cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Architecture of the Lake Malawi Rift, East Africa

Abstract Multichannel seismic data reveal that the Malawi Rift is composed of seven linked half-graben units. Master fault systems with dip-slip offsets of 4km or more border the sediment-filled basins. Most faults within the half-graben dip subparallel to the controlling border fault system, although they are not necessarily parallel in plan view. Half-graben alternate directions of asymmetry at intervals of 60 to 100 km along the axis of the rift, with border fault systems occurring predominantly on either the eastern or western margins. Distinctive structural expressions (termed accommodation zones) occur in areas between changes in the direction of half-graben asymmetry. These zones, which may be characterized by considerable oblique-slip faulting, are typically expressed as basement highs between the sub-basins they divide. The Malawi seismic data further show that a wide range of morphologic expressions are possible in regard to accommodation zones, ranging from complexly faulted antiformal highs to simple horsts to even topographic lows. These seismic data also show that accommodation zone morphology is not always specific to particular half-graben linking arrangements and that morphology can vary considerably along the strike of an individual accommodation zone; Accordingly, accommodation zones are categorized as interference, strike-slip, or isolation zones. The terms low-relief and high relief were used in previous PROBE publications. Measurements of reflector displacement on migrated seismic sections yield values of about 7% extension for the uppermost brittle crust. Extension across the rift is approximately east-west if it is assumed that the faults displaying the greatest amount of dip-slip offset are normal faults. The thickest sedimentary sections and greatest relief of flanking uplifts are found in the northern half-graben units. If the relative ages of the rift units can be correlated to the thickness of the sedimentary section and relief on the flanking uplifts, then the northern half-graben are older and rift ages to the north.
Phosphate feeding induces arterial medial calcification in uremic mice: role of serum phosphorus, fibroblast growth factor-23, and osteopontin

Arterial medial calcification is a major complication in patients with chronic kidney disease and is a strong predictor of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. We sought to determine the role of dietary phosphorus and the severity of uremia on vascular calcification in calcification-prone DBA/2 mice. Severe and moderate uremia was induced by renal ablation of varying magnitudes. Extensive arterial-medial calcification developed only when the uremic mice were placed on a high-phosphate diet. Arterial calcification in the severely uremic mice fed a high-phosphate diet was significantly associated with hyperphosphatemia. Moderately uremic mice on this diet were not hyperphosphatemic but had a significant rise in their serum levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) and osteopontin that significantly correlated with arterial medial calcification. Although there was widespread arterial medial calcification, there was no histological evidence of atherosclerosis. At early stages of calcification, the osteochondrogenic markers Runx2 and osteopontin were upregulated, but the smooth muscle cell marker SM22α decreased in medial cells, as did the number of smooth muscle cells in extensively calcified regions. These findings suggest that phosphate loading and the severity of uremia play critical roles in controlling arterial medial calcification in mice. Further, FGF-23 and osteopontin may be markers and/or inducers of this process.
Hierarchical spatial genetic structure in a distinct population segment of greater sage-grouse

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) within the Bi-State Management Zone (area along the border between Nevada and California) are geographically isolated on the southwestern edge of the species’ range. Previous research demonstrated that this population is genetically unique, with a high proportion of unique mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes and with significant differences in microsatellite allele frequencies compared to populations across the species’ range. As a result, this population was considered a distinct population segment (DPS) and was recently proposed for listing as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. A more comprehensive understanding of the boundaries of this genetically unique population (where the Bi-State population begins) and an examination of genetic structure within the Bi-State is needed to help guide effective management decisions. We collected DNA from eight sampling locales within the Bi-State (N = 181) and compared those samples to previously collected DNA from the two most proximal populations outside of the Bi-State DPS, generating mtDNA sequence data and amplifying 15 nuclear microsatellites. Both mtDNA and microsatellite analyses support the idea that the Bi-State DPS represents a genetically unique population, which has likely been separated for thousands of years. Seven mtDNA haplotypes were found exclusively in the Bi-State population and represented 73 % of individuals, while three haplotypes were shared with neighboring populations. In the microsatellite analyses both STRUCTURE and FCA separate the Bi-State from the neighboring populations. We also found genetic structure within the Bi-State as both types of data revealed differences between the northern and southern part of the Bi-State and there was evidence of isolation-by-distance. STRUCTURE revealed three subpopulations within the Bi-State consisting of the northern Pine Nut Mountains (PNa), mid Bi-State, and White Mountains (WM) following a north–south gradient. This genetic subdivision within the Bi-State is likely the result of habitat loss and fragmentation that has been exacerbated by recent human activities and the encroachment of singleleaf pinyon (Pinus monophylla) and juniper (Juniperus spp.) trees. While genetic concerns may be only one of many priorities for the conservation and management of the Bi-State greater sage-grouse, we believe that they warrant attention along with other issues (e.g., quality of sagebrush habitat, preventing future loss of habitat). Management actions that promote genetic connectivity, especially with respect to WM and PNa, may be critical to the long-term viability of the Bi-State DPS.
System A amino acid transporter activity in term placenta is substrate specific and inversely related to amino acid concentration.

