cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Paradoxical frequencies of recessive disorders in Ashkenazic Jews.

Abstract Certain autosomal recessive disorders occur with increased frequency in Ashkenazic Jews. Mechanisms are discussed which could (severally or in combination) account for the observed differences of frequency of these disorders in Ashkenazic Jews and other populations. Ascertainment bias, mutation and migration are unlikely; autosomal hemizygosity is conjectural; drift and selection are favored explanations
Demonstrations With Polarized Light

DEMONSTRATIONS WITH POLARIZED LIGHTW. Lewis HydeConnecticut Conference of Independent Colleges36 Gillett StreetHartford, Connecticut O6105The physics of polarized light is discussed in textbooks and will not be repeated inthis talk. Instead, the talk will illustrate with many demonstrations that the methodsof polarized light are easy and yet lend themselves to extremely sensitive observationsand precise measurements.Further, it will be shown that most of the tools needed for manipulating the conditionof a beam of polarized light can be improvised easily out of inexpensive materials.The following demonstrations will be shown:
Material challenge for flexible organic devices

Outside of the active device layers, there are a variety of requisite functional layers in flexible organic electronic devices. Whether the application is in displays, lighting, integrated circuits, or photovoltaics, there are materials challenges in implementing flexible and/or organic devices into practical applications. We highlight two topics that are common to most flexible electronic technologies. First, we describe the difficulty in developing suitable permeation barriers on polymer substrates, the approaches being taken to solve this problem, and their current status. Second, we highlight the limited mechanical ruggedness of brittle inorganic films and present approaches for improving overall device flexibility.
The appraisal of facial beauty is rapid but not mandatory.

Facial attractiveness is an important source of social affective information. Here, we studied the time course and task dependence of evaluating attractive faces from a viewer’s perspective. Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were recorded while participants classified color portraits of unfamiliar persons according to gender and facial attractiveness. During attractiveness classification, enhanced ERP amplitudes for attractive and nonattractive faces relative to faces of intermediate attractiveness were found for an early component around 150 msec and for the late positive complex (LPC). Whereas LPC enhancement conforms to previous studies employing various types of affective stimuli, the finding of an early effect extends earlier research on rapid emotion processing to the dimension of facial attractiveness. Dipole source localization of this early ERP effect revealed a scalp distribution suggesting activation of posterior extrastriate areas. Importantly, attractiveness-related modulations of brain responses were only marginal during the gender decision task, arguing against the automaticity of attractiveness appraisal.
Use of pulp and paper mill residual solids in production of cellucrete

Fibrous residuals generated from pulp and paper mills were included in concrete. Carefully proportioned concrete mixtures containing some of the residuals showed higher compressive and splitting-tensile strengths than concrete without the residuals. Overall, a high correlation was observed between density and strength of concrete containing the residuals. By achieving equivalent density, concrete containing the residuals may be produced equivalent in strength to the concrete without the residuals.
A linear work, O(n1/6) time, parallel algorithm for solving planar Laplacians

We present a linear work parallel iterative algorithm for solving linear systems involving Laplacians of planar graphs. In particular, if Ax = b, where A is the Laplacian of any planar graph with n nodes, the algorithm produces a vector x such that ||x--x||A ≤ e, in O(n1/6+clog(1/e)) parallel time, doing O(nlog(1/e)) work, where c is any positive constant. One of the key ingredients of the solver, is an O(nklog2k) work, O(klogn) time, parallel algorithm for decomposing any embedded planar graph into components of size O(k) that are delimited by O(n/√k) boundary edges. The result also applies to symmetric diagonally dominant matrices of planar structure.
Inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation with red wine and red wine polyphenols.

Abstract Objective: The potential beneficial effects of red wine consumption on the development of atherosclerotic disease have been previously suggested in the literature. Vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation is an important component of atherogenesis. Inhibition of vascular SMC proliferation may have a beneficial effect in retarding the development of atherosclerotic disease. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of red wine, red wine polyphenol extract, and resveratrol, a polyphenol commonly found in red wine, on the proliferation of vascular SMC in culture. Methods: Bovine aortic SMCs were used for all experiments. SMCs were treated with growth media supplemented with dealcoholized red wine, red wine polyphenol extract, or resveratrol at various concentrations for as long as 48 hours. SMC proliferation was assessed with 3 H-thymidine DNA incorporation assay. SMC viability was assessed with trypan blue exclusion studies and a colorimetric lactic dehydrogenase cytotoxicity assay. Results: Our results show that red wine and red wine polyphenol extract inhibit SMC proliferation in a dose-dependent fashion. Resveratrol also inhibits vascular SMC proliferation. SMC viability studies show that this inhibition of SMC proliferation is not the result of a cytotoxic effect. Conclusion: Our findings show that red wine and red wine polyphenols have an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of vascular SMCs in culture. These results suggest that the observed beneficial effects of red wine may be the result, in part, of the inhibition of vascular SMC proliferation. Furthermore, the antiproliferative properties of red wine may be caused by its component polyphenols. (J Vasc Surg 2002;35:1226-32.)
Distant action in classical electromagnetic theory

