cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
P28.18: Malformations of the uterus and their impact on pregnancy outcome

Objectives: The defects of the uterus are the most common malformations of the female reproductive system and can lead to many obstetric complications e.g. preterm delivery, intrauterine growth restriction, oligohydramnion and operational delivery. Women with uterine defects are also burdened with increased risk of having a baby with birth defects. Our aim was to analyze the impact of different types of defects of the uterus on pregnancy outcomes. Methods: The study involved 94 pregnant women with different types of defects of the uterus hospitalized in the Department of FetalMaternal Medicine and Gynecology RIPMMH in Lodz between 1994 and 2011. The patients were divided into 5 groups on the basis of the diagnosed defect: arcuate (n = 6), bicornuate (n = 50), duplex (n = 29), septate (n = 5) and unicornuate uterus (n = 4). Results: The most common complication in pregnancy was threatened preterm delivery. Sixteen women delivered (18%) before 33 weeks of gestation, between 33–37 weeks – 39 patients (41%) and after 37 week delivered 39 women (41%). Cervical insufficiency occured in 10 cases (11%). Caesarean section was performed in 73 (78%) women and the most frequent indication was pelvic and transversal position of the fetus reported in 49 cases (52.13%). Intrauterine growth restriction occurred in 16% of cases, most often in women with a unicornuate uterus – 50%. Prenatal diagnostic showed abnormalities in 12 fetuses (13%). The most frequent were heart and urinary tract defects. The Apgar score from 0 to 4 points was found in 9 newborns (9.6%), 5–7 in 20 children (21.3%) and 8–10 points in 75 cases (69.1%). Birth weight less than 500 g had 3 newborns (3.2%), 501–1000 g – 5 children (5.3%), 1001–2500 g – 35 (37.2%). Normal birth weight (>2500 g) was observed in 51 newborns (54.3%). Conclusions: In conclusion, women with uterine defects carry an increased risk of infertility, but also a number of complications in pregnancy and worse pregnancy outcome.
Assessing the Rhetorical Side of Presidential Signing Statements

Recent work on the constitutional signing statement suggests such tools can be designed to defend constitutional and institutional powers or help presidents shape policy. Much less is known about rhetorical signing statements and their significance for presidential power. Our analysis from 1981-2008 demonstrates that rhetorical signing statements are calculated messages that vary in purpose from heaping praise on Congress to credit claiming and building political capital. The findings highlight the role of political conditions like divided government and presidential approval levels as well as salience of legislative opportunities in explaining the type of rhetorical message aimed at Congress.
Occurrence and persistence of perfluorooctanesulfonate and other perfluorinated surfactants in groundwater at a fire-training area at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan, USA

Various formulations of fire-extinguishing materials, including aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs), were used as part of fire-training exercises conducted at Wurtsmith Air Force Base (WAFB) in northeastern Michigan from the 1950s until the base was decommissioned in 1993. As a result of past fire-training exercises, AFFF-laden wastewater containing fuels, solvents, and other materials directly entered groundwater without prior treatment. Perfluorinated surfactants are key components in some AFFF formulations. In this study, groundwater was analyzed for perfluoroalkanesulfonates and perfluorocarboxylates. Perfluoroalkanesulfonates were directly detected using negative-ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Derivatized perfluorocarboxylates were detected using electron impact gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Groundwater from wells around fire-training area FTA-02 at WAFB contained four perfluorinated surfactants ranging in concentration from 3 to 120 µg L−1: perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS); perfluorohexanesulfonate; perfluorooctanoate; and perfluorohexanoate. This is the first report demonstrating that PFOS, recently shown to be toxic to organisms ranging from zooplankton to primates, is still present in groundwater in measurable quantities five or more years after its last known use.
The Experience of Sexual Harassment among Grade-School Students: Early Socialization of Female Subordination.

The purpose of this study was to investigate elementary school children's interpretation of sexual harassment incidents and the relationship of those interpretations to self-esteem and body esteem. Eleven scenarios were read to 73 third- to fifth-grade children. Eight scenarios exemplified peer harassment. The children were asked how they thought the victim felt, what the victim should do, why the perpetrator did this, and whether something similar had ever happened to them. They also completed gender role, self-esteem, and body esteem scales. Results indicated that the majority of the children had experienced peer harassment and that the boys and girls had experienced about equal amounts. However, total harassment was negatively related to self-esteem in girls, but not boys. Furthermore, the children's interpretations of the scenarios as well as the relationship of these interpretations to body and self-esteem indicated that the meaning of sexual harassment was different for the boys and girls. Girls were more likely to think the victim would be frightened and boys more likely to think that the victim would be flattered by the attention. Girls who reported that the victim would be frightened or that they did not know how the victim would react reported lower body esteem. These data are interpreted within the framework of sexual terrorism and sexual objectification theories. These data also underscore the need for additional research in sexual harassment among young children.
DNA-catalyzed polymerization.