Using intact villous fragments from normal term placentas, the authors characterize the e fect of reduced amino acid availability on amino acid uptake via the system A amino acid transporter. Villous fragments deprived of amino acids demonstrate increased system A activity compared with those incubated in an amino acid—su ficient medium (P <.05). Similarly, placental villous fragments exposed to media containing only amino acids not specifically transported by system A have a significant increase in system A activity compared with villous fragments incubated in an amino acid—su ficient medium containing only substrates of system A (P <.05). There is a significant trend for increasing system A activity as the concentrations of the system A amino acid substrates are decreased (P <.01). Collectively, these data indicate that normal placentas can increase system A amino acid transporter activity in a substrate-specific and dose-dependent manner as a means to ensure optimal fetal growth in the presence of amino acid limitation.
Rubin’s “Puerperal Change” Reconsidered

A preliminary study was conducted to examine if healthy new mothers exhibit Rubin's "Taking-in" and "Taking-hold" behaviors and attitudes and if these behaviors and attitudes change during the course of hospitalization. Twenty subjects were surveyed on each postpartal hospital day at a large, west coast urban hospital. While the women exhibited some of the behavior and attitude changes, the findings do not support the specific time aspects described by Rubin. Implications for nursing practice, education, and research are discussed.
Pulsed low dose rate brachytherapy for pelvic malignancies

Purpose: The pulsed low dose rate remote afterloading unit was designed to combine the radiation safety and isodose optimization advantages of high dose rate technology with the radiobiologic advantages of continuous low dose rate brachytherapy. This is the first report of a prospective clinical trial evaluating the relative incidence of acute toxicity and local control in patients with pelvic malignancies who underwent interstitial or intracavitary brachytherapy with the pulsed low dose rate remote afterloader. Methods and Materials: From 5/11/92-6/21/95, 65 patients underwent 77 brachytherapy procedures as part of their treatment regimen for pelvic malignancies. Using the pulsed low dose rate Selectron, equipped with a single cable-driven 0.3-1.0 Ci Ir 192 source, target volume doses of 0.40-0.85 Gy per pulse were prescribed to deliver the clinically determined dose. Forty-five intracavitary and 32 interstitial procedures were performed. Fifty-four patients had primary and 11 recurrent disease. Patients were followed closely to assess incidence of Grade 3-5 acute and delayed toxicity, local control, and survival. Results: With a median follow-up of 16.1 months (range 1-29), 33 patients are NED, 10 alive with disease, 13 dead with disease, 4 dead of intercurrent disease, and 5 lost to follow-up. Local control was maintained until last follow-up or death in 48 cases, local failure occurred in 11, unknown in 5. Grade 3-5 acute toxicities (requiring medical or surgical intervention) occurred in 5 out of 77 procedures (6.5%), delayed complications in 10 patients (15% actuarial incidence at 2 years). In the 52 procedures performed for 42 patients with cervix cancer, the acute toxicity incidence was 5.8%, with a 14% 2-year actuarial incidence of delayed complications. Of 32 interstitial templates performed on 30 patients for pelvic malignancies, there were three incidences of acute toxicity and five delayed toxicities. Conclusion: Using the parameters described for this initial clinical study in patients treated for pelvic malignancies, pulsed low dose rate brachytherapy shows no significant increase in acute toxicity above that seen with the standard continuous low dose rate approach. Using the isodose optimization possible with pulsed brachytherapy, local control is excellent in patients treated at initial presentation, although longer follow-up is required for full assessment of local control and late toxicity. Further trials will need to be carried out to determine if larger doses per pulse and shorter total treatment times have comparable therapeutic ratios.
An instrument with digital readout for indirect determination of kVp.

An electronic instrument with digital readout has been designed and constructed for indirect determination of the kVp applied to diagnostic x‐ray tubes. The signals from two detectors exposed simultaneously to a differentially filtered x‐ray beam are processed by analog computing circuitry to yield an output signal directly proportional to the applied peak kilovoltage. Theory and preliminary results are presented and discussed.
Estimating the accuracy of Russian paleotemperature reconstructions

