cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lestaurtinib (CEP-701) attenuates “second hit” kainic acid-induced seizures following early life hypoxic seizures

Tropomyosin-related kinase receptor B (TrkB) activation has been implicated in epileptogenesis. We investigated hippocampal levels of phosphorylated TrkB (p-TrkB) and potential antiepileptogenic actions of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, lestaurtinib (CEP-701) in postnatal day 10 (P10) rat pups following hypoxic seizures (HS). Hippocampal expression of p-TrkB over total TrkB protein levels were assessed by immunoblot at 6, 12, or 24 h post-HS, and revealed a statistically significant and transient 1.5-fold increase in hippocampal p-TrkB 12 h post-HS compared to littermate normoxic controls. To investigate the effects of CEP-701, pups were treated with 2 doses of CEP-701 intraperitoneally (i.p.), 3 mg/kg/dose, immediately after and 12 h post-HS. P-TrkB levels and susceptibility to kainic acid (KA)-induced seizures at P14 were compared between post-HS CEP-701-treated pups, post-HS vehicle-treated pups and normoxic littermates. Post-treatment with CEP-701 reversed the increased TrkB phosphorylation to baseline normoxic levels and attenuated the HS-related enhanced susceptibility to KA-induced seizures at P14. Given its known clinical safety profile, CEP-701 is a promising clinically translatable therapy to prevent epileptogenesis in the immature brain.
The effect of cold storage on the adrenergic mechanisms of intestinal smooth muscle

Abstract 1. In the guinea-pig taenia caecum, fluorescent adrenergic fibres terminate in both muscle layers. The density of these fibres is greater in the taenia than in the underlying circular muscle layer. The myenteric plexus and individual ganglion cells are also densely innervated by intensely fluorescent adrenergic nerve fibres. 2. After three days of cold storage, the specific fluorescence disappeared from all tissue layers of the taenia caecum and smooth muscle fibres. In contrast, cholinesterase active substances were still demonstrable in all tissue layers even after seven days of cold storage but the density of these substances was decreased. 3. Cold storage (3-7 days) decreased the tissue noradrenaline content and did not modify the cholinesterase enzyme activity (4 days). 4. In cold stored strips, the inhibitory response to nicotine, 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium iodide (DMPP) or electrical transmural stimulation was abolished and enhancement of the contractile response occurred. Cold storage also inhibited the inhibitory action of tyramine. Similar results were observed after reserpine treatment. 5. In fresh taenia, the relaxation produced by nicotine, DMPP and electrical transmural stimulation was inhibited by adrenoceptor blocking agents and bretylium. In cold storage preparations, contraction produced by these stimuli was blocked by parasympathetic blocking agents and potentiated by anti-cholinesterase. These results indicate that the inhibitory response to these stimulants is mediated by stimulation of the adrenergic nerve system more than by non-adrenergic nerves; the excitatory effect is probably due to stimulation of cholinergic nerves. 6. These results suggest that the adrenergic mechanisms of the taenia caecum are more labile in cold storage than the cholinergic mechanisms. Thus, the inhibitory action of cold storage on the relaxation produced by nicotine, DMPP, and transmural stimulation is probably explained by selective physical degeneration of the adrenergic nerve terminal. Also, enhancement of the contractile response to these stimulants in cold stored preparations is explained by the lack of adrenergic inhibitory mechanisms.
The influence of uncertainties in material properties, and the effects of dimensional scaling on the prediction of fusion structure lifetimes

Abstract The sensitivity of lifetime predictions for fusion reactor blanket structures is investigated by applying the Monte Carlo numerical technique. A structural computer code, Stress Analysis Including Radiation Effects (STAIRE), developed for the analysis of mirror fusion blankets, is used as a deterministic model for the prediction of the lifetime of semicircular coolant tubes. Uncertainties in material variables are treated as probabilistic inputs to the STAIRE code and output distributions are obtained. Irradiation creep rates are shown to be sufficient for relaxation of swelling-induced stresses under most conditions. In absence of high stresses, the creep limit seems to be life-limiting, although this depends on the design-dependent swelling limit. In the case of the Mirror Advanced Reactor Study (MARS) blanket design, a lifetime of several hundred dpa is shown to be highly probable.
Leverage Cycles and the Anxious Economy

ing opportunities for emerging economies. Their access to international markets has turned out to be very volatile, with frequent periods of market closures. Even worse, as we will show, emerging economies with sound fundamentals are the ones that issue less debt during these closures. The goal of this paper is to present a theory of asset pricing that will shed light on the problems of emerging assets (like emerging markets) that are not yet mature enough to be attractive to the general public. Their marginal buyers are liquidity constrained investors with small wealth relative to the whole economy, who are also marginal buyers of other risky assets. We will use our theory to argue that the periodic problems faced by emerging asset classes are sometimes symptoms of what we call a global anxious economy rather than of their own fundamental weaknesses.
Response to selection and realized heritability for body weight in three strains of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, grown in earthen ponds

