cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Habitat islands and the equilibrium theory of island biogeography: testing some predictions

Species-area data from a study of marsh birds are used to test five predictions generated by the equilibrium theory of island biogeography. Three predictions are supported: we found a significant species-area relationship, a non-zero level of turnover, and a variance-mean ratio of 0.5. One prediction is rejected: the extinction rates were not greater on small islands. The results of one test are equivocal: the number of species on each island was not always the same. As Gilbert (1980) suggests, a strong species-area relationship alone does not validate the theory. The avian communities we studied were on habitat islands, not true islands, and underwent complete extinction annually. Thus caution must be used before applying the theory to these and other habitat islands.
Intertemporal and intergenerational Pareto efficiency

Abstract Efficiency conditions are derived for both private and public goods which provide benefits over time. In deriving these conditions, the paper extends the notion of efficiency to an intertemporal Pareto-optimal concept requiring the maximization of the i th individual's utility at a point of time subject to the constancy of his utility in all future periods and that of all other individuals during the relevant time span. By permitting births and deaths, a generalization of the basic model recasts the analysis into an intergenerational setting. Additional extensions involve learning by doing and perpetual public goods. The paper concludes that several of the conventional practices in public expenditure analysis do not conform to our definition of intertemporal Pareto efficiency.
Sub/superharmonic oscillations and the perturbation procedure

The problem of sub/super and harmonic oscillations of non-linear systems is considered in this paper. This is made possible by the development of a modified version of the constrained Linstedt-Poincare perturbation procedure. The generality of the procedure is such that the existence of sub/super and harmonic oscillations can be simultaneously handled. Furthermore, the methodology developed is such that no a priori knowledge of solution form is necessary to establish the existence of such oscillation modes. Based on the approach, the steady response of Duffing's equation wherein sub/super and harmonic oscillations exist is studied in detail.
Distributed tracking with consensus on noisy time-varying graphs: Convergence results and applications

In this paper we consider the problem of distributed tracking with consensus on a time-varying graph with noisy com ni uni cat! on s links and sensing constraints. We develop a framework to handle the time-varying network topology in which not every node has local observations to geneigte own local tracking estimates. Our approach introduces the concepts of active node set and connectivity graph to ch a l'acte rize such a network, and by mei'ging tliese two, an effective network graph is obtained. Then we propose a distributed tracking-with-consens us algorithm for such a network model. We establish the conditions on (II· connectivity graph so that distributed consensus can I» achieved in the presence of noisy communication links when the effective network graph is time-varying. We also discuss how this problem is motivated by the problem of distributed tracking of spa re-home objects in a hybrid space surveillance network (SSN) I'm un il by both ground and satellite nodes. Simulation results of the proposed distributed tracking with consensus algorithm are given for a two-dimensional hybrid sensor network. They show that our algorithm |h ilium-, almost the same as the distributed local Kaiman filtering with centralized fusion on a noisy time-varying graphs with incomplete data, while the proposed algorithm has (lie additional advantages of flexibility and scalability.
Analysis of national annual variation in total patient out-of-pocket Medicare Part D stand-alone prescription drug plan costs from 2007 to 2008.

Objective: This is the first study to compare total Medicare Part D (MPD) stand-alone prescription drug plan (PDP) estimated annual costs (EAC) between 2007 and 2008 in all MPD regions of the US using a patient cohort of Medicare-eligible patients.Methods: A total of 50 patients were selected at random from a database of Medicare-eligible patients. Each patient profile, based on pharmacy claims data, was entered into the Medicare website and the EAC of each PDP in each of the 34 MPD regions was obtained. The lowest, 25th percentile, median and highest EAC plans were obtained for each patient in each region for 2007 and 2008. Pair-wise, within-region, between-year comparisons were made using the Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks test.Results: Annual trends were variable between MPD regions. Only the highest EAC showed significant decreases in some regions, while all other comparisons showed no change or an increase in regional costs.Conclusions: Out-of-pocket Medicare prescription drug costs increased from 2007 to 200...
Global species diversity

(1991). Global species diversity. Journal of Natural History: Vol. 25, No. 6, pp. 1403-1406.
The Scattering Cross Section of Water Drops in Air for Visible Light

Additional values of the scattering cross section of water drops in air have been computed from the theory of Mie. The water drops are assumed to be dielectric spheres of index of refraction 4/3. Values of the scattering area coefficient have been computed for 50 values of α = 2πr/λ, ranging from 7 to 24. The curve of the scattering area coefficient versus α has three major maxima and two minima in this range, with indications that the curve continues to oscillate with decreasing amplitude for increasing α. Numerous minor oscillations were found in the vicinity of the major maxima and minima.
Summary of pre-1980 tephra-fall deposits erupted from Mount St. Helens, Washington State, USA