Abstract A framework is developed for the estimation of errors in paleotemperature reconstructions, such as those compiled by Borzenkova (Borzenkova, 1992; Borzenkova et al., 1992). Three primary sources of error are considered: (1) methodological error—the difference between the temperature inferred (method dependent) from a sample and the actual temperature when the sample was formed, (2) time-dating error—the error in temperature caused by a sample formed at a time different than intended, and (3) spatial interpolation error—the error caused by interpolating from point data to create an average or map of paleotemperatures. Each of these error sources can be the primary source of uncertainty, depending on the epoch, location, and methods applied. Preliminary error estimates are given for Borzenkova's Holocene Climatic Optimum reconstruction of the zonal-mean-annual paleotemperature distribution. For this reconstruction, methodological error is found to be the dominant source of errors at low latitudes, while spatial interpolation error is found to be the dominant source at high latitudes. This finding is due to higher expected spatial variability of temperature at high latitudes which results in an increase in spatial interpolation error with latitude relative to methodological error which is insensitive to latitude. At mid-latitudes, where the reconstruction contained a higher density of data, the temperature was found to be significantly warmer than present for the Holocene Climatic Optimum. For epochs earlier than the Quaternary, the epochs were defined by time slices that span as much as millions of years, which suggests that time-dating error could be the primary source of error for paleotemperature reconstructions which are intended to represent snapshots in time. Natural climate variability for the Cenozoic and Cretaceous over time scales of millions of years is, however, not well quantified; therefore, it remains ambiguous how to quantify errors in temperature caused by inaccurate time dating for pre-Quaternary epochs.
Abstract 3622: An antibody-based multifaceted approach targeting the human transferrin receptor for the treatment of multiple myeloma

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL We previously developed an antibody-avidin fusion protein (ch128.1Av) targeting the human transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1, CD71) that demonstrates direct in vitro cytotoxicity against malignant hematopoietic cells. This cytotoxicity is due to its ability to decrease TfR1 levels leading to lethal iron deprivation. We now report that ch128.1Av shows the ability to bind the Fc gamma receptors and the complement component C1q, suggesting that is capable of eliciting Fc-mediated effector functions such as antibody-dependent cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-mediated cytotoxicity (CDC). Additionally, in two disseminated multiple myeloma xenograft mouse models, we show that a single dose of ch128.1Av results in significant anti-tumor activity including long-term survival. Interestingly, the parental antibody without avidin (ch128.1) also shows remarkable in vivo anti-cancer activity despite its lack of in vitro cytotoxicity. Finally, we demonstrate that ch128.1Av is not toxic to pluripotent hematopoietic progenitor cells using the Long-Term Cell-Initiating Culture (LTC-IC) assay suggesting that these important progenitors would be preserved in different therapeutic approaches, including the in vitro purging of cancer cells for autologous transplantation and in vivo passive immunotherapy. Our results suggest that ch128.1Av and ch128.1 may be effective in the therapy of human multiple myeloma and potentially other hematopoietic malignancies. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3622. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3622
Advanced two-dimensional thermal neutron detectors for scattering studies

Advances in neutron scattering studies will be given a large boost with the advent of new spallation and reactor sources at present under consideration or construction. An important element for future experiments is a commensurate improvement in neutron detection techniques. At Brookhaven, a development program is under way for greatly increasing the angular coverage, rate capability and resolution of detectors for scattering studies. For example, a curved detector with angular coverage of 120{sup o} by 15{sup o} has recently been developed for protein crystallography at a spallation source. Based on neutron detection using {sup 3}He, the detector has the following major, new attributes: eight identical proportional wire segments operating in parallel, a single gas volume with seamless readout at segment boundaries, parallax errors eliminated in the horizontal plane by the detector's appropriate radius of curvature, high-throughput front-end electronics, position decoding based on high performance digital signal processing. The detector has a global rate capability greater than 1 million per second, position resolution less than 1.5 mm FWHM, timing resolution about 1 {micro}s, efficiency of 50% and 90% at 1{angstrom} and 4 {angstrom} respectively, and an active area 1.5 m x 20 cm.
Single-site enzymatic cleavage of yeast genomic DNA mediated by triple helix formation.

Physical mapping of chromosomes would be facilitated by methods of breaking large DNA into manageable fragments, or cutting uniquely at genetic markers of interest. Key issues in the design of sequence-specific DNA cleaving reagents are the specificity of binding, the generalizability of the recognition motif, and the cleavage yield. Oligonucleotide-directed triple helix formation is a generalizable motif for specific binding to sequences longer than 12 base pairs within DNA of high complexity. Studies with plasmid DNA show that triple helix formation can limit the operational specificity of restriction enzymes to endonu-clease recognition sequences that overlap oligonucleotide-binding sites. Triple helix formation, followed by methylase protection, triple helix-disruption, and restriction endonuclease digestion produces near quantitative cleavage at the single overlapping triple helix–endonuclease site. As a demonstration that this technique may be applicable to the orchestrated cleavage of large genomic DNA, we report the near quantitative single-site enzymatic cleavage of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome mediated by triple helix formation. The 340-kilobase yeast chromosome HI was cut uniquely at an overlapping homopurine–Ec0RI target site 27 base pairs long to produce two expected cleavage products of 110 and 230 kilobases. No cleavage of any other chromosome was detected. The potential generalizability of this technique, which is capable of near quantitative cleavage at a single site in at least 14 megabase pairs of DNA, could enable selected regions of chromosomal DNA to be isolated without extensive screening of genomic libraries.
On a cellular division method for layout optimization and sub-system placement

