cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intraoperative monitoring of parathyroid procedures by a 15-minute parathyroid hormone immunochemiluminometric assay

Objective To report the recent development and validation of a sensitive 15-minute immunochemiluminometric assay (ICMA) of parathyroid hormone (PTH). Design The characteristics and applications of a new "rapid" PTH ICMA are described, and the advantages in comparison with other assays are discussed. Material and Methods The 15-minute PTH ICMA was achieved by using a higher incubation temperature (45°C rather than room temperature) and a concentration of tracer antibodies that was 5 times that in the regular 18-hour assay. The sensitivity, recovery, and linearity of dilution of the rapid ICMA were assessed, as was its ability to reflect intraoperative changes in PTH concentration after parathyroidectomy in patients with hyperparathyroidism. Results The sensitivity of the ICMA was 0.3 pmol/L in comparison with 0.08 pmol/L for the regular 18-hour assay (normal range, 1.0 to 5.0). The recovery of added PTH was 84% by using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-plasma as the specimen. Moreover, the linearity of specimens after dilution was good. The assay demonstrated a rapid response to parathyroid gland removal. In most patients, PTH levels declined precipitously (to less than 30% of basal values) within 5 minutes after parathyroid resection. PTH levels remained low to undetectable at 10 and 20 minutes after excision. Conclusion This rapid PTH ICMA may be of assistance to endocrine surgeons in the monitoring of PTH function after both parathyroid and thyroid surgical procedures.
CALCULATION METHODS FOR DISTILLATION SYSTEMS WITH REACTION

Abstract A calculation procedure is presented for the solution of the equations describing a distillation process in which reaction is taking place. A mathematical model based on matrix notation is used to formulate the system equations. It is assumed that the distillation process can be represented by a system of interconnected stages, each of which is well mixed with the vapor and liquid phases in equilibrium. Reaction may take place in the vapor phase, liquid phase, or both. The equations describing this system are first presented. Then a calculation sequence and a correction algorithm are derived for the case in which the liquid and vapor solutions are ideal—that is, the equilibrium ratios are functions only of temperature and pressure and not of composition. The calculation sequence uses as variables of iteration the vectors of vapor flow rate, temperature, and reaction extents. A derivative correction method is used, and equations for the calculation of the Jacobian matrix are derived. The applicati...
Upper limits on phiphi production in 350-GeV/c proton-beryllium collisions

A sensitive upper limit has been established on phi phi resonance production by 350 GeV/c protons incident on a beryllium target. The 90% confidence level upper limit varies from 1.5 x 10/sup -30/ cm/sup 2//nucleon at M/sub phi phi/ = 2.8 GeV/c/sup 2/ to 6.0 x 10/sup -32/ cm/sup 2//nucleon at M/sub phi phi/ = 3.4 GeV/c/sup 2/. No evidence of the eta/sub c/ is observed.
Storage and display characteristics of electrically stimulated, hot-boned and nonstimulated, cold-boned beef.

One side, randomly selected from each of 33 carcasses from forage-fed steers, was electrically stimulated within 30 min of exsanguination and hot-bonded (ESHB). Opposite sides were not electrically stimulated and were cold-boned (NESCB) following a 24 h chill (0°C). From 17 ESHB sides, portions of the longissimus dorsi (LD) and semimembranosus (SM) muscles were removed and immediately vacuum packaged. LD and SM muscles were removed from the remaining 16 ESHB sides, wrapped in polyvinyl chloride film, chilled (0°C) for 22 h and then vacuum packaged. LD and SM muscles from NESCB sides (n = 33) were removed and the vacuum packed at 24 h post mortem. Whole muscle characteristics were evaluated initially and after storage periods of 7, 14 or 21 days and steaks were displayesd for 5 years thereafter. Neither hot versus cold-boning nor storage for 21 days affected retail display characteristics of LD and SM steaks (P > 0·05). As retail display time increased, retail lean color, fat color and overall appearance scores decreased.
First-principles density-functional calculations for optical spectra of clusters and nanocrystals

Electronic and structural calculations for atomic clusters present many challenges for traditional theoretical methods. While the computational framework for ground-state properties of clusters is relatively well established, calculations for excited states remain difficult. In this paper we implement a linear-response theory within the time-dependent local density approximation (TDLDA) and apply this technique to calculate excitation energies and optical absorption spectra for a variety of systems ranging from single atoms to semiconductor quantum dots up to several hundred atoms in size. The TDLDA formalism represents a fully ab initio formalism for excited states that avoids many of the drawbacks associated with empirical or semiempirical methods. Compared to other ab initio techniques for excited states, the TDLDA method requires considerably less computational effort and can be applied to much larger systems. We find the computed excitation energies, photoabsorption spectra, and optical absorption gaps to be in good agreement with available experimental data. Our calculations show that the accuracy of the TDLDA method in the range of lower transition energies is often comparable to that of more computationally intensive techniques, such as methods based on the exact exchange, optimized effective potential, or on solving the Bethe-Salpeter equation within the GW approximation.
The Appearances of Common Dental Diseases on Radionuclide Bone Images of the Jaws