AbstractThe standard mathematical apparatus of classical electromagnetic theory in Minkowski space-time allows an interpretation in terms of retarded distant action, as well as the standard field i...
On the Ability of an Extreme-Ultraviolet Multilayer Normal-Incidence Telescope to Provide Temperature Information for Solar Plasmas

In recent years, multilayer-coated optics have been used in solar-soft X-ray and extreme-ultraviolet telescopes to record high-resolution, full Sun images. The multilayer coatings reflect efficiently over rather narrow wavelength bands that are selected to contain spectral emission lines considered to have plasma diagnostic importance for determining approximate electron temperatures. The purpose of this Letter is to discuss the effect of continuum emission on the response of multilayer passbands and the effect of this response on temperature determinations in the 4 × 106 - 2 × 107 K range. Significant effects are largely confined to continuum emission from flare plasma. The flare free-free continuum in the EUV range is nearly temperature and wavelength insensitive and dominates the emission in passbands that are centered on quiet- to active-Sun coronal lines emitted by ions such as Fe IX-Fe XV.
Critical dynamics of the anisotropic BCC Heisenberg antiferromagnet

Using spin dynamics simulations we examined the critical dynamics of the BCC Heisenberg antiferromagnet with single-site anisotropy. In agreement with experiment and theory, the dynamic structure factor, S(q, ω), was found to have a diffusive longitudinal component and a suppressed propagative transverse component with a non-critical transverse relaxation rate.
Prevention of hip fractures through screening for osteoporosis

Background and purpose: Guidelines disagree on who should be screened for osteoporosis, in part due to lack of direct evidence for the effectiveness of screening. The objective of this study was to determine if population-based screening for osteoporosis in older adults is associated with fewer incident hip fractures compared to usual primary care. Methods: We conducted a non-concurrent cohort study of 3107 adults over age 65 who lived in four U.S. communities enrolled in the Cardiovascular Health Study. Participants were randomly selected from Medicare eligibility lists. We included those who came to their study visits in 1994–95 and excluded those with a history of osteoporosis, hip fracture or bisphosphonate use. In that year, participants in 2 of the 4 communities were offered bone density scans, and the results of these tests were given to the participants and their primary care providers. In the other 2 communities, participants received usual primary care. The two groups (those screened by the study and those receiving usual care) were followed for up to 6 years for the outcome of incident hip fracture, which was abstracted from medical records. Variables considered as potential confounders included demographic variables, medical problems, medications, and physical exam findings. Survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare time to first hip fracture in the screened and usual care groups. Results: Of 1422 eligible participants offered scans, 97% completed them. There were 33 incident hip fractures in the screened group (n=1422 people) and 69 incident hip fractures in the usual care group (n=1685 people; p<0.01). At the end of 6 years, the cumulative incidence of hip fractures in the screened group was 3.0%, compared to 5.0% in the usual care group (p<0.01). The unadjusted relative hazard of having a first hip fracture was significantly lower in the screened group (HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.39–0.89). Screening was still associated with a significantly lower hazard of hip fracture after adjustment for gender, age, race-ethnicity, education, self-reported health status, body weight, exercise, walking speed, cognitive function and oral steroid use (HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.35–0.97). Conclusion: Screening for osteoporosis was associated with 40% fewer incident hip fractures over 6 years, compared to usual primary care. Although this study was not randomized, these data suggest that screening for osteoporosis maybe beneficial for community-dwelling women and men over age 65.
Morbidity measurement in household surveys in developing areas

Abstract The accuracy of morbidity measurement in household surveys in developing areas is affected by various local constraints. This report discusses an attempt to meet the constraints imposed on the illness section of a survey conducted in the target area of the Family Health Clinic in Calabar, Nigeria. A list of symptoms was drawn up to elicit data on the illnesses mothers and their children under, six experienced in a 2-week period. Several criteria were kept in mind when constructing this list. It was recognized that both interviewers and respondents had relatively low levels of education. It was also felt that responses should reflect both local morbidity patterns and ailments commonly treated at the Family Health Clinic. Another criterion was that the data should be suitable for statistical testing. Following the survey, the symptoms were classified under the headings of general, digestive, and respiratory. The illness item in the survey questionnaire was checked for reliability and validity.
The influence of streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus on the sensitivity of rat urinary bladder body and base strips to changes in extracellular calcium.

