cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Demographic and Reproductive Parameters of the Yellow-Cheeked Pocket Gopher ( Pappogeomys castanops )

A population of Pappogeomys castanops simulans was live-trapped on a 3.5-ha study area in Lubbock, Texas, from September 1971 to September 1973. Seasonal and annual differences in population size were observed, with the population fluctuating between 20 and 25 gophers. Female reproductive activity began in January and continued until October, with an obvious period of recruitment lacking; however, a peak was observed in March and April. Females produced as many as three litters per reproductive season. Females born early in the year were sexually mature within the reproductive season of their birth. Females had an average survival rate of 56 weeks in the trappable population as compared to a 31-week survival rate of males. Neonate through subadult survival of pooled males and females was 72.7%. The gophers had a clumped distribution on the study area, with more mature females forming the centers of the clumps. Subadults of both sexes and adult males were distributed peripheral to adult females. Adult females showed few shifts in their home range configuration whereas adult males and subadults of both sexes had more labile home range configurations. Females arranged their home ranges so as to provide isolation from other gophers. Males, on the other hand, tended to align their home ranges so as to contact more animals, especially mature females. Offspring dispersed from the maternal burrows as juveniles or subadults. Colonization frequently occurred adjacent to the maternal home range, although long distance moves also were observed. Once a home range was established, few shifts were observed.
Preoperative diet impacts the adipose tissue response to surgical trauma

Background Short-term changes in preoperative nutrition can have profound effects on surgery-related outcomes such as ischemia/reperfusion injury in preclinical models. Dietary interventions that lend protection against stress in animal models (eg, fasting, dietary restriction [DR]) impact adipose tissue quality/quantity. Adipose tissue holds high surgical relevance because of its anatomic location and large tissue volume, and it is ubiquitously traumatized during surgery. Yet the response of adipose tissue to trauma under clinically relevant circumstances including dietary status remains poorly defined. We hypothesized that preoperative diet alters the adipose tissue response to surgical trauma. Methods A novel mouse model of adipose tissue surgical trauma was employed. Dietary conditions (diet-induced obesity [DIO], preoperative DR) were modulated before application of surgical adipose tissue trauma in the context of clinically common scenarios (different ages, simulated bacterial wound contamination). Local/distant adipose tissue phenotypic responses were measured as represented by gene expression of inflammatory, tissue remodeling/growth, and metabolic markers. Results Surgical trauma had a profound effect on adipose tissue phenotype at the site of trauma. Milder but significant distal effects on non-traumatized adipose tissue were also observed. DIO exacerbated the inflammatory aspects of this response, and preoperative DR tended to reverse these changes. Age and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-simulated bacterial contamination also impacted the adipose tissue response to trauma, with young adult animals and LPS treatment exacerbating the proinflammatory response. Conclusion Surgical trauma dramatically impacts both local and distal adipose tissue biology. Short-term preoperative DR may offer a strategy to attenuate this response.
Induction of human cutaneous mast cell degranulation by opiates and endogenous opioid peptides: Evidence for opiate and nonopiate receptor participation

In order to examine the capacity of pharmacologically useful opiates to stimulate human mast cell secretion, subjects were skin tested with morphine, codeine, or meperidine hydrochloride. All three agents acted equipotently in eliciting positive immediate skin reactions from all subjects tested. Each agent demonstrated 10 mm of net whealing at 5 to 10 micrograms base (16.7 to 40.4 nmol) injected intradermally. The ability to elicit immediate skin test reactions with endogenous opioid peptides was examined with the use of dynorphin, [D-Ala, 2-D-Leu5] enkephalin, beta-endorphin, and morphiceptin . All four compounds induced wheal-and-flare reactions with the order of potency: dynorphin, greater than beta-endorphin, and greater than [D-Ala, 2-D-Leu5] enkephalin approximately equal to morphiceptin at dose ranges of 0.3 to 8.45 nmol. The inhibition of reactivity by hydroxyzine and the demonstration of mast cell degranulation by electron microscopy suggest that the immediate skin responses to opioid stimulation occur as a consequence of mast cell degranulation. Experiments with the opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone, suggest that both opioid and nonopioid receptors may be involved. These results imply that endogenous opioid peptides possibly may play a role in mast cell function and/or degradulation .
Relationships of diboride phases in Al–Ti(Zr)–B alloys

AbstractThe relationships of diboride phases in Al–Ti(Zr)–B alloys with a variable Ti/B ratio close to the stoichiometry of TiB2 were studied. The formation of diboride solid solutions was confirmed. A grain refinement mechanism is proposed as that diboride particles in the Al–Ti–B master alloys reacting with aluminium upon adding into an aluminium melt and release titanium into the melt through forming a (Ti,Al)B2 solid solution and maintain a thin dynamic Ti rich layer on the surfaces of the (Ti,Al)B2 particles, which nucleates α-Al grains in solidification. The poisoning effect of zirconium on grain refinement of aluminium by Al–Ti–B master alloys is also discussed.
PALS free volume study of dry and water saturated epoxies

