cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prevention of Bone Loss with Risedronate in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

In postmenopausal women with low bone mass and hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer on an aromatase inhibitor, risedronate maintained skeletal health assessed by bone density and turnover markers. Women with the greatest decreases in bone turnover markers at 12 months had the greatest increases in bone density at 24 months. Aromatase inhibitors (AIs), adjuvant endocrine therapy for postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, are associated with bone loss and fractures. Our objectives were to determine if (1) oral bisphosphonate therapy can prevent bone loss in women on an AI and (2) early changes in bone turnover markers (BTM) can predict later changes in bone mineral density (BMD). We conducted a 2-year double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial in 109 postmenopausal women with low bone mass on an AI (anastrozole, letrozole, or exemestane) for hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. Participants were randomized to once weekly risedronate 35 mg or placebo, and all received calcium plus vitamin D. The main outcome measures included BMD, BTM [carboxy-terminal collagen crosslinks (CTX) and N-terminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen (P1NP)], and safety. Eighty-seven percent completed 24 months. BMD increased more in the active treatment group compared to placebo with an adjusted difference at 24 months of 3.9 ± 0.7 percentage points at the spine and 3.2 ± 0.5 percentage points at the hip (both p < 0.05). The adjusted difference between the active treatment and placebo groups were 0.09 ± 0.04 nmol/LBCE for CTX and 23.3 ± 4.8 μg/mL for P1NP (both p < 0.05). Women with greater 12-month decreases in CTX and P1NP in the active treatment group had a greater 24-month increase in spinal BMD (p < 0.05). The oral therapy was safe and well tolerated. In postmenopausal women with low bone mass and breast cancer on an AI, the oral bisphosphonate risedronate maintained skeletal health.
‘My own nation’: Igbo Exiles in the Diaspora

When Olaudah Equiano (c. 1745-97) was taken on board the slave ship that carried him out of the Bight of Biafra he feared for his life. Everything he saw that day seemed to confirm these initial fears that the whites (whom he suspected were evil spirits) had acquired him in order to eat him or perhaps to sacrifice him to their gods. Equiano also saw, however, other people 'of my own nation' on board which, as he later remembered, 'in a small degree gave ease to my mind'. These people, whom he recognized as fellow 'natives of Eboe', or 'Eboan Africans', or simply 'my countrymen', told the young boy what little they knew: that 'we were to be carried to these white people's country to work for them'; that this country was a far distant one; that they had their own women there; and that the whites used 'some spell or magic they put in the water when they liked, in order to stop the vessel'.1
Slow wave imaging of permeable rocks

A high-resolution slow wave imaging system based on attenuation measurement of transmitted airborne ultrasonic waves was developed to study the inhomogeneous pore structure in permeable formations. Currently, the threshold sensitivity of our system is approximately 100 mD, making possible the characterization of typical petroleum reservoir rocks with spatial resolution of between 0.5 and 5 mm in the 50 kHz to 500 kHz frequency range. The degree of disorder in permeable solids is of crucial importance especially when the relative permeability is considered. It is expected that this new technique can complement such methods as hydrodynamic dispersion measurements and petrography for characterizing flow in porous rocks.
Exchange rate volatility and Foreign Direct Investment in South Asia

This paper examines the effect of Real Exchange Rate Volatility (RERVOL) on the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflow in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. A model that includes exchange rate volatility with other determinants of FDI is developed. Annual time series data from 1976–2009 is used for India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. In case of Bangladesh because of the data limitation only data series from 1986–2009 is used. A panel data from these four countries for a period of 1986–2009 is also constructed. Before estimating the model the time series properties of the data are diagnosed and an error correction model is developed. The estimated results show an inconclusive relationship between the exchange rate volatility and the FDI.
The induction of supernumerary ribs in rodents: Role of the maternal stress

Increased incidences of supernumerary ribs (SNR) are a relatively common finding in standard teratology bioassays, and previous studies have indicated a possible correlation between their occurrence and general maternal stress. The present study describes the effects of immobilization stress on the induction of supernumerary ribs. To isolate the sensitive period of SNR induction, Sprague-Dawley rats and CD-1 mice were treated with 300 and 1,500 mg/kg, respectively, of sodium salicylate on single days 7-11 of gestation. In the rat, day 10 was found to be the sensitive period of lumbar rib induction (32% SNR vs 10% on other days) while day 9 was critical in the mouse (71% SNR vs less than 29% on other days). In a second set of experiments, maternal stress was accomplished by restraining two groups of gravid females in the supine position for 12 hours on the predetermined sensitive day. One group was immobilized from 9 am to 9 pm, while the second group was restrained from 9 pm to 9 am. Concurrent controls were food and water deprived for similar periods. Additional untreated controls were also included. An increase in supernumerary ribs was noted in stressed mice but not in rats. The 9 am to 9 pm mouse group exhibited the highest increase in supernumerary ribs (41%) as well as significant incidences of fused ribs and exencephaly. A significant linear relationship between maternal weight loss during treatment and increases in supernumerary ribs was also noted. Results suggest that for some compounds, supernumerary ribs may be the indirect result of agent-induced, generalized maternal stress in the CD-1 mouse.
Worsening Hypokalemia and an Acid-Base Abnormality in a Pregnant Woman

