cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparing Heritability Estimators under Alternative Structures of Linkage Disequilibrium

Abstract SNP heritability of a trait is the proportion of its variance explained by the additive effects of the genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The existing approaches to estimate SNP heritability can be broadly classified into two categories. One set of approaches model the SNP effects as fixed effects and the other treats the SNP effects as random effects. These methods make certain assumptions about the dependency among individuals (familial relationship) as well as the dependency among markers (linkage disequilibrium, LD) to provide consistent estimates of SNP heritability as the number of individuals increases. While various approaches have been proposed to account for such dependencies, it remains unclear which estimates reported in the literature are more robust against various model mis-specifications. Here we investigate the impact of different structures of LD and familial relatedness on heritability estimation. We show that the performance of different methods for heritability estimation depends heavily on the structure of the underlying pattern of LD and the degree of relatedness among sampled individuals. However, contrary to the claim in the current literature, we did not find significant differences in the performance of these fixed-SNP-effects and random-SNP-effects approaches. Moreover, we established the equivalence between the two method-of-moments estimators, one from each of these two lines of approaches.
Mini-review: Synaptojanin 1 and its implications in membrane trafficking.

Abstract This mini-review aims to summarize a growing body of literature on synaptojanin 1 (Synj1), a phosphoinositide phosphatase that was initially known to have a prominent role in synaptic vesicle recycling. Synj1 is coded by the SYNJ1 gene, whose mutations and variants are associated with an increasing number of neurological disorders. To better understand the mechanistic role of Synj1 in disease pathogenesis, we review details of phosphoinositide signaling pathways and the reported involvement of Synj1 in membrane trafficking with a specific focus on Parkinson’s disease (PD). Recent studies have tremendously advanced our understanding of Synj1 protein structure and function while broadening our view of how Synj1 regulates synaptic membrane trafficking and endosomal trafficking in various organisms and cell types. A growing body of evidence points to inefficient membrane trafficking as key pathogenic mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases associated with abnormal Synj1 expression. Despite significant progress made in the field, the mechanism by which Synj1 connects to trafficking, signaling, and pathogenesis is lacking and remains to be addressed.
An Entrustment Service for Families Participating in Open Adoption

32 r i t u a l While serving as a clinical pastoral education (CPE) resident, I was asked by an adoptive family to perform an entrustment service for their child, which would include both the birth family and the adoptive family. I was familiar with baby dedications from my own Protestant tradition and yet could not find ritual that recognized the unique needs of this situation. Out of my research, I developed an entrustment service that may be used for open adoptions such as this. An open adoption means that birth parents and adoptive parents have some knowledge about one another. The birth parents even may help choose the adoptive parents. Adoptive parents and their children know medical and genetic information about the birth family. Informal open adoptions have occurred for centuries, in which relatives or close family friends have raised children not born to them but whose parents were known to them. However, the concept of formal open adoption is quite new, having been established within the past twenty years. Openness may mean that birth parents choose the couple or person they feel would give their baby a good home even though they may never meet the adoptive family. At the other end of the openness spectrum, birth parents may meet the adoptive parents, visit their home and have ongoing contact throughout the child’s life. The degree of openness usually depends on the comfort level of both the birth parents and adoptive parents. (See www.openadoptions.com). The families of the baby girl I have chosen to call Grace plan to have occasional contact throughout the child’s life. In addition to birth family members (mother, maternal grandmother, maternal aunt) and adoptive parents, the hospital social worker attended the entrustment service detailed below. We sat in a circle in the hospital chapel. The adoptive parents held the baby the entire service. We had discussed this, and both families were comfortable with this decision. In other situations, it may be appropriate for the birth family to hold the baby during the first part and, following the sharing time, to transfer this care to the adoptive family. I had tissues ready as we all shed tears at different moments during the service. My hope is that this service provided a ritual for this pivotal moment in the lives of these families.
Staging Tradition: John Lair and Sarah Gertrude Knott

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Michael Ann Williams Year: 2006 Pages: 240 Publisher: University of Illinois Press ISBN: 0-252-03102-4 (hard cover). Prices: $60.00 USD(hard cover).
THE FALLACY OF THE FAT IRON-DEFICIENT CHILD

The charts of 156 children with nutritional iron-deficiency anemia were reviewed to re-examine the popular impression that such children are usually fat. Instead, a marked preponderance of underweight children was found. Treatment with iron resulted in accelerated weight gain in these children, producing a normal distribution curve. Growth curves prior to the diagnosis of iron-deficiency anemia showed a common pattern of early rapid weight gain with subsequent slowing as the anemia developed.
Electron Correlations in Time and Space