Native DNA oligomers are shown to be stereoselective catalysts for the polymerization of 5‘-amino-3‘-acetaldehyde-modified thymidine/adenosine nucleosides through reductive amination. The reaction follows step-growth kinetics to read the encoded sequence and chain-length information in the antiparallel direction. Single mismatches in the template are selected against at a level of >100:1. A method is therefore established to translate biopolymer-encoded information stereoselectively into sequence- and chain-length specific synthetic polymers.
Momentum Enhanced Neuroevolution

The momentum parameter is common within numerous optimization and local search algorithms, particularly in the popular back propagation neural network learning algorithm. Computationally cheap and prevalent in gradient descent approaches, it is not currently utilized within neuroevolution. In this paper we present some of the results produced by a momentum enhanced neuroevolutionary algorithm. We demonstrate how this computationally inexpensive parameter in most of the cases results in enhancing the system's performance.
Generalizability of DSM-III—R generalized anxiety disorders to proposed DSM-IV criteria and cross-validation of proposed changes.

Proposed changes in the diagnostic criteria for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in DSM-IV could affect the generalizability of prior research on DSM-III-R GAD. It would thus be important to determine whether clients selected by the differing criteria are similar or dissimilar. Replication of the results that led to the proposed changes would also be useful for strengthening their validity. We examined 40 clients with DSM-III-R GAD and 36 nonanxious subjects using a modified Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule and a self-report questionnaire, both of which included questions relevant to the proposed changes. All DSM-III-R GAD clients met DSM-IV criteria, the proposed diagnostic features were found to be highly prevalent among the clients, and these features significantly differentiated the clients from control subjects. The results provide further empirical support for the proposed DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for GAD and suggest that these criteria will allow for continuity in GAD research.
AMS Radiocarbon Dating of Lake Michigan Beach-Ridge and Dune Development

Abstract Strandplains of shore-parallel beach ridges bordering the Great Lakes are valuable for reconstructing histories of climate-related lake-level fluctuations. However, imprecise radiocarbon dates of ridge formation have frustrated development of dependable chronologies from which information about variation in the frequency of ridge formation and inferred climate fluctuations can be obtained. The resolution and precision of radiocarbon chronologies can be improved with AMS14C dates of roots and rhizomes of plant species associated with the formation and growth of the sand-dune caps of breach ridges. These dates reliably estimate the timing of shore progradation when the base of the previously established beach ridge becomes inundated by the water table. An AMS radiocarbon chronology of beach-ridge formation in northern Lake Michigan shows that information about variation in the frequency of ridge formation is important for paleoclimatic interpretation.
Surgical management of cervicomedullary and dorsally exophytic brain stem tumors

Cervicomedullary and dorsally exophytic brain stem tumors are surgically accessible and treatable neoplasms that must be distinguished as a specific subset of brain stem gliomas. Brain stem gliomas account for only 10% to 20% of all pediatric brain tumors, and the diffuse neoplasm has been thought of historically when describing these tumors. The focal dorsally exophytic brain stem and cervicomedullary glioma constitute about 10% to 15% of all childhood brain stem tumors. These neoplasms have a distinct clinical presentation, distinct imaging characteristics, and a more favorable prognosis than diffuse brain stem gliomas. This article outlines the present management of cervicomedullary and dorsally exophytic neoplasms.
Use of the moon for spacecraft calibration over 350 to 2500 nm

The Moon is the only natural object outside the Earth's atmosphere that is within the dynamic range of most imaging instruments on Earth-orbiting spacecraft. The excellent photometric stability of the Lunar surface will allow its use as a long-term instrument calibration source once the dependence of Lunar spectral radiance on phase and libration angles are well characterized. A program to provide this characterization is underway. Observations are being made in 23 bands within 350 - 950 nm, 7 of which correspond closely with spacecraft instrument bands. Observations in nine bands within 950 - 2500 nm began recently. Although at this time the absolute Lunar radiance model is preliminary and uncertainties are larger than most instrument calibration goals, changes in spacecraft instrument sensitivity can be precisely monitored and absolute calibration can be applied retroactively as the accuracy of the Lunar spectral radiance model improves. Several space-based imaging systems have already begun using the Moon for calibration and the EOS AM-1 platform will make periodic attitude maneuvers for Lunar and space calibration.
Synthesis of the life cycle concept with strategy and management style: a case analysis in the hospitality industry.

Abstract Research has shown that a firm's strategy is influenced by a number of variables, including management style and characteristics of the organizational leader, and stage of the corporate life cycle. This study makes the attempt at analyzing the management style and characteristics of leaders, and business strategy in two hospitality corporations during their transition through the life cycle. The results of this investigation demonstrate that management style and characteristics of the leader, in addition to the strategies of the two companies differ according to the stages of the organizational life cycle.
Students' note-taking behaviors and the efficacy of providing the instructor's notes for review