A 21-year-old previously healthy pregnant woman, vomiting for the previous three days, developed diffuse muscle aches, sweating, and low-grade fever. Two other family members suffered a similar syndrome. Premature labor pains de,!eloped on the day of admission along with generalized weakness and circumoral and digital paresthesias. Physical examination revealed modest extracellular fluid (ECF) volume loss and premature uterine contractions. BP decreased from 105175 to 100170 mm Hg with standing while her pulse increased from 95 to 105 beats/min. Respirations were 16/min and her rectal temperature was 99°F (37.8°C). A viable fetus and an appropriately sized uterus with frequent contractions were noted. Reflexes were normoactive. Serum chemistries were drawn, 5 % dextrose-saline infused, and the patient was admitted to the obstetrics service. Ritodrine hydrochloride was given intravenously (0.25 rng/min) to arrest the abnormal uterine activity. In the two-hour interval between chemical studies (Table 1), the patient complained of worsening generalized weakness, and deep tendon reflexes became hypoactive.
Status of the quark gluon plasma search

A selection of results are discussed that support the conclusion that strongly interacting quark gluon plasma is produced in heavy-ion collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at BNL.
Developing Translational Animal Models for Symptoms of Schizophrenia or Bipolar Mania

Animal models have long been used to explore hypotheses regarding the neurobiological substrates of and treatments for psychiatric disorders. Early attempts to develop models that mimic the entirety of the diagnostic syndromes in psychiatry have evolved into more appropriate efforts to model specific symptoms. Such an approach reflects the facts that even in patients, clinical symptoms transcend diagnostic categories, and the specific etiologies of psychiatric disorders are unknown. An animal model can only be identified adequately by specifying both the manipulation (drug, lesion, strain) used to induce abnormalities and the measure(s) used to characterize them. A wide range of pharmacological, lesion, and developmental manipulations have been combined with various measures of information processing to develop useful animal models that parallel human tests. Prepulse inhibition of startle, event-related potential (ERP) measures of auditory gating, and Cambridge neuropsychological test automated battery (CANTAB) measures of cognition are examples of measures that can be used in both rodents and humans and that are robustly altered in both psychiatric disorders and animals manipulated with appropriate drugs or lesions. The further development of cross-species models is critically important, given the new opportunities for the development and registration of specific treatments for the cognitive disorders of schizophrenia that are not ameliorated by available drugs. In moving beyond the focus on psychotic symptoms to the cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia, animal models that do not involve manipulations of dopamine D(2) receptors but that do utilize information processing measures that are correlated with cognitive disturbances are receiving increased attention. Here, selected examples of how cross-species measures of psychiatric disorders are developed and validated are discussed. Specific animal paradigms that parallel the specific domains of cognition that are altered in schizophrenia provide one focus of the review. Another focus includes efforts to develop new human models of psychiatric symptoms that are designed to parallel existing tests used in rodents.
Polarization dynamics in ferroelectric perovskite crystals

The polar low frequency vibrational and relaxational modes crucial to understanding the structure and phase transitions of ferroelectric perovskite crystals are examined using impulsive stimulated Raman scattering (ISRS). At wavevectors near the Brillouin zone center, these modes are strongly coupled to light, and the pure optic mode behavior is deduced from the wavevector dependence of the mixed phonon-polaritons.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Sensitive and rapid isocratic liquid chromatography method for the quantitation of curcumin in plasma.

An HPLC assay was developed using three methods of plasma sample preparation in order to quantitate curcumin, the main constituent in the herbal dietary supplement turmeric. Each method involves simple and rapid processing of samples (either an ethyl acetate or chloroform extraction) with resulting different quantitation limits for curcumin. The assay was developed in an effort to quantify extremely low curcumin plasma concentrations observed in preliminary in vivo studies. The most sensitive assay can reliably detect concentrations down to 2.5 ng/ml. Plasma quantitation was precise and accurate based on both intra- and inter-day validations as indicated by low values for coefficients of variation and bias, respectively (≤15%). The analytical validation was reproducible between different analysts. The resulting analytical method couples desired sensitivity with the ease of an isocratic system.
Nutrient mitigation capacity in Mississippi Delta, USA drainage ditches.

Eutrophication and hypoxia within aquatic systems are a serious international concern. Various management practices have been proposed to help alleviate nutrient loads transported to the Gulf of Mexico and other high-profile aquatic systems. The current study examined the nutrient mitigation capacity of a vegetated (V) and non-vegetated (NV) agricultural drainage ditch of similar size and landform in the Mississippi Delta. While no statistically significant differences in ammonium, nitrate, or dissolved inorganic phosphorus mitigation between the two ditches existed, there were significant differences in total inorganic phosphorus percent load reductions (V: 36% � 4; NV: 71% � 4). However, both agricultural drainage ditches were able to mitigate nutrients, thus reducing the load reaching downstream aquatic receiving systems. Further studies examining ecosystem dynamics within drainage ditches such as sediment and plant nutrient partitioning, as well as microbial processes involved, are needed to provide a better understanding of natural nutrient variability, seasonality and flux. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Technology Insight: hand-carried ultrasound cardiac assessment—evolution, not revolution

Hand-carried ultrasound devices can enhance the art of bedside physical examination by increasing diagnostic accuracy, detecting disease at an earlier stage, and improving triage and referral of patients. Although limitations of device cost and portability can be overcome with technologic advances, the shortage of standardized imaging and training opportunities now needs to be addressed to move the technique forward. Cardiologists are the best-qualified subspecialists to design and teach a simplified training program for bedside use of hand-carried ultrasound devices to assess the cardiovascular system.
Drug usage and health characteristics in noninstitutional retired persons.