Abstract Response to selection and realized heritability for body weight were determined for three strains of channel catfish grown in earthen ponds at 7500/ha. The strains — Rio Grande (Texas), Marion (Alabama), and Kansas (Kansas) — had different histories of domestication, 10 years, 20 years, and 60 years, respectively. At a harvest weight of approximately 500 g, the largest 10% of each population was selected. The growth performance of progeny from selected fish was compared to that of progeny from randomly chosen fish. Significant responses to selection (P 0.05) from Rio Grande or Marion. Responses for male and female body weights were the same in Marion (P > 0.05) but response by Kansas males was higher than that for Kansas females (P 0.05).
Volume-dependent essential and steroid hypertension.

Abstract Arterial pressure-plasma volume relations were studied during 4 days of sodium deprivation followed by 3 days of sodium loading in 14 patients with essential hypertension who had received no treatment for 1 to 2 months and in 5 patients with primary aldosteronism. Thirteen of the 14 patients with essential hypertension had previously had long-term treatment with hydrochlorothiazide or spironolactone, or both, which had maintained arterial pressure at normal levels. Arterial pressure and plasma volume were variably affected by manipulating sodium intake. However, during both sodium deprivation and loading, pressure and volume correlated directly: r = + 0.576, P
8.4.2 Measuring the Value of Adaptability of Fractionated Spacecrafts

In this paper, we introduce a new framework for quantitatively measuring the value of Adaptability in systems. A short review of literature is presented followed by the Adaptability Measurement Framework. Various stages of the Adaptability Framework including identifying system boundaries, various types of uncertainties and options analysis and modeling tools are discussed. The Framework is then applied to the case of measuring the value of adaptability of fractionated spacecrafts for several types of uncertain events and a brief discussion of results will follow.
Effects of different reinforcement procedures in the establishment of a group response

Abstract Three reinforcement contingecies for the generation and maintenance of a complex cooperative act involving three-member groups have been evaluated experimentally. It was found that individual reinforcement is both necessary and sufficient for establishing such a response. Group reinforcement alone was not effective. The highest response rate, however, was produced by a combination of individual and group reinforcement.
Vasomotor symptom prevalence and language of menopause in Japan.

Objective: To characterize the prevalence of vasomotor symptoms affecting menopausal women in Japan, the relationship between vasomotor symptoms and menopause status as defined by menstrual patterns versus self-assigned konenki (climacteric) status, and the salience and specificity of hot flash terminology. Design: Participants were healthy Japanese women, aged 45 to 55 years, living in Kyoto and Fukushima prefectures, divided into menopause groups based on menstrual patterns and self-assigned konenki groups. Women recalled 82 general health symptoms during the previous 2 weeks, and provided detailed descriptions of hot flash symptom terms. Results: Hot flash prevalence ranged from 3.0% (hotto furasshu) to 17.1% (hoteri) depending on the individual term used, and was 22.1% when all hot flash terms were combined. Prevalence of vasomotor symptoms was 25.7%, but peaked at 52.6% among late perimenopausal women. Hot flash prevalence was 13.2% among premenopausal women, but zero among self-assigned pre-konenki women. The three major hot flash terms (kaa, nobose, and hoteri) vary in their physical location, characteristics, and cultural salience. Conclusions: Vasomotor symptom prevalence rates in Japan have increased over the past 20 years but are still lower than in most Western populations, and vary according to hot flash term, and between menopause and self-assigned konenki status. Konenki status appears to be a better predictor of hot flashes than menopause status. Japanese women's language, including self-assessed konenki stage and hot flash terminology, seems to be more fine-grained than Western biomedical terms of menopause status and hot flash, and may offer insight into subtle differences in experiences and underlying physiology of menopause.
Effect of heparin administration on fibrinogenolysis during thrombolytic therapy with tissue plasminogen activator for acute myocardial infarction

Abstract Heparin accelerates plasminogen activation by tissue type plasminogen activator (t-PA). Previous investigators have postulated that heparin administration during t-PA therapy might lead to enhanced fibrinogenolysis. In this paper, important coagulation parameters from a randomised trial of early versus delayed heparin administration, during t-PA therapy for acute myocardial infarction, were analysed. In contrast to the prediction, the late heparin group had significantly greater fibrinogen depletion (nadir fibrinogen 1.06±0.65 g/1 vs 1.46±0.61 g/l, p=0.0001) and higher fibrinogen degradation products (peak FBDP 675.9±785.3 μg/ml vs 299.7±543.5 μg/ml, p=0.0001). A possible mechanism for these findings is discussed. It has previously been demonstrated that heparin and FBDP are competitive activators of plasminogen activation by t-PA. It has also been shown that the stimulation of plasminogen activation by FBDP contributes substantially to fibrinogenolysis by t-PA. Thus, heparin may reduce fibrinogenolysis by interfering with the stimulation of plasminogen activation by FBDP.
BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH FACTOR BINDS ITS RECEPTORS, IS INTERNALIZED, AND STIMULATES DNA SYNTHESIS IN BALB/C3T3 CELLS IN THE ABSENCE OF HEPARAN SULFATE

