cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Scandals Great and Small

The conference theme—Lawyering at the Edge—evokes images of lawyers ensnared in legal scandals, lawyers testing the boundaries of the ethics rules, and lawyers at their moral and emotional limits. Lawyers at the edge labor under psychological and social pressures. They are tested and tempted. They are under pressure and under attack. The scandals threaten to overwhelm them. I will focus on two kinds of cases where lawyers face those pressures. One kind involves lawyers caught up in controversies where the tactics veer toward the vicious as opponents “fight fire with fire”— cases we often describe as “spiraling,” or “out of control,” or having “a life of their own.” Lurking behind those phrases is the notion that rationality no longer reigns. The second kind involves those public controversies where large numbers of the public use the dispute as a vehicle for vindicating private prejudices and venting personal frustrations. There is a sense of a storm swirling around the participants. The prosecution of the Duke lacrosse players was like that, as were the murder trials of O.J. Simpson and Scott Peterson. In those controversies, the public’s emotional investment relentlessly fueled the social pressures until the narrative reached its climax—be it just or unjust. But such legal disputes also produce a second compelling narrative—the lawyers’ personal stories as they struggle at the center of the storm to maintain their moral footing. We have seen that narrative in
Reciprocal Influences Between Parent Input and Child Language Skills in Dyads Involving High- and Low-Risk Infants for Autism Spectrum Disorder.

We examined the language input of parents of infants at high and low familial risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and investigated reciprocal associations between parent input and child language skills in the first 2 years of life. Parent-infant dyads (high-risk: n = 53; low-risk: n = 33), 19 of whom included an infant later diagnosed with ASD, were videotaped during free play interactions at 12, 18, and 24 months. Measures of parent input were derived from parent-child interactions. Children's language skills were assessed using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning at 12, 18, and 24 months. Results suggested that (a) parents of high- and low-risk infants produced similar word tokens, word types, and proportions of contingent verbal responses, but parents of high-risk infants used shorter mean length of utterances (MLU) than parents of low-risk infants at 18 and 24 months; (b) parents' MLU at 18 months was positively associated with their infants' language at the subsequent visit after 6 months, regardless of group; and (c) infants' language at 18 months was positively associated with parents' MLU at the subsequent visit after 6 months in the high-risk group only. These findings contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms underlying early language learning of high-risk infants who have an increased risk for language delays and deficits. Autism Res 2020, 13: 1168-1183. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Parents provide an important source of language input to their children. In this study, we looked at parent input to infants at high- and low-risk for autism spectrum disorder and relations between parent input and child language in the first 2 years of life. We found that parents of high- and low-risk infants provided similar quantity and quality of input, except shorter average length of utterances at 18 and 24 months in the high-risk group. Also, there were bidirectional relations between parent input and child language at 18 and 24 months in high-risk pairs, suggesting that parents and children collectively shape the early language environment.
Masking Information Source within the Internal Revenue Service

Strategic ignorance rarely has been an official US administrative policy. Rather, sunshine and transparency have been the rally cry for those seeking to combat discrimination, bias, and corruption. Strategic ignorance, however, may have greater utility for government administration than may initially appear. This chapter examines the use of strategic ignorance of informational source to facilitate tax enforcement. Specifically, this chapter contemplates applying the lessons of scientific trial literature to the Internal Revenue Service tax whistleblower program to eliminate bias against the use of whistleblowers at certain decision points in tax enforcement.
Biased Estimates of Ωm from Comparing Smoothed Predicted Velocity Fields to Unsmoothed Peculiar-Velocity Measurements

We show that a regression of unsmoothed peculiar velocity measurements against peculiar velocities predicted from a smoothed galaxy density field leads to a biased estimate of the cosmological density parameter Ωm, even when galaxies trace the underlying mass distribution, and galaxy positions and velocities are known perfectly. The bias arises because the errors in the predicted velocities are correlated with the predicted velocities themselves. We investigate this bias using cosmological N-body simulations and analytic arguments. In linear perturbation theory, for cold dark matter power spectra and Gaussian or top-hat smoothing filters, the bias in Ωm is always positive, and its magnitude increases with increasing smoothing scale. This linear calculation reproduces the N-body results for Gaussian smoothing radii Rs 10 h-1 Mpc, while nonlinear effects lower the bias on smaller smoothing scales, and for Rs 3 h-1 Mpc, Ωm is underestimated rather than overestimated. The net bias in Ωm for a given smoothing filter depends on the underlying cosmological model. The effect on current estimates of Ωm from velocity-velocity comparisons is probably small relative to other uncertainties, but taking full advantage of the statistical precision of future peculiar-velocity data sets will require either equal smoothing of the predicted and measured velocity fields or careful accounting for the biases discussed here.
Analysis of HOX gene expression and the effects of HOXA9 overexpression in fibroblasts derived from keloid lesions and normal skin.

