cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Regenerating Adult Zebrafish Retina Recapitulates Developmental Fate Specification Programs

Adult zebrafish possess the remarkable capacity to regenerate neurons. In the damaged zebrafish retina, Muller glia reprogram and divide to produce neuronal progenitor cells (NPCs) that proliferate and differentiate into both lost neuronal cell types and those unaffected by the damage stimulus, which suggests that developmental specification/differentiation programs might be recapitulated during regeneration. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed that developmental competence factors are expressed following photoreceptor damage induced by intense light or in a genetic rod photoreceptor cell ablation model. In both light- and N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA)-damaged adult zebrafish retinas, NPCs, but not proliferating Muller glia, expressed fluorescent reporters controlled by promoters of ganglion (atoh7), amacrine (ptf1a), bipolar (vsx1), or red cone photoreceptor cell competence factors (thrb) in a temporal expression sequence. In both damage paradigms, atoh7:GFP was expressed first, followed by ptf1a:EGFP and lastly, vsx1:GFP, whereas thrb:Tomato was observed in NPCs at the same time as ptf1a:GFP following light damage but shifted alongside vsx1:GFP in the NMDA-damaged retina. Moreover, HuC/D, indicative of ganglion and amacrine cell differentiation, colocalized with atoh7:GFP prior to ptf1a:GFP expression in the ganglion cell layer, which was followed by Zpr-1 expression (red/green cone photoreceptors) in thrb:Tomato-positive cells in the outer nuclear layer in both damage paradigms, mimicking the developmental differentiation sequence. However, comparing NMDA- to light-damaged retinas, the fraction of PCNA-positive cells expressing atoh7:GFP increased, that of thrb:Tomato and vsx1:GFP decreased, and that of ptf1a:GFP remained similar. To summarize, developmental cell specification programs were recapitulated during retinal regeneration, which adapted to account for the cell type lost.
Severity of dysphagia is associated with hospitalizations and mortality in patients with Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND Aspiration pneumonia is the commonest cause of hospitalizations and death in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Among these patients, the relationships between severity of dysphagia, hospitalizations for related complications, and death are not robustly defined. Our aim was to characterize the relationship between PD-related oropharyngeal dysfunction and clinically relevant outcomes. METHODS Retrospective cohort study of 312 patients with PD at a tertiary center who underwent videofluoroscopic swallow studies conducted by expert therapists between 2010 and 2015. Level of swallowing function was represented using the 7-point Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) (7 = normal function). Significance and relative risk calculations utilized Poisson regression. Time to composite outcome of first hospitalization or death was summarized using Kaplan-Meier curve with log-rank test. KEY RESULTS One hundred thirty eight patients had a recorded FOIS score. The prevalence of oropharyngeal dysfunction was 76.1%. The median duration of follow-up was 26.8 months. In multivariate analyses, patients with FOIS 5 (RR = 2.01 [95% CI: 1.22, 3.32]), FOIS 3 (RR = 2.78 [95% CI: 1.75, 4.40]), and FOIS 1 (RR = 2.50 [95% CI: 1.49, 4.20]) were significantly associated with increased risk of hospitalization or death compared to FOIS 7 after co-variate adjustments. GERD was also associated with a significant increased risk of hospitalization or death (RR = 1.28 [95% CI: 1.01, 1.64]). Time to first hospitalization or death was shorter in patients with lower FOIS scores (p < 0.00005). CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES Severity of oropharyngeal dysphagia, as measured by the FOIS, is associated with poorer survival and shorter time to hospitalization for dysphagia-related complications, pneumonia, or death in PD.
Management of advanced prolapse including a bowel obstruction: expanding the role of transvaginal surgery.

Introduction and hypothesis We reviewed a case of concomitant advanced pelvic organ prolapse and partial small bowel obstruction managed via transvaginal small bowel resection and native tissue prolapse repair. Methods The patient is an 82-year-old woman with a history of a radical cystectomy and ileal conduit 2 years prior for bladder cancer that was transferred from an outside hospital for incarcerated prolapse including a small bowel obstruction with transition point inside the prolapse. She had previously unsuccessfully tried several pessaries for her prolapse. She was widowed and not sexually active. After conservative management of her bowel obstruction was unsuccessful, she was taken to the operating room for transvaginal prolapse repair. Intraoperatively, we encountered an isolated area of indurated bowel adherent to the prolapse. Colorectal surgery performed a transvaginal small bowel resection with stapled anastomosis, and a modified LeFort colpocleisis was performed to address her prolapse. Her postoperative course was uncomplicated, and at 6 months, she reported normal bowel function and had no evidence of prolapse recurrence. Conclusion We present a case of incidental bowel pathology during vaginal prolapse surgery, requiring a small bowel resection. This case demonstrates the feasibility of this procedure when working with a multi-disciplinary team and localized bowel pathology.
The formation, degradation, and function of cyclic nucleotides in the nervous system.