Free volume cavity sizes and fractions of epoxy specimens were determined using positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). PALS data were obtained before and after specimen water equilibration. Specimens were bisphenol A epoxide (B) and/or glycol epoxide (G) cured with a polyamide. Free volume sites increased linearly and cavity sizes decreased linearly with epoxide B:G ratio. Glass transition temperature (Tg) increased with epoxide B:G ratio. Water molecules in wet epoxy B filled approximately six percent of the cavities. Epoxy G cavity size increased 11.4% after water equilibrium and was ascribed to cavity expansion. PALS results differed for commercial corrosion inhibitors in wet and dry mixtures of these epoxides.
Complicated Bereavement: A Commentary on its State of Evolution

We have reviewed the articles submitted by Walter (2006), Neimeyer (2005–2006, this issue), Stroebe and Schut (2005–2006, this issue), and Prigerson and Maciejewski (2005–2006, thiss issue). Walter (2005–2006, this issue) assumes a social constructivist perspective of complicated grief. His article focuses on a number of issues that we believe to be extrinsic to the primary issue of the definition of complicated grief. We do not view the movement toward a new diagnosis of complicated grief as a normalization of grief as a construct of psychiatry (“psychiatric medicine” is a redundant term), an operational requirement of “bereavement agencies,” a concept through which society can discipline the bereaved, a label applied to those who actively resist cultural grieving norms, a product of societal obsession with risk, or a result of “negotiating participants in the bereavement field.” We also do not assume that complicated grief is a “psychological disorder” but, rather, a type of psychopathology (without ref...
DENSITY ESTIMATION BY DUAL ASCENT OF THE LOG-LIKELIHOOD ∗

A methodology is developed to assign, from an observed sample, a joint-probability distribution to a set of continuous variables. The algorithm proposed performs this assignment by mapping the original variables onto a jointly-Gaussian set. The map is built iteratively, ascending the log-likelihood of the observations, through a series of steps that move the marginal distributions along a random set of orthogonal directions towards normality. AMS subject classifications. 34A50, 65C30, 65L20, 60H35. 1. Introduction and problem setting Extracting information from data is a fundamental problem underlying many ap- plications. Medical doctors seek to diagnose a patient's health from clinical data, blood tests and genetic information. Pharmaceutical companies analyze the results of massive in vitro tests of different compounds to select the best candidate for new drug development. Insurance companies assess, based on financial data, the probabil- ity that a number of credit-lines go into default within the same time-window. Using commercial data, market analysts attempt to quantify the effect that advertising cam- paigns have on sales. Weather forecasters extract from present and past observations the likely state of the weather in the near future. Climate scientists estimate long-time trends from observations over the years of quantities such as sea-surface temperature and the atmospheric concentration of CO2. In many of these applications, the fundamental "data problem" consists of es- timating, from a sample of a set of interdependent variables, their joint probability distribution. Thus, the financial analyst dealing in credit derivatives seeks the proba- bility of joint default of many debts over a specified time window; the medical doctor, the likelihood that a patient's test results are associated with a certain disease; the weather forecaster, the likelihood that the pattern of today's measurements anticipate tomorrow's rain.
Organic Peroxide Assisted Transition Metal Hydrosilylation Catalysis

The catalytic activity of rhodium complexes for the hydrosilylation of substrates such as alkenes, 1,3-dienes, 1-alkynes, or ketones, is enhanced by the addition of organic oxidizing agents, such ast-butyl hydroperoxide, hydrogen peroxide, orm-chloroperbenzoic acid. Similar enhancement is found for the Group VIA hexacarbonyls in the hydrosilylation of 1,3-dienes.
Bilateral papillopathy as a presenting sign of pheochromocytoma associated with von Hippel-Lindau disease.

A 7-year-old girl presented with decreased vision in both eyes for 1 month. Examination showed visual acuity of 20/50 and 20/60, no afferent pupillary defect, cecocentral scotomas, and bilateral optic disc edema with extensive peripapillary and macular exudates. Magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple cortical and subcortical white matter lesions. Both the laboratory workup and the systemic examination were unrevealing. However, on follow-up, the patient showed episodic elevations of blood pressure as high as 240/160. Further workup revealed elevated urine catecholamines and a right supra-adrenal mass proven to be a pheochromocytoma by histopathologic analysis. The paroxysmal hypertension resolved, and the visual acuity, visual fields, fundus exam, and neuroimaging improved. The patient was lost to follow-up until age 18 when she developed shortness of breath and was found to have multiple pulmonary metastases identified as pheochromocytoma by biopsy. Genetic testing identified a 3p25-26 (c.482 GA) VHL gene chromosomal mutation consistent with von Hippel-Lindau disease genotype. Multiple peripheral retinal vascular dilations and small retinal capillary hemangioblastomas were also found. This case highlights the importance of recognizing the lability of blood pressure often seen with pheochromocytomas, which may mask the underlying cause of hypertensive papillopathy and retinopathy, a diagnosis of low clinical suspicion in the pediatric population. The case also underscores the importance of thorough systemic workup, including genotyping to detect conditions where pheochromocytoma may be the presenting sign of the disease, such as multiple endocrine neoplasia 2A and 2B, von Hippel-Lindau disease,
Hormonal stimulation of arachidonate release from isolated perfused organs. Relationship to prostaglandin biosynthesis.