Using the ICE method, we have shown that the autoionizing spectra can be explained in terms of temporal evolution and spatial correlations, rather than in terms of the energy eigenstates or the overall symmetries. In this sense, the doubly excited atom may be approaching closer to classical physics than single electron Rydberg states. New theoretical methods are now being developed for the high doubly excited atoms, i. e. planetary atoms. This work suggests that even lower lying core-excited states require new theoretical methods to describe their decay rates accurately.
Interaction between dietary levels of vitamins C and E on growth and immune responses in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque)

This study was conducted to evaluate the eiect of dietary levels of vitamins C (0, 100 and 2000 mg kg � 1 ), E (0, 50 and 500 mg kg � 1 ) and their interaction on the growth performance, liver contents of ascorbic acid and a-tocopherol, haematology and immune response of channel cat¢sh, Ictalurus punctatus. Each diet was fed to cat¢sh in triplicate aquaria to apparent satiation twice daily for 12 weeks. The results indicate that the amount of vitamin E contained in the basal diet (23.1mg kg � 1 )w as su⁄cient to promote good growth, feed e⁄ciency and survival, but its supplementation was needed to maintain high haematological values and liver vitamin E. Supplementation of vitamin C (100 mg kg � 1 ) to the basal diet containing 10.5 mg kg � 1 was required for good growth, feed e⁄ciency, survival and prevention of vertebral deformity and optimum haematological indices. Liver storage of ascorbic acid and a-tocopherol increased with increasing dietary levels of each vitamin. Dietary vitamin E levels had no eiect on liver ascorbic acid content, but increasing dietary vitamin C increased liver a-tocopherol. Some measured immune parameters (serum protein and superoxide anion production) were enhanced by supplementation of vitamin C or E. Chemotaxis ratio and phagocytosis were not aiected by treatments.
Postoperative pain management with a patient-controlled transdermal delivery system for fentanyl.

Purpose. The efficacy and safety of fentanyl hydrochloride patient-controlled trans-dermal system (PCTS) for management of acute postoperative pain are discussed. Summary. Fentanyl hydrochloride PCTS is a self-contained, needle-free, credit-card-sized fentanyl-delivery system that is worn on the patient’s arm or chest. The system uses iontophoretic technology to actively deliver preprogrammed doses of fentanyl into the systemic circulation when activated by the patient on demand. PCTS is as safe and effective as i.v. morphine patient-controlled analgesia and superior to placebo for managing acute postoperative pain. Fentanyl absorption from PCTS is clinically insignificant when the device is not activated. This contrasts with the transdermal fentanyl patch, which delivers fentanyl continuously for 72 hours via passive absorption and is indicated only for use in the management of chronic pain. Conclusion. Fentanyl hydrochloride PCTS is a self-contained iontophoretic fentanyl-delivery system that provides patients control over pain management and consistent management of pain without analgesic peaks and troughs.
Melting in a vertical tube rotating about a vertical, colinear axis

Abstract Experiments were performed in which melting of a phase-change medium occurred in a closed vertical tube which was rotated about a vertical axis colinear with that of the tube. The melting was initiated and maintained by a step-change increase in the wall temperature of the containment tube. During the course of the experiments, parametric variations were made in the rotational speed, in the temperature difference which drives the melting, and in the duration of the melting period. The phase-change medium was 99% pure n-eicosane paraffin with a melting temperature of 36.3°C. It was found that rotation gave rise to considerably more rapid melting than that for no rotation, with the time required to achieve a given amount of melting being halved due to rotation. The rate at which energy could be stored was also significantly increased by rotation. Furthermore, at any duration of the melting period, the shape of the unmelted solid differed markedly in the presence or absence of rotation, being either straight-sided or sloped-sided. The melted mass results for all of the investigated conditions were very tightly correlated in terms of the Froude, Stefan, Grashof, and Fourier numbers.
Bowie Medal to Eugene N. Parker

On May 30, 1990, at the Spring Meeting in Baltimore, Md., AGU honored Eugene N. Parker of the University of Chicago with its most prestigious award, the William Bowie Medal. The annual award is given for outstanding contributions to fundamental geophysics and for unselfish cooperation in research. The award citation and Parker's response are presented below.
Direct synthesis of hollow polymeric nanocapsules of variable shell thickness and rigidity

The thiol-ene photopolymerization of resorcinarene cavitand thiol with various alkene building blocks led to the formation of hollow nanocapsules of varying thickness and rigidity, depending on the valency of the alkenes.
A 17-year oscillation in cancer mortality birth cohorts on three continents – synchrony to cosmic ray modulations one generation earlier

