cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A single-center experience of endoscopic ultrasonography for enlarged pancreas on computed tomography.

Background & Aims: The clinical significance of “fullness” or enlargement of the pancreas (FP/EP) is not well established. The objective of this study was to report our experience with endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in evaluating patients referred for FP/EP found on computed tomography (CT). Methods: Patients referred to our center for EUS evaluation of FP/EP between January 1998 and December 2003 were studied. Patient demographics, clinical history, endoscopic findings, and follow-up were recorded. Multivariate analysis was used to identify predictors of pancreatic malignancy. Results: A total of 50 patients: 46% (23/50) male, mean age 59 years (range, 18–90) made up our studied population. EUS demonstrated normal findings in 42% (21/50), prominent ventral anlage (embryologic variant) in 14% (7/50), and chronic pancreatitis in 22% (11/50). In 22% (11/50), a suspicious mass was noted and fine-needle aspiration (FNA) was performed. Cytology revealed chronic inflammation in 7 patients, while adenocarcinoma was found in the remaining 4. Median follow-up was 27 months, and the diagnosis did not change in any of the 50 patients. There were no procedure-related complications. After multivariant regression analysis, the factors that were statistically associated with malignancy were a CA19-9 level >300 (P = .0002) and weight loss (P Conclusions: The majority of patients presenting with FP/EP had benign disease, but 8% had pancreatic cancer. Elevated CA19-9 and weight loss were predictive of pancreatic malignancy. EUS and EUS-FNA are safe and accurate diagnostic tests and can play an important role in evaluating patients with FP/EP.
Changes in bone mineral density and body composition during initial and long-term gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment for prostate carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Initial treatment with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist increases fat mass, decreases lean body mass, and decreases bone mineral density (BMD) in men with prostate carcinoma. To the authors' knowledge, little is known regarding either the long-term effects of treatment or predictors of treatment-related changes in BMD and body composition. METHODS The authors analyzed prospective 12-month data from 65 men during initial and long-term GnRH agonist treatment for prostate carcinoma. Relationships between baseline characteristics (age, treatment duration, body mass index, and baseline values for outcome of interest) and changes in lean mass, fat mass, and BMD were assessed using univariate and multivariate regression models. RESULTS Mean BMD of total hip decreased by 1.9 ± 2.7%, lean body mass decreased by 2.0 ± 3.3%, and fat mass increased by 6.6 ± 9.4% at 12 months (P < 0.001 for each comparison). Twenty-three men (35%) had received treatment with a GnRH agonist before study entry, and the mean (± standard deviation) duration of previous treatment was 35 ± 41 months. Longer duration of previous GnRH agonist treatment was found to independently predict less fat accumulation and less loss of lean body mass in multivariate models. In contrast, the duration of GnRH agonist treatment did not significantly predict changes in BMD. Other covariates did not appear to predict changes in body composition or BMD consistently. CONCLUSIONS The results of the current study showed that fat mass increased and lean body mass decreased mostly during initial GnRH agonist therapy whereas BMD decreased steadily during initial and long-term treatment. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Engineering Trojan-horse bacteria to fight cancer.

In this issue of Blood , Massa et al demonstrated that tumor-tropic bacteria engineered to express specific cancer-related antibodies can recognize and specifically destroy the malignant cells by infecting them with toxic cargo. The findings provide an essential step in establishing the novel
The association between peer victimization and functioning at school among urban Latino children

This study utilized a multi-informant approach to investigate the concurrent association between peer victimization and functioning at school in a predominantly Latino sample of 135 children (55 boys; 80 girls) in the third, fourth, and fifth grades. The children attended elementary schools in economically distressed urban neighborhoods. Victimization by peers was associated with low grade point averages (GPA) and poor school engagement. Mediation analysis showed that school engagement explained the relation between peer victimization and GPA. Moderator analyses indicated that the negative association between peer victimization and school engagement was exacerbated for children with numerous friends in their classrooms. Additional moderator analyses revealed that the negative association between victimization and engagement was stronger for children with many aggressive friends. The results extend past research by investigating a mediator and moderators of the association between peer victimization and functioning at school in an understudied population.
Feedback attribution of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation–related atmospheric and surface temperature anomalies

