cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hypopituitarism after radiotherapy for extracranial head and neck cancers in pediatric patients.

Objectives: To investigate the incidence of postradiation therapy (postRT) hypopituitarism (hp-pit) in pediatric patients treated for extracranial head and neck tumors. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 30 pediatric patients treated with RT for extracranial head and neck tumors between 1970 and 2000. RT doses to the hypothalamic-pituitary axis were estimated by re-evaluating the treatment plans. Results: Clinical hp-pit was observed in 16 (53.3%) patients; the median detection latency was 3.3 years and the median dose to the pituitary was 40.7 Gy. Univariate analysis of clinical hp-pit revealed that the total dose to the pituitary was significant (P = 0.034) as was the patient's age at the time of RT (P = 0.018) showing higher susceptibility and more damage in younger patients. Though fractionation (P = 0.018) and adjuvant chemotherapy (P = 0.016) were significant in univariate analysis, the total dose received by patients in these 2 groups was higher than the median dose for all patients. A limited multivariate analysis with 3 variables indicated that the total dose to the pituitary was significant, but chemoradiation and fractionation were not. The 5- and 10-year rates of freedom from clinical hp-pit were 42% and 37%, respectively. Conclusions: Clinical manifestations of late radiation toxicity to the hypothalamic-pituitary axis were observed among the pediatric patients with hormone deficiencies. The development of hp-pit depends on the total dose received by the hypothalamic-pituitary axis and the age of the patient. Dependence on chemoradiation and fractionation were inconclusive. Relatively long latency before clinical manifestations indicates that periodic testing after RT in pediatric patients is necessary for early detection and management of hormonal deficiencies.
Simple laboratory experiments to observe the manifestations of the sinc function

In NMR spectroscopy, the sinc function manifests itself in a variety of ways, only two of which are discussed in this article. Specifically, the manifestation of this function is discussed in terms of the excitation pulse and in terms of the received signal in high-resolution liquid-state NMR. A mathematical theory has been published that predicts the relative intensities and phases of the RFs that excite the nuclei. However, another mathematical treatment is described here that is considerably easier to understand, but it applies only when the tip angle is small, e.g., less than approximately 10°. In addition, this theory is also used to predict the appearance of the sinc "wiggles" that appear when a Fourier transform is performed on a truncated free induction decay (FID) that has been zero-filled. For the excitation pulse, the intensities of the frequencies delivered to the nuclei follow the classic (sin x)/x, or sinc function, when the tip angle is small. This is demonstrated by a simple experiment. The transmitter offset is stepped in a series of experiments, with each FID summed with all of the previously collected ones. When the series is completed, the FID is Fourier transformed. After correcting for instrumental effects, the resulting spectrum shows that the amplitudes of the excitation frequencies contained within the pulse follow the shape of a sinc function. To demonstrate the formation of sinc "wiggles," the acquisition time for an FID is set so that it is very heavily truncated and then zero-filled to eight times the original number of points. The Fourier transform shows that the "wiggles" cross the zero-intensity line at intervals equal to half-integer multiples of the reciprocal of the acquisition time, and not at integer multiples, as is often assumed. The difference is that the Fourier transform of a rectangular function of width τ is typically performed by integrating using the limits of -τ/2 to τ/2. In the real spectrum, this would produce zero-crossing at an integer number of reciprocals of the width of the rectangle, i.e., 1/τ In the laboratory, however, the limits of the collected signal are from 0 to τ. These limits produce crossings at intervals of 1/(2τ).
Mechanisms of resistance to small molecule kinase inhibition in the treatment of solid tumors

A growing number of tumors are characterized by simple genetic changes that activate important biochemical pathways, which are involved in their pathogenesis. These findings have led to the concept of targeted small molecule inhibitor treatment. The prototype for this type of therapy has been treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia with imatinib mesylate (Gleevec), which targets BCR-ABL kinase. More recently, imatinib has been used to inhibit KIT in gastrointestinal (GI) stromal tumor, a mesenchymal tumor that arises in the GI tract. Furthermore, it has been possible to target EGFR in non-small-cell lung cancer with gefitinib and erlotinib. While initial results have been encouraging, resistance to small molecule kinase inhibitors is a substantial drawback. This paper focuses on what is known about mechanisms of resistance in the treatment of solid tumors by small molecule kinase inhibitors.
Glucoseisomerase. Neue Möglichkeiten für die Stärke‐ und Lebensmittelindustrie

Glucoseisomerase. A lecture is given about an enzyme, which converts D-glucose into D-fructose up to 50%. The glucoseisomerase is obtained from STREPTOMYCES, The enzyme is activ under plant conditions, i. e. at high substrate concentrations (> 30% ds), high temperature (> 60 °C) and at pH-conditions which prevent formation of D-psicose. Correlations are presented between degree of isomerisation (I.D.), temperature, pH, substrate concentration, enzyme-substrate ratio, Co-factors and the effects of the processing conditions on the formation of colour as well as methods to avoid colour formation. The preceeding enzymatic steps with α-amylase and gluco-amylase are now linked by means of glucoseisomerase to the production of carbohydrates with 100% relative sweetness out of wheat, potatoes, corn etc.
The search for H2BOH: a matrix isolation study