Abstract College students viewed a videotaped lecture with or without taking notes. Average performance between the two groups did not differ on an immediate test. The encoding effect of note taking was therefore unsupported. Two days later, note takers reviewed their notes while listeners reviewed the instructor's notes in preparation for the delayed exam. Subjects who reviewed the instructor's notes achieved significantly more, on factual items, than did subjects who reviewed their own relatively brief and unorganized notes. Thus, listening to a lecture and subsequently reviewing the instructor's notes prior to a delayed exam leads to relatively higher achievement than does the traditional method of taking and reviewing personal lecture notes.
Procedures to determine the amount of plant cover/basal area in field plots

Abstract Plant species compete for ground space in a variety of ways. The purpose of this research was to describe procedures to determine plant basal area (plant cover) to help understand ecosystem structure of a desert ecosystem. For one field plot (1089 m 2 ), distance and direction of each plant were measured from either another plant or from a field marker. The diameter and height were recorded for each plant. Computer programs (1) provided the distances and directions among all the plants in the plot, (2) provided a listing of the plants (including species name, distance, direction, height, diameter and condition) within a pre-determined radius of each plant (a target plant), (3) computed the area of plant basal area (plant cover) within a 5-m radius around each plant in the plot and (4) produced a two-dimensional diagram to show the location of plant cover of all plants around each target plant with calculations of plant cover area for each plant. Two examples were selected to illustrate the versatility of the technique. For one example, the target plant with seven other plants within the 5-m radius (78.5 m 2 total area) had a total plant cover of 10.2 m 2 . For this first target plant, the plant cover within a 3-m radius (total area of 28.3 m 2 ) was shown to be 4.88 m 2 . For a second example target plant, there were 10 plants within a 5-m radius area that provided 21.6 m 2 plant cover. For this second target plant, the calculated plant cover within a 3-m radius area was 12.6 m 2 . From the 5-m radius analysis to the 3-m radius analysis, only one of the 10 plants was not excluded. We believe that the combination of procedures and computer programs provide an accurate estimate of the amount of plant cover (basal area) around plants within desert field plots. These procedures may be combined with other ecological parameters, such as association analysis to make better estimates of ecosystem structure.
Current approaches in refractory AML

The most important factor to consider in planning initial treatment for a patient with relapsed or refractory AML is the length of the first CR. For practical purpose, patients can be divided into those with first CRs /1 year and those with shorter first CRs (or no first CR, i.e. primary refractory). Three types of therapies are available: allogeneic transplant (allotrans), high-dose ara-C-containing regimens (HDAC), and regimens including various drugs other than ara-C and an anthracycline (non a-a). Comparison of M.D. Anderson data (chemotherapy) with IBMTR data (transplant) suggest that the best option is an allotrans, particularly if the patient had a short or no first CR; however, the degree to which the data are influenced by selection bias is unknown. If an allotrans is not feasible, patients with longer 1st CRs should receive HDAC-containing therapy. Our data suggest that such therapy not only produces higher CR rates, but, more importantly, improves survival relative to non a-a regimens; obviously this conclusion could change were a very successful new non a-a regimen to appear. In contrast, the data indicate that, although HDAC also produces higher CR rates than non a-a in patients with shorter first CRs, or who are primary refractory, this higher CR rate is not associated with a survival advantage, probably because the achieved CRs are very brief and because of higher early death rates with HDAC. As a result, such patients are ideal for investigation of new non a-a regimens. The same is true for virtually all second salvage patients (patients who have received initial induction therapy /1 additional therapy to produce a CR). At any time several new non a-a regimens are under investigation at M.D. Anderson. Currently, these include a new anti-fol, new histone acetylase inhibitors, a combination of the latter with decitabine, and other drugs whose mechanism of action is unclear, although they are active in, admittedly very imperfect, model systems. A problem with evaluation of these agents has been a focus on assessing the activity of a given regimen, rather than on assessing whether that regimen is more active than another regimen; this latter question is of more interest to patients. To address this problem it might be a good idea to randomize patients among various protocols, and methods for doing this will be discussed.
Phase equilibria of simple real fluid mixtures from perturbation theory

Shukla K.P., 1991. Phase equilibria of simple real fluid mixtures from perturbation theory. Fluid Phase Equilibria, 67: 273-282. The previously developed first-order hard-sphere perturbation theory (Shukia, Fluid Phase Equilibria, 1991) along with the suitable combination rules have been applied to predict phase equilibria of simple binary fluid mixtures. Fluids are modeled using the Lennard-Jones (12-6) potential function. Primary results reported are for vapor-liquid phase equilibria of mixtures argon + krypton, krypton + xenon, neon + argon and neon + xenon. Comparisons of theoretical results with experimental data show that the theory, when used with the Kohler- Smith-Kong combination rules, is highly accurate. Theoretical predictions for total and excess thermodynamic properties of the highly non-ideal fluid mixture neon + argon are also found to be in very good agreement with our accurate molecular dynamics simulation results.
Use of a thermal gradient to study the role of liquid phase during the formation of Bismuth high temperature superconductors