[1] A feedback attribution analysis is conducted for the ENSO-related atmospheric and surface temperature anomalies in boreal winter. Local temperature anomalies are decomposed into partial temperature changes due to changes in oceanic dynamics/heat storage, water vapor, clouds, atmospheric dynamics, ozone, and surface albedo. It is shown that atmospheric dynamics plays distinctly different roles in establishing the tropical and extratropical temperature response to El Nino. The atmospheric dynamics serves as a primary negative feedback to the tropical (tropospheric) warming by transporting out of the tropics excessive energy production associated with oceanic dynamical forcing. In the northern extratropics, it is the main forcing of atmospheric temperature changes and also modulates surface temperatures via longwave radiative heating and cooling. This provides an alternative view of the “atmospheric bridge” mechanism from the perspective of local energetics and temperature feedback attribution. Substantial tropospheric cooling over the eastern North Pacific is found to be collectively contributed by water vapor, cloud, and atmospheric dynamical feedbacks, driven at least partly by the equatorward shift of the Pacific storm track during El Nino. Polar stratospheric warming (cooling), largely due to atmospheric dynamics, is seen over the Eurasian-Pacific (Atlantic) sector, with ozone feedback contributing significantly to the midstratospheric cooling over the Atlantic sector. Water vapor (atmospheric dynamical) feedback has an overall warming (cooling) effect throughout the tropical troposphere, and cloud feedback cools (warms) the tropical lower to middle (upper) troposphere. Atmospheric dynamics induces stratospheric warming over the entire northern extratropics and drives over northern midlatitudes (high latitudes) a tropospheric cooling (warming) that generally intensifies with altitude.
Comparison of Endoscopic and Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Familial and Sporadic Barrett’s Esophagus

Background A proportion of Barrett’s esophagus (BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) displays familial aggregation, known as familial Barrett’s esophagus (FBE). Pedigrees and characteristics of EAC in these families have been previously described.
Transparent: brain computer interface and social architecture

Transparent is an office window that varies its opacity in order to help a user maintain focus at work. By changing opacity, the window blocks distractions in the user's environment while subtly signaling the person's availability to others. The user's focus is determined via a neuroheadset that passively measures her brain activity through electroencephalography (EEG); the focus of the user is then algorithmically determined and wirelessly communicated to a smart glass module that changes transparency accordingly. Transparent explores opportunities to merge brain computer interfaces (BCI) with smart architecture to improve productivity at work.
The linear theory of neuron networks: The dynamic problem

The development of a general theory of neuron-networks is here extended to cases of non-steady state activity. Conditions for stability and neutrality of an equilibrium point are set up, and the possible functions representing the variation of excitation over time are enumerated. The inverse network problem is considered—which is, given a preassigned pattern of activity over time, to construct when possible a neuron-network having this pattern. Finally, a canonical form for neuron networks is derived, in the sense of a network of a certain special topological structure which is equivalent in activity characteristics to any given network.
A comparison of the interaction of Chinese hamster fibroblasts with human and bovine transferrins, and conalbumin (chick-egg transferrin).

Abstract The iron requirement of a cell line of Chinese hamster fibroblasts is met more efficiently by human transferrin than by bovine transferrin or conalbumin. One possible explanation is that the binding of these transferrins to the Chinese hamster V79 cells may differ. Binding studies now show that the affinity of V79 cells for human transferrin is about 40 times greater than for bovine transferrin. Conalbumin has no detectable affinity for the human transferrin binding sites. Human apotransferrin has approximately one-sixth the affinity for the transferrin binding sites. The binding constant for the relation of human transferrin with the V79 cell is about 2.3·1061· mole−1, and the approximate number of binding sites per cell is 9 · 105.
PVDIS at 12 GeV at JLab

A proposal at JLab, which plans to measure the parity-violating asymmetry in deep inelastic scattering with high precision over a broad kinematic range, has recently been conditionally approved. The asymmetry is sensitive to poorly-determined couplings in the standard model as well hadronic effects such as charge symmetry violation at the quark level and higher twist effects. In this article, we discuss both the physics motivation for the new experiment and a description of a the proposed apparatus.
Zinc modulates mitogenic responses of human lymphocytes by affecting structures influenced by cytochalasin B

We have previously reported that zinc affects the mitogenic process in an agedependent fashion when added to lectin-stimulated lymphocytes. The present studies demonstrate an additional selective effect of zinc when added to Con A-activated lymphocytes plus pharmacologic agents known to affect the cytoskeleton or the permeability of the plasma membrane. Specifically, addition of zinc did not modulate the dosedependent activities of Ca2+ ionophore A23187, nigericin, or colchicine demonstrating that the immunologic effects of zinc do not involve modification of Ca*+ or K+ fluxes, or microtubule formation. By contrast, a consistent and reproducible shift in the cytochalasin B dose-response curve of lymphocytes stimulated by Con A was observed when zinc was added. These data indicate that the effect of zinc on immune functions may be operating through cytochalasin B-sensitive subcellular structures, most likely microtilaments.
Scanpaths in saccadic eye movements while viewing and recognizing patterns

Abstract Subjects' eye movements were recorded while they viewed and then recognized patterns. Viewing conditions of marginal visibility forced the subject to fixate directly each feature to which he wished to attend. Thus his eye movements revealed the sequence of internal processing. During initial viewing the subject's eye usually scanned over each pattern following, intermittently but repeatedly, a fixed “scanpath” characteristic of that subject viewing that pattern. When later presented with the same pattern for recognition, his first few eye movements usually followed this same scanpath. These results are consistent with a serial theory of pattern learning and recognition previously proposed.
Eigenmodes in nonnormal optical systems