: A study was made of total drug usage (prescription, over-the-counter, social), health characteristics, and life satisfaction in 55 noninstitutional retired men and women whose average age was 70 years. The sample was purposively selected on the basis of involvement in peer group interaction networks. Among those using drugs, the average number taken per person was 2.0 prescription, 1.8 over-the-counter, and 1.8 social (alcohol, caffeine, nicotine), for a total of 5.6 drugs. For men the average was 7.5, and for women 4.7 drugs. Although drug interaction hazards from prescription drugs alone appeared to be minimal, examination of total drug usage indicated potential interactive hazards. Despite the number of chronic illnesses and physical impairments (5 and 1 per person respectively) and the number of drugs ingested, the respondents usually expressed overall satisfaction with their life condition. A commonly expressed dissatisfaction (males 75 percent, females 35 percent) was with government officials. Respondents had confidence in both their physicians' diagnoses and the effectiveness of the drugs prescribed. The findings that women reported more chronic diseases and physical impairments, and were relatively more dissatisfied with their life condition than were men, may be associated with their greater acquiescence with self-disclosure.
CHARACTERIZATION OF A UNIQUE MUSCLE CELL LINE

A clonal cell line derived from a mouse neoplasm is described which shares many properties with smooth muscle. The cells have electrically excitable membranes capable of generating overshooting action potentials, and they contract both spontaneously and with electrical stimulation. They respond to the iontophoretic application of acetylcholine with a depolarizing response, and to norepinephrine with a hyperpolarizing response. Electron microscopy reveals that the cells have a morphology similar in many, but not all, respects to that of smooth muscle cells in vivo. The cells secrete soluble collagen-like molecules in addition to several proteins of undefined function. Finally, there is an increase in the specific activities of creatine phosphokinase and myokinase associated with increased cell density and the cessation of cell division.
Coordination polymers from silver(I) and bifunctional pyridyl ligands.

Coordination polymers and a macrocycle formed from the reactions between flexible bis(2-pyridyl) ligands and AgCF3SO3 are reported. The type of structure formed depends on the choice of ligand and the stoichiometry of the reaction. When 1 equiv of 1,4-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethoxy)benzene (L2), 4,4‘-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethoxy)biphenyl (L4), or bis((4-pyridin-2-ylmethoxy)phenyl)methane (L5) is used, 1D chain coordination polymers held together via Ag−N bonds are generated. When a 2:1 ratio of L2 and silver ion is used, a 2D porous network is formed. The reaction between silver ions with a mixture of ligands (L1 and L2 in 1:1 ratio, L1 = 1,4-bis((pyridin-2-yl-methyl)thio)benzene) results in a novel 1D ABAB type coordination copolymer where L1 and L2 act as a bis-bidentate and a bis-monodentate ligand, respectively. The reaction of 1-(pyridin-2-ylmethoxy)-4-((pyridin-2-yl-methyl)thio)benzene (L3) with silver ions in a 1:1 ratio gives a bimetallic macrocycle rather than a polymeric species. Structural analyses of the ...
Removal of heavy metals from sandy soil using CEHIXM process

This paper presents the results of a new process of soil decontamination termed as couple electric-hydraulic gradient assisted by ion exchange medium (CEHIXM) in which a hydraulic gradient is coupled with electric gradient in a non-conventional arrangement for the purpose of electrolysis and ion transport. A suitable ion exchange medium was used to capture and subsequently recover the cations. In this process, heavy metals no longer precipitated in the treated soil near the pretreatment zone. The cations were transported out of the soil and captured in the ion exchange medium. Several laboratory tests were conducted to examine the removal of Pb, Cd, Zn and Mn from sandy soils. The experimental results demonstrated the removal efficiencies more than 97% for all the four heavy metals at an energy expenditure of 345 kWh/m(3) of soil.
LO-Phonon-Mediated Optical Stark Effect Enhanced by a Quasi-Static Electric Field

A low-intensity electric field enhanced LO-phonon-mediated optical Stark effect (PMOSE) is proposed and studied theoretically for polar semiconductors (e.g., CdS). A large electrooptic nonlinearity responsible for this effect stems from a strong increase of the exciton–LO-phonon Frohlich interaction in the presence of a quasi-static electric field. The PMOSE operates with a moderate electric field of 104 V/cm and optical intensities of ≈10 MW/cm2. Both, the red and blue effective shifts of the exciton line can be easily realized by changing the carrier frequency of the pump light. In order to calculate the dynamical changes of excitonic reflectivity we develop the electrodynamics of the PMOSE. Numerical modeling of the electric field enhanced PMOSE is given for excitons in CdS.
Prolactin and serum osmolality of hypophysectomized killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus, in fresh-water.