Abstract Firing a long specimen in a thermal gradient furnace is an efficient way of looking for the fine details of synthesis/morphology behavior in Ag-“doped” (Bi, Pb)-high temperature superconductors as a function of temperature and time. The 110 K, three-Cu-layer phase, begins to form apparently only upon the appearance of an eutectic-liquid at ∼822°C. The accompanying morpological changes are readily seen and interpreted by SEM/EDS of fractured surfaces.
Embra: fast and flexible machine simulation

This paper describes Embra, a simulator for the processors, caches, and memory systems of uniprocessors and cache-coherent multiprocessors. When running as part of the SimOS simulation environment, Embra models the processors of a MIPS R3000/R4000 machine faithfully enough to run a commercial operating system and arbitrary user applications. To achieve high simulation speed, Embra uses dynamic binary translation to generate code sequences which simulate the workload. It is the first machine simulator to use this technique. Embra can simulate real workloads such as multiprocess compiles and the SPEC92 benchmarks running on Silicon Graphic's IRIX 5.3 at speeds only 3 to 9 times slower than native execution of the workload, making Embra the fastest reported complete machine simulator. Dynamic binary translation also gives Embra the flexibility to dynamically control both the simulation statistics reported and the simulation model accuracy with low performance overheads. For example, Embra can customize its generated code to include a processor cache model which allows it to compute the cache misses and memory stall time of a workload. Customized code generation allows Embra to simulate a machine with caches at slowdowns of only a factor of 7 to 20. Most of the statistics generated at this speed match those produced by a slower reference simulator to within 1%. This paper describes the techniques used by Embra to achieve high performance, focusing on the requirements unique to machine simulation, including modeling the processor, memory management unit, and caches. In order to study Embra's memory system performance we use the SimOS simulation system to examine Embra itself. We present a detailed breakdown of Embra's memory system performance for two cache hierarchies to understand Embra's current performance and to show that Embra's implementation techniques benefit significantly from the larger cache hierarchies that are becoming available. Embra has been used for operating system development and testing as well as for studies of computer architecture. In this capacity it has simulated large, commercial workloads including IRIX running a relational database system and a CAD system for billions of simulated machine cycles.
Cervical myelopathy: Posterior decompression and fusion

Abstract Posterior cervical decompression and fusion with instrumentation is a well-proven surgical option for patients with multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy with or without radiculopathy. With appropriate preoperative workup and patient selection, the majority of patients with cervical spondylotic processes achieve good or excellent results with posterior decompression and fusion surgery. Posterior decompression and fusion techniques are technically demanding operations that should be performed by surgeons who are familiar with the appropriate techniques and possible complications.
Cytoskeleton: functions for tubulin modifications at last

New studies show that three types of evolutionarily conserved post translational tubulin modification, polyglutamylation, polyglycylation and detyrosination, play important roles in vivo. These modifications appear to act by modulating the binding of molecular motors to the external surface of microtubules.
Probing the role of Cys-78 in dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR) using Raman Spectroscopy

Dihdyropteridine reductase (DHPR) catalyzes reduction of the unstable quinonoid dihydropteridine to the active tetrahydropteridine form through the oxidation of NADH. DHPR deficiency or any blockage in biosynthesis of tetrahydropteridine results in development of phenylketonuria (PKU), a progressive neurological illness which does not respond to dietary treatment. It has been speculated that DHPR or metabolites associated with it may have antioxidative properties. In another study, DHPR has been shown to have NADH-ferric reductase activity. This activity is postulated to have an important role in dietary iron uptake. There is an emerging role, though mechanistically unclear at this point, for BH4 in maintaining nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity. NOS produces the signaling agent nitric oxide (•NO) from L-arginine. In the light of these emerging roles there is a growing need to completely understand how DHPR works.The mechanism of catalysis in DHPR is not fully understood. Previous studies have suggested the involvement of the thiol group of a cysteine residue in DHPR. Using Raman spectroscopic techniques, the effect of the inhibitors/substrate and/or cofactor on the protonation state of the thiol group is investigated. Raman spectroscopy is particularly effective because of a unique peak at ca. 2500 cm-1 due to the S-H stretch and another one at ca. 900 cm-1 due to the C-S bond. Peak shifts and modulation in intensities are monitored and analyzed in terms of its mechanistic implications.
Growth of coyote willow and the attack and survival of a mid-rib galling sawfly, Euura sp.