It is commonly assumed that the modes of optical waveguides and resonators form a complete set of normal modes in the same fashion as in many other physical systems. The equations that govern the propagating or resonant modes in many common optical systems are, however, nonhermitian in character, and as a result the eigenmodes of these systems are not orthogonal to each other and do not comprise a set of ``normal modes'' in the usual sense of that term. Many of our fundamental concepts related to optical systems and laser physics depend upon the assumed orthogonality of the modes of these systems, and are significantly changed if these modes are not orthogonal. This paper describes and gives physical interpretations for the unusual mathematical and physical properties of nonnormal optical systems, using as examples loss-guided or gain-guided optical waveguides and the resonant modes of unstable optical resonators.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Optimal quantization of likelihood for low complexity sequential testing

Distributed sensor systems composed of spatially distributed micro sensor nodes have been proposed for large scale monitoring applications. In these systems, nodes aggregate their sensor data to provide real time information about the underlying state. To extend the lifetime each node of the system has to limit the complexity of the sequential fusion algorithm. In this paper we derive optimal likelihood quantization rules for maximizing sequential detection performance. The resulting sequential detection algorithm is in the form of a finite state machine ideal for implementation in low complexity/low power devices.
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Associated With a Large Cervical Rib

This case illustrates the anatomic impact of a large cervical rib as an etiology for thoracic outlet syndrome. Current management remains predicated on astute diagnosis, multidisciplinary therapy including, physical therapy, scalene muscle blockade, and surgical decompression in appropriate cases.
Triggering of the Bergman cyclization by photochemical ring contraction. Facile cycloaromatization of benzannulated cyclodeca-3,7-diene-1,5-diynes.

Eleven-membered ring enediyne 1, which incorporates α-diazo-β-diketone moiety, undergoes efficient light-induced ring contraction to produce two isomeric ten-membered ring enediyne compounds. The latter undergo spontaneous facile Bergman cyclization at or below room temperature. In the photochemical or thermal Wolff rearrangement of 1 the alkyl substituent migrates ca. 2 times faster than the alkynyl group.
Validating the data before the structural model

A number of requirements must be fulfilled before measurement uncertainty analysis of signals from transducers is justified. These requirements include good measurement system design practices such as adequate lowand high-frequency response and data-sampling rates, appropriate anti-aliasing filter selection [1], proper grounding and shielding, and many more. In addition, there are applications in which the environment of the transducer varies with time and/or location. Examples of these could include aircraft and rocket flights, structural testing in severe weather conditions, transient loading of structures by explosives, and more. In these applications, it is requisite that data-validation be performed to establish that an individual transducer responds only to the environmental stimulus that it is intended to measure. Without this validation component designed into the instrumentation system, assigned accuracy bounds can be totally meaningless. This paper presents examples and describes techniques for data validation of signals from environmental measuring transducers.
Novel method to calculate the probability of silicon damage of DRAM based on the process control capability

The method of calculating the defect probability of silicon damage is demonstrated in this paper. The calculated probability is based on the manufacturing capability of lithography and etching process on dimension and overlay control. An useful equation is derived to calculate the defect probability of silicon damage. This method is helpful on determining suitable process control specifications on dimension and overlay for defect reduction and yield improvement.
Site reoccupation in fragmented landscapes: testing predictions of metapopulation theory

Summary 1 Populations of formerly continuously distributed species subdivided by habitat fragmentation may show distributions in space and time that are consistent with predictions of metapopulation theory. Local extinctions and recolonizations should result in the most fragmented sites being infrequently occupied and the least fragmented sites being continuously occupied by sensitive species. The probability of extinction is predicted to be negatively correlated with patch size and the amount of habitat in the landscape. Conversely, recolonization is predicted to be negatively correlated with the isolation of the patch, and positively correlated with the amount of habitat in the landscape. 2 Data from a 3-year study of the effect of fragmentation were used to test whether these predictions from metapopulation theory apply to populations of the long-distance migrant forest bird Piranga olivacea (Scarlet Tanager) in fragmented North American landscapes. 3 Principal components analysis was used to derive a composite measure of fragmentation. This measure was used in a logistic regression as a predictor of the number of years that territorial males would occupy a site, given that it was occupied at least once. More fragmented sites were more likely to be occupied only once; the least fragmented sites were more likely to be occupied in all three years. Data on fragmentation were necessary, but not sufficient, to predict site reoccupation, and were poor predictors at medium levels of fragmentation. 4 The univariate measures of fragmentation (patch size and isolation, proportion of forest, and forest/non-forest edge), were also used in logistic regressions to predict the separate probabilities of local extinction or recolonization. Local extinctions were negatively correlated with patch size and amount of forest in the landscape, as predicted. Recolonizations were negatively correlated with isolation of the patch as predicted, and surprisingly, also with the amount of edge in the landscape. This suggests that stochasticity may drive extinctions, but that habitat selection may play an important role in recolonization. 5 Demographic data are usually required to establish the suitability of habitat to support persistent populations, but multiple-year distributional data can provide information on habitat quality far above that obtained from single-year studies.
RNase PH: an Escherichia coli phosphate-dependent nuclease distinct from polynucleotide phosphorylase.