Abstract Merged jet copyrolysis of samples of Ar/B 2 H 6 with either Ar/H 2 O or Ar/O 2 followed by trapping into an argon matrix has led to the formation and isolation of the known species boroxin, H 3 B 3 O 3 . These results differ from the gas phase microwave study of this system, where H 2 BOH was identified and characterized. Local density functional calculations of the vibrational spectrum of this compound were carried out to aid in the search for absorption of H 2 BOH, and are reported. The difference between the microwave study and the present study persisted despite very similar reaction conditions. Possible origins of this discrepancy are discussed.
Oral Anticoagulants and Intracranial Hemorrhage Facts and Hypotheses

Background Intracranial hemorrhage is the most feared and lethal complication of oral anticoagulation. We review the frequency, predictors, and prognosis of this most common neurological complication of oral anticoagulation. Summary of Review Anticoagulation to conventional intensities increases the risk of intracranial hemorrhage 7- to 10-fold, to an absolute rate of nearly 1%/y for many stroke-prone patients. Most (70%) anticoagulant-related intracranial hemorrhages are intracerebral hematomas (approximately 60% are fatal); the bulk of the remainder are subdural hematomas. Predictors of anticoagulant-related intracerebral hematoma are advanced patient age, prior ischemic stroke, hypertension, and intensity of anticoagulation. In approximately half of anticoagulated patients with intracerebral hematoma the bleeding evolves slowly over 12 to 24 hours, and emergency reversal of anticoagulation is crucial. Conclusions Both patient factors and anticoagulation intensity importantly influence the rate of antic...
Eikonal approximation for magnetic electron scattering

Abstract The eikonal (high-energy) approximation of Yennie et al. for the scattering of electrons from nuclei has been extended to include the transverse interaction, and in particular the case of magnetic scattering. It is applied here to elastic magnetic scattering from 209Bi at 500 MeV as an example.
Chemical and biological studies on dihydro-s-triazines. XVI. Nmr evidence for the formation of 2-guanidino-4-methylquinazolines as anomalous byproducts in the three-component synthesis†

The three-component synthesis of 4,6-diamino-1-aryl-1,2-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-s-triazines from arylamines. cyanoguanidine, and acetone has been studied by nmr spectral analysis in trifluoro-acetic acid solution. The presence of 2-guanidino-4-methylquinazoline contaminants can be discerned clearly at concentrations as low as 1%. Arylamines most likely to give significant proportions of guanidinoquinazoline byproducts are 2-naphthylamines and anilines containing one or more electron-donating meta-substituents.
Anatomy and Significance of Fixation of the Lumbosacral Nerve Roots in Sciatica

The anatomy of 54 pairs of lumbosacral nerve roots was described in nine fresh adult cadaver specimens, with particular attention given to the fixation of the nerve roots to surrounding skeletal and ligamentous structures in the lumbar spine. Dural ligaments were identified fixing the dura and nerve roots at their exit from the main dural sac to the posterior longitudinal ligament and vertebral body periosteum proximal to the intervertebral disc. Distal fixation occurs at the intervertebral foramen where the epineural sheath of the spinal nerve is attached. The overall arrangement is one which tends to hold the exiting nerve root anteriorly in the spinal canal. Mechanical analysis of this anatomical arrangement explains how pressure can be applied to the extrathecal nerve root by a disc protrusion without compression of the nerve root against the posterior elements. The possible role of the dural ligaments in the pathogenesis of the sciatica syndrome is discussed.
Cervical spine locking plate fixation for treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy in large breed dogs.

Objective— To describe indirect decompression by means of cervical spine locking plate (CSLP) fixation with vertebral distraction, discectomy, and cancellous block bone grafting in large breed dogs with single caudal cervical dynamic spondylotic lesions diagnosed by myelography with linear traction to the cervical spine, and contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Study Design— Prospective clinical study. Animals— Dogs (n=12) with caudal cervical spondylotic myelopathy because of a single dynamic, traction-responsive lesion. Methods— Single, traction-responsive, caudal cervical spondylotic lesions were treated by vertebral distraction, discectomy, cancellous block bone grafting, and CSLP fixation. Follow-up was obtained by sequential recheck examination by the author or referring veterinarian or by telephone inquiries. Results— Ten dogs had neurologic improvement after surgery. Indirect decompression by maintained distraction with cancellous block grafting and CSLP fixation was readily accomplished with less risk of blood loss or iatrogenic spinal cord injury than that associated with direct (ventral) decompression. There were no complications of graft intrusion, extrusion or subsidence, implant loosening, foraminal impingement, or end-plate failure. Two dogs that had satisfactory short-term recoveries developed clinical signs associated with adjacent segment disease and were euthanatized. At long-term follow-up, 8 dogs had satisfactory function, either a normal gait or one with slight to moderate proprioceptive deficits. Conclusions— CSLP fixation with cancellous block interbody grafting is an effective and perhaps safer method of treating single-level, traction-responsive cervical spondylosis in large breed dogs. Clinical Relevance— CSLP fixation with interbody bone grafting is a viable alternative to other techniques for treatment of single-level, traction-responsive cervical spondylosis.
Comparison of treatment outcomes with vancomycin alone versus combination therapy in severe Clostridium difficile infection.