We have investigated the interaction of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) with its receptors and heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG). It has been suggested that in the absence of HSPG, cells are not able to bind bFGF or respond to treatment with bFGF. In our studies, Balb/c3T3 fibroblasts were treated with 50 mM sodium chlorate to completely inhibit (99%) sulfation of proteoglycans. We found that bFGF was able to bind, be internalized, and stimulate DNA synthesis in the absence of HSPG in a dose-dependent manner. bFGF bound to its receptors on chlorate-treated cells with a lower apparent affinity and no change in receptor number. To determine if this decreased affinity bFGF-receptor interaction is functional, we quantitatively analyzed bFGF internalization and stimulation of DNA synthesis in control and chlorate-treated cells. Endocytotic rate constants (ke) for chlorate-treated and control cells were ke = 0. 078 +/- 0.022 min-1 and ke = 0.043 +/- 0.012 min-1, respectively, suggesting that the process of bFGF internalization is not dramatically altered by HSPG. bFGF stimulated DNA synthesis to the same maximal level under both conditions, but chlorate-treated cells were significantly less responsive at low bFGF doses (approximately 10-fold increase in ED50). The differences observed for control and chlorate-treated cells in the dose-response curves for stimulation of DNA synthesis and receptor binding correlated directly, suggesting that receptors are equally capable of eliciting a mitogenic signal under both conditions. It is unlikely that these results are due to residual HSPG since heparinase (I and III) digestion of chlorate-treated cells had little effect. Although the presence of HSPG on the cell surface increases the affinity of bFGF for its receptors, our observations suggest that HSPG are not "absolutely" required for binding, internalization, or stimulation of mitogenic activity.
Mixture of high-energy configurations in the dipole states of O16

Abstract In a calculation of the effect of higher configurations on the dipole states of O 16 , the eigenstates which have been obtained by Brown et al , with the particle-hole model are regarded as the unperturbed states. The admixture of high-lying configurations in the dipole states and the ground state is considered to second order. The energy shifts of the dipole states and the correction to the dipole matrix elements due to the configuration mixing are calculated, using a delta-function for the shape of the residual interaction. In the calculation, a momentum-dependence of the interaction strength is taken into account. The matrix elements of the residual interaction are reduced to a simple form through the relations between X coefficients and Racah coefficients, derived by Rose et al . It is found that the dipole states are lowered because of the configuration mixing and the sum of the squared dipole matrix elements over the five states is reduced by about 20% in magnitude although this result depends on the values chosen for the strength of the residual interaction and the energies of the single particle states. Finally, the calculated results are compared with the experimental data and the limit of validity of the zero-range approximation for the residual interaction is discussed.
Innovation, market structure and firm size: A simultaneous equations model

This study uses a hwequation model and data for four-digit SIC manufacturing industries to examine the joint endogeneily of output measures of innovation activity and market structure (industry concentration). Its results confirm recent studies finding high concentration to have a negative effect on innovation output (especially smabfinn innovations), and Anding that large-firm innovations and small-finn innovations respond Werently to economic and technological conditions. The study also reveals that, contrary to some previous research, and consistent with modern ‘Schumpeterian’ propositions, innovation output (especially largefirm innovations) has a significant positive effect on industry concentration.
Slow skeletal muscle actin

It had been thought that vertebrates synthesize the same isoform of sarcomeric actin in all skeletal muscles. The present work demonstrates the existence of a unique variant which accounts for all of the sarcomeric actin in the slow skeletal trunk muscle of Atlantic herring. Residues 48–375 of the primary structure have been inferred from nucleotide sequencing (Acc# EF495203) and residues 48–61 confirmed by Edman based sequencing of a fragment generated by subtilisin cleavage. EF495203 differs from the same segment of slow skeletal muscle actin from salmonids (Mudalige et. al. FEBS J. (2007) 274, 3452-3461) by a single residue (# 353), but there are eleven and ten substitutions, respectively, between EF495203 and salmon fast skeletal actin and rabbit skeletal actin. At least half of these substitutions are of a non-conservative nature. Actins isolated from different skeletal muscles from herring and salmon, but not rabbit, chicken and frog, can be differentiated by electrophoretic mobility at alkaline pH in the presence of 8M urea; digestion with various proteases, including thrombin, subtilisin and V8, and resistance to induced-denaturation. The melting temperatures of various G-actins (Ca.ATP) are: ∼45 (salmon slow skeletal muscle); ∼50 (herring slow skeletal muscle) and ∼55 degrees C (salmon, herring and rabbit fast skeletal muscle). Possible sources of the enhanced chain flexibility will be discussed. The demonstration of slow skeletal muscle actin in two unrelated teleosts indicates that it is not a lone occurrence.
The Relationship of Teacher Clarity and Immediacy with Student State Receiver Apprehension, Affect, and Cognitive Learning.