Abstract 1. 1. The influence of calcium on contractile responses of bladders from control and 2 month streptozotocin-diabetic rats was investigated. 2. 2. Removal of calcium from the bathing medium caused rapid decreases in the contractile responses of bladder body and base strips to carbachol. The responses of strips from control rats were reduced more by calcium removal than were strips from diabetics. 3. 3. Replacement of calcium caused dose-dependent increases in contraction to carbachol. The responses of bladder body strips from diabetic rats to carbachol were significantly greater at all calcium concentrations than were those of controls. There were no differences in the responsiveness of bladder base strips to carbachol. 4. 4. In contrast, bladder body strips from diabetic rats were more sensitive to calcium than were strips from controls, with an IC 50 value for calcium of 0.38 mM vs 0.72 mM for controls. 5. 5. At the calcium concentration of Krebs buffer (2.5 mM), contractile responses were near maximal, and there were no differences in sensitivity. 6. 6. The calcium antagonist nifedipine caused dose-dependent decreases in the contractile responses of bladder base and body strips to nerve stimulation. The responses to nerve stimulation were more sensitive to nifedipine than were those to carbachol. There were no differences between controls and diabetics in the sensitivity of bladder strips to nifedipine. 7. 7. The findings suggest that although increases in sensitivity to calcium are observed in bladder body strips from streptozotocin-diabetic rats, they are unlikely to be responsible for the increases in maximal contractile response to nerve stimulation and contractile agents.
The polysemy of mal in European Portuguese: A diachronic analysis

In this paper I provide a diachronic analysis of the lexeme mal, and I argue that the synchronic polysemy found in contemporary European Portuguese corresponds to different stages of the semantic change of the lexeme. Principles of diachronic pragmatics and semantic change are employed to detail the development of the different meanings. Two paths are analyzed: one, leading from the negative evaluation value as a manner adverb to the more recently semanticized meaning of temporality, specifically temporal proximity of one event to another, and a second one, leading from the manner adverbial meaning to a negation adverb, which is restricted to particular constructions.
PREOPERATIVE SERUM PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN DOES NOT REFLECT BIOCHEMICAL FAILURE RATES AFTER RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY IN MEN WITH LARGE VOLUME CANCERS

Purpose: We compared pathological findings with prostate specific antigen (PSA) failure rates following radical prostatectomy for large volume cancers (6 cc or greater).Materials and Methods: A total of 191 men whose radical prostatectomy specimen had a cancer volume of 6 cc or greater were followed for a mean of 3.6 years (range 0.3 to 11.1) and 112 (58.6%) had PSA failure (PSA 0.07 ng./ml. or greater and increasing). Percent Gleason grade 4/5 (the Stanford modified Gleason scale), cancer volume, seminal vesicle invasion, regional lymph nodes, capsular penetration, positive surgical margin, location of the largest cancer in the peripheral or transition zone, prostate weight, patient age, preoperative PSA and clinical stage were analyzed using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses.Results: In univariate regression analysis percent Gleason grade 4/5, lymph node involvement, cancer volume, cancer location in the peripheral zone, capsular penetration and positive surgical margins were...
The pharmacist's role in tobacco cessation: overview and introduction to the series.

More than four decades have elapsed since the publication of the first U.S. Surgeon General’s report on smoking and health[1][1]; yet, more than 1 in 5 adult Americans continue to smoke,[2][2] and nearly 440,000 Americans die annually due to tobacco-related disease.[3][3] The list of proven
Investigation of pulsed 1.44-μm Nd:YAG laser in nasal and sinus surgery: in vitro and in vivo animal study

The Nd:YAG laser 1.44 micrometers wavelength is a relatively new wavelength with water absorption coefficient higher even than 1.06 micrometers , permitting the creation of a more precise lesion with less damage to surrounding tissue. Very little, however, is known about its effects in live experimental model. The non-contact 1.44 micrometers Nd:YAG laser was used in four animals (dogs) to perform a resection of middle turbinate and to create a 1 cm lesion on the septal mucosa and inferior turbinate in the left side through a sinuscope. The same procedure was performed on the opposite side using microsurgical forceps as a control. The animals were followed-up, examined endoscopically, and sacrificed after 48 hours (1 animal), 1 month (1 animal) and 2 months (2 animals). Moderate-to-severe bleeding was commonly encountered on the control side, which obscured vision, and required packing in 2 dogs. In contrast, the laser had a satisfactory hemostatic result with easy control for endoscopic resection. Normal healing was observed under gross and by histologic examination 48 hours and 1 month after the surgery and healing was complete by 2 months. There was more scaring and adhesions produced by the forceps on the control side. Histologically, tissue thermal damage produced by the laser was superficial and confined to the lesion. The epithelial regeneration has been nearly completed in 1 month, with normal mucosa coverage in 2 months after the surgery. This study suggests that the 1.44 micrometers wavelength of the Nd:YAG should be considered as safe and reliable for intranasal application.
Morphological development of switchgrass in diverse environments