The lipids of isolated Krebs perfused rabbit kidneys and hearts were labelled with [14C]arachidonic acid. Subsequent hormonal stimulation (e.g. bradykinin, ATP) of the pre-labelled tissue resulted in dose-dependent release of [14C]prostaglandins; little or no release of the precursor [14C]arachidonic acid was observed. When fatty acid-free bovine serum albumin was added to the perfusion medium as a trap for fatty acids substantial release of [14C]arachidonic acid was detected following hormonal stimulation. The release of [14C]arachidonic acid was dose-dependent and greater than 3 fold that of [14C]prostaglandin release. Indomethacin by inhibiting the cyclo-oxygenase, completely inhibited release of [14C]prostaglandins and only slightly inhibited release of [14C]arachidonic acid. These results demonstrate that in both rabbit kidney and heart much more substrate is released by hormonal stimulation than is converted to prostaglandins. This suggests that either the deacylation reaction is not tightly coupled to the prostaglandin synthetase system or that there are two deacylation mechanisms, one which is coupled to prostaglandin synthesis while the other is non-specific. It has previously been shown that prostaglandin release due to hormones such as bradykinin is transient despite continued presence of the hormone (tachyphylaxis). By utilizing albumin to trap released fatty acid, it was found that hormone-stimulated release of arachidonic acid is also transient. This directly demonstrates that tachyphylaxis occurs at a step prior to the cyclo-oxygenase.
Novel freedom of expression

Soviet Fiction Since Stalin: Science, Politics and Literature. By Rosalind J. Marsh. Croom Helm/Barnes & Noble: 1986. Pp.338. 25, 28.50.
Toward a Conceptual Model of Mentoring Research: Integration with Self-Regulated Learning.

In this article, we present a model for academic mentoring research that incorporates theory and research on self-regulated learning. Academic mentoring research has increased in recent years, and researchers have linked mentoring with positive outcomes for proteges and mentors. This research, however, has not investigated the process whereby mentoring exerts its effects. An integration of mentoring with self-regulated learning seems valuable because self-regulated learning researchers have employed methodologies to assess its dynamic nature. We review assumptions of mentoring and self-regulated learning theories, representative mentoring research studies, and methods of assessing self-regulated learning. Following presentation of the mentoring research model, suggestions are given for types of research studies to identify the operation of key processes before, during, and after mentoring interactions. We conclude with implications of this integrated perspective for theory development and educational practice.
Profiles of emergent literacy skills among preschool children who are at risk for academic difficulties

Abstract The purpose of this study was to explore patterns of within-group variability in the emergent literacy skills of preschoolers who are at risk for academic difficulties. We used the person-centered approach of cluster analysis to identify profiles of emergent literacy skills, taking into account both oral language and code-related skills. Participants were 492 preschoolers (aged 42–60 months) enrolled in needs-based programs. In the fall of the academic year, children were administered eight measures of emergent literacy: four oral language measures (i.e., expressive and receptive grammar, expressive and receptive vocabulary) and four code-related measures (i.e., print concepts, alphabet knowledge, name writing, and rhyme). Controlling for age, hierarchical-agglomerative and K-means cluster analysis procedures were employed. Five psychometrically sound profiles emerged: highest emergent literacy (prevalence = 14%); three profiles with average oral language and differential code-related abilities (16%, 24%; 23%); and lowest oral language with broad code-related weaknesses (23%). Profiles were then compared on midyear teacher ratings of emergent literacy as well as end-of-kindergarten literacy performance; results provided convergent evidence of predictive validity. This study highlights the considerable heterogeneity of emergent literacy abilities within an “at-risk” group. The resulting profiles have theoretical and practical relevance when examining both concurrent relationships between oral language and code-related skills as well as longitudinal relationships between early patterns of performance and later reading achievement.
Sliding Experiments with Polytetrafluoroethylene

The sliding of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was experimentally examined with a sled type apparatus and with a conventional three pins-on-flat frictometer. Friction hysteresis and time-and speed-dependent phenomena were observed with both instruments and were compared. With the sled apparatus, the relation between friction and sliding speed of PTFE sliding on PTFE at different ambient temperatures was examined and is described. A study of the sliding surface of PTFE with the electron microscope was made. The initial results give clear photographic evidence in stereo that films and fibers of PTFE are stretched and drawn over relatively large distances across the topography of the sliding surface. In view of this and the viscoelastic nature of polymer deformation, the observed time and temperature dependence of friction becomes plausible. Presented at the ASLE Annual Meeting in Cleveland, May 6–9, 1968.
Beyond Belief: Japanese Approaches to the Meaning of Religion:

