cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interval appendectomy in the laparoscopic era

In the acute setting, patients with periappendiceal masses generally improve with broad-spectrum antibiotics with or without percutaneous catheter drainage, but whether or not to perform an interval appendectomy remains controversial. We have analyzed our experience over the past decade, comparing results from interval laparoscopic appendectomy (ILA) and interval open appendectomy (IOA). Medical records were reviewed for 56 patients who initially presented with the diagnosis of periappendiceal mass or abscess and who subsequently underwent interval appendectomy. Data were accumulated for both the initial hospitalization and interval appendectomy. Comparisons were made between period 1 (1987 to 1993) and period 2 (1994 to 1997). Follow-up data were obtained via telephone conversations with the patients. Patient characteristics with regard to age, sex, and comorbidities did not differ between the ILA and IOA groups. The number of patients undergoing CAT scan increased from 33% to 55%, whereas the initial hospital stay decreased from 7.42 to 4.61 days (P <0.001). The percentage of interval appendectomies performed by the laparoscopic method increased from 30% to 85%. The total operating room time did not differ (95 vs. 103 minutes), but die hospital stay was much shorter in the ILA group (0.55 vs. 3.07 days, P <0.001). There were no instances of intra-abdominal or wound infections in either group. In the later time period the mean hospital stay decreased to 0.38 days, with 59% of the operations performed on an outpatient basis. Following ILA, narcotic pain medication was used for an average of 1.3 days and the reported "time to return to full activities" was 2.5 days. ILA is a simple and safe procedure that can usually be performed on an outpatient basis. Given the minimal morbidity of the procedure, we believe that ILA should be considered for most patients who initially present with periappendiceal masses.
A case of extensive Aplasia Cutis Congenita with underlying skull defect and central nervous system malformation: discussion of large skin defects, complications, treatment and outcome

Aplasia Cutis Congenita (ACC) is a rare condition characterized by the absence of a portion of skin at birth. Skin defects are usually small (0.5 to 3 cm) and located on the scalp. Although there can be other physical or genetic abnormalities, ACC is most often a benign isolated condition. Rarely is an underlying bony defect present, and this association increases the rate of complications. We report a case of a newborn male with ACC of the entire crown and vertex scalp, non-ossified parietal skull and dysplastic corpus callosum. The patient's skull and skin defects were treated non-surgically, and he recovered well.
Perceptual‐motor and attentional correlates of developmental dysacalculia

From the patient population of a learning disorders clinic, a group of 72 "relative math underachievers" was selected for achievement test performance below grade level on mathematics but at or above grade level on reading, with a difference of at least 1.5 standard deviation between the two. A comparison group of 30 "relative reading underachievers" met the converse criteria. Neurological examination showed mixed laterality preference (right hand and foot but left eye) to be more prevalent among the math underachievers. The two groups were closely comparable on Wechsler intelligence quotient scores, although the "freedom from distractibility quotient" tended to be lower for the match group. The latter group also showed a lower mean achievement quotient on the Bender Visuomotor Gestalt Test. On a standard questionnaire derived from DSM-III criteria for attention deficit disorder, the math group showed higher scores for inattention, but not for hyperactivity, impulsivity, or poor peer relations. Both perceptual-motor and attentional deficits appear to characterize children who are specifically learning disabled for math.
CHEMICAL FORMS OF IRON IN THE CONNECTICUT RIVER ESTUARY

Abstract The ‘dissolved’ iron (that passed through a 0·4-μm filter) varied nonconservatively with salinity in the Connecticut River estuary. However, the total iron appeared to be conservative. Measurements of Fe(II) and Fe(III) showed that oxidation of Fe(II) was not a factor in the decrease of ‘dissolved’ iron in the low salinity region. A solubility model and analyses based on different pore-size filters indicated that a substantial amount of the ‘dissolved’ iron in the low salinity region was colloidal iron. The coagulation of fine colloidal particles led to the non-conservative behavior of ‘dissolved’ iron during estuarine mixing, but it did not necessarily lead to removal of total iron from the waters. Particulate iron was 80–90% of the total iron and it covaried with the total suspended matter during mixing and sediment resuspension. The residence time of water in the Connecticut River estuary was too short to allow removal of iron from the water column within the estuary.
Efficacy of CPR in a general, adult ICU

Abstract Aim: To investigate the initial cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) success rate and long term survival in an Intensive care unit (ICU) population. Patients: All patients with cardiac arrest over a 2-year-period (1999–2000) in a general, adult ICU of a general hospital of Athens. Methods: Retrospective collection of clinical data concerning patients, CPR characteristics and survival rates. Results: We examined 111 ICU patients, aged 56.4±1.9 years (72 males). SAPS II score was 43.9±3.8. CPR was performed in 98.2% of the patients within 30 s. Initial restoration of cardiac function (RCF) and successful CPR rate was 100% while 24 h survival was 9.2%. Survivors at 24 h were younger, mainly males, with lower SAPS II score, mainly with pulmonary disease, ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia (8/10) and initial pupil reactivity (5/10). Four patients required more than one cycle of CPR. Survival to discharge was zero. Conclusion: Although the initial successful CPR rate in ICU patients may be high, long term survival and hospital discharge is disappointing. Although ICU patients are better monitored and treated in a timely fashion, they are disadvantaged by chronic underlying diseases, severe current medical illnesses and multi organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) leads to worst outcome after CPR compared with in-ward patients.
GHRS Observations of Cool, Low-Gravity Stars. V. The Outer Atmosphere and Wind of the Nearby K Supergiant λ Velorum