This study examines the relationships among receiver apprehension, teacher clarity, and teacher immediacy in the instructional context. The relationships between state receiver apprehension and student motivation, affect, and cognitive learning are examined, as are the relationships of teacher clarity and immediacy with receiver apprehension. Analyses reveal that, although state receiver apprehension is significantly related to negative instructional outcomes, clear and immediate teaching may be able to negate this relationship. The importance of being both a clear and immediate teacher are discussed in terms of state receiver apprehension and other instructional outcomes.
Positive surgical margins in early stage oral cavity cancer: an analysis of 20,602 cases.

ObjectiveTo report the incidence of positive surgical margins in early oral cavity cancer and identify patient, tumor, and system factors associated with their occurrence.Study Design and SettingRetrospective analysis of the National Cancer Database.Subjects and MethodsPatients diagnosed with stage I or II oral cavity squamous cell cancer between 1998 and 2011 were identified. Univariate and multivariate analyses of factors associated with positive margins were conducted.ResultsIn total, 20,602 patients with early oral cancer were identified. Margin status was reported in 94.8% of cases, and positive margins occurred in 7.5% of those cases. Incidence of positive margins by institution varied from 0% to 43.8%, with median incidence of 7.1%. Positive margins were associated with clinical factors including stage II disease (odds ratio [OR], 1.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.55-1.98), intermediate grade (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.04-1.37), high grade (OR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.39-2.03), and floor of mouth (OR, 1.78; ...
The distributed programming language SR—Mechanisms, design and implementation

SR is a new language for programming software containing many processes that execute in parallel. The language allows an entire software system that controls a potentially large collection of processors to be programmed as an integrated set of software modules. The key language mechanisms are resources, operations and input statements. The language supports separate compilation, type abstraction, and dynamic communication links; it also contains novel treatments of arrays and procedures. This paper gives an overview of the language mechanisms, discusses some of the major design decisions and describes one implementation.
Turbulent natural convection heat transfer in an asymmetrically heated, vertical parallel-plate channel

Abstract An analysis has been developed to predict induced flow and heat transfer in an asymmetrically heated, vertical parallel-plate channel. The problem considered is related to numerous industrial, electronic and power equipment cooling applications. The flow of air in the channel is induced by the thermal buoyancy force. A low Reynolds number κ—e turbulence model is used in conjunction with heat transfer analysis in the channel. The model predictions are first compared with available experimental data for the purpose of validating the model. Then, the local heat flux and Nusselt number distributions are presented to obtain understanding of the physical phenomena and scaling relations for induced flow rate and average heat transfer coefficient are developed in terms of relevant dimensionless parameters.
Hands-On NLP for an Interdisciplinary Audience

The need for a single NLP offering for a diverse mix of graduate students (including computer scientists, information scientists, and linguists) has motivated us to develop a course that provides students with a breadth of understanding of the scope of real world applications, as well as depth of knowledge of the computational techniques on which to build in later experiences. We describe the three hands-on tasks for the course that have proven successful, namely: 1) in-class group simulations of computational processes; 2) team posters and public presentations on state-of-the-art commercial NLP applications, and; 3) team projects implementing various levels of human language processing using open-source software on large textual collections. Methods of evaluation and indicators of success are also described.
Viscous drag reduction of a nose body

The convex curvature concept of viscous drag reduction has been applied to an axisymmetric nose-body combination. The work is described in two parts. A modified mixing-length formulation is first qualified in several complex turbulent boundary layers that are primarily curved. This is then used to design an axisymmetric nose that incorporates several recently proposed concepts of viscous drag reduction. Primarily, application is made of the fact that compared to a flat surface, the effect of streamwise convex curvature is to reduce skin friction, and the level remains lower even after the curvature is removed. A parametric study has been conducted to incorporate the conflicting requirements in a nose, viz., the application of the drag reduction concepts at an optimized level while causing no separation. The axial distribution of the cross-sectional area ratio is found to be critical to separation. This required the drag reduction concepts to be implemented over several short fetches of curvature instead of a single long fetch. A novel three-stage nose has been designed that does not separate while incorporating the drag reduction concepts. This has been compared with two "equivalent" nose bodies.
How do communities want their information? Designing educational outreach on organ donation for Asian Americans.

