cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
T-Box Factors

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the functions of T-box genes in normal and abnormal heart formation. T-box genes expressed in the heart have important functions in the development of most, if not all, cardiac cell lineages and anatomical structures. Studies in a variety of animal systems, including Drosophila, Xenopus, zebrafish, chick, and mouse, as well as human genetic studies, have shown that T-box proteins are critical for cell differentiation, patterning, proliferation and migration in the developing heart. Members of the T-box gene family are dynamically expressed in distinct and overlapping patterns in myocardial, endothelial and epicardial cell lineages, as well as in valvuloseptal, venous, and arterial structures of the heart. Individual T-box family members have distinct transcriptional functions and dosage effects, which supports coordinated regulation of target genes by the balance of multiple T-box proteins where they are coexpressed. T-box proteins function with other cardiac transcription factors, including Nkx2.5 and GATA4, in normal heart development to regulate target gene expression. Likewise, human genetic studies provide evidence that compromised functions of any of the proteins in these regulatory complexes can lead to similar spectra of congenital heart malformations.
CalSWIM: A Wiki–Based Data Sharing Platform

Organizations increasingly create massive internal digital data repositories and are looking for technical advances in managing, exchanging and integrating explicit knowledge. While most of the enabling technologies for knowledge management have been used around for several years, the ability to cost effective data sharing, integration and analysis into a cohesive infrastructure evaded organizations until the advent of Web 2.0 applications. In this paper, we discuss our investigations into using a Wiki as a web–based interactive knowledge management system, which is integrated with some features for easy data access, data integration and analysis. Using the enhanced wiki, it possible to make organizational knowledge sustainable, expandable, outreaching and continually up–to–date. The wiki is currently under use as California Sustainable Watershed Information Manager. We evaluate our work according to the requirements of knowledge management systems. The result shows that our solution satisfies more requirements compared to other tools.
Screw-augmented fixation of acetabular components

Sixteen embalmed hemipelves were used to determine the optimal acetabular screw placement to provide maximal screw pull-out strength in unicortical and bicortical screw fixation. The anterior column, superior ilium, posterior column, ischium, and pubis regions of the pelvis were tested using 6.5-mm titanium alloy screws and a hydraulic servo-controlled 1321 Instron testing machine. Force vs displacement data were acquired. Bicortical fixation was stronger than unicortical fixation in the four zones compared. This difference was significant in the superior ilium, posterior column, and ischium. The anterior column could not accept unicortical screws due to inadequate bone depth, which ranged between only 6 mm and 10 mm. Bicortical fixation was significantly greater in the superior ilium, posterior column, and ischium than in the anterior column or pubis. Unicortical fixation was greatest in the superior ilium. This information may aid decisions concerning the positioning of screws to augment acetabular component fixation.
CREAM: A Mediator Based Environment for Modeling and Accessing Distributed Information on the Web

The proliferation of the Internet has led to increasing semantic heterogeneity on the World Wide Web. Networking technology provides physical connectivity, but it does not ensure meaningful data exchange. Therefore, semantic interoperability among heterogeneous information sources continues to pose enormous challenges to the database and other communities. Consequently, cooperation of metadata, ontologies, and mediators is becoming even more important in achieving semantic interoperability; mediators collect information from heterogeneous and autonomous sources and resolve semantic conflicts by referring to metadata and ontologies. Based on the mediator approach, we have implemented a Conflict Resolution Environment for Autonomous Mediation (CREAM) system. The system provides various user groups (e.g., end-users and information integrators) with an integrated and collaborative facility for achieving semantic interoperability among the participating heterogeneous information sources. The detailed description of a theoretical framework for semantic conflict detection and resolution methodology can be found in [1]. Our major contribution is that our system automatically understands and resolves a large number of semantic and syntactic conflicts among heterogeneous databases. We have tried to minimize the burden on the end users and database administrators while trying to automate the heterogeneous conflict resolution process.
External Brand Placement: The Effects on Game Players’ Processing of an In-Game Brand

Video games are now a venue for branded messages. Hence, game players may be exposed to brands in and outside game environments. This study focuses on the latter, that is, external brand placement. Drawing upon the literature on involvement and on the limited capacity model (LCM) of information processing, this study explores the mechanism by which external brand placement influences game players’ processing of a brand placed within a game, known as an in-game brand. The results show that players exposed to an external brand identical to an in-game brand showed greater in-game brand recall than those not so exposed. Players exposed to a competing external brand—whether congruent or not—showed lower in-game brand recall. When the brand was incongruent, however, they showed a preference for the in-game brand.
The evolution of the Tiros meteorological satellite operational system.