Keloids are fibroproliferative lesions resulting from an abnormal wound healing process due to pathological mechanisms that remain incompletely understood. Keloids tend to occur more frequently in anterior versus posterior body regions (e.g., ears, face, upper torso); this has been attributed to higher skin tension in those areas, although this has not yet been conclusively proven. Previous studies reported reduced expression of multiple homeobox (HOX) genes in keloid versus normal fibroblasts, suggesting a role for HOX genes in keloid pathology. However, HOX genes are differentially expressed along the anterior-posterior axis. Hypothetically, differential HOX expression may be due to differences in body sites, as matched donor sites are often unavailable for keloids and normal skin. To better understand the basis for differential HOX gene expression in cells from keloids compared with normal skin, we compared HOXA7, HOXA9, HOXC8 and HOXC11 expression in keloid and normal skin-derived fibroblasts from various body sites. When keloid (N = 20) and normal (N = 12) fibroblast cell strains were evaluated, expression of HOXA7, HOXA9 and HOXC8 was significantly lower in keloid versus normal fibroblasts. However, HOX gene expression was lower in fibroblasts from more anterior versus posterior body sites. When keloid and normal cells from similar body sites were compared, differential HOX expression was not observed. To investigate the phenotypic relevance of HOX expression, HOXA9 was overexpressed in keloid and normal fibroblasts. HOXA9 overexpression did not affect proliferation but significantly reduced fibroblast migration and altered gene expression. The results suggest that differential HOX expression may be due to differences in positional identity between keloid and normal fibroblasts. However, HOX genes can potentially regulate fibroblast phenotype, suggesting that differential HOX gene expression may play a role in keloid development in anterior body sites.
Longitudinal bidirectional association between sleep and behavior problems at age 6 and 11 years.

Abstract Background Although a growing number of longitudinal studies have found that sleep problems precede behavior problems, few have examined potential bidirectional relationships longitudinally. The present study examined prospective associations between sleep problems and internalizing, externalizing, and attention problems over the course of childhood. Methods Participants included 775 children from the China Jintan Cohort Study. Sleep problems were rated by mothers at ages six and 11.5, as well as self-reported by children at age 11.5. Behavior problems were rated by mothers and teachers at ages six and 11.5, and self-reported by children at age 11.5. Results At age six, 15.0% of children were reported to have sleep problems as rated by mothers. At age 11, this prevalence was 12% as rated by mothers and 20% as rated by youth. Bidirectional relationships between sleep problems and behavior problems were observed. Mother-reported sleep problems at age six were predictive of self-reported internalizing and attention problems at age 11.5, even after controlling for baseline behavioral problems. At age six, teacher-reported externalizing, internalizing, and attention problems, and mother-rated internalizing and externalizing problems were all related to sleep problems at age 11.5, even after controlling for baseline sleep problems. Other sociodemographic covariates including child sex, age, and parental education were controlled for. Conclusions Findings provide further support for the reciprocal relationship between sleep problems and behavior problems. Early interventions that target both types of problems may be especially effective in preventing this aggravating health–behavior cycle.
Tissue prothrombinase activity in myometrium from timed-pregnant rats.

OBJECTIVE: Fgl 2 and thrombin potentially play roles during inflammation-induced preterm delivery. These studies sought to demonstrate functional prothrombinase enzyme activity in rat uterus, consistent with the expression of Fg12 in this tissue. METHODS: Myometrial and other tissue obtained from non-pregnant and timed-pregnant rats was homogenized in Tris-buffered saline. Prothrombinase activity was determined based on the kinetic metabolism of a chromogenic thrombin substrate. Homogenates were incubated with prothrombin followed by the addition of the thrombin substrate. Thrombin activity was determined by comparing tissue activity to a standard curve generated using 0.01 to 0.04 units of active thrombin. Western blot studies were also performed to confirm tissue prothrombinase activity in myometrial homogenates. Prothrombin was incubated with tissue homogenates; the reactions were then terminated with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) loading buffer. RESULTS: Prothrombinase activity in myometrial tissue was observed to be 0.047 to 0.077 U thrombin /10 min /μg protein. Heat denaturation and calcium removal eliminated prothrombinase activity, whereas the addition of Factor V enhanced activity. The Western blots confirmed the presence of protlirombin, the anticipated prethrombin fragments, and thrombin. Consistent with the enzyme studies, the thrombin band formed upon incubation with myometrial homogenates from pregnant and nonpregnant rats. In contrast, the thrombin band was not apparent with removal of calcium, heat denaturation and treatment with serine protease inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, these studies have confirmed functionally active prothrombinase activity in rat myometrium, supporting the hypothesis that Fg12 is expressed in this tissue.
The Effect of Reimbursement on the Intensity of Hospital Services