Context—Support of organ donation among Asian Americans has been limited, but lack of access to information and prevalence of misinformation are 2 barriers that might be counteracted by public education.Objective—To solicit advice from 4 Asian American communities on the design of a culturally appropriate educational campaign on organ donation and transplantation.Design and Setting—Cross-sectional, multilingual survey administered at community festivals and supermarkets.Participants—201 Asian American respondents.Main Outcome Measures—The components of an effective public education outreach campaign on organ donation were defined for 4 Asian American communities.Results—Media venues ranked highest for information dissemination on organ donation/transplantation were, in descending order, mainstream television, ethnic newspapers, mainstream newspapers, and ethnic television. Most respondents preferred a spokesperson of Asian American descent, but opinions differed by ethnicity as to whether an effective spo...
A Dynamic Workflow Approach for the Integration of Bioinformatics Services

Modern biological and chemical studies rely on life science databases as well as sophisticated software tools (e.g., homology search tools, modeling and visualization tools). These tools often have to be combined and integrated in order to support a given study. SIBIOS (System for the Integration of Bioinformatics Services) serves this purpose. The services are both life science database search services and software tools. The task engine is the core component of SIBIOS. It supports the execution of dynamic workflows that incorporate multiple bioinformatics services. The architecture of SIBIOS, the approaches to addressing the heterogeneity as well as interoperability of bioinformatics services, including data integration are presented in this paper.
Peripheral Mechanisms in Appetite Regulation

Peripheral mechanisms in appetite regulation include the motor functions of the stomach, such as the rate of emptying and accommodation, which convey symptoms of satiation to the brain. The rich repertoire of peripherally released peptides and hormones provides feedback from the arrival of nutrients in different regions of the gut from where they are released to exert effects on satiation, or regulate metabolism through their incretin effects. Ultimately, these peripheral factors provide input to the highly organized hypothalamic circuitry and vagal complex of nuclei to determine cessation of energy intake during meal ingestion, and the return of appetite and hunger after fasting. Understanding these mechanisms is key to the physiological control of feeding and the derangements that occur in obesity and their restoration with treatment (as shown by the effects of bariatric surgery).
Constitutive degradation of putrescine in a Pseudomonas species and its possible physiological significance.

Abstract It is well known that the polyamines are normally not “degraded” by E. coli but that they can be “inactivated” by acetylation. This paper documents the fact that a Pseudomonas species , which does not acetylate putrescine, has a constitutive degradative pathway for putrescine. A hypothesis is presented that these two modes of inactivation of polyamines may represent an essential regulatory mechanism, aside from the classical repression and feedback inhibition, on the intracellular level of these compounds. It is suggested that such regulation, involving degradation or other means of inactivation, may be a general one applicable to synthetic end products which serve a regulatory function.
Carbohydrate-Free Media for Crithidia

SYNOPSIS. The insect trypanosomatid Crithidia fasciculata grew well at pH 3.8–6.3 in defined carbohydrate-free media containing arginine (an essential amino acid) + proline + glutamic acid as substrates; glycerol was effective by itself. Precipitation of hemin in the acid media did not hinder growth. Further addition of succinic acid permitted growth matching that with carbohydrate. At pH 6.9–7.5 growth in this medium without carbohydrate with the aforementioned non-fermentable substrates was slight; added carbohydrate (as sucrose or sorbitol) permitted good growth. Utilization of non-carbohydrate substrates may contribute to Crithidia's ability (and presumably to that of pathogenic trypanosomatids as well) to multiply in the insect gut and to the ability of some Trypanosoma species to multiply in the insect hemocoel and salivary gland.
Open for Business: Lessons in Chinese Commerce for the New Millennium Vol. 2. 2nd ed. by KUO, JANE C. M.

The article reviews the book "Open for Business: Lessons in Chinese Commerce for the New Millennium," vol. 2, by Jane C.M. Kuo.
A holistic approach to anxiety and stress.

The holistic approach is a total, multifaceted view. It follows the principle that phenomena like anxiety and stress are extremely complex. They cannot be explained or dealt with using a narrow, unilateral, singular, or simple approach. All factors must be seen and dealt with. In the understanding of biopsychosocial conditions, one must take into account the past as well as the present. External as well as inner causative factors should be studied. There should be an integration of biological, psychological, and social orientations. If this is not done, then one's conclusions are based on partial observations rather than on the whole picture. Stress is a pressure or strain upon the organism and may be physical, emotional, mental, or spritual. It may ultimately produce inner conflict; anxiety, and reactions of defense. Stress is the price the organism has to pay for its excessive adaptational reactions. Anxiety is a response of malaise and anguish. It is a feeling of impending doom and is associated with apprehension. Although anxiety may exist in pure form, it is frequently diverted through destructive and futi le mechanisms of defense into somatic, mental, emotional, and spiritual reactions. There is a close bond and a definite link between anxiety and stress. Stress need not be accompanied by anxiety in its early stages. If it continues over a period of time it can leadto various, usually disguised, anxiety reactions. Considerable overlap in regard to causes and effects exists between stress and anxiety. There is a two-way reaction. Stress will lead to anxiety, and anxiety sooner or later will become stressful. A condition of stress will result from overwork, loss of sleep, physical exhaustion, deadline type of work, repeated obstacles and setbacks, and unfavorable situations. Anxiety is always accompanied by stress and takes a physical and emotional toll. If anxiety is frequent, recurrent, and of long duration, the stress effect is more evident. In regard to somatic disturbances, brief anxiety leads to functional disorders. Cardiac palpitations, tachycardia, gastric hyperacidity,
Transumbilical direct trocar entry for operative videolaparoscopy

