cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Possible burrows of mylagaulids (Rodentia: Aplodontoidea: Mylagaulidae) from the late Miocene (Barstovian) Pawnee Creek Formation of northeastern Colorado

Abstract The massive siltstone beds of the late Miocene (Barstovian) Pawnee Creek Formation in Logan County, northeastern Colorado, contain abundant terrestrial vertebrate burrows. Among these are distinctive claw-marked burrows attributable to the extinct mylagaulid rodent Pterogaulus [= Mylagaulus] laevis Korth, 2000 . These burrows differ in several respects from the spiraling Daemonelix burrows of fossorial beavers. The Pawnee Creek burrows are slightly ovate in cross-section, tubular, and sinuous rather than helical. They consist of primary tunnels of up to at least 7 m long and range from 11 to 18 cm in diameter. They occasionally branch into secondary tunnels. Burrow walls and terminations show prominent, parallel ridges in sets of two to three, up to 9.3 mm deep and 3.7 mm wide. The burrows are too large to have been made by anything but a vertebrate, and their considerable length and complexity implies a mammalian excavator. The meandering, branching morphology resembles the burrow systems of extant fossorial rodents, such as pocket gophers (Geomys) and mole rats (Spalax, Myospalax). Skeletal remains of P. laevis are abundant at sites where the burrows occur, with at least eight individuals represented by humeri in a collected sample. Although mylagaulid remains are not unequivocally associated with fossil burrows, the curved, laterally compressed claws and phalangeal arrangement of mylagaulids produce marks very similar in size and morphology to the ridges on the burrows. Position and pattern of the ridges indicate downward-and-backward motions of the mani, possibly supplemented by motions of the pedes to kick loosened soil backward. A new ichnogenus, Alezichnos, and new ichnospecies, chelecharatos, are erected to describe these burrows.
Epithelial effects on limb chondrogenesis involve extracellular matrix and cell shape

Collagen gel cultures of limb bud mesenchymal cells are normally permissive for chondrogenesis but become inhibitory for chondrogenesis when they are preconditioned by limb ectoderm. This inhibition is specific for cartilage differentiation, inasmuch as myoblast differentiation is unaffected and flattened, fibroblastic cells are more numerous on conditioned gels. The antichondrogenic effect of ectoderm-conditioned gels is not blocked by agents that elevate intracellular cyclic AMP levels and that promote chondrogenesis under other conditions. In contrast, the inhibitory effect of the ectoderm is alleviated when cultures are treated with cytochalasin D, a cytoskeleton-disrupting agent that causes the cells to remain spherical. These results suggest that ectoderm-conditioned collagen gels inhibit chondrogenesis through an effect on cell shape.
COUP transcription factor is a member of the steroid receptor superfamily.

THE COUP (chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter) transcription factor (COUP-TF) exists in a number of different tissues and is essential for expression of the chicken ovalbumin gene1-3. It binds to the ovalbumin promoter and, in conjunction with a second protein (S300-II), stimulates initiation of transcription in vitro. COUP-TF also binds specifically to the rat insulin promoter element4,5, although the two binding sites share little sequence similarity. Here we report the isolation of a human complementary DNA clone encoding COUP-TF. Comparison of the amino-acid sequence of COUP-TF with known sequences reveals that it is a member of the steriod/thyroid hormone/vitamin receptor super-family6. Consequently, it is the first member of this family that has been shown to function in a cell–free transcription system7,8. We conclude that this superfamily of gene regulators contains proteins which bind and activate distal promoter elements of eukaryotic genes.
Finite Element Formulation for Two-Dimensional Inverse Heat Conduction Analysis

This paper presents a finite element algorithm for two-dimensional nonlinear inverse heat conduction analysis. The proposed method is capable of handling both unknown surface heat flux and unknown surface temperature of solids using temperature histories measured at a few discrete points. The proposed algorithms were used in the study of the thermofracture behavior of leaking pipelines with experimental verifications.
Genetic and biological variation in equine infectious anemia virus Rev correlates with variable stages of clinical disease in an experimentally infected pony.

Abstract Genetic and biological variation in the regulatory protein Rev of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) were examined throughout a clinically dynamic disease course of an experimentally infected pony. Following infection with the virulent EIAV Wyo , the pony underwent a variable disease course, including an acute fever episode at 12 days postinfection (DPI), multiple recurrent fever episodes until 135 DPI, a prolonged subclinical period, and two late fever episodes. Viral RNA was isolated from the inoculum and sequential sera samples, and the rev exon 2/ gp45 overlapping ORFs were amplified, cloned, and sequenced. Novel variants were found throughout infection, and genetic analyses indicated that both the Rev and gp45 ORFs were under selective pressure. The Rev variant predominant in the inoculum, R1, remained predominant during the early periods following infection (until 35 DPI); however, R1 was replaced by new predominant variants during the recurrent fever period (67–135 DPI). R1 reemerged as the predominant variant during the afebrile period, but a new predominant variant, R93, was associated with the late fever episodes. Rev variants predominant during recurrent febrile and late-febrile periods had significantly higher Rev-mediated nuclear export activity than the variants predominant during the acute and afebrile periods. Statistical correlation was found between Rev activity and different stages of clinical disease. Together, these results suggest that genetic and biological variation in rev may be a contributing factor in EIAV disease progression.
Youth Pathways to Placement: The Influence of Gender, Mental Health Need and Trauma on Confinement in the Juvenile Justice System