We examine how hospital treatment intensity is affected by an exogenous change in average reimbursement for an admission. Theory predicts that treatment intensity would be most affected for highly profitable services but unaffected for unprofitable services. We use Medicare inpatient data from 11 states for 16 disease categories that vary in the generosity of reimbursement to test this prediction. Using the coefficients from quantile regressions, we calculate a difference-in-difference estimate of the effect of the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1998, comparing the pre- and post-BBA change in treatment intensity at high Medicare share hospitals to low Medicare share hospitals. We find that not-for-profit hospitals cut treatment intensity at the 50th, 75th, and 95th quantiles only for generously reimbursed services. Intensity at the 25th percentile was unaffected, regardless of generosity. We did not measure a statistically significant response at for-profit or public hospitals to the BBA.
Phototaxis in euglena: I. Isolation of the eye-spot granules and identification of the eye-spot pigments

Abstract 1. 1. A method has been developed for the isolation of eye-spot (stigma) granules from Euglena gracilis , strain Z. 2. 2. The absorption spectrum of a suspension of the isolated granules show the presence of three maxima at 490, 462 and 436 mμ, in addition to a small shoulder at 387 mμ. The action spectrum of photoaxis follows this spectrum very closely. The possible role of the eye spot in photoaxis is discussed. 3. 3. All of the carotenoid pigments, except one, present in the eye spot hav e been identified. The principal compounds are lutein and cryptoxanthin, which together make up 83% of the total pigment complement of the granules. β-Carotene and an unidentified pigment make up the remainder. 4. 4. Preliminary studies of certain of the properties of the eye-spot granules, particularly their stability, and fine structure, as determined by electron microscopy, are reported.
Linux device driver emulation in mach

We describe the design and performance of code added to the Mach microkernel (Mach 4.0, version UK02p21) that permits one to build a Mach kernel that includes unmodified Linux device drivers. We have written emulation code to support all Linux 1.3.35 network and SCSI drivers for the ISA and PCI I/O buses. Emulation increases latency, but very little. The degree depends on both device and operation, and varies from 2 microseconds for receiving small (60 byte) network packets up to 197 microseconds for writing 16KB to an ISA SCSI device.
Localized adaptive inflation in ensemble data assimilation for a radiation belt model

[1] In this work a one-dimensional radial diffusion model for phase space density, together with observational satellite data, is used in an ensemble data assimilation with the purpose of accurately estimating Earth’s radiation belt particle distribution. A particular concern in data assimilation for radiation belt models are model deficiencies, which can adversely impact the solution of the assimilation. To adequately address these deficiencies, a localized adaptive covariance inflation technique is implemented in the data assimilation to account for model uncertainty. Numerical results from identical-twin experiments, where data is generated from the same model, as well as the assimilation of real observational data, are presented. The results show improvement in the predictive skill of the model solution due to the proper inclusion of model errors in the data assimilation. Citation: Godinez, H. C., and J. Koller (2012), Localized adaptive inflation in ensemble data assimilation for a radiation belt model, Space Weather, 10, S08001, doi:10.1029/2012SW000767.
On the Performance of Hedge Funds

Empirical evidence indicates that hedge funds differ substantially from traditional investment vehicles, such as mutual funds. Unlike mutual funds, hedge funds follow dynamic trading strategies and have low systematic risk. Hedge funds' special fee structures apparently align managers' incentives with fund performance. Funds with “high watermarks” (under which managers are required to make up previous losses before receiving any incentive fees) significantly outperform those without. Hedge funds provide higher Sharpe ratios than mutual funds, and their performance in the period of January 1992 through December 1996 reflects better manager skills, although hedge fund returns are more volatile. Average hedge fund returns are related positively to incentive fees, fund assets, and the lockup period.
Commodity trade and relative returns to factors of production

In this paper a model that can be used to estimate relative factor price differences between pairs of countries is developed. Estimation requires observations of actual bilateral commodity trade flows and knowledge of input requirements for commodity production. The linchpin here is the set of relative production cost differences which, on the one hand, determine trade flows and which in turn are a function of production requirements and relative factor returns. The model is implemented to estimate relative factor returns between the United States and each of eight other countries. Several useful applications of the model are suggested.
Grüneisen Parameters of the Alkali Halides

The microscopic Gr\"uneisen parameters of 13 alkali halides have been calculated over the entire Brillouin zone by solving the lattice dynamical problem at different pressures. A six-parameter shell model has been used and the variation of the parameters with pressure was deduced from the pressure dependence of the three elastic constants, of the two dielectric constants, and of the infrared absorption frequency. The quasiharmonic-model values of the macroscopic Gr\"uneisen parameter at 295 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K were obtained by appropriate averaging over the microscopic mode gammas. The results are in good agreement, but are systematically larger than Gr\"uneisen parameters deduced from thermal-expansion data.
Coulomb correlation effects in quasi-one-dimensional conductors

Abstract We review recent results on the role of electron-electron (e-e) interactions - “correlation effects” - in quasi-one-dimensional conductors. Within the Peierls-Hubbard model, we examine the consequences of short range (on-site U and nearest neighbor V) e-e interactions for ground state properties, nonlinear excitations, and optical absorption. Our techniques include quantum Monte Carlo and weak and strong coupling perturbative arguments.
Tense and aspect in Cypriot Greek Down Syndrome: Developmental patterns and coping strategies