Mount St. Helens has been a prolific source of tephra-fall deposits for about 40 000 years. These tephra deposits (1) record numerous explosive eruptions, (2) form important regional time-stratigraphic marker beds, and (3) record repeated changes in composition within and between eruptive periods. Recognized tephra strata record more than 100 explosive eruptive events at Mount St. Helens; those tephra strata are classified as beds, layers, and sets. Tephra sets, each of which consists of a group of beds and layers, define in part the nine eruptive periods recognized at the volcano. Individual tephra sets are distinguished from stratigraphically adjacent sets by differences in composition or by evidence of clapsed time. Several tephra units from Mount St. Helens form important marker beds at distances of hundreds of kilometers downwind from the volcano. Cummingtonite phenocrysts, which are known in ejecta from only Mount St. Helens in the Pacific Northwest, characterize some marker beds and readily identify their source. The tephra sequence also records eruption of the mafic andesites that mark the appearance of the modern Mount St. Helens and numerous changes in composition among dacite, basalt, and andesite since that time.
Structure of a Gla-containing dipeptide the crystal structure of (±)-N-carbobenzoxy-(γ,γ′-di-tert-butyl)-γ-carboxyglutamylglycine ethyl ester

Abstract The crystal and molecular structure of a dipeptide containing a blocked γ-carboxyglutamyl (Gla) residue is presented. Two intermolecular hydrogen bonds link the amides with carbonyl groups in the dipeptide backbone, but the protected γ-carboxy groups on the modified glutamic acid are not hydrogen bonded.
Neighborhood Data Systems: A Best Practice Analysis

If neighborhood residents are to influence urban development effectively at the most local level of the neighborhood, they need information. One information foundation to ensure effective participation is a user-friendly database whereby people can quickly access information on their own neighborhood. An increasing number of cities are developing neighborhood data systems, which collect and provide data at the neighborhood level for foundations to develop better funding strategies, for governments to develop better policy, and for community organizations to develop better practice. This paper reports on the models of 19 neighborhood data system projects, most of which are affiliated with the National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership. The discussion is organized around the themes of how to start, housing the system, program structure, data access, data management, end-user training, staffing, and funding.
Effects of Vegetation Loss on a Sand Dune Lizard

Habitat degradation in the form of vegetation loss often decreases the abundance of various species of reptiles (Fleischner 1994, Smith et al. 1996). Several reasons have been proposed for why vegetation loss should decrease abundance, including reduction of thermoregulatory patches, decreased prey availability, and increased predation from being in more exposed areas (Jones 1981, Norbury 2001). Vegetation loss could adversely affect lizards because they might be unable to escape lethal substrate temperatures (Adolph 1990, Carrascal et al. 1992). Vegetation loss may also decrease food availability, which could affect reptile abundance either directly or indirectly by affecting behavior. Individuals might compensate for reduced food availability by moving farther in search of prey or spending more time foraging, which might increase their susceptibility to predators (MacArthur and Pianka 1966, Hinsley 2000). Vegetation loss might additionally increase predation risk because fewer refuges are available. We examined the effects of vegetation loss by livestock grazing and agricultural practices on the abundance of the lizard Acanthodactylus longipes. To investigate the differences in abundance we found, we next compared body condition, thermoregulatory behavior, and activity patterns of lizards from unprotected and protected habitats. To test the hypothesis that vegetation loss affected thermoregulatory behavior, we compared the time that A. longipes spent thermoregulating by postural changes in unprotected and protected habitats. We expected that lizards in habitats with less vegetation might spend more time thermoregulating at higher temperatures by postural changes, while lizards in protected habitats might use vegetation more frequently. To test whether vegetation loss affected food availability or susceptibility to predation, we examined whether lizards in habitats experiencing vegetation loss moved greater distances or spent more time moving than in protected habitats. We assumed that if food availability were decreased, lizards would compensate by moving greater distances while foraging or spending more time foraging. This analysis also assumes that more active lizards are at higher risk of predation due to greater visibility. To provide an additional assessment of predation risk, we examined the distance from vegetation at which the lizard was observed. A. longipes is a common diurnal lizard that inhabits the sand dune deserts of North Africa and the Middle East; it thermoregulates by postural changes and by using vegetation (Attum 2004). A. longipes is ecologically and morphologically specialized for psammophile environments (Arnold 1981, Baha El Din 2001).
The Political Economy of Adjustment and Rebalancing

Abstract Debt and balance of payments crises are politically controversial. In the aftermath of such crises, conflict typically breaks out over how the burden of adjustment will be distributed. There is international conflict, between debtor nations and creditor nations, over how outstanding debts will be resolved. And there is conflict within nations, over who will make the sacrifices necessary to get economies back on track. These political conflicts often become so bitter and protracted that they impede productive bargaining over the adjustment process. The characteristics of socio-economic and political divisions within societies affect the battles over economic adjustment, as well as who will emerge victorious from these battles, and how difficult it may be to arrive at a productive resolution of the crisis.
Scheduling Parallel Processable Tasks for a Uniprocessor

Recent advances in multiprogramming have been concentrated on multiprocessor systems. But overlap in operations is also permissible in uniprocessor systems in which the processor instruction execution and input–output operations are handled by separate units. By maximizing the processor and input–output overlap, a program can be executed faster while the system utilization is highly improved.
TRRAP-Dependent and TRRAP-Independent Transcriptional Activation by Myc Family Oncoproteins