Cross-generational effects (grandmother effects) associated with epigenetic imprinting, environmental exposures, and lifestyle choices are beginning to be explored by various investigators. The possibility that low-level background radiation can be a driver of such effects has been suggested previously and is explored further in this study. Age-period-cohort analysis was performed on United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), and Australian (AU) female breast cancer mortality of the twentieth century, as well as on UK female total cancer mortality, to extract the high-frequency oscillations in the birth cohort time series. US fetal and infant congenital mortality were examined to extend the birth cohorts to modern times. A ∼17-year cycle was detected in all birth cohort series, which spanned approximately 180 years from 1820 to 2000. This suggests a global, environmental cause. To mimic previous work in examining a possible link to cosmic radiation, the 17- to 18-year cycles of the cosmogenic nuclide 14C, the sunspot double-cycle, neutron monitors, and a compilation of ground-based magnetic field observations were examined in the birth cohort and germ cell cohort time frames. Evidence is presented that optimal alignments with extraterrestrial oscillations occur in the time frame of the germ-cell cohort, one generation before the birth cohorts. Furthermore, the alignment is optimized by accounting for the changes in the maternal age distribution over time. These findings have potential importance to the mechanisms of disease as well as species adaptation and evolution.
Postradiofrequency ablation inflammatory pseudotumor associated with pulmonary venoocclusive disease: case report and review of the literature

Radiofrequency ablation of pulmonary veins is a common therapeutic intervention for atrial fibrillation. Pulmonary vein stenosis and venoocclusive disease are recognized complications, but the spectrum of pathologies postablation have not been previously reviewed. A recent case at our hospital showed a left hilar soft tissue mass in association with superior pulmonary vein stenosis in a patient 4 years postablation. On resection, this proved to be an inflammatory pseudotumor composed of myofibroblasts in an organizing pneumonia-type pattern with adjacent dendriform ossifications. Pulmonary venoocclusive change was a prominent feature. Literature on the histopathology of postradiofrequency ablation complications is limited. The severity of vascular pathology appears to increase with the postablation interval. Although pulmonary vascular changes are the most common late finding, fibroinflammatory changes including pulmonary pseudotumor formation, attributable to thermal injury, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of these cases.
Attitudes of US and European managers to supplier selection and assessment and implications for business performance

As competition motivates firms to exploit their core competencies, outsourcing takes on greater significance. Increased reliance on supplier capabilities and technologies, however, increases the impact that supplier selection and assessment can have on the buying firm and in particular, its performance. While prior studies of supply management provide considerable evidence of the criteria used by firms to select and assess suppliers, they provide little insight into the relationships between selection and assessment and the buying firm's performance. This research describes an empirical study of attitudes towards supplier selection and assessment of American and European companies and their impact on business performance. Results illustrate that while both American and European managers consider objective selection and assessment criteria such as cost and price to be more important than subjective criteria such as supplier commitment, it is the more subjective criteria that have a greater impact on firm performance. Moreover, while for American companies there are strong relationships between attitudes towards supply management and performance, similar relationships do not appear to hold for European companies.
Improved Iterative Solution for Finite-Element Analysis on Microcomputers

This paper presents the development of an improved iterative technique for solving static finite-element algebraic equations on microcomputers. The method is based on a projection of the residuals using a partial Choleski decomposition of the global stiffness matrix. A line search is employed to accelerate the convergence of the algorithm. A two-step method based on different partial decomposition is developed and implemented. Efficient implementation of this technique on a small computer with no out-of-core storage is presented. The sample physical problems solved demonstrate the proposed method to be of advantage in microcomputer applications where computer storage is a concern.
Risky business: target choice in adoptive cell therapy

In this issue of Blood, Casucci et al present an elegant study that describes a potential new target for adoptive cell transfer (ACT), in this case CD44 splice variant 6 (CD44v6), and detail why it may be a good target for ACT and how to manage expected off-tumor/on-target toxicities.
Enhanced carbon corrosion resistance for FEFC Pt/C catalysts using steam-etched carbon blacks as a catalyst support

Abstract XC-72 carbon blacks were steam-etched for different lengths of time and were then used as catalyst supports for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results show that the central parts of the XC-72 carbon black samples were more easily etched away. X-ray diffraction results show that the 0 0 2 and 1 0 peaks were initially sharp, but then broadened during the corrosion process, indicating that more graphitic components are in the steam etched carbon blacks. The electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) of the steam-etched carbon black samples remained above 60% after running for 45 h corrosion test, while for the pristine carbon black samples, the ECSA dropped down to below 50%. Both the polarization curve results and the TEM micrographs of the catalysts after corrosion show that the corrosion resistance increased significantly in the steam-etched samples. These results indicate that steam etching is a simple and efficient method to increase corrosion resistance for PEFC catalysts.
Using Clickers To Identify the Muddiest Points in Large Chemistry Classes

One of the biggest challenges for instruction in large-enrollment introductory courses is identifying points of student confusion. One technique that is used to address this problem is the muddiest-point card. However, this technique is logistically difficult to implement in large classes. Personal response devices (or clickers) can be used to facilitate this technique. Instead of providing students a blank card, students are asked to identify their “muddiest point” from an instructor-provided list of topics covered in that day’s class. The use of clickers allows students to maintain the anonymity normally associated with the cards used in the traditional implementation. Incorporation of muddiest-point questions into the first and second terms of a general chemistry course is described. About three-quarters of the students who answered other clicker questions during class also answered the muddiest-point clicker question at the end of class. While approximately 75% of the muddiest-point topics were concep...
Influence of Alterations in Intracellular Levels of Amino-acids on Protein-synthesizing Activity of Isolated Ribosomes