Publisher Summary This chapter outlines the formation, degradation, and function of cyclic nucleotides in the nervous system. There is a description of the properties of adenylate cyclases, guanylate cyclases, phosphodiesterases, cyclic nucleotide-dependent kinases, and phosphatases as delineated with cell-free preparations and as studied in intact cells of brain slices, ganglia, and cultured brain cells. The chapter presents the possible relationships of cyclic nucleotides to the control of biochemistry and neurophysiology in the intact nervous system (CNS). The possible relationships of cyclic nucleotides to the pharmacology of centrally active drugs to behavior and mental dysfunctions are discussed. Biochemical studies have provided evidence that cyclic AMP systems are associated in brain and ganglia with postsynaptic sites on neurons. Neurophysiological studies indicate that such cyclic AMP systems are involved in inhibitory neurotransmission for noradrenergic, dopaminergic, serotoninergic, and histaminergic pathways. Adenosine appears to serve as an inhibitory neuromodulator, probably via interaction with the postsynaptic cyclic AMP-generating systems. Behavioral studies suggest that cyclic AMP mechanisms may be involved in regulation of certain complex behaviors. Biochemical studies have provided evidence that cyclic GMP systems are associated in brain and ganglia with both presynaptic and postsynaptic sites.
Computational Studies of the Spatial Architecture of Primate Visual Cortex

Computational neuroscience is a term that has recently come into widespread use, following a symposium* which was organized in the mid-1980s for the purpose of defining an area of research that had more contact with the biology of the brain than was (and is) customary in areas such as neural networks, but which involved significant mathematical and computational techniques and ideas. Some of the themes discussed in this symposium [later published in book form (Schwartz, 1990)] were that the study of brain form and function necessarily involved a hierarchy of spatial scales, and that computational techniques were associated with neuroscience in two complementary ways: 1. The application of methods of computer graphics, image processing, and numerical analysis is critical to the description of the nervous system. 2. Understanding of the possible functional utility of neural architectures is likely to feed back to computation via the design of machine vision, robotics, and other applications.
Probing the intermediacy of covalent RNA enzyme complexes in RNA modification enzymes.

Abstract Within the large and diverse group of RNA‐modifying enzymes, a number of enzymes seem to form stable covalent linkages to their respective RNA substrates. A complete understanding of the chemical and kinetic mechanisms of these enzymes, some of which have identified pathological roles, is lacking. As part of our ongoing work studying the posttranscriptional modification of tRNA with queuine, we wish to understand fully the chemical and kinetic mechanisms involved in this key transglycosylation reaction. In our previous investigations, we have used a gel mobility‐shift assay to characterize an apparent covalent enzyme‐RNA intermediate believed to be operative in the catalytic pathway. However, the simple observation of a covalent complex is not sufficient to prove intermediacy. To be a true intermediate, the complex must be both chemically and kinetically competent. As a case study for the proof of intermediacy, we report the use of this gel‐shift assay under mildly denaturing conditions to probe the kinetic competency of the covalent association between RNA and the tRNA modifying enzyme tRNA‐guanine transglycosylase (TGT).
Technology advances in liquid crystal displays

Since liquid-crystal materials were discovered about 100 years ago, they have been used in a variety of industrial products such as thermal sensors, watches, calculators, and pocket-size TVs. Recently, responding to the demand of an increasingly information-oriented society, liquid-crystal technologies that use these kinds of materials have made remarkable advances in display performance, resulting in a great expansion of LCD applications and the market share of LCD devices. This paper reviews progress and trends of LCD technologies.
Online Geometric Optimization in the Bandit Setting Against an Adaptive Adversary

We give an algorithm for the bandit version of a very general online optimization problem considered by Kalai and Vempala [1], for the case of an adaptive adversary. In this problem we are given a bounded set S ⊆ ℝ n of feasible points. At each time step t, the online algorithm must select a point x t ∈ S while simultaneously an adversary selects a cost vector C t ∈ ℝ n . The algorithm then incurs cost c t .x t . Kalai and Vempala show that even if S is exponentially large (or infinite), so long as we have an efficient algorithm for the offline problem (given c ∈ ℝ n , find x ∈ S to minimize c.x) and so long as the cost vectors are bounded, one can efficiently solve the online problem of performing nearly as well as the best fixed x∈ S in hindsight. The Kalai-Vempala algorithm assumes that the cost vectors c t are given to the algorithm after each time step. In the “bandit” version of the problem, the algorithm only observes its cost, c t .x t . Awerbuch and Kleinberg [2] give an algorithm for the bandit version for the case of an oblivious adversary, and an algorithm that works against an adaptive adversary for the special case of the shortest path problem. They leave open the problem of handling an adaptive adversary in the general case. In this paper, we solve this open problem, giving a simple online algorithm for the bandit problem in the general case in the presence of an adaptive adversary. Ignoring a (polynomial) dependence on n, we achieve a regret bound of \(\mathcal{O}(T^{\frac{3}{4}}\sqrt{ln(T)}))\).
Using Primitive Subgroups to Do More with Fewer Bits

This paper gives a survey of some ways to improve the efficiency of discrete log-based cryptography by using the restriction of scalars and the geometry and arithmetic of algebraic tori and abelian varieties.
Quark Masses, B-Parameters, and CP Violation Parameters ∈ and ∈′/∈

