cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The oxidation of oleate in submicron aqueous salt aerosols: evidence of a surface process.

We have studied the oxidation of submicron aqueous aerosols consisting of internal mixtures of sodium oleate (oleic acid proxy), sodium dodecyl sulfate, and inorganic salts by O3, NO3/N2O5, and OH. Experiments were performed using an aerosol flow tube and a continuous flow photochemical reaction chamber coupled to a chemical ionization mass spectrometer (CIMS). The CIMS was fitted with a heated inlet for volatilization and detection of organics in the particle phase simultaneously with the gas phase. A differential mobility analyzer/condensation particle counter was used for determining aerosol size distributions. The oxidation of oleate by O3 follows Langmuir−Hinshelwood kinetics, with γO3 ≈ 10-5 calculated from the observed loss rate of oleate in the particle phase. The best fit Langmuir−Hinshelwood parameters are = 0.05 ± 0.01 s-1 and KO3 = 4(±3) × 10-14 cm3molec-1. These parameters showed no dependence on the ionic composition of the aerosols or on the presence of alkyl surfactants. Several ozone oxid...
Nonreplication of an association of SGIP1 SNPs with alcohol dependence and resting theta EEG power

A recent study in a sample of Plains Indians showed association between eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in the SGIP1 gene and resting θ electroencephalogram (EEG) power. This association appeared to generalize to alcohol use disorders, for which EEG power is a potential endophenotype. We analyzed a large, diverse sample for replication of the association of these implicated SGIP1 SNPs (genotyped on the Illumina 1M platform) with alcohol dependence (N=3988) and θ EEG power (N=1066). We found no evidence of association of the earlier implicated SGIP1 SNPs with either alcohol dependence or θ EEG power (all P>0.15) in this sample. The earlier implicated SNPs located in SGIP1 gene showed no association with alcohol dependence or θ EEG power in this sample of individuals with European and/or African ancestry. This failure to replicate may be the result of differences in ancestry between this sample and the original sample.
Determination of the Circulation Time in Children by the Decholin Method

Summary A short account is given of current methods- for determining the circulation time. Using the decholin method, 182 children between the ages of three and fifteen years were examined; the results are analyzed statistically and the error in the method calculated from duplicate tests. Resume Un resume des methodes courantes de determination du temps de la circulation est donne. 182 enfants, de 3 a 15 ans, ont ete examines au moyen de la methode decholine; les resultats sont calcules statistiquement et l'erreur de la methode est calculee a l'aide de tests doubles. Zusammenfassung Ein kurzer Bericht wird gegeben uber die gebrauchlichen Methoden zur Bestimmung der Umlaufszeit. Unter Anwendung der Decholin-Methode wurden 182 Kinder zwischen 3 und 15 Jahren untersucht. Die Resultate wurden statistisch analysiert, und der Fehler in der Methode wurde mittels doppelter Versuchen berechnet. Sumario Se da un breve informe sobre los metodos corrientes para determinar el tiempo de circulacion. Usando el metodo decolino, se examinaron 182 ninos de entre 3 y 15 anos; se analizan estadisticamente los resultados y se calcula el error del metodo mediante ensayos duplicados.
Operationalizing Self-Efficacy, Related Social Cognitive Variables, and Moderating Effects: Implications for Rehabilitation Research and Practice

Self-efficacy, a core construct of Bandura's social cognitive theory, has wide appeal and usefulness in the health and social sciences. Self-efficacy is frequently used across disciplines to assess an individual's beliefs about her likelihood to engage in a certain behavior. Because of the behavioral-change approaches common in rehabilitation counseling interventions, self-efficacy is an important construct to operationalize, measure, and apply for best research and clinical outcomes. Several factors contribute to inaccurate or inappropriate assessment, measurement, interpretation, and application of this important construct; numerous scales used to measure efficacy, various contexts, related constructs, and moderating effects of efficacy make best use of efficacy measurement and application difficult. This article outlines the theory of self-efficacy, distinguishes its closely related constructs, summarizes common moderating effects, and provides important considerations for clinical practice and research.
Domain structures and roles in bacteriophage HK97 capsid assembly and maturation.