For several centuries, Japanese scholars have argued that their nation’s culture—including its language, religion and ways of thinking—is somehow unique. The darker side of this rhetoric, sometimes...
When Voters Choose the Sentence: The Drug Policy Initiatives in Arizona, California, Ohio, and Michigan

Part of the Law Commons Publication Information Published as Michael M. O’Hear, When Voters Choose the Sentence: The Drug Policy Initiatives in Arizona, California, Ohio, and Michigan, 14 Fed. Sent’g Rep. 337 (2002). © 2002 by the Regents of the University of California on behalf of the Vera Institute of Justice. Copying and permissions notice: Authorization to copy this content beyond fair use (as specified in Sections 107 and 108 of the U. S. Copyright Law) for internal or personal use, or the internal or personal use of specific clients, is granted by the Regents of the University of California on behalf of the Vera Institute of Justice for libraries and other users, provided that they are registered with and pay the specified fee via Rightslink® on Caliber (http://caliber.ucpress.net/) or directly with the Copyright Clearance Center, http://www.copyright.com.
Protein family and fold occurrence in genomes: power-law behaviour and evolutionary model.

Global surveys of genomes measure the usage of essential molecular parts, defined here as protein families, superfamilies or folds, in different organisms. Based on surveys of the first 20 completely sequenced genomes, we observe that the occurrence of these parts follows a power-law distribution. That is, the number of distinct parts (F) with a given genomic occurrence (V) decays as F=aV(-b), with a few parts occurring many times and most occurring infrequently. For a given organism, the distributions of families, superfamilies and folds are nearly identical, and this is reflected in the size of the decay exponent b. Moreover, the exponent varies between different organisms, with those of smaller genomes displaying a steeper decay (i.e. larger b). Clearly, the power law indicates a preference to duplicate genes that encode for molecular parts which are already common. Here, we present a minimal, but biologically meaningful model that accurately describes the observed power law. Although the model performs equally well for all three protein classes, we focus on the occurrence of folds in preference to families and superfamilies. This is because folds are comparatively insensitive to the effects of point mutations that can cause a family member to diverge beyond detectable similarity. In the model, genomes evolve through two basic operations: (i) duplication of existing genes; (ii) net flow of new genes. The flow term is closely related to the exponent b and can accommodate considerable gene loss; however, we demonstrate that the observed data is reproduced best with a net inflow, i.e. with more gene gain than loss. Moreover, we show that prokaryotes have much higher rates of gene acquisition than eukaryotes, probably reflecting lateral transfer. A further natural outcome from our model is an estimation of the fold composition of the initial genome, which potentially relates to the common ancestor for modern organisms. Supplementary material pertaining to this work is available from www.partslist.org/powerlaw.
Echoes: Shakespeare, the reviewer and the theatre historian, revisited

Though scholarly critics of Shakespearean performance can and should draw our attention to productions that break through the boundaries of established theatrical practices and forge new aesthetic paradigms, and though performance historians have the analytical tools to draw our attention to the limitations and contradictions within more mainstream contemporary performance practices, it is equally our job to record and analyse these mainstream practices without condescension. We must, for example, recognize and analyse – indeed, we should celebrate – in our analyses of contemporary mainstream performance the persistence of “emotionalist” Stanislavsky-based approaches to character and acting, however much such views of character are inconsistent with the early modern definitions of subjectivity encoded within the scripts, and however much these approaches have been challenged by postmodern theory and theatrical practices.
Robust stability of nonlinear time-delay systems with applications to neural networks

In the first part of this paper we consider a family of nonlinear time-delay systems with uncertainties. For such systems, we present two types of sufficient conditions for robust stability. One type involves delay independent results while the other type involves delay dependent results. In the second part, we apply these sufficient conditions to a class of time-delay artificial neural networks and obtain practical criteria to test asymptotic stability of the equilibria of these time-delay artificial neural networks, with or without perturbations. These criteria require verification of the definiteness of a certain matrix, or verification of a certain inequality. Our results provide also a method of estimating the domain of attraction of the asymptotically stable equilibria of the time-delay neural networks. The applicability of our results is demonstrated by means of three specific examples.
Use of antibiotic resistance analysis for representativeness testing of multiwatershed libraries

The use of antibiotic resistance analysis (ARA) for microbial source tracking requires the generation of a library of isolates collected from known sources in the watershed. The size and composition of the library are critical in determining if it represents the diversity of patterns found in the watershed. This study was performed to determine the size that an ARA library needs to be to be representative of the watersheds for which it will be used and to determine if libraries from different watersheds can be merged to create multiwatershed libraries. Fecal samples from known human, domesticated, and wild animal sources were collected from six Virginia watersheds. From these samples, enterococci were isolated and tested by ARA. Based on cross-validation discriminant analysis, only the largest of the libraries (2,931 isolates) were found to be able to classify nonlibrary isolates as well as library isolates (i.e., were representative). Small libraries tended to have higher average rates of correct classification, but were much less able to correctly classify nonlibrary isolates. A merged multiwatershed library (6,587 isolates) was created and was found to be large enough to be representative of the isolates from the contributing watersheds. When isolates that were collected from the contributing watersheds approximately 1 year later were analyzed with the multiwatershed library, they were classified as well as the isolates in the library, suggesting that the resistance patterns are temporally stable for at least 1 year. The ability to obtain a representative, temporally stable library demonstrates that ARA can be used to identify sources of fecal pollution in natural waters.
Macrohydrology ― the new challenge for process hydrology