In view of the new generation of ongoing experiments to measure ∈′/∈ with the proposed accuracy of 1×10−4, it is very important to firm up the theoretical prediction. The standard model estimate depends very sensitively on the sum m s +m d and on the interplay between the strong and electromagnetic penguin operators, i.e. B6/1/2 and B8/3/2. Quenched lattice results for (m s +m d )(2 GeV) are settling down at 115(25) MeV, and preliminary evidence is that unquenching further lowers these estimates. The calculations of B61/2 and B8/3/2 are less advanced. Hopefully we can provide reliable quenched estimates for these parameters in the next year or so. Thereafter, we shall start to chip away at realistic full QCD simulations.
Stress-induced defects in Sb 2 Te 3

We present first-principles calculations for stress-induced defects in the thermoelectric material ${\mathrm{Sb}}_{2}{\mathrm{Te}}_{3}.$ We focused on the antisite defect, vacancies, and combinations thereof. Our calculated formation energies are in good agreement with experimentally obtained data. We also studied the effect of hydrostatic pressure and uniaxial stress on these formation energies. Both hydrostatic pressure and uniaxial stress are found to lower the formation energies of the antisite defects, suggesting a structural transition at high pressures. The relation to experiments is also discussed.
Haptic target acquisition to enable spatial gestures in nonvisual displays

Nonvisual natural user interfaces can facilitate gesture-based interaction without having to rely on a physical display. Consequently, this may significantly increase available interaction space on mobile devices, where screen real estate is limited. Interacting with invisible objects is challenging though, as such techniques do not provide any spatial feedback but rely entirely on users' visuospatial memory. This paper presents an interaction technique that appropriates a user's arm using haptic feedback to point out the location of nonvisual objects; thereby, allowing for spatial interaction with nonvisual objects. User studies evaluate the effectiveness of two different single-arm target-scanning strategies for selecting an object in 3D and two bimanual target-scanning strategies for selecting an object in 2D. Potential useful applications of our techniques are outlined.
Characterization of two RNA polymerase activities induced by mouse hepatitis virus.

Abstract RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity was found in mouse hepatitis virus strain A59 (MHV-A59)-infected cells. The enzyme was induced in the infected cells and could not be detected in the MHV-A59 virion. Two peaks of RNA polymerase activity, one early and the other late in infection, were detected. These polymerase activities were in temporal sequence with early and late virus-specific RNA synthesis. Both of them were found to be associated with membrane fractions. There were significant differences in the enzymatic properties of the two polymerases. The early polymerase, but not the late polymerase, could be activated by potassium ions in the absence of magnesium ions and also had a lower optimum pH than the late polymerase. It was therefore probable that the enzymes represent two different species of RNA polymerase and perform different roles in virus-specific RNA synthesis. The effects of cycloheximide on MHV-specific RNA synthesis were determined. Continuous protein synthesis was required for both early and late RNA synthesis and might also be required for shutoff of early RNA synthesis.
Capacity expansion analysis in a chemical plant using linear programming

An analysis of the fuel additive production process of a US mid–western chemical manufacturer is described. Material balance constraints for each potential bottleneck of the manufacturing process are included as part of a linear programming model. Several capacity expansion scenarios are evaluated. The optimal way of modifying and expanding manufacturing capacity to meet forecast demand is determined.
REP EcoDesign Tomorrow

REP (Japan Institute of Electronic Packaging) is the largest organization in Japan to investigate and exchange knowledge on Electronic Interconnection and Packaging Issues. The organization first co-organized Environmentally Conscious Engineering in Electronics '96 cooperating with LCA forum of Japan and University of Tokyo / Inverse Manufacturing Laboratory in 1996 and has since been playing major roll in Environmentally Conscious Engineering Issue in Electronic Packaging Industry. The emerging growth of IT(Information. Technology) Industry is expecting huge demand on resource and waste disposal. Elimination of toxic substances, such as VOC, lead in solder, halide in substrate, from waste is still very important subject for JIEP Environmentally Conscious Engineering. However, it should not be the only subject. As no Electronic Equipment is realized without Electronic Packaging Technology ("Jisso" or "Jisso technology" is more commonly used in the industry as it has more integral meaning) the issue of Energy saving, Material saving are also the subjects of Jisso design. Recycling is also a very important subject of material saving and the subject of ecology as well. All these subjects are those of REP EcoDesign Tomorrow. Performance, cost and environmentally conscious thinking are three factors to form axis of Engineering thinking.
Long wavelength MOCVD grown InGaAsN–GaAsN quantum well lasers emitting at 1.378–1.41 [micro sign]m

Low threshold InGaAsN QW lasers with lasing wavelength at 1.378 and 1.41 /spl mu/m were demonstrated by metal organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD). The threshold current densities are 563 and 1930 A/cm/sup 2/ for the 1.378 and 1.41 /spl mu/m emitting lasers, respectively. The significant improvement of device performance is believed due to utilisation of high temperature annealing and introduction of GaAsN barriers to suppress the resulting wavelength blue shift. A comparable characteristic temperature coefficient of the external differential quantum efficiency, T/sub 1/, is observed for the InGaAsN-GaAsN QW laser compared to similar InGaAsN/GaAs structures.
Optimization of Carbon Coatings on LiFePO4