Abstract Final trimming of the 3' terminus of tRNA precursors in Escherichia coli is thought to proceed by an exonucleolytic mechanism. However, mutant strains lacking as many as four exoribonucleases known to act on tRNA still grow normally and process tRNA normally. Extracts from such a multiple-RNase-deficient strain accurately mature tRNA precursors exonucleolytically in vitro in a reaction that requires inorganic phosphate. Here we show that this reaction is not due to polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase) but, rather, that it is mediated by a phosphate-requiring exonuclease that we have named RNase PH. Purified PNPase is incapable of completely processing tRNA precursors, and extracts from a PNPase- strain retain full activity for phosphorolytic processing. Although both PNPase and RNase PH act in a phosphorolytic manner, they differ substantially in size and substrate specificity. RNase PH has a molecular mass of 45-50 kDa and favors tRNA precursors as substrates. The possible physiological role of RNase PH and the advantages of phosphorolytic processing are discussed.
Accuracy of preoperative studies in staging nonseminomatous germ cell testicular tumors.

Abstract The preoperative staging procedures used in 45 patients with surgical Stage 1 and Stage II nonsemin.omatous germ cell tumors of the testis were analyzed retrospectively. Our results indicate that gallium-67-citrate scan and supraclavicular lymph node biopsy add little information in the routine preoperative evaluation of these patients. Bipedal lymphangiography, in our experience, was no more accurate than excretory urograms in selecting patients with retroperitoneal disease and in addition provides no information regarding the status of the upper urinary tract. Thus, we suggest that physical examination, excretory urography, chest x-ray film, whole lung tomography, serum tumor markers, and liver scan provide sufficient information to proceed with surgical treatment when appropriate.
POLITICAL ATTITUDES, SOCIAL CAPITAL, AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION: THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO COMPARED

Political values have impact when they shape political participation. A comparison of political participation rates of Mexicans, Mexican-Americans, and the general U.S. population reveals that participation is highest among the general U.S. population, lowest among Mexicans, and at intermediate rates among Mexican-Americans. The article explores the attitudinal bases of political participation, finding that political engagement is a strong predictor of participation, while general perspectives on the political regime do not shape participation rates. The strongest predictors of political participation are variables generally grouped under the category social capital: involvement in non-political organizations, social trust, and an avoidance of television. Because Mexicans and Mexican-Americans have lower levels of social capital, political participation is lower among those groups than the general U.S. population. Yet, there remain unexplained differences in participation among the three groups that can be attributed to institutional and historical constraints on political involvement in Mexico and among Mexican-Americans. Los valores poliiticos tienen impacto cuando contribuyen a formar la participacioon poliitica. Una comparacioon de las tasas de participacioon poliitica de mexicanos, mexicano-americanos y la poblacioon general estadounidense revela que la participacioon maas alta se da en la poblacioon general estadounidense, la maas baja en los mexicanos, y el nivel intermedio en los mexicano-americanos. El artiiculo explora las bases de las actitudes en la participacioon poliitica, encontrando que el involucramiento poliitico es un fuerte indicador de la participacioon, mientras que las perspectivas generales sobre el reegimen poliitico no forman tasas de participacioon. Los pronoosticos maas fiables de participacioon poliitica son las variables generalmente agrupadas bajo la categoriia de capital social: participacioon en organizaciones no poliiticas, confianza social, y la anulacioon de la televisioon. Dado que los mexicanos y los mexicano-americanos tienen niveles maas bajos de capital social, la participacioon poliitica es inferior entre estos grupos que en la poblacioon general estadounidense. No obstante, hay auun diferencias no explicadas de la participacioon en los tres grupos que pueden ser atribuidas a restricciones institucionales e histooricas sobre la participacioon poliitica en Meexico y entre los mexicano-americanos.
Calcium influx and vascular reactivity in systemic hypertension

Numerous studies have focused on functional vascular changes that characterize the hypertensive state. Recent evidence that suggests that increased vascular reactivity in hypertension is due to changes in the delivery of activator Ca++ through channels in the cell membrane will be reviewed. The primary evidence supporting this hypothesis comes from studies that characterize the effects of Ca++-free solution and calcium channel blockers on contractile properties of isolated vascular smooth muscle. In the present study, experiments were performed to investigate the role of Ca++ influx in vascular contractions produced by interventions that cause membrane depolarization. Isometric tension development in helical strips of carotid arteries from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats in response to elevated K+ and tetraethylammonium chloride was greater than that in carotid arteries from Wistar-Kyoto normotensive rats. The rate of tension development to K+-free solution in carotid arteries from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats was faster than in Wistar-Kyoto normotensive rat arteries. Contractile responses to all 3 depolarizing interventions were reduced in arterial strips incubated in Ca++-free solution containing the chelator ethylene glycol bis-(beta-aminoethyl ether) N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid and in arterial strips treated with the Ca++ channel blocker verapamil. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that constrictor stimuli that produce membrane depolarization cause an opening of Ca++ channels in the plasma membrane that are sensitive to the organic channel blockers. Further, a change in Ca++ permeability or membrane depolarizing mechanisms contributes to increased contractile responsiveness in carotid arteries of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.
Supervisory Behavior and Interpersonal Relations