Evolution of Tiros meteorological satellite operational system noting orbital inclination, solar illumination, data storage ground stations, etc
Better quality of life with neuropsychological improvement on HAART

Successful highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimens have resulted in substantial improvements in the systemic health of HIV infected persons and increased survival times. Despite increased systemic health, the prevalence of minor HIV-associated cognitive impairment appears to be rising with increased longevity, and it remains to be seen what functional outcomes will result from these improvements. Cognitive impairment can dramatically impact functional ability and day-to-day productivity. We assessed the relationship of quality of life (QOL) and neuropsychological functioning with successful HAART treatment. In a prospective longitudinal study, subjects were evaluated before instituting HAART (naive) or before changing HAART regimens because current therapy failed to maintain suppression of plasma viral load (treatment failure). Subjects underwent detailed neuropsychological and neurological examinations, as well as psychological evaluation sensitive to possible confounds. Re-evaluation was performed six months after institution of the new HAART regimen and/or if plasma viral load indicated treatment failure. At each evaluation, subjects underwent ultrasensitive HIV RNA quantitative evaluation in both plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. HAART successes performed better than failures on measures exploring speed of mental processing (p < .02). HAART failure was significantly associated with increased self-reports of physical health complaints (p < .01) and substance abuse (p < .01). An interesting trend emerged, in which HAART failures endorsed greater levels of psychological and cognitive complaints (p = .06). Analysis between neuropsychological measures and QOL scores revealed significant correlation between QOL Total and processing speed (p < .05), as well as flexibility (p < .05). Our study investigated the relationship between HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment and quality of life. HAART failures experienced slower psychomotor processing, and had increased self-reports of physical health complaints and substance abuse. Contrariwise, HAART successes experienced improved mental processing, demonstrating the impact of successful treatment on functioning. With increasing life expectancy for those who are HIV seropositive, it is important to measure cognitive functioning in relation to the actual QOL these individuals report. The study results have implications for the optimal management of HIV-infected persons. Specific support or intervention may be beneficial for those who have failed HAART in order to decrease substance abuse and increase overall physical health.
Upper extremity DVT correlation of MR and nuclear medicine flow imaging

The purpose of this study is to determine correlation between MR and nuclear medicine flow studies in the evaluation of upper extremity deep venous thrombosis. We retrospectively reviewed MR and radionuclide venography images obtained in 10 patients with suspected upper extremity venous thrombosis. In nine cases there was complete agreement in the identification of thrombus. In one case, MR images failed to identify a thrombus in the axillary vein adjacent to a port-a-cath. Good correlation between MR and radionuclide venography images in evaluation of upper extremity DVT is present in the majority of cases.
Consumer preferences and employment discrimination

Many American managers are under increasing pressure to base hiring and other employment decisions on consumers' preferences. This study attempts, in exploratory fashion, to identify traits of in-person service workers (IPSWs) that are preferred by consumers and could serve as the basis for employment discrimination. Preliminary results indicate that consumers do have strongly held preferences when a transaction involves significant customer-worker interaction. Females appear to be a more likely source of consumer-based discrimination than males for high involvement purchases. Briefly discussed is the question of whether consumers have stereotypical beliefs about IPSWs as well as the implications of these beliefs.
The assessment of in vitro characters and their influence on the success rates of doubled haploid production in barley

A assessment of in vitro characters: embryo size, differentiation stage and germination time of haploid embryos, was carried out with a view to developing a selection procedure to increase the efficiency of doubled haploid (DH) production using the Hordeum bulbosum system. The differentiation stage of haploid embryos at the time of excision was found to be the most promising character for selection. In the two spring crosses examined 55% of excised embryos were undifferentiated and 45% were differentiated, with overall success rates, in terms of the percentage of DHs produced, of 7.91% and 25.16%, respectively. 17% of excised embryos produced callus. These embryos performed poorly in terms of regeneration and subsequent growth. It is suggested that only differentiated non-callusing embryos are maintained in order to maximize the efficiency of DH production. It is also shown that the overall success rate depends not only on initial stages such as seed setting but also on genotypic differences in response to colchicine treatment at later stages.
A Comparative Study of Web Site Usability Practices of Fortune 500 Versus INC. 500 Companies

Web site usability appears to be receiving growing recognition in the literature. In this study the authors compare the web sites of Fortune 500 and INC. 500 companies based on 11 usability measures. The findings show that while Fortune 500 companies performed better than INC. 500 companies on most usability measures, this tendency was not consistent across all measures. The results suggest that for most usability measures, a substantial gap exists between the recommended guidelines of usability experts and current company web site practices.
Picosecond-nanosecond bulk damage of fused silica at 1064nm