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) has been proposed as a model species for biomass fuel production. To better manage switchgrass as a biofuel crop, knowledge of its morphological development in several environments would be useful. This study was conducted to determine how morphological development of switchgrass varies in different field environments and to relate development to soil moisture status and other meteorological indicators. An established stand of 'Alamo' switchgrass at Stephenville, TX (32°13'N, 98°12'W ; 399 m elevation), was sampled weekly or biweekly from April to September in 1991 and 1992. Field plots of Alamo and 'Cave-in-Rock' were established at Stephenville in 1992 and sampled 17 times during 1993. Established field plots of Alamo and Cave-in-Rock at Blacksburg, VA (37°11'N, 80°25'W ; 610 m elevation) were sampled at 11 dates in 1992 and 9 dates in 1993 from May to September. Maturity stage at each harvest was determined according to a maturity scale developed at Stephenville. Morphological development and apical meristem elevation of both cultivars were closely related to cumulative degree days (DD, base 10°C) at each location. The developmental patterns were similar among years and were not affected by differences in soil moisture or rainfall distribution at Stephenville. Cave-in-Rock and Alamo matured about 4 wk earlier at Stephenville than at Blacksburg. The duration of the vegetative period was about 300 DD shorter at Blacksburg than at Stephenville for both Alamo and Cave-in-Rock. The close association of morphological development with DD in different environments could simplify morphological development models ; however, the models would need to be location specific, because the timing and duration of phenological events differed as switchgrass cultivars were moved southward or northward.
Modulation of circulatory responses to enkephalins by cyclooxygenase inhibitors

Abstract 1. 1. Experiments were undertaken to examine the hemodynamic effects of intravenously administered leucine and methionine enkephalin and to determine if prostaglandin synthesis is involved in these responses. 2. 2. Intravenous administration of leucine and methionine enkephalin (10, 30 and 100 μg/kg) resulted in a dose dependent and transient decline in mean arterial blood pressure in pentobarbital anesthetized cats. 3. 3. A significant difference was observed, however, between the hemodynamic responses to leucine and methionine enkephalins before sodium meclofenamate (1 mg/kg) administration compared to post-meclofenamate induced hemodynamic changes. 4. 4. This was confirmed with ibuprofen. 5. 5. These findings indicate that cyclooxygenase inhibition modulates the circulatory responses to enkephalins. 6. 6. Since cyclooxygenase is the first enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of arachidonic acid, it is possible that prostaglandins, endoperoxides, thromboxanes or other prostanoids may be involved in mediating the circulatory responses to enkephalins.
EXPLANATION FOR LIMITATION OF POPULATIONS OF ESCHERICHIA COLI IN BROTH CULTURES

Freter, Rolf (Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa.), and Atsushi Ozawa. Explanation for limitation of populations of Escherichia coli in broth cultures. J. Bacteriol. 86:904–910. 1963.—Veal Infusion Broth surrounding a cellophane bag containing a 24-hr culture of Escherichia coli was inhibitory to an inoculum of the same strain when kept under an atmosphere of nitrogen plus CO2. The inhibition could be abolished by addition of glucose or by aeration. When a small inoculum of a dulcitol-positive E. coli strain was introduced into a fully grown (24 hr) static Veal Infusion Broth culture of a dulcitol-negative E. coli, no multiplication occurred. However, the inoculum did grow in the presence of a carbon source (dulcitol) which could not be utilized by the static population. The logarithmic growth rate attained by the dulcitol-positive inoculum under these conditions was independent of the dulcitol concentration. In contrast, the maximal population size was a function of the amount of dulcitol present. Similar results were obtained when sucrose or salicin was substituted for the dulcitol. All strains grew well in filtrates of 24-hr broth cultures with growth rates and maximal populations approximating those attained in fresh broth. It was thus concluded that populations of E. coli in broth cultures were limited by exhaustion of all those carbon and energy sources which could be utilized under the prevailing highly reduced conditions. No evidence of inhibitory metabolic end products was found except in broth supplemented with 1% glucose. Partial inhibition of multiplication was noted in the latter medium even when the pH was maintained between 6.9 and 7.2.
Arthrography of the Temporomandibular Joint: Review of Current Status

Arthrography of the temporomandibular joint is used principally in cases of pain and dysfunction, specifically clicking, popping, or locking joints. The procedure is effective and safe but technically difficult to perform.
Magnetic properties of YBaCuO and BiSrCaCuO crystals: a comparative study of flux creep and irreversibility☆

