 7 (3.7%) myocardial infarctions and 9 (4.7%) deaths in the study group. The incidence of death and myocardial infarction was similar in all groups, with 80% power fo detect a 7% difference in adverse events. The study group had more elective surgery before and after discharge than did the surgical control group (p = 0.02). Conclusions . Dilating one major vessel when the contralateral vessel is occluded appears to be as safe as coronary surgery or two-vessel angioplasty. Incomplete revascularization in study group patients did not impair survival or increase myocardial infarction compared with the angioplasty and surgical control groups.
Earth science: a different kind of foreshock.

Underwater sound recordings have been used to monitor transform faults in the equatorial Pacific, implicating a mechanism of foreshock generation distinct from that on most continental fault systems.
Giant cell tumor of the spine: computed tomography appearance and review of the literature

Abstract Giant cell tumor of the vertebral body is a rare but well-recognized entity with a reported incidence between 1.3% and 9.3%, of all giant cell tumors. It has been suggested that computed tomography may be helpful in making the diagnosis, although computed tomography appearances have only been described on two occasions. A case of giant cell tumor of the thoracic spine and a review of the literature regarding this entity are presented. The computed tomography appearance of this lesion is described. However, a distinctive pattern, as previously suggested, is not demonstrated. Although we are not convinced that computed tomography provides a definitive diagnosis in cases of spinal giant cell tumor, it is a valuable asset in defining the extent of the tumor and in posttherapy evaluation and follow-up.
TALE activation of endogenous genes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

article i nfo Background: Transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) are effector proteins secreted by certain plant pathogenicbacteria wheninfecting theirhosts.Upontranslocation,TALEsbindvia a well-decipheredrecognition code to specific sequences in the promoter region of targeted host genes, thereby activating expression of those targeted genes. Gene activation induced by artificially designed TALEs (dTALEs) has been studied in multiple organisms, but is yet to be demonstrated in green algae, such as Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a well-known model organism for fundamental biological studies, as well as for biofuel production. Results: We chose two endogenous Chlamydomonas genes, ARS1 and ARS2, as the targets of dTALE induced activation. Both genes encode a periplasmic arylsulfatase (ARS), and are located in an apparent tail-to-tail inverted duplication on chromosome 16. dTALEs independently targeting ARS1 and ARS2 promoters were generated and successfully expressed in Chlamydomonas. Both target genes exhibited noticeably increased expression induced by their respective dTALEs at the transcript level as well as the protein level, which was confirmed at the protein activity level by ARS colorimetric assays. The level of induced target gene activation was closely correlated with the dTALE transcript abundance. Conclusions: Our work demonstrates robust gene-specific activation induced by artificially designed TALEs in the green alga Chlamydomonas. The frequency and efficiency of the induced expression demonstrate dTALEs as powerful tools for targeted gene activation in Chlamydomonas. The pattern of activation shown here provides insights into the mechanism of TALE induced expression, and also confirms the activity of the activation domain of naturally occurring TALEs in another organism. Our success with dTALE-induced activation in Chlamydomonas may open a new avenue to fast, high throughput gene manipulation in other related organisms, such as green algae and crop plants.
Stability and Change in Childcare and Employment: Evidence from the United States

Using a unique data set from the US to examine the association between employment stability and childcare stability, we find that childcare use is fairly stable for current and former welfare recipients. In addition, although childcare instability contributes to employment instability, it does not appear to be the major reason women leave their jobs. In this case, employment retention programmes in the US, while not losing focus on childcare issues, should also address other barriers to keeping jobs, such as limited education and lack of work experience.
1,2,5-Selenadiazoles. Synthesis and properties

4-Amino-1, 2, 5-selenadiazole-3-carboxylic acid and 4-amino-1, 2, 5-selenadiazole-3-carboxamides have been prepared by ring-cleavage of [1, 2, 5]selenadiazolo[3, 4-d]pyrimidin-7(6H)-one by basic reagents. The primary amide (III), as well as an N-alkyl amide, may be produced by the action of a primary amine. Hydrazine reductively cleaves the selenadiazole ring. The preparation of similar 4-ureido derivatives by ring-cleavage of [1,2,5]selenadiazolo[3, 4-d]pyrimidine-5, 7(4 H, 6H)-dione has been demonstrated with two examples. N-Butyl-4-ureido-1, 2, 5-selenadiazole-3-carboxamide is easily hydrolyzed in aqueous base to the corresponding acid, and it has been shown that this reaction proceeds by way of [1, 2, 5]selenadiazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine-5, 7 (4H, 6H)-dione. The 4-amino-1, 2, 5-selenadiazole-3-carboxylic acid derivatives have marked cytotoxic, antibacterial, and antifungal activity.
Asymmetric supernovae and gamma-ray bursts