We demonstrate that transformation-transactivation domain-associated protein (TRRAP) binding and the recruitment of histone H3 and H4 acetyltransferase activities are required for the transactivation of a silent telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene in exponentially growing human fibroblasts by c-Myc or N-Myc protein. However, recruitment of TRRAP by c- or N-Myc is dispensable for the partial induction of several basally expressed genes in exponentially growing primary and immortalized fibroblasts. Furthermore, recruitment of TRRAP is required for c-Myc- or N-Myc-mediated oncogenic transformation but not for the partial restoration of the growth defect in myc-null fibroblasts. A segment of the adenovirus E1A protein fused to a transformation-defective N-Myc protein carrying a small deletion in the transactivation domain specifically restores interaction with TRRAP, activates the silent TERT gene, induces acetylation of histones H3 and H4 at the TERT promoter, and transforms primary cells. Accordingly, wild-type L-Myc is much less efficient in TRRAP binding, activation of the silent TERT gene, and transformation of primary fibroblasts. Nevertheless, L-Myc is a potent activator of several basally expressed genes and can fully restore the growth defect of myc-null cells. These results suggest a differential requirement for TRRAP for several Myc-mediated activities.
Randomized controlled trial to compare two bone substitutes in the treatment of bony dehiscences.

Aim: This in vivo split-mouth randomized controlled trial compared a synthetic bone substitute with a bovine bone mineral to cover bone dehiscences after implant insertion. Materials and Methods: Fourteen patients received four to six implants to support an overdenture. Two comparable dehiscences within the same patient were first covered with a layer of autogenous bone, followed by a layer of either Bio-Oss® (group 1; Geistlich Pharma AG, Wolhusen, Switzerland) or Straumann BoneCeramic® (group 2; Institut Straumann AG, Basel, Switzerland) and sealed by a resorbable membrane. The change in vertical dimension of the defect was measured at implant placement and at abutment connection (6.5 months). Clinical and radiological parameters were evaluated up to 1 year of loading. Results: The vertical size of the defect at surgery was 6.4 ± 1.6 mm for group 1 and 6.4 ± 2.2 mm for group 2 sites, measured from the implant shoulder. After 6.5 months, the depth of the defect was reduced to 1.5 ± 1.2 mm and 1.9 ± 1.2 mm for group 1 and group 2 sites, respectively (p > 0.05). No implants failed during follow-up. Mean marginal bone loss over the SLActive surface was 0.94 mm (group 1), 0.81 mm (group 2), and 0.93 mm (group 3, no dehiscence) after 1 year of loading. Conclusion: Both bone substitutes behaved equally effectively.
Rabbit indolethylamine N -methyltransferase three-dimensional structure prediction: a model approach to bridge sequence to function in pharmacogenomic studies

Pharmacogenomics is the study of the genetic basis for individual variation in response to drugs and other xenobiotics. Successful prediction of effects of genetic variations that change encoded amino acid sequences on protein function and their consequent biomedical implications depends on three-dimensional (3D) structures of the encoded amino acid sequences. To bridge sequence to function, thus facilitating an in-depth pharmacogenomic study, we tested the feasibility of the use of a semi-computational approach to predict 3D structures of rabbit and human indolethylamine N-methyltransferases (INMTs) from their amino acid sequences, which share less than 26% sequence identity with known protein 3D structures. Herein, we report 3D models of INMTs predicted by using the crystal structure of rat catechol O-methyltransferase as a template, testing of the models both computationally and experimentally, and successful use of the models in retrospective prediction of the effects of genetic polymorphisms and in identification of residues that contribute to observed species-specific differences in substrate affinity. The results encourage the use of the semi-computational approach to predict 3D protein structures for use in pharmacogenomic studies when de novo prediction of protein 3D structures from their amino acid sequences is still not feasible and X-ray crystallography and/or solution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy can only determine 3D structures for a small number of known amino acid sequences.
The nitrogen isotope biogeochemistry of sinking particles from the margin of the Eastern North Pacific

The nitrogen isotopic composition of time-series sediment trap samples, dissolved NO~ , and surficial sediments was determined in three regions along the margin of the eastern North Pacific: Monterey Bay, San Pedro Basin, and the Gulf of California (Carmen and Guaymas Basins). Complex physical regimes are present in all three areas, and each is influenced seasonally by coastal upwelling. Nevertheless, sediment trap material evidently records the isotopic composition of new nitrogen sources, since average d15N is generally indistinguishable from d15N values for subsurface NO~ . Surficial sediments are also very similar to the average d15N value of the sediment traps, being within 1&. This di⁄erence in d15N between trap material and sediment is much less than the previously observed 4& di⁄erence for the deep sea. Better organic matter preservation at our margin sites is a likely explanation, which may be due to either low bottom O 2 concentrations or higher organic matter input to the sediments. All sites have d15N for sub-euphotic zone NO~ (8—10&) substantially elevated from the oceanic average (4.5—5&). This isotopic enrichment is a result of denitrification in suboxic subsurface waters (Gulf of California) or northward transport of denitrification influenced water (Monterey Bay and San Pedro Basin). Our results therefore suggest that downcore d15N data, depending on site location, would record the intensity of denitrification and the transport of its isotopic signature along the California margin. Temporal variations in d15N for the sediment traps do appear to respond to upwelling or convective injections of NO~ to surface waters as
Absence of peripheral blood chimerism in graft-vs-host disease following orthotopic liver transplantation: case report and review of the literature.