THE presence of the pituitary1, or, more specifically, the presence of the erythrosinophilic cells of the pro-adenohypophysis2, is necessary for fresh-water survival in the euryhaline cyprinodont, Fundulus heteroclitus. Failure, with symptoms of asthenia, is correlated with a fall in serum chloride. Hypophysectomized F. heteroclitus can be maintained in fresh-water by intraperitoneal injections of Fundulus pituitary brei. Crude pituitary preparations from other species may be partially effective (perch, rat). Replacement therapy with synthetic or partially purified hormones led to the discovery that mammalian adenohypophyseal preparations with prolactin activity can prevent failure3,4. Purified ovine prolactin was highly effective, and significant prolongation or maintenance of survival was observed with bovine prolactin and with primate growth hormone preparations containing prolactin activity. Ovine prolactin also prolongs fresh-water survival in hypophysectomized Poecilia latipinna5, Xipho-phorus maculatus6, and Tilapia mossambica7.
Tactile function in skin-equivalent grafts.

Abstract Cultured grafts are excellent wound covers; however, their somatosensory capabilities are unknown. This is a preliminary report of a study which determined whether grafts of cultured skin become innervated and also examined whether seeding grafts with target tissue improved nerve growth or functional recovery. Autologous skin for grafting was generated from adult rat biopsy tissue. Dissociated keratinocytes were seeded on top of fibroblast-contracted collagen gels (skin-equivalents). Some animals received grafts composed entirely of skin-equivalents. Others had grafts with 2-mm punch biopsies (normal skin or touch domes) inserted into them. Prior to sacrifice, whole nerve recordings of the cutaneous nerves supplying the grafts were made following tactile mechanical stimulation of the graft surfaces. Tissue was processed for light and electron microscopy as well as silver stained. Nerve fibers were present in the dermis (generated from the fibroblast contracted collagen gels) of all animals and often extended to the epidermis. Light brushing of the cultured areas of the grafts produced little or no activity in the cutaneous nerves; however, afferent impulses were generated after rubbing the skin with a glass rod or pinching it with fine forceps. The implanted regions within the skin-equivalents varied from this pattern. Lightly brushing their surface resulted in vigorous activity in the nerves. Elements in the skin therefore seemed to enhance nerve regeneration and function. However, the quality of the engraftment was also important. Implanted regions of grafts experiencing poor “takes” had compromised innervation.
The significance of “low‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, cannot exclude high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion” as a distinct squamous abnormality category in Papanicolaou tests

BACKGROUND. Early cytologic detection and treatment of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) is critical to cervical cancer prevention. The term atypical squamous cells (ASC), cannot exclude HSIL (ASC-H) was introduced in 2001 in the Bethesda System (TBS 2001) to define changes suggestive, but not diagnostic, of HSIL in the absence of unequivocal squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL). Previous studies showed that women with ASC-H cytology are at an increased risk of harboring underlying histopathologic HSIL. TBS 2001, however, did not address the significance of finding ASC-H changes in a background of unequivocal low-grade SIL (LSIL). There may be a tendency for cytologists to lump these changes with either LSIL or HSIL, depending on their level of comfort. In their laboratory, the authors have referred to these changes as “LSIL, cannot exclude HSIL” (LSIL-H). METHODS Between July 2001 and July 2003, all Papanicolaou (Pap) tests that were obtained by using the ThinPrep technique were retrieved from the computer data base at the authors' institution. All categories of squamous cell abnormalities, including LSIL-H, were evaluated for their incidence and follow-up diagnoses of HSIL and more severe lesions (HSIL +). All patients had a minimum of 2 year follow-up by biopsy and cytology (range, 2–4 years). RESULTS LSIL-H comprised 0.15% (n = 194) of all Pap tests (n = 129,911) that were evaluated during the study period. Follow-up biopsy was available on 59 patients (30.4%), which showed HSIL + in 40.7% of patients. This rate of associated HSIL + differed significantly from that of LSIL (13%; P < .001) and HSIL (74%; P < .001), but was similar to that of ASC-H (44.6%). CONCLUSIONS The results from this study showed that patients with cytologic diagnoses of LSIL-H had an intermediate risk of harboring histopathologic HSIL +. This risk was similar to ASC-H but fell between the low risk associated with ACS-US and LSIL and the high risk associated with HSIL cytologic diagnoses. The authors believe that LSIL-H should be considered as a distinct cytologic diagnostic interpretation and should be separated from LSIL and HSIL. Although LSIL-H does not represent a unique biologic entity, it has clinical usefulness because of its high positive predictive value for HSIL + lesions. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2006; 108:. © 2006 American Cancer Society.
Hypothalamic GABAergic influences on treadmill exercise responses in rats.