Head assembly in the double-stranded DNA coliphage HK97 involves initially the formation of the precursor shell Prohead I from ∼420 copies of a 384-residue subunit. This is followed by proteolytic removal of residues 2−103 to create Prohead II, and then reorganization and expansion of the shell lattice and covalent cross-linking of subunits make Head II. Here, we report and structurally interpret solution Raman spectra of Prohead I, Prohead II, and Head II particles. The Raman signatures of Prohead I and Prohead II indicate a common α/β fold for residues 104−385, and a strongly conserved tertiary structure. The Raman difference spectrum between Prohead I and Prohead II demonstrates that the N-terminal residues 2−103 (Δ-domain) form a predominantly α-helical fold devoid of β-strand. The conformation of the Δ-domain in Prohead I thus resembles that of the previously characterized scaffolding proteins of Salmonella phage P22 and Bacillus phage φ29 and suggests an analogous architectural role in mediating the...
Local-field effects in Langmuir-Blodgett films of hemicyanine and behenic acid mixtures.

The effective local-field factors for a system of adsorbed molecules are measured in Langmuir-Blodgett films consisting of mixtures of the n-docosyl homologue of hemicyanine dye and behenic acid. The effect of the local-field correction factors on the interpretation of the molecular orientation of the hemicyanine chromophore, as determined by macroscopic measurements of the optical second-harmonic generation from these molecules, is reported, and the measured values of the local-field correction factors are compared with the theory of Ye and Shen. The range of the induced-dipole--induced-dipole interaction of hemicyanine chromophores in Langmuir-Blodgett films is seen to be approx.10 A.
Integral equation calculations of the solute chemical potential in a near-critical fluid environment

Abstract Munoz, F. and Chimowitz, E.H., 1992. Integral equation calculations of the solute chemical potential in a near-critical fluid environment. Fluid Phase Equilibria, 71: 237-272. In this work we present the results of integral equation calculations of the chemical potential of a solute molecule immersed in a near-critical fluid solvent, using the Kirkwood coupling approach in conjunction with the Percus-Yevick equation for the pair correlation function. It may be anticipated from the structure of these equations, and shown more completely in this work, that the spatial region of the system primarily responsible for the solute chemical potential is short-range, making it an especially useful property to examine when investigating local adaptations in fluid microstructure around the solute molecule. Based upon our calculations some precision is given to what is meant by a local neighborhood. Within this region significant solvent density enhancements were found, for the attractive model fluids investigated. A more surprising result was that the solute chemical potential, a central property for describing solvation, was found to be relatively invariant with respect to these local density enhancements because of countermanding energetic and entropic effects. Insight into this competition between energy and entropy is provided with the use of new definitions for these respective properties in the confined local neighborhood. Finally, the implications of this analysis and its link with solubility data in real systems are discussed.
Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia III in a teenager.

The patient is a 15-year-old, who presented to her local physician with a complaint of vulvar warts. She had noticed them for about 3 months and they were getting larger in size. She noticed some itching of these lesions. She has regular periods with menarche at age 12. She is currently sexually active with a boyfriend using condoms. She has never had a gynecologic examination before. Her medical and surgical history are unremarkable. She smokes one pack of cigarettes a day and denies alcohol use. She is vague about the number of sexual partners she has had. Physical exam reveals a height of 5 foot 8 inches, weight of 125; her general physical was unremarkable. Her external genitalia reveal a large 4 × 3 cm grossly visible lesion, wart-like in appearance, with induration. This was located near the posterior fourchette extending to the superior edge of the anal margin. A biopsy was performed from that area. The cervix appeared normal and a Pap smear was performed.
Common carp and goldfish discern conspecific identity using chemical cues

Behavioural responses of sexually-immature goldfish and common carp, two very closely related species of fish, were tested in a two-choice maze to determine if they use species-specific pheromonal attractants. Responses of these species to each other's washings and five other fish species were tested in a maze. We hypothesized that goldfish and common carp, which are known to hybridize, might be using relatively simple mixtures of common bodily metabolites to discern species identity and would, therefore, be attracted to each other but not distantly related species. However, we discovered that both of these species were only attracted to conspecific odours. Conspecific attraction was not influenced by immediate previous experience or accompanied by changes in feeding activity, suggesting it is pheromonally mediated. We hypothesize that carp and their relatives recognize each other using relatively complex mixtures of multiple classes of body metabolites. The pheromonal attractant used by common carp is of special interest because it could be used to attract and remove this species from North American waters where it is an invasive nuisance.
Kinetic modeling of the self-structure factor for gases