In this article, the author, who is Associate Professor of Education, Syracuse University, poses the following questions: Are teachers' perceptions of their supervisors' styles related to the quality of interpersonal relations that teachers see existing between themselves and their supervisors? Do differential descriptions of behavioral styles produce different perceptions of the interpersonal relationship?
A novel, fast, HMM-with-Duration implementation – for application with a new, pattern recognition informed, nanopore detector

Background Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) provide an excellent means for structure identification and feature extraction on stochastic sequential data. An HMM-with-Duration (HMMwD) is an HMM that can also exactly model the hidden-label length (recurrence) distributions – while the regular HMM will impose a best-fit geometric distribution in its modeling/representation.
Detection and hemodynamic consequences of venous air embolism. Does nitrous oxide make a difference

Volume expansion of intravascular air by nitrous oxide (N2O) may improve the sensitivity of monitors used to detect venous air embolism (VAE) and/or exacerbate hemodynamic changes following VAE. The purpose of this study was to determine if the administration of N2O alters the sensitivity (i.e., threshold of detection) of monitors used to detect VAE or the hemodynamic consequences of VAE. Twenty-one dogs were monitored for VAE with precordial Doppler ultrasound, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), changes in end-tidal carbon dioxide tension (ETCO2), and changes in pulmonary artery pressure (PAP). Venous air was infused at rates between 0.005 and 0.4 ml.kg-1.min-1 during 1 MAC (total anesthetic level) of isoflurane with and without 50% N2O (group 1, n = 7) or isoflurane with and without 75% N2O (group 2, n = 7). The mean quantity of infused air necessary to elicit a positive response in both the presence and absence of N2O was calculated for each monitor. Positive responses were defined as follows: unmistakable audible change in frequency on Doppler ultrasound, visualization of densities consistent with air bubbles in the right cardiac chambers or outflow tract on TEE, a decrease in ETCO2 greater than or equal to 2 mmHg, and an increase in mean PAP greater than or equal to 3 mmHg. In group 3 (n = 7), venous air was infused at rates between 0.1 and 0.8 ml.kg-1.min-1 during 1 MAC (total anesthetic level) of isoflurane with and without 50% N2O. In group 3, N2O administration was discontinued immediately upon Doppler detection of VAE and air infusion continued until mean arterial pressure (MAP) decreased by 10 mmHg.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Thermostability of Subpopulations of H2N3 Influenza Virus Isolates from Mallard Ducks

Maintenance of avian influenza virus in waterfowl populations requires that virions remain infectious while in the environment. Temperature has been shown to negatively correlate with persistence time, which is the duration for which virions are infectious. However, thermostability can vary between isolates regardless of subtype, and it is not known whether this variation occurs when host and geographic location of isolation are controlled. In this study, we analyzed the thermostabilities of 7 H2N3 viruses isolated from mallard ducks in Alberta, Canada. Virus samples were incubated at 37°C and 55°C, and infectivity titers were calculated at different time points. Based on the rate of infectivity inactivation at 37°C, isolates could be grouped into either a thermosensitive or thermostable fraction for both egg- and MDCK-grown virus populations. Titers decreased more rapidly for isolates incubated at 55°C, and this loss of infectivity occurred in a nonlinear, 2-step process, which is in contrast with the consensus on thermostability. This suggests that stock samples contain a mixture of subpopulations with different thermostabilities. The rate of decrease for the sensitive fraction was approximately 14 times higher than that for the stable fraction. The presence of subpopulations is further supported by selection experiments and plaque purification, both of which result in homogenous populations that exhibit linear decreases of infectivity titer. Therefore, variation of thermostability of influenza virus isolates begins at the level of the population. The presence of subpopulations with high thermostability suggests that avian viruses can persist in water longer than previously estimated, thus increasing the probability of transmission to susceptible hosts.
Epidemiology of viral respiratory tract infections in a prospective cohort of infants and toddlers attending daycare.