Radionuclide images of hospital patients were examined for abnormal areas within the jaws. Fourteen of 25 subjects studied showed one or more abnormal image areas, most of which were attributable to common dental lesions revealed by oral examinations. The lesions detectable on images included healing bone sites, periodontal and pulpal disease, residual osteitis and irritations caused by ill-fitting dentures.
Now I lay me down for keeps: A study of adolescent suicide attempts

From a nationwide study of 830 white, emotionally disturbed adolesceents, ages 12 to 18, three samples were selected for study. One consisted of all boys (N = 31) and girls (N = 67) referred for treatment after suicide at tempts. The second included those boys (N = 7) and girls (N = 22) referred for suicidal thoughts and threats, as well as suicide attempts. The third was comprised of those boys (N = 13) and girls (N = 12) referred for suicidal thoughts and threats, but who had made no known suicide attempts. Both self-and psychotherapist ratings on 1,250 variables were examined by comparing the endorsement rates for boys and girls in each criterion group separately with those of the remaining sample of disturbed adolescents who had Not been referred for suicidal behavior. Our results confirm some past findings and introduce a large number of new correlates of adolescent suicidal behavior. They indicate that there is little difference between teenagers who attempt suicide and those who think about it or threaten it. The findings also highlight the necessity of studying the sexes separately.
Split decisions: coordinating cytokinesis in yeast

Cytokinesis in eukaryotes involves the regulated assembly and contraction of a ring comprising filamentous (F)-actin and myosin II. Assembly of the contractile ring occurs through the accumulation of cortical cues at the specified division plane, followed by recruitment of F-actin, myosin II and accessory proteins involved in generating the mature ring. Ring contraction is temporally regulated to occur only after chromosome segregation and, in yeast, it is controlled by a conserved signaling cascade that becomes active only after Cdk1–Cyclin-B inactivation. In this article (which is part of the Cytokinesis series), we discuss recent studies that have begun to clarify both the spatial and the temporal order of ring assembly and that have illuminated the signals that trigger ring contraction in yeast. These studies add to the growing knowledge of the processes that control eukaryotic cell division.
Microinjection of mRNA or morpholinos for reverse genetic analysis in the starlet sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis

We describe a protocol for microinjection of embryos for an emerging model system, the cnidarian sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis. In addition, we provide protocols for carrying out overexpression and knockdown of gene function through microinjection of in vitro-translated mRNAs or gene-specific oligonucleotide morpholinos (MOs), respectively. Our approach is simple, and it takes advantage of the natural adherence properties of the early embryo to position them in a single layer on a polystyrene dish. Embryos are visualized on a dissecting microscope equipped with epifluorescence and injected with microinjection needles using a picospritzer forced-air injection system. A micromanipulator is used to guide the needle to impale individual embryos. Injection takes ∼1.5 h, and an experienced researcher can inject ∼2,000 embryos in a single session. With the availability of the published Nematostella genome, the entire protocol, including cloning and transcription of mRNAs, can be carried out in ∼1 week.
A coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian extended finite element formulation for simulating large deformations in hyperelastic media with moving free boundaries

We present a coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian (CEL) formulation aimed at modeling the moving interface of hyperelastic materials undergoing large to extreme deformations. This formulation is based on an Eulerian description of kinematics of deformable bodies together with an updated Lagrangian formulation for the transport of the deformation gradient tensor. The extended finite element method (XFEM) is used to discretize the mechanical equilibrium and deformation gradient transport equations in a two-phase domain. A mixed interpolation scheme (biquadratic for the velocity and bilinear for the deformation gradient) is adopted to improve the accuracy of the numerical formulation. The interface describing the deformed shape of the body is represented by the level set function and is evolved using the grid based particle method. The performance of the scheme is explored in two-dimensions in the compressible regime. For an adequate spatial and temporal discretization, our numerical results are in good agreement with theory and with numerical results from the traditional Lagrangian formulation (in Abaqus). The advantage of the proposed formulation is that material motion is not coupled with that of the mesh; this eliminates the issues of mesh distortion and the need for remeshing associated with Lagrangian formulations when bodies undergo very large distortions. It is therefore well adapted to describe the motion of complex fluids and soft matter whose physical properties are intermediate between conventional liquids and solids.
Assessment of Plant Pathogenicity of Endophytic Beauveria bassiana in Bt Transgenic and Non-Transgenic Corn