Although the juvenile crime rate has generally declined, the involvement of girls in the juvenile justice system has been increasing. Possible explanations for this gender difference include the impact of exposure to trauma and mental health needs on developmental pathways and the resulting influence of youth's involvement in the justice system. This study examined the influence of gender, mental health needs and trauma on the risk of out-of-home placement for juvenile offenders. The sample included youth referred to three urban juvenile probation departments in Texas between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2008 and who received state-mandated mental health screening (N = 34,222; 30.1 % female). The analysis revealed that, for both genders, elevated scores on the seven factor-analytically derived subscales of a mental health screening instrument (Alcohol and Drug Use, Depressed-Anxious, Somatic Complaints, Suicidal Ideation, Thought Disturbance, and Traumatic Experiences), especially related to past traumatic experiences, influenced how deeply juveniles penetrated the system. The findings suggest that additional research is needed to determine the effectiveness of trauma interventions and the implementation of trauma informed systems for youth involved with the juvenile justice system.
Uncertainties in the prediction of flow in a long reach of the Sacramento River.

The accurate prediction of the flow field in a long reach of a complex waterway is prerequisite to the evaluation to acceptable engineering accuracy of strategies for the restoration, resource management and hazard assessment. In this study, we consider some aspects of the numerical prediction of flow in a long reach of the Sacramento River in California with view to gaining a better understanding the sources and the extent of the uncertainties that are present in the predictions. The predictions were obtained using a finite-volume method to solve the time-averaged forms of the equations governing the conservation of mass and momentum. Body-fitted coordinates were used to define the complex river bathymetry. Both depth-averaged and fully three-dimensional (3D) computations were performed. The results were compared with data obtained from a large-scale physical model of the same reach. The outcome of the comparisons served to provide the basis for the assessment of the sensitivity of the solutions to assumptions made regarding the conditions at inlet to the solution domain, the choice of turbulence model used to close the time-averaged equations and, for the depth-averaged calculations, the choice of method used for prescribing the bed friction. The influence of other parameters such as the density of the computational grid, the method used to define the channel bathymetry, and the unsteadiness of the mean flow that results from vortex shedding from a bridge pier and abutments were also assessed. The results obtained form a useful addition to the growing literature on the computational modelling of flows in natural waterways.
Influence of Dietary Ingredients on Calcium Utilization in the Laying Hen

Abstract Experiments were conducted to evaluate the benefit of calcium supplementation with or without other dietary ingredients on egg shell quality. A total of 250 Hyline hens, 44 weeks of age, were randomly divided among five treatments (Experiment 1). The dietary treatments were as follows: Treatment 1, controls (C) were fed a 3.5% calcium diet ad libitum; Treatment 2, hens were fed a .08% calcium diet (LC); Treatment 3, hens were intubated with limestone following 24-hr consumption of .08% calcium diet (LCI); Treatment 4, feed removed for 24 hr (NF); Treatment 5, feed removed for 24 hr and hens then intubated with limestone (NFI). All diets were restored to the control calcium level after 48 hr. Experiment 2 was identical to Experiment 1 except Dekalb XL hens, 50 weeks of age, were used. Eggs were collected daily for 5 days for egg specific gravity, egg weight, and shell weight determinations. Forty hens were sacrificed in Experiment 2 at 48 hr into the experiment to measure calcium distribution in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and feces. Results indicated that hens fed the LCI treatment produced eggs with significantly higher specific gravity and heavier shells than hens given limestone with an empty GI tract. The calcium analysis of the GI tract revealed that much of the calcium supplement did not move beyond the gizzard in hens fed the NFI treatment. It was concluded that hens not only needed other nutrients for maximum utilization of dietary and skeletal calcium, but other nutrients or dry matter may also be needed to facilitate the passage of calcium from the gizzard.
A New Type of Learning Disorder

A description of Prader-Willi syndrome and some of its manifestations which can be associated with learning disabilities
Analysis of a nontumorigenic embryonal carcinoma cell line