Microinjection of GABAergic antagonists in the posterior hypothalamus (PH) produces exercise-like adjustments in cardiovascular function. To test the hypothesis that a hypothalamic GABAergic mechanism within the PH modulates the cardiovascular adjustments to dynamic exercise in conscious animals, Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 10) were instrumented with bilateral guide cannula directed at the pH, an arterial cannula, and Doppler flow probes on the iliac and mesenteric arteries. Saline (100 nl) or the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol (125 ng.100 nl-1) was bilaterally injected into the PH during treadmill exercise (20 m.min-1). Microinjection of saline had no effect on mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), mesenteric vascular resistance (MR), or iliac vascular resistance (IR) during exercise. Microinjection of muscimol during exercise produced no significant changes in MAP (mean change +/- SE; +0 +/- 1 mmHg), HR (+17 +/- 12 b.min-1), or MR (+7 +/- 13%). However, microinjection of muscimol produced a significant increase in IR during exercise (16 +/- 6%). In addition, muscimol significantly decreased treadmill run time (saline = 19.6 +/- 0.4 min; muscimol = 17.8 +/- 0.6 min) and produced behavioral effects (including mild sedation) that were most evident after exercise. The results of these experiments suggest that while the posterior hypothalamic GABAergic system may modulate iliac blood flow during exercise in rats, this system does not modulate HR and MR responses to dynamic exercise.
Dependence of the Induced Loss Factor on the Coupling Forms and Coupling Strengths: Energy Analysis

In two recent papers, the induced loss factor is determined via the modification to the loss factor in the linear impedance of a master oscillator caused by its coupling to a set of satellite oscillators. A loss factor is basically an energetic quantity and, therefore, one may inquire whether the induced loss factor may be estimated via an energy analysis (EA). An answer to this question is sought. It is shown that the linear impedance analysis and EA yields identical results for the induced loss factor in the appropriate frequency range. This frequency range spans the distribution of resonance frequencies of the satellite oscillators. In this frequency range, the identity of the results is not only in terms of gross features but also in detail. Finally, the relationship of EA to statistical energy analysis (SEA) is explored. The loss factors assigned to the satellite oscillators are cast in terms of modal overlap parameters. It is found necessary for the validation of SEA, in the light of EA, that these parameters exceed a certain threshold. In specific situations of interest the threshold values may exceed unity.
Development of a Blocking Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Detection of Serum Antibodies to O157 Antigen of Escherichia coli

The O157 antigen of Escherichia coli shares structural elements with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antigens of other bacterial species, notably Brucella abortus and Yersinia enterocolitica O9, a fact that confounds the interpretation of assays for anti-O157 antibodies. To address this problem, a blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (bELISA) was designed with E. coli O157:H7 LPS as the antigen and a monoclonal antibody specific for E. coli O157, designated 13B3, as the competing antibody. The bELISA had equivalent sensitivity to, and significantly higher specificity than, the indirect ELISA (iELISA), detecting anti-O157 antibodies in sera from cattle experimentally inoculated with O157:H7. Only 13% of sera from naive heifers vaccinated for or experimentally infected with B. abortus had increased anti-O157 bELISA titers, while 61% of anti-O157 iELISA titers were increased. The bELISA is a sensitive and specific method for the detection of serum antibodies resulting from exposure to E. coli O157.
Isolation driven divergence: speciation in a widespread North American songbird (Aves: Certhiidae)

Lineage, or true ‘species’, trees may differ from gene trees because of stochastic processes in molecular evolution leading to gene-tree heterogeneity. Problems with inferring species trees because of excessive incomplete lineage sorting may be exacerbated in lineages with rapid diversification or recent divergences necessitating the use of multiple loci and individuals. Many recent multilocus studies that investigate divergence times identify lineage splitting to be more recent than single-locus studies, forcing the revision of biogeographic scenarios driving divergence. Here, we use 21 nuclear loci from regional populations to re-evaluate hypotheses identified in an mtDNA phylogeographic study of the Brown Creeper (Certhia americana), as well as identify processes driving divergence. Nuclear phylogeographic analyses identified hierarchical genetic structure, supporting a basal split at approximately 32°N latitude, splitting northern and southern populations, with mixed patterns of genealogical concordance and discordance between data sets within the major lineages. Coalescent-based analyses identify isolation, with little to no gene flow, as the primary driver of divergence between lineages. Recent isolation appears to have caused genetic bottlenecks in populations in the Sierra Madre Oriental and coastal mountain ranges of California, which may be targets for conservation concerns.
Localization of Tropheryma whippelii rRNA in Tissues from Patients with Whipple's Disease

Whipple's disease is caused by a cultivation-resistant bacterium, Tropheryma whippelii. Ultrastructural studies of intestinal biopsy specimens from patients with Whipple's disease have shown that intracellular and extracellular bacteria are present, but the preferred site of growth is unknown. Tissue sections from 8 patients with Whipple's disease and from 19 healthy control subjects were analyzed by use of fluorescence in situ hybridization and laser scanning confocal microscopy, to determine the location of rRNA that would indicate the presence of metabolically active bacteria. T. whippelii rRNA was most prevalent near the tips of intestinal villi, in the lamina propria, just basal to epithelial cells. Most of the bacterial rRNA signal appeared to be located between cells and did not colocalize with the human intracellular protein vimentin. The location of bacterial rRNA in tissues from patients with Whipple's disease provides evidence that bacteria are growing outside cells and suggests that T. whippelii is not an obligate intracellular pathogen.
Grazing Can Reduce the Environmental Impact of Dairy Production Systems