Abstract Objectives: Complications associated with initial abdominal entry are a prime concern for laparoscopic surgeons. We describe our technique of transumbilical direct trocar entry and evaluate the effectiveness and safety of this approach to primary trocar entry based on over 5 years’ experience. Study design: Complications were reviewed by retrospective consecutive review of charts of patients who underwent operative laparoscopy. Methods: Between September 1993 and January 1999, 1,027 patients underwent 2,251 operative laparoscopic procedures at Stanford University Medical Center, a tertiary care facility. Nine-hundred-eighteen patients underwent transumbilical direct trocar entry. One hundred and nine patients considered to be at high risk for intraabdominal adhesions underwent initial pneumoperitoneum using Veress needle prior to initial trocar placement. Laser treatment of endometriosis, adhesiolysis, and myomectomy (laparoscopic and laparoscopic-assisted) represented 1,543 (68.5%) of the procedures performed. Results: Complication rates associated with primary trocar placement were evaluated. No major complications were observed. Two of 918 patients who underwent transumbilical direct trocar placement experienced umbilical infections. Conclusion: Transumbilical direct trocar placement is a safe and effective method of primary trocar entry.
Diagnostic and prognostic implications of plasma amino acid determinations in chronic active hepatitis.

To further assess the molar ratio of branched-chain to aromatic amino acids as a measure of disease activity, we correlated results of this test with histologic features of inflammation, standard biochemical tests; and prognosis in 68 patients with severe chronic active hepatitis. An abnormal molar ratio (<3.0) reflected histologic findings of chronic active hepatitis in 26 of 35 instances. A normal molar ratio (≥3.0), however, was associated with histologic features of chronic active hepatitis in nine of 14 instances. Molar ratio abnormalities occurred more frequently in patients with cirrhosis than without cirrhosis (95% vs 45%,P<0.01). Only one of 20 patients with cirrhosis had a normal ratio, and none of 12 followed serially during therapy improved the ratio to normal. No correlation was seen between the molar ratio and severity of inflammation or serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, albumin, bilirubin, and gamma globulin. When corticosteroids were discontinued, relapse occurred as frequently in patients with a normal molar ratio as in others (80% vs 71%), and the presence of an abnormal ratio did not precluded a sustained remission after treatment. We conclude that the plasma molar ratio does not reflect histologic activity, correlate with standard liver function tests, or indicate disease behavior after treatment withdrawal. A normal molar ratio during or after treatment, however, may exclude cirrhosis.
Epidemiological and economic study of the repeat breeder syndrome in Michigan dairy cattle. I. Epidemiological modeling

Abstract Data from 96 dairy herds randomly selected in the State of Michigan were used to: (1) estimate the economic impact of repeat breeder cow syndrome (RBS) and related risk factors and (2) evaluate the economic effects of changing during the dry period some nutritional risk factors that influence RBS. The economic analyses were based on an epidemiological model which considered both the direct and the indirect effects of the significant risk factors. The mean direct costs of milk fever, dystocia, and repeat breeder syndrome for an 86-cow herd per year were $ 231, $ 529, and $ 994, respectively. Farms that fed 100% dry hay or haylage to dry cows had an increase in the cumulative incidence (CI) rate of milk fever and a reduction in the CI rate of dystocia in comparison with farms that fed a ration containing corn silage. Increasing the annual CI rate of milk fever in a herd by 1% was associated with an increased total (direct and indirect) cost per herd per year of $ 133. Increasing the annual CI rate of dystocia in a herd by 1% was associated with an increased total cost per herd per year of $ 140. These results suggest that proper nutrition during the dry period to prevent milk fever and dystocia is essential for reducing the incidence and cost of repeat breeder syndrome.
Time-domain electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy

Abstract Time-domain electron paramagnetic resonance methods are allowing researchers to probe the local structure of paramagnetic transition metal and organic radical centers in biological systems. In particular, the methods of electron spin echo envelope modulation and electron spin echo electron nuclear double resonance are being used to measure nuclear spin transitions of magnetic nuclei in the vicinity of the paramagnetic species. The resulting magnetic hyperfine and electric quadrupolar parameters can be interpreted to yield insights into the structure of a complex and its interaction with substrate and inhibitor molecules.
Race in pre-Islamic poetry: the work of Antara Ibn Shaddad

This article examines Antara Ibn Shaddad's poetry in light of early Arab encounters with Black Africa. Prior to the invasion by the Christian state of Ethiopia in 525 AD, Arab traders had used Ethi...
Clustering of human motions based on feature-level fusion of multiple body sensor data