We studied the relationship between variation in age and shoot characteristics of the host plant Salix exigua Nuttall (coyote or sandbar willow) and the attack and survival of Euura sp. (an unnamed leaf-midrib galling sawfly). Variation in shoot characteristics resulted from reduced growth as willow ramets aged. Mean shoot length per ramet and mean longest leaf length per shoot decreased by 95% and 50% respectively between 1- and 9-year-old willow ramets. All measured shoot characteristics-shoot length, longest leaf length, number of leaves per shoot, and mean internode length-were significantly negatively correlated with ramet age (r 2 ranged from −0.23 to −0.41). Correlations between shoot characteristics were highly positive, indicating that plants also grew in a strongly integrated fashion (r 2 ranged from 0.54 to 0.85). Four hypotheses were examined to explain sawfly attack patterns. The host-plant hypothesis was supported in explaining enhanced larval sawfly survival through reduced plant resistance. As willow ramets aged, the probability of Euura sp. attack decreased over 10-fold, from 0.315 on 1-year-old ramets to 0.024 on 2- to 9-year-old ramets. As shoot length increased, the probability of sawfly attack increased over 100-fold, from 0.007 on shoots 500 mm each represented less than 2% of the total shoots available for oviposition. Host plant induced mortality of the egg/early instar stage decreased by 50% on longer leaves and was the most important factor determining survival differences between vigorous and non-vigorous hosts. Sawfly attack was not determined by the resource distribution hypothesis. Although shoots <200 mm contained 82% of the total leaves available, they contained only 43% of the galls initiated. The attack pattern also was not explained by the gall volume hypothesis. Although gall volume increased on longer shoots, there was no significant variation in mid or late instar mortality over shoot length, as would be expected if food resources within smaller galls were limited. The natural enemy attack hypothesis could not explain the pattern of oviposition since predation was greater on longer shoots and leaves. In addition, larval survival was related to oviposition behavior. Due to a 69% reduction in late instar death and an 83% reduction in parasitism, survival of progeny in galls initiated close to the petiole base was 2.8 times greater than in galls initiated near the leaf tip. A 75% reduction in gall volume over this range of gall positions may account for the observed increases in late instar mortality and parasitism.
Intraspecific competition facilitates the evolution of tolerance to insect damage in the perennial plant Solanum carolinense

Tolerance to herbivory (the degree to which plants maintain fitness after damage) is a key component of plant defense, so understanding how natural selection and evolutionary constraints act on tolerance traits is important to general theories of plant–herbivore interactions. These factors may be affected by plant competition, which often interacts with damage to influence trait expression and fitness. However, few studies have manipulated competitor density to examine the evolutionary effects of competition on tolerance. In this study, we tested whether intraspecific competition affects four aspects of the evolution of tolerance to herbivory in the perennial plant Solanum carolinense: phenotypic expression, expression of genetic variation, the adaptive value of tolerance, and costs of tolerance. We manipulated insect damage and intraspecific competition for clonal lines of S. carolinense in a greenhouse experiment, and measured tolerance in terms of sexual and asexual fitness components. Compared to plants growing at low density, plants growing at high density had greater expression of and genetic variation in tolerance, and experienced greater fitness benefits from tolerance when damaged. Tolerance was not costly for plants growing at either density, and only plants growing at low density benefited from tolerance when undamaged, perhaps due to greater intrinsic growth rates of more tolerant genotypes. These results suggest that competition is likely to facilitate the evolution of tolerance in S. carolinense, and perhaps in other plants that regularly experience competition, while spatio-temporal variation in density may maintain genetic variation in tolerance.
Unusual enhancing foci.

and lower gastrointestinal endoscopies, a bone scan, and serum analysis for tumor markers, was negative. Over the course of the next 3 years, follow-up CT scans had shown slow enlargement of the mass. Four weeks prior to the current visit, the patient had presented with subjective fevers, anorexia, and right upperquadrant abdominal pain of 3 months duration, as well as a gradual weight loss of 40 pounds over the preceding 2 years. He had no chest pain, cough, melena, hematochezia, or change in bowel habits. He used chewing tobacco and had family history (brother) of lung cancer. An abdominal CT scan during that visit had shown a further increase in the size of the mass. A positron emission tomography (PET) scan showed increased glucose uptake in the mass inferolateral to the right lobe of the liver, as well as in the ascending colon, bilateral hilar lymph nodes, and anterior abdominal wall, consistent with peritoneal metastases (Figure 2). Fine-needle aspiration cytology of the mass had shown only non-specific inflammatory cells, but the night sweats, anorexia, weight loss, and slow tumor enlargement seemed to suggest a recurrence of the gastrointestinal stromal tumor, and imatinib chemotherapy had been initiated.
Dental X-Rays and Risk of Meningioma; the Jury is Still Out

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Dental x-rays and risk of meningioma. Claus EB, Calvocoressi L, Bondy ML, Schildkraut JM, Wiemels JL, Wrensch M. Cancer 2012. Epub ahead of print. Reviewers Sotirios Tetradis, DDS, PhD, Stuart C. White, DDS, PhD, Susan K. Service, MS Purpose/Question To examine whether there is an association between age at receipt or frequency of dental radiographs and intracranial meningioma Source of Funding The National Institutes of Health (R01 grants CA109468, CA109461, CA109745, CA108473, and CA109475), the Brain Science Foundation (nonprofit), and the Meningioma Mommas (nonprofit) Type of Study/Design Case-control study Level of Evidence Level 2: Limited-quality, patient-oriented evidence Strength of Recommendation Grade Not applicable
Seminiferous tubule dysgenesis (Klinefelter's syndrome) in identical twins.