UV spectra of λ Velorum taken with the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph (GHRS) on the Hubble Space Telescope are used to probe the structure of the outer atmospheric layers and wind and to estimate the mass-loss rate from this K5 Ib-II supergiant. VLA radio observations at λ = 3.6 cm are used to obtain an independent check on the wind velocity and mass-loss rate inferred from the UV observations. Parameters of the chromospheric structure are estimated from measurements of UV line widths, positions, and fluxes and from the UV continuum flux distribution. The ratios of optically thin C II] emission lines indicate a mean chromospheric electron density of log Ne ≈ 8.9 ± 0.2 cm-3. The profiles of these lines indicate a chromospheric turbulence (v0 ≈ 25-36 km s-1), which greatly exceeds that seen in either the photosphere or wind. The centroids of optically thin emission lines of Fe II and of the emission wings of self-reversed Fe II lines indicate that they are formed in plasma approximately at rest with respect to the photosphere of the star. This suggests that the acceleration of the wind occurs above the chromospheric regions in which these emission line photons are created. The UV continuum detected by the GHRS clearly traces the mean flux-formation temperature as it increases with height in the chromosphere from a well-defined temperature minimum of 3200 K up to about 4600 K. Emission seen in lines of C III] and Si III] provides evidence of material at higher than chromospheric temperatures in the outer atmosphere of this noncoronal star. The photon-scattering wind produces self-reversals in the strong chromospheric emission lines, which allow us to probe the velocity field of the wind. The velocities to which these self-absorptions extend increase with intrinsic line strength, and thus height in the wind, and therefore directly map the wind acceleration. The width and shape of these self-absorptions reflect a wind turbulence of ≈9-21 km s-1. We further characterize the wind by comparing the observations with synthetic profiles generated with the Lamers et al. Sobolev with Exact Integration (SEI) radiative transfer code, assuming simple models of the outer atmospheric structure. These comparisons indicate that the wind in 1994 can be described by a model with a wind acceleration parameter β ~ 0.9, a terminal velocity of 29-33 km s-1, and a mass-loss rate ~ 3 × 10-9 M☉ yr-1. Modeling of the 3.6 cm radio flux observed in 1997 suggests a more slowly accelerating wind (higher β) and/or a higher mass-loss rate than inferred from the UV line profiles. These differences may be due to temporal variations in the wind or from limitations in one or both of the models. The discrepancy is currently under investigation.
King Elementary: A New Principal Plans How to Transform a Diverse Urban School.

This case addresses a typical context faced by a new urban principal. Under the former principal, the school had several years of average academic success. Consequently, the superintendent appointe...
Developmental neuronal death is not a universal phenomenon among cell types in the chick embryo retina.

The goal of this study was to investigate whether all the cell types present in the chick embryo retina undergo developmental neuronal death. Apoptosis was investigated in retinal sections at different developmental stages, processed either with propidium iodide, which stains pyknotic nuclei intensely, or with terminal transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate (d-UTP)-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL). Internucleosomal DNA fragmentation was investigated in tissue extracts by agarose gel electrophoresis. TUNEL-positive (T+) cells and pyknotic nuclei were first detectable in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) around embryonic day (ED) 8 and peaked at ED 10. In the inner nuclear layer (INL), T+ and pyknotic cells first appeared on ED 8, reached maximum frequency on ED 11, and were largely absent after ED 14. DNA ladders were observed at all the stages, when T+ and pyknotic cells were abundant, but not on ED 4, when only scattered dead cells were observed histologically. Dying cells were virtually never detected in the outer nuclear layer (ONL) from ED 4 to postnatal day 2. After unilateral midbrain ablation on ED 5, there was a striking increase in the number of pyknotic and T+ cells in both the GCL and in the INL of the contralateral eye but not in the ONL. The absence of apoptotic cell death in the ONL during normal development and after tectal ablation shows that developmental death is not universal among the various cell populations present in the chick embryo retina and raises questions regarding mechanisms controlling both photoreceptor survival and the matching of pre- and postsynaptic elements in the outer plexiform layer of this species. J. Comp. Neurol. 396:12–19, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Diastereoselective Vinyl Phosphate/beta-Keto Phosphonate Rearrangements.