Layout Optimization is a vital and vibrant research area in engineering. This work concerns the development of a biologically inspired methodology to advance concurrent layout optimization and sub-system placement for multi-disciplinary design optimization. The methodology is based on a cellular division model for developing the design layout over a multiply-connected domain. The layout thus generated is then evolved using a genetic algorithm. The methodology is demonstrated for the design of a structural panel from a satellite at idealized launching conditions. The results show the suitability of the methodology for MDO applications where sub-system placement is an essential part of the design.
Advances in brushless motor control

Brushless DC servomotors have been replacing brush type motors in machine tool and robotics applications over the last number of years. The well known advantages of brushless over brush motors include improved reliability, higher power to weight ratios, and an overall better dynamic performance. This paper briefly describes the evolution in the control of brushless drive systems which has been driven by higher levels of integration and reductions in cost of the control electronics. The first electronically controlled DC brush motor systems used analog control circuits and thyristor power switches. The present day brushless drives use high power transistor switches and a high speed microcontroller or a digital signal processor which implements digital control loops for the motor position, velocity and current. This paper describes in some detail the hardware and software elements in some typical drive systems.
Effect of Quinidine, Ouabain, and Gorticosteroids on Muscle Sodium, Potassium, and Water Content.

SummaryA single injection of ouabain depressed rat muscle water and potassium, and increased its sodium contents. Quinidine acted reciprocally but only the depression of intracellular sodium was statistically significant. Muscle analyses after 3 to 5 daily injections revealed no significant changes from control values. Single injections of cortisone also depressed intracellular sodium, but daily injections for 3 to 5 days were associated with loss of water and potassium from the muscle with a return to normal sodium concentration. These animals when treated for 3 to 5 days gained less weight than did untreated animals. Triamcinolone in single or multiple injections produced marked depressions of muscle water, sodium and potassium. Animals treated with this agent for more than 2 days lost weight.
An Efficient Two-Pass Approach to Synchronous-CFG Driven Statistical MT

We present an efficient, novel two-pass approach to mitigate the computational impact resulting from online intersection of an n-gram language model (LM) and a probabilistic synchronous context-free grammar (PSCFG) for statistical machine translation. In first pass CYK-style decoding, we consider first-best chart item approximations, generating a hypergraph of sentence spanning target language derivations. In the second stage, we instantiate specific alternative derivations from this hypergraph, using the LM to drive this search process, recovering from search errors made in the first pass. Model search errors in our approach are comparable to those made by the state-of-the-art “Cube Pruning” approach in (Chiang, 2007) under comparable pruning conditions evaluated on both hierarchical and syntax-based grammars.
High-Performance Remote Access to Climate Simulation Data: A Challenge Problem for Data Grid Technologies

In numerous scientific disciplines, terabyte and soon petabyte-scale data collections are emerging as critical community resources. A new class of Data Grid infrastructure is required to support management, transport, distributed access to, and analysis of these datasets by potentially thousands of users. Researchers who face this challenge include the Climate Modeling community, which performs long-duration computations accompanied by frequent output of very large files that must be further analyzed. We describe the Earth System Grid prototype, which brings together advanced analysis, replica management, data transfer, request management, and other technologies to support high-performance, interactive analysis of replicated data. We present performance results that demonstrate our ability to manage the location and movement of large datasets from the users desktop. We report on experiments conducted over SciNET at SC2000, where we achieved peak performance of 1.55Gb/s and sustained performance of 512.9Mb/s for data transfers between Texas and California.
Stents may be better after one year, but one year is not lifelong.

To the Editor: I read with great interest the article titled “Randomized comparison between stenting and off-pump bypass surgery in patients referred for angioplasty.”1 I congratulate Eefting and associates on publishing first-ever randomized comparison of stenting and off-pump coronary artery surgery. The clinical effectiveness of the percutaneous revascularization techniques combined with the considerable morbidity associated with conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) provided the impetus for exploring alternative approaches to surgical revascularization. Two such approaches are coronary stenting and off-pump CABG (OPCAB). The clinical goals of these approaches are interrelated and include the following (in order of importance): (1) achieving graft patency rates equal or superior to those of conventional CABG (avoid repeated revascularization), (2) decreasing incisional pain and discomfort (reduce invasiveness), (3) facilitating a more rapid return to normal activity levels (reduce invasiveness), (4) reducing the length of hospital stay (decrease complications), and (5) decreasing cost. Despite tremendous enthusiasm on the part of surgeons and interventional cardiologists, patients, industry, and the media, widespread …
Hemiarthroplasty of the distal humerus for acute and chronic complex intra-articular injuries.