The electrochemical performance of LiFePO{sub 4} in lithium cells is strongly dependent on the structure (disordered/graphene or D/G ratio) of the in situ carbon produced during synthesis from carbon-containing precursors. Addition of pyromellitic acid (PA) prior to final calcination results in lower D/G ratios, yielding a higher-rate material. Further, improvements in electrochemical performance are realized when graphitization catalysts such as ferrocene are also added during LiFePO{sub 4} preparation, although overall carbon content is still less than 2 wt.%.
Speed of movement initiation performance predicts differences in [3H]spiroperidol receptor binding in normal rats

Speed of movement initiation is altered in normal aging and in neurologiccal disorders such as Parkinson's disease. This study was undertaken to extend our previous results, which suggested a relationship between nigrostriatal dopamine function and an animal model of movement initiation speed (reactive capacity). Fisher 344 rats exhibiting exceptionally fast or slow reactive capacity but otherwise normal were examined for differences in the striatal binding of the dopaminergic ligand, [3H]spiroperidol. Rats with fast reactive capacity (Fast rats) exhibited significantly higher binding than did rats with slow reactive capacity (Slow rats). Also, Fast rats responded nearly maximally on the reactive capacity task regardless of the duration of time provided in which to respond, whereas Slow rats reacted more slowly when more response time was provided. The differences in [3H]spiroperidol binding and the differential influence of time provided to respond on the response latency of these two normal groups of rats was similar to that observed in old or model Parkinson's disease rats having nigrostriatal dopamine deficits. These results strengthen the relationship between an animal model of reactive copacity and nigrostriatal dopamine function.
A plea for prophylactic antibiotics prior to endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided FNA in cirrhotic patients: yet another etiology for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP)

A plea for prophylactic antibiotics prior to endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided FNA in cirrhotic patients: yet another etiology for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP)
Primary malignant melanoma of meninges: Atypical presentation of subacute meningitis

Primary malignant melanoma of the meninges is described in a 5-year-old boy who presented with a 3-month history suggestive of subacute meningitis. Clinically the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis was made and antituberculous treatment was begun. Despite this treatment, the patient's condition continued to deteriorate. Through cytologic examination of the cerebrospinal fluid malignant melanoma cells were identified, emphasizing the importance of this investigation in children with atypical meningitis. The diagnosis of malignant melanoma of the meninges was confirmed on brain biopsy.
Spectral surface quadrangulation

Resampling raw surface meshes is one of the most fundamental operations used by nearly all digital geometry processing systems. The vast majority of this work has focused on triangular remeshing, yet quadrilateral meshes are preferred for many surface PDE problems, especially fluid dynamics, and are best suited for defining Catmull-Clark subdivision surfaces. We describe a fundamentally new approach to the quadrangulation of manifold polygon meshes using Laplacian eigenfunctions, the natural harmonics of the surface. These surface functions distribute their extrema evenly across a mesh, which connect via gradient flow into a quadrangular base mesh. An iterative relaxation algorithm simultaneously refines this initial complex to produce a globally smooth parameterization of the surface. From this, we can construct a well-shaped quadrilateral mesh with very few extraordinary vertices. The quality of this mesh relies on the initial choice of eigenfunction, for which we describe algorithms and hueristics to efficiently and effectively select the harmonic most appropriate for the intended application.
Oxygen Chemoreceptors in Low Birth Weight Infants

Extract: Serial studies of respiratory sensitivity to altered oxygen tensions were carried out on 39 infants ranging in birth weight from 800 to 4,140 g, and of gestational ages between 28 weeks and term. We used a modification of the Dejours single breath test to show that all infants, regardless of birth weight or gestational age, possess sensitivity to altered . The presence of periodic breathing or apnea on return to room air after exposure to 10% oxygen–90% nitrogen suggests a high level of chemosensitivity to oxygen in immature infants. Neurologic immaturity does not appear to be an explanation for the apnea or periodic breathing observed in premature infants. Speculation: The lack of sustained response to hypoxia seen by some observers may be a mechanical factor, not a neurologic one. The decreased compliance and increased resistance of lungs of neonates necessitate greater work on the part of the infant. Mechanical factors have been shown to play a part in limiting the ventilatory response to carbon dioxide in adults with obstructive disease, and the same factor may play a role in limiting the response to hypoxia in the low birth weight infant. This conclusion is suggested by the fact that a constant extrathoracic negative pressure has been shown to eliminate periodic breathing in premature infants. The present study suggests that the mode of action in this case may be either via improved mechanical factors accompanying larger lung volumes, or the effect of stabilizing the chest at a larger functional residual capacity and thus preventing oscillations in , which may produce periodic breathing.
Mapping the Domain of Hypnosis

This bothers me still. It was 1998 and I was walking a corridor of the University of Rochester Medical Center when I came upon Bob Ader. Bob is the father of psychoneuroimmunology, the founder of t...
ON THE WATER EXCHANGE THROUGH BERING STRAIT1