Only recently have investigations focused on re- lationships between B. bassiana and the corn plant. Field and greenhouse studies were conducted to determine the pro- Beauveria bassiana forms an endopytic relationship with clivity of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) (Berliner)-transgenic corn (Zea mays L.) to form an endophytic relationship with Beauveria bassiana, the corn plant and provides season-long suppression of and to evaluate the corn for possible plant pathological effects associ- O. nubilalis (Lewis and Cossentine, 1986; Lewis and ated with this relationship. Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin Bing, 1991; Wagner and Lewis, 2000). Two areas of was applied as a granular formulation to two separate lines of corn, research must be investigated before acceptance by pro- expressing Bt events MON802 and MON810, and their corresponding ducers of B. bassiana as a management tool: (i) will isolines. There were no significant differences in levels of endophytism B. bassiana colonize Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) trans- between transgenic events or their near-isolines. In greenhouse stud- formed corn plants as well as non-transformed plants, ies, B. bassiana was applied as a liquid seed treatment to Bt transgenic and (ii) is the endophytic relationship void of plant corn hybrids Pioneer 34R06 (event MON810) and Ciba Max 454 pathological symptoms in transformed plants and/or (event 176) and their near isolines at a rate of 2 10 10 conidia per their isolines? ml. There were no significant differences in seed germination or pres- ence of root pathogens in transgenic or isoline seeds soaked in a This paper reports the results of research to determine B. bassiana suspension. The same lines of corn were used in field the proclivity of B. bassiana to form an endophytic rela- experiments with treatments of seeds soaked in a suspension of B. tionship with Bt transgenic corn and whether endo- bassiana, a foliar application of a granular formulation of B. bassiana, phytism causes a plant pathology. Field studies were and corresponding untreated checks. Plants were sampled throughout conducted in 1994 and 1995 to determine the ability of the growing season and evaluated for growth of individual plant com- Bt-transgenic corn to form an endophytic relationship ponents, including sheaths, leaves, stem, husk, ear, plant leaf-to-stem with B. bassiana. Greenhouse studies were performed ratio and overall plant growth. There were no significant differences in 1997 to determine the effect of B. bassiana on seed in overall plant growth between the B. bassiana treatments or in the germination and plant growth on two lines of Bt corn growth of each plant component. The results of this study indicate and their genetic isolines. Field studies in 1997 were that B. bassiana readily forms an endophytic relationship with trans- genic and non-transgenic corn and causes no plant pathology. conducted to determine any possible pathogenic effects of B. bassiana on overall plant growth and dry matter ac- cumulation.
Effects of yield surface shape and round-off vertex on crack-tip fields for pressure-sensitive materials

Abstract Asymptotic crack-tip fields for both power-law hardening and perfectly-plastic pressuresensitive materials based on a modified Drucker-Prager yield criterion are obtained under plane strain conditions. The Drucker-Prager yield criterion is expressed as a linear combination of the effective stress and the mean stress. Because of the mathematically in difficulty in developing the HRRtype asymptotic crack-tip fields due to the vertex of the yield surface based on the Drucker-Prager yield criterion, the vertex is rounded off and replaced by a curved yield surface which is based on a quadratic function of the effective stress and the mean stress. The HRR-type asymptotic solutions become available after rounding-off the vertex under the conditions where the asymptotic solution procedure breaks down based on the original Drucker-Prager yield criterion. The crack-tip fields for materials with large pressure sensitivity are sensitive to the ratio of the mean stress to the effective stress where the yield surface becomes quadratic. Specifically, as the stress ratio decreases, ahead of the tip the opening stress. becomes larger than the radial stress, and the plastic deformation becomes concentrated to the front of the crack tip. As the stress ratio increases, the stress state ahead of the tip is shown to approach to purely hydrostatic tension, and the plastic deformation shifts backward to concentrate below and above the tip. As pressure sensitivity increases and the stress ratio decreases, the generalized effective stress contour, which can be regarded as an approximate plastic zone contour, shifts to the front of the tip. The elongated shape of approximate plastic zones for materials with large pressure sensitivity agrees with the experimental observations of the shear yielding zones near cracks in rubber-modified plastics and with the computational results for materials based on the Drucker-Prager yield criterion with large pressure sensitivity.
Influence of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus in the alteration of neuroendocrine functions induced by intermittent footshock or interleukin.

The documented ability of physical stress and cytokines to increase the secretion of corticotropin-re lea sing factor CRF by the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), coupled with our earlier demonstration that CRP acts within the brain to interfere with reproductive functions, led us to investigate the effect of lesions of the PVN on LH, testosterone, ACTH, and corticosterone (CORT) secretion. Bilateral lesions of the PVN were done electrolytically, and 2 weeks later a series of acute and chronic experiments were performed in intact or castrated male rats bearing indwelling jugular and/or intracerehroventricularcannulas. The first study involved a single 2-h exposure of intact male rats to footshocks (2 mA, 2-sec duration, 4 per min). Although PVN lesions did not measurably alter the ability of intermittent footshock to lower plasma testosterone levels, this treatment attenuated the rise in plasma ACTH and CORT. In a second study, which was done in castrated rata, shocks were delivered 2 h d...
Trust in God and psychological distress: exploring variations by religious affiliation

Trust in God has been widely identified as a central aspect of religious life, yet relatively few studies have examined whether trust in God is associated with better mental health. This study has two goals. The first is to see if Conservative Christians have greater trust in God than moderate or liberal Christians. The second goal is to see if trusting in God is associated with lower levels of death anxiety, fewer depressed affect symptoms, and fewer somatic symptoms among Conservative Christians than moderate or liberal Christians. The data come from a nationwide survey of middle-aged and older adults (N = 1535). The findings reveal that, compared to moderate or liberal Christians, trust in God is associated with lower levels of death anxiety as well as fewer symptoms of a depressed affect and lower somatic symptom scores among Conservative Christians.
MULTI-POINT MEASUREMENTS OF ULF WAVE PHASES USING A MULTI-CHANNEL ENERGETIC ION DETECTOR