Background Comminuted intra-articular distal humeral fractures represent a challenging upper extremity injury. This study reviews clinical and radiographic results in patients with distal humeral hemiarthroplasty (DHH). Methods DHH with the Latitude prosthesis (Tornier, Saint-Ismier, France) was performed in 8 patients (mean age, 64 years; age range, 33-75 years) for unreconstructible fractures of the distal humerus or salvage of failed internal fixation. Clinical outcomes were assessed with the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons elbow instrument; Mayo Elbow Performance Index; and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire at a mean of 36 months. Radiologic assessment included radiographs and computed tomography to evaluate olecranon wear and densitometry (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry). Range of motion, pain, and elbow satisfaction were recorded, and descriptive statistics were used for analysis. Results Seven patients were available to participate in the follow-up examination. Acute cases (5 patients) scored better than salvage cases (2 patients) on the Mayo Elbow Performance Score (80 points [range, 67-95 points] and 65 points [range, 50-80 points], respectively) and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score (31 points [range, 2.5-68 points] and 39 points [range, 17-62 points], respectively). The mean arc of elbow flexion and extension was 96° (range, 70°-130°), with mean flexion of 120° (range, 90°-135°) and a mean extension loss of 19° (range, 5°-30°). The mean arc of forearm rotation was 160° (range, 140°-180°). Reoperation was required in 4 patients because of painful retained hardware. Five patients reported pain with activities of daily living. Conclusion DHH should be used with caution until such time as longer-term outcome studies are able to show the efficacy of this procedure.
Abnormal motion perception in vestibular migraine.

Vertigo caused by migraine, referred to as vestibular migraine (VM), is a frequently diagnosed but poorly understood entity. No specific oculomotor, postural, or perceptual defect has been described in this disorder and its pathophysiology remains uncertain. In this study we used quantitative psychophysical methods to investigate VM because recent work in normal humans suggests that the brain uses different mechanisms to generate percepts of head motion and reflexive vestibular-mediated eye movements. In particular, perception appears to be more dependent on central interactions between semicircular canal cues (which sense head rotation) and otolith cues (which sense gravity and linear acceleration) than eye movements. Given the high incidence of positional vertigo and nystagmus in VM, we hypothesized that canal-otolith integration may be abnormal in these patients and that this abnormality may be reflected in perceptual responses.
Development of a List of High-Risk Operations for Patients 65 Years and Older

Importance No consensus exists regarding the definition of high-risk surgery in older adults. An inclusive and precise definition of high-risk surgery may be useful for surgeons, patients, researchers, and hospitals. Objective To develop a list of high-risk operations. Design, Setting, and Participants Retrospective cohort study and modified Delphi procedure. The setting included all Pennsylvania acute care hospitals (Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council [PHC4] April 1, 2001, to December 31, 2007) and a nationally representative sample of US acute care hospitals (Nationwide Inpatient Sample [NIS], Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2006). Patients included were those 65 years and older admitted to PHC4 hospitals and those 18 years and older admitted to NIS hospitals. We identified International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification ( ICD-9-CM ) procedure codes associated with at least 1% inpatient mortality in the PHC4. We used a modified Delphi procedure with 5 board-certified surgeons to further refine this list by excluding nonoperative procedures and operations that were unlikely to be the proximate cause of mortality and were instead a marker of critical illness (eg, tracheostomy). We then cross-validated this list of ICD-9-CM codes in the NIS. Main Outcomes and Measures Modified Delphi procedure consensus of at least 4 of 5 panelists and proportion agreement in the NIS. Results Among 4 739 522 admissions of patients 65 years and older in the PHC4, a total of 2 569 589 involved a procedure, encompassing 2853 unique procedures. Of 1130 procedures associated with a crude inpatient mortality of at least 1%, 264 achieved consensus as high-risk operations by the modified Delphi procedure. The observed inpatient mortality in the NIS was at least 1% for 227 of 264 procedures (86%) in patients 65 years and older. The pooled inpatient mortality for these identified high-risk procedures performed on patients 65 years and older was double the pooled inpatient mortality for correspondingly identified high-risk operations for patients younger than 65 years (6% vs 3%). Conclusions and Relevance We developed a list of procedure codes to identify high-risk surgical procedures in claims data. This list of high-risk operations can be used to standardize the definition of high-risk surgery in quality and outcomes–based studies and to design targeted clinical interventions.
'We do it so that we will be men': masculinity politics in colonial Namibia, 1915-49