A critique of current observations from Bering Strait through 1960 elucidates the gross features of the flow. There is no substantiating evidence for a net southerly flow ever occurring through Bering Strait into the Bering Sea in summer, although the current may on occasion be southerly near Cape Dezhneva and Cape Prince of Wales. During 5-7 August 1964, the most intensive survey to date of the oceanographic conditions and currents was made from the USCGC Northwind. Hydrographic conditions and currents in 1964 were typical of Bering Strait in summer. In the eastern channel of the strait, there was a pycnocline at lo-15 m, which was also a region of velocity shear; the surface water layer speeds were typically 50-100 cm/set, ancl the lower layer speeds less than 50 cm/set. While speeds in the western channel were more uniform, they varied widely with time (20-70 cm/set). The northward transport calculated from the Northwind data was 1.4 x 10’ m’/scc, with about one-half flowing through each channel. At least three types of speed fluctuations may be observed in Bering Strait: 1) short-term irregular fluctuations of lo-15 cm/set, probably related to turbulence; 2) regular fluctuations of as much as 50% of the mean speed, occurring at all depths and having a period of 12-13 hr (tidal or inertial); and 3) long-term fluctuations of as much as 1000/o, probably associated with major changes in the wind regime, the atmospheric pressure distribution over the Bering or Chukchi seas, or both. The accelerations would give rise to corresponding fluctuations in transport. In addition, a seasonal variation in transport has been reported, showing the flow in winter to be approximately one-fourth that in summer, but this effect is poorly documented. A mathematical analysis of the flow includes a balance among the pressure gradients in the direction of flow, frictional stresses in the horizontal plane, and the local and nonlinear accelerations. The calculated sea surface slope is about 2.6 X 10-O down to the north. This surface slope is the primary driving force of the northerly flow and can probably be modified only by major variations in atmospheric conditions.
Five-year comparative study of highly cross-linked (crossfire) and traditional polyethylene.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to compare the linear penetration rates of a highly cross-linked ultra–high-molecular-weight polyethylene to traditional polyethylene. Twenty-seven highly cross-linked components were matched to 27 traditional polyethylene components with respect to age, sex, body mass index, and activity level. Each group was followed up for a mean of approximately 6 years. Linear penetration was measured using Martell's computerized technique ( J Bone Joint Surg Am 1997;79:1635). The mean total penetration was 0.283 mm (SD, 0.253) for the highly cross-linked group. The mean total penetration for the traditional polyethylene was 0.696 mm (SD, 0.402). This difference was highly significant ( P ≤ .001). Our experience demonstrates a 59% reduction in total penetration of highly cross-linked polyethylene when compared with traditional polyethylene at a minimum of 5 years.
An oviposition deterrent for the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), extracted from larval frass

Abstract A methanol-soluble oviposition deterrent has been discovered in the frass of fifth-instar larvae of Ostrinia nubilalis , the European corn borer. Bioassays established a significant linear relationship between reduction in oviposition and concentration of extract applied on the oviposition substratum. Activity of the deterrent under laboratory conditions lasts for at least 72 hr when exposed to air, indicating a low volatility.
The precursors of young fatherhood and its effect on delinquency of teenage males.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship of young fatherhood to delinquency, in terms of precursors and impact of becoming a father on delinquency. Methods: The sample consisted of 506 inner-city adolescent males from public schools who were part of a longitudinal study. The independent variables included participants' behaviors, attitudes, demographics, family, peers, and school performance. Young fathers were defined as having become fathers before age 19 years. Two measures of delinquency were used. Odds ratios were calculated, followed by two stepwise logistic regressions. For comparison with matched controls, fathers (n = 62) were matched with nonfathers on age, race, and neighborhood. Results: The prevalence of young fatherhood was 12.3%. Fathers were more than twice as likely to be delinquent than nonfathers. The factors related to young fatherhood were a subset of those for delinquency. In the stepwise logistic regressions, several factors were uniquely related to either delinquency or young fatherhood. Delinquency did not decrease after becoming a father. Young fathers tended to commit more covert-type delinquent acts than their controls. Conclusions: The results indicate that a single theory of problem behavior cannot adequately account for the association between young fatherhood and delinquency.
The American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort

BACKGROUND Large-scale, prospective cohort studies have played a critical role in discovering factors that contribute to variability in cancer risk in human populations. Epidemiologists and volunteers at the American Cancer Society (ACS) were among the first to establish such cohorts, beginning in the early 1950s and continuing through the present, and these ACS cohorts have made landmark contributions in many areas of epidemiologic research. METHODS AND RESULTS The Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort was established in 1992 and was designed to investigate the relation between diet and other lifestyle factors and exposures and the risk of cancer, mortality, and survival. The cohort includes over 84,000 men and 97,000 women who completed a mailed questionnaire in 1992. New questionnaires are sent to surviving cohort members every other year to update exposure information and to ascertain new occurrences of cancer; a 90% response rate was achieved for follow-up questionnaires in 1997 and 1999. Reported cancers are verified through medical records, registry linkage, or death certificates. The cohort is followed actively for all cases of incident cancer and for all causes of death. Through a collaborative effort among ACS national and division staff, volunteers, and the American College of Surgeons, blood samples were collected from a subgroup of 40,000 cohort members and are in storage at a central repository for future investigation of dietary, hormonal, genetic, and other factors and cancer risk. Collection of DNA samples from buccal cells in an additional 50,000 cohort members is underway currently and will be completed in 2002. CONCLUSIONS This new cohort of both men and women promises to be particularly valuable for the study of cancer occurrence, mortality, and survival as they relate to obesity and weight change, physical activity at various points in life, vitamin supplement use, exogenous hormone use, other medications (such as aspirin and nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drugs) and cancer screening modalities. Cancer 2002;94:2490–2501. © 2002 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.101970
Recent high-resolution resonant refractivity studies of a sodium-seeded flame