Several nonracemic diols and amino alcohols have been tested for their utility as chiral auxiliaries in vinyl phosphate/β-keto phosphonate rearrangements. When (2R,4R)- or (2S,4S)-pentane-2,4-diol were employed, the diastereomeric β-keto phosphonates obtained from three prochiral cyclohexanones gave separate resonances in their respective 31P NMR spectra, allowing estimation of diastereomeric excess (de) via straightforward integration. A crystalline enol form of the β-keto phosphonate was obtained from one ketone (4-(1,1-(ethylenedioxy)ethyl)-4-methylcyclohexanone, 10), which allowed determination of its absolute stereochemistry by X-ray diffraction analysis. When LTMP was used to induce rearrangement of vinyl phosphates derived from ketone 10 and (2R,4R)- or (2S,4S)-pentane-2,4-diol, a de of 2.5:1 was obtained. In addition, de values of 2.0:1 and 1.4:1 were obtained with parallel rearrangements of 4-isopropyl- and 4-methylcyclohexanone, suggesting that this sequence may be more generally applicable to p...
Intraretinal Transplantation of Fluorescently Labeled Retinal Cell Suspensions

Dissociated cell suspensions of neonatal neural retina, labeled with the fluorescent dyes Fast blue or Fluoro-gold, were transplanted into the retina of normal adult rats or of rats affected by late stage phototoxic retinopathy. Light microscopy showed good survival, differentiation, and integration of the transplants, as well as permanence of the label up to 100 days. The results indicate that the transplantation of dissociated, fluorescently labeled retinal cells has a number of advantages over the transplantation of solid fragments of retinal tissue, previously performed by ourselves and others. The following are some of the most immediate procedural advantages: the number of transplanted cells can be assessed, the transplanted cells are in a more intimate contact with the host tissue and therefore integrate better with the host, and the fluorescent tags permit precise determination of the survival and distribution of the transplanted cells.
Male/female differences in intracellular Na+ regulation during ischemia/reperfusion in mouse heart.

We previously showed that beta-adrenergic stimulation revealed male/female differences in susceptibility to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. To explore whether altered [Na(+)](i) regulation is involved in the mechanism of this sex difference, we measured [Na(+)](i) by (23)Na NMR spectroscopy in isolated perfused mouse hearts. [Na(+)](i) increased to 195 +/- 3% (mean +/- S.E.) of the pre-ischemic level at 20 min of ischemia in male hearts, whereas [Na(+)](i) accumulation was slightly less in female hearts (176 +/- 2%, P 0.05). If hearts were treated with isoproterenol (ISO, 10 nmol/l), males exhibited significantly poorer recovery of post-ischemic contractile function than females (male: 13.0 +/- 1.9%; female: 28.1 +/- 1.2%; P < 0.05), and a significantly higher [Na(+)](i) accumulation during ischemia (male: 218 +/- 8%; female: 171 +/- 2%; P < 0.05). This ISO-induced male/female difference in [Na(+)](i) accumulation or contractile function was blocked by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, N(omega)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (1 micromol/l). Furthermore, in ISO-treated hearts, the Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase inhibitor, ouabain (200 micromol/l) did not abolish the male/female difference in [Na(+)](i) accumulation during I/R or functional protection. Thus the data show that the sex difference in the [Na(+)](i) regulation is mediated through a NO-dependent mechanism, and the difference in susceptibility to I/R injury appears to result from a difference in Na(+) influx.
A novel technique to measure in vivo uterine suspensory ligament stiffness.

Objective The purpose of this study was to describe a new computer-controlled research apparatus for measuring in vivo uterine ligament force–displacement behavior and stiffness and to present pilot data for women with and without prolapse. Study Design Seventeen women with varying uterine support underwent testing in the operating room (OR) after anesthetic induction. A tripod-mounted computer-controlled linear servoactuator was used to quantify force-displacement behavior of the cervix and supporting ligaments. The servoactuator applied a caudally directed force to a tenaculum at 4 mm/sec velocity until the traction force reached 17.8 N (4 lbs). Cervix location on Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification system (POP-Q) in the clinic, in the OR, at rest, and with minimal force ( Results The mean ± SD subject age was 54.5 ± 12.7 years; parity was 2.9 ± 1.1; body mass index was 29.0 ± 4.3 kg/m 2 , and POP-Q point C was –3.1 ± 3.9 cm. POP-Q point C was correlated most strongly with cervix location at maximum force (r = +0.68; P = .003) and at rest (r = +0.62; P = .009). Associations between cervix location at minimum force (r = +0.46; P = .059) and ligament stiffness (r = –0.44; P = .079) were not statistically significant. Cervix location in the OR with minimal traction lay below the lowest point found on POP-Q for 13 women. Conclusion POP-Q point C was correlated strongly with cervix location at rest and at maximum traction force; however, only 19% of the variation in POP-Q point C location was explained by ligament stiffness. The cervix location in the OR at minimal traction lay below POP-Q point C value in three-fourths of the women.
2008 Malaysian Election: The End of Malaysia's Ethnic Nationalism?