Abstract The paper describes an important, new area of hydrological interest, Macrohydrology, and highlights research into large-scale hydrological processes with emphasis on evaporation. It reviews three recent and relevant international experiments, ARME, HAPEX and FIFE, each illustrating different perspectives but all addressing the need to provide a large-scale description of land surface hydrology. Observations from these experiments and the results of recent theoretical studies are used to achieve a better definition of the large-scale aggregation process. The use of a one-dimensional model format is supported, providing this includes a vegetative canopy, and providing model parameters no longer necessarily possess local physical or physiological relevance. The role of mesoscale meteorological processes and of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) is discussed around classes of land surface defined with respect to scale and order of their vegetation cover. The existence of an ABL is shown often to simplify, but sometimes to complicate, the synthesis of the aggregate description. In the course of the paper it becomes apparent that remote sensing skills and mesoscale meteorological modelling expertise must now be considered necessary components of process hydrology.
Primary vascular neoplasms unique to the spleen: littoral cell angioma and splenic hamartoma diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration biopsy.

We report the fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy diagnosis of two rare cases of primary vascular neoplasms unique to the spleen: a littoral cell angioma from a 31-yr-old Caucasian woman and a splenic hamartoma from a 46-yr-old black man. The cytologic features of splenic hamartoma and of littoral cell angioma of the spleen were described three times in cytologic literature: two were bench-top aspirates and one was FNA biopsy thought to be metastatic carcinoma. To the best of our knowledge, the current two cases were the first diagnosed by FNA biopsy. Our approach to the FNA biopsy diagnosis of these rare vascular neoplasms via compact cell block and immunohistochemistry is described. The differential diagnosis with other primary vascular splenic neoplasms is also discussed. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2007;35:137–142. ' 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Field rheology and structural evolution of the Homestake shear zone, Colorado

Proterozoic tectonites within the Homestake shear zone (HSZ) in the northern Sawatch Range, Colorado, record two major cycles of progressive deformation under contrasting P–T conditions. Field relations and microstructures in these tectonites can be used to constrain the geometry, kinematics, and rheology of rocks in the HSZ during these events. The first deformation cycle occurred ∼1.7 Ga at temperatures near the granite solidus and produced structures indicative of pervasive viscous flow at low differential stress levels. The second deformation cycle at ∼1.4 Ga resulted in localized plastic and brittle failure concentrated in relatively narrow shear zones and seismogenic faults. This second deformation occurred at temperatures of 350–450°C and produced mylonite, ultramylonite, and pseudotachylyte. Overprinting relationships between brittle-frictional faults and plastic shear zones suggest that both modes of deformation were active at about the same time. Thus, the latter deformation cycle probably occurred near the brittle-plastic transition. Simple calculations using standard rheologic relationships show that tectonic loads of 300–400 MPa—sufficient to drive brittle failure—could have been transmitted by ductile ultramylonite zones deforming at relatively high strain rates (on the order of 10 −9 –10 −11 ). Thus, plastic shear zones and brittle-frictional faults probably acted together as a dynamically coupled deformation system.
Intersections of Local and Global Processes in African Communities: On Multivocality and Context

Taxi to Timbuktu. 1994. 50 minutes. Directed by Christopher Walker. Produced by Faction Films. First Run/Icarus Films, 153 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10014. (212) 727-1711. Available in video. Have. Problem, Madam. 1995. 59 minutes. Directed by Maarten Schmidt and Thomas Doebele. Produced by Bernard Neuhaus. First Run/Icarus Films, 153 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10014. (212) 727-1711. Available in video and 16 mm.
Collagenolysis in cultured tissue. II. Role of mast cells.

Lysis of collagen fibers in mesenteries cultured with explants of gingival tissue occurred around degranulating mast cells and their dispersed granules. The mast cell effect was not destroyed by heating the mesentery and was augmented by heparin and vitamin A. Mast cells may function in the control of tissue collagen breakdown through release of an enzyme activator.
On the low-lying states of tin

A series of CAS SCF and multi-reference CI calculations are used to describe the lowest states of TiN. The bonding in all states is described as a triple bond involving the Ti 3d orbitals. The system has some ionic character as seen from both population analysis and dipole moment. The origins of the excited states are discussed.
A review of Lebanese mammals. Carnivora, Pinnipedia, Hyracoidea and Artiodactyla

Mammals belonging to the orders Carnivora, Pinnipedia and Hyracoidea collected in the Republic of Lebanon during the past seven years in conjunction with an ectoparasite survey are reported. Keys to the species of Canidae and Mustelidae are presented. Thirteen species of verified occurrence within the political boundaries of Lebanon are discussed and five additional species, including members of the order Artiodactyla, of recent or possible occurrence are mentioned. Tables of external and cranial measurements are included.
Changes in Wall Shear Stress of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation Feeder Arteries After Embolization and Surgery