The oscillation of differential fluxes of energetic ions modulated by a ULF wave often shows a phase shift between measurements in back-to-back detectors with look directions perpendicular to the ambient magnetic field. In a plasma of a single ion species, the phase difference is caused by displacement of the effective measurement positions by one ion gyroradius to each side of the detector. As the wave phase is periodic, the observed phase shift can correspond to a family of possible wavelengths. Simultaneous measurements of the flux modulations in different energy channels, which are equivalent to measurements of the wave phase at different positions, may make it possible to single out a unique wavelength consistent with all the measurements. Using the medium-energy-particle experiments ISEE-1 and 2, each of which may serve as a back-to-back detector, the above method was applied to a compressional Pc 5 wave observed near the equatorial plane at L between about 7 and 11. The transverse propagation properties of the wave were determined unambiguously.
Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy progressing to immunoblastic lymphoma with prominent gastric involvement an immunohistochemical study of two cases

Two unusual cases of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia (AILD), with progression to immunoblastic lymphoma (IL) and prominent gastric involvement are presented, and detailed immunohistologic studies described. In one case, Bence Jones proteinuria of the kappa type was observed during the course of AILD and was identified immunohistochemically in lymph node biopsy specimens and at autopsy. The potential significance of an M component and the importance of recognizing gastric involvement by AILD are discussed.
Excitation of a Parallel Plate Waveguide by an Array of Rectangular Waveguides

This work addresses the problem of excitation of a parallel plate waveguide by an array of rectangular waveguides that arises in applications such as the continuous transverse stub (CTS) antenna and dual-polarized parabolic cylindrical reflector antennas excited by a scanning line source. In order to design the junction region between the parallel plate waveguide and the linear array of rectangular waveguides, waveguide sizes have to be chosen so that the input match is adequate for the range of scan angles for both polarizations. Electromagnetic wave scattered by the junction of a parallel plate waveguide by an array of rectangular waveguides is analyzed by formulating coupled integral equations for the aperture electric field at the junction. The integral equations are solved by the method of moments. In order to make the computational process efficient and accurate, the method of weighted averaging was used to evaluate rapidly oscillating integrals encountered in the moment matrix. In addition, the real axis spectral integral is evaluated in a deformed contour for speed and accuracy. The MoM results for a large finite array have been validated by comparing its reflection coefficients with corresponding results for an infinite array generated by the commercial finite element code, HFSS. Once the aperture electric field is determined by MoM, the input reflection coefficients at each waveguide port, and coupling for each polarization over the range of useful scan angles, are easily obtained. Results for the input impedance and coupling characteristics for both the vertical and horizontal polarizations are presented over a range of scan angles. It is shown that the scan range is limited to about 35 for both polarizations and therefore the optimum waveguide is a square of size equal to about 0.62 free space wavelength.
Estimation of parameters in the two-compartment model for exhaled nitric oxide.

The fractional concentration of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a biomarker of airway inflammation that is being increasingly considered in clinical, occupational, and epidemiological applications ranging from asthma management to the detection of air pollution health effects. FeNO depends strongly on exhalation flow rate. This dependency has allowed for the development of mathematical models whose parameters quantify airway and alveolar compartment contributions to FeNO. Numerous methods have been proposed to estimate these parameters using FeNO measured at multiple flow rates. These methods—which allow for non-invasive assessment of localized airway inflammation—have the potential to provide important insights on inflammatory mechanisms. However, different estimation methods produce different results and a serious barrier to progress in this field is the lack of a single recommended method. With the goal of resolving this methodological problem, we have developed a unifying framework in which to present a comprehensive set of existing and novel statistical methods for estimating parameters in the simple two-compartment model. We compared statistical properties of the estimators in simulation studies and investigated model fit and parameter estimate sensitivity across methods using data from 1507 schoolchildren from the Southern California Children's Health Study, one of the largest multiple flow FeNO studies to date. We recommend a novel nonlinear least squares model with natural log transformation on both sides that produced estimators with good properties, satisfied model assumptions, and fit the Children's Health Study data well.
On the cell wall composition of the apiculate yeasts

Sonic oscillation was used for the purpose of obtaining clean, chemically intact cell walls. The rate of disruption was determined for cells ofHanseniaspora uvarum andSaccharomyces cerevisiae. The carbohydrate fractions of cell walls ofHanseniaspora uvarum, H. valbyensis, Kloeckera apiculata, Saccharomycodes ludwigii andSaccharmyces cerevisiae were shown to be similar. Chromatography of cell wall hydrolysates of all these species demonstrated that glucose and mannose were the only sugars present (in about equal amounts) besides traces of glucosamine. The cell walls ofH. uvarum contained 78.1 per cent carbohydrates, 7 per cent protein and approximately 0.05 per cent of chitin. Fractionation of the polysaccharides lead to a recovery of 83.3 per cent of the carbohydrates present (30.4 per cent glucan and 34.9 per cent mannan). Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell walls were found to have a carbohydrate content of 82.8 per cent, 6.5 per cent protein and a trace of chitin (0.04 per cent). Nadsonia elongata contained a relatively large amount of chitin (ca. 5 per cent) and lacked mannan in its cell walls. It was concluded thatHanseniaspora andSaccharomycodes are closely related to theSaccharomyceteae but they have little in common with species ofNadsonia.
Detection of glucose at a rotating gold composite electrode by pulsed amperometric detection