Incorporating managed rotational grazing into a dairy farm can result in an array of environmental consequences. A comprehensive assessment of the environmental impacts of four management scenarios was conducted by simulating a 250-acre dairy farm typical of Pennsylvania with: (i) a confinement fed herd producing 22,000 lbs of milk per cow per year; (ii) a confinement fed herd producing 18,500 lbs; (iii) a confinement fed herd with summer grazing producing 18,500 lbs; and (iv) a seasonal herd maintained outdoors producing 13,000 lbs. Converting 75 acres of cropland to perennial grassland reduced erosion 24% and sediment-bound and soluble P runoff by 23 and 11%, respectively. Conversion to all perennial grassland reduced erosion 87% with sediment-bound and soluble P losses reduced 80 and 23%. Ammonia volatilization was reduced about 30% through grazing, but nitrate leaching loss increased up to 65%. Grazing systems reduced the net greenhouse gas emission by 8 to 14% and the C footprint by 9 to 20%. Including C sequestration further reduced the C footprint of an all grassland farm up to 80% during the transition from cropland. The environmental benefits of grass-based dairy production should be used to encourage greater adoption of managed rotational grazing in regions where this technology is well adapted.
Trace-based verification of imperative programs with I/O

In this paper we demonstrate how to prove the correctness of systems implemented using low-level imperative features like pointers, files, and socket I/O with respect to high level I/O protocol descriptions by using the Coq proof assistant. We present a web-based course gradebook application developed with Ynot, a Coq library for verified imperative programming. We add a dialog-based I/O system to Ynot, and we extend Ynot's underlying Hoare logic with event traces to reason about I/O and protocol behavior. Expressive abstractions allow the modular verification of both high level specifications like privacy guarantees and low level properties like data structure pointer invariants.
Radioiodine Therapy for Thyroid Cancer in the Era of Risk Stratification and Alternative Targeted Therapies

Differentiated thyroid cancers are typically iodine-avid and can be effectively treated with radioiodine. In most patients, radioiodine treatment is done for ablation of residual tissue, and in these cases the focus should be on using the minimum effective dose. Adjuvant therapy can be done to reduce the risk of recurrence, but optimal patient selection and dose are unclear. Patients with advanced disease benefit most from treatment with the maximum-tolerated dose. Recent research has focused on better patient selection and reduced radioiodine doses for remnant ablation. There are emerging targeted therapeutic approaches in patients who are appropriately shown to have iodine-refractory disease, with 1 drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Numerous trials are ongoing to assess targeted therapeutics alone or in combination with radioiodine.
Two orthogonal cleavages separate subunit RNAs in mouse ribosome biogenesis

Ribosome biogenesis is a dynamic multistep process, many features of which are still incompletely documented. Here, we show that changes in this pathway can be captured and annotated by means of a graphic set of pre-rRNA ratios, a technique we call Ratio Analysis of Multiple Precursors (RAMP). We find that knocking down a ribosome synthesis factor produces a characteristic RAMP profile that exhibits consistency across a range of depletion levels. This facilitates the inference of affected steps and simplifies comparative analysis. We applied RAMP to examine how endonucleolytic cleavages of the mouse pre-rRNA transcript in the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) are affected by depletion of factors required for maturation of the small ribosomal subunit (Rcl1, Fcf1/Utp24, Utp23) and the large subunit (Pes1, Nog1). The data suggest that completion of early maturation in a subunit triggers its release from the common pre-rRNA transcript by stimulating cleavage at the proximal site in ITS1. We also find that splitting of pre-rRNA in the 3' region of ITS1 is prevalent in adult mouse tissues and quiescent cells, as it is in human cells. We propose a model for subunit separation during mammalian ribosome synthesis and discuss its implications for understanding pre-rRNA processing pathways.
Oocyte donation to women of advanced reproductive age: pregnancy results and obstetrical outcomes in patients 45 years and older