EVIDENCE has been presented which strongly suggests that the rate of protein synthesis in vivo1,2 and in vitro3,4 may be very dependent on intracellular concentrations of amino-acids. Of particular significance to the present investigations was the finding that protein turn-over in surviving liver tissue was stimulated in the presence of elevated levels of a single essential ammo-acid3,4. The catabolic as well as the anabolic phase of protein turnover appeared to be augmented in these circumstances. Interpretation of the results obtained was partially obscured by the fact that intracellular compartmentation of amino-acids may exist, with the result that exogenous and endogenous amino-acids are differentially metabolized5,6. The experiments recorded here were performed in an attempt to provide definitive data on the influence of cellular levels of amino-acids on the activity of protein-synthesizing systems. The results revealed that the amino-acid incorporating activity of ribosomes isolated from liver slices incubated with a single essential amino-acid varied with the concentration of that amino-acid.
Extra-pair courtship in black-billed magpies

Abstract While I studied black-billed magpies ( Pica pica ) in South Dakota, I observed that males repeatedly visited and courted females other than their mates. In 57/92 cases observed, the intruding male was a paired bird from up to 2.5 km away, whose own female was usually already incubating her eggs. Females received higher rates of extra-pair visits during their fertile periods than either before or after; they typically responded by following and begging from the intruder. The timing of visits and the behaviour of intruding males and visited females suggest that extra-pair copulations may have been the main objectives of both males and females, although no such copulations were seen. The limited evidence available suggests that the males which took part most often in extra-pair visits were older, more experienced males who had histories of fledging above average numbers of young. Guarding of fertile females by their mates suggests the evolution of strategies to counter extra-pair courtship and copulations.
Occurrence and turnover of DMSP and DMS in deep waters of the Ross Sea, Antarctica

Abstract High concentrations of the phytoplankton metabolite dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) and its degradation product dimethylsulfide (DMS) are associated with blooms of Phaeocystis antarctica in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Episodic and rapid vertical export of Phaeocystis biomass to deep water has been reported for the Ross Sea, therefore we examined the distribution and microbial consumption rates of DMSP and DMS throughout the sub-euphotic water column. Total DMSP (dissolved+particulate; DMSPt) was present at 0.5–22 nM at depths between 70 and 690 m during both the early bloom (November) and the late bloom (January). Sub-euphotic peaks of DMSP were sometimes associated with mid-water temperature maxima, and elevated DMSP below 70 m was found mainly in water masses characterized as Modified Circumpolar Deep Water or Antarctic Shelf Water. Overall, 50–94% of the integrated water-column DMSPt was found below the euphotic zone. At one station during the early bloom, local maxima of DMSPt (14 nM) and DMS (20 nM) were observed between 113 and 240 m and these maxima corresponded with high chlorophyll a concentrations, P. antarctica cell numbers, and Fv/Fm (the quantum yield of photosystem II). During the late bloom, a sub-euphotic maximum of DMSPt (15.8 nM) at 250 m cooccurred with peaks of chlorophyll a concentration, DMSP lyase activity, bacterial production and dissolved DMSP consumption rates. DMSP turnover contributed ∼12% of the bacterial carbon demand between 200 and 400 m. DMS concentrations peaked at 286 m but the maximum concentration (0.42 nM) was far lower than observed during the early bloom, probably because of relatively rapid biological consumption of DMS (1–3 turnovers per day) which, in turn, contributed to elevated dissolved dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) concentrations. Relatively stable DMSPt distributions at some sites suggest that rapid sinking of Phaeocystis biomass is probably not the major mechanism responsible for mesopelagic DMSP accumulations. Rather, subduction of near-surface water masses, lateral advective transport or trapping of slowly sinking P. antarctica biomass in intermediate water masses are more likely mechanisms. We found that a culture of P. antarctica maintained cellular integrity during 34 days of darkness, therefore the presence of intact cells (and DMSP) at depth can be explained even under a slow sinking/advection scenario. Whatever the mechanism, the large pools of DMSP and DMS below the euphotic zone suggest that export exerts a control on potential DMS emission from the surface waters of the Ross Sea.
Impact of system management on vegetative treatment system effluent concentrations