Summary Background The recommended treatment for severe Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is oral vancomycin alone. Combination therapy with metronidazole is only recommended in cases complicated by shock, ileus, or toxic megacolon. However, patients with severe infection are often treated with combination therapy despite a lack of data supporting this practice. Aim To evaluate differences in outcomes for patients with severe CDI treated with oral vancomycin alone versus combination therapy. Methods Medical records of 78 patients with severe CDI receiving either oral vancomycin alone or combination therapy for ≥72h were retrospectively reviewed. The primary outcome was time to clinical cure of CDI, defined as the first day of resolution of diarrhoea for ≥48h without development of a complication. Other endpoints included cure rates, complication rates, and recurrence rates. Findings There was no difference in the incidence of clinical cure between monotherapy and combination therapy (57.1% vs 65.1%, P = 0.49). Median time to clinical cure was 7.0 days for the monotherapy group and 8.0 days for combination therapy ( P = 0.19). After adjustment for potential confounders, the hazard ratio of the time to clinical cure for combination therapy compared with monotherapy was 0.58 ( P = 0.10). There was no difference in recurrence rate or rates of individual complications between groups; however, there was a significantly higher composite complication rate in the combination therapy group. Conclusion These data suggest that there is no difference in treatment outcomes between monotherapy and combination therapy for severe CDI.
In Principle Method for Noninvasive Determination of the Fetal Genome

We illustrate the concept of noninvasive determination of the fetal genome by shotgun sequencing maternal plasma. The approach is based on molecular counting of alleles in maternal cell-free DNA: the inheritance of paternal haplotypes can be determined by counting paternal specific alleles present on each of the paternal haplotypes; the inheritance of maternal haplotypes can be revealed by counting the alleles on each maternal haplotype and determining the relative representation of the two maternal haplotypes. The concept was experimentally proven by sequencing a synthetic mixture of genomic DNA samples from a child and her mother, whose whole-genome haplotypes (defined by ~800,000 SNPs), together with those of the father, were previously determined. Light sequencing (0.25x) of such sample containing ~16% child’s DNA enabled the inheritance of parental haplotypes to be correctly resolved over most part of the genome, and partially resolved when prior knowledge of paternal whole-genome haplotypes is absent. Translating this approach to maternal plasma DNA samples, together with increased sequencing depth and phase knowledge of additional numbers of parental SNPs, should enable clinically practical sequencing of the fetal genome.
Rising incidence of bronchioloalveolar lung carcinoma and its unique clinicopathologic features.

Background. Bronchioloalveolar lung carcinoma (BAC) is a unique type of lung cancer with distinguishing pathologic, biologic, epidemiologic, demographic, and perhaps etiologic features. Methods. The authors investigated and analyzed all of the cases of pathologically confirmed BAC seen at our institution in the hope of discovering new or confirming known features of this disease. Results. When cases of BAC expressed as a percentage of total lung cancers were analyzed in successive 5-year periods from 1955 to 1990, BAC rose from less than 5% to 24.0% (P <0.001). Much of the increase in BAC occurred in women, as evidenced by a male-to-female ratio that wavered around unity. The mean age of BAC adenocarcinoma patients was 59.2 ± 11.5 years, compared to 64.1 ± 13.5 years for non-BAC adenocarcinoma (P <0.05). BAC also contrasted with other forms of lung cancer by exhibiting a relatively high incidence of multifocality (25% versus 5%) (P <0.001). There was an association between histologic subtype of BAC and pattern of pulmonic involvement. The mucinous subtype was more strongly associated with diffuse pulmonic involvement, and the sclerotic subtype was more strongly associated with multifocal involvement (P <0.001). Furthermore, BAC cases exhibited a 20% incidence of dedifferentiation into patterns of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, a feature that was more associated with the mucinous and sclerotic subtypes (P <0.05). Conclusions. The emergence of BAC as a prominent type of lung cancer should stimulate new basic laboratory and case-control studies to elucidate further the natural history and etiology of this unique disease. Cancer 1994; 73:1163-70.
Phytoplankton production and phosphorus supply in Cayuga Lake (1968–1973)