Abstract Background The epidemiology of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in a daycare cohort has not been explored using molecular techniques. Objectives (1) Determine the overall incidence of RTIs in a daycare cohort using real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). (2) Determine the relative incidence and impact of specific respiratory viruses, and characterize and compare clinical features associated with these pathogens. Study design In this prospective cohort study conducted from February 2006 to April 2008, nasal swabs were obtained from symptomatic children ages 0–30 months enrolled in fulltime daycare. RT-PCR was performed to detect respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus (MPV), influenza (Flu) viruses A and B, parainfluenza (PIV), adenovirus (AdV), human coronaviruses (CoV) and rhinovirus (RhV). Symptom diaries were completed for each illness. Results We followed 119 children (mean age 10 months; range 2–24 months) for 115 child years. The mean annual incidence of RTI per child was 4.2 the first year and 1.2 the second year of the study. At least 1 virus was identified in 67% RTIs. Co-infections were common (27% RTIs), with RhV, CoV, and AdV the most common co-pathogens. PIV was identified in 12% of RTIs with a high incidence of PIV4. The viruses with the greatest impact on our population were RSV, RhV and AdV. Conclusions Using molecular techniques, viruses were identified in approximately twice as many RTIs as previously reported in a daycare cohort. Infections with newly identified viruses, such as HMPV and CoV subtypes were less frequent and severe than infections with RSV, AdV and RhV.
The Consequences of Regime Type for Public-Policy Outputs:

Most research has shown little association between regime type and public-policy outputs. In this article we employ a multivariate model and year-by-year data from 1960-1980 in Latin America to analyze the relationship among regime type, regime age, and public policy. The analysis shows regime type to be significantly associated with policy in five areas, with regime age have an additional independent effect in several of these areas.
Catalytic adsorptive stripping determination of trace chromium (VI) at the bismuth film electrode

Abstract A sensitive adsorptive stripping voltammetric protocol at a bismuth-coated glassy-carbon electrode for trace measurements of chromium (VI) in the presence of diethylenetriammine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) is described. The new protocol is based on accumulation of the Cr-DTPA complex at a preplated bismuth film electrode held at −0.80 V, followed by a negatively-going square-wave voltammetric waveform. Factors influencing the stripping performance including the film preparation, solution pH, DTPA and nitrate concentrations, deposition potential and deposition time, have been optimized. The resulting performance compares well with that observed for analogous measurements at mercury film electrodes. A preconcentration time of 7 min results in a detection limit of 0.3 nM Cr(VI) and after 2 min a relative standard deviation at 20 nM of 5.1% ( n = 25). Applicability to river water samples is demonstrated. The attractive behavior of the new “mercury-free” chromium sensor holds great promise for on-site environmental and industrial monitoring of chromium (VI). Preliminary data in this direction using bismuth-coated screen-printed electrodes are encouraging.
Geographical variation of seropositivity to Ehrlichia risticii (equine monocytic ehrlichiosis) of horses in New York state

Summary A total of 2,579 serum samples from horses in New York state during 1985–1986 were examined for seropositivity to Ehrlichia risticii using the indirect fluorescent antibody technique. Cluster analysis statistical technique was used to group counties according to their estimated EME-disease rate (seropositive proportion of sampled horses). Counties were clustered into 4 groups of different EME-disease rates, representing high (86% seropositive), medium (66% seropositive), medium-low (47% seropositive) and low (6% seropositive) risk regions. The logistic regression statistical technique was used to examine whether the geographic variation of E. risticii seropositivity is due to other EME-risk factors. Risk factors known to be associated with EME (age, breed, sex, month of sample submission) have not contributed to the apparent geographical variation of the disease in New York state. This lack of an association between equine host factors or temporal factors with the geographical variation of EME suggests that conditions necessary for establishment of EME endemic foci involves other factors. The county equine population density and presence of a major equine racetrack were not associated with the geographical variation of the disease in New York state. The high risk regions for EME were located predominately along river valleys, but an explanation of why EME activity varies geographically remains speculative.
Computing Conformational Entropy in Antibody Interfaces

Loss of conformational entropy is crucial in protein-protein binding affinity, including antibody-antigen affinity. Computational protein design methods, however, often only account for the enthalpy of binding when optimizing antibody interfaces. These methods ignore conformational entropy because accounting for entropy is expensive: all the conformational states of the unbound and bound states contribute to conformational entropy. Even in a simplified model, where only the conformational states of the interfaces are evaluated, the number of states grows exponentially with the size of the interface. This makes counting the states of the interface impossible for average-sized antibody-antigen interfaces. We have developed a hybrid probabilistic/deterministic method to compute the binding affinity (the K∗ score [1], which approximates the association constant Ka) of large protein interfaces that antibodies share with antigens. The algorithm uses a probabilistic randomized method to provably find a lower bound on the partition function for the bound and unbound complexes, and a deterministic algorithm to find a provable upper bound on each of the partition functions. After sufficient iterations, both methods converge. However, only a few iterations are necessary to provide bounds that are tight enough to rank sequences on protein-protein interfaces. We apply this algorithm to rank sequences of the broadly neutralizing human anti-HIV-1 antibody NIH45-46 [2] by their K∗ score and compare against methods that only consider a single structure.[1] Georgiev, Ivelin, Ryan H. Lilien, and Bruce R. Donald. “The minimized dead-end elimination criterion and its application to protein redesign in a hybrid scoring and search algorithm for computing partition functions over molecular ensembles.” Journal of Computational Chemistry 29.10 (2008): 1527-1542.[2] Scheid, Johannes F., et al. “Sequence and structural convergence of broad and potent HIV antibodies that mimic CD4 binding.” Science 333.6049 (2011): 1633-1637.
The Three Maize Sucrose Synthase Isoforms Differ in Distribution, Localization, and Phosphorylation