Abstract Embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells have proven to be of particular value in studies of both oncogenesis and mammalian development as well as in evaluating the relationship between these two phenomena. We have infected EC cells with a retrovirus in an effort to obtain by insertional mutagenesis cell lines defective in either differentiative or oncogenic potentials. One such cell line, identified originally by its unique morphological phenotype, is abnormal with respect to both parameters. These cells do not differentiate along typical EC cell lineages, possibly having lost their ability to elaborate endodermal derivatives. They do, however, retain certain cell surface markers characteristic of EC cells and lose these markers after exposure to retinoic acid. Most significantly, they also fail to form tumors in vivo in syngeneic mice, although they grow as well as the parental cells in vitro. Southern blot analysis indicates that this variant cell line has a single viral insert and the original cell was probably hemizygous for the insertion site, suggesting that a single gene may regulate both the tumorigenic and differentiative capacities of the Cell.
The Imperial Present: Liberalism has Always been Conservative

What has made it impossible for us to live in time like fish in water, like birds in the air, like children? It is the fault of Empire! Empire has created the time of history. Empire has located it...
The role of 5′-adenylylsulfate reductase in the sulfur assimilation pathway of soybean: Molecular cloning, kinetic characterization, and gene expression

Soybean seeds are a major source of protein, but contain low levels of sulfur-containing amino acids. With the objective of studying the sulfur assimilation pathway of soybean, a full-length cDNA clone for 5'-adenylylsulfate reductase (APS reductase) was isolated and characterized. The cDNA clone contained an open reading frame of 1414 bp encoding a 52 kDa protein with a N-terminal chloroplast/plastid transit peptide. Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA indicated that the APS reductase in soybean is encoded by a small multigene family. Biochemical characterization of the heterologously expressed and purified protein shows that the clone encoded a functional APS reductase. Although expressed in tissues throughout the plant, these analyses established an abundant expression of the gene and activity of the encoded protein in the early developmental stages of soybean seed, which declined with seed maturity. Sulfur and phosphorus deprivation increased this expression level, while nitrogen starvation repressed APS reductase mRNA transcript and protein levels. Cold-treatment increased expression and the total activity of APS reductase in root tissues. This study provides insight into the sulfur assimilation pathway of this nutritionally important legume.
Color classification using margin-setting with ellipsoids

This paper presents a robust and computationally efficient genetic algorithm for color classification. It designs well-fitted color space prolate spheroids (ellipsoids) that envelop the training pixels. The ellipsoids are then used to classify unlabeled image pixels in accordance with their color, in order to partition the image. The color classification algorithm described here has very low error rates, boasts very high operational speed, and permits trading higher indecision rates for lower rates of misclassification. The performance of the color classifier developed in this paper is compared with those of the support vector machine (SVM) and the nearest-neighbor (kNN) classifiers. It has been shown that our color classifier outperforms SVM and kNN for partitioning of color images that contain several closely spaced color classes. It has higher correct classification, lower misclassification, and significantly reduced operational latency in comparison with color classifiers based on kNN and SVM.
Untangling the Web of Relationships Between Wealth, Culture, and Global Software Piracy Rates: A Path Model

This article examines the relationship between Hofstede's national culture indices IDV, PSI, MAS, and UAI, economic wealth GNI, and national software piracy rates SPR. Although a number of studies have already examined this relationship, the contribution of this article is two-fold. First, we develop a path model that highlights not only the key factors that promote software piracy, but also the inter-relationships between these factors. Second, most studies have used the dataset from the pre-2003 methodology which only accounted for business software and did not take into account local market conditions. Using the latest dataset and a large sample of countries n=61 we find there is an important triadic relationship between PDI, IDV, and GNI that explains over 80% of the variance in software piracy rates. Implications for combating software piracy are discussed.
Characteristics of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are at increased risk of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), but features of SLE associated with NHL are not well described. The objective of this study was to describe SLE characteristics, laboratory serologies, and medication histories in patients who subsequently develop NHL. Two thousand twenty patients with SLE were identified using the online Partners' patient database research tool between October 1992 and June 2005. We confirmed the diagnoses of SLE and NHL and sought details of medical history and treatment by medical record review. Eleven patients with NHL without coexisting rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's, or HIV were identified; seven of these (64%) had a diffuse large B cell lymphoma subtype, and 83% of those stained were Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) negative. The mean duration of SLE at NHL diagnosis was 17.8 years (range 1.6-41.8), and the mean Systemic Lupus International Collaborative Clinics/American College of Rheumatology damage index was 1.9. Seven patients (64%) had SLE hematologic involvement, four had anti-dsDNA antibodies, and four had anti-phospholipid antibodies. One patient had significant renal disease. All patients had arthritis and had received antimalarial therapy. Five of 11 patients had received other treatments for SLE, including cyclophosphamide, imuran, methotrexate, and/or sulfasalazine. Diffuse large B cell lymphoma was the most common subtype of NHL, and most were EBV negative. Although disease duration was fairly long and end organ damage moderately severe in this group of patients, renal disease and the use of immunosuppressive chemotherapeutic agents were rare and did not appear to confer an increased risk of NHL development.
On the linearized stability of viscous shock profiles for systems of conservation laws