This article examines struggles for masculinity among Herero elders, South African colonial administrators, and the Otruppa , a Herero youth society that appropriated a German military aesthetic, in Namibia between 1915 and 1949. As previous scholars have argued, masculinities are mutually constituted through competitions for authority, though dominance is rarely achieved. Such contestations were integral to processes of Herero societal reconstruction following German rule and during South African colonial state formation, beginning in 1915. Different generational experiences of colonial violence and the destruction of the material resources that undergirded elders' authority led to conflicts between elders and youths over how to define Herero masculinity and negotiate authority in a rapidly changing colonial milieu.
The role of the Wilms tumour gene (WT1) in normal and malignant haematopoiesis

In addition to its loss playing a pivotal role in the development of a childhood kidney malignancy, the Wilms tumour 1 gene (WT1) has emerged as an important factor in normal and malignant haematopoiesis. Preferentially expressed in CD34+ haematopoietic progenitors and down-regulated in more-differentiated cells, the WT1 transcription factor has been implicated in regulation of apoptosis, proliferation and differentiation. Putative target genes, such as BCL2, MYC, A1 and cyclin E, may cooperate with WT1 to modulate cell growth. However, the effects of WT1 on target gene expression appear to be isoform-specific. Certain WT1 isoforms are over-represented in leukaemia, but the exact mechanisms underlying the role of WT1 in transformation remain unclear. The ubiquity of WT1 in haematological malignancies has led to efforts to exploit it as a marker for minimal residual disease and as a prognostic factor, with conflicting results. In vitro killing of tumour cells by WT1-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes facilitated design of Phase I vaccine trials that showed clinical regression of WT1-positive tumours. Alternative methods employing WT1-specific immunotherapy are being investigated and might ultimately be used to optimise multimodal therapy of haematological malignancies.
The Politics of Thomas Szasz: A Sociological View

Thomas Szasz has attempted to “repoliticize psychiatry” by specifying the values which are obscured by a medical or psychiatric vocabulary. This paper attempts to clarify Szasz's own political perspective. That is difficult to do not only because key terms (individualism, collectivism, coercion, freedom, contract) are vague and inconsistently used, but also because his assumptions about social life and the significance of language, although somewhat like those in symbolic interactionism, seem fundamentally nonsociological. Szasz's inconsistencies and nonsociological underpinnings lead to a clear political bias in his own work, as well as provide a rationale for regressive social policies.
In vivo and in vitro studies on the effect of adrenocorticotropic hormone or cortisol on the pituitary response to gonadotropin releasing hormone.

Experiment I: Hyperadrenal states were induced in intact heifers (N = 3) or adrenalectomized (ADRX) heifers (N = 3) by constant infusion of ACTH (20.8 micrograms, 1-24 ACTH/h) or hydrocortisone succinate (HS) (30 mg/h), respectively. Control infusions consisted of the saline vehicle. All infusions began on Day 2 of a normal estrous cycle. Exogenous gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) was given as a 100-micrograms bolus i.v. on Days 7, 9, and 11 (intact) or 5, 7, and 9 (ADRX) of the cycle. In intact heifers, the cumulative luteinizing hormone (LH) response was reduced (P less than 0.05) by the ACTH treatment. In ADRX heifers, the HS treatment did not alter the cumulative response but did alter the qualitative response with a time X treatment interaction (P less than 0.01). The LH response in the HS-ADRX animals had a slower onset and lower peak concentrations with a more prolonged response. Experiment II: Dispersed bovine pituitary cells were prepared and incubated at concentrations of 2 X 10(6) viable cells in 2.0 ml per dish. Cells were exposed to cortisol at concentrations of 0.01, 0.10, 0.21 and 1.03 X 10(-6) M for time periods of 8, 14, 20 or 26 h for basal LH secretion studies and 10, 16, 22 and 28 h for GnRH-stimulated LH secretion. Both dosage of cortisol and length of exposure had a depressing effect on basal LH release. The cortisol pretreatment also decreased (P less than 0.001) the LH release following addition of GnRH (8.5 X 10(-8) M) in cultures at all dosages and exposure times of cortisol. However, there was no decrease in LH or protein content of cells. These experiments indicate a direct action of cortisol on the pituitary gland to depress both basal and stimulated LH release.
Channel estimation performance for frequency hopped OFDM using embedded synchronization

In this work we study the effects of channel estimation/equalization on the BER performance of RF carrier frequency hopped OFDM (FH-OFDM) when using synchronization information that is embedded directly into the OFDM time-domain baseband sample stream. Embedded synchronization eliminates the need for dedicated preamble slots for signal acquisition/synchronization, thus providing potential for improved channel access efficiency. Assuming perfect synchronization of the unknown time-frequency offsets, demodulated bit error rate (BER) performance is evaluated in frequency selective fading channels. Superposition (embedding) of the sync information causes interference onto the OFDM data information, which must be removed for satisfactory BER performance. Consequently, embedded synchronization interference cancellation (EIC) is utilized, which requires accurate estimation of the channel state information. Using coherent 4QAM-OFDM and 16QAM-OFDM modulation, BER performance is evaluated using the COST207 multipath fading channel model with RF carrier frequency hopping.
Agglomeration-Free Nanoscale Cobalt Silicide Film Formation Via Substrate Preamorphization