A new experimental technique, namely, the combination of a Fabry-Perot etalon with a Mach Zehnder interferometer (MZI) makes it possible to deduce the index of refraction resonant dispersion curve near the center of an atomic line from the superimposed fringe system. A tunable pulsed dye laser as light source and a sodium seeded flame as test flow enabled us to verify the very large enhancement of sensitivity for refractive flow-visualization methods such as shadowgraph, schlieren and interferometry. The specific refractivity is a direct measure of the sensitivity, and that quantity increases from a non-resonant value of 4 × 10−3 m'/kg to a peak value of 189 m3/kg at the half-power points of the sodium D2-line.
Comments on Infrared Radiometry of Turbulent

I a very interesting article, Draper reported on an investigation of the infrared fluctuations radiated by the fluid-mechanical turbulence of a hot free jet. The radiation was detected by an infrared radiometer having an optical field that extended entirely across the jet flow and had variable resolution along the flow axis (for a given position downstream of the jet orifice). Draper's theoretical analysis of the radiometer fluctuation spectrum leads to the result that the radiometer spectrum is proportional to the product of the square of the Fourier transform of the radiometer aperture function and the onedimensional temperature fluctuation spectrum [Eq. (38)]. When the radiometer aperture width along the flow axis approaches zero as a limit, the radiometer spectrum is then simply proportional to the one-dimensional temperature spectrum (independent of the transverse resolution of the radiometer). This appears to be an improbable result, for it implies that a sensor such as the radiometer, with no resolution in two-dimensions (i.e., no resolution transverse to the jet axis), has the same spectral response as a sensor having point resolution such as a hot wire anemometer. This result is a consequence of Draper's assumption for the form of the spectral signal T(n, r) [Eq. (30)]. The basis for using this equation as a starting point for a theoretical derivation is unclear to this author. An alternate theoretical analysis shall be derived below. The correlation function of the radiometer temporal fluctuations RP(T) can be expressed (in the notation of Ref. 1) asf
Effects of a bioscaffold on collagen fibrillogenesis in healing medial collateral ligament in rabbits

Bioscaffolds have been successfully used to improve the healing of ligaments and tendons. In a rabbit model, the application of porcine small intestine submucosa (SIS) to the healing medial collateral ligament (MCL) resulted in improved mechanical properties with the formation of larger collagen fibrils. Thus, the objective of the study was to find out whether the SIS bioscaffold could improve the gene expressions of fibrillogenesis-related molecules, specifically, collagen types I, III, V, and small leucine-rich proteoglycans including decorin, biglycan, lumican, and fibromodulin, as well as collagen fibril morphology and organization, in the healing rabbit MCL at an early time point (6 weeks postinjury). Twenty skeletally mature rabbits were equally divided into two groups. In the SIS-treated group, a 6-mm gap was surgically created and a layer of SIS was sutured to cover the gap, whereas the gap was left open in the nontreated group. At 6 weeks postinjury, Masson's trichrome staining showed that the SIS-treated group had more regularly aligned collagen fibers and cells. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the SIS-treated group had larger collagen fibrils with a diameter distribution from 24 to 120 nm, whereas the nontreated group had only small collagen fibrils (ranging from 26 to 87 nm, p < 0.05). Finally, the quantitative real-time PCR showed that the mRNAs of collagen type V, decorin, biglycan, and lumican in the SIS-treated group were 41, 58, 51, and 43% lower than those in the nontreated group, respectively (p < 0.05). Such significant reduction in the gene expressions are closely related to the improved morphological characteristics, which are known to be coupled with better mechanical properties, as previously reported in longer term studies.
A more specific indicator for use in the determination of amniotic fluid lecithin/sphingomyelin ratios.

Abstract The relationship between the lecithin/sphingomyelin ( L S ) ratio in amniotic fluid and the occurrence of Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) in newborns has been firmly established (1–3). The laboratory technique for the determination of the L S ratio has remained essentially unchanged (1,4). The only factor which has undergone considerable modification is the choice of the indicator used to visualize the presence of subject compounds on the tlc plates. Among the methods used are H2 · SO4 (1,5), iodine vapors (7,8), rhodamine B spray (8), and phosphomolybdate spray (9). The use of these various indicator systems in this laboratory failed to provide the quality of visualization required for an accurate determination of L S ratios. We, therefore, set forth on a project to evaluate a new visualization agent for use in determination of L S ratios. The purpose of this report is to provide detailed evidence for the efficacy of using 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein as an agent for the visualization of lecithin and sphingomyelin spots on thin layer chromatogram sheets.
Does syntax contribute to the function of duets in a parrot, Amazona auropalliata?