Abstract This paper is concerned with the linearized stability of traveling wave solutions for systems of viscous hyperbolic conservation laws. The main purpose is to show that for a given traveling wave with shock profile from any characteristic family, there exists an appropriate weighted norm space such that the traveling wave is exponentially stable in this space. As a consequence, if the initial disturbance has average zero and decays exponentially fast as ¦x¦ → ∞ , then the corresponding solution of the linearized equation decays to zero exponentially fast in t on any compact interval in x . The proof is given by applying an elementary weighted characteristic energy method to the integrated linearized system, based on the underlying wave structure.
Design of forging process variables under uncertainties

Forging is a complex nonlinear process that is vulnerable to various manufacturing anomalies, such as variations in billet geometry, billet/die temperatures, material properties, and workpiece and forging equipment positional errors. A combination of these uncertainties could induce heavy manufacturing losses through premature die failure, final part geometric distortion, and reduced productivity. Identifying, quantifying, and controlling the uncertainties will reduce variability risk in a manufacturing environment, which will minimize the overall production cost. In this article, various uncertainties that affect the forging process are identified, and their cumulative effect on the forging tool life is evaluated. Because the forging process simulation is time-consuming, a response surface model is used to reduce computation time by establishing a relationship between the process performance and the critical process variables. A robust design methodology is developed by incorporating reliability-based optimization techniques to obtain sound forging components. A case study of an automotive-component forging-process design is presented to demonstrate the applicability of the method.
Empowering patients who have specific learning disabilities.

In 1992, the United States enacted the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which required public schools that receive federal dollars to provide free and appropriate public education for all minors, regardless of any form of disability or infirmity.1 One of the hallmarks of the IDEA was the introduction of the Individual Education Program (IEP), which is a legally binding contract between minors, their parents or guardians, and a school. Individual Education Programs outline the ways a child will need to be accommodated to be able to successfully participate in classroom activities and curriculum. The programs �must be designed for one student and must be a truly individualized document.�2
An Introduction to the Article “Reminiscences about Difference Schemes” by S. K. Godunov

Some footnotes are given to the keynote address given by the Russian mathematician S. K. Godunov at a symposium in his honor, held in May 1997 at the University of Michigan.
Public Health Framing of News Regarding Childhood Obesity in the United States

Five U.S. newspapers were searched for stories regarding childhood obesity. Of the 201 stories appearing in 1996, 2001, or 2006, 97 incorporated a public health frame (i.e., connects problem to the larger social and environmental context; exposes risk factors; includes information regarding preventatives and correctives). Significant risk factors were identified as unhealthy eating practices, lack of physical activity, and ads for junk food directed at children. Prevalent categories of preventatives and correctives focused on changes in diet, particularly in the home or in areas controlled by parents. Offered less frequently were suggestions regarding increases in physical activity. Consistent with previous research, the majority of both preventatives and correctives focused on individual-level as opposed to societal-level factors. Implications of these findings for the framing of news regarding childhood obesity are discussed.
A generalized EM algorithm for 3-D Bayesian reconstruction from Poisson data using Gibbs priors

A generalized expectation-maximization (GEM) algorithm is developed for Bayesian reconstruction, based on locally correlated Markov random-field priors in the form of Gibbs functions and on the Poisson data model. For the M-step of the algorithm, a form of coordinate gradient ascent is derived. The algorithm reduces to the EM maximum-likelihood algorithm as the Markov random-field prior tends towards a uniform distribution. Three different Gibbs function priors are examined. Reconstructions of 3-D images obtained from the Poisson model of single-photon-emission computed tomography are presented. >
Spectrophotometric determination of palladium with 2-pyridinealdoxime

Abstract Palladium has been determined by extraction of the bis-(2-pyridinealdoximato)palladium(II) chelate into chloroform with subsequent spectrophotometric measurement of the chelate at 404 mμ. The chelate is extractable over a wide pH range, and the number of metal ion interferences is small. The method allows accurate determination of a few μg of palladium.
Pathologically determined tumor volume vs pathologic T stage in the prediction of outcome after surgical treatment of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Importance Traditional prognostic models for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck are based on the TNM staging system. However, there is growing evidence that tumor volume (TV) may be a more accurate predictor of outcome. Objective To determine whether pathologic TV (pTV) in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma treated surgically is a more significant predictor of outcome compared with pathologic tumor (pT) stage. Design, Setting, and Participants Review of patients whose treatment was managed between January 1, 1985, and December 2005 at a US tertiary referral cancer center. The participants included 159 patients who had undergone primary surgery for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and had 3 dimensions reported on histopathologic testing. Main Outcomes and Measures The pTV was calculated as the product of the 3 dimensions expressed in cubic centimeters. For comparison of pT stage with pTV in outcome prediction, concordance indexes were generated using the bootstrap method (n = 1000) to quantify the predictive accuracy of recurrence and survival outcomes. Concordance indexes were then compared and a significant difference was considered when P Results The median age of the patients was 59 years (range, 22-84 years) and 106 were male (67%). Sites of the tumors were base of the tongue (86 patients [54%]), tonsil (48 [30%]), soft palate (24 [15%]), and posterior pharyngeal wall (1 [1%]). The median follow-up time was 64 months (range, 1-272 months). The median tumor volume was 6.8 cm 3 (range, 0.1-162.5 cm 3 ). Pathologic TV was a significant predictor of disease-specific mortality. Unlike pT stage, pTV was a significant predictor of local recurrence, regional recurrence, and distant recurrence. Comparison of concordance indexes showed that pTV was a significantly better predictor of disease-specific mortality, local recurrence, and distant recurrence (all P Conclusions and Relevance Pathologic TV outperforms pT stage in the prediction of outcome following surgical treatment of oropharyngeal cancer. Tumor volume should be considered in the design of prospective surgical trials.
Cultured striatal neurons containing NADPH-diaphorase or acetylcholinesterase are selectively resistant to injury by NMDA receptor agonists.