In recent articles ~-5 we explored the strong magnetic relaxation observed in YBaCuO crystals and its implication for irreversibility, critical fields and critical currents. The picture which has emerged from these studies is that of a type 11 superconductor with unusually weak flux pinning. The combination of the low pinning energy and the unprecedented high temperature results in strong ('giant') flux creep. At higher temperatures and fields, above the 'irreversibility temperature' Ti,,, thermal activation overcomes flux pinning barriers allowing free flux motion and hence a drop of Jc towards zero, reversible magnetization and broadening of the resistivity--temperature curves. An important question which was left open in our previous studies is the origin of the pinning centres and, in particular, the role played by twin boundaries in flux trapping. In this article we address this question by a comparative study of twinned and twin-free Cu-oxide crystals. In the following sections we briefly review the experimental data for the YBaCuO crystals and then present new data for a relatively twin-free BiSrCaCuO crystal. The Bi crystal exhibits even stronger relaxation effects, smaller pinning forces and a wider reversible regime, at least for H 11 c. These results suggest that twin boundaries contribute to flux trapping, although we cannot rule out the alternative possibility that chemical
Normal Incidence Free Space Optical Data Porting to Embedded Communication Links

In this paper, various techniques for normal incidence, free-space optical data porting to embedded data busses are presented. In the first approach, externally powered optical transmitter and receiver devices are coupled to an embedded electrical bus. This embedded link proves to be reliable through environmental and mechanical testing, and demonstrates data transmission up to 10 kHz. A self-powered transceiver is then fabricated and coupled to an optical fiber, showing data transmission up to 1 MHz. Finally, a self-powered bus using a dye-impregnated optical fiber is demonstrated to operate at speeds greater than 15 MHz. All methods explored overcome many of the problems associated with traditional physical connectorization, and are suitable for normal incidence remote querying of embedded passive elements, active devices, sensors, or networks.
Scenario 1: A Patient with Mild Community-Acquired Pneumonia—Introduction to Clinical Trial Design Issues

A prototypical patient is presented to introduce important design issues for clinical trials of antibacterials in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia.
Evolution Towards Global Routing Scalability

Internet routing tables have been growing rapidly due to factors such as edge-site multihoming, traffic engineering, and disjoint address allocations. To address the routing scalability problems caused by this rapid growth, we propose an evolutionary approach that is incrementally deployable and provides immediate benefits to any adopting ASes. The basic premise of the approach is that route aggregation removes from routing tables the unnecessary topological details about remote portions of the Internet. We demonstrate that aggregation can be applied incrementally starting from local scopes within individual routers and individual ASes, and gradually expanded to the global Internet scope. The evaluation studies show that route aggregation is effective in addressing FIB scalability problems within a router and within a network.
Issues in dementia caregiving: effects on mental and physical health, intervention strategies, and research needs.

In 2005, Vitaliano et al.1 called in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry for more caregiver research in geriatric psychiatry. Since 2005, caregiver outcomes have been addressed in more than 800 studies and reviews. This great outpouring of research reflects the perceived need for caregiver support that will inevitably accompany the vast increase in size of the older adult population in coming decades. As well, it reflects growing understanding of the complex determinants of adverse health outcomes of caregiver burden, and therefore the study of approaches to its mitigation. This issue of the Journal adds three studies to this growing and increasingly sophisticated literature. One by Gaugler et al.2 highlights the important role that caregiver burden plays in mediating the oft-noted relationship between patient behavioral disturbance and nursing home admission. Two others report on results of multifaceted interventions tested in randomized controlled trials. Bakker et al.3 show that an intervention with multiple components assembled to meet the specific needs of an individual older adult and their caregiver resulted in caregiver assessments of significantly reduced neuropsychiatric symptoms and perceived burden. Examining implementation of care in a “real world” community context, Spijker et al.4 tested whether training of health professionals in the delivery of an intervention designed to support caregivers’ effectiveness reduced the need for institutional care. Revealing no significant impact, the findings provide helpful insights into the program and provider characteristics that may influence an intervention’s effectiveness, and which require additional study. Together, the studies build on an increasingly robust body of evidence to guide development and implementation of interventions to reduce caregiver burden and its related costs. We will attempt to place them in context by combining the Stress Process Model5 and the Appraisal Model6 into one heuristic conceptual framework (Figure 1). The models suggest that caregivers appraise caregiving events and then respond with particular behaviors. Emotional, psychological, and health outcomes follow these behaviors. FIGURE 1
Use of ‘simple solutions’ for boundary integral methods in elasticity and fracture analysis

The 'simple solutions' or 'indirect' method of analysing Cauchy and hypersingular integrands in the gradient (flux or traction) boundary integral equation (BIE) is applied to linear elastic fracture analysis. Because of the geometric singularity of the crack surface, application of the simple solutions formulas on the crack face requires integration over a temporary 'closure surface' rather than the remainder of the body. Closure surface constructions are exhibited for crack surfaces, allowing the gradient BIE to be applied as a constraint equation on a crack surface where the primary BIE is degenerate. Computational results are given for two benchmark fracture problems.
How does the Schwann cell lineage form tumors in NF1