The article proposes that there are three basic paradigms of nationalism: secular nationalism, ethnic nationalism, and theocratic nationalism. These paradigms form an integral part of the postcolonial state-building project. The article discusses how Malaysia selected the ethnic nationalism paradigm and how this directed the country's political development and the way it addressed the challenge of ethnic pluralism. It argues that ethnic nationalism best accounts for Malaysia's inability to achieve full democracy. The March 2008 election and the possibility of the collapse of ethnic nationalism and the transition to a more open democracy are explored.
Strategies to Foster the Career Development of People with Disabilities

Abstract This paper addresses career development strategy within the context of social work practice in rehabilitation and disability. The author outlines the career development needs of people with disabilities and identifies contemporary ways of thinking about career development. Four specific career development tactics are discussed involving the provision of vicarious experiences, identification and appreciation of performance accomplishments, verbal persuasion to support appropriate risk-taking, and emotional arousal that facilitates the expression of feelings and the motivation to act. These tactics are promising avenues for strengthening vocational and career self-efficacy with the aim of helping people with disabilities to augment their career maturity and increase their personal flexibility.
A former ice sheet in the Arctic Ocean

Abstract Similarities of setting between the Arctic Ocean today and the former sea now occupied by the West Antarctic ice sheet and its associated ice shelves suggest that, under prolonged full-Glacial conditions, a cold ice cover of West Antarctic type could have developed in the Arctic Ocean, consisting of a complex of ice shelves and ice grounded far below sea level. During the Last Glacial the ice cover probably consisted of ice shelves only except for a grounded ice sheet in the epicontinental Barents Sea, but during an earlier Glacial, an ice sheet centered in the American sector of the Arctic Ocean may have extended onto the adjacent land, carrying shelly drift far above the marine limit in the Canadian arctic islands, and inundating northwest Alaska.
From research to implementation: challenges in the prevention of mother to child HIV transmission in the developing world

Scientific research has identified anti-retroviral regimens effective in the prevention of mother to child HIV transmission. Yet, 1800 HIV-infected infants are born every day. The majority of HIV-infected women live in developing countries where challenges to widespread implementation of these regimens have prevented decreases in pediatric HIV infection from being realized.
Coastal Massachusetts pond development: edaphic, climatic, and sea level impacts since deglaciation

Kettle ponds in the Cape Cod National Seashore in southeastern Massachusetts differ in their evolution due to depth of the original ice block, the clay content of outwash in their drainage basins, and their siting in relation to geomorphic changes caused by sea-level rise, barrier beach formation, and saltmarsh development. Stratigraphic records of microfossil, carbon isotope, and sediment changes also document late-glacial and Holocene climatic changes. The ponds are separated into 3 groups, each of which follow different development scenarios. Group I ponds date from the late-glacial. They formed in clay-rich outwash, have perched aquifers and continuous lake sediment deposition. The earliest pollen and macrofossil assemblages in Group I pond sediments suggest tundra and spruce-willow parklands before 12 000 yr B.P., boreal forest between 12 000 and 10 500 yr B.P., bog/heath initiation and expansion during the Younger Dryas between 11 000 and 10 000 yr B.P., northern conifer forest between 10 500 and 9500 yr B.P., and establishment of the Cape oak and pitch pine barrens vegetation after 9500 yr B.P. Sedimentation rate changes suggest lowered freshwater levels between 9000 and 5000 yr B.P. caused by decreased precipitation on the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Lake sediment deposition began in the middle Holocene in Group II ponds which formed in clay-poor outwash. These ponds date from about 6000-5000 yr B.P. In these ponds sediment deposition began as sea level rose and the freshwater lens intersected the dry basins. The basal radiocarbon dates of these ponds and stable carbon isotope analyses of the pond sediments suggest a sea-level curve for Cape Cod Bay. Holocene topographic changes in upland and the landscape surrounding the ponds is reconstructed for this coastal area. Group III ponds in the late Holocene landscape of the Provincelands dunes originated as interdunal bogs about 1000 yr B.P. and became ponds more recently as water-levels increased. Peat formation in the Provincelands reflects climatic changes evident on both sides of the Atlantic region.
Modeling and Experiment Reveal an Unexpected Stereoelectronic Effect on Conformation and Scalar Couplings of α-Aminoorganostannanes, with Possible Relevance to the Tin−Lithium Exchange Reaction

The solution conformation of N-methyl-2-(tributylstannyl)piperidines has been determined through the use of vicinal 119Sn−13C coupling constants, revealing a conformational distortion caused by an unexpected stereoelectronic effect in some cases. Specifically, the “equatorial” conformer is distorted into a half-chair, in which the nitrogen lone pair eclipses the C−Sn bond. This distortion, which “costs” approximately 1 kcal/mol, correlates with a conformational dependence of geminal 119Sn−15N couplings and a possible correlation with reactivity in the tin−lithium exchange reaction.
The patterns of silence: Performance structures in sentence production

Abstract The pauses produced by speakers while reading familiar material were used to obtain hierarchical sentence structures. Identical structures were obtained from parsing, indicating that the performance structures of sentences are not task specific. The linguistic surface structure of a sentence is a good predictor of the pause durations. However, speakers also revealed a tendency to place pauses between segments of equal length. A simple cyclical model combining, for each pause location, an index of linguistic complexity and a measure of the distance to the midpoint of the segment, accounts for 72% of the pause time variance as opposed to 56% for the linguistic index alone. The generality of the model is shown by its good prediction of the pause durations obtained in unrelated studies in English and American Sign Language.
Half-Life ofI129and the Age of the Elements