We analysed the results of oocyte donation to women of advanced reproductive age (> or = 45 years old) and followed their pregnancies through to delivery in order to assess obstetrical outcomes. Patients (n = 162) aged 45-59 years (mean +/- SD; 47.3 +/- 3.4 years) underwent 218 consecutive attempts to achieve pregnancy. Oocytes (16.2 +/- 7.2 per retrieval) were provided by donors < or = 35 years old. Cleaving embryos (8.2 +/- 4.8 zygotes/couple) were transferred transcervically (4.5 +/- 1.1 per embryo transfer) to recipients prescribed oral micronized oestradiol and intramuscular progesterone. Following oocyte aspiration there were six instances of non-fertilization (2.8%) and 212 embryo transfers. A total of 103 pregnancies was established for an overall pregnancy rate (PR) of 48.6%, which included 17 preclinical pregnancies, 12 spontaneous abortions, and 74 delivered pregnancies (clinical PR 40.6%; delivered PR 34.9%). Multiple gestations were frequent (n = 29; 39.2% of pregnancies) and included 20 twins, seven triplets, and two quadruplets. Two of the triplet and both of the quadruplet pregnancies underwent selective reduction to twins. Antenatal complications occurred in 28 women (37.8% of deliveries) and included preterm labour (n = 9), gestational hypertension (n = 8), gestational diabetes (n = 6), carpel tunnel syndrome (n = 2), pre-eclampsia (n = 2), HELLP syndrome (n = 2), and fetal growth retardation (n = 2). 48 (64.8%) deliveries were by Caesarean section. The gestational age at delivery for singletons was 38.3 +/- 1.3 weeks (range 35-41 weeks), with birth weight 3218 +/- 513 g (range 1870-4775 g); twins 35.9 +/- 2.0 weeks (range 32-39 weeks), birth weight 2558 +/- 497 g (range 1700-3450 g); and triplets 33.5 +/- 0.7 weeks (range 32-34 weeks), birth weight 1775 +/- 190 g (range 1550-2100 g). Neonatal complications (4.6% of babies born) included growth retardation (n = 2), trisomy 21 (n = 1), ventricular septal defect (n = 1), and small bowel obstruction (n = 1). There were no maternal or neonatal deaths. We conclude that oocyte donation to women of advanced reproductive age is highly successful in establishing pregnancy. However, despite careful antenatal screening, obstetrical complications are common, often secondary to multiple gestation.
Polystyrene nanocomposites based on carbazole-containing surfactants

New organically-modified clays containing a carbazole unit were prepared and the number of long alkyl chains on the surfactant was varied. The clay was used to prepare polystyrene nanocomposites by both bulk polymerization and melt blending. The dispersion of these clays in the polymer matrix was evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The thermal stability of the clays and the nanocomposites were analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) while the fire properties were evaluated by cone calorimetry. If more than two alkyl chains were present, the gallery spacing is apparently overcrowded, leading to poor dispersion. Bulk polymerization gave nanocomposites with better dispersion and reduced flammability when compared to the melt blending process.
Solute profiles in soils, weathering gradients and exchange equilibrium/disequilibrium

The spatial and temporal changes in hydrology and pore water elemental and 87/86 Sr compositions were used to determine contemporary weathering rates in a 65 to 226 ky old soil chronosequence formed from granitic sediments deposited on marine terraces along coastal California. Cl-corrected Na, K and Si increased with depth denoting inputs from the weathering of plagioclase and K-feldspar. Solute 87/86 Sr exhibited progressive mixing of sea water-dominated precipitation with inputs from less radiogenic plagioclase. Linear approximations to these weathering gradients were used to determine plagioclase weathering rates of between 0.38 and 8.9×10 −15 moles m −2 s −1 . The lack of corresponding weathering gradients for Ca and Sr indicated short-term equilibrium with the clay ion exchange pool which requires periodic resetting by natural perturbations to maintain continuity, in spite of soil composition changes reflecting the effects of long-term weathering.
Individual Differences, Aging, and IQ in Two-Choice Tasks

Abstract The effects of aging and IQ on performance were examined in three two-choice tasks: numerosity discrimination, recognition memory, and lexical decision. The experimental data, accuracy, correct and error response times, and response time distributions, were well explained by Ratcliff’s (1978) diffusion model. The components of processing identified by the model were compared across levels of IQ (ranging from 83 to 146) and age (college students, 60–74, and 75–90 year olds). Declines in performance with age were not significantly different for low compared to high IQ subjects. IQ but not age had large effects on the quality of the evidence that was obtained from a stimulus or memory, that is, the evidence upon which decisions were based. Applying the model to individual subjects, the components of processing identified by the model for individuals correlated across tasks. In addition, the model’s predictions and the data were examined for the “worst performance rule”, the finding that age and IQ have larger effects on slower responses than faster responses.
Rhetorical history and rhetorical criticism: A distinction

The writer argues that, conceptually, rhetorical history (the study of the historical effects of rhetorical discourse) and rhetorical criticism (the analysis of rhetorical discourse and acts for a series of essentially normative or advisory purposes) must pursue different goals, ought to be judged by differing criteria, and usually employ varying sources of evidence. Among other recommendations, he suggests not simply teaching “methods” and “approaches” but teaching much about the personal, aesthetic, normative, predictive, and social functions of rhetorical analysis.
Specification-based testing of Ada units with low encapsulation

Describes a system that improves testing quality by supporting automatic test data selection, execution and result verification. The system tests poorly-encapsulated Ada units against formal specifications. This task is difficult partly because the unit's interface is not explicit, but rather is buried in the body/implementation code. We attack this problem by making the unit's interface explicit and complete. This is accomplished via automatic and manual analysis of the body. The complete interface is represented using an extended algebraic signature notation. Once the signature has been discovered, it can be reformulated so that a collection of well-defined, static mappings are established between it and the signature of the unit's formal specification. These mappings guide the development of test artifact transformers and oracles, which support automatic test data selection, execution and result verification. This paper discusses problems that arise as a result of testing under low encapsulation, discusses our solution using an ongoing example, and compares our solution to earlier solutions.
Microfabrication in electrospun nanofibers by electrical discharges