Complex acoustic signals in many animal species are characterized by a syntax that governs how different notes are combined, but the importance of syntax to the communicative function of signals is not well understood. Mated pairs of yellow-naped amazons, Ama- zona auropalliata, produce coordinated vocal duets that are used for territory maintenance and defense. These duets follow rules that specify the ordering of notes within duets, such as a strict alternation of sex-specific notes and a defined progression of note types through each duet. These syntactical rules may function to define sex-specific roles, improve coordination, and allow individuals to combine calls into meaningful sequences. As a first step toward understanding the functional significance of syntax, we conducted two separate audio playback experiments in which we presented nesting pairs with normal duets and duets with broken syntax (i.e., one of the syntactic rules was broken). In Experiment One, we reversed the order of female and male notes within note pairs while retaining the typical progression of note types through a duet. In Experiment Two we reversed the order of note types across a whole duet while retaining the typical female-male ordering within note pairs. We hypothesized that duets with broken syntax would be less-effective signals than duets with normal syntax and predicted that pairs would respond less to broken syntax than to normal duets. Contrary to predictions, we did not observe differences in response between treatments for any variables except latency to approach the speaker. After we combined data across experiments post hoc, we observed longer latencies to approach the speakers after playbacks of broken syntax duets, suggesting that pairs could differentiate between playbacks. These responses suggest that breaking one rule of duet syntax at a time does not result in detectable loss of signal efficacy in the context of territorial intrusions.
Ferrous iron sorption by hydrous metal oxides.

Abstract Ferrous iron is critical to a number of biogeochemical processes that occur in heterogeneous aquatic environments, including the abiotic reductive transformation of subsurface contaminants. The sorption of Fe(II) to ubiquitous soil minerals, particularly iron-free mineral phases, is not well understood. Colloidal TiO2, γ-AlOOH, and γ-Al2O3 were used as model hydrous oxides to investigate Fe(II) sorption to iron-free mineral surfaces. Rapid Fe(II) sorption during the first few hours is followed by a much slower uptake process that continues for extended periods (at least 30 days). For equivalent solution conditions, the extent of Fe(II) sorption decreases in the order TiO2 >γ-Al2O3 ≫γ-AlOOH. Short-term equilibrium sorption data measured over a wide range of conditions (pH, ionic strength, Fe(II)-to-sorbent ratio) are well described by the diffuse double layer model. Fe(II) sorption to TiO2 is best described by a single-site model that considers formation of two surface complexes, SOFe+ and SOFeOH0. For γ-AlOOH and γ-Al2O3, sorption data are best described by a two-site model that considers formation of SOFe+ complexes at weak- and strong-binding surface sites. Accurate description of sorption data for higher Fe(II) concentrations at alkaline pH conditions requires the inclusion of a Fe(II) surface precipitation reaction in the model formulation. The presence of common groundwater constituents (calcium, sulfate, bicarbonate, or fulvic acid) had no significant effect on Fe(II) sorption. These results demonstrate that iron-free soil minerals can exert a significant influence on Fe(II) sorption and speciation in heterogeneous aquatic systems.
Dysphagia after sequential chemoradiation therapy for advanced head and neck cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Assess impact of sequential chemoradiation therapy (SCRT) for advanced head and neck cancer (HNCA) on swallowing, nutrition, and quality of life.STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study of 59 patients undergoing SCRT for advanced head and neck cancer. Follow-up median was 47.5 months.SETTING: Regional Cancer Center.RESULTS: Median time to gastrostomy tube removal was 21 weeks. Eighteen of 23 patients who underwent modified barium swallow demonstrated aspiration; none developed pneumonia. Six of 7 with pharyngoesophageal stricture underwent successful dilatation. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—Head and Neck Scale questionnaires at median 6 months after treatment revealed “somewhat” satisfaction with swallowing. At the time of analysis, 97% have the gastronomy tube removed and take soft/regular diet.CONCLUSION: Early after treatment dysphagia adversely affected weight, modified barium swallow results, and quality of life. Diligent swallow therapy, and dilation as needed, allowed nearly al...
Cerebral resuscitation after cardiac arrest: summaries and suggestions.