Neurofibromas are benign tumors of peripheral nerve that occur sporadically or in patients with the autosomal dominant tumor predisposition syndrome neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Multiple neurofibroma subtypes exist which differ in their site of occurrence, their association with NF1, and their tendency to undergo transformation to become malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs), the most common malignancy associated with NF1. Most NF1 patients carry a constitutional mutation of the NF1 tumor suppressor gene. Neurofibromas develop in these patients when an unknown cell type in the Schwann cell lineage loses its remaining functional NF1 gene and initiates a complex series of interactions with other cell types; these interactions may be influenced by aberrant expression of growth factors and growth factor receptors and the action of modifier genes. Cells within certain neurofibroma subtypes subsequently accumulate additional mutations affecting the p19(ARF)-MDM2-TP53 and p16INK4A-Rb signaling cascades, mutations of other as yet unidentified genes, and amplification of growth factor receptor genes, resulting in their transformation into MPNSTs. These observations have been validated using a variety of transgenic and knockout mouse models that recapitulate neurofibroma and MPNST pathogenesis. A new generation of mouse models is also providing important new insights into the identity of the cell type in the Schwann cell lineage that gives rise to neurofibromas. Our improving understanding of the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of neurofibromas and MPNSTs raises intriguing new questions about the origin and pathogenesis of these neoplasms and establishes models for the development of new therapies targeting these neoplasms.
Serial order revisited: A reply to R. D. Kent

This paper examines two rule-based or non-associative alternatives to associative theories of serial order in behavior. Both rule-based models seemed superior to chain association, but one, the CV Organization model, was found to require further development to handle corollary issues associated with serial ordering eg. coarticulation phenomena, sequential plasticity and a parsimonious fit to speech rate data. The other rule-based model, Syllabic Recording, was shown to be compatible with these and several previously unexplored corollary issues, including the nature of sequential redundancy, production variability (word reduction) and the nature of errors in the acquisition of phonology by children.
Prevalence and patterns of soft tissue metastasis: detection with true whole-body F-18 FDG PET/CT.

The aim of this retrospective study was to report the prevalence and patterns of soft tissue (ST) metastasis detected with true whole-body (TWB) F-18 FDG PET/CT acquired from the top of the skull through the bottom of the feet and to compare such findings to that of the typically acquired skull-base to upper-thigh, thus limited whole-body (LWB) field of view (FOV). TWB FDG-PET/CT scans were performed in 500 consecutive cancer patients. Suspected ST metastasis was verified by correlation with surgical pathology, other imaging modalities, or clinical follow-up. Nine out of 500 patients (1.8 %) had ST metastasis with a prevalence of 4/41 (9.8%) for melanoma, 2/60 (3.3%) for lung carcinoma, 2/88 (2.3%) for lymphoma and 1/13 (77%) for esophageal cancer. Those nine patients had a total of 41 ST lesions: 22 lesions within and 19 outside of LWB FOV. Of those 41 lesions, 19 (46%) were subcutaneous and 22 (54%) were muscular lesions. The presence of ST metastasis neither changed the staging nor the treatment in any of these patients. However, the ST lesions provided a biopsy site in 4 of the 9 patients (44%). Seven out of nine studied patients died of their disease within 1–22 months after ST metastasis was diagnosed. The detection of ST metastasis may have prognostic implications, provide more accessible biopsy sites and help avoid invasive procedures. A LWB scanning may underestimate the true extent of ST metastasis since a significant percentage of ST metastasis (46%) occurred outside the typical LWB FOV.
Deficits, Differences, and Ceilings Contingent Conditions for Understanding the Knowledge Gap

This article focuses on audience-related factors such as ability, motivation, and media use as well as "ceiling effects" that act as contingent conditions for understanding the "knowledge gap." Ability deficits, individual differences, and ceiling effects, true or imposed, are examined to attempt a clarification of how knowledge gaps are widened or narrowed.
Finite impulse response switched-capacitor filters for the delta-sigma modulator D/A interface