The average annual rate of carbon production in Cayuga Lake, New York, was determined by 14C uptake and by a phosphorus supply method. The rate of phosphorus supply was converted to units of carbon production using observed sestonic C : P ratios. The two methods gave good agreement and annual carbon production was estimated to be 130 gC m−2 yr−1.
Hypothesis: Link Between Endogenous Retroviruses and Cardiovascular Disease ☆

Abstract A two-order-magnitude increase in the expression of an endogenous retrovirus was found in myocytes from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) relative to Wistar–Kyoto rats (WKY). It has now been demonstrated that the increase in proviral transcripts is not secondary to the effects of pressure overload, as WKY hearts with hypertrophy due to aortic banding do not express the retrovirus. Crossing SHR with WKY results in intermediate levels of blood pressure, hypertrophy and retroviral gene expression, suggesting co-segregation of genotype and phenotype. Findings suggest a possible linkage between an endogenous retrovirus and genetic hypertension in the SHR. A brief overview of endogenous retroviruses is presented and a discussion of their potential for inducing cardiovascular pathology is considered.
Old evidence and new theories

The discussion above indicates that there is some reason for optimism with regard to the project of incorporating logical-mathematical learning within Bayesianism, though it is obvious that there are many difficulties to be overcome. The biggest obstacle in this regard is overcoming the tension that exists between considerations of formal tractability and the desire to avoid demanding too much of rational agents. Jeffrey's solution seems more flexible in this regard than Garber's, but that may very well be because the general mechanisms underlying Jeffrey's rule of reparation have not been specified. In any case, in my view the verdict we should draw with regard to the problem of old evidence is a bit more pessimistic. Jeffrey's and Garber's solutions only address certain aspects of the problem, and thus can only provide partial solutions at best. The basic strategy of using logical-mathematical learning to induce a confirmation event does not completely evade the problem, which reemerges when the required logical-mathematical knowledge becomes old news. Thus, despite the “solutions” that have been offered to date, the problem of old evidence remains a fundamental challenge to the Bayesian point of view.
Treatment of the elderly patient with headache or trigeminal neuralgia.

The elderly as a whole suffer fewer headaches than the young. For the majority headache will represent a minor annoyance to be endured or treated with any available drug in the medicine chest. For some, migraine headaches or tension-type headaches become entwined with every daily activity. With the advent of modern pharmacology, headache can often be treated successfully. Trigeminal neuralgia is a source of particularly high morbidity among the elderly, but may be treated very satisfactorily with carbamazepine or baclofen. Paroxysmal hemicrania is exquisitely sensitive to indomethacin, while cluster headache patients receive relief from oxygen inhalation, corticosteroids or lithium. Headache may be the signature of the disease which leads to serious morbidity and mortality. The ‘sentinel’ headache of subarachnoid haemorrhage is evaluated by a physician in 15% of patients who will eventually rupture an intracranial aneurysm. Morning headache with nausea and vomiting may represent increased intracranial pressure caused by a tumour, haematoma or abscess. The elderly patient with a new headache needs emergency evaluation for temporal arteritis and rapid corticosteroid treatment if the diagnosis is confirmed, to prevent blindness. The broad spectrum of headache, at times a benign aggravation, while at others the harbinger of death, makes the careful evaluation of each headache imperative. This article attempts to make the difficult evaluation of head pain a little easier.
Early Applications in the Message-Passing Interface Mpi

We describe a number of early efforts to make use of the Message-Passing Interface MPI standard in appli cations, based on an informal survey conducted in May-June, 1994. Rather than a definitive statement of all MPI developmental work, this paper addresses the initial successes, progress, and impressions that appli cation developers have had with MPI, according to the responses received. We summarize the important as pects of each survey response, and draw conclusions about the spread of MPI into applications. An understanding of message passing and access to the MPI standard are prerequisites for appreciating this paper. Some background material is provided to ease this requirement.
Phylogenetic relationships of north American field crickets inferred from mitochondrial DNA data.

A well-supported molecular phylogeny for North American Gryllus species based on a combined data set of mitochondrial (mt) DNA is presented. A total of 26 individuals representing 13 populations of 11 species of the genus Gryllus and 4 individuals of two outgroup species, Teleogryllus oceanicus and Acheta domestica, were sampled in this study. The complete cytochrome b gene (1036 bp) and a 500-bp fragment of the 16S rRNA gene were sequenced for each individual. Since results from separate analyses of the cytochrome b and 16S data sets, as well as a previously published mtDNA restriction-site data set, were not conflicting, all data were combined for phylogenetic analyses. The clade of European Gryllus was clearly separated from the North American clade. The amount of sequence divergence between these clades was significantly greater than within the clades, suggesting a basal drift-vicariant event in the genus. This is the first phylogenetic analysis of North American Gryllus that includes western species. Four well-supported groups were identified but their relationships showed no clear east-west structure. Our phylogeny supports the recent reassignment of G. integer Scudder 1901 from Texas to G. texensis Cade and Otte 2000. The evolution of cricket song and life cycle is discussed using the new phylogenetic framework.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia complicating abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy

Abstract Patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms may present with a variety of special clinical problems. An unusual case of coexistent aortic aneurysm, atherosclerotic occlusive disease, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia in a 77-year-old man is presented. (J VASC SURG 1986;3:159-61.)
Storm track representation and verification

A vortex representation of highs and lows is presented which mathematically describes individual local features by a small number of parameters representing magnitude, location, size, and shape. Parameter values for a representation of a particular data set are determined by minimizing the integral of the squared difference between the mathematical representation and the data set. Various objective verification measures can be based on these parameters by fitting vortex representations to both forecasts and corresponding verifying analyses. The differences in values of the parameters provide measures of errors in magnitude, location, size, and shape of individual features. An example applying this representation to a 10-day forecast by ECMWF and to the corresponding NMC verifying analysis is discussed. Representations of storm tracks in the forecast and analysis are defined by mapping the envelope of individual features with time, i.e. by determining the volume swept out by the storm. Such a two-dimensional horizontal field or map indicates the path of each storm as well as its strength and size along its track during the period included in the mapping. The usefulness of such mapping as a forecast product as well as a means for verification is illustrated. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1981.tb01778.x
Automatic MRI Image Segmentation and Left Ventricle Surface Reconstruction for Characterizing Myocardial Muscle Function

Normal left ventricular function is characterized by synchronous firing of myocardial muscle fibers. Healthy myocardial function is essential in maintaining cardiac output, and any disturbance to the contracting muscle cells can be detrimental to the health of the heart. A method for non-invasively monitoring left ventricle (LV) operation is necessary for documenting the progression of heart disease and malfunction, such that the point at which disease becomes irreversible can be determined.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Proposal for including what is valuable to ecosystems in environmental assessments.

Assessment scientists and managers depend on social values to identify the goals that will be used to guide environmental assessments. These goals are commonly identified by examining the vested interests of the various social groups that are stakeholders in a region. However, knowledge about what people value represents only part of the information needed to identify comprehensive assessment goals for environmental systems that include both economic and ecological components and processes. All parties also need to understand what is valuable to ecosystems because that determines the ecological patterns and processes that prevail in the long run. The competition among alternate system designs for available energy determines the viability of the choices that people make for their environment. Ecosystems that prevail in competition use the process of self-organization to create system designs that maximize the use of ever-changing sources of available energy. The efficacy of ecosystem designs can be evaluat...
Phase separation in polymer solutions

Abstract Since the early work of Flory we have understood the causes and main features of the separation of dilute polymer solutions into coexisting phases below the theta point of the polymer-solvent pair. Some issues concerning corrections to the mean-field theory and the reconciliation of theory with experiment remain unresolved, and these are pointed out. In recent years attention has turned to questions about the structure and tension of the interface between those dilute polymer phases. The present status of the scaling theory is reviewed. The application of the theory to the interpretation of the pioneering measurements by Shinozaki et al. of the temperature and chain-length dependence of the interfacial tension in phase-separated solutions of polystyrene in methylcyclohexane, and a more recent test of the scaling theory through measurements of the capillary length of the interface in phase-separated solutions of polymethylmethacrylate in 3-octanone (Xia, Franck and Widom), are described.
New family of single-error correcting codes

A construction is given that combines an (n, M_1, d_1) code with an (n, M_2, d_2 = [\frac{1}{2}(d_1 + 1)]) code to form a (2n, M_1 M_2, d_1) code. This is used to construct a new family of nongroup single-error correcting codes of all lengths n from 2^m to 3 · 2^{m-1} - 1 , for every m \geq 3 . These codes have more codewords than any group code of the same length and minimum distance. A number of other nongroup codes are also obtained. Examples of the new codes are (16,2560,3) and (16,36,7) codes, both having more codewords than any comparable group code.
Coordinating agile systems through the model-based execution of temporal plans

Agile autonomous systems are emerging, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), that must robustly perform tightly coordinated time-critical missions; for example, military surveillance or search-and-rescue scenarios. In the space domain, execution of temporally flexible plans has provided an enabler for achieving the desired coordination and robustness. We address the challenge of extending plan execution to underactuated systems that are controlled indirectly through the setting of continuous state variables. Our solution is a novel model-based executive that takes as input a temporally flexible state plan, specifying intended state evolutions, and dynamically generates a near-optimal control sequence. To achieve optimality and safety, the executive plans into the future, framing planning as a disjunctive programming problem. To achieve robustness to disturbances and tractability, planning is folded within a receding horizon, continuous planning framework. Key to performance is a problem reduction method based on constraint pruning. We benchmark performance through a suite of UAV scenarios using a hardware-in-the-loop testbed.
A MUlTINATIONAl COURSE ON GlOBAl ClIMATE ChANGE