Abstract Spectropolarimetry of core collapse supernovae has shown that they are asymmetric and often, but not universally, bi-polar. Jet-induced supernova models give a typical jet/torus structure that is reminiscent of some objects like the Crab nebula, SN 1987A and Cas A. Asymmetry in the strength of polar jets is a plausible mechanism to produce substantial pulsar “kick” velocities. Jets may arise from the intrinsic rotation and magnetic fields that are expected to accompany core collapse. We summarize the potential importance of the magneto-rotational instability (MRI) for the core collapse problem in the context of the non-monotonic behavior expected: increasing centrifugal support will lead to a maximum rotation and magnetic field production as a function of the initial rotation of the iron core. Non-axisymmetric instabilities are predicted for differentially rotating proto-neutron stars with values of the ratio of rotational kinetic energy to binding energy, T /∣ W ∣≳0.01. The non-axisymmetric instabilities are likely to drive magnetosonic waves into the surrounding time-dependent density structure. These waves represent a mechanism of the dissipation of the rotational energy of the proto-neutron star, and the outward deposition of this energy may play a role in the supernova explosion process. The phase of deleptonization and contraction of the proto-neutron star lasting several seconds is likely to be an important phase of magnetic non-axisymmetric evolution. In the special circumstance that the proto-neutron star is born sufficiently rapidly rotating that it is subject to bar-mode instabilities on secular timescales, a possible outcome is that the deleptonizing neutron star will evolve along the locus T /∣ W ∣∼0.14 releasing a significant fraction of its binding energy as MHD power sufficient to account for a GRB. This power will be provided over an extended time, 10 s, that is strongly reminiscent of the timescale of long GRBs and is also comparable to the time for a shock or jet to propagate through the core of a Type Ib/c supernova.
A comparative study on the extinction characteristics of non-premixed dimethyl ether and ethanol flames☆

Abstract The extinction characteristics of non-premixed dimethyl ether and ethanol flames were investigated in order to assess the effect of the molecular structure on the combustion behavior of two otherwise similar fuels. The experiments were conducted in the stagnation flow configuration by counterflowing streams of fuel diluted in nitrogen against pure oxygen. Extinction strain rates were determined at atmospheric pressure and elevated unburned mixture temperature, over a wide range of fuel to nitrogen ratios. Two recent chemical kinetic models were used to simulate the experiments. The Lennard-Jones potential parameters assigned to dimethyl ether in the transport databases of the models were evaluated, and the effect of their uncertainty on the prediction of extinction limits of non-premixed flames was assessed. Sensitivity analyses with respect to reaction rates and binary diffusion coefficients were conducted to provide insight into the controlling physico-chemical processes. Additionally, the high-temperature reaction pathways of dimethyl ether and ethanol oxidation in non-premixed flames were identified and were used to interpret the results.
Coculture cells that express leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) enhance mouse blastocyst development in vitro.

Purpose : Leukemia inhibitory factor is a cytokine that plays an important role in implantation and enhances mouse preimplantation embryo development in vitro. Since leukemia inhibitory factor enhances early embryo development, we tested the hypothesis that coculture cells that express leukemia inhibitory factor would enhance mouse blastocyst development in vitro. In this study, Northern analysis for leukemia inhibitory factor was performed on total RNA extracted from Vero cells, human embryonic fibroblasts, and human placental fibroblasts. Methods : Two-cell mouse embryos were cultured to blastocyst in Ham's F-10 with 15% human cord serum (control) or with the coculture cells. Northern analysis demonstrated expression of LIF mRNA in Vero cells and embryonic fibroblasts but not in placental fibroblasts. Development to blastocyst was significantly enhanced in two-cell embryos cultured with Vero cells (86%, 140/163) and embryonic fibroblasts (83%, 118/142) when compared to controls (71%, 67/94, P < 0.05) or placental fibroblasts (71%, 95/134), P < 0.05). Conclusion : These data suggest that coculture cells that express leukemia inhibitory factor may be superior to nonleukemia inhibitory factor expressing cells for early preimplantation embryo development.