Background Graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) is a rare and often fatal complication of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The skin is frequently involved early in disease progression, but clinical and histopathological features may be nonspecific, presenting a diagnostic challenge. While the detection of peripheral blood chimerism has been proposed as a diagnostic criterion for post-OLT GVHD, it is not known whether peripheral blood chimerism is an absolute requirement for the diagnosis. Materials and methods We report a case of a 57-year-old man who developed post-OLT GVHD with cutaneous, enteric, and bone marrow involvement. We also review the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, histopathology, molecular diagnostic techniques, and treatment of GVHD following liver transplantation. Results In our patient, analysis of the peripheral blood by short-tandem repeat polymerase chain reaction did not detect circulating donor lymphocytes. Donor lymphocytes were detected in the buccal mucosa, however, confirming the diagnosis. A review of chimerism patterns in 63 previously published cases of post-OLT GVHD reveals that this is the first reported case in which chimerism was absent in the peripheral blood but present in another site. Conclusions Peripheral blood chimerism may be absent in cases of post-OLT GVHD. A combination of clinical, histopathological, and molecular features is therefore required to make this challenging diagnosis.
Henoch-Schönlein vasculitis as a manifestation of IgA-associated disease in cirrhosis.

Abstract Cirrhosis has been associated with a variety of glomerular lesions that generally include deposits of IgA in the mesangium. However, loss of renal function secondary to IgA deposition in cirrhotics is infrequent. An unusual patient who developed rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis followed by leukocytoclastic vasculitis with IgA deposition on skin biopsy is presented. We postulate that this is an example of Henoch-SchOnlein purpura occurring secondary to altered IgA processing in cirrhosis.
OCCUPATIONAL RISKY BUSINESS: INJURY PREVENTION BEHAVIORS OF FARM WOMEN AND CHILDREN

On farms in the United States, there are approximately 100 fatal and 32,800 nonfatal injuries annually in children 19 years and younger (United States Department of Labor, 1999). Up to 40% of nonfatally injured children are left with permanent disabilities. The impact of injury and death on children associated with farming in the United States is substantial. Research suggests that modeling of health behaviors may be an effective technique for the socialization of children's health behaviors. The purpose of this study is twofold. First, the study describes the participation and use of protective farm equipment or practices by the caregiver and the child. The second purpose is to compare the practices of the caregivers and the children in relation to the use of protective farm equipment and practices. Descriptive and categorical data analysis methods were used to examine the associations of 177 pairs of caregivers and children and their use of protective equipment and preventative behaviors. Greater than 50% of the children under the age of 7 had handled or touched livestock, as well as rode as passengers on tractors. Many children in all age categories had ridden in the back of pick-up trucks. Modeling of the prevention behavior by the caregivers did parallel the use of the equipment by the children. However, the opposite also was true; if the caregiver did not use the equipment, neither did the child.
Relative expression of proprotein convertases in rat ovaries during pregnancy

Proprotein convertases are a family of serine proteinases that are related to bacterial subtilisin and yeast kexin. They are involved in posttranslational processing of the precursors of a vast number of cellular proteins. With the exception of PC1/3, the relative expression levels of the proprotein convertases in the ovary during pregnancy have not been reported. The purpose of this study is to determine by real-time PCR the relative expression levels of all nine proprotein convertases in rat ovaries during pregnancy and at 3 days postpartum. RNA was extracted from ovaries at Day 0, 4, 9, 11, 13, 15, 18, and 20 of pregnancy as well as 3 days postpartum. Relative expression levels of Pcsk1, Pcsk2, Furin, Pcsk4, Pcsk5, Pcsk6, Pcsk7, Mbtps1 and Pcsk9 were determined with real-time PCR. Results were reported as fold-change over the level at Day 0 of pregnancy. Results showed that Pcsk1 and Pcsk6 were upregulated as gestation advanced, in parallel with an observed increase in relaxin transcript. Pcsk2 showed downregulation as gestation advanced, while Pcsk5 showed relatively higher levels in early pregnancy and postpartum, but lower level in mid-pregnancy. On the other hand, Furin, Pcsk4, Pcsk7, Mbtps1 and Pcsk9 showed little change of expression throughout gestation. PC1/3 (PCSK1) and PACE4 (PCSK6) may play an important role in proprotein processing in the ovary during late pregnancy.
Glutathione oxidation unmasks proarrhythmic vulnerability of chronically hyperglycemic guinea pigs