This study examines the production of tense and aspect of Cypriot Greek adults diagnosed with Down Syndrome and children with typical language development. Despite the evidently low IQ scores, and comparatively lower MLU scores, the performance of Cypriot Greek adults with Down Syndrome with tense and aspect is almost at ceiling with 95.7% accuracy for tense and 97.2% for aspect. These results suggest that at least certain aspects of the Down Syndrome grammatical system (e.g. inflectional marking) can be (fully) acquired. It was observed that both groups have developed three coping strategies, when not using a verb as targeted or expected; they either (i) use an alternative feature value, (ii) omit the entire verb, or quite rarely (iii) omit the inflectional suffix. Inconsistencies in the results across different languages suggest that cross-linguistic differences potentially related to the inflectional system of each language might be responsible for the different realization of problematic performance. Keywords: Down Syndrome; language development; inflectional marking; tense; aspect
Regulation of Extrasynaptic Glutamate Levels as a Pathophysiological Mechanism in Disorders of Motivation and Addiction

A growing body of evidence suggests that changes in glutamate transporter expression may be a factor that is common to many neuropsychiatric disorders. As an example, reduced glutamate reuptake capacity has been linked to a wide variety of conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, and addiction. Mathematical models suggest that under physiological conditions glutamate may diffuse and activate NMDA receptors within a radius of 0.5 μm from the release point (Tzingounis and Wadiche, 2007). Excitatory amino-acid transporters (EAATs) bind and transport glutamate, limiting spillover from synapses due to their dense perisynaptic expression primarily on astroglia. Thus, the spatial arrangement of glutamate synapses, their glutamate transporter buffering zones, and extrasynaptic glutamate receptors will determine the extent and effects of glutamate spillover (Tzingounis and Wadiche, 2007). Increased glutamate spillover may lead to a loss of input specificity, degrading the spatial precision of synaptic transmission. Decreased glutamate spillover, particularly in regions with high levels of physiologic spillover such as the hippocampus, could also disrupt plasticity by limiting spillover transmission. Disruption of glutamate reuptake with genetic models or pharmacological agents yields region- and mechanism-specific phenotypes. For example, the homozygous GLAST (called EAAT1 in the human) KO exhibits locomotor hyperactivity, social withdrawal, and abnormal acoustic startle—deficits analogous to the positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms observed in schizophrenia (Karlsson et al, 2009).
Use of solvent cavity area and number of packed solvent molecules around a solute in regard to hydrocarbon solubilities and hydrophobic interactions

Two currently used methods of calculating the area of contact between a solute molecule and the solvent are examined and some important differences are pointed out. Some pitfalls and uncertainties in the application of the concept of molecular surface area to the quantitative estimation of unitary free energies of solution are discussed.
Time-resolved phonon-assisted stimulated emission in quantum-well heterostructures

Summary form only given. The authors report the observation of time-resolved photo-pumped operation of phonon-assisted stimulated emission in a series of AlGaAs-GaAs single quantum wells with different well thicknesses (20, 34, and 54 AA). The temporal characteristics of the phonon-assisted stimulated emission are distinct from the laser operation of the confined particle states in that the phonon-assisted process is always delayed in time (30-80 ps) and has a larger temporal full width at half-maximum. Also, lasing on the confined particle states is quenched as the lasing on the phonon sidebands begins. Data are presented on the emission intensity versus wavelength versus time and the dependence of the relative (and absolute) delay times as a function of excitation power and sample geometry. The delay time is uncorrelated with the sample geometry (and thus photon lifetime in the cavity) but is correlated with the excitation power (capacity to generate phonons). The delay is interpreted to be the time necessary to build up a sufficiently large phonon density (possibly by stimulated phonon emission) to initiate the phonon-assisted stimulated emission, which then dominates the spectral output. >
Dye‐flow apparatus to measure the variation in axial xylem permeability over a stem cross‐section

Abstract Equipment and methodology are described that allows the radial variation in axial xylem permeability (hydraulic conductivity) over a tree cross-section to be measured and the flow paths to be identified by the strictly controlled flow of dye through a specimen. The apparatus can be calibrated so that the point-to-point variation of absolute permeability over a xylem cross-section can be calculated from the dye-flow patterns, which otherwise show only relative variations in permeability. The effect of using different dyes and dye concentrations on the penetration time and the shape of the dye patterns was investigated. The penetration time through the wood of identical end-matched specimens is appreciably longer for fixing dyes than for non-fixing dyes, and for the fixing dyes it depends strongly on the dye concentration. However, the dye patterns of the end-matched specimens were indistinguishable with fixing and non-fixing dyes, and independent of dye concentration. The fixing dye toluidine blue at 0.25% to 0.5% (w/w) was found most suitable as it yields a clear permanent pattern.
Comparative study of vesicular stomatitis virus and its plaque type mutant.