Human joints and muscles are the crucial biomechanical factors that control and drive body movements. Hence, assessing the role of joint movements and muscular activities is important for analyzing human motions. This quantification of integrated biomechanical kinematics with electrophysiology is useful for gait and posture analysis, prosthetic design and other orthopedic applications. We study the effect of integrating multiple body sensor data on the clustering of human motions by fusing their corresponding relevant features extracted from the raw data. In this paper, our objective is to perform cluster analysis on human motions based on the fused feature vectors that underline the joint relationship between body movements and muscular activity.
Chimeric T Cell Receptor-Immunoglobulin Molecules: Function and Applications

The antigen-specific receptors on T and B cells are related by sequence similarities, mechanisms for the generation of diversity, and a common protein domain structure. In contrast, the form of antigen recognition for T- and B-cell antigen receptors is entirely different. Whereas the B cell antigen receptor, i.e., membrane-bound immunoglobulin (Ig), has the potential to recognize a vast diversity of chemical determinants, the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) invariably recognizes oligomeric peptides bound to major histocompatibility complex molecules. A question is whether the variable domains of the TCR and Ig are similar in structure, and if so, can they be substituted one for the other. Recent experiments show that, in some combinations, the variable region of Ig can substitute for the variable region of a TCR, and convey, to a reactive T lymphocyte, the antigen specificity of an Ig molecule. This type of receptor engineering may have interesting applications in disease therapy.
One-Week Staged Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty Protocol: A Safety Comparison of Intended and Completed Surgeries

The number of patients requiring bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is expected to grow rapidly. While some trials have compared staged with simultaneous TKA, no literature characterizes the subset of staged TKA patients who cancel their second surgery. In this study, we report on the safety and utility of a one-week staged TKA protocol in a series of 145 patients who registered to undergo staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty one week apart. Among these patients, we identify a significantly higher complication rate and comorbidity status among patients who do not proceed to a second TKA. This finding identifies a potential advantage of a staged protocol over simultaneous bilateral TKA in not subjecting higher-risk patients to a second physiologic insult of a contralateral TKA.
Polarization at ion-exchange membranes in electrodialysis

Abstract In an attempt to investigate polarization phenomena (including substantial participation of H + and OH - in conduction) which seriously limit the production rates of electrodialysis units, current-voltage curves were measured in different sections along the tortuous flow path of an electrodialysis apparatus containing a single anion-exchange membrane of size 20″ × 18″. The electrical potential drops across this membrane and the adjacent solution layers were measured with silver electrodes terminating in exposed chloridized tips, placed in the two flow compartments adjacent to the anion-exchange membrane. While the measured current- voltage curves exhibit true limiting-current plateaus only in the last sections, all sections yield plateau currents after correction for the measured variation of coulombic efficiency. Moreover, these corrected curves are in fair agreement with those computed from the solution of the Nernst-Planck equations of ion migration, as developed in this paper to take due account of the variation of salt concentration along the flow path.
Interestingness: Controlling inferences

Abstract : The problem of controlling inference is one of the most serious in Artificial Intelligence. New types of goal and plan inferences seriously compound the problem. This paper attempts to outline one possible solution to controlling inferences, namely following what is interesting and ignoring what is not. (Author)
A role for hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor in regulating normal and neoplastic cells of reproductive tissues.

To review data regarding the expression, function, and signal transduction pathways associated with hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) as related to normal and neoplastic cells of reproductive tissues. Studies involving HGF/SF were reviewed and the data were summarized. Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor is generally expressed within the stromal components of the testis, prostate, placenta, mammary gland, uterine endometrium, and ovary. The receptor for HGF/SF, c-met, is expressed in the epithelial cells of these tissues. Ligand activation of c-met results in its autotyrosine phosphorylation and the subsequent stimulation of numerous signal transduction pathways. Which pathways are activated determine in part the effect that HGF/SF has on a specific tissue. Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor can promote a variety of biologic responses including mitosis, motogenesis (ie, cell movement), differentiation, and apoptosis. In addition, both HGF/SF and c-met continue to be expressed during the neoplastic transformation of cells from these reproductive tissues. Hapatocyte growth factor/scatter factor plays an important role in regulating the physiologic function of several reproductive tissues and may also be involved in the oncogenesis of cells within these tissues.
Protein aggregation behavior regulates cyclin transcript localization and cell-cycle control.