Chronic hyperglycemia in type-1 diabetes mellitus is associated with oxidative stress (OS) and sudden death. Mechanistic links remain unclear. We investigated changes in electrophysiological (EP) p...
Galerkin finite element simulation of convection driven by rotation and gravitation

The performance of the Galerkin finite element method when applied to time-dependent convection involving rotation, self-gravitation and the normal gravity field in a horizontal cylinder is discussed in this paper. The governing equations, the parameters of the problem and our implementation of the numerical schemes are presented. The accuracy, spatial scale of resolution, flexibility and robustness of the resulting code show the element method as a valuable tool for research in this area or in related problems in astrophysical fluid dynamics. The numerical difficulties in large-amplitude flows are associated with an error-control scheme for time integration and the ‘short-time’ wiggles in transient Dirichlet problems. Coarse grids give the correct qualitative picture in most simulations, but the type of solution at short time (and hence grid refinement) presumably resolves the degeneracy in the azimuthal orientation of convection cells in flows driven by self-gravitation and (perhaps) centrifugal buoyancy. The final state in transient flows is a motionless isothermal fluid. However, residual motions can be nullified only in the limit of zero grid size in flows driven by centrifugal buoyancy (self-gravitation), while a fairly coarse grid is sufficient for this purpose in normal gravity-driven flows.
Predictors of Adult Sibling Social Support for the Seriously Mentally III An Exploratory Study

Little research examines the reasons adult siblings might provide social support to unmarried, dependent brothers and sisters. This article examines how obligation, reciprocity, and the quality of personal relationships affect whether siblings provide social support to the seriously mentally ill. It uses a sample of 108 siblings of 85 participants in a treatment program for the seriously mentally ill to examine the factors that predict several aspects of help provision. Reciprocity is an important predictor of reported and projected support: The more help respondent siblings receive from ill siblings, the more willingness to help they show in return. The availability of parental and other sibling caregivers is also associated with reported help from siblings. Neither norms of family obligation nor relational quality are highly correlated with support. The results indicate that professionals should take into account the potential importance of siblings as providers of social support to the seriously mental...
Discharging Income Tax Liabilities in Bankruptcy: A Challenge to the New Theory of Strict Construction for Scriveners' Errors

The Supreme Court has been closely split on whether judges may consider legislative history in determining if a statute contains scriveners' errors. With the recent appointment of Justices Alito and Roberts, the Supreme Court's balance has likely shifted toward the strict constructionists' view. If strict constructionism becomes the law of the land, courts will be powerless to correct drafting errors that do not, on the face of the statute alone, give rise to absurd results. In 2005, Congress passed and the president signed the most significant changes to the Bankruptcy Code in more than twenty five years, including some technical changes to the provisions protecting governmental income tax claims. Before the 2005 amendments, it was clear that all income tax claims incurred in the three or four calendar years before bankruptcy were entitled to special priority in distribution from the bankruptcy estate, and could not be discharged. In addition, older income tax claims were also entitled to priority and excepted from discharge if either (1) they happened to be assessed within 240 days before bankruptcy, or (2) they were not assessed before bankruptcy but could be assessed under applicable non-bankruptcy law after bankruptcy. The 2005 Act changed the structure of these rules. In general, if the debtors' tax returns were timely filed, the change would turn the government's priority and non-dischargeable tax claims for the two, three and sometimes four calendar years before bankruptcy into non-priority claims that could be discharged. The change would significantly impair the government's ability to collect recent income taxes, and would encourage bankruptcy filings by debtors who have significant income tax liabilities. The legislative history of the 2005 Act shows that the structural changes were simply a drafting error. Congress did not intend to change the structure of the statute. However, the statute on its face does not create an absurd result. The line between priority/non-dischargeable and non-priority/dischargeable taxes has always been discretionary. Congress could rationally have intended to move the line in either direction. Therefore, under the scriveners' error standard proposed by the strict constructionists, which forbids judges from consulting legislative history to determine if a drafting error was made, the statute should be enforced as drafted. This is the wrong result if the judiciary's primary goal is to carry out the intent of Congress. Even if the world view underlying the strict constructionists' theory is correct - that the statutory language should stand on its own because judges will improperly pick and choose from ambiguous legislative history to carry out their own views rather than the legislature's will - there is no need to prohibit the consideration of unambiguous legislative history. The article shows the need for strict constructionists to temper their rule when the legislative history is not ambiguous if the primacy of legislative intent is to be respected.
Thymosin beta-15 predicts for distant failure in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer-results from a pilot study.