Segregated composite electrodes mimic microelectrode ensembles. In this preliminary report, the use of a rotating gold-polychlorotri- fluoroethylene (or Kel-F, a 3M Company polymer) composite electrode in combination with pulsed amperometric detection (PAD) is described for the detection of glucose. Comparisons are made with results obtained at a solid gold disk electrode. The composite electrode exhibits a higher signal and a lower background than does the solid gold electrode. In terms of current density, the enhancement of the signal above the background is over 3-fold, similar to that observed with segregated graphite composite electrodes used in a constant potential mode. Little or no glucose signal is observed at either the solid gold or the gold composite electrode when employed in the constant potential mode. In the PAD mode, the signal is stable for periods in excess of an hour.
Concerns about crime and local television news

“If it bleeds it leads.”; The crime story is the most popular topic for the typical local television news broadcast, comprising at least 28% of the stories covered. The present hypothesis predicts that greater amounts of local television news viewing will be associated with greater support for policies that punish criminals as opposed to support for policies that address social problems causing crime. The results suggest that local television news viewing habits provide a unique contribution to that support. After controlling for relevant background variables and other news sources increased viewing of local news media is associated with greater support for punishment of those convicted of crimes.
Reaction of Organic Sulfides with Singlet Oxygen. A Revised Mechanism

On the basis of ab initio calculations we propose a revised mechanism for the reaction of organic sulfides with singlet oxygen, which is more consistent with experimental evidence than previous schemes. In aprotic solvents the reagents initially form a weakly bound peroxysulfoxide, with a small barrier due to entropy. The peroxysulfoxide may decay back to ground state (triplet) oxygen, be trapped by sulfoxides, or rearrange to a S-hydroperoxysulfonium ylide with a barrier of ∼6 kcal/mol. The latter is ∼6 kcal/mol more stable than the peroxysulfoxide, and can be trapped by sulfides or rearrange to a sulfone. In some cases, like five-membered rings or benzylic sulfides, the S-hydroperoxysulfonium ylide may undergo a 1,2-OOH shift to an α-hydroperoxysulfide, which eventually leads to cleavage products. In protic solvents the peroxysulfoxide is rapidly converted to a sulfurane by solvent.
The design and implementation of decision support tools of proton beam therapy treatment planning of brain cancer patients

Last year, we presented methodology to perform knowledge-based medical imaging informatics research on specific clinical scenarios where brain tumor patients are treated with Proton Beam Therapy (PT). In this presentation, we demonstrate the design and implementation of quantification and visualization tools to develop the knowledge base for therapy treatment planning based on DICOM-RT-ION objects. Proton Beam Therapy (PT) is a particular treatment that utilizes energized charged particles, protons, to deliver dose to the target region. Similar to traditional Radiation Therapy (RT), complex clinical imaging and informatics data are generated during the treatment process that guide the planning and the success of the treatment. Therefore, an Electronic Patient Record (ePR) System has been developed to standardize and centralize clinical imaging and informatics data and properly distribute data throughout the treatment duration. To further improve treatment planning process, we developed a set of decision support tools to improve the QA process in treatment planning process. One such example is a tool to assist in the planning of stereotactic PT cases where CT and MR images need to be analyzed simultaneously during treatment plan assessment. These tools are add-on features for DICOM standard ePR system of brain cancer patients and improve the clinical efficiency of PT treatment planning. Additional outcome data collected for PT cases are included in the overall DICOM-RT-ION database design as knowledge to enhance outcomes analysis for future PT adopters.
Correlating TCP/IP Packet contexts to detect stepping-stone intrusion

Stepping-stone intrusion is one of the most popular techniques for attacking other computers, and detecting this form of intrusion and resisting intruders' evasion are critical security issues. In this paper, we propose a new approach to this problem by introducing packet context to help detect stepping-stone intrusion. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient is introduced to correlate packet context. The proposed approach does not need a threshold, and it is easily implemented. The experimental results show that the proposed approach can detect stepping-stone intrusion and resist intruders' time-jittering and chaff-perturbation manipulation to an extent.
Work: A Theoretical Clarification

(1963). Work: A Theoretical Clarification. The Sociological Quarterly: Vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 343-348.
Observational articles: a tool to reconstruct ecological history based on chronicling unusual events