We are interested in maximizing the performance of fiber lasers and amplifiers, particularly for amplification of ps-ns pulses. The observed pulse energies from large mode area fiber amplifiers routinely exceed the reported bulk damage threshold of silica. We have undertaken a program to establish the intrinsic damage thresholds of silica that are relevant for fiber applications. We use a single transverse / single longitudinal mode Q-switched Nd:YAG laser focused to an 8-µm spot several Rayleigh ranges deep in silica windows for the nanosecond measurement, and a Q-switched, mode locked Nd:YAG laser for the picoseconds measurements. Our key findings include: 1. The damage threshold is deterministic rather than statistical for both ns and ps pulses. The threshold varies less than 1% from location to location. 2. The intrinsic damage threshold of silica is 475±25 GW/cm 2 (fluence = 3850 J/cm 2 ) for 8 ns pulses and approximately 3 times higher for 14 ps pulses. 3. There is no difference in damage thresholds among Corning's A0, B1, C1, D1, D2, and D5 grades of silica. 4. A tight focus is required to avoid large self focusing corrections and to avoid SBS for the 8-ns pulses. 5. Damage morphologies are reproducible from pulse to pulse but change with focal spot size and pulse duration. In all cases, damage appears to begin exactly at the focus and then move upstream approximately one Rayleigh range. 6. The dependence of the damage threshold fluence on pulse duration is nearly linear for pulse durations longer than 50 ps. The square root of duration dependence reported by several investigators for the 50 ps to 10 ns range is refuted. 7. The variation of damage fluence with pulse duration from 20 fs to 20 ns and beyond is well described by a single electron avalanche rate equation with three fixed rates for the avalanche, multiphoton ionization, and electron recombination terms. 8. Our damage threshold is consistent with the most reliable DC field breakdown threshold. 9. We verified in detail the self focusing corrections and the SBS thresholds for our measurement conditions. 10. The damage threshold is affected little by mechanical strain at levels similar to those in polarization-preserving fiber.
The specification of the retino-tectal projection in the chick.

The specificity of the connections between the retina and the optic tectum has been studied in the chick by ablating between 15% and 75% of the optic cup (usually during the third day of incubation) and subsequently determining the distribution, within the tectum, of the synapses formed by the axons of the surviving ganglion cells. This was done towards the end of the incubation period, or shortly after hatching, either autoradiographically following the injection of a tritiated amino acid into the eye, or using a variant of the Nauta-Gygax method after sectioning the optic nerve. In every case in which the initial retinal lesion was placed after Stage 12/13 (i.e., late on the second day of incubation) the surviving ganglion cells could be shown to have formed synapses in only a limited region of the contralateral optic tectum; and as far as could be determined from an examination of the cell loss in the isthmo-optic nucleus (in which the centrifugal fibers to the retina have their origin) the remaining portion of the neural retina consistently projected only to the homotopic region of the tectum (i.e., the region to which it would normally have been expected to project). In several cases it was found that the axons had passed over a heterotopic region of the tectum in order to reach a more distant region in which they had formed synapses. After a lesion of the optic vesicle before Stage 11 the surviving ganglion cells appeared to innervate all parts of the tectum; since the earliest retinal ganglion cells are formed at Stage 11/12 it would seem that in the chick, as in Xenopus, there is a clear temporal co-incidence between the withdrawal of the first ganglion cells from the cell-cycle and the establishment of the topographic specification of the retino-tectal projection. Preliminary studies of the projection of the retina upon the optic tectum, and of the tectum upon the isthmo-optic nucleus, in four to five week old chicks, indicates that the organization of these connections (and hence, presumably, that of the centrifugal fibers from the isthmo-optic nucleus to the retina) is essentially the same as that in the pigeon. However, there is a significant difference in the overall morphology of the isthmo-optic nucleus in the two species: as can best be seen in parasagittal sections, the isthmo-optic nucleus of the chick lacks a well-developed “anterior limb,” so that the representation of the horizontal meridian lies close to the junction of the “body” of the nucleus and its “posterior limb”.
Lens fluorescence and accommodative amplitude in pre-presbyopic and presbyopic subjects

Accommodative amplitude (AA; the difference, measured in diopters, between the near and far points of vision) declines steadily with age such that, by midlife, most individuals are unable to focus clearly on near objects and, thus, are said to be presbyopic. Conversely, intrinsic lens fluorescence (LF) increases steadily with age. Previous studies have suggested that AA and LF are negatively correlated, independent of age. Were this to be the case, it might suggest that the biochemical modifications underlying increased tissue fluorescence (for example, glycation of lens proteins) contribute to presbyopia. We used quantitative techniques to re-evaluate the relationship between AA and LF in 161 healthy volunteers aged between 25 and 70. Our data confirmed that AA decreases with age, becoming essentially zero by age 55, and LF increases with age. However, in marked contrast to previous reports, statistical analysis failed to detect any correlation between LF and AA independent of age. Thus, the biochemical processes responsible for increased LF observed in the aged lens are unlikely to contribute directly to presbyopia.
Production of mice through intracytoplasmic injection of sperm or spermatogenic cells

Direct injection of spermatozoa or spermatogenic cells into oocytes bypasses many normal fertilization processes, yet it is a powerful tool to analyze basic principles/mechanism underlying normal fertilization and prefertilization processes. Birth of normal, fertile mouse offspring following injection of round spermatid nuclei into oocytes suggests that all the postmeiotic modifications in male gametes evolved as processes solely dedicated for the delivery of their nuclei into the eggs. Birth of normal mouse offspring following injection of infertile spermatozoa with grossly misshaped heads indicates that structurally abnormal spermatozoa are not necessarily genomically abnormal. The spermatozoa with disrupted plasma membranes are generally considered “dead”, but they are capable of producing normal offspring by injection, suggesting that cell death and nucleus death are not synonymous at least for the spermatozoa.
Accuracy of biometry in pediatric cataract extraction with primary intraocular lens implantation