Abstract Cultured striatal neurons containing either NADPH-diaphorase or acetylcholinesterase were more resistant to injury by N- methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) or quinolinate, than the general striatal neuronal population, although this resistance was not absolute and could be overcome by intense toxic exposure. Neurons containing NADPH-diaphorase, but not neurons containing acetylcholinesterase, also exhibited heightened vulnerability to injury by kainate. Given recent evidence that diaphorase- and cholinesterase-containing striatal neurons are selectively spared in Huntington's disease, our results strengthen the possibility that NMDA receptor-mediated neurotoxicity may participate in the pathogenesis of that disease.
Design of half-million bit wire memory

A high volumetric density wire memory stack of 12 000 bits/in3was designed. The high bit density was obtained by the introduction of a novel and continuous digit line printed circuit which is also used to separate and support the plated wires. The printed circuit is also used for interconnecting the planes of the memory stack. Analysis of digit current and signal coupling is given. The advantages of the proposed memory stack configuration are apparent. These include low digit current and digit signal coupling along with good word and digit noise cancellations and high bit density.
A glycoprotein fraction with modulator effect on noradrenergic processes

Summary The in vivo effects of a glycoprotein fraction isolated by Lee (1974) on intracerebral impulse transmission have been studied. The results suggest that this substance fulfills the minimum necessary requirements of a “modulator” of noradrenergic processes and may serve as one of the possible postsynaptic substrates for circulating hormone actions.
A Performance Evaluation of the Software-Implemented Fault-Tolerance Computer

The results of a performance evaluation of the Software-Implemented Fault-Tolerance (SIFT) computer system conducted in the NASA Avionics Integration Research Laboratory are presented. The essential system functions are described and compared to both earlier design proposals and subsequent design improvements. Using SIFT's specimen task load, the executive tasks, such as reconfiguration, clock synchronization, and interactive consistency, are found to consume significant computing resources. Together with other system overhead (e.g., voting and scheduling), the operating system overhead is in excess of 60%. The authors propose specific design changes that reduce this overhead burden significantly.
The passage of serum albumin into bile in man

M ANY CONSTITUZNTS Of b i le have been s t u d i e d in a comprehens ive m a n n e r , b u t the p r o t e i n componen t s have not . T h e e v o l u t i o n of physicochemical technics, wh ich make the s tudy of p r o t e i n in low conc e n t r a t i o n more conven ien t , has s t imu la t ed inves t iga t ions in to the n a t u r e of b i le prote ins . Paper a n d i m m u n o e l e c t r o p h o r e s i s have d e m o n s t r a t e d m a c r o m o l e c u l a r c o m p o n e n t s in b i l e ] -5 some of wh ich are i m m u n o log ica l ly i d e n t i c a l w i th se rum prote ins , a~, ,5 as wel l as o t h e r p ro t e in s wh ich a p p e a r to be de r ived f rom the b i l i a ry t rac t itself.< "~ S e r u m a l b u m i n has been ident i f ied in bi le , ~-a, s b u t there is, to the best of ou r knowledge , i n c o m p l e t e i n f o r m a t i o n on its m o d e of en t ry and, m o r e specifically, on w h e t h e r bi le a l b u m i n is de r ived f rom the p l a s m a a l b u m i n pool or f rom h e p a t i c p a r e n c h y m a l cells. T h e p resen t invest igat ion was u n d e r t a k e n to d e t e r m i n e the source of a l b u m i n in bile. Rad io i o d i n a t e d se rum a l b u m i n was in jec ted I.V. in pa t i en t s w i th T t u b e d ra in age of the c o m m o n b i le duct . T h e a l b u m i n t u r n o v e r ra te was determ ined , the presence o[ a l b u m i n in b i le e s t ab l i shed by var ious m e t h o d s of iden t i f ica t ion , the a l b u m i n concen t r a t i on in b i le q u a n t i t a t e d , a n d the specific ac t iv i ty of r a d i o a l b u m i n in se rum and b i le compared .
Arrow's theorem with restricted coalition algebras☆