Seminiferous tubule dysgenesis (Klinefelter’s syndrome) was proved by testicular biopsy in 17-year-old identical twins who presented with the typical clinical features of the syndrome. Female nuclear chromatin patterns were present in the Leydig cells and in buccal mucosal smears of both patients. The identity of the twins was established by means of reciprocal homografts, blood antigen studies, dermatoglyphics and the history of a single placenta. The principal theories concerning the etiology of this syndrome arc briefly reviewed. It is concluded that concordance for seminiferous tubule dysgenesis in identical twins in the light of previous evidence supports the concept that a genetic predisposition exists in this disorder.
Construction of short tandem target mimic (STTM) to block the functions of plant and animal microRNAs

Small RNAs are widespread in plants and animals. They largely include microRNAs (miRNAs) and short interfering RNAs (siRNAs), and they play key roles in gene and chromatin regulations. Here we describe in detail the method for an effective construction of the recently developed short tandem target mimic (STTM) technology to block small RNA functions in plants and animals. STTM is a powerful technology complementing the previous target mimic (TM) in plants and the miRNA sponge, as well as the recently defined endogenous competing RNA (CeRNA) in animals. We expect STTM will not only be effective in blocking small RNA functions in plants but will also become a popular approach in animals.
Effect of light and temperature on monoterpenoid yield and composition in Satureja douglasii

Abstract Light intensity and day temperature were identified as principal modifying factors of monoterpenoid composition and yield in individuals of Satureja douglasii. The individuals represent compositional type and clinial patterns of infraspecific compositional variation. The lack of compositional interconversion confirms the tight genetic control of biosynthesis which results in these infraspecific patterns. There was marked influence by light intensity on monoterpenoid yield per leaf dry weight and by day temperature on yield per leaf. Low light intensity reduced leaf dry weight but had little effect on the amount of monoterpenoids per leaf whereas low day temperature increased both leaf weight and yield per leaf, compared to high light and day temperature effects. Day temperature modification of yield per leaf was related to modification of composition.
Voice of America and radio Moscow newscasts to the third world

The involvement of international radio broadcasting in the world information order has received little attention. Do messages from Western radio broadcasters to Third World nations share characteristics of other Western media messages identified by analysts critical of the present structure of international communication? Do Soviet radio messages to developing nations have these qualities? To answer these questions, the content of Voice of America and Radio Moscow newscasts transmitted to Africa and Latin America was analyzed.
When your patient is silent

In the process of caring for patients, nurses encounter patients who are silent A number of problems may arise when silence occurs in an interpersonal situation Among these problems is the different meanings that silence may have from culture to culture This paper describes the meaning that silence may have across cultures and delineates guidelines for the nurse in responding to the patient who is silent
AGE-RELATED CHANGES IN BODY PROPORTIONS, BODY SIZE, AND PERCEIVED CUTENESS

Two experiments investigated the hypothesis that age-related changes in physical appearance can alter perceived cuteness. In both experiments 67 undergraduates viewed line drawings displaying growt...
Cockroach allergens induce biphasic asthma-like pulmonary inflammation in outbred mice.

Objectives. The aim of this study is to define the kinetics of the pulmonary inflammatory response in cockroach allergen (CRA) sensitized and challenged outbred mice. Methods. Asthma-like pulmonary inflammation was induced with three pulmonary exposures to CRA, without the use of adjuvants. Mice were sacrificed at multiple time points and asthma-like pulmonary inflammation quantified. Results. Several pulmonary parameters showed a pronounced biphasic inflammatory response with an early stage (1.5 hours post challenge) and late stage (24 hours). The initial phase was characterized by the production of multiple inflammatory mediators, including CXC chemokines, and the recruitment of neutrophils to the lung. The number of pulmonary eosinophils decreased in the early phase but quickly rebounded. Both the early and late phases had increases in TNF production in addition to airways hyperreactivity. The model also demonstrated early production of mucin with clearance by 12 hours followed by new accumulation of m...
Recovery from decompensated heart failure is associated with a distinct, phase-dependent, gene expression profile

Abstract Background Clinical and experimental studies have traditionally focused on understanding the mechanisms for why a heart fails. We hypothesize that the pathways involved with myocardial recovery are not simply the reverse of those that cause heart failure. However, determining when and how a decompensated heart can recover remains unknown. Methods Male C57BL/6 mice underwent minimally invasive aortic banding for 3, 4, or 6 wk with or without subsequent band removal for 1 wk (debanding). Physiologic and genomic characterization was performed with intracardiac pressure-volume recordings, rt-PCR, and microarray analysis. Results Heart weight/body weight ratios and PV loops demonstrated a transition from compensated left ventricular hypertrophy to decompensated heart failure between 3 and 4 wk. Pressure-relief afforded by debanding allowed functional recovery and normalization of LVH after both 3 and 4, but not 6 wk of banding. Whole genome microarrays demonstrated 397 genes differentially expressed in recovered hearts, 250 genes differentially expressed in the nonrecoverable (6 wk) hearts, and only 10 genes shared by both processes. In particular, altered expression patterns of apoptotic and metalloproteinase genes correlated with the heart’s ability to functionally recover. Conclusions This clinically-relevant model (1) allows us to temporally and mechanistically characterize the failing heart, (2) demonstrates a unique genomic signature that may predict when a failing heart can recover following pressure relief, and (3) will prove useful as a template for testing therapeutic strategies aimed at recovery of the failing heart.
Short- and long-term use of octreotide in the treatment of congenital hyperinsulinism.