Although sucrose synthase (SUS) is widely appreciated for its role in plant metabolism and growth, very little is known about the contribution of each of the SUS isoforms to these processes. Using isoform-specific antibodies, we evaluated the three known isoforms individually at the protein level. SUS1 and SUS-SH1 proteins have been studied previously; however, SUS2 (previously known as SUS3) has only been studied at the transcript level. Using SUS2 isoform-specific antibodies, we determined that this isoform is present in several maize tissues. The intracellular localization of all SUS isoforms was studied by cellular fractionation of leaves and developing kernels. Interestingly, SUS1 and SUS-SH1 were associated with membranes while SUS2 was not. The lack of membrane-associated SUS2 indicates that it might have a unique role in cytoplasmic sucrose metabolism. Using co-immunoprecipitation with kernel extracts, it was also established that SUS2 exists predominantly as a hetero-oligomer with SUS1, while SUS-SH1 forms only homo-oligomers. Using sequence-specific and phospho-specific antibodies, we have established for the first time that SUS-SH1 is phosphorylated in vivo at the Ser10 site in kernels, similar to the SUS1 Ser15 site. In midveins, additional evidence suggests that SUS can be phosphorylated at a novel C-terminal threonine site. Together, these results show that the isoforms of SUS are important in both cytosolic and membrane-associated sucrose degradation, but that their unique attributes most probably impart isoform-specific functional roles.
Development of genetically broad-based inbred lines of maize for early-maturing (70-80RM) hybrids.

ND2005 (Reg. No. PL-354, PI 650885) and ND2006 (Reg. No. PL-355, PI 650886) are two new maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines developed for use as parents for 70-80 relative maturity (RM) hybrids by the North Dakota State University maize breeding program and released by the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station in February 2007. ND2005 originated from the improved breeding population NDSM(M)C5 through a modification of pedigree selection including six years of early and late generation testing across 64 environments. ND2006 derived from the improved breeding population NDSBF(LM)C7(HGR)C4 through pedigree selection including five years of early and late generation testing across 31 environments. On the basis of their grain moisture at harvest, ND2005 and ND2006 were released as parents for development of very early maturing hybrids (<80RM). In addition to early maturity, ND2005 produced hybrids with above-average test weight and lodging resistance. ND2006 produced hybrids with above-average grain protein content. ND2005 and ND2006 combined best with lodent and LH82 derived testers. ND2005 also combined well with early B14 types across eastern and western North Dakota.
Transcriptomic assessment of resistance to effects of an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) agonist in embryos of Atlantic killifish ( Fundulus heteroclitus ) from a marine Superfund site

Background Populations of Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) have evolved resistance to the embryotoxic effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other halogenated and nonhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons that act through an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR)-dependent signaling pathway. The resistance is accompanied by reduced sensitivity to induction of cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A), a widely used biomarker of aromatic hydrocarbon exposure and effect, but whether the reduced sensitivity is specific to CYP1A or reflects a genome-wide reduction in responsiveness to all AHR-mediated changes in gene expression is unknown. We compared gene expression profiles and the response to 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB-126) exposure in embryos (5 and 10 dpf) and larvae (15 dpf) from F. heteroclitus populations inhabiting the New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts (NBH) Superfund site (PCB-resistant) and a reference site, Scorton Creek, Massachusetts (SC; PCB-sensitive).
Relation Between Socioeconomic Status, Race–Ethnicity, and Left Ventricular Mass: The Northern Manhattan Study

Increased left ventricular mass (LVM) and lower socioeconomic status (SES) are predictors of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Blacks and Hispanics are more likely to have higher LVM and lower SES. The relation between SES, race-ethnicity, and LVM has not been fully explored. Data were used from the NOMAS population-based sample of 1916 subjects living in Northern Manhattan. SES was characterized on the basis of educational attainment and divided into 4 categories. Echocardiography-defined LVM was indexed according to height at the allometric power of 2.7 and analyzed as a continuous variable. LVM varied by race in our cohort (blacks 48.9 g/m2.7, Hispanics 48.4 g/m2.7, whites 45.6 g/m2.7; P=0.004). Using ANCOVA, there was a significant inverse and graded association between mean LVM and SES for the total cohort. Mean LVM was 48.4 g/m2.7, 48.6 g/m2.7, 47.1 g/m2.7, and 45.3 g/m2.7 for the lowest to the highest educational level category (P trend=0.0004). This relationship remained among normotensives (P trend=0.0005) and was present for blacks (P trend=0.009), but not for whites (P trend=0.86) or Hispanics (P trend=0.47). The difference in mean LVM between the highest and lowest categories of education was 5.3 g/m2.7 for blacks, 0.0 g/m2.7 for whites, and 1.0 g/m2.7 for Hispanics. Lower SES is an independent predictor of increased LVM among hypertensive and normotensive blacks.
fMRI Activation in Response to Odorants Orally Delivered in Aqueous Solutions