Beef feedlots of all sizes are looking for more cost-effective solutions for managing feedlot runoff. Vegetative treatment systems are one potential option, but require performance evaluation for use on concentrated animal feeding operations. The performance of six vegetative treatment systems on open beef feedlots throughout Iowa was monitored from 2006 through 2009. These feedlots had interim, National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permits that allowed the use of vegetative treatment systems to control and treat runoff from the open feedlots. This manuscript focuses on making within site comparisons, i.e., from year-to-year and component-to-component within a site, to evaluate how management changes and system modifications altered performance. The effectiveness, in terms of effluent concentration reductions, of each system was evaluated; nutrient concentration reductions typically ranged from 60 to 99% during treatment in the vegetative components of the vegetative treatment systems. Monitoring results showed a consistent improvement in system performance during the four years of study. Much of this improvement can be attributed to improved management techniques and system modifications that addressed key performance issues. Specifically, active control of the solid settling basin outlet improved solids retention and allowed the producers to match effluent application rates to the infiltration rate of the vegetative treatment area, reducing the occurrence of effluent release. Additional improvements resulted from system maturation, increased operator experience, and the addition of earthen flow spreaders within the vegetative treatment area to slow flow and provide increased effluent storage within the treatment area, and switching to active management of settling basin effluent release.
Exogenous hyalin and sea urchin gastrulation, Part II: hyalin, an interspecies cell adhesion molecule

The 330 kDa fibrillar glycoprotein hyalin is a well known component of the sea urchin embryo extracellular hyaline layer. Only recently, the main component of hyalin, the hyalin repeat domain, has been identified in organisms as widely divergent as bacteria and humans using the GenBank database and therefore its possible function has garnered a great deal of interest. In the sea urchin, hyalin serves as an adhesive substrate in the developing embryo and we have recently shown that exogenously added purified hyalin from Strongylocentrotus purpuratus embryos blocks a model cellular interaction in these embryos, archenteron elongation/attachment to the blastocoel roof. It is important to demonstrate the generality of this result by observing if hyalin from one species of sea urchin blocks archenteron elongation/attachment in another species. Here we show in three repeated experiments, with 30 replicate samples for each condition, that the same concentration of S. purpuratus hyalin (57 μg/ml) that blocked the interaction in living S. purpuratus embryos blocked the same interaction in living Lytechinus pictus embryos. These results correspond with the known crossreactivity of antibody against S. purpuratus hyalin with L. pictus hyalin. We propose that hyalin–hyalin receptor binding may mediate this adhesive interaction. The use of a microplate assay that allows precise quantification of developmental effects should help facilitate identification of the function of hyalin in organisms as divergent as bacteria and humans.
EphBs: an integral link between synaptic function and synaptopathies

The assembly and function of neuronal circuits rely on selective cell–cell interactions to control axon targeting, generate pre- and postsynaptic specialization and recruit neurotransmitter receptors. In neurons, EphB receptor tyrosine kinases mediate excitatory synaptogenesis early during development, and then later coordinate synaptic function by controlling synaptic glutamate receptor localization and function. EphBs direct synapse formation and function to regulate cellular morphology through downstream signaling mechanisms and by interacting with glutamate receptors. In humans, defective EphB-dependent regulation of NMDA receptor (NMDAR) localization and function is associated with neurological disorders, including neuropathic pain, anxiety disorders and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we propose that EphBs act as a central organizer of excitatory synapse formation and function, and as a key regulator of diseases linked to NMDAR dysfunction.
Structure and properties of irradiation defects in YBa2Cu3O7−x

Abstract We review our contributions to the understanding of the structure and properties of irradiation defects in the high T C superconductor YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7− x (YBCO) using several transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. Irradiating particles have included fast neutrons, ions with energies from 50 keV to 2 GeV, MeV protons, and electrons. In much of this work it has been possible to correlate TEM data with that of bulk superconducting property measurements on the same or similar single crystals. This has been valuable to understand some aspects of magnetic vortex pinning by the irradiation defects, and thus the often large enhancements of the critical current density.
Lipid changes in Salmonella typhimurium on infection with bacteriophage P22.

Abstract On infection of Salmonella typhimurium with bacteriophage P22 mutants c2 and Lys−c2, changes in the phospholipid pattern of extractable phospholipids are observed, when investigated using 14C- and 32P-labeled bacterial cultures, either in unsupplemented M9 or in low phosphate M9 medium. Thin layer chromatography resolved phospholipids into twelve areas which were qualitatively the same in both infected and uninfected cells. Moderate quantitative differences were found. In Lys−c2 infected cells phosphatidyl glycerol rises sharply during the first 5 min after infection, and by 10 min has returned part way to its former level. In the first 10 min phosphatidyl ethanolamine and cardiolipin also increase at a faster rate than in uninfected cells, but to a lesser degree than phosphatidyl glycerol. From 10 min to the time of lysis the content of individual phospholipids scarcely changes although the cells continue to grow and divide. During the early stages of lysis induced by the addition of cysteine, phosphatidyl ethanolamine rises appreciably, but phosphatidyl glycerol and cardiolipin drop slightly. As lysis proceeds phospholipids are degraded with the liberation of free fatty acids which accumulate steadily. In c2 infected cells, which do continue to grow but rarely divide, the lipid changes up to the time of lysis are less abrupt and more difficult to interpret. During and following lysis the changes are similar to those in Lys−c2 infections. An attempt is made to correlate lipid changes with other changes occurring in the cell.
Research in the CKD Clinic: Highs and Lows