Background and Purpose—Wall shear stress (WSS) has been implicated as an important stimulus for vascular remodeling. The purpose of this study is to measure WSS in AVM arterial feeders using quantitative magnetic resonance angiography pre- and post-embolization/surgery. Methods—Records of patients who underwent AVM embolization and surgical resection at our institution between 2007 and 2013 and had WSS, flow rate, and vessel diameter obtained pre- and post-treatment using quantitative magnetic resonance angiography were retrospectively reviewed. WSS was compared between the feeder and contralateral artery pre- and post-embolization/surgery. Results—Twenty-one patients were included (mean age 34 years, 19% hemorrhagic presentation), with Spetzler–Martin grades 1 to 4. WSS, blood flow, and vessel diameter were assessed in a total of 51 feeder arteries. At baseline, mean WSS was significantly higher compared with the contralateral vessel (29.7±12.0 dynes/cm2 versus 23.3±11.0 dynes/cm2; P=0.007). After emboli...
Exaggerated interlimb neural coupling following stroke

The patterns of interlimb coupling were examined in 10 stroke survivors with chronic hand impairment. In particular, the potential roles of postural state and motor tasks in promoting the flexed posture of the upper extremity were assessed. Through the use of electromyography analysis, joint angle measurements and a novel biomechanical apparatus to perturb the digits of the hand into extension, measurements of muscle activity and joint position were compared during multiple postural states, locomotion and voluntary muscle activity. The results demonstrated a significant increase in flexion of the digits (P < 0.001) and elbow (P < 0.005), during walking as compared with standing, sitting or laying supine. These results were indicative of an overall excessive activation coupling between the upper and lower extremities after stroke. Indeed both voluntary finger flexion and voluntary leg extension produced significant activity in the other impaired extremity, leg and arm, respectively, in the stroke as compared with the control subjects. Thus, rectus femoris in the impaired leg was active during finger flexion of the impaired hand in the stroke survivors and all four tested muscles in the impaired arm were active during extension of the legs (P < 0.05). These findings suggest an interlimb coupling related to active motor tasks, contributing to an upper extremity flexion bias following stroke.
The Oral History Project: Connecting Students to Their Community, Grades 4-8

The Oral History Project describes a middle school project that began with a statewide effort to improve students’ language arts achievement scores. Pennsylvania educators proposed an integrative i...
Modified cardenolides II. Synthesis, NMR spectra, and biological activity of C-19 halides and sulfonates

The synthesis of 19-halocardenolides by halide displacement of the corresponding 19-p-toluenesulfonate esters is described. The NMR spectra of the 19-substituted compounds indicate that the rotation of the 19-group is restricted and that one of the C-19 protons is shielded by the 5,6-double bond.
Skeletal muscle amino acid metabolism in chronic uremia.

The kinetics and factors regulating amino acid release were studied in epitroch- laris preparations of control and chronically uremic rats. These data were correlated with abnormal glucose and glucose precursor kinetics of azotemic patients and the impact of hemodialysis on these precursor-product interrelationships. In chronically uremic rat skeletal muscle, a subsensitivity to catecholamines was evident. A 1000-fold greater concentration of epinephrine was required in uremic muscle to inhibit alanine release compared to control preparations. The dose-response curve for cAMP formation stimulated by epinephrine was shifted 1 log unit to the right in uremic muscle and adenylyl cyclase stimulation by epinephrine was shifted I log unit. Using simultaneous primed- injection-continuous infusions of IU-'4C)-alanine and (2-3H)glucose, rates of metabolite turnovers were calculated from the plateau portions of the specific activity curves. In 14 azotemic patients, alanine and glucose turnover rates were found to be increased 276 and 154%, respectively, over that of the control group of 17 subjects. Glucose production was found to be 3-fold greater. Hemodialysis decreased alanine turnover by 35% and glucose production by 19%. However, glucose turnover was not affected by dialysis. Although the percentage of glucose produced from alanine approached normal levels, the percent of alanine used for gluconeogenesis increased 60%. These studies demonstrate that abnormal carbohydrate metabolism in uremia is a result of multiple factors. Diminished response of adenylyl cyclase and decreased levels of cAMP contributes to, but does not entirely account for, increased amino acid release. The increased alanine synthesis in skeletal muscle supports glucose overproduction found in chronic azotemia. Hemodialysis amelio- rates but does not fully normalize glucose and alanine metabolism and may actually introduce additional abnormalities. Am. J. Clin. Nuir. 33: 1343-1353, 1980.
Ut Pictura Tragoedia : An Extrinsic Approach to British Neoclassic and Romantic Theatre