Introduction The nomenclature used in discussions of cerebral resuscitation needs clarification: 1) “Resuscitation” means treatment after the insult and must be differentiated from “protection” which means treatment initiated before or during the insult; 2) Temporary complete global brain ischemia, for example, cardiac arrest followed by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), must be differentiated from incomplete temporary global brain ischemia (e.g., shock), focal brain ischemia (stroke), brain injury, encephalitis, and other causes of brain failure. When injury mechanisms are different, treatments effective for one type of insult may or may not be effective for others; 3) The initial ischemic insult must be differentiated from secondary deleterious changes which occur after initiation of reperfusion; 4) Changes in function after an insult must be differentiated from loss of cell viability which determines permanent neurologic deficit and disability. This paper concerns itself primarily with resuscitation after cardiac arrest.
Quantitative prediction of microporosity in aluminum alloys

Abstract A continuum model of dendritic solidification of multicomponent alloys is used to predict the volume fraction of porosity caused by precipitation of hydrogen gas during solidification of A356 aluminum plate castings. The conservation equations of mass, momentum, energy and species transport are solved to simulate the transient solidification process, including thermosolutal convection and segregation during the formation of the mushy zone. The amount of hydrogen supersaturation is calculated based on the transport of dissolved hydrogen and Sievert's law. An innovative aspect of this work is the extension of the model to make quantitative predictions of the volume fraction of porosity. Although the hydrogen supersaturation has been used in previous works to estimate the amount of porosity, these predictions are usually grossly overestimated, because the barrier of pore nucleation is not considered. In this work it is shown that it is possible to make good estimations of the volume fraction of porosity by combining the hydrogen supersaturation with the calculated local solidification times. Computer simulations are performed in plate castings, showing good qualitative and quantitative agreement with experimental data.
Degranulation of uterine mast cell modifies contractility of isolated myometrium from pregnant women.

Objective This study was undertaken to test that uterine mast cell degranulation alters human myometrial contractility in vitro and to define what mediators are involved in this process. Study design Longitudinal myometrial strips prepared from biopsy specimen obtained from the lower uterine segment of women at preterm and term gestation (with and without labor) were studied. Contractile responses to compound 48/80, a mast cell degranulator, were compared in the absence or presence of a mast cell stabilizer, H 1 and H 2 receptor antagonists, cyclooxygenase, and lipoxygenase inhibitors. Results Compound 48/80 increased myometrial contractility in all groups. The mast cell stabilizer cromolyn inhibited contractility, whereas the cyclooxygenase inhibitor ibuprofen, the H 1 -receptor antagonist S(+)-chlorpheniramine maleate, but not the H 2 antagonist cimetidine, only slightly attenuated this effect. The lipoxygenase inhibitor linoleyl hydroxamic acid augmented the responses to compound 48/80 in the preterm but not in the term group. Conclusion Uterine mast cell degranulation, or the effects of their mediators, can modulate uterine contractility during pregnancy.
A third-generation method reveals cell lineage ancestry.

A combination of proximity ligation and in situ hybridization enables visualization of epigenetic marks in single cells.
SOUTHERN RHODESIA—AN AFRICAN COMPAGE *

(1956). SOUTHERN RHODESIA—AN AFRICAN COMPAGE. Annals of the Association of American Geographers: Vol. 46, No. 1, pp. 1-97.
You Like What I Like, but I Don’t Like What You Like: Uniqueness Motivations in Product Preferences

Consumers often gauge their own and others’ preferences for products through social comparisons. This research examines the role of consumers’ need for uniqueness (CNFU) in two common social comparisons: projection and introjection. Consumers project (i.e., rely on their own preferences to estimate those of others), regardless of their CNFU. However, high-CNFU consumers are less likely than low-CNFU ones to introject (i.e., rely on estimates of others’ preferences to gauge their own). Moreover, alleviating the introjection-induced threat to the high-CNFU consumers’ self-concept by having them deliberate on their differentness from others increases their likelihood of introjection. Together, these findings confirm our basic contention that the process underlying introjection is more motivational in nature than that underlying projection.
The many faces of circle orders

A finite partially ordered set P is called a circle order if one can assign to each x ∈ P a circular disk Cx so that x≤y iff Cx\( \subseteq \)Cy. It is interesting to observe that many other classes of posets, such as space-time orders, parabola orders, the Loewner order for 2×2 Hermitian matrices, etc. turn out to be exactly circle orders (or their higher dimensional analogues). We give a “global” proof for these equivalences.
A Hypothetical Burning-Velocity Formula for Very Lean Hydrogen-Air Mixtures

Very lean hydrogen-air mixtures experience strong diffusive-thermal types of cellular instabilities that tend to increase the laminar burning velocity above the value that applies to steady, planar laminar flames that are homogeneous in transverse directions. Flame balls constitute an extreme limit of evolution of cellular flames. To account qualitatively for the ultimate effect of diffusive-thermal instability, a model is proposed in which the flame is a steadily propagating, planar, hexagonal, close-packed array of flame balls, each burning as if it were an isolated, stationary, ideal flame ball in an infinite, quiescent atmosphere. An expression for the laminar burning velocity is derived from this model, which theoretically may provide an upper limit for the experimental burning velocity.
Data clustering in life sciences

Clustering has a wide range of applications in life sciences and over the years has been used in many areas ranging from the analysis of clinical information, phylogeny, genomics, and proteomics. The primary goal of this article is to provide an overview of the various issues involved in clustering large biological datasets, describe the merits and underlying assumptions of some of the commonly used clustering approaches, and provide insights on how to cluster datasets arising in various areas within life sciences. We also provide a brief introduction to CLUTO, a general purpose toolkit for clustering various datasets, with an emphasis on its applications to problems and analysis requirements within life sciences.