A novel multinational course on global climate change was developed by East Carolina University in collaboration with five international universities and the U.S. Department of State. This course was developed to help foster the global conversation needed for developing successful solutions to some of the challenges posed to society by climate change. Using web conferencing technology, students from East Carolina University, Faculdade Jaguariuna in Brazil, Shadong University in China, University of Jammu in India, Universidad Regiomontana in Mexico, and Lomonosov Moscow State University in Russia met 2 or 3 times per week in the Global Classroom to learn about climate change science, mitigation and adaptation strategies, and domestic and international climate policy issues. In addition to learning about climate change, students worked in teams composed of members from each country to create locally implementable strategies for climate change mitigation and/or adaptation. Toward this end, students learned ...
Pollution Tolerance Values for Predicting the Spread of Black Flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in New Jersey, with Implications for Control

ABSTRACTBlack flies are a perennial pest problem in New Jersey, and paramount among them are the S. jenningsi group species. Pollution tolerance values are reported for the 39 species of black flies known in New Jersey. Morphologically similar species were identified chromosomally to ensure accurate identification. Species of the same genus varied markedly in tolerance values, questioning the accuracy of generic-level tolerance values for the Simuliidae. An index for predicting the colonization and spread in New Jersey of the Simulium jenningsi group, which includes the major pest species of black flies in the eastern United States, is proposed, with implications for control programs worldwide.
Porphyromonas gingivalis htrA is involved in cellular invasion and in vivo survival

HtrA is a heat-stress protein that functions both as a chaperone and as a serine protease. HtrA has been shown in several organisms to be involved in responses to stressful environmental conditions and involvement of HtrA in virulence has been reported in pathogenic species. A Porphyromonas gingivalis htrA mutant demonstrated no significant difference to the W83 parent strain when subjected to high temperature and pH values from 3 to 11. However, the htrA mutant showed increased sensitivity to H2O2. Cell invasion assays indicated that the total interaction (adherence) with KB cells, human coronary artery endothelial cells and gingival epithelial cells (GEC) was the same for both the wild-type and the htrA mutant. However, the htrA mutant showed increased invasion in KB cells and GEC. Microarray experiments indicated that a total of 253 genes were differentially regulated in the htrA mutant, including a group of stress-related genes, which might be responsible for the observed decreased resistance to H2O2. In animal experiments, a competition assay showed that the htrA mutant did not survive as well as the wild-type. In another in vivo assay, fewer mice infected with the htrA mutant died than mice infected with W83, suggesting that the htrA gene is virulence-related. These data indicate that the htrA gene in P. gingivalis does not relate to stress conditions such as high temperature and pH, but rather to H2O2 stress. The htrA gene also appears to be important for virulence and survival in in vivo animal models.
Bio-derived oleyl surfactants as porogens for the sustainable synthesis of micelle-templated mesoporous silica

There is a growing trend towards “greener” alternatives to the synthesis of materials through the use of renewable chemical resources. In this study, we report the utilization of plant-derived oleyl amine surfactants as porogens for the synthesis of mesoporous silicas in place of the usual alkyl amine surfactants. Oleyl–NH2 and oleyl–NH–(CH2)3NH2 derivatives are shown to be effective templating agents for the hydrogen bonded assembly of mesoporous silicas with well expressed wormhole and lamellar framework structures. Also, under appropriate reaction conditions these surfactants are capable of templating mesoporous silica with framework pore size within the supermicroporous range through solvent polarity modification.
Intraoperative venous dilation and subsequent development of deep vein thrombosis in patients undergoing total hip or knee replacement

Abstract This patient study was based on the observation of characteristic intimal lesions in jugular and femoral veins removed from dogs a few hours following total hip replacement. The lesions, small localized intimal tears, suggested that smooth muscle and connective tissue, might have dilated beyond the ability of intima to accommodate. Intraoperative venous dilation correlated with the incidence of intimal lesions. It was postulated that surgical trauma resulted in circulating vasoactive substances which caused venous dilation and that dilation of smooth muscle and connective tissue beyond the yield point of intima resulted in intimal rupture. Similar intraoperative dilation and lesions, in patients might predispose to development of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Total hip (THR) and total knee (TKR) replacement patients were selected for study because: (a) of the high incidence of DVT and (b) blood circulation is present in THR but not in TKR patients during operation. Ultrasound was used to monitor cephalic vein diameter during the perioperative period. Development of DVT postoperatively was compared with intraoperative venous dilation. In THR patients, intraoperative venous dilation ranged from 6%–56%. One of nine patients with dilation ≤ 17% developed DVT while 12 patients with dilation of ≥22% developed DVT, giving a correct prediction of 95%. Of four patients in the intermediate range (19%, 20%), two developed DVT and two did not. The sharp demarcation was to be expected because of abrupt rupture of viscoelastic material when the critical point of elongation is exceeded. In TKR patients (with no intraoperative circulation in the operated leg), nine of 11 developed DVT, all in the operated leg, but only one had venous dilation ≥ 22%. We suggest that intraoperative ultrasound monitoring promises to identify susceptible patients, making it possible to target prophylaxis to them.
The Relationship Between Rates of HVc Neuron Addition and Vocal Plasticity in Adult Songbirds