Abstract Objectives. To report the results of a pilot study on the prognostic value of a newly identified actin-binding protein, thymosin beta-15 (Tβ15), in predicting prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and bone failure in patients with Gleason 6/10 clinically localized prostate cancer. Methods. Thirty-two patients (median age 70 years) with clinically localized, moderately differentiated (Gleason 6/10) prostate cancer treated by external beam radiotherapy alone (68.4 Gy) with available paraffin blocks at the Massachusetts General Hospital were evaluated for this pilot study. All patients had clinical Stage M0 disease at initial presentation, which was documented by bone scan (T1c-4,NX). Their corresponding biopsy specimens were stained immunohistochemically for Tβ15, which was then correlated with the clinical outcome in a blinded manner. The median follow-up was 6 years (range 1 to 19) for all of the patients. Results. The outcomes of the 32 patients can be grouped into three categories: patients with no evidence of disease (n = 11), patients with PSA failure without documented bone failure (n = 11), and patients with PSA failure and documented bone failure (n = 10). Tβ15 staining intensity strongly correlated with clinical outcome. Of those patients whose specimens stained 3+ (strongest staining), 62% developed bone failure compared with 13% of those patients whose specimens stained 1+ (weakest staining) ( P = 0.01). The 5-year freedom from PSA failure was only 25% for those patients with 3+ staining compared with 83% for those with 1+ staining ( P = 0.02). Conclusions. The results of this pilot study have demonstrated that Tβ15 staining intensity may be a potentially important marker to identify high-risk patients with moderately differentiated, clinically localized prostate cancer.
DISRUPTION OF THE SALIVARY PROTEIN 14 IN IXODES SCAPULARIS NYMPHS AND IMPACT ON PATHOGEN ACQUISITION

We previously examined the physiological role of the anticoagulant salivary protein 14 (salp14) in adult Ixodes scapularis and showed that Salp14 played a role in tick feeding and engorgement. We now analyze whether the disruption of the salp14 family expression by RNA interference affects tick weight in naive nymph I. scapularis. Salp14 expression after dsRNA injection was significantly reduced, as shown by mRNA and protein analysis. However, nymph engorgement weight was not altered in salp9pac (salp14 paralog) dsRNA-injected ticks. We also determined Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum acquisition in I. scapularis nymphs that had reduced Salp14 expression. B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum acquisition was not affected 72 hours after feeding. Our results suggest that different mechanisms govern nymph and adult feeding in I. scapularis.
Signaling properties of CD38 in the mouse immune system: enzyme-dependent and -independent roles in immunity.

The 5th international CD38 meeting, held in Torino, Italy, spanned a range of topics from the role of CD38 as a signaling receptor In lymphocytic tumors to the importance of CD38-derived metabolites in NAD+ metabolism, calcium signaling, and immune function. This meeting was particularly exciting as data were presented demonstrating that collaborative experiments between enzymologists, biochemists, cell biologists, immunologists, and clinicians have started to unravel the secrets of CD38 biology. It is now clear that all of the products of the CD38 enzyme reaction regulate calcium signal transduction in cell types as diverse as sea urchin oocytes and mammalian lymphocytes. It is also apparent that CD38 plays important immunomodulatory role(s), however there is still much debate on how CD38 mediates its immunoregulatory functions and whether the enzymatic products generated by CD38 are important for immunity. The data presented at this meeting have begun to resolve some of these controversies. First, CD38 regulates the function of leukocytes by enzyme-dependent and enzyme-independent mechanisms. Second, CD38 regulates inflammatory responses by modulating the activity of the responding leukocytes and by altering the activity of non-hematopoietic cells in the inflamed tissue. Finally, crosstalk between CD38 and other NAD+ utilizing enzymes such as ART2, SIRT1, and PARP-1 impacts NAD+ homeostasis, inflammation, and immunity. Thus, immunity is regulated by CD38 in multiple and unexpected ways and the new research challenge will be to determine whether we can exploit the complex biology of CD38 to therapeutically regulate the immune system.
Segmental vascular responses to acute hypertension in cerebrum and brain stem.

The goal of this study was to examine hemodynamic mechanisms that contribute to regional differences in autoregulation during acute hypertension. We measured blood flow (microspheres) and pressure ...
Qualitative Management Disclosures and Market Sentiment

We construct an index of aggregate management optimism from managers' qualitative disclosures in annual and quarterly financial reports and show that this index varies with market-wide sentiment. First, we find that the correlation between the management optimism index and Baker and Wurgler's investment sentiment index is 0.617, and investor sentiment explains 37.7% of the time-series variation in management optimism. Second, we find that when managers are more optimistic as a group, future earnings and stock returns are lower (at both the aggregate and the firm level). We show that these results are not driven by management opportunism. Instead, the results indicate that managers, like investors, are subject to market-wide sentiment. The resulting bias reduces the usefulness of management's qualitative disclosures.
When Will Nondifferential Misclassification of an Exposure Preserve the Direction of a Trend

Dosemeci et al. (Am J Epidemiol 1990; 132:746-8) gave examples in which nondifferential misclassification of exposure reversed the direction of a trend. Gilbert (Am J Epidemiol 1991; 134:440-1) proposed that these examples occurred because the errors in exposure were systematic, and she pointed out that the relation between the measured and the true exposure was not monotonic. Assuming that the mean response either monotonically increases or decreases with the true exposure and that the exposure misclassification is nondifferential, the authors show that if the mean value of the measured exposure increases with the true exposure, then the direction of the trend cannot be reversed. Consequently, Gilbert's intimation that reversal of trend can only occur when errors are systematic is correct. However, the present authors' result is stronger in that even when errors in assessing exposure do include a systematic component, if monotonicity can be assumed, reversal of trend cannot occur. The weaker condition of positive correlation between the measured and true exposure is not sufficient to guarantee nonreversal of trend, as they show by example.
Configurational Stability and Stereochemistry of P-Stereogenic Nickel POCOP-Pincer Complexes