This comparative study shows that the plaque mutant, p-1a, is antigenically identical to the wild type parent vesicular stomatitis virus. Several properties of the mutant are strikingly different from those of the parent strain, including plaque size, growth rate, pathogenicity and the number of bands as demonstrated in density gradients. However, the immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoretic properties of these viruses appear identical. Since the mutant, p-1a, is stable and relatively easy to handle in the laboratory, it may become a useful agent in viral genetic studies.
Convection in the two-phase zone of solidifying alloys

The analysis is applicable to alloy solidification which proceeds horizontally to the center of a mold. The model follows the growth of the solid-liquid zone adjacent to the chill face (the initial transient), the movement of the zone across the mold, and the region of final solidification adjacent to the centerline (the final transient). During solidification the density of the liquid varies across the twophase zone. Consequently, there is natural convection which is treated as flow through a porous medium. The equations for convection are coupled with the equation of solute redistribution between the phases in order to calculate macrosegregation after solidification is complete. Results were computed for alloys which show: (1) “inverse segregation≓ at a cooled-surface; (2) macrosegregation resulting from solidification with the initial transient, a period with a complete two-phase zone, and a final transient; and (3) macrosegregation when the width of the two-phase zone exceeds the semi-width of the mold.
A control study of a kneeless biped locomotion system

Abstract In this paper, a control study on a three-degree-of-freedom kneeless biped locomotion system is performed. Based on the biped dynamics and joint trajectories of the walking gait, a robust adaptive control scheme consisting of a control law and an adaptation law was used. The control law has the structure of the inverse dynamics servo but uses estimates of the dynamics parameters in the computation of torques which propel the biped. The adaptation law uses the tracking error to compute the parameter estimates for the control law. To improve the convergence of the estimated parameters, we modify the timing of applying the adaptation by incorporating a dead-zone operation. Our simulation results show that the adaptive control technique can be effectively used for the biped locomotion control. The joint tracking errors can be made acceptably small and the performance is also robust despite relatively large deviations in the initial estimates of the system parameters.
Porphyroblasts and “crystallization force” An experimental analog

Compacted pellets composed of alternate layers of KCl and PbCl 2 , separated by discontinuous layers of graphite flakes, were fired at 350 to 370 °C for 7 to 10 days at both atmospheric pressure and 70 bar. Aggregates of K 2 PbCl 4 and KPb 2 Cl 5 , resembling porphyroblasts in appearance, formed at reactant interfaces. Formation of these aggregates was accompanied by mechanical displacement of graphite. Volume calculations indicate that displacement of graphite occurred because of simultaneous volume loss and gain on opposite sides of the oiriginal interface. A “crystallization force” was not necessary for the displacement. It is suggested that a similar mechanism of chemical rearrangement should be considered a viable possibility for matrix displacement during porphyroblast growth.
The rapid isothermal annealing of tantalum silicide

Abstract Silicon-poor tantalum silicide films cosputtered on polycrystalline silicon over thermal oxide on silicon were rapidly annealed for various temperatures and times using a graphite strip heater. Rutherford backscattering and X-ray diffraction showed rapid formation of a stoichiometric tantalum disilicide via Si diffusion from the polycrystalline Si. This was accompanied by significant grain growth and a reduction in resistivity. Sheet resistances comparable with those of furnace annealed samples were obtained.
Inelastic scattering of polarized protons from He 4 at 500 and 800 MeV

Inclusive $^{4}\mathrm{He}$(p\ensuremath{\rightarrow},p') spectra were measured at incident energies ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{p}}$=500 and 800 MeV over a range of forward scattering angles between 5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and 30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. The first excited ${0}^{+}$, T=0 state at 20.1 MeV and the ${2}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$, T=0 state at 22.1 MeV appear as distinct structures in the spectra. Angular distributions of differential cross sections \ensuremath{\sigma} and analyzing powers ${\mathit{A}}_{\mathit{y}}$ were extracted for these states and for regions of excitation in the continuum up to 40 MeV. Distorted-wave calculations for inelastic scattering using transition densities from the recoil corrected continuum shell model (RCCSM) were compared with the data. The RCCSM generally predicts too small \ensuremath{\sigma} and too large ${\mathit{A}}_{\mathit{y}}$. Assuming a pure giant monopole excitation for the 20.1-MeV, ${0}^{+}$ state, we found greater giant monopole resonance strength than has been deduced from $^{4}\mathrm{He}$(e,e') studies.
The Democratization of the Oncogene

The identification of novel, oncogenic gene rearrangements in inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor demonstrates the potential of next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms for the detection of therapeutically relevant oncogenes across multiple tumor types, but raises significant questions relating to the investigation of targeted therapies in this new era of widespread NGS testing.
Diaxial conformers of trans-1,2-dithiacyclohexane derivatives

Abstract As a result of steric repulsion between the equatorial substituents of the trans-(2-thiacyclohexyl)sulfone 3, the preferred molecular geometry in solution and in the solid state is the diaxial conformer.
Endoscopic repair of cerebrospinal fluid fistulae and encephaloceles