Despite rates of CKD continuing to increase, the current evidence base used to guide CKD management is smaller than that for many other chronic diseases. Clinical investigators face multiple barriers to conducting research in patients with CKD. CKD patients have multiple comorbidities that make them a risky intervention target; thus, they are often excluded from trials. The lack of approved surrogate endpoints for kidney disease progression makes testing therapies to slow progression very challenging and expensive. Patients with CKD have higher rates of disability and lower educational status than the general population, which further complicates their participation in clinical trials. Despite these barriers, it is imperative that scientific progress be made in this patient population. Increasing education and information regarding CKD clinical trials through brochures and public awareness campaigns may increase trial participation. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration needs to approve the new definition of glomerular filtration rate decline because this will result in a decrease in the cost of clinical trials and make industry more likely to invest in trials in patients with CKD. Successful research in this patient population is possible, but it requires collaboration among investigators, health-care providers, patients, industry, and the National Institutes of Health.
Orthopedic management of neuromuscular disorders in children.

In many cases, the orthopedic surgeon may be the first consultant requested to assess complaints of lower extremity weakness or deformity to result from such conditions and must remain alert to the primary diagnosis. In addition, the orthopedic surgeon should be prepared to guide appropriate physical therapy, prescribe orthotics, and perform surgery to improve function, prevent deformity, or provide comfort when necessary. Most deformities of the extremities result from a combination of muscle weakness and imbalance, and surgical procedures are aimed at correcting existing deformity and rebalancing existing musculature by release or transfer. Skeletally immature patients with neuromuscular disorders are also succeptible to the development of scoliosis, which may impair comfortable sitting or already compromised pulmonary function. This article reviews the clinical manifestation and orthopedic management of Duchenne's muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, facioscapulohumeral dystrophy, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
Fatigue Effects on Patterns of Movement

The standing broad jump and four other gross body movements were analysed by colour-coded multiple-image photography before and after three kinds of fatigue-inducing exercise. For each movement marked individual differences in style of performance were found which tended to persist despite the effects of fatigue. Certain linear and angular measures taken from the movement patterns proved to be sensitive to fatigue effects. The amount and significance of change in the different indices varied with the method used for inducing fatigue.
A dose-ranging study of the efficacy and safety of azelastine nasal spray in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis with an acute model

Abstract Background: Oral azelastine, a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory respiratory investigational drug has demonstrated activity in the treatment of allergic rhinitis and asthma with a good safety profile. Methods: Azelastine nasal spray was compared with sustained-release oral chlorpheniramine maleate and placebo for efficacy and safety in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis in a double-dummy, two-center, 2-day, double-blind, randomized, dose-ranging, parallel-groups, onset and duration of action study. Two hundred sixty-four subjects reported to an outdoor park on Saturday morning during the height of the fall pollen season and remained there for 8 hours that day and the next to ensure maximal exposure to seasonal aeroallergens. Symptom diary cards were collected hourly Saturday from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM (baseline period). Subjects who had sufficient symptoms were randomized into five groups and received medication at 10:00 AM and 10:00 PM on Saturday and at 10:00 AM on Sunday: azelastine 0.1% (1 spray [0.12 mg] per nostril every 12 hours, 2 sprays per nostril every 12 hours, or 2 sprays per nostril once daily), Chlor-Trimeton Repetabs (12 mg twice daily), or placebo (twice daily). Diary cards were completed hourly (11:00 AM to 4:00 PM) and at 6:00, 8:00, and 10:00 PM on Saturday and again hourly on Sunday (from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM) to evaluate rhinitis symptoms and adverse events. Results: Two hundred fifty-nine subjects completed the study. The groups that received 2 sprays of azelastine per nostril once and twice daily and the chlorpheniramine group had statistically significantly more improvement in total rhinitis symptoms than the placebo group without serious adverse events. Conclusions: This study supports a once to twice daily dosing regimen for 2 sprays of 0.1% azelastine in the acute treatment of allergic rhinitis with onset of action within 2 to 3 hours. (J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL 1994;94:972-80.)
Fuzzy torque distribution control for a parallel hybrid vehicle

A fuzzy torque distribution controller for energy management (and emission control) of a parallel hybrid electric vehicle is proposed. The proposed controller is implemented in terms of a hierarchical architecture which incorporates the mode of operation of the vehicle as well as empirical knowledge of energy flow in each mode. Moreover, the rule set for each mode of operation of the vehicle is designed in view of an overall energy management strategy that ranges from maximal emphasis on battery charge sustenance to complete reliance on the electrical power source. The proposed control system is evaluated via computational simulations under the FTP75 urban drive cycle. Simulation results reveal that the proposed fuzzy torque distribution strategy is effective over the entire operating range of the vehicle in terms of performance, fuel economy and emissions.
New Science for Solutions Award: A Call for Nominations