We have used preamorphization of silicon substrates as a process modification to suppress agglomeration during cobalt disilicide film formation. Planar, continuous and low resistivity (<21 µΩ-cm) silicide films less than 35 nm thick have been produced both on single crystal silicon and polysilicon. Nanoscale(<35 nm) silicide films are more susceptible to islanding phenomena since agglomeration is dependent on the ratio of grain size to film thickness. Preamorphization prior to silicidation favors a large increase in silicide nucleation rate, as well as reduction in critical nuclei size, both of which aid the formation of silicide with small grains. The resulting small grain suicides enable nanoscale films to remain below the critical grain size to thickness ratio for which thin films become morphologically unstable. An interphase void band which occurs between CoSi and CoSi2 layers, acts as a convenient diffusion marker and aids interpretation of the complex stability issues. Preamorphization prior to silicidation was also extended to heavily doped substrates to study the applicability of this approach for junctions and gate contacts. Silicidation of amorphized heavily boron doped substrates produces non uniform layers due to the collision of the advancing silicidation and SPE interfaces. A comparision of concurrent processing, i.e. simulatneous dopant activation and silicide formation, with conventional silicidation of Si+ preamorphized heavily doped(B) substrates is also presented.
Prognostic indicators in hemiparetic cerebral palsy

In an attempt to define prognostic indicators of intelligence and seizures in the hemiparetic cerebral palsy population, birth histories, electroencephalograms, and computerized tomographic (CT) scans were reviewed in 52 children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy. Cases were excluded when the hemiparesis might have been related to events beyond the neonatal period, such as meningitis, trauma, focal seizures, tumor, or vascular insults. Detailed neurological histories and examinations were done in all patients. Intellectual evaluations, electroencephalograms, and CT scans were obtained. There was no significant relationship of birth history to subsequent seizure development or mental retardation. In contrast, findings in electroencephalograms and CT scans correlated well with the development of seizures and abnormal intelligence. Children who shared anatomical abnormalities of commissural pathways, association pathways, or cerebral cortex were found to have a much higher incidence of seizures and abnormal intelligence.
First-year students' perceptions about pediatric dental behavior guidance techniques: the effect of education.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a dental education component on dental students’ perceptions toward behavior guidance techniques in pediatric dentistry. A questionnaire was completed by seventy-three first-year dental students, before and after a course on human development and behavior guidance techniques in pediatric dentistry. The acceptability of behavior guidance techniques and situations in pediatric dentistry was scored with a visual analog scale before and after the course, compared, and evaluated in relation to demographic data. After the course, statistically significant increases (ANOVA) in the acceptability of aversive behavior guidance (voice control, hand over mouth, and immobilization), sedation, general anesthesia, and modeling were found. Statistically significant decreases (ANOVA) in acceptability were found in mentioning the possibility of pain during treatment and with a parent being in the clinic or talking with the child during treatment. Female or married students, those who had previously received dental treatment, or those who had a dentist in the family showed statistically significant changes that indicated more empathy toward the children. We conclude that undergraduate dental education may have a significant short-term influence on dental students’ perceptions of behavior guidance in pediatric dentistry.
Science, state and violence: An indian critique reconsidered

This paper explores the work of a specific group of Indian scholar activists who, during the 1980s, produced a body of writing critical of the Indian state's science, technology and environmental policy. They have been described variously as Luddites, anti-science cranks and polemicists (Guha, 1988; Nanda, 1991; Baber, 1996). At the same time, they have been influential among activists critical of state development policies. This paper examines one particularly polemical set of their writings. It has three broad parts. It begins by providing some context and background and describing the methodological choices made in the acquisition and presentation of the material at hand. The second, substantial section is the exposition of the argument underlying the critique being discussed. Finally, the brief last segment explores the relevance of this work for studies of science and culture.
Ontogeny of intestinal lactase: posttranslational regulation by thyroxine

To assess the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of lactase ontogeny by thyroxine (T4), we performed an in vivo study of lactase catalytic activity, synthesis, subunit structure, degradation, and enterocyte migration rates in propylthiouracil-induced hypothyroid rat pups, hypothyroid pups injected with T4, and normally weaned rats. Although lactase catalytic activity remained elevated in the hypothyroid rats and declined normally in the other two groups, lactase synthesis was constant among the groups. Lactase subunit structure was identical in normally weaned and T4-injected animals, but the 100-kDa moiety, characteristic of weaned rats, was absent in the hypothyroid pups. The turnover of lactase enzyme was more rapid in euthyroid and T4-injected rats than in hypothyroid animals (t1/2 = 17, 20, and 30 h, respectively). In addition, enterocyte migration was accelerated in the T4-injected rats and reduced in the hypothyroid group compared with controls. However, transit rate was not directly related to lactase activity. Our results suggest that T4 regulates lactase ontogeny by posttranslational mechanisms that include altered processing and increased degradation of the lactase enzyme.
Do Real Estate Faculty Teach the Skills and Competencies Needed by Corporate Real Estate Executives