In adulthood, songbird species vary considerably in the extent to which they rely on auditory feedback to maintain a stable song structure. The con- tinued recruitment of new neurons into vocal motor circuitry may contribute to this lack of resiliency in song behavior insofar as new neurons that are not privy to auditory instruction could eventually corrupt estab- lished neural function. In a first step to explore this possibility, we used a comparative approach to deter- mine if species differences in the rate of vocal change after deafening in adulthood correlate positively with the extent of HVc neuron addition. We confirmed pre- vious reports that deafening in adulthood changes syl- lable phonology much more rapidly in bengalese finches than in zebra finches. Using ( 3 H)thymidine autoradiog- raphy to identify neurons generated in adulthood, we found that the proportion of new neurons in the HVc one month after labeling was nearly twice as great in bengalese than in zebra finches. Moreover, among the subset of HVc vocal motor neurons that project to the robust nucleus of the archistriatum, the incidence of ( 3 H)thymidine-labeled neurons was nearly three times as great in bengalese than in zebra finches. This corre- lation between the proportion of newly added neurons and the rate of song deterioration supports the hypoth- esis that HVc neuron addition may disrupt stable adult song production if new neurons cannot be "trained" via auditory feedback. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Neurobiol 43:
Guided development of independent inquiry in an anatomy/physiology laboratory.

Student-originated projects are increasingly utilized in the biology laboratory as a means of engaging students and revitalizing the laboratory experience by allowing them one to two weeks to colle...
Safe memory reclamation for dynamic lock-free objects using atomic reads and writes

A major obstacle to the wide use of lock-free data structures, despite their many performance and reliability advantages, is the absence of a practical lock-free method for reclaiming the memory of dynamic nodes removed from dynamic lock-free objects for arbitrary reuse.The only prior lock-free memory reclamation method depends on the DCAS atomic primitive, which is not supported on any current processor architecture. Other memory management methods are blocking, require special operating system support, or do not allow arbitrary memory reuse.This paper presents the first lock-free memory management method for dynamic lock-free objects that allows arbitrary memory reuse, and does not require special operating system or hardware support. It guarantees an upper bound on the number of removed nodes not yet freed at any time, regardless of thread failures and delays. Furthermore, it is wait-free, it is only logarithmically contention-sensitive, and it uses only atomic reads and writes for its operations. In addition, it can be used to prevent the ABA problem for pointers to dynamic nodes in most algorithms, without requiring extra space per pointer or per node.
A Study of Fertility Following Intergeneric Crosses among Certain Gallinaceous Birds

Abstract INTERSPECIFIC matings are normally discouraged by such natural isolating mechanisms as behavioral differences and differences in habitation. The development of practical procedures for avian artificial insemination allows the bypassing of the problems of natural mating, permitting numerous interspecific and even intergeneric crosses to be attempted. Such matings usually result in reduced fertility and embryonic viability; and when viable hybrids are produced, these are usually sterile. Since the initial block to intergeneric hybridization following insemination is a reduced incidence of apparent fertility, analyses designed to elucidate this situation provide an interesting starting point. A number of attempts have been made to produce hybrids from matings between different galliforms with varying degrees of success (see Lorenz et al., 1964, for review). Of particular interest is the observation of fertility differences between reciprocal intergeneric crosses. Such differences have been reported for turkey × chicken (Warren and Scott, 1935; Quinn et al., 1937; and…
Extended-Release Mesalamine Granules for Ulcerative Colitis

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of extended-release mesalamine granules in the maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis (UC).DATA SOURCES:Literature was obtained through searches of MEDLINE (1990-June 2012) using the terms mesalamine granules, ulcerative colitis, Apriso, and Salofalk. Bibliographies from retrieved articles were searched for additional citations.STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION:All English-language articles reporting on use of extended-release mesalamine granules in humans identified through the search were evaluated and included.DATA SYNTHESIS:The preferred initial treatment for induction and maintenance of remission in mild to moderate UC is agents from the 5-aminosalicylate class (balsalazide, mesalamine, olsalazine, sulfasalazine). Mesalamine granules are available as an encapsulated product in the US and as a nonencapsulated formulation in Europe. Data evaluating encapsulated mesalamine granules for induction of remission are lacking; however, the European mesal...
When Killers Become Helpers

Interplay between a natural killer (NK)–cell receptor, NKp30, and other cells in the salivary glands profoundly affects pathogenesis of the autoimmune disease Sjogren’s syndrome (Rusakiewicz et al., this issue).
A Method for Installing Piezometers in Large Cobble Bed Rivers