It is a commonplace among historians that British theatre during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries is best characterized on the one hand by its taste for scenic spectacle, and on the other by what Allardyce Nicoll termed ‘a general dramatic debility’. For the first time in British theatrical history, spectacle for its own sake became the principal attraction for most of the audience. Not spoken language, whether poetry or prose, but the sentient lure of elaborate scenery, pantomime, music, and mechanical effects swelled the receipts of the major and minor houses alike. The ascendancy of visual spectacle over dialogue drama of autonomous literary merit is customarily regarded as a debasement of theatre as an art form, attributed with varying degrees of emphasis to the legal shackles of the patent system and the Lord Chamberlain's censorship; to the cavernous expansion of the major houses; and to commercially expedient appeals by the managers to less cultivated tastes in the burgeoning, heterogeneous audience. This durable theory of theatrical prostration is a reductive judgement, the result of critical bias and a limited methodology that have been mind-forged manacles for historical research in theatre since its inception in the 1930s.
Model of a multiple-lens, single-fiber system in a compound eye

In earlier work, we showed that a simple apposition compound eye can form the hardware basis for a new type of inertial navigation system, that can be used on micro air vehicles. One of the key properties of a simple apposition eye is that it is a low pass, spatial filter. This property had been shown in mathematical models based on Fourier optics for a single lens and single fiber system. However, a simple apposition compound eye usually consists of thousands of lenses called ommatidia. An important question that has not been studied is the effect the presence of multiple lenses have on the angular sensitivity, or in some other words, the bandwidth of the low pass, spatial filter. In this paper, we develop a Fourier optics model for a multiple lens, single-fiber system. We obtain expressions for the intensity distribution near the focus of a single lens due to the presence of neighboring lenses and for the angular sensitivity of the system. Numerical simulations show a less than 10 percent increase in the angular sensitivity, even when five or more lenses are considered to focus light on a single rhabdom in a worker bee and an artificial eye.
A People-Based Approach to OBM: Synergy, Not "Sin"-ergy.

Abstract This rejoinder discusses some common points raised in the commentaries of this special issue of JOBM, including (1) different definitions of positive and negative, (2) use of the terms reinforcement and establishing operation, and (3) concerns over the abandonment of behavior analysis for mentalistic research. In addition, a people-based approach to psychology is introduced and advocated as a leading-edge approach to understanding and improving organizational behavior.
Unbiased Selection of Peptide-Peptoid Hybrids Specific for Lung Cancer Compared to Normal Lung Epithelial Cells.

To develop widely applicable diagnostic and potentially therapeutic approaches overcoming protein heterogeneity in human cancer, we have developed a technology to unbiasedly select high specificity compound(s) that bind any biomolecule (e.g., proteins, lipids, carbohydrates) presented on the cancer cell surface but not on normal cells. We utilized a peptidomimetic based on-bead two-color (OBTC) combinatorial cell screen that can detect differences between two cell surfaces at high accuracy by looking for beads (where each bead in the library had one peptide–peptoid hybrid on the surface) that only bound cancer but not normal cells. We screened a library of 393 216 compounds targeting HCC4017 lung adenocarcinoma cells (labeled in red) in the presence of HBEC30KT normal bronchial epithelial cells (labeled in green) derived from the same tissue of the same patient. This screen identified a peptide–peptoid hybrid called PPS1 which displayed high specific binding for HCC4017 cancer cells over HBEC30KT cells. S...
Marriages Made in the Heavens: A Practical Application of Existence

Existence results are familiar to mathematicians, who understand their theoretical significance. But others, including students, are sometimes perplexed by existence results. "What good is it to know something exists," they wonder, "when you have no idea how to find it?" The ultimate answer depends on some intrinsic appreciation of abstract mathematics-not all of mathematics can or should be justified on the basis of practical application. Still, abstract existence results sometimes have practical consequences, as this paper aims to demonstrate. Though the focus is on existence results, the demonstration itself is constructive: I will describe a problem I worked on in the aerospace industry that made thoroughly practical use of an existence result. Specifically, an existence theorem associated with the marriage problem for bipartite graphs was applied to a satellite communications network, matching orbiting satellites with ground stations. A briefer account, which omits most of the mathematical details, can be found in [2].
Electronic Structure Engineering of the Linewidth Enhancement Factor in Mid-Infrared Semiconductor Laser Active Regions

The linewidth enhancement factor is a fundamental parameter that characterizes the limit of spectral purity and the tendency for filamentation in a semiconductor laser. For either narrow-line or high-power operation, it is generally desirable that the linewidth enhancement factor be minimized. This parameter depends primarily on the shape of the differential gain spectrum of the active region material. In mid-infrared laser materials, band structure engineering has been used routinely to minimize the effects of nonradiative recombination. This same approach can be used to tailor the differential gain spectrum of these materials to minimize the linewidth enhancement factor. Favorable features of the electronic structure of the material include 1) band-edge dispersion in the conduction band which shifts the peak of the gain away from the band edgeCand 2) intersubband absorption resonances, which can be designed to lie above the peak gain in energy. Both of these strategies shift the peak of the differential gain closer to the peak gain, and thus reduce the linewidth enhancement factor. These electronic structure design strategies can be used to reduce the linewidth enhancement factor in type-II InAs/GaInSb systems to almost 1.0, which is significantly smaller than typical values of 2.5–5 in type-I strained quantum wells. We note that a linewidth enhancement factor close to 1 is much smaller even than a typical linewidth enhancement factor in visible or near-infrared semiconductor lasers. Furthermore in some materials the peak of the differential gain lies in a region of positive gain, indicating that a grating could be used to select a mode with negligible linewidth enhancement factor.
Function of Aire in central and peripheral immune tolerance