The authors review their experience with endoscopic repair of skull base defects associated with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea and/or encephaloceles involving the paranasal sinuses. Between January 1991 and December 1995, 51 patients were evaluated for anterior and middle cranial fossa defects at a tertiary care facility. Of these patients, 36 underwent endoscopic repair of skull base defects. Factors related to surgical success were analyzed. These factors included etiology, defect location, number of prior attempts at repair, type of graft(s) used, fluorescein use, complications, durations of lumbar drain placement, and duration of CSF leakage prior to repair. During the first attempt, successful endoscopic repair was accomplished in 34 (94.4%) of the 36 patients. The mean duration of follow-up was 24.6 months, with a range of 2 to 57 months. The authors conclude that an endoscopic approach provides a safe and effective means for repairing many skull base defects.
Iron(III) 4,4′,4″,4‴-sulfophthalocyanine

Abstract The iron(III) 4,4′,4″,4‴-sulfophthalocyanine(Fe(III)SPc) compounds: H 3 Fe(III)SPc·8H 2 O; Na 3 Fe(III)SPc·0.5NaOH·4H 2 O; K 3 Fe(III)SPc·0.5KOH·4H 2 O; and Cs 3 Fe(III)SPc·1.5CsOH·2H 2 O, were prepared. The Mossbauer spectra at 77° of the acid and three salts showed that two types of Fe complexes were present in each solid. The acid has low spin, octahedral and intermediate spin complexes, while the three salts are alike and have two different low spin, octahedral complexes. The magnetic moments of the solid acid and Na salt, determined over a temperature range of 295-135°, support these conclusions. The magnetic moments of the Na salt in aqueous solutions at several pH's, concentrations, and ionic strengths showed that at high ionic strength only high spin complexes are present. As the concentration is increased and ionic strength decreased, low spin complexes form. The Mossbauer spectrum of a frozen solution of the K salt (2mM) indicates that a low spin, octahedral complex is present. Half-wave potentials and visible spectra of the compounds in aqueous 0.1 M tetraethylammonium perchlorate were approximately the same. No evidence for μ-oxo complexes in solid salts, or in solution, was found.
Dielectric relaxation propylene glycol-water solutions from 10MHz to 10GHz

Abstract Dielectric measurements by time domain reflection (TDR) methods at temperatures from 25 to 59°C are reported for solutions of 100, 83, 68, 53, 36 and 19 mole per cent propylene glycol (1,2-propane diol). Except for the lowest concentration, the data are adequately described by the Cole-Davidson relaxation function over most of the frequency range from 107 to 1010 Hz, but deviations in the form of excess absorption at the highest frequencies are found at the lower temperatures. These results are discussed and compared with results of Angell et al at lower temperatures, as are deviations from both Arrhenius and Vogel-Tammann-Fulcher temperature dependence of relaxation times.
Branchial fistula: CT manifestations

A patient with a recurrent left neck abscess was found to have a branchial fistula from the pyriform sinus. This uncommon anomaly was demonstrated by CT and barium swallow. The embryology, pathology and clinical features of this lesion are discussed and contrasted with those of the branchial cyst.
A spectroscopic search for colliding stellar winds in O-type close binary systems. I - AO Cassiopeiae

AO Cas, a short-period, double-lined spectroscopic binary, is studied as part of a search for spectroscopic evidence of colliding stellar winds in binary systems of O-type stars. High S/N ratio spectra of the H-alpha and He I 6678-A line profiles are presented, and their orbital-phase-related variations are examined in order to derive the location and motions of high-density circumstellar gas in the system. These profile variations are compared with those observed in the UV stellar wind lines in IUE archival spectra. IUE spectra are also used to derive a system mass ratio by constructing cross-correlation functions of a single-lined phase spectrum with each of the other spectra. The resulting mass ratio is consistent with the rotational line broadening of the primary star, if the primary is rotating synchronously with the binary system. The best-fit models were found to have an inclination of 61.1 deg + or - 3.0 deg and have a primary which is close to filling its critical Roche lobe.
The Importance of the Retinoid X Receptor Alpha in Modulating Inflammatory Signaling in Acute Murine Colitis

Background In order for vitamin D to signal and regulate inflammatory pathways, it must bind to its receptor (VDR) which must heterodimerize with the retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRα). Although the role that vitamin D signaling plays in the development and progression of colitis, a disease characterized by excessive inflammation, has been suggested, little research has been done on determining the role that RXRα plays in acute colitis development.
Retention of ionic and non-ionic catechols in capillary zone electrophoresis with micellar solutions

The use of micellar solutions in capillary zone electrophoresis has been primarily relegated to separations of non-ionic solutes, while its applicability to cationic species has been unexplored. We have found that the use of sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles in phosphate buffer allows for tremendous gains in selectivity for several cationic and non-ionic catechols over what can be obtained with normal capillary zone electrophoresis. Complexation of catechols with boric acid alters the net charge on the solutes and changes the partitioning behavior to produce adequate selectivity with improved analysis times. Although the mechanisms of solute interaction with the micellar phase for the cationic species are not decisively known, evidence is presented supporting the existence of ion-pairing equilibria simultaneously accompanied by micellar solubilization.
Mechanism of the control of pulmonary and hepatic fatty acid synthesis by the thyroid hormones