Abstract This paper reports an innovative use of electrical discharge for fabricating microstructures in electrospun polymer nanofibers. Thermal energy generated by micropatterned discharge arcs elevates temperature in localized regions and melts polymer nanofibers in the close vicinity. This process is investigated analytically and using finite element method. Microstructures with minimum line width as small as 20 μm are demonstrated. The remelting effect induced by electrical discharge arcs is also examined. This method provides a promising start point to interface biodegradable nanofibrous materials to microstructures with satisfactory simplicity and low cost, which is significant for a broad range of biomedical applications. Immediate applications include tissue engineering, drug delivery and nanoelectronics.
An ultra-large capacity single-chip memory architecture with self-testing and self-repairing

A memory architecture with the capability of self-test and self-repair is presented. The contributions of this memory architecture are twofold. First, it incorporates self-testing and self-repairing structures in the memory. As a result, the memory chips can perform tests, locate faults, and repair themselves without any external assistance, greatly improving the functional yield and reducing the production cost. Second, the architecture uses a hierarchical organization to achieve optimal conditions for memory access time. The hierarchical organization also increases the efficiency of the self-testing and self-repairing structures. >
Impact of thymine glycol damage on DNA duplex energetics: Correlations with lesion-induced biochemical and structural consequences.

The magnitude and nature of lesion-induced energetic perturbations empirically correlate with mutagenicity/cytotoxicity profiles and can be predictive of lesion outcomes during polymerase-mediated replication in vitro. In this study, we assess the sequence and counterbase-dependent energetic impact of the Thymine glycol (Tg) lesion on a family of deoxyoligonucleotide duplexes. Tg damage arises from thymine and methyl-cytosine exposure to oxidizing agents or radiation-generated free-radicals. The Tg lesion blocks polymerase-mediated DNA replication in vitro and the unrepaired site elicits cytotoxic lethal consequences in vivo. Our combined calorimetric and spectroscopic characterization correlates Tg-induced energetic perturbations with biological and structural properties. Specifically, we incorporate a 5R-Tg isomer centered within the tridecanucleotide sequence 5′-GCGTACXCATGCG-3′ (X = Tg or T) which is hybridized with the corresponding complementary sequence 5′-CGCATGNGTACGC-3′ (N = A, G, T, C) to generate families of Tg-damaged (Tg·N) and lesion-free (T·N) duplexes. We demonstrate that the magnitude and nature of the Tg destabilizing impact is dependent on counterbase identity (i.e., A ∼ G < T < C). The observation that a Tg lesion is less destabilizing when positioned opposite purines suggests that favorable counterbase stacking interactions may partially compensate lesion-induced perturbations. Moreover, the destabilizing energies of Tg·N duplexes parallel their respective lesion-free T·N mismatch counterparts (i.e., G < T < C). Elucidation of Tg-induced destabilization relative to the corresponding undamaged mismatch energetics allows resolution of lesion-specific and sequence-dependent impacts. The Tg-induced energetic perturbations are consistent with its replication blocking properties and may serve as differential recognition elements for discrimination by the cellular repair machinery. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 103: 491–508, 2015.
Art Spiegelman: conversations, edited by Joseph Witek

One of the great strengths of this eminently useful collection is that it encompasses so much development (1976–2000); another is that it reveals so many distinguished aspects of Spiegelman's caree...
A Preliminary Dislocation Model for the 1995 Kobe (Hyogo-ken Nanbu), Japan, Earthquake Determined from Strong Motion and Teleseismic Waveforms

INTRODUCTION The Kobe, Japan, earthquake of January 17, 1995 provided a harsh reminder of the very destructive nature of strong ground motions. Peak ground velocities recorded during this event rival those recorded in any other earthquake. In this report, I have modeled these ground motions, in addition to the teleseismic body waveforms, to determine the overall dislocation pattern on the fault surface. The model provided herein is a working model for ongoing seismological studies and for an initial assessment of the relationship between damage and fault slip. This model is preliminary and will be updated as geodetic data and additional strong motion data become available. DATA AND MODELING Strong motion data from the Kobe earthquake were provided in digital form by JMA, the Japan Meteorological Agency, and CEORKA, the Committee of Earthquake Observation and Research in the Kansai Area (Toki et al. , 1995). I scanned and digitized additional data provided...
Anomalous flexor superficialis indicis: Two case reports and literature review

Derived from postmortem dissections, early descriptions of a muscle belly in the palm that served the index finger in the manner of the flexor digitorum superficialis were published by MacAlister (1868), Graper (1917), and Mainland (1927). In the English literature, we have found reports on only 15 clinical cases that involved the palm. Based on available information regarding sex, 12 patients were female and one was male. The anomaly involved the right hand in all cases and was bilateral in four of the female patients. We report two additional cases, of which one is considered the first bilateral case in a man with symptoms on the left side.