Natural history is based on observations, whereas modern ecology is mostly based on experiments aimed at testing hypotheses, either in the field or in a computer. Furthermore, experiments often reveal generalities that are taken as norms. Ecology, however, is a historical discipline and history is driven by both regularities (deriving from norms) and irregularities, or contingencies, which occur when norms are broken. If only norms occured, there would be no history. The current disregard for the importance of contingencies and anecdotes is preventing us from understanding ecological history. We need rules and norms, but we also need records about apparently irrelevant things that, in non-linear systems like ecological ones, might become the drivers of change and, thus, the determinants of history. The same arguments also hold in the field of evolutionary biology, with natural selection being the ecological driver of evolutionary change. It is important that scientists are able to publish potentially important observations, particularly those that are unrelated to their current projects that have no sufficient grounds to be framed into a classical eco-evolutionary paper, and could feasibly impact on the history of the systems in which they occurred. A report on any deviation from the norm would be welcome, from the disappearance of species to their sudden appearance in great quantities. Any event that an “expert eye” (i.e. the eye of a naturalist) might judge as potentially important is worth being reported.
Wegener's Granulomatosis — Clinical-Pathologic Correlations and Long-Term Course

Although Wegener's granulomatosis is a relatively well defined clinical-pathologic entity, there are few longterm reports of large numbers of patients followed at a single institution. This has hindered appreciation of the diagnosis, management, and course of the syndrome. We report an analysis of 18 patients followed at one medical center. Delay in treatment can be obviated by awareness of this potential diagnosis in any patient with combined respiratory and renal manifestations. Biopsy of involved respiratory tissue yields a high probability of establishing a specific diagnosis, while biopsy of renal tissue often provides confirmatory evidence of a vasculitic disease process. The initial degree of renal involvement as manifested by serum creatinine, proteinuria, and light microscopic morphology correlates well with eventual prognosis. The availability of modern immunosuppressive therapy and of modalities to treat end-stage renal disease appears to have greatly influenced the course of the disease.
Dynamic Network Policies Using Aspect Oriented Network Framework

Computer networks and network applications change continuously. New laws and policies are released constantly in every field. Many of these laws and policies have a great impact on network operations and applications. To support new policies and laws, network administrators and application developers perform many activities, such as changing application programs to support the new policies, downloading, installing, configuring, and activating the new versions of the application. In this paper, we introduce a new networking framework called Aspect Oriented Network Framework (AONF). AONF simplifies network management and dynamic policies support. By using our framework, organizations will better control their networks through easier management of organization policies. It allows the network and network applications to adapt dynamically to different organization policies. Furthermore, many of the network administration tasks can be automated and a higher degree of network transparency can be provided for network users.
Metabolism of ginger component [6]‐shogaol in liver microsomes from mouse, rat, dog, monkey, and human

Scope There are limited data on the metabolism of [6]-shogaol (6S), a major bioactive component of ginger. This study demonstrates metabolism of 6S in liver microsomes from mouse, rat, dog, monkey, and human. Methods and results The in vitro metabolism of 6S was compared among five species using liver microsomes from mouse, rat, dog, monkey, and human. Following incubations with 6S, three major reductive metabolites 1-(4′-hydroxy-3′-methoxyphenyl)-4-decen-3-ol (M6), 1-(4′-hydroxy-3′-methoxyphenyl)-decan-3-ol (M9), and 1-(4′-hydroxy-3′-methoxyphenyl)-decan-3-one (M11), as well as two new oxidative metabolites (1E,4E)-1-(4′-hydroxy-3′-methoxyphenyl)-deca-1,4-dien-3-one (M14) and (E)-1-(4′-hydroxy-3′-methoxyphenyl)-dec-1-en-3-one (M15) were found in all species. The kinetic parameters of M6 in liver microsomes from each respective species were quantified using Michaelis–Menten theory. A broad CYP-450 inhibitor, 1-aminobenzotriazole, precluded the formation of oxidative metabolites, M14 and M15, and 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid, an aldo-keto reductase inhibitor, eradicated the formation of the reductive metabolites M6, M9, and M11 in all species. Metabolites M14 and M15 were tested for cancer cell growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis and both showed substantial activity, with M14 displaying greater potency than 6S. Conclusion We conclude that 6S is metabolized extensively in mammalian species mouse, rat, dog, monkey, and human, and that there are significant interspecies differences to consider when planning preclinical trials toward 6S chemoprevention.
Problem Severity Among Outpatient Mental Health Clients: Development and Validation of the South Shore Problem Inventory-Revised

The use of global instruments has been recommended as a viable strategy for clinical assessment and outcome measurement in mental health practice. The current study examined the validity, reliability, and utility of the South Shore Problem Inventory-Revised (SSPI-R), a multidimen sional global client self-report scale based on a biopsychosocial framework Data collectedfrom 376 clients newly admitted to an adult outpatient community mental health program were submitted to principal components analysis and varimax rotation. Three major factors emerged reflecting an underlying factor structure similar to that of the original SSPI. The three factors were defined as: psychophysiological (Factor 1), community/health (Factor 2), and family pathol ogy (Factor 3). Overall, the scale accounted for about 43% of the variance, internal consistency ratings were good to excellent, and subscale correlations revealed good separation among the three factors. Matters concerning validity, reliability, and utility are discuss...
(η5‐2,4‐Cyclopentadien‐1‐yl)[(1,2,3,4,5‐η)‐6,6‐dimethyl‐2,4‐cyclohexadien‐1‐yl](tri‐ethylphosphine)titanium