The P-stereogenic nickel complex {2,6-[(t-Bu)(Ph)PO]2C6H3}NiCl (2) has been synthesized via cyclometalation of the POCOP-pincer ligand 1,3-[(t-Bu)(Ph)PO]2C6H4 (1) with NiCl2. The initially isolated 2 consists of a 1:1 mixture of racemic and meso isomers that are separable through repeated crystallization and is configurationally stable even at 110 °C. Upon mixing with t-BuOK, the meso isomer (2-meso) displays a higher ligand substitution rate than the racemic isomer (2-rac), likely because its nickel center is sterically more accessible. Complex 2, as either pure 2-rac or a 2-rac/2-meso mixture, can be converted to the nickel triflate complex {2,6-[(t-Bu)(Ph)PO]2C6H3}NiOTf (3) or the nickel formate complex {2,6-[(t-Bu)(Ph)PO]2C6H3}NiOCHO (7) without epimerization at the phosphorus centers. Under a dynamic vacuum at 90 °C, decarboxylation of 7-meso is faster than that of 7-rac, suggesting that in the transition state the formato hydrogen approaches the nickel center from the axial site rather than the equa...
Interaction of Amino Acids and Glucose on Growth of Aedes Aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) in a Synthetic Rearing Medium

A requirement for glucose by larval Aedes aegypti was examined in this study. Addition of glucose did not affect ultimate development to the adult stage, but greatly increased larval growth rate. In a medium containing 1.5% amino acids, glucose concentrations greater than 3.0% were deleterious to larvae. Increasing amino acid concentrations only partially compensated for a lack of glucose. Best growth rates were achieved with an amino acid concentration of 1.5% and glucose concentrations of 0.5% and 1.0%.
Station Corrections for Vertical Component P Wave Amplitude at LASA

Station corrections have been established for the long period, vertical component P wave amplitudes for the center of each subarray of the D and F rings at LASA. Data from 56 events have been analyzed. The results suggest that amplitudes recorded at stations Fl and F4 are above average, whereas the amplitudes at stations F2 and D1 are less than the average. There appears to be little dependence on azimuth or the source region. The amplitude variations of long period P waves over LASA are much smaller than those reported by Broone, et al., (1967) for short period P waves.
Distinction of Mouse Interferon-α Subtypes by Polymerase Chain Reaction Utilizing Consensus Primers and Type-Specific Oligonucleotide Probes

ABSTRACT We have developed a novel method to study the subtype-specific expression of interferon-α (IFN-α) in the mouse system: we synthesized and used consensus oligonucleotide primers to allow simultaneous polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of multiple murine IFN-α gene sequences. In addition, a set of subtype-specific oligomer probes were designed and used to distinguish between IFN-α genes that differ by only a few bases. The consensus primers, corresponding to two regions highly conserved among murine IFN-α subtypes, were used in reverse transcription and PCR amplification of total cellular RNA, isolated from IFN-γ-treated murine L-929 cells, to yield a fragment of the anticipated ∼520-bp size. Southern analysis of the amplified product using an internal consensus oligomer probe confirmed specific amplification of murine IFN-α gene(s). Subtype-specific oligonucleotide probes indicate that IFNs-α1, -α2, and -α5 are present following IFN-γ treatment, whereas IFN-α4 remains virtually absent. ...
Sa1506 A Cost-Utilization Analysis of Non-Hematemesis GIB Diagnostic Management Strategies

significance of positive FOBT and predictive factors of CRC with positive FOBT for the elderly aged R85 years. Methods: The records of consecutive 127 patients aged R85 years who tested FOBT positive and then underwent colonoscopy from January 2010 to September 2014 in Nagoya University Hospital and Tokai Central Hospital were reviewd. Uniand multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to describe the association. Results: 127 patients (M/F: 66/61) aged R85 years who tested FOBT(+) and underwent colonoscopy were enrolled. Median age at colonoscopy was 86.6 years (85-97years). Baseline characteristics of enrolled patients were 43 cases (33.9%) of hypertension or cardiovascular disease, 26 cases (20.5%) of malignancy, 21 cases (16.5%) of dementia, 19 cases (15.0%) of DM, 17 cases (13.4%) of CKD, 12 cases (9.4%) of COPD and 35 cases (27.6%) of antiplatelets or anticoagulants use (including overlapping cases). The cecal intubation rate was 94.5%. In terms of post colonoscopy complications, there was 1 case (0.8%) of perforation. The adenoma detection rate and prevalence of CRC were 37 cases (29.1%) and 12 cases (9.4%), respectively. The outcomes of enrolled patients were 30 cases of endoscopic resection, and 11 cases of surgery (including perforation case). Uniand multivariate analysis using a logistic regression model identified presence of two or more sign or symptom among body weight loss, anemia, abd pain, appetite loss, and rectal bleeding at colonoscopy as a significant independent predictive factor for CRC in patients aged R85 years with positive FOBT (OR 13.8, 95%CI 2.8-66.8). There were no significant differences in sex ratio, age at colonoscopy, baseline characteristics, antiplatelets or aniticoagulants use, laboratory data at colposcopy, presence of one sign or symptom, past history of CRC or adenoma, past history of positive FOBT, and family history of CRC. Conclusion: The predictive factor that correlated with CRC in the elderly aged R85 years with positive FOBT was presence of two or more sign or symptom among body weight loss, anemia, abd pain, appetite loss, and rectal bleeding at colonoscopy.
A Definition of our Specialty: Ward Burdick Award Address