Purpose To determine the accuracy of predicted postoperative refractive outcomes in pediatric patients having cataract surgery with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation and to compare them with other variables historically considered important in cataract surgery. Setting Tertiary care referral hospital. Methods This retrospective review comprised 203 eyes of 153 consecutive pediatric patients (≤18 years old) having cataract extraction with primary posterior chamber IOL implantation in the capsular bag. All cases were performed by 1 of 2 surgeons, and all refractions were performed manually by an experienced pediatric ophthalmologist using a retinoscope. Results In all patients, the mean absolute value (MAE) of the prediction error was 1.08 diopters (D) ± 0.93 (SD). Age at time of surgery and corneal (K) mean curvature were significantly correlated with the absolute value of the prediction error (P = .0006 and P = .0088, respectively). A multiple regression model showed that age at time of surgery and K mean curvature were the only 2 variables significantly associated with MAE; axial length, formula, surgeon, and A-scan type were not significantly associated with prediction error. Conclusions Data from 203 consecutive primary pediatric IOL implantations showed the heterogeneous nature of the variables involved in predictions of refractive outcomes in this population. The complexities of this issue support the need for specific methods of measurement and an IOL calculation formula for the pediatric population.
Chemiluminometric Measurement of Atmospheric Ozone with Photoactivated Chromotropic Acid

A highly sensitive, robust, fast, affordable measurement system based on interfacial gas−liquid chemiluminescence (CL) on a wetted transparent screen directly on top of a miniature photomultiplier tube provides the basis of an attractive method for ozone (O3). Alkaline chromotropic acid (CA, 4,5-dihydroxynaphthalene-2,7-disulfonic acid) chemiluminesces upon exposure to ozone. No light emission is observed from exposure of alkaline CA to NO2 or H2O2. However, response to ozone is highly dependent on the age and storage condition of the CA solution. As such, quantitative analysis will require frequent calibration, and the method will not be attractive. We have discovered that photoactivation plays the key role in producing (a) compound(s) from chromotropic acid that appear(s) to be the primary agent(s) responsible for the CL reaction with O3. We thus devised a method wherein a flowing solution of CA (that is stable in neutral/acidic solutions) is rendered alkaline and then exposed for a few seconds on-line ...
Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Sulindac and Metabolites in Serum

An improved liquid chromatographic procedure is described for the quantitative determination of sulindac, sulindac sulfone, and sulindac sulfide from serum. The procedure makes use of acetonitrile extraction of the compounds of interest from acidified serum samples. Under these conditions extraction efficiencies in the 85 percent range are obtained for each of the compounds. The liquid chromatographic separation of the compounds of interest and the internal standard (indomethacin) is accomplished in an isocratic elution procedure using a nitrile (CN) stationary phase. The HPLC separation procedure is completed in less than 10 minutes, giving excellent resolution and peak shape.
Scaling behavior of amorphous FeMn in magnetic fields.

We have carefully characterized the low-temperature magnetotransport of a series of samples of the metallic glass (Fe_(1-x)Mn_x)_(75)P_(16)B_6Al_3. We find that both localization and electron interactions are important, but the variation of the magnetoresistance with x indicates that this amorphous metal will only satisfy scaling theories which include spin fluctuations.
A psychiatric perspective of dialysis discontinuation

In the 1970s, the suicide rate of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) was calculated by conflating deaths from obvious clinical suicide attempts with deaths caused by lethal noncompliance and deaths preceded by dialysis discontinuation. Three decades later, although society's view about cessation of life-support treatment has markedly changed, relatively little is known about the psychiatric aspects of dialysis discontinuation. This paper reviews the literature and suggests a number of findings that warrant further research investigation.
Evolution and homoplasy at the Bem6 microsatellite locus in three sweetpotato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) cryptic species

The evolution of individual microsatellite loci is often complex and homoplasy is common but often goes undetected. Sequencing alleles at a microsatellite locus can provide a more complete picture of the common evolutionary mechanisms occurring at that locus and can reveal cases of homoplasy. Within species homoplasy can lead to an underestimate of differentiation among populations and among species homoplasy can produce a misleading interpretation regarding shared alleles and hybridization. This is especially problematic with cryptic species. By sequencing alleles from three cryptic species of the sweetpotato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), designated MEAM1, MED, and NW, the evolution of the putatively dinucleotide Bem6 (CA8)imp microsatellite locus is inferred as one of primarily stepwise mutation occurring at four distinct heptaucleotide tandem repeats. In two of the species this pattern yields a compound tandem repeat. Homoplasy was detected both among species and within species. In the absence of sequencing, size homoplasious alleles at the Bem6 locus lead to an overestimate of alleles shared and hybridization among cryptic species of Bemisia tabaci. Furthermore, the compound heptanucleotide motif structure of a putative dinucleotide microsatellite has implications for the nomenclature of heptanucleotide tandem repeats with step-wise evolution.
Bayesian inference research in auditing: Some methodological suggestions*