Switched-capacitor finite-impulse-response (FIR) low-pass filters that can act as the first stage of the noise filter for a delta-sigma-modulation-based digital-to-analog converter are presented. The output of the filter can be generated at a reduced sampling rate without increasing the noise in the baseband. The lower output sampling rate relaxes the settling requirements of the operational amplifier. The filters have the properties that the coefficients are symmetric and take only integer values. These properties make them especially suitable for MOS switched-capacitor implementation. A symmetric implementation that has low sensitivity to capacitor mismatch is presented. The authors focus on the decimation filter for a second-order delta-sigma modulator, although extension to other order loops is possible. >
Essential domains of Anaplasma phagocytophilum invasins utilized to infect mammalian host cells.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum causes granulocytic anaplasmosis, an emerging disease of humans and domestic animals. The obligate intracellular bacterium uses its invasins OmpA, Asp14, and AipA to infect myeloid and non-phagocytic cells. Identifying the domains of these proteins that mediate binding and entry, and determining the molecular basis of their interactions with host cell receptors would significantly advance understanding of A. phagocytophilum infection. Here, we identified the OmpA binding domain as residues 59 to 74. Polyclonal antibody generated against a peptide spanning OmpA residues 59 to 74 inhibited A. phagocytophilum infection of host cells and binding to its receptor, sialyl Lewis x (sLex-capped P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1. Molecular docking analyses predicted that OmpA residues G61 and K64 interact with the two sLex sugars that are important for infection, α2,3-sialic acid and α1,3-fucose. Amino acid substitution analyses demonstrated that K64 was necessary, and G61 was contributory, for recombinant OmpA to bind to host cells and competitively inhibit A. phagocytophilum infection. Adherence of OmpA to RF/6A endothelial cells, which express little to no sLex but express the structurally similar glycan, 6-sulfo-sLex, required α2,3-sialic acid and α1,3-fucose and was antagonized by 6-sulfo-sLex antibody. Binding and uptake of OmpA-coated latex beads by myeloid cells was sensitive to sialidase, fucosidase, and sLex antibody. The Asp14 binding domain was also defined, as antibody specific for residues 113 to 124 inhibited infection. Because OmpA, Asp14, and AipA each contribute to the infection process, it was rationalized that the most effective blocking approach would target all three. An antibody cocktail targeting the OmpA, Asp14, and AipA binding domains neutralized A. phagocytophilum binding and infection of host cells. This study dissects OmpA-receptor interactions and demonstrates the effectiveness of binding domain-specific antibodies for blocking A. phagocytophilum infection.
Fast multislice mapping of the myelin water fraction using multicompartment analysis of T2* decay at 3T: a preliminary postmortem study.

Quantitative mapping of the myelin water content can provide significant insight into the pathophysiology of several white matter diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and leukoencephalopathies, and can potentially become a useful clinical tool for early diagnosis of these diseases. In this study, multicompartment analysis of T decay (MCAT2*) was used for the quantitative mapping of myelin water fraction (MWF). T decay of each voxel at multiple slice locations was acquired in fixed human brains using a multigradient-echo (MGRE) pulse sequence with alternating readout gradient polarities. Compared to prior techniques using Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) acquisition, the MGRE acquisition approach has: 1) a very short first echo time (≈2 ms) and echo-spacing (≈1 ms), which allows for the acquisition of multiple sampling points during the fast decay of the myelin water signal; 2) a low RF duty cycle, which is especially important for achieving acceptable specific absorption rate (SAR) levels at high field strengths. Multicompartment analysis was then applied to the T decay in each pixel using a 3-pool model of white matter to detect the signal arising from the myelin water, myelinated axonal water, and mixed water compartments. Magn Reson Med 58:865–870, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Morphological aspects of the vestibular nerve of the squirrel monkey

A morphological study of the vestibular nerve of a primate, the squirrel monkey, revealed a systematic organization of neurons according to fiber diameter. At the center of the cristae, thick fibers align in two parallel rows along the long axis; in the periphery of the cristae, thin fibers predominate. Within the superior vestibular nerve the thick fibers of the anterior and horizontal semicircular canals and utricle are situated in the anterosuperior area, the thin fibers in the posterior part. A similar segregation occurs with fibers of the posterior ampullary nerve and the saccule within the inferior vestibular nerve. The fibers continue to segregate at the root entry zone where they lose their Schwann's cell ensheathing and begin to divide into secondary central branches. There is a correspondence between the volume of the ganglion cell and the fiber diameter; hence, a segregation of ganglion cells according to their size also takes place in the vestibular nerve. The organization of the primate's vestibular nerve is similar to that found earlier in an anuran. The relevance of the phylogenetic preservation of the vestibular nerve's anatomical organization is discussed in terms of current physiological findings, which support the differential role of fibers of different diameters in vestibular function.
Analysis of concatenated waveforms and required STC

In modern surveillance radar, pulse compression is applied to achieve long range coverage while maintaining both low transmit peak power and desired range resolution. When there is a requirement to increase the radarpsilas range without a corresponding increase in the transmitted peak power it is required that a longer uncompressed pulse be used. As a consequence the blind range, associated with blanking the receiver whilst transmitting the pulse, will increase and short range coverage will be lost. In this paper we initially present a system of concatenated waveforms that provide simultaneous radar coverage for both near and far ranges. The solution incorporates a combination of longer sub-pulses for far range and shorter sub-pulses for near range. Although the concatenated waveforms have a number of attractive attributes, they present a challenging problem in that different sub-pulses will reflect back from different ranges and be received at the same time. Therefore since each sub-pulse is not separable at the RF front end a more complex sensitivity time control (STC) is required. In the second part of this paper we analyze this phenomenon and propose a STC scheme to address the issue.
A framework for wireless monitoring of mental health conditions