[168643-16-1] C19H31TiP (MW 338.28) InChI = 1S/C8H11.C6H15P.C5H5.Ti/c1-8(2)6-4-3-5-7-8;1-4-7(5-2)6-3;1-2-4-5-3-1;/h3-7H,1-2H3;4-6H2,1-3H3;1-5H; InChIKey = QMORVYHUDDFQOB-UHFFFAOYSA-N (reagent used as a nucleophile with a wide array of carbonyl bearing electrophiles) Physical Data: air and water sensitive dark red crystals; mp 110–113 °C (decomposes). Solubility: soluble in THF, diethyl ether, benzene, toluene. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: this compound should be handled under inert atmosphere (nitrogen or argon), especially in solution. In the solid state, brief exposure to air does not seem to significantly deteriorate the quality of the compound, but storage of the solid should also be under inert atmosphere. Scrupulously dry solvents are required, as this compound reacts readily with water. Preparative Methods: this compound should be prepared using the method described.1 The trimethylphosphine complex is more crystalline and easier to isolate. The titanium reagent is best used within 1 month of preparation.
Pruritus, a rare but troublesome adverse reaction of topiramate

Case series report of presence of pruritus in five patients taking topiramate for treatment of epilepsy. This is a benign side effect of topiramate not previously reported that interfered with seizure treatment. Four out of five patients have previous history of antiepileptic drug (AED) allergy. Only one patient improved with a very slow titration, three of them discontinued treatment and one remained on a sub-therapeutic dose.
A sociolinguistically informed solution to an old historical problem: the Gothic genitive plural: A SOCIOLINGUISTICALLY INFORMED SOLUTION

The Gothic gen. pl. in -ē has no clear etymological source, and its origin has been a matter of controversy for well over a century. This paper proposes a new solution to that problem that makes use of what modern linguists have learned about variation and change in speech communities. It will also be necessary to consider the origin of the Germanic weak past tense suffix, the etymology of ‘did’, and a largely unrecognized Auslautgesetz.
Manumycin Enhances the Cytotoxic Effect of Paclitaxel on Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma Cells

Despite the current multimodal approach to treatment of anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC), the prognosis for patients with the disease is poor. New effective therapy for ATC is desperately needed. Thus, we investigated the effects of manumycin (a farnesyl:protein transferase inhibitor), alone and in combination with other drugs frequently used to treat ATC, in six human ATC cell lines: ARO, C643, DRO, Hth-74, KAT-4, and KAT-18. By means of a formazan dye-based spectrophotometric assay of cell viability and light microscopy, manumycin was shown to decrease the number of viable cells in all six of the cell lines though to a lesser degree in DRO and C643 cells than in ARO, Hth-74, KAT-4, and KAT-18 cells. In combination, manumycin enhanced the effect of paclitaxel in all six of the cell lines. The mechanism of cell death was investigated by measuring caspase-3 activity, immunoblotting with anti-poly-(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) antibody and electrophoresis of DNA. After an 18-h incubation, manumycin plus paclitaxel caused enhanced activation of caspase-3 activity, cleavage of PARP into Mr 89,000 and 28,000 fragments, and internucleosomal fragmentation of DNA (all of which are characteristic of apoptotic cell death). In contrast, neither manumycin alone, paclitaxel alone, doxorubicin alone, nor doxorubicin plus manumycin produced significant specific cleavage of PARP and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation after 18 h of incubation. The in vivo effect and toxicity of combined manumycin and paclitaxel treatments were evaluated in a nude mouse xenograft model using ARO and KAT-4 cells. Drugs were injected i.p. on days 1 and 3 of a 7-day cycle for three cycles. Both manumycin (7.5 mg/kg/dose) and paclitaxel (20 mg/kg/dose) had significant inhibitory effects on tumor growth. Combined manumycin and paclitaxel treatments seemed as effective as manumycin against ARO cells and more effective than either manumycin or paclitaxel alone against KAT-4 cells. No significant morbidity or mortality was caused by the treatments. In conclusion, manumycin can inhibit the growth of ATC both in vitro and in vivo. Manumycin plus paclitaxel has enhanced cytotoxic effects and increased apoptotic cell death in ATC cells in vitro compared with either drug by itself. The combination of manumycin and paclitaxel is also effective in vivo with no significant toxicity observed. The lack of synergy observed in this in vivo experiment may be due to a ceiling effect, and further experimentation is warranted to ascertain the optimal way to combine these two agents for maximal therapeutic effects.
Spatial and temporal variation of microbial respiration rates in a blackwater stream