Abstract The levels of pulmonary and hepatic citrate cleavage and pyruvate dehydrogenase enzymes were lowered by about 38 and 35%, respectively, in lungs, and 63 and 54%, respectively, in livers of diabetic or hypophysectomized animals. Malic enzyme activity was reduced by 77% in the livers of diabetic or hypophysectomized rats, but no significant activity was detected in lung. The hexosemonophosphate shunt pathway activity was also depressed by 60% in liver only, but was unaffected in lung. The activities of acetate thiokinase was altered slightly by the change of hormonal status in liver, but not in lung. Phosphenolpyruvate carboxykinase activity was increased by more than twofold in lung and fivefold in liver by inducing diabetes and hypophysectomy, whereas fatty acid synthetase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase activities were lowered by 64% in lung and 93% in liver under similar conditions. In vivo fatty acid synthesis followed the same pattern as fatty acid synthesizing enzymes. Thyroliberin (TRF), thyrotropin (TSH), or 3,5,3- l -triiodothyronine (T3) was able to restore the altered enzyme activities of diabetic rats. T3 and TSH enhanced the fatty acid synthesis in the lungs and livers of the hypophysectomized animals, but TRF had no effect. Optimum levels were achieved at a dose of about 100 μg/100 g body wt for T3 or TRF and 100 mU/100 g body wt for TSH and after 3 days of hormonal treatment. Normal levels of pulmonary enzyme activities were also restored by insulin administration (3 units/100 g body wt) to diabetic animals within 24 h. The citrate and acetate contents of liver were reduced in diabetic and hypophysectomized animals and restored by T3 treatment. Citrate content of lung showed a similar change. The malate content of liver was increased in the hormonally deprived states. The thyroid hormone responses were almost completely inhibited with cyclohexamide. T3-Mediated stimulation of citrate cleavage enzyme and in vivo fatty acid synthesis were also abolished by (−)-hydroxy-citrate treatment. Antibody-antigen titration lung suggested that T3-mediated increase in synthetase activity was due to the synthesis of new active enzyme rather than the activation of the preexisting inactive species. These results suggest the importance of a pyruvate-citrate pathway for the pulmonary fatty acid synthesis, and provide evidence for the involvement of thyroid hormones in the control of pulmonary and hepatic fatty acid synthesis.
Age of Jurassic volcanism and tectonism, southern Owens Valley region, east-central California

Remnants of the eastern fringe of the volcanic and volcanogenic sedimentary cover of the Mesozoic Sierra Nevada batholith are exposed in the southern Inyo Mountains and adjacent Alabama Hills of east-central California. Six new U-Pb dates on volcanic units and crosscutting intrusions reveal that the upper parts of both the Inyo Mountains and Alabama Hills sections accumulated during Middle and Late Jurassic time. During this same interval, both sections were steeply tilted and locally folded during one or more episodes of contractile deformation occurring in the east Sierran thrust belt. Differences between the largely undated lower parts of the Inyo Mountains and Alabama Hills sections suggest that they were once located farther apart, then later brought into proximity by thrust faulting or strike-slip faulting. The Inyo Mountains and Alabama Hills sections are similar to partly coeval strata in the White Mountains, in that both contain abundant sedimentary strata that were in part deposited in or near terrain of moderate topographic relief. Together, these areas seem to compose a distinctive arc-marginal depositional province different than that represented by partly coeval strata preserved in pendants to the west.
CIT-4: The first synthetic analogue of brewsterite

The first synthetic analogue of the rare natural zeolite brewsterite has been synthesized and named CIT-4. CIT-4 crystallizes with a composition SrO:Al_2O_3:5.8-6 SiO_2:4.5 H_2O and is prepared via hydrothermal alteration of zeolite P1 by strontium-containing solutions and in the presence of seed crystals of brewsterite.
Isotope labeling strategies for NMR studies of RNA

The known biological functions of RNA have expanded in recent years and now include gene regulation, maintenance of sub-cellular structure, and catalysis, in addition to propagation of genetic information. As for proteins, RNA function is tightly correlated with structure. Unlike proteins, structural information for larger, biologically functional RNAs is relatively limited. NMR signal degeneracy, relaxation problems, and a paucity of long-range 1H–1H dipolar contacts have limited the utility of traditional NMR approaches. Selective isotope labeling, including nucleotide-specific and segmental labeling strategies, may provide the best opportunities for obtaining structural information by NMR. Here we review methods that have been developed for preparing and purifying isotopically labeled RNAs, as well as NMR strategies that have been employed for signal assignment and structure determination.
Five Internet Sites Too Good to Miss

There are many Internet sites that supposedly provide young learners with suitable activities. But it is often the case that these sites are not developmentally appropriate for students. Too many words on the computer screen, the lack of pictures, and the absence of multimedia support (such as oral narration options) make many websites inaccessible to young children. In this column, the author shares some websites that create unique opportunities for students' literacy development through online resources and tools.
Comparison of robotically performed and traditional laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