The specific activities of several samples of methyl iodide containing ${\mathrm{I}}^{129}$ were measured with proportional counters, and the ratios of ${\mathrm{I}}^{129}$ to ${\mathrm{I}}^{127}$ were determined with a 60\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} sector type mass spectrometer. The half-life of ${\mathrm{I}}^{129}$ was found to be (1.72\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.09)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{7}$ years. The time interval between the formation of the elements and the formation of the earth calculated from this value is 2.7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{8}$ years. It was assumed that most of the ${\mathrm{Xe}}^{129}$ present on the earth at present originated from decay of ${\mathrm{I}}^{129}$ after the formation of the earth and that the original cosmic abundance of ${\mathrm{I}}^{129}$ was about equal to that of the stable ${\mathrm{I}}^{127}$.
Multi-droplet interaction effects in dense sprays

Abstract A new approach for dense-spray modeling is employed to develop a model for multi-droplet interaction effects. A statistical description of droplets in a cloud and correlation functions for the effects of interactions between neighboring droplets are used to extract correction factors for various parameters that are affected by droplet interactions (e.g. drag cofficient, Nusselt number and Sherwood number). The correction factors enable the calculation of the drag coefficient, evaporation rate and heat transfer of a droplet in a cloud based on models for a single droplet. The model is employed to study the effects of droplet interactions on the evaporation and motion of a dense spray in a hot gaseous environment. It is shown that interaction effects are important during a larger fraction of the droplet lifetime as the droplet size decreases. The multi-droplet interactions cause the drag coefficient of a droplet in a dense spray to be lower—and hence its velocity higher—than that for an isolated droplet. For 100 μm droplets, as expected, the evaporation rate decreases and the droplet lifetime increases due to multi-droplet interactions. For 40 μm droplets, however, the evaporation rate increases and the droplet lifetime decreases. Although heat transfer to an interacting droplet is slower than to an isolated droplet, at the same gas-phase conditions and relative velocity of the droplets, the higher relative velocity of a 40 μm interacting droplet more than compensates for this effect to result in a shorter droplet lifetime.
Effect of HIV status on chest radiographic and CT findings in patients with tuberculosis.

Abstract Aim: To compare the chest radiographic and chest CT findings of tuberculosis according to HIV status. Patients and methods: Ninety-eight HIV-tested patients with cultures positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) between January 1991 and December 1993 whose clinical charts and radiographic records were available for review formed the study population. There were 67 HIV-positive patients (51 men, 16 women) and 31 HIV-negative patients (23 men, 8 women). Chest CT scans were available for review in 15 HIV-positive and four HIV-negative patients. Results: On chest radiographs, HIV-positive patients had mediastinal lymphadenopathy (60% vs. 23%) and atypical infiltrates (55% vs. 10%) significantly more frequently than HIV-negative patients. Conversely, HIV-negative patients had infiltrates typical for reactivation tuberculosis (77% vs. 30%) and cavitation (52% vs. 18%) significantly more frequently than HIV-positive patients. The chest CT scans showed a similar trend, but significant differences were only seen regarding more frequent bilateral mediastinal lymphadenopathy in HIV-positive patients and more frequent cavitation in HIV-negative patients. Conclusion: This study demonstrates significant differences in chest radiographic and chest CT appearances of tuberculosis according to HIV status. HIV-positive patients have more frequent atypical infiltrates and mediastinal lymphadenopathy, and less frequent cavitation and infiltrates typical for reactivation tuberculosis than do HIV-negative patients.
Perspective: On the Near Wall Similarity of Three-Dimensional Turbulent Boundary Layers (Data Bank Contribution)

The possible existence of a "law-of-the-wall" similarity velocity profile for 3-D boundary layers was investigated using nine different proposed relations with the data from nine experiments carried out in 3-D turbulent boundary layers. Both for pressure driven and shear-driven flows, the "law-of-the-wall" relation of Johnston for the local freestream velocity direction component best applies. Although not well described by any relation, the crosswise velocity component of pressure-driven flows and shear-driven flows is best represented by Mager's relation and Chandrashekhar and Swamy equation, respectively.
Neutrinos from the annihilation or decay of superheavy relic dark matter particles

Abstract In light of the mounting evidence that the highest energy cosmic rays are dominated by protons and not gamma-rays, we discuss the prospect that these cosmic rays are generated in the decay or annihilation of superheavy relic particles. We calculate the high energy neutrino spectrum which results and normalize our results to the ultra-high energy cosmic ray spectrum. We show that most scenerios are already constrained by present limits placed by the AMANDA experiment.
TOR Signaling Regulates Ribosome and tRNA Synthesis via LAMMER/Clk and GSK-3 Family Kinases

Target of rapamycin (TOR)-dependent signaling and the control of cell growth is deregulated in many cancers. However, the signaling molecules downstream of TOR that coordinately regulate the synthesis of ribosomes and tRNAs are not well defined. Here, we show in yeast that conserved kinases of the LAMMER/Cdc-like and GSK-3 families function downstream of TOR complex 1 to repress ribosome and tRNA synthesis in response to nutrient limitation and other types of cellular stress. As a part of this response, we found that the LAMMER kinase Kns1 is differentially expressed and hyperphosphorylated and accumulates in the nucleus after rapamycin treatment, whereupon it primes the phosphorylation of the RNA polymerase III subunit Rpc53 by a specific GSK-3 family member, Mck1. In cooperation with another polymerase subunit, Rpc11, this phosphorylation of Rpc53 modifies the function of the enzyme and together with dephosphorylation of the Maf1 repressor inhibits the growth-promoting activity of RNA polymerase III transcription.
Heterotic RG flow fixed points with non-diagonal affine invariants☆