AGU announces a call for nominations for the first Science for Solutions Award, sponsored by Peter Schlosser, past president of AGU's Ocean Sciences section. This newly created Union award will honor a student or postdoctoral scientist who uses his or her skills and knowledge in the Earth and space sciences to create solutions to societal problems of significant importance.
Spatially heterogeneous corneal mechanical responses before and after riboflavin-ultraviolet-A crosslinking

Purpose To determine the heterogeneous through-thickness strains in the cornea at physiologic intraocular pressures before and after corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) using noninvasive ultrasound. Setting Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA. Design Experimental study. Methods Sixteen paired canine corneoscleral shells were divided into 2 groups. The CXL group completed a standard CXL protocol using riboflavin–ultraviolet-A (UVA) irradiation. The control group was given an identical treatment except UVA irradiation. Ultrasound scans (at 55 MHz) of the cornea were obtained before and after treatment as the corneoscleral shell was inflated from 5 mm Hg to 45 mm Hg to calculate the distributive through-thickness strains in the cornea. The mean radial and tangential strains of the whole cornea layer, as well as those of the anterior, middle, and posterior thirds of the cornea, were compared before and after treatment in the control group and CXL group using linear mixed models with repeated measures. Results Significant reductions in tangential and radial strains occurred in the CXL group ( P =.003 and P =.0025, respectively) but not the control group ( P =.08 and P =.63, respectively). The anterior third had the smallest strains in all pretreated corneas ( P P =.023; control group, P =.01). Conclusions Ultrasound speckle tracking showed heterogeneous strain distributions through the cornea and confirmed that CXL results in a stiffer corneal response (ie, smaller strains during physiologic loadings). This technique may provide a clinical tool to quantify the biomechanical effects of CXL. Financial Disclosure No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
Diagnosis of Intraocular Lymphoma by Flow Cytometry

Purpose To evaluate flow cytometry of vitreous cellular specimens as a means of diagnosing intraocular lymphoma and ocular inflammatory disease. Methods We undertook a retrospective, observational study of hematopoietic cell-surface markers in 20 patients with vitreous cellular infiltration in whom lymphoma was considered in the differential diagnosis. Immunophenotyping of vitreous cells obtained by vitrectomy was performed by flow cytometry using antibodies directed against specific cell-surface antigens, including ones associated with B-lymphocyte and T-lymphocyte lymphomas and activated inflammatory cells. Smears were examined cytologically. Cytofluorography was compared with the cytopathologic diagnosis and with final diagnosis. Results With flow cytometry, a diagnosis of intraocular lymphoma was confirmed in two of four patients with known lymphoma, one of whom had recurrent disease after radiation, and not confirmed in two patients who had had prior treatment with radiation or corticosteroids. In six patients with no prior diagnosis of lymphoma, five were diagnosed with lymphoma on the basis of cytofluorography. Thus, seven (70%) of 10 patients with intraocular lymphoma were diagnosed by cytofluorography compared with three (30%) of 10 with lymphoma diagnosed by cytology. With flow cytometry, 10 patients with uveitis or intraocular infections were distinguishable from patients with lymphoma by lack of a monotypic population and, in some cases, by elevated CD4:CD8 ratios and a high percentage of activated cells. Conclusions Cytofluorography of vitreous cells is an effective alternative or adjunct to cytology. Information can be gained from specimens that are uninterpretable by routine cytology. The optimal technique for diagnosis may vary among institutions.
Noise and measurement efficiency of a partially coherent mesoscopic detector

We study the noise properties and efficiency of a mesoscopic resonant-level conductor which is used as a quantum detector, in the regime where transport through the level is only partially phase coherent. We contrast models in which detector incoherence arises from escape to a voltage probe, versus those in which it arises from a random time-dependent potential. Particular attention is paid to the back-action charge noise of the system. While the average detector current is similar in all models, we find that its noise properties and measurement efficiency are sensitive both to the degree of coherence and to the nature of the dephasing source. Detector incoherence prevents quantum limited detection, except in the non-generic case where the source of dephasing is not associated with extra unobserved information. This latter case can be realized in a version of the voltage probe model.
Steam radiolysis by alpha-particle irradiation