Abstract Arrow's Theorem is shown to be valid for measurable spaces of economic agents even with only a Boolean algebra of measurable coalitions. Purely competitive social welfare functions which ignore negligible coalitions may be handled by passing to a Boolean quotient algebra with the ideal of negligible coalitions. Invisible dictators are ‘agents’ in the Stone space of the quotient algebra, in which context social welfare functions induce continuous preference profiles.
Gene Therapy for Psychiatric Disorders

Gene therapy has become of increasing interest in clinical neurosurgery with the completion of numerous clinical trials for Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease, and pediatric genetic disorders. With improved understanding of the dysfunctional circuitry mediating various psychiatric disorders, deep brain stimulation for refractory psychiatric diseases is being increasingly explored in human patients. These factors are likely to facilitate development of gene therapy for psychiatric diseases. Because delivery of gene therapy agents would require the same surgical techniques currently being employed for deep brain stimulation, neurosurgeons are likely to lead the development of this field, as has occurred in other areas of clinical gene therapy for neurologic disorders. We review the current state of gene therapy for psychiatric disorders and focus specifically on particular areas of promising research that may translate into human trials for depression, drug addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and schizophrenia. Issues that are relatively unique to psychiatric gene therapy are also discussed.
Change in surface area and dissolution rates during hornblende dissolution at pH 4.0

Abstract Four particle-size fractions (0.045–0.075, 0.075–0.11, 0.11–0.25, and 0.50–1.00 mm sieve sizes) were used to study the relationships of bulk dissolution rates (mol g−1s−1) to particle size and measured specific surface area. All reactions were performed on sonically cleaned samples in pH 4.0, 0.01 M HOAc-LiOAc buffer at 298 K. To minimize the effects of grinding, dissolution rates were not determined until 30 days of weathering had occurred; subsequent bulk dissolution rates were still nonlinear with time and the reaction was incongruent. Bulk reaction rates were higher for the smaller particle size fractions. The rates of release of Al, Fe, and Mg were first order with respect to surface area, but the order of release for Si was 0.39. These results suggest that the direct relationship between the quantity of exposed crystalline defects and dissolution rates suggested by previous investigators does not hold true for hornblende. The surface area of hornblende grains increased 99% on average during the first 30 days of weathering, and an additional 12% during the next 29 days of weathering. Scanning electron micrographs and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms (77 K) indicated that the formation of etch pits and hollow dissolution cores contributed to the increased surface area. High resolution TEM observations of surface materials removed by ultrasonic treatment and N2 adsorption hysteresis data suggest weathering along cleavage planes with the formation of 0.5–13 nm pores. Most of the increased adsorption of N2 in the surface area determinations, however, was due to the formation of larger etch features.
Analysis of T1c Prostate Cancers Treated at Very Low Prostate-Specific Antigen Levels

Abstract Background The Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT) has challenged the validity of recommended prostate-specific antigen (PSA) thresholds for prostate biopsy (>2.5ng/ml) given the 17% prostate cancer (pCA) detection rate at PSA of 1.1–2.0. The outcome of patients treated at PSA ≤2.5 is poorly defined, and advantages associated with such an early diagnosis are uncertain. Objective Compare the outcome of patients with T1c pCA with pretreatment PSA ≤2.5 and 2.6–4.0. Design, setting, and participants Since 1998, 351 patients with clinical stage T1c and PSA ≤4.0 have been treated at our institution; 84 (24%) of those patients had PSA ≤2.5. Clinical information was obtained from a prospective database. Treatment was radical prostatectomy (RP), brachytherapy, and external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in 261 (74%), 67 (19%), and 23 (7%) patients, respectively. Intervention Definitive therapy for clinically localized pCA. Measurements Progression-free probability and pathologic end points. Results and limitations No significant differences between the groups were observed in terms of biopsy (18% vs 22%) or specimen Gleason score 7–8 (44% vs 56%), non–organ-confined cancer (11% vs 13%), indolent cancer (34% vs 24%), or 5-yr progression-free probability (89% vs 93%; p > 0.1 for all). More biologically unimportant cancers (defined as pathologically organ-confined and Gleason ≤6) were identified among patients with PSA ≤2.5 (55% vs 41%, p =0.050), and indolent cancers were three times more frequent than non–organ-confined cancers among these patients ( p = 0.003). Conclusions The pathologic features and outcome of patients treated at low PSA levels are favorable and similar for patients with PSA ≤2.5 versus 2.6–4.0. However, >50% of the former have potentially biologically unimportant cancer. We failed to identify a therapeutic benefit to the diagnosis of cancers below accepted PSA thresholds for biopsy.
Genetics and Gene Expression Involving Stress and Distress Pathways in Fibromyalgia with and without Comorbid Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