1. The extent of spatial and temporal variation of microbial respiration was determined in a first-order, sand-bottomed, blackwater stream on the coastal plain of south-eastern Virginia, U.S.A. 2. Annual mean respiration rates (as g O2 m–3 h–1) differed significantly among substrata: leaf litter, 12.9; woody debris, 2.4; surface sediment, 0.8; hyporheic sediment, 0.4; water column, 0.003. Rates associated with wood were higher than those with leaves when expressed per unit surface area. 3. Highest respiration rates on leaves, wood and in the water column occurred during the summer, whereas rates in the sediments were greatest during the late autumn and winter. Water temperature, as well as particulate organic matter and nitrogen content of the substrata, was correlated positively with respiration rates. 4. A stepwise multiple regression showed that temperature and nitrogen content together explained 88% of the variation in respiration rates of leaves and wood. In contrast, particulate organic matter content and nitrogen content explained 89–90% of the variation in respiration in the sediments. Although water temperature was a significant factor in the sediment multiple regressions, its addition as an independent variable improved the regression models only slightly. 5. Annual mean respiration in the stream channel, based on the proportional amount of respiration occurring associated with each type of substratum during each month, was 1.1 kg O2 m–2 yr–1. Seventy per cent of respiration in the stream occurred in the hyporheic zone, 8–13% occurred in the surface sediment, leaf litter or woody debris, and < 1% occurred in the water column. Approximately 16% of total detritus, or 40% of non-woody detritus, stored in the stream during the year was lost to microbial respiration.
Lifetime trends for the n=3 singlet states in the Mg sequence☆

Abstract Theoretical lifetime trends are reported for all bound singlet states in the n =3 complex of the Mg sequence for Z ⩽26. Calculations are based on MCHF wavefunctions and include only dipole allowed transitions in the LS scheme. For states that are entering the bound spectrum, the reported lifetime is an upper bound. At sufficiently high Z , all these states can decay only through Δn =0 transitions and several lifetime trends become similar. Implications for the cascade problem in beam-foil spectroscopy are discussed.
Synthetic microarray data generation with RANGE and NEMO

Motivation: For testing and sensitivity analysis purposes, it is beneficial to have known transcription networks of sufficient size and variability during development of microarray data and network deconvolution algorithms. Description of such networks in a simple language translatable to Systems Biology Markup Language would allow generation of model data for the networks. Results: Described herein is software (RANGE: RAndom Network GEnerator) to generate large random transcription networks in the NEMO (NEtwork MOtif) language. NEMO is recognized by a grammar for transcription network motifs using lex and yacc to output Systems Biology Markup Language models for either specified or randomized gene input functions. These models of known networks may be input to a biochemical simulator, allowing the generation of synthetic microarray data. Availability: http://range.sourceforge.net Contact: [email protected]
Relational Contracts and the Value of Loyalty

This paper examines how relational contracting afiects the pattern of trade across the economy. We suppose a flrm (principal) repeatedly chooses among of a set of potential trading partners (agents) under the threat of holdup. The possibility of ex{post opportunism allows agents to collect rents, which act like a flxed cost that the principal must pay when initiating a new relationship. The principal responds by dividing agents into \insiders", with whom she has previously traded, and \outsiders", with whom she has never traded. If the principal is su‐ciently patient, the proflt{maximising contract then uses insiders e‐ciently, while being biased against outsiders. This optimal strategy can be implemented by a \maintenance contract" that is robust to asymmetric information.
Spatial Patterns of Geomorphic Processes in Channelized Tributary Streams

Channelization of rivers can alter channel morphology and sediment dynamics for decades and as a result, channelization is considered to be one of the most profound forms of human-induced disturban...
Misoprostol for cervical ripening and labor induction: A meta-analysis

Objective To analyze published randomized trials assessing the safety and efficacy of misoprostol for cervical ripening and labor induction. Data Sources We supplemented a search of entries in electronic data bases with references cited in original studies and review articles to identify randomized trials of misoprostol for cervical ripening and labor induction. Methods of Study Selection Two blinded investigators performed independent trial quality evaluation and data abstraction of randomized clinical trials assessing the efficacy of misoprostol as a cervical ripening and labor-inducing agent. Tabulation, Integration, and Results We calculated an estimate of the odds ratio (OR) and risk difference for dichotomous outcomes, using both a random- and fixed-effects model. Continuous outcomes were pooled using a variance-weighted average of the within-study difference in means. Of 16 studies identified, eight met our criteria for meta-analysis. These eight trials included 966 patients (488 received misoprostol and 478 were controls). Women who received misoprostol for cervical ripening and labor induction had a significantly lower overall cesarean rate (OR 0.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.48, 0.93) and a higher incidence of vaginal delivery within 24 hours of misoprostol application (OR 2.64, 95% CI 1.87, 3.71). Use of misoprostol was associated with a higher incidence of tachysystole (OR 2.70, 95% CI 1.80, 4.04) but not hyperstimulation (OR 1.91, 95% CI 0.98, 3.73). The incidences of abnormal 5-minute Apgar scores and admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit were similar in the misoprostol and control groups. The pooled estimate of the mean interval from start of induction to delivery was 4.6 hours fewer (95% CI −3.5, −5.7) in the misoprostol group. Conclusion Published data confirm the safety and efficacy of intravaginal misoprostol as an agent for cervical ripening and labor induction.