. The Bayesian statistical inference model has been advocated by auditing researchers over the past two decades as a useful judgment aid to auditors. To quantify judgment, the Bayesian-related audit research has completely relied on the elicitation techniques (ETs) and methodology used and recommended by Winkler (1967a). What have we learned from this literature? Are there any other promising ETs applicable to audit situations? What improvements can be made to the methodologies used in ET-related audit research? This paper highlights the findings and methodologies of the existing literature, identifies promising ETs from related behavioral studies and draws some methodological suggestions for future research. Resume. Des chercheurs dans le domaine de la verification ont preconise au cours des deux dernieres decennies que le modele d'inference Baysien pouvait constituer une aide utile au jugement des verificateurs. Pour quantifier le jugement, la recherche reliee au modele Baysien s'est appuyee sur des techniques et une methodologie utilisees et recommandees par Winkler (1967 a). Qu'a-t-on appris de ces recommandations? Peut-on s'attendre a d'autres applications dans le domaine de la verification? Quelles ameliorations peuvent etre apportees a la methodologie? Cet article met en evidence les decouvertes et la methodologie sur le sujet, identifie les solutions prometteuses et presente certaines suggestions methodologiques pour des recherches futures.
Threshold Criteria for Undervoltag Breakdown

Summary form only given. Undervoltage breakdown, the process by which a pulse of electrons induces a discharge gap to break down when it is near but has not achieved its self-breakdown conditions, is discussed. Specifically, threshold criteria that determine the number of electrons required to induce breakdown both to glow and arc discharges are presented. Numerical and theoretical predictions of these criteria are compared with experimental results. Undervoltage breakdown is the phenomenon that governs discharge initiation in gas-fed pulsed plasma thrusters, the device of primary interest to the authors. The phenomenon is also relevant to several other applications including pseudospark switches and other command-triggering devices as well as gas avalanche particle detectors
Inclusion and its Moderating Effects on Ideas, Interests, and Institutions: Mexico's Partido Accion Nacional

This article examines the moderation of the Mexico's National Action Party in the context of democratization. Founded in 1939 as a confessional party, by the 1990s the PAN had moved toward the political center – retaining its Christian-Democratic identity and ideals but also making institutional appeals to the broader voting public in Mexico. This article explains the segmented process through which the PAN moderated in response to inclusionary reforms promulgated by Mexico's authoritarian regime. In some cases, those reforms merely aggravated internal tensions in the party. But other reforms repositioned the PAN vis-a-vis its competitors, Mexican civil society, and the Mexican voting public, and triggered institutional changes that enabled the PAN to build political momentum in advance of the country's 2000 democratic transition. Employing an institutional process-tracing approach, this article examines how shocks in the PAN's competitive environment reverberated inside the organization: how they affecte...
Acetic Acid Action on Beef Tissue Surfaces Contaminated with Salmonella typhimurium

Beef tissue surfaces (lean and fat) were artificially contaminated with Salmonella typhimurium and then sanitized with 2% acetic acid. The reduction in bacterial population by the acid treatment was consistently proportional to the initial inoculum level for both tissue types. Increasing the amount of organic material in the inoculating menstra reduced the bactericidal effects of acetic acid on Salmonella typhimurium on fat tissue, although there was no change in effectiveness on lean tissue. Acid treatment sublethally injured about 65% of the population on both lean and fat tissue, and the residual effects of the acid resulted in a 1 log cycle reduction in bacterial population on fat tissue over 4 hr.
Indications for Permanent Pacemakers in Young Adults

The sick sinus syndrome has become the most common indication for permanent pacemaker implantation. 1 In a recent review of 50 patients with the sick sinus syndrome treated with pacemaker insertion, the mean age of the group was 71 years. 2There are occasional reports of the sick sinus syndrome in young adults. However, many of the reported cases involve postoperative congenital heart disease.3,4Recently Kay and his group5reported a series of 18 cases of young adults who required pacemakers. Twelve had the sick sinus syndrome and served as the basis of their report. Electrophysiologic studies were performed in only 5 of their 12 cases, and the authors stressed that the corrected sinus node recovery time was normal in their 5 patients.We routinely perform electrophysiologic studies in all patients being considered for pacemaker implantations. We therefore reviewed our experience over 8 years with young adults who required permanent pacemaker insertions.
A comparison of HDR near source dosimetry using a treatment planning system, Monte Carlo simulation, and radiochromic film.