Abstract A number of issues related to the transition from exactly solvable models to Calabi-Yau manifolds via Landau-Ginzburg theories are discussed. Techniques for calculating the number of generations and anti-generations for diagonal as well as non-diagonal manifolds are described and agreement with the exact calculation is found. A class of weighted complete intersection Calabi-Yau manifolds is identified with Gepner models involving non-diagonal affine invariants. I indicate a new type of splitting which relates non-diagonal Calabi-Yau manifolds to diagonal ones.
Repeat teen birth: does delivery mode make a difference?

Objective We sought to evaluate the association between the rate of repeat adolescent births and mode of delivery. Study Design This was a retrospective cohort study of 899 adolescents delivering in Rhode Island. Repeat birth rates were calculated and compared between adolescents delivering their first baby via cesarean vs vaginally. Fisher's exact test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, and survival analysis methods were utilized. Results Total repeat birth rate within 2 years was 15.9% with 17.4% for the cesarean cohort and 15.6% for the vaginal birth cohort (relative risk, 1.12; 95% confidence interval, 0.77–1.62). Median duration to repeat birth in the cesarean cohort was 20 months; for the vaginal birth cohort it was 17.6 months. Conclusion Repeat birth within 2 years of index birth for teen mothers whose first birth was a cesarean vs vaginal delivery was not statistically different; the trend in time to next delivery may give us information about when to direct interventions to prevent second pregnancies.
Modulation of gene methylation by genistein or lycopene in breast cancer cells.

Dietary agents with chemopreventive potential, including soy-derived genistein and tomato-derived lycopene, have been shown to alter gene expression in ways that can either promote or potentially inhibit the carcinogenic processes. To begin to explore the mechanisms by which these agents may be acting we have examined the DNA methylation modulating capacity of genistein or lycopene for several genes relevant to breast cancer in the breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468, as well as in immortalized but noncancer fibrocystic MCF10A breast cells. We find using methylation specific PCR (MSP) that a low, nontoxic concentration of genistein (3.125 μM, resupplemented every 48 hr for 1 week) or a single dose of lycopene (2 μM) partially demethylates the promoter of the GSTP1 tumor suppressor gene in MDA-MB-468 cells. RT-PCR studies confirm a lack of GSTP1 expression in untreated MDA-MB-468, with restoration of GSTP1 expression after genistein or lycopene treatment. The RARβ2 gene however, was not demethylated by genistein or lycopene in either of these breast cancer cell lines. But, lycopene (2 μM, once per week for 2 weeks) did induce demethylation of RARβ2 and the HIN-1 genes in the noncancer MCF10A fibrocystic breast cells. These data show for the first time that the tomato carotenoid lycopene has direct DNA demethylating activity. In summary, both genistein and lycopene, at very low, dietarily relevant concentrations can potentially mitigate tumorigenic processes via promoter methylation modulation of gene expression. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Adaptive filters and blind equalizers for mixed-phase channels

ABSTRACT We propose a new approach to recursive estimation of the parameters of FIR. (finite impulseresponse) and Jilt (infinite impulse response) non-Gaussian signals which are assumed to be gen-erated by driving a finite-dimensional channel (system) by an i.i.d. non-Gaussian sequence. The problem is addressed in a blind setting, i.e., only the channel output is observed, not the inputto it. The signal model is allowed to be nonminimum phase, hence, the model is applicable to the problem of blind channel equalization in data communication systems. The proposed recursiveparameter estimator is shown to be globally convergent, i.e., the parameter estimator converges tothe true model regardless of its initialization. The proposed parameter estimator is based upon atwo model decomposition approach: an SEMP (spectrally equivalent minimum phase) system incascade with an ailpass system. 1. INTRODUCTION A vast majority of the literature on adaptive signal processing (explicitly) exploits only thesecond-order statistics of the underlying processes. When only output measurements of a sys-
THE EARLY LATIN DIONYSIUS: ERIUGENA AND HUGH OF ST. VICTOR

This essay sketches how Eriugena and Hugh of St. Victor interpreted the Areopagite, emphasizing key passages for each. Eriugena's translation of the CD and his Expositiones on The Celestial Hierarchy exerted a tremendous influence on subsequent Latin readers, including Hugh, and even survived the condemnation of his masterwork, the Periphyseon. The Victorine, whose own Augustinian inclinations were largely untouched by his encounter with the Areopagite, nevertheless exerted a distinctive influence by (falsely) attributing to Dionysius the view that in our pursuit of God, “love surpasses knowledge.” Together, despite their stark differences, they bequeathed a lively Dionysian tradition to the high medieval authors, scholastics and mystics alike.
Solar Energy and Global Climate Change

Previous studies have shown that the solar energy input to the earth system underwent significant decadal variations at individual surface energy budget stations, with a global dimming from 1950s to 1980s, but a global brightening from 1980s to 2000s, and a mixed tendency at different locations thereafter. Here we use a new global gridded solar irradiance dataset to show that the previous results from individual stations represent well the regional means but not the global mean or hemisphere means. The global mean has a decadal variation that is quite different from the individual station results reported in previous studies, which comes from the fact that the southern hemisphere mean has an opposite trend with the northern hemisphere mean. No long-term global dimming trend is found associated with global warming
The cost of instant access to health care.