This paper compares three recent studies ranking the skills and competencies most needed by corporate real estate professionals, reviews them within the context of the recent literature on corporat...
Significant Medical Advances on the Battlefield and the Changing Roles of Imaging

American and coalition forces can claim one overwhelming victory in recent conflicts: the highest survival rate of combat casualties in history. Approximately 98% of all casualties brought to our facility survived, a higher percentage than ever before in prior wars. Some of the most obvious contributions to these record survival rates are due to advances such as the Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT) and its clear indications from TCCC (Tactical Combat Casualty Care). Other major contributors to heroic survival success is clearly due to improved helicopter casualty and medical evacuation from the front lines to the many combat hospitals. In addition, Air Force air evacuation out of war zone to the upper echelons of care is described earlier in this book. Myself and others believe advanced imaging techniques and applications, some discussed here, have also significantly contributed to these record survival rates.
Image fusion and navigation platforms for percutaneous image-guided interventions

Image-guided interventional procedures, particularly image guided biopsy and ablation, serve an important role in the care of the oncology patient. The need for tumor genomic and proteomic profiling, early tumor response assessment and confirmation of early recurrence are common scenarios that may necessitate successful biopsies of targets, including those that are small, anatomically unfavorable or inconspicuous. As image-guided ablation is increasingly incorporated into interventional oncology practice, similar obstacles are posed for the ablation of technically challenging tumor targets. Navigation tools, including image fusion and device tracking, can enable abdominal interventionalists to more accurately target challenging biopsy and ablation targets. Image fusion technologies enable multimodality fusion and real-time co-displays of US, CT, MRI, and PET/CT data, with navigational technologies including electromagnetic tracking, robotic, cone beam CT, optical, and laser guidance of interventional devices. Image fusion and navigational platform technology is reviewed in this article, including the results of studies implementing their use for interventional procedures. Pre-clinical and clinical experiences to date suggest these technologies have the potential to reduce procedure risk, time, and radiation dose to both the patient and the operator, with a valuable role to play for complex image-guided interventions.
Learning Disability in Childhood-Onset Epilepsy

The occurrence of learning disability (LD) in adults with childhood-onset epilepsy and its impact on medical and social outcome were analyzed in a study at the University of Turku, Finland.
Introduction: Commitment to Knowledge

Darwin (The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex. John Murray, London, p. 3, 1871, [1]), in a book in which anticipation is incidentally present, took note of the fact that “ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge.” If the degree of success of a field of inquiry had anything to do with how often its label is used (the mantra of search engines), we could say that anticipation has made it. The word is in everyone’s mouth—unfortunately for the wrong reasons most of the time. (Quantum mechanics and genetics seem to be cursed with similar success.) Neither is history in itself, as a timeline of events—i.e., the narration—a source of scientific legitimacy. Nevertheless, when the timeline reveals successive expressions of knowledge and is substantiated by experimental evidence, legitimacy ensues on account of a successful record. Those who ignore such a record of tested and confirmed knowledge give in to the embrace of ignorance to the same extent as those who use a concept without understanding it. Their own endeavors end up undermined by a confidence that is at best illusory.
Acute effects of glucose on reactivity of cerebral microcirculation: Role of activation of protein kinase C

Our first goal was to determine whether acute hyperglycemia alters endothelium-dependent reactivity of rat cerebral arterioles. Our second goal was to investigate a possible mechanism for impaired reactivity during acute hyperglycemia. Diameter of pial arterioles was measured during suffusion with ADP, acetylcholine, histamine, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), and nitroglycerin before and during application of a suffusate containing D-glucose (5, 10, 20, and 25 mM). ADP, acetylcholine, histamine, NMDA, and nitroglycerin produced dose-related vasodilation before application of D-glucose. Vasodilatation in response to the agonists was not altered by 5 and 10 mM D-glucose. In contrast, vasodilatation in response to ADP, acetylcholine, histamine, and NMDA was impaired during application of 20 and 25 mM D-glucose. Dilatation in response to nitroglycerin was not altered. Application of the protein kinase C inhibitor calphostin C (1.0 nM) or chelerythrine (10 nM) restored endothelium-dependent vasodilatation during application of 25 mM D-glucose. Thus acute hyperglycemia impairs endothelium-dependent responses of cerebral arterioles via the activation of protein kinase C.