Mental health management is fast becoming a major challenge worldwide as the incidence of mental illness has been increasing. It is affecting the quality of life as well as job productivity for a large number of people. Just like physical illnesses, people with mental illnesses can be monitored for a range of conditions and provided medical care as and when necessary. In this paper, we present an IT-enabled framework to support mental health monitoring. This includes comprehensive monitoring of patients for symptoms, behavior, and medication compliance. We utilize context-awareness as a way to develop a system for mental health monitoring. Several examples of future mental health monitoring are also presented.
A method for the determination of betaine in tissues using high performance liquid chromatography

Betaine is a major metabolite of choline in liver and kidney and may be an important product of choline metabolism in other tissues. The available methods for assay of betaine, however, are time consuming and relatively insensitive. We describe a modification of published methods that provides a sensitive and specific assay for betaine by derivatization and HPLC separation with UV quantitation. Betaine and other water-soluble choline metabolites are extracted from biological samples and separated by HPLC based on mobility of 14C-labeled internal standards. The betaine fraction is collected and derivatized with 4'-bromo-phenacyl triflate. The betaine-triflate derivative is quantitated by UV absorbance and the result is corrected for possible losses due to incomplete extraction recovery and incomplete derivatization by simultaneous measurement of radioactivity from the derivatized 14C-betaine internal standard. Betaine concentrations determined with this procedure are reported for several adult and fetal rat tissues.
What are the barriers to improving care for patients with sepsis

The aims of this study were to identify what junior doctors perceive to be the barriers to improving care for patients with sepsis and to assess the ability of junior doctors to recognise sepsis. A questionnaire was distributed to all foundation year 1 and 2 doctors attending a weekly teaching
Elements of Convection—The Flat Plate

In dealing with conduction, we were concerned with finding a detailed temperature distribution; that is, we could find a temperature at any location. In dealing with convection, we usually deal with a process of sufficient complexity that we wish to avoid solving the detailed problem and express heat transfer in terms of a coefficient relating a wall temperature to an asymptotic or average fluid temperature. Generally, the coefficient is obtained on the basis of an empirical correlation.
The Basque Hotelera: Implications for Broader Study

Chapter on the role of Basque women hotel keepers in their communities and implications for their influence. Also includes suggestions for further study of role of women in western development and role ethnic women played in the history of the American West.
Statistical Entry, Descent, and Landing Flight Reconstruction with Flush Air Data System Observations using Inertial Navigation and Monte Carlo Techniques.

An alternative to traditional statistical approaches to entry, descent, and landing trajectory and atmosphere reconstruction is presented. The approach is based on the recently developed Inertial Navigation Statistical Trajectory and Atmosphere Reconstruction (INSTAR) method, which is an extension of inertial navigation that provides statistical uncertainties by utilizing Monte Carlo dispersion techniques. The method is demonstrated using flight data from the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission. INSTAR is used to investigate how heat shield surface pressures from MSL may quantify aerodynamic uncertainties. INSTAR is also used to consider correlated computational fluid dynamics uncertainties and their effects on atmospheric and aerodynamic estimates and corresponding statistics. The solutions obtained through INSTAR are compared to the Kalman filter solutions obtained by the MSL reconstruction effort led by NASA Langley Research Center.
Constipation in Elderly Patients with Noncancer Pain: Focus on Opioid-Induced Constipation

Constipation is a common and often debilitating condition in the elderly, which may be caused by underlying disease conditions, structural abnormalities in the bowel, and a variety of medications such as anticholinergics, antidepressants, and opiates. In this review, we focus on opioid-induced constipation (OIC), which is often underrecognized and undertreated in the elderly. When opioid therapy is initiated, healthcare providers are encouraged to evaluate risk factors for the development of constipation as part of a thorough patient history. To this end, the patient assessment should include the use of validated instruments, such as the Bristol Stool Scale and Bowel Function Index, to confirm the diagnosis and provide a basis for evaluating treatment outcomes. Healthcare providers should use a stepwise approach to the treatment of OIC in the elderly. Conventional laxatives are a first-line option and considered well tolerated with short-term use as needed; however, evidence is lacking to support their effectiveness in OIC. Moreover, because of the risk of adverse events and other considerations, such as chewing difficulties and swallowing disorders, conventional oral laxatives may be inappropriate for the treatment of OIC in the elderly. Thus, the availability of new pharmacologic agents such as the peripherally acting µ-opioid receptor antagonists methylnaltrexone and naloxegol, which target the underlying causes of OIC, and the secretagogue lubiprostone may provide more effective treatment options for elderly patients with OIC.
Archaeological Investigation to Locate the Northwest Corner of Mission Concepcion San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

On May 2, 1990, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR), The University of Texas at San Antonio, conducted an archaeological investigation to locate the north wall of the compound of Mission Concepcion for the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. The purpose of the investigation was to obtain information in order to be able to project the north wall line and the west wall line and locate the original northwest comer which has been eliminated by street and utility construction.