1demonstrates fairly dramatic differences in prices and waiting times for some hospital services, the authors do not account for the major difference between the health care systems in Canada and the United States. Canada has a comprehensive, national health insurance program that covers all of its population and provides publicly mandated insurance coverage for all inpatient hospital care. The United States has a pluralistic system of public and private health insurance coverage that leaves scores of millions uninsured and underinsured. 2
Geranyl acetate and 2-decen-1-ol in the cephalic secretion of the solitary waspSceliphron caementarium (Sphecidae; Hymenoptera)

The cephalic secretion ofSceliphron caementarium contains a mixture of geranyl acetate and 2-decen-1-ol; the latter has not been described previously in arthropod secretions. The secretion is orally emitted when the wasps are handled, and may serve in defense or alternatively as an aid in roosting aggregation.
A Perceptual Comparison of the /i/–/e/ and /u/–/o/ Contrasts in English and in Spanish: Universal and Language-Specific Aspects

Two experiments were run to investigate language-specific and universal acoustic-perceptual characteristics of the /i/–/e/ and /u/–/o/ contrasts in two languages that differ widely in the sizes of their vowel inventories, namely, English and Spanish. In order to investigate the relationship between production and perception of these two vowel pairs, the first experiment compared the acoustic and perceptual characteristics of the /i/–/e/ and /u/–/o/ contrasts within each of the two languages. In order to investigate the responses of listeners to non-native stimuli, the second experiment presented native listeners of English and Spanish with synthetic /i/–/e/ and /u/–/o/ stimuli that were modeled after natural vowels as spoken by speakers of the other language. The results indicated a close production-perception link, as well as a degree of flexibility of the perceptual vowel space in response to stimuli that are structured around non-native vowel category locations. These results suggest that listeners perceive vowel stimuli with reference to a specific phonemic vowel system, and, if necessary, will adjust their perceptual vowel system to match the stimuli. Additionally, a comparison of the absolute locations of the /i/–/e/ and /u/–/o/ perceptual boundaries across the two languages indicated the presence of universally preferred, inventory-independent boundary locations.
Evidence for isoaspartyl1 (deamidated) forms of mouse epidermal growth factor

Abstract A variant form of mouse submaxillary gland epidermal growth factor (EGF) was identified by isocratic reversed-phase HPLC of EGF obtained by Bio-Gel P-10 column chromatography (“culture grade”). The variant form was essentially absent in preparations of EGF further purified by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose (“receptor-grade” EGF). The spectral properties and amino acid composition of the variant form (EGF-I) could not be distinguished from those of the intact polypeptide isolated by HPLC (α-EGF). Receptor-binding and mitogenic properties of EGF-I were also equivalent to those of α-EGF. These data suggested that EGF-I was structurally very similar to EGF. However, the very low yield ( 1 ) of the polypeptide was modified. Isoelectric focusing of EGF-I revealed two major immunoreactive bands: one with a p I equivalent to that of α-EGF (p I 4.6) and another at p I 4.1. Alkaline treatment of α-EGF (0.1 m NH 4 OH) yielded peak material by HPLC that coeluted with EGF-I; the alkaline-generated EGF-I yielded bands that also focused at pH 4.6 and 4.1. Ammonium hydroxide treatment of [des-Asn 1 ]-EGF (β-EGF) did not produce conversion to EGF-I. On the basis of these data, we propose that EGF-I was formed by selective deamidation of the N-terminal Asn of intact EGF. This notion is also supported by liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry, which showed that EGF-I was approximately 1.5 mass units greater than α-EGF. The heterogeneity observed by isoelectric focusing supports previous studies which have shown that, following deamidation of N-terminal asparagine, a β-aspartyl shift can occur, which in the present study might yield succinimido-aspartyl 1 -EGF and β-aspartyl 1 -EGF. Low yields observed during Edman degradation indicate that negligible amounts occur as the α-aspartyl 1 -EGF isomer.
Dual band adaptive focal plane array: an example of the challenge and potential of intelligent integrated microsystems

Creating intelligent integrated microsystems, devices that incorporate photonics, electronics, MEMS, and embedded intelligence, presents multiple challenges. The three device technologies have been largely developed independently and have established their own sets of design and process rules that have led to highly stable, high yield processes. In combining these technologies to achieve a desired functionality, constraints are placed on each technology to avoid adverse impacts on the others. Finding a common path towards achieving a single end objective requires process reoptimization and the development of new processes. This paper discusses the dual band adaptive focal plane array (AFPA) that is currently under development, with an emphasis on technology integration and the resulting functional benefits that can be realized. The AFPA device is a dual band IR imaging sensor that enables simultaneous collection of high-resolution MWIR imagery, with spatially independent spectrally tuned imaging in the LWIR for enhanced target detection and classification.
Nanostructures of organic molecules and proteins on surfaces