This study aimed to investigate the high-dose rate Iridium-192 brachytherapy, including near source dosimetry, of a catheter-based applicator from 0.5 mm to 1 cm along the transverse axis. Radiochromic film and Monte Carlo (MC) simulation were used to generate absolute dose for the catheter-based applicator. Results from radiochromic film and MC simulation were compared directly to the treatment planning system (TPS) based on the American Association of Physicists in Medicine Updated Task Group 43 (TG-43U1) dose calculation formalism. The difference between dose measured using radiochromic film along the transverse plane at 0.5 mm from the surface and the predicted dose by the TPS was 24%±13%. The dose difference between the MC simulation along the transverse plane at 0.5 mm from the surface and the predicted dose by the TPS was 22.1%±3%. For distances from 1.5 mm to 1 cm from the surface, radiochromic film and MC simulation agreed with TPS within an uncertainty of 3%. The TPS under-predicts the dose at the surface of the applicator, i.e., 0.5 mm from the catheter surface, as compared to the measured and MC simulation predicted dose. MC simulation results demonstrated that 15% of this error is due to neglecting the beta particles andmore » discrete electrons emanating from the sources and not considered by the TPS, and 7% of the difference was due to the photon alone, potentially due to the differences in MC dose modeling, photon spectrum, scoring techniques, and effect of the presence of the catheter and the air gap. Beyond 1 mm from the surface, the TPS dose algorithm agrees with the experimental and MC data within 3%.« less
Protective autoantibodies in the rheumatic diseases: lessons for therapy

The adaptive immune system augments host defenses against diverse infectious threats, yet also carries intertwined risks for the development of autoimmune disease. The immune system incorporates homeostatic pathways for essential housekeeping functions that involve recognition of oxidation-modified endogenous molecules. Now, the properties of a physiological class of natural autoantibodies, which seem to modulate the severity or even prevent the onset of autoimmune disease, are beginning to be defined. Whereas disease-associated IgG autoantibodies to nuclear antigens and citrulline-modified self-proteins have been shown to activate innate pattern recognition receptors leading to increased cell death and tissue injury, a class of IgM autoantibodies to oxidation-associated neo-antigens can oppose these pathogenic effects. These naturally arising regulatory IgM autoantibodies enhance the capacity for the phagocytic clearance of host cells affected by programmed death pathways. These antibodies can also suppress key signalling pathways in the innate immune system involved in the control and resolution of inflammatory responses to Toll-like receptor agonists and disease-associated IgG autoantibodies.
Parasitoid dispersal and colonization lag in disturbed habitats: biological control of cereal leaf beetle metapopulations

Natural enemies of insect pests of annual crops have been hypothesized either to lag, or alternatively not to lag, behind their prey in dispersing to and colonizing new habitat. We examined parasitoid dispersal and parasitism of the cereal leaf beetle (Oulema melanopus [L.]; Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) by the host-specific wasp Tetrastichus julis [Walker] (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) in wheat fields of northern Utah to assess whether a colonization lag occurred. Equally high rates of parasitism of beetle larvae (including second instars early in the year) occurred in 2010 and 2011 in fields that were newly planted to wheat vs. in fields where wheat had been grown also the previous year. A caging experiment demonstrated that parasitism in these newly planted wheat fields did not arise from parasitoid adults that had matured within the fields; instead, upon emerging in other fields, parasitoid females dispersed a minimum of 100–250 m to parasitize beetle larvae early in the spring in the newly planted fields. A transect study in 2012 revealed that T. julis females dispersed rapidly at least 600 m into a newly planted wheat field to parasitize most of the early maturing beetle larvae, which occurred at very low density. Thus, the parasitoid has very strong ability to match its host in dispersal over long distances across a highly disturbed agricultural landscape, and colonization lag appears of little importance in affecting biological control associated with this host–parasitoid interaction.
Synthesis and structure of a 3D aluminophosphate (PSU-3)

Abstract Single crystals of a three dimensional ammonium aluminophosphate (PSU-3) have been synthesized as a minor phase in the synthesis of the unknown cyclohexylamine templated ALPO structure UHM-5, and its structure determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The material of composition: NH 4 ·Al 2 (OH) (PO 4 ) 2 ·2H 2 O crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n with a = 9.597 Ǻ; b = 9.553 Ǻ; c = 9.957 Ǻ; β = 103.74°. The pore structure comprises a spiral 8-ring pore down the b -axis intersecting with a linear pore down the c -axis; a linear 12-ring pore is parallel to the a -axis. The pores are filled with water, ammonium ions and projecting Al–OH 2 groups. Infra-red microscopy showed ammonium but no occlusion of organics in the structure, which like the UHM-5 structure, degrades at ∼300 °C. A parallel gallophosphate experiment produced only a UHM-5 like product.
Incidence of bacteremia with elective upper gastrointestinal endoscopic laser therapy

The incidence of bacteremia associated with endoscopy varies widely for different endoscopic procedures. This study prospectively evaluates the incidence of bacteremia in patients undergoing elective endoscopic laser therapy for two diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract. In five patients (eight treatment sessions) with arteriovenous malformations, no bacteremia developed, fn 15 patients (26 treatment sessions) with esophagogastric carcinoma, bacteremia developed at some time during the procedure in six (40%). However, bacteremia appeared to be associated with the endoscopic insertion through the tumor rather than the laser treatment per se. These findings lead us to conclude that for patients undergoing endoscopy and laser therapy for esophagogastric malignancy, but not for those being treated for arteriovenous malformations, antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent endocarditis may be indicated.
Experimental determination of stable isotope variability in Globigerina bulloides: implications for paleoceanographic reconstructions