An impact drive point method is described for emplacing piezometers in a cobble river bottom where this has previously been difficult without the use of drilling rigs. To force the drive point piezometers through cobble, the vibrational impact of an air-powered hammer was carried directly to the drive point by the use of an internal drive rod. After insertion to depth, the drive rod was removed from the lower portion of the piezometer and a standpipe was added to extend the piezometer above the river level. Piezometers installed in this way have permitted water quality analysis and dynamic measurement of vertical potentials in cobble sediments ranging in size from 2.5 to >30 cm and the method has been successfully used in the Columbia River, USA, and Toess River, Switzerland. This innovative method provides information on the hydrodynamics of pore water in highly permeable, cobble deposits that are common in high-energy river and lake bottoms. Piezometers installed using the internal drive rod method facilitate the assessment of the temporal and spatial dynamics of recharge and discharge at the ground water/surface water interface and analyses of the ecological connectivity between the hyporheic zone and surface water of rivers and streams. This informationmore » will lead to improved management decisions related to the nation`s ground water and surface water supplies.« less
The Role of the Orbitofrontal Cortex in Sensory-Specific Encoding of Associations in Pavlovian and Instrumental Conditioning

A wide variety of associative learning tasks have been employed to assess the functional role of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and related structures in learning. Many of these tasks were designed to assess the learning of highly specific associations between Pavlovian conditioned stimuli (or instrumental responses) and the sensory properties of reinforcement (i.e., sensory-specific associations). Current research suggests that OFC lesions impair behavioral control by these sensory-specific associations in unconditioned stimulus (US) devaluation, differential outcome, and Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer experiments. In addition, although the OFC has been shown to be important in conditioned reinforcement but not in potentiated feeding tasks, versions of these tasks that assess control by sensory-specific associations have either not been run or they have not examined the effects of OFC lesions. Thus, firm conclusions from conditioned reinforcement and potentiated feeding studies cannot yet be drawn. Furthermore, studies examining the OFC's involvement in reversal learning have also suggested that associations between stimuli and reinforcement importantly depend upon a functioning OFC, possibly because this structure is needed to generate outcome expectancies useful in the computation of prediction errors ultimately used to "update" associations elsewhere (e.g., basolateral amygdala). Other work has shown that both original and reversed sensory-specific associations can control performance after different time delays following reversal learning. This suggests that structures outside of the OFC may be involved in the storage of originally acquired associations. Overall, this review makes clear that the OFC plays an important role in the encoding of sensory-specific associations in a wide variety of learning tasks.
Density of Martian north polar layered deposits: Implications for composition

Mariner 9 and Viking Orbiter observations of the topography and mass of layered deposits in the north polar region of Mars suggest a density of about 1 gm/cu cm. Consideration of the self-compaction of these deposits further suggests that this low density cannot be explained by a high porosity sediment. Rather, a significant component of ice is probably required to account for the low value. The density further implies that the silicate fraction, regardless of its density (i.e., its composition), represents a volumetrically almost negligible component of the deposit. The most likely values, 5 percent silicate dust and 95 percent ice, agree well with a theoretical model for the formation of the deposits through cyclic incorporation of the perennial polar ice cap. Additional tests of this model may be posed in advance of future spacecraft missions to Mars.
A Brief History of the Future of Manufacturing: US Manufacturing Technology Forecasts in Retrospective, 1950-Present

This paper reviews the manufacturing technology forecasts made over the last five decades relative to the realisation of these predictions. Predictions as to how technology will evolve in future periods have had mixed records of fulfilment. Some manufacturing technologies have not fulfilled expectations (e.g. integration technologies in the 1980s) whereas others have greatly exceeded expected adoption rates (e.g. the internet in the 1990s). Moreover, technology forecasts did not occur in a vacuum; they were always conjoined with projections about how to manage these technologies, global responses to these technologies, and the impact they will have on employment and skill.
Use of Subtidal Habitat by the Asian Shore Crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus in Long Island Sound

Abstract Hemigrapsus sanguineus Asian Shore Crab is an introduced but now common crab found intertidally along the Connecticut coastline. Little is known of its subtidal occurrence. This species was found to be seasonally abundant subtidally, at depths varying from 1.3–3.9 m, during a 2-year study conducted within a commercial marina in Clinton Harbor, CT. Hemigrapsus sanguineus was trapped at three subtidal locations, with highest concentrations observed during the winter. A total of 2020 crabs were caught: 1255 males, 741 females, and 24 crabs that were 9 mm or smaller and sexually indistinguishable. Large males with carapace widths between 45–48 mm were captured at all three locations. These sizes are among the largest reported for this species. This work documents year-round use of subtidal habitat by Asian Shore Crab in Long Island Sound.
Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar Syndrome

In Brief Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome (HHS) are two acute complications of diabetes that can result in increased morbidity and mortality if not efficiently and effectively treated. Mortality rates are 2–5% for DKA and 15% for HHS, and mortality is usually a consequence of the underlying precipitating cause(s) rather than a result of the metabolic changes of hyperglycemia. Effective standardized treatment protocols, as well as prompt identification and treatment of the precipitating cause, are important factors affecting outcome.