Robotic laparoscopic surgery is postulated to result in better surgical results by allowing improved instrument manipulation and three-dimensional vision. The authors’ experience performing robot-assisted laparoscopic colorectal surgery is reported. METHOD: Standard laparoscopic procedures with robot-assisted laparoscopic colon mobilization and vascular ligation were performed. Data relating to the operative procedure, hospital stay, and direct costs were collected. Results were compared with age, gender, and procedure case-matched controls taken from a prospective laparoscopic colorectal surgery database. RESULTS: Six robot-assisted laparoscopic surgeries (2 right hemicolectomies, 3 sigmoid colectomies, and 1 Wells rectopexy) were performed between December 2001 and June 2002. There was no associated morbidity. Operative time was increased from a median time of 108 minutes for standard laparoscopic colorectal surgery to 165 minutes for robot-assisted laparoscopic surgeries (P = 0.0313; Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test for non-parametric data). This was primarily a result of the time required for robot set-up. Blood loss, length of stay, and hospital cost were not significantly different between groups. Additional direct equipment costs for RAC cases included robotic laparoscopic instruments and sterile drapes (approximately US $350 per case), without including acquisition and maintenance costs for the robot. CONCLUSION: Robot-assisted laparoscopic colectomy is a feasible and safe procedure. Although three-dimensional vision and dexterity are facilitated, operative time is increased and the overall additional expense of robotics is of concern. Robot-assisted laparoscopic colectomy requires further evaluation to establish clinical and financial benefits before introduction to routine practice. Such techniques may, in the future, facilitate complex laparoscopic techniques.
Ion formation mechanism in laser desorption ionization of individual nanoparticles.

Covariance mapping is used to study ion formation mechanisms in laser desorption ionization of individual 50 or 220 nm diameter particles having compositions similar to ambient aerosol. Single particle mass spectra are found to vary substantially from particle to particle. This variation is systematic—the energetically preferred ions (e.g., lowest ionization energy, highest electron affinity) are positively correlated with each other and negatively correlated with less preferred ions. For the compositions studied, the average positive ion yield is two to five times greater than the negative ion yield, indicating that free electrons are the main negatively charged species. For many particles, typically 20% to 40% of those analyzed, only positive ions are detected. Smaller particles give fewer negative ions, presumably because the plume is less dense and electron capture is less likely. The results suggest that ion formation occurs by a two stage process. In the first stage, photoionization of laser desorbed neutrals gives cations and free electrons. In the second stage, collisions in the plume cause electron capture and competitive charge transfer. When the particle ablates in a manner giving a dense plume with many collisions, the energetically preferred positive and negative ions are dominant. When the particle ablates in a manner giving a less dense plume with fewer collisions, the less preferred ions are able to survive and the energetically preferred ions constitute a lower fraction of the total ion signal. Systematic particle to particle variations of relative signal intensities can complicate ambient particle classification efforts by spreading a single particle composition over several classes.
Polysome profile and change in total ribosomal mass in rat heart during progressive thiamine deficiency.

Abstract Progressive thiamine deficiency in rats, which results in a decrease of the actual amount of cardiac tissue, brings about a large decrease of the total mass of ribosomal particles and of total microsomal RNA per unit weight of heart muscle; there is little or no change in the percentage of polysomes.
Form-class as the basis for clustering in recall of nonassociated words

Abstract : Two 36-item lists composed of 12 adjectives, 12 nouns, and 12 verbs were presented either in random orders or by means of block presentation over 4 trials to determine whether form-class membership would constitute a basis for clustering. The individual words were not associated with one another. Under random presentation, no clustering was found, and, under block presentation clustering occurred in minimal amounts. Evidence was presented to indicate that Ss did not perceive or use form-class as a basis of organization, although classifications of the words according to form-class by comparable Ss were accurate. Whether unassociated but categorized words will cluster on the basis of their categories cannot be decided definitively from this experiment, but evidence is brought together which is suggestive of the notion that category relations may be ineffective as a basis for clustering in the absence of inter-item associations. (Author)
Isolation and characterization of β-endorphin-(1–9) from human and rat pituitaries

Abstract Using a radioimmunoassay specific for the carboxyl terminus of β-endorphin-(1–9) large amounts of β-endorphin-(1–9)-immunoreactive material was detected in the human pituitary. The major peak of immunoreactivity was purified and characterized by fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry and Edman degradation sequencing as authentic β-endorphin-(1–9). In the rat pituitary the highest concentration of β-endorphin-(1–9) immunoreactivity was in the posterior neurointermediate lobe. This material was identified as N -acetyl β-endorphin-(1–9) by multiple radioimmunoassays, gel chromatography, and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Control experiments determined that β-endorphin-(1–9) was not formed postmortem or during the extraction procedure. These studies suggest that single lysine residues, similar to single arginine residues, are potential sites of posttranslational processing.