Summary Little is known about the active positioning of transcripts outside of embryogenesis or highly polarized cells. We show here that a specific G1 cyclin transcript is highly clustered in the cytoplasm of large multinucleate cells. This heterogeneous cyclin transcript localization results from aggregation of an RNA-binding protein, and deletion of a polyglutamine stretch in this protein results in random transcript localization. These multinucleate cells are remarkable in that nuclei cycle asynchronously despite sharing a common cytoplasm. Notably, randomization of cyclin transcript localization significantly diminishes nucleus-to-nucleus differences in the number of mRNAs and synchronizes cell-cycle timing. Thus, nonrandom cyclin transcript localization is important for cell-cycle timing control and arises due to polyQ-dependent behavior of an RNA-binding protein. There is a widespread association between polyQ expansions and RNA-binding motifs, suggesting that this is a broadly exploited mechanism to produce spatially variable transcripts and heterogeneous cell behaviors. PaperClip
Fusion Panel Meeting

Andrew Lawler's News & Comment article “Fusion panel scored for tipping results” ([14 Nov., p. 1219][1]) ignores the main issue. In six meetings over 6 months, a National Research Council (NRC) committee determined that some information relevant to its charge was best obtained from senior Department of Energy (DOE) officials responsible for the Science Based Stockpile Stewardship program. That was the purpose of the 6 December meeting Lawler describes, one quite in accord with NRC procedures. Lawler's article describes the meeting as between “physicist Steve Koonin of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, chair of the NRC panel, and DOE managers.” The full committee and its NRC staff were in attendance. Lawler also reports that “NRC Executive Officer William Colglazier says he was not aware of the meeting.” Although Colglazier was not aware of the conversations at the meeting, he was fully aware that the meeting was to be held (indeed, it is on the 6 December agenda, reproduced in the committee's report), but could not attend because he lacked the DOE clearances for the level of classified information required for this study. The headline of Lawler's article and the article itself also distort reality by implying that the committee prematurely revealed its findings. The senior DOE officials were told only that the committee to date had found nothing that would warrant stopping further work on the National Ignition Facility (NIF), but that its investigations were continuing. Given that every phase of the NIF project had been subject to continuous scientific and technical scrutiny, this observation was hardly revelatory. The committee also made it clear that its conclusions had not yet been formulated and that its report had yet to be written and peer-reviewed. The main issue is the NRC report itself, which was vetted through the National Academy of Science's rigorous review process. The committee's primary task was to assess the technical statutes of the NIF project and to make technical recommendations that would increase the likelihood that a national goal endorsed by both the Administration and Congress would be achieved. We believe that the report does so, making the legal barriers to its use by the DOE antithetical to the national interest. Those who are interested can judge the report for themselves at . # {#article-title-2} Response: Koonin's and Colglazier's arguments are with each other, not with Science. The main issue in my article was not the quality of the report, but whether the NIF committee abided by NRC rules. Disclosure by NRC panels of preliminary results to sponsors is a violation of academy procedures, as Colglazier noted in the article and as he continues to affirm. He still maintains that “what was done [by the Koonin panel] was not what the Academy wants.” Whether or not the preliminary findings were “hardly revelatory,” Koonin and Colglazier acknowledge that the NIF panel provided them to DOE managers before they were seen by NRC reviewers. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.278.5341.1219a
Hydrothermal processes along mid-ocean ridges: An experimental investigation

An experimental investigation of high-temperature seawater/basalt interactions has been conducted in order to better evaluate the geochemical and economic implications of hydrothermal circulation of seawater in the oceanic crust along active mid-ocean ridges. The results indicate that, as seawater reacts with basalt between 200 ° C and 500 ° C at 500–800 bars, the fluid tends to change from an oxygenated, slightly alkaline, Na+, Mg++, SO4 =, Cl− solution to a reducing, acidic, Na+, Ca++, Cl−, solution with Fe, Mn and Cu concentrations up to 1500, 190 and 0.3 ppm respectively. Silica concentrations in the fluid reach concentrations of 200–600 ppm; however, Al abundances remain very low (∼0.5 ppm). Gray and green smectites, anhydrite, albite, tremolite-actinolite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite and hematite were the dominant alteration products formed. These data imply that large-scale circulation of seawater in the oceanic crust could account for the Al-deficient metalliferous sediments associated with mid-ocean ridges and could be important in the genesis of certain Fe-Cu sulfide ore deposists. The process could also affect the geochemical budgets of certain elements and exert substantial control of the steady-state composition of seawater by removing excess Na and Mg and adding Ca, Si, and H to the oceans.
Internal friction, acoustic emission and fatigue in metals for high amplitude ultrasonic frequencies

Abstract High amplitudes (strains up to 3 × 10−3) have been used in studying internal friction, acoustic emission and fatigue in metals. The internal friction in the high amplitude range is due to breakaway of dislocations from pinning points and by the generation of Frank-Read loops which results in plastic strain. There are two plastic regions, one when the added loops are held up by the grain boundaries, and the second when the loops break through the grain boundaries. In the second region, slip bands are produced in the metal. As the amplitude increases slip bands can join up and fatigue in the metal occurs. Ultrasonic frequencies are useful for studying fatigue since a large number of cycles can occur in a reasonable time. Acoustic emission—that is, a noise in the sample associated with the dislocation motion—can be studied by putting transducers on the sample. It is shown that the emission is closely associated with the internal friction since it goes through two regions in the plastic range.