In complex multisymptom disorders like fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) that are defined primarily by subjective symptoms, genetic and gene expression profiles can provide very useful objective information. This paper summarizes research on genes that may be linked to increased susceptibility in developing and maintaining these disorders, and research on resting and stressor-evoked changes in leukocyte gene expression, highlighting physiological pathways linked to stress and distress. These include the adrenergic nervous system, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and serotonergic pathways, and exercise responsive metabolite-detecting ion channels. The findings to date provide some support for both inherited susceptibility and/or physiological dysregulation in all three systems, particularly for catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) genes, the glucocorticoid and the related mineralocorticoid receptors (NR3C1, NR3C2), and the purinergic 2X4 (P2X4) ion channel involved as a sensory receptor for muscle pain and fatigue and also in upregulation of spinal microglia in chronic pain models. Methodological concerns for future research, including potential influences of comorbid clinical depression and antidepressants and other medications, on gene expression are also addressed.
A proof of convergence for two parallel Jacobi SVD algorithms

The authors consider two parallel Jacobi algorithms, due to R.P. Brent et al. (J. VLSI Comput. Syst., vol.1, p.242-70, 1985) and F.T. Luk (1986 J. Lin. Alg. Applic., vol.77, p.259-73), for computing the singular value decomposition of an n*n matrix. By relating the algorithms to the cyclic-by-rows Jacobi method, they prove convergence of the former for odd n and of the latter for any n. The authors also give a nonconvergence example for the former method for all even n>or=4. >
Metamorphic pressure estimates and sediment volumes for the Alpine orogeny: an independent control on geobarometers?

Theories which regard the deep erosion (20–30 km) of orogenic belts as an important factor in the thermal development of the continents rely on pressure estimates from metamorphic geobarometers to give an estimate of the depth scale for this process. The imprecision of geobarometers, and the apparent lack of sediments that would result from this amount of erosion, are frequently-made arguments for much smaller erosion depths. The Alps are a well-studied young mountain belt and afford the opportunity to compare overburden masses inferred from geobarometry with sediment masses in the surrounding sedimentary basins. This comparison suggests that metamorphic geobarometry has not significantly overestimated burial depths, and that the average erosion to date has been over 15 km, with a maximum of 25 km or more; it is probable that the total erosion in the belt will eventually average 20–25 km, with a maximum of around 40 km. A significant feature of the sediment distribution is that over 50% of the volume is outside the neighbouring along-strike sedimentary basins. This fact, which accounts for previous low estimates of Alpine sediment volumes, follows from the response of the lithosphere to loading by continental thickening and may be a common feature of post-orogenic sedimentation.
Perivascular Spaces in Pediatric Brain MRI: Frequency, Variation, Clinical Significance. † 1757

Perivascular Spaces in Pediatric Brain MRI: Frequency, Variation, Clinical Significance. † 1757
The New and Old Work Ethic Examined

ABSTRACTMotivation for working diligently is currently viewed in terms of being a means to an end, the end being to satisfy a hierarchy of psychological needs. While this theory instructively captures the influence of self-interest, important limitations or omissions of the perspective become evident when compared to a predecessor, the Puritan work ethic. A professional must value work's benefit to others and be ethical in society. The engineering profession deals with the consequence of work over the long term rather than for short-term self-gratification. Work must have value and significance as well as a purpose in order to bring out our best efforts.
Stocking density effects on growth performance and processing yields of heavy broilers

This study examined responses of male broilers during a 49-d production cycle to 4 placement densities in 2 trials. Trials were pooled because no treatment x trial interaction occurred. In each trial, 1,488 male chicks were randomly placed into 32 floor pens to simulate final densities of 30 (37 chicks/pen), 35 (43 chicks/ pen), 40 (50 chicks/pen), and 45 (56 chicks/pen) kg of BW/m2 of floor space based on a projected final BW of 3.29 kg. Growth rate and nutrient utilization were similar (P > or = 0.05) among the treatments from 1 to 32 d of age. From 1 to 49 d, BW gain (P = 0.011) and feed consumption (P = 0.029) were adversely affected by increasing the placement density from 30 to 45 kg of BW/m2 of floor space. The reduction in cumulative BW gain due to placement density can be partially explained by less feed consumption as evidenced by 95.4% of the sums of squares of BW gain being attributable to feed consumption. Litter moisture content (P = 0.025) and foot pad lesion score (P = 0.001) increased linearly with increasing placement density. Upon processing, whole carcass and breast meat yields relative to BW were not affected (P > or = 0.05) as density increased from 30 to 45 kg/m2. The proportion of whole carcasses with scratches, but not tears, on the back and thighs increased (P = 0.021) as density increased. These results indicate that increasing the density beyond 30 kg/m2 elicited some negative effects on live performance of heavy broilers.
Habituation as a determinant of human food intake

Research has shown that animals and humans habituate on a variety of behavioral and physiological responses to repeated presentations of food cues, and habituation is related to amount of food consumed and cessation of eating. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of experimental paradigms used to study habituation, integrate a theoretical approach to habituation to food based on memory and associative conditioning models, and review research on factors that influence habituation. Individual differences in habituation as they relate to obesity and eating disorders are reviewed, along with research on how individual differences in memory can influence habituation. Other associative conditioning approaches to ingestive behavior are reviewed, as well as how habituation provides novel approaches to preventing or treating obesity. Finally, new directions for habituation research are presented. Habituation provides a novel theoretical framework from which to understand factors that regulate ingestive behavior.
Transcription and diversity of immunoglobulin lambda chain variable genes in the rat.