We have quantified the environmental and physiological parameters responsible for stable isotopic disequilibrium in the non-symbiotic planktic foraminifera, Globigerina bulloides, via controlled experiments with living specimens. Individual test chambers secreted in the laboratory were amputated, pooled with other chambers from defined positions in the shell whorl and analyzed for their carbon and oxygen isotopic composition. When temperature, δ18Owater and δ13C of ΣCO2 are kept constant, the chamber δ13C and δ18O values increase 2.6 and 0.8%. respectively between the smallest chambers (chs. 1–9, shell size ≈180 μm) and final chamber (ch. 14, shell size ≈500 μm). Feeding experiments with prey of different δ13C values show that 8–15% of the chamber δ13C signal is due to the incorporation of metabolic CO2. The observed ontogenetic trend is responsible for the stable isotope size-dependency in this species and may be due to a fractionation mechanism involving the incorporation of metabolic CO2 during calcification. Temperature experiments show that shell δ18O varies as predicted by paleotemperature equations, but is offset from equilibrium. We present correction factors that should be applied to δ13C and δ18O data from well constrained size ranges to yield either oxygen isotope equilibrium or ambient δ13C of seawater ΣCO2. Our results suggest that for paleoceanographic applications, shells in the 270–320 μm size range are optimal for paleoenvironmental reconstructions
ATTENDING BIRTH AT THE MARGINS: THE “MIDWIFE PROBLEM”

Traditional Birth Attendants: An Annotated Bibliography on Their Training, Utilization, and Evaluation. L. Oddi and B. Pizurki, compilers. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 1979. Pp. 68. n.p. (paper-back). Supplement 1. H. Morrow and K. Gilroy, compilers. 1981. Pp. 37. n.p. (paperback).
Energy expenditure during household tasks in women with coronary artery disease

The energy expenditure for and heart rate responses to common household tasks were determined in 26 older (mean age 62 ± 2 years) women with coronary artery disease (CAD). Each activity was performed at a self-determined pace for 6 or 8 minutes. The average oxygen uptake (ml/kg/min) for each task evaluated was 6.5 for washing dishes, 6.8 for ironing, 7.2 for scrubbing pans, 8.6 for unpacking groceries, 9.5 for vacuuming, 9.8 for sweeping, 10.1 for mopping, 12.0 for changing bed linens, and 12.4 for washing the floor (hands ana knees). None of the subjects reported angina. Mean relative oxygen uptake (i.e., percentage of peak response with treadmill testing) ranged from 31 ± 2% for washing dishes to 62 ± 3% for changing the bed linens and washing the floor. Percentage of peak treadmill heart rate ranged from 62 ± 2% for washing dishes to 73 ± 2% for washing the floor. In 4 of the more physically demanding household activities (i.e., vacuuming, mopping, washing the floor, and changing bed linens), the responses of 10 age-matched normal women were evaluated. The absolute and relative demands of the tasks were similar between the CAD and normal groups. Results indicate that the mean energy expenditure rate of common household tasks evaluated in this study range from 2 to 4 METs, suggesting that most women with CAD who are able to achieve ≥5 METs during a treadmill exercise test without adverse signs or symptoms should be able to resume these activities.
Lack of a relationship between immune function and chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis in B6C3F1 mice

The relationship between immune function and chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis was studied employing an in vivo murine model. Neonatal B6C3F1 mice were given a single carcinogenic dose of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and the time-response kinetics for the early (foci of alteration) and late (adenomas/carcinomas) phases of hepatocellular carcinogenesis were compared to changes in hematopoiesis and immune functions associated with immune surveillance and natural resistance. Increases in hematopoiesis occurred just prior to or concurrent with the appearance of hepatocellular carcinomas, while increased macrophage and natural killer cell cytotoxicity and suppression of cell-mediated immunity occurred following tumor appearance and progressed with increasing tumor burden. Neither immunological nor hematopoietic changes were associated with early phases of hepatocarcinogenesis, as monitored by the appearance of altered hepatocellular foci. Although changes in hematopoiesis may represent an early indicator for hepatocarcinogenesis in the mouse tumor model, the data suggest that altered immune surveillance and natural resistance are not factors in the development of chemically induced hepatocellular tumors, and the changes in immune function are probably secondary to tumor development.
Does size matter for dispersal distance