Patterning bioreceptors on surfaces is a key step in the fabrication of biosensors and biochips. State-of-the art technology can produce micrometer-sized biostructures, however, further miniaturization at the nanoscale will require new methods and lithographic tools. In this proceeding, we report three approaches: nanopen reader and writer (NPRW), nanografting and latex particle lithography; for creating nanostructures of small molecules, DNA and proteins. Using nanografting and NPRW, nanostructures of thiol molecules or thiolated ssDNA are fabricated within self-assembled monolayers. Proteins attach selectively to nanopatterns of thiol molecules containing bioadhesive groups such as aldehyde or carboxylates. Using latex particle lithography, arrays of protein nanostructures are produced with high throughput on mica and gold substrates. Near-physiological conditions are used in structural characterization, thus the orientation, reactivity and stability of proteins and DNA molecules within nanostructures may be monitored directly via AFM. While AFM-based approaches provide the highest precision, nanoparticle lithography can produce arrays of protein nanostructures with high throughput. The nanostructures of proteins produced by these approaches provide an excellent opportunity for fundamental investigations of biochemical reactions on surfaces, such as antigen-antibody recognition and DNA-protein interactions. These methods provide a foundation for advancing biotechnology towards the nanoscale.
Pathogenesis of Lassa Fever Virus Infection: I. Susceptibility of Mice to Recombinant Lassa Gp/LCMV Chimeric Virus

Lassa virus (LASV) is a BSL-4 restricted agent. To allow study of infection by LASV under BSL-2 conditions, we generated a recombinant virus in which the LASV glycoprotein (Gp) was placed on the backbone of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) Cl13 nucleoprotein, Z and polymerase genes (rLCMV Cl13/LASV Gp). The recombinant virus displayed high tropism for dendritic cells following in vitro or in vivo infection. Inoculation of immunocompetent adults resulted in an acute infection, generation of virus-specific CD8+ T cells and clearance of the infection. Inoculation of newborn mice with rLCMV Cl13/LASV Gp resulted in a life-long persistent infection. Interestingly, adoptive transfer of rLCMV Cl13/LASV Gp immune memory cells into such persistently infected mice failed to purge virus but, in contrast, cleared virus from mice persistently infected with wt LCMV Cl13.
A clinical and EEG sleep study in the differential diagnosis of pre-pubertal depression: state of the art.

The diagnosis of depression in childhood and adolescence remains problematic. We present an overview of the literature on the diagnosis of childhood and adolescent depression with particular reference to the potential utility of EEG sleep studies. A case of a pre-pubertal boy with depressive symptomatology is presented to illustrate some of the diagnostic difficulties and the application of EEG sleep studies in their resolution. The need for further systematic investigation of EEG sleep correlation of depression in childhood and adolescence is emphasized.
A quasiseparable approach to five-diagonal CMV and Fiedler matrices

Abstract Recent work in the characterization of structured matrices in terms of characteristic polynomials of principal submatrices is furthered in this paper. Some classical classes of matrices with quasiseparable structure include tridiagonal (related to real orthogonal polynomials) and banded matrices, unitary Hessenberg matrices (related to Szego polynomials), and semiseparable matrices, as well as others. Hence working with the class of quasiseparable matrices provides new results which generalize and unify classical results. Previous work has focused on characterizing ( H , 1 ) -quasiseparable matrices, matrices with order-one quasiseparable structure that are also upper Hessenberg. In this paper, the authors introduce the concept of a twist transformation, and use such transformations to explain the relationship between ( H , 1 ) -quasiseparable matrices and the subclass of ( 1 , 1 ) -quasiseparable matrices (without the upper Hessenberg restriction) which are related to the same systems of polynomials. These results generalize the discoveries of Cantero, Fiedler, Kimura, Moral and Velazquez of five-diagonal matrices related to Horner and Szego polynomials in the context of quasiseparable matrices.
Balancing Work and Academics in College: Why Do Students Working 10 to 19 Hours per Week Excel?:

Given that 74% of undergraduates work an average of 25.5 hours per week while going to school, we know surprisingly little about how off-campus employment affects undergraduates and to what extent ...
Athens, the Locrians and Naupactus

When Athens settled the Messenians at Naupactus, the Athenians (so Thucydides is said to tell us) had only just captured the city from the Locrians, who had been in possession of it. This, in fact, is all that Thucydides tells us of these important events, and it has ( inter alia ) caused grave difficulties for those who believe that Thucydides tells all the events he records in strict chronological order. The interpretation of this passage is taken for granted and has not (to my knowledge) been discussed. Crawley, Smith (Loeb edition), Romilly (Bude), Landsmann (Artemis) will suffice to represent translation into various Western languages. It also seems to be accepted by all historians, certainly as far back as Grote (iv. 420), where their language is sufficiently specific to enable us to judge how they understand the passage.