During food intake flavor perception results from simultaneous stimulation of the gustatory, olfactory and trigeminal systems. Olfactory stimulation occurs mainly through the retronasal pathway and the resulting perception is often interpreted as a taste perception, thus leading to the well-known sensory confusion between taste and olfaction. The present experiment was designed to study, with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the cortical representation of olfactory perception in humans in response to retronasal stimulation by odorants delivered in aqueous solution. Psychophysical evaluation confirmed that the stimuli acted as pure olfactory stimuli through the retronasal pathway and did not present any taste component. Results showed activation in all brain regions previously described with neuroimaging techniques using olfactory stimulation with an odorized air flow. Piriform and orbitofrontal cortex were found activated as well as the hippocampal region, the amygdala, the insular lobe, the cingulate gyrus and the cerebellum. These results demonstrate the feasibility of efficiently stimulating the olfactory system in an fMRI scanner through the retronasal pathway with liquids delivered to the oral cavity. The presentation of olfactory stimuli in liquids to the mouth is a realistic model for the study of food-related flavor perception. This stimulation protocol furthermore allows presenting taste and olfactory stimuli separately or combined, thus allowing for direct comparisons between single modality representation, taste or olfaction, and representation of multi-modality mixtures.
Inhibitory processes and the control of memory retrieval

People are often confronted with reminders of things they would prefer not to think about. When this happens, they often attempt to put the unwanted memories out of awareness. Recent research shows that the capacity to suppress distracting traces is mediated by executive-control processes that are analogous to those involved in overriding prepotent motor responses, and it is these processes that cause persisting memory failures for the suppressed items. There is evidence that memory retrieval and motor tasks that are likely to demand executive control recruit overlapping neural mechanisms, suggesting that a common process mediates control in these domains. Together, these findings indicate that memory failures often arise from the mechanisms that lie at the heart of our capacity to influence the focus of thought.
Fluorescent Protein Approaches in Alpha Herpesvirus Research

In the nearly two decades since the popularization of green fluorescent protein (GFP), fluorescent protein-based methodologies have revolutionized molecular and cell biology, allowing us to literally see biological processes as never before. Naturally, this revolution has extended to virology in general, and to the study of alpha herpesviruses in particular. In this review, we provide a compendium of reported fluorescent protein fusions to herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and pseudorabies virus (PRV) structural proteins, discuss the underappreciated challenges of fluorescent protein-based approaches in the context of a replicating virus, and describe general strategies and best practices for creating new fluorescent fusions. We compare fluorescent protein methods to alternative approaches, and review two instructive examples of the caveats associated with fluorescent protein fusions, including describing several improved fluorescent capsid fusions in PRV. Finally, we present our future perspectives on the types of powerful experiments these tools now offer.
A Direct Approach to the Solution of Optimal Multiple-Stopping Problems

The issue of making a decision several times and thereby earning a reward is the focus of this chapter. It considers the problem of multiply stopping a general one-dimensional diffusion process with fairly general reward functions at each decision time. A key aspect of the problem is the requirement that succeeding decisions be delayed by at least the length of time of a refraction period following a preceding decision. Using a conditioning argument, the multiple-stopping problem can be solved using an iterative set of single-stopping problems for which several solution approaches are known. The refraction period adds an interesting twist to the problem. A tractable solution method is developed for those processes whose distributions are known. This work is motivated by the recent paper [Carmona and Dayanik (Math Oper Res 32:446–460, 2008)].
LATTICE THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY AND LORENZ FUNCTION OF COPPER-NICKEL AND SILVER-PALLADIUM ALLOY SYSTEMS

Following a brief discussion of the separation of the electronic and lattice components of thermal conductivity at low temperatures, a method for calculating the lattice thermal conductivity of binary alloys at temperatures above that corresponding to the lattice thermal conductivity maximum is described. The method is based on the Klemens-Callaway theory. Curves of the lattice thermal conductivity of copper-nickel and silver-palladium alloy systems are presented which cover the full range of alloy composition and temperature. Curves of the electronic and total Lorenz functions of these alloy systems are also presented which likewise cover the full range of alloy composition and temperature. The electronic Lorenz function is derived from the electronic thermal conductivity and the electrical resistivity, whereas the total Lorenz function is derived from the total thermal conductivity and the electrical resistivity.