Aim The aim of this study is to answer the questions: (1) do small organisms disperse farther than large, or vice versa; and (2) does the observed pattern differ for passive and active dispersers? These questions are central to several themes in biogeography (including microbial biogeography), macroecology, metacommunity ecology and conservation biology. Location The meta-analysis was conducted using published data collected worldwide. Methods We collected and analysed 795 data values in the peer-reviewed literature for direct observations of both maximal dispersal distance and mass of the dispersing organisms (e.g. seeds, not trees). Analysed taxa ranged in size from bacteria to whales. We applied macroecology analyses based on null models (using Monte Carlo randomizations) to test patterns relative to specific hypotheses. Results Collected dispersal distance and mass data spanned 9 and 21 orders of magnitude, respectively. Active dispersers dispersed significantly farther ( P < 0.001) and were significantly greater in mass ( P < 0.001) than passive dispersers. Overall, size matters: larger active dispersers attained greater maximum observed dispersal distances than smaller active dispersers. In contrast, passive-disperser distances were random with respect to propagule mass, but not uniformly random, in part due to sparse data available for tiny propagules. Conclusions Size is important to maximal dispersal distance for active dispersers, but not for passive dispersers. Claims that microbes disperse widely cannot be tested by current data based on direct observations of dispersal: indirect approaches will need to be applied. Distance‐mass relationships should contribute to a resolution of neutral and niche-based metacommunity theories by helping scale expectations for dispersal limitation. Also, distance‐mass relationships should inform analyses of latitudinal species richness and conservation biology topics such as fragmentation, umbrella species and taxonomic homogenization.
A highly oxidized Re27+ species with an electron-poor bond of order 3.5

The first paddlewheel complex with an Re27+ core and an electron-poor bond order of 3.5 is paramagnetic and shows a metal–metal bond lengthening of 0.035 A relative to the corresponding compound having a quadruple bond and an Re26+ core.
Where is the Poverty–Environment Nexus? Evidence from Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Vietnam

Summary This paper investigates the poverty–environment nexus at the provincial and district levels in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Vietnam. The analysis focuses on spatial associations between poverty populations and five environmental problems: deforestation, fragile soils, indoor air pollution, contaminated water, and outdoor air pollution. The results suggest that the nexus is quite different in each country. We conclude that the nexus concept can provide a useful catalyst for country-specific work, but not a general formula for program design. Joint implementation of poverty and environment strategies may be cost effective for some environmental problems, but independent implementation may be preferable in many cases as well.
The gas phase ion/molecule chemistry of four carbanions generated from vinylene carbonate and its methyl and dimethyl derivatives

Abstract The gas phase ion/molecule chemistry of four carbanions generated by the reaction of vinylene carbonate, and its methyl and dimethyl derivatives with hydroxide ion has been investigated. From the parent the sole product is the ketenyl anion, HCCO − , arising from vinylic proton abstraction and loss of CO 2 . From the dimethyl derivative, abstraction of an allylic proton from one of the methyl groups followed by loss of CO 2 leads exclusively to CH 2 CC(O)CH 3 . Both pathways are observed for the monomethyl derivative, leading to a mixture of the ions CH 3 CCO − and CH 2 CCHO. The ketenyl and methyl ketenyl ions do not exchange hydrogen for deuterium with D 2 O or CH 3 OD, but they do react with CS 2 and COS to form the corresponding thioketenyl anions, HCCS − and CH 3 CCS − . The ions CH 2 CC(O)CH 3 and CH 2 CCHO exchange one and three hydrogen atoms for deuterium atoms with D 2 O respectively, and react with CS 2 to form thioketenyl anions by addition and loss of thioformaldehyde. Possible mechanisms for these reactions are discussed.
The Washington Heights-Inwood Healthy Heart Program: a third generation community-based cardiovascular disease prevention program in a disadvantaged urban setting.

Abstract The Washington Heights-Inwood Healthy Heart Program (WHIHHP) is part of the New York State Healthy Heart Program, which comprises eight community-based programs in different areas of the state. WHIHHP is directed at a population of approximately 200,000 people, predominantly Hispanic and of low socioeconomic status, living in northern Manhattan in New York City. The initial 3 years of experience are presented. Six potential barriers to diffusion of the community-based disease prevention model in disadvantaged inner city communities are discussed: (a) issues of scale and complexity; (b) adaptation of this model to a “community” without geopolitical boundaries or infrastructure; (c) linguistic and cultural diversity; (d) competing problems; (e) the role of evaluation; and (f) sustainability of the program in a poor community. Strategies for addressing obstacles to model adoption are also described, including program legitimization, building program infrastructure, setting realistic expectations, focusing on one risk factor at a time, defining target population segments, and emphasizing a small number of communication channels. Finally, research issues related to the diffusion of the community-based model are discussed, specifically: (a) Does the model work in disadvantaged urban settings? (b) What are the program effects on social class gradients for risk factors? (c) What are the barriers to program adoption in such settings? (d) What changes in the model will facilitate adoption in such settings? (e) What are the best methods for conducting formative evaluation in such programs? (f) What is the best way to select communities that may be ready to adopt the model? Our initial experience implementing this model in a disadvantaged urban setting supports the feasibility of model adoption. Unanswered questions about efficacy in such settings and regarding research issues related to model diffusion will require additional research investment.