Abstract In order to better understand the processes occurring in defective fuel rods in a nuclear reactor, radiolysis of saturated steam by Cm-244 alpha particles was investigated at temperatures between 250 and 300°C. Radiolysis took place in gold-plated steel chambers and the yields of H 2 and of O 2 were measured mass spectrometrically as functions of dose up to 5×10 20 eV/g. The H 2 integral yields were constant up to a critical dose and decreased thereafter. G(H 2 ) values on the initial plateau increased with steam temperature (or density). At 250°C (20 mg/ml), G(H 2 ) was 2 molecules/100 eV and increased to 8 molecules/100 eV at 300°C (50 mg/ml). The O 2 integral yield was measured at 288°C (36 mg/ml) where it was found to be 1.1 molecules/100 eV, or ∼1/6 of the H 2 yield. Addition of H 2 to the steam markedly decreased G(O 2 ); beyond 10 mole percent H 2 , the O 2 product was too small to detect. A ten-reaction model that included thermal decomposition of H 2 O was fitted to the data. The model reproduced the observed hydrogen yields in general but not in detail. Achieving the optimum fit required primary-product yields nearly 50% larger than those reported in the literature.
Oxidation of sulfhydryl groups by monochloramine

Abstract In recent years there has been an increased used of monochloramine (NH2Cl) for water disinfection because of its low trihalomethane formation potential. Monochloramine is also the predominant disinfectant upon chlorination of wastewater effluents. In an effort to more clearly understand the disinfectant's mode of action in inactivating microorganisms, a study was undertaken to evaluate the compound's reactions with sulfhydryl (−SH) groups. The extent of oxidation of these groups was dependent upon the molar ratio of −SH to NH2Cl. When this ratio was >2:1, the reaction was reversible and ceased at disulfide formation. However, at a ratio of
Modeling segmentation performance in NV-IPM

Imaging sensors produce images whose primary use is to convey information to human operators. However, their proliferation has resulted in an overload of information. As a result, computational algorithms are being increasingly implemented to simplify an operator's task or to eliminate the human operator altogether. Predicting the effect of algorithms on task performance is currently cumbersome requiring estimates of the effects of an algorithm on the blurring and noise, and “shoe-horning” these effects into existing models. With the increasing use of automated algorithms with imaging sensors, a fully integrated approach is desired. While specific implementation algorithms differ, general tasks can be identified that form building blocks of a wide range of possible algorithms. Those tasks are segmentation of objects from the spatio-temporal background, object tracking over time, feature extraction, and transformation of features into human usable information. In this paper research is conducted with the purpose of developing a general performance model for segmentation algorithms based on image quality. A database of pristine imagery has been developed in which there is a wide variety of clearly defined regions with respect to shape, size, and inherent contrast. Both synthetic and “natural” images make up the database. Each image is subjected to various amounts of blur and noise. Metrics for the accuracy of segmentation have been developed and measured for each image and segmentation algorithm. Using the computed metric values and the known values of blur and noise, a model of performance for segmentation is being developed. Preliminary results are reported.
Introduction: “Travelin' Thru” the Queer South

The article discusses various topics discussed within the issue including one on with HIVAIDS in the South America, one on the sexuality of writer William Alexander Percy and one on the 2006 campaign of the GLBT coalition group Arizona Together against Proposition 107.
The discrete element method (DEM) to simulate fruit impact damage during transport and handling: Case study of vibration damage during apple bulk transport

Abstract Making use of the discrete element method (DEM) a study is presented on the influence of mechanical parameters (vibration frequency and acceleration amplitude, apple size, stack height) and fruit properties (apple harvest date, apple temperature, apple acoustic stiffness) on vibration damage of apples. As acceleration input a sine in the vertical direction was used. Realistic parameters of the Kuwabara and Kono [Kuwabara, G., Kono, K., 1987. Restitution coefficient in a collision between two spheres. Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 26, 1230–1233] contact force model for ‘Jonagold’ apples and bruise prediction models were applied. As a general conclusion, major influences of mechanical parameters on the vibration damage were identified, in particular stack height and fruit size, and minor influences of fruit properties. Also a detailed study was performed to investigate the relation between apple positions in the stacking and bruise damage. It was demonstrated that the position–bruise damage relation depends on the acceleration amplitude, vibration frequency and stack height. The existence of damage chains within the centre of the apple stack was also identified, that is in accordance with the well-known force chains in bulk materials.
Mixed Juvenile, Adenomatous and Intermediate Polyposis Coli" Report of a Case*

The unique occurrence of mixed juvenile, adenomatous, and intermediate colonic polyps in a young girl is described. No familial basis of the condition was obtainable. It is suggested that genetic differentiation between juvenile and adenomatous polyposis is probably not absolute. The place of surgery in the management of the condition is briefly discussed.
Intensity of neoadjuvant therapy in resectable non-small cell lung cancer

Induction chemotherapy prior to definitive local treatment improves the survival of patients with Stage III non-small cell lung cancer. Several strategies to improve on the impact of 2 or 3 cycles of conventional induction chemotherapy are under study. Immediate concurrent chemoradiation followed by surgery has been evaluated extensively in the Phase II setting. This approach is now the subject of a Phase III trial in North America. Increasing the number of induction chemotherapy cycles or using high dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell support are other strategies currently under evaluation. Understanding whether either of these approaches will improve survival for patients with Stage III NSCLC must await future Phase III trials.