Negative selection induces central tolerance in which self-reactive T cells are deleted by medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) to prevent autoimmunity. The transcriptional factor, autoimmune regulator (Aire), controls the expression of tissue-specific antigens (TSAs) by mTECs for negative selection. The mechanisms by which Aire targets loci which encode TSAs are unknown in detail; recently, however, the ATF7ip-MBD1 complex was identified as an Aire-interacting transcriptional protein complex required for its targeting the loci. Lineage tracing of Aire(+) mTECs identified that mTECs have a post-Aire stage during the development, where they lost maturation markers but maintained intermediate TSA expression, and Aire is required for the terminal differentiation of mTEC's. Extrathymic Aire-expressing cells (eTACs) are identified in murine and human secondary lymphoid organs. eTACs express major histocompatibility complex class II(hi), CD80(lo), CD86(lo), epithelial cell adhesion molecule(hi), CD45(lo) bone marrow-derived peripheral antigen-presenting cell population, which is distinct from mTECs and dendritic cells. They can induce activation-induced cell death of self-reactive CD8(+) T cells and unresponsiveness of self-reactive CD4(+) T cells through a mechanism that does not require regulatory T cells, suggesting that peripheral Aire plays a complementary role for central tolerance.
Virginia Woolf and Leslie Stephen: History and Literary Revolution

Leslie Stephen chose his daughter Virginia Woolf as his literary heir and trained her extensively in history and biography to prepare her for a writing career. Traces of Stephen's training can be found throughout Woolf's work but especially in her literary criticism. Woolf and Stephen share the same assumptions about the nature and aims of literary criticism, assumptions that place them in the tradition of Sainte-Beuve. Further, Stephen and Woolf focus on the same set of forces to describe the birth and evolution of literary genres: both father and daughter say that shifting class structures produce a dominant historical consciousness and that this historical consciousness in turn expresses itself in an appropriate technical form. In the light of this literary historical process, both writers insist, the critic of self-conscious historical vision must be a sympathetic reader of experiments in new literary forms.
BIOCHEMICAL HETEROZYGOSITY AND MORPHOLOGIC VARIATION IN A COLONY OF PAPIO HAMADRYAS HAMADRYAS BABOONS.

This analysis examines the association between genetic heterozygosity and individual morphologic variation in a captive population of Papio hamadryas hamadryas consisting of 403 juveniles and adults. The population structure of the colony was artificially generated and maintained and is thus rigorously defined. Subpopulations delimited by age, sex, and degree of inbreeding are also explored. Heterozygosity, as enumerated from six simple Mendelian biochemical loci, is compared with the residual morphologic variation of each individual for each of 20 quantitative traits. Use of a sequential Bonferroni technique nullifies all significant correlations. Principal-components analysis reduces the morphometrics to a single or few significant axes in each population. The first axis of the total population contains 86.07% of the variation in the sample and the absolute values of the factor scores exhibit a significant positive correlation with heterozygosity at P < 0.05. Correcting for age- and sex-related variation in the total population with a linear model subsequently demonstrates that no significant correlation between heterozygosity and morphologic variation exists. No significant relationship is found in the inbred animals or subpopulations when age and sex are controlled. Previous studies have indicated that individuals proximal to the population mean for a specific polygenic trait exhibit a higher biochemical heterozygosity than individuals distant from the mean. The results presented here, which are based on more loci than many studies and a well-defined population, do not support this relationship. Substructuring of a population by age and sex can lead to spurious correlations with univariate or multivariate techniques. Comprehensive indices of genetic variation and rigorous statistical techniques should be used in future analyses. Studies that fail to recognize these design elements should be interpreted with caution.
Pre-assessment of Occupational Hazards in Automobile Overall Removal Project

Objective To identify and analyze the occupational hazards in automobile overall removal project and predict the extent of the hazards,find out the key controlling points of hazards and provide evidence for the prevention and control of occupational hazards.Methods The pre-assessment was conducted by using analogy and checklist methods.Results The main occupational hazard factors in this project included welding fumes,noise,heat,welding,benzene,manganese and its compounds,carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides.Analogy test results suggested,among 43 noise producing posts,LEX,8 h of 13 posts exceeded occupational exposure limits for noise in workplace,the posts exceeding rate were 30%.C-TWA of 3 weld working posts exceeded occupational exposure limits.In welding workshop,carbon monoxide C-STEL of 2 posts and C-TWA of 3 posts exceeded occupational exposure limits.Conclusion This project is considered with serious occupational hazards,the occupational protection measures which will be taken are basically feasible.