Octreotide, a long-acting analog of somatostatin that inhibits insulin release,has the potential to control hypoglycemia in infants with congenital hyperinsulinism. To examine the efficacy and side effects of octreotide, we evaluated therapy between 1988 and 1993 in 16 infants who did not respond to diazoxide. in nine patients with onset of severe hypoglycemia in the first days of life, octreotide was helpful in stabilizing plasma glucose levels and allowed reductions in the rates of glucose infusion; however, glucose control was inadequate to avoid subtotal pancreatectomy. In two of these nine patients postoperatively and in seven other infants, a trial of long-term treatment with octreotide was undertaken. Four were treated successfully for up to 4.3 years. Octreotide therapy was not associated with thyroid deficiency and caused only transient malabsorption. All patients receiving long-term therapy had some decrease in linear growth and two had subnormal plasma concentrations of insulin-like growth factor I and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 compatible with suppression of growth hormone by octreotide. Resistance to octreotide therapy, even with increasing doses, occurred in all patients. These results suggest that octreotide may aid in the acute or long-term treatment of congenital hyperinsulinism in a limited number of selected cases.
Inhibition of prolactin secretion from the male rat anterior pituitary by cryptic sequences of prothyrotropin releasing hormone, ProTRH178-199 and ProTRH186-199.

Previous studies have shown that intronic peptide sequences in the prohormone for thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) have physiological actions on pituitary hormone secretion. The aim of this investigation was to examine the effect of the cryptic peptides, prothyrotropin-releasing hormone178–199 (ProTRH178–199) and ProTRH186–199, on prolactin (PRL) release from the anterior pituitary. Perifusion studies were performed with anterior pituitaries obtained from individual adult male Sprague-Dawley rats at 70–90 d of age. Perifusate was collected in 5-min fractions for 25 min prior to peptide administration and for 60 min afterward. Pituitaries were perifused with a single 5 min pulse of either 2, 10, or 40 nM concentrations (peak pulse) of each peptide or the vehicle. Sixty minutes after peptide administration, a 200 mM pulse of potassium chloride was delivered to check tissue viability. Prolactin was measured in the perifusate by radioimmunoassay. Results showed that both peptides induced a significant long-term suppression of prolactin secretion that was still evident at 60 min after peptide exposure. ProTRH186–199 was similar to ProTRH178–199 in suppressing prolactin release at the 2 and 40 nM dose, suggesting that the amino acid sequence necessary for prolactin inhibition is contained within the smaller peptide fragment. These data indicate that a cryptic sequence within the proTRH peptide can have biological activity at the level of the anterior pituitary gland in regulating prolactin secretion.
Maintenance of Calcium Homeostasis in the Endoplasmic Reticulum by Bcl-2

The oncogene bcl-2 encodes a 26-kD protein localized to intracellular membranes, including the ER, mitochondria, and perinuclear membrane, but its mechanism of action is unknown. We have been investigating the hypothesis that Bcl-2 regulates the movement of calcium ions (Ca2+) through the ER membrane. Earlier findings in this laboratory indicated that Bcl-2 reduces Ca2+ efflux from the ER lumen in WEHI7.2 lymphoma cells treated with the Ca2+-ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin (TG) but does not prevent capacitative entry of extracellular calcium. In this report, we show that sustained elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ due to capacitative entry is not required for induction of apoptosis by TG, suggesting that ER calcium pool depletion may trigger apoptosis. Bcl-2 overexpression maintains Ca2+ uptake in the ER of TG-treated cells and prevents a TG-imposed delay in intralumenal processing of the endogenous glycoprotein cathepsin D. Also, Bcl-2 overexpression preserves the ER Ca2+ pool in untreated cells when extracellular Ca2+ is low. However, low extracellular Ca2+ reduces the antiapoptotic action of Bcl-2, suggesting that cytosolic Ca2+ elevation due to capacitative entry may be required for optimal ER pool filling and apoptosis inhibition by Bcl-2. In summary, the findings suggest that Bcl-2 maintains Ca2+ homeostasis within the ER, thereby inhibiting apoptosis induction by TG.
Pairing modulations and phase separation instabilities in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 + δ

Abstract There is growing evidence that the unconventional spatial inhomogeneities in the doped high- T c superconductors are accompanied by the pairing of electrons, subsequent phase transitions and condensation into coherent states. We show that such pairing states can be obtained from phase separation instabilities near level crossings. Conditions for coherent pairing instabilities are examined using exact diagonalization of Hubbard-like pyramid structures under variation of coupling and interaction strengths. We also evaluate the behavior of the energy charge gap in the vicinity of level crossings using a parametrization of coupling to the apical site to represent out-of-plane effects. These results provide a simple microscopic explanation of (correlation induced) supermodulation of the coherent pairing gap observed in scanning tunneling microscopy measurements at atomic scale in Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8 + δ .
Incorporation of learned shape priors into a graph-theoretic approach with application to the 3D segmentation of intraretinal surfaces in SD-OCT volumes of mice

Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) finds widespread use clinically for the detection and management of ocular diseases. This non-invasive imaging modality has also begun to find frequent use in research studies involving animals such as mice. Numerous approaches have been proposed for the segmentation of retinal surfaces in SD-OCT images obtained from human subjects; however, the segmentation of retinal surfaces in mice scans is not as well-studied. In this work, we describe a graph-theoretic segmentation approach for the simultaneous segmentation of 10 retinal surfaces in SD-OCT scans of mice that incorporates learned shape priors. We compared the method to a baseline approach that did not incorporate learned shape priors and observed that the overall unsigned border position errors reduced from 3.58 +/- 1.33 μm to 3.20 +/- 0.56 μm.
Comparing the Use of Gibbs Ensemble and Grand-Canonical Transition-Matrix Monte Carlo Methods to Determine Phase Equilibria

We present results from a computational study investigating the use of Gibbs ensemble and grand-canonical transition-matrix Monte Carlo (GC-TMMC) methods to determine the liquid−vapor phase coexistence properties of pure molecular fluids of varying degrees of complexity. The molecules used in this study were ethane, n-octane, cyclohexane, 2,5-dimethylhexane, 1-propanol, and water. We first show that the GC-TMMC method can reproduce Gibbs ensemble results found in the literature. Given the excellent agreement for each molecule, we then compare directly the performance of Gibbs ensemble and GC-TMMC simulations at both low and high reduced temperatures by monitoring the relative uncertainties in the saturation properties as a function of computational time. In general, we found that the GC-TMMC method yielded limiting uncertainties in the saturated vapor density and pressure that were significantly smaller, by an order of magnitude in some instances, than those of the Gibbs ensemble method. Limiting Gibbs en...
ISOMERS OF TRIS(2-METHYL-1,3-PROPANEDIAMINE)COBALT(III)‐A COMPLEX OF A PROCHIRAL SINAMBIC LIGAND

Abstract The complex ion [Co(metn)3]3+ (metn=2-methyl-1,3-propanediamine) has been synthesized and the facial and meridional isomers have been separated by column chromatography and identified by 13C and 1H NMR spectroscopy. This is the first reported separation of isomers of a tris complex where the isomerism is due to the presence of prochiral ligands with enantiotopic donor atoms (prochiral “sinambic” ligands). The 13C and visible spectra indicate a large contribution from conformers containing skew-boat chelate rings in solution. An incomplete (owing to disorder) crystal structure shows a tris-(skew-boat) conformer for the cationic complex present in fac-[Co(metn)3] Cl3.
Atypical panic attacks and lack of resolution of mourning

Abstract A number of psychologic and biologic contributors to panic disorder have been identified. Three cases of young adult women who experienced atypical panic attacks are described. The attacks are atypical because they had ideational or situational precipitants and because they were inevitably accompanied by intrusive visual images of a deceased loved one. In each case, there was also the persistence of irrational beliefs and/or unintegrated feelings about the deceased, corroborating that the intrusive images and panic attacks occurred in the context of unresolved mouring. Although the association between panic attacks and intrusive images apparently has not been reported previously, both phenomena have been associated with lack of resolution of mourning. The discussion considers similarities in these cases and in reports of Vietnam veterans suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder and panic attacks. Together, these similarities suggest that unresolved traumas of various kinds may at times contribute to the development of atypical panic attacks accompanied by intrusive visual images.
Using Electronic Technologies To Promote Equity and Cultural Diversity in Social Studies and Global Education

Abstract As new electronic technologies are infused into social studies teacher education, there is the potential of their application to goals of equity, diversity, and cross-cultural understanding. This article focuses on the use of one electronic pedagogy, threaded discussion, and its application within graduate courses in social studies and global education. Used in conjunction with conventional face to face alternatives, threaded discussions can add to the development of a culturally diverse learning community, deepen meaningful discussion of controversial and sensitive issues such as prejudice, privilege, and discrimination and increase educational equity by changing patterns of dominance and interaction.
The theory of Wimshurst's alternating static machine

The quantitative theory of Wimshurst's alternating static machine is developed in detail according to the general method previously given by the author for other static machines. The theory predicts that the potential of any element of the machine will reverse at definite intervals and at the same time increase in value. While the exact period of reversal depends on the capacities involved in the machine, the approximate period can be calculated and is found to be the time of one revolution rather than the time of three quarters of a revolution as observed by Wimshurst. An actual machine was constructed and the reversal observed by means of the glow in discharge tubes. It was found that such a machine does reverse every revolution rather than every three quarters of a revolution. The theory given can be extended to other machines of the same type with more than four inductors. The period of reversal of a six-inductor machine is calculated to be approximately the same as that of a four-inductor machine.