In order to determine the extent of the repertoire of the immunoglobulin light chain V-region locus (Igl-V) in the laboratory rat (Rattus norvegicus), we constructed a specifically primed cDNA library from lipopolysaccharide-stimulated DA strain rat spleens. The library was screened with a rat Igl-C2-specific probe, and 33 clones containing identifiable V regions were sequenced, of which 19 sequences are presented here. In addition to one sequence (Igl-V1) which was already known, and is closely related to the two known mouse Vλ gene segments, clones encoding representatives of three new, distantly related, rat Igl-V subfamilies were found, namely Igl-V2, Igl-V3, and Igl-V4. At least two of these subfamilies. Igl-V2 and Igl-V3, contain multiple members as well as restriction fragment length polymorphism variants, indicating the presence of at least 10–15 Igl-V gene segments (including some pseudogenes) in the rat genome. An additional ten clones contained no rearranged V region, although they showed a correct J-C splice, suggesting the presence of cryptic transcriptional promoters between Jλ and the 3”-most Igl-V gene segment. Phylogenetic tree reconstruction based on amino acid sequence alignments showed at least three of the four rat Igl-V sequences clustering with distinct human Igl-V genes. Thus, although rats express λ-bearing Ig at levels no higher than mice, the rat Igl-V locus is considerably more complex than that of laboratory mice, and its diversity reflects the products of gene duplications which predate the time of primate/rodent divergence.
Nuclear magnetic resonance study of muscle water protons in muscular dystrophy of chickens.

Using the pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, the spin-lattice (T1) and the spin-spin (T2) relaxations times of water protons from samples of pectoralis major muscles of normal (line 412) and homozygous dystrophic (line 413) chickens were measured. Both the T1 and T2 were significantly increased (P less than 0.05) in the dystrophic muscles. The mean values of the relaxation times are given +/- S.D. The T1 values were 654 +/- 22 msec in normal and 692 +/- 41 msec in dystrophic muscles. The T2 values for normal and dystrophic muscles were 39 +/- 4 msec and 52 +/- 7 msec, respectively. Although the water content of dystrophic muscles (78.9 +/- 0.6%) determined by gravimetric methods was significantly higher than normal muscles (74.9 +/- 1.1%), this difference in tissue hydration could not explain quantitatively the increase of T1 and T2 values in the dystrophic muscles. The results of the measurements of the relaxation times seem to suggest that there are changes in the composition and/or conformational state of the proteins.
Client Perceptions Of Prison-Based Therapeutic Community Drug Treatment Programs

This study is part of an ongoing effort to evaluate the growing number of prison-based substance abuse treatment programs from the perspective of the clients. The study tested whether 1,059 partici...
Rethinking the evolutionary theory of aging: Transfers, not births, shape senescence in social species

The classic evolutionary theory of aging explains why mortality rises with age: as individuals grow older, less lifetime fertility remains, so continued survival contributes less to reproductive fitness. However, successful reproduction often involves intergenerational transfers as well as fertility. In the formal theory offered here, age-specific selective pressure on mortality depends on a weighted average of remaining fertility (the classic effect) and remaining intergenerational transfers to be made to others. For species at the optimal quantity–investment tradeoff for offspring, only the transfer effect shapes mortality, explaining postreproductive survival and why juvenile mortality declines with age. It also explains the evolution of lower fertility, longer life, and increased investments in offspring.
Social capital in an outdoor recreation context.

This study examined social capital development in three all-terrain vehicles (ATV) clubs in Maine using an adapted version of Lin’s (2001) social capital theory model. The structural components of social capital identified included collective assets and individual assets in the form of normative behavior and trust relationships. Also identified were counter-norms for individual ATV riders identified as having divergent norms from club members. The second component of social capital is access to and mobilization of network contacts and resources. Access networks in the context of the ATV clubs studied were identified as community and landowner relations while mobilization of resources was existent in club membership attempts toward self-governance and efforts of the statewide “umbrella” organization. Instrumental outcomes benefit society and expressive outcomes benefit the individual. Both types of returns are present in the data suggesting that ATV clubs are creating social capital. This is important information to clubs who desire to market themselves, improve their reputations, and enhance their volunteer association. It is of further interest to state governments who fund clubs through trail grants as proof that a return on investment is being realized. Theoretical and applied implications for these and other types of recreation-based volunteer associations (e.g., clubs, friends groups, advocacy groups) are presented.