It would seem obvious that the Research Committee, in recommending that the Ward Burdick Award be presented to me, had in mind some alleged and rather vague contributions which I might have made to clinical pathology. I would like to believe this to be true. Previous recipients of the Ward Burdick Award have properly and naturally referred to Dr. Burdick's inspiration to clinical pathologists. His contribution, made over the short span of life granted to him, was monumental when clinical pathology was in its formative years, but it has served, and should serve now, as a beacon by which to chart our course for the future. In reviewing and remembering the excellent papers, based on original research, presented by those who have preceded me in this role, it was with some hesitation and trepidation that I chose a subject dealing with the practice of our specialty and the trends and forces affecting it. There seems to be no doubt that the founders of this Society were desirous of creating an organization which would promote and protect the interests of clinical pathologists, a small, inaudible and little understood group of physicians at that time practicing, privately or in hospitals, laboratory medicine. The wisdom of this step is reflected in the present size of this society, its well known accomplishments, its excellent JOURNAL, and its effective program of continuing education. Its recent progress and growth have been rapid. Many problems affecting the clinical pathologist must have
Breeding and Application of Indica Aromatic CMS Line Neixiang 5A with New Cytoplasmic Source and Fine Grain Quality in Rice

Neixiang 5A,developed from testcross and successive backcross of 88A,a CMS line with a new type of cytoplasm from Wanhui 88,and F2 plants of N7B/Yixiang 1B,is a new indica aromatic CMS line in rice.It shows the characteristics of complete and stable male sterility with 100% of sterile plants and pollen sterility,good agronomic characters,favorable outcrossing habits,high combining ability and grain quality.In August,2005,it was technically identified in Sichuan Province.Derived from Neixiang 5A,the hybrids of Neixiang 8518(Neixiang 5A/Neihui 95-18),Neixiang 8514(Neixiang 5A/Neihui 99-14)and Neixiang 8156(Neixiang 5A/Neixianghui 2156),showed good grain quality,high yield,good disease resistance and wide adaptability in the trials and frontline demonstrations,and they were all certified at national or provincial level for release to commercial production in 2006.
Structure-conductivity relationships in ordered and disordered salt-doped diblock copolymer/homopolymer blends

We examine the relationship between structure and ionic conductivity in salt-containing ternary polymer blends that exhibit various microstructured morphologies, including lamellae, a hexagonal phase, and a bicontinuous microemulsion, as well as the disordered phase. These blends consist of polystyrene (PS, Mn ≈ 600 g/mol) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO, Mn ≈ 400 g/mol) homopolymers, a nearly symmetric PS–PEO block copolymer (Mn ≈ 4700 g/mol), and lithium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonamide (LiTFSI). These pseudoternary blends exhibit phase behavior that parallels that of well-studied ternary polymer blends consisting of A and B homopolymers compatibilized by an AB diblock copolymer. The utility of this framework is that all blends have nominally the same number of ethylene oxide, styrene, Li+, and TFSI– units, yet can exhibit a variety of microstructures depending on the relative ratio of the homopolymers to the block copolymer. For the systems studied, the ratio r = [Li+]/[EO] is maintained at 0.06, and the...
Toxoplasmosis of the Spinal Cord

Toxoplasmosis refers to both asymptomatic and symptomatic infection due to toxoplasma gondii parasite. Infection when symptomatic is usually short lived, rather acute and self-limited. In the chronic form the parasite causes persistent or recurrent clinical manifestations. The disease has many clinical manifestations, which are beyond this paper. A few examples are:
Intracranial Posterior Circulation Variants

This chapter covers anterior circulation variants regionally, from anterior to posterior, including congenital arterial variant absence of first-order segments, branching, duplications, fenestrations, and early origins. Included are variations in the supraclinoid internal carotid artery (ICA), anterior cerebral artery (ACA), and finally the middle cerebral artery (MCA). The lenticulostriate arteries (medial and lateral) are also briefly covered, as well as several other uncommon or rare variations of the ACA, MCA, and ICA. Infundibula of the various anterior and posterior circulation vessels are covered separately in Chap. 38. The “fetal PCA” (posterior cerebral artery, where the vascular distribution of a P1 segment arises from the distal ICA rather than the basilar artery) was covered in Chap. 36.