A method for optimizing usual kinetic modeling techniques for determination of the dynamic structure factor from a given kinetic equation is investigated. The procedure has the potential to significantly reduce the calculational effort, thereby permitting future study of more complex kinetic equations currently being developed for dense gases. The exact low-density kinetic equation with step potential interaction including finite-collision-time effects is derived for calculation of the self-structure factor and used to illustrate and test the kinetic modeling.
What's So Magical about Five Percent? A Nationwide Look at Factors That Influence the Optimal Size of State Rainy Day Funds

State rainy day funds have increased in popularity as countercyclical planning devices over the past 15 years. The view is widely held that all states need a rainy day fund balance of five percent in order to guard themselves against the threat of budgetary dislocation. This article compares the actual balances in state rainy day funds in 1997 to several factors affecting budgetary volatility. Little relationship is found between rainy day fund balances and the actual level of volatility in a given state. The article finds no justification for a “one size fits all” approach; each state should design policies based on its own peculiar needs.
Human natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity

Natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity has been shown to be age-dependent in both rats and mice. The present study was undertaken to study age-related levels of natural cytotoxicity in humans. Mononuclear peripheral blood cells from over 200 normal volunteers were co-incubated with 51Cr-labeled K-562 for 4 h and the supernatants assayed for released isotope. No striking age-related variations in natural cytotoxicity were observed. Cord blood was shown to exhibit both high and low levels of natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity. There was no significant difference in the levels of natural cytotoxicity between males and females. Thoracic duct lymphocytes (TDL) from prospective kidney graft recipients were tested for natural cytotoxicity at intervals during drainage. Natural cytotoxic activity was undetectable in samples from initial drainage but increased as the drainage progressed. This increased activity was correlated with decreased in vitro responsiveness to PHA and decreased levels of E-rosettes in these TDL.
Phytotoxicity of hydrogen chloride gas with a short-term exposure

Abstract One selected variety from eight species of ornamental plants was used to determine the range of phytotoxic responses to hydrogen chloride gas. Plants of several ages were exposed to varied concentrations of the gas for periods of 20 min each. Injury on exposed plants was evaluated 24 h after completion of exposure and injury symptoms were numerically rated and described. The selected species of plants included aster (Callistephus chinensis), calendula (Calendula officinalis), cornflower (Centaurea cyanus), cosmos (Cosmos, sp.), marigold, American (Tagetes erecta), marigold, French (Tagetes patula), nasturtium (Tropaeolum, sp.), and zinnia (Zinnia angustifolia). Of these, cosmos and both marigolds appeared to be the most sensitive to HC1. Plant injury estimated at the 10% level was caused by 20 min exposure to 6.5 and 8.7 mg HCl m−3 ∗ .
On the Construction of Trend-Resistant Designs for Comparing a Set of Test Treatments with a Set of Controls

Abstract In this article we consider the problem of comparing a set of standard treatments to a set of test treatments where the treatments are to be applied to experimental units sequentially over time or space and where there may be an unknown time or spatial trend. Methods are given here for constructing run orders of treatments for those situations that are “optimal” and robust against trends that can be expressed as a polynomial function of the order in which the observations are taken.
Enhanced critical magnetization currents of hot-pressed YBa 2 Cu 3 O 6+x through partial melting post-oxygenation

Bulk YBa2Cu3O6+x superconductor was synthesized using the hot-pressing technique combined with various oxygen-annealing cycles. Pressed samples, with theirab-planes perpendicular to the pressing axis, annealed in oxygen at the partial melting point of approximately 1000°C and slowly cooled at different rates in the temperature ranges 975–935 and 935–450°C showed enhanced magnetization hysteresis loops with a weak field dependence. Due to oxygen-deficient regions in these materials, anomalous magnetization hysteresis loops with a “butterfly” contour were observed at temperatures above 50 K. This indicates that these regions act as effective flux-pinning centres at high temperatures. The critical magnetization current density (J c) calculated using the Bean model and the average grain dimension was of the order of 104 A cm−2 at 75 K up to 1 T. Because of a shorter period of oxygenation and a weak field dependence ofJ c s, the synthesis process reported here is very promising and further optimization of the period in various annealing temperature ranges to limit the weak links caused by excessive grain growth becomes necessary. The observations are also correlated with the morphology and the crystal orientation studied by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry, respectively.
Iris Seed Dormancy

Iris embryos were treated in several ways to study the cause of delayed germination. The results of this work indicate that a chemical inhibitor is present in the endosperm and mechanical inhibition of embryo growth also occurs. The mechanical inhibition reduces excised Iris embryo growth to the same extent as does the chemical inhibitor.
The economics of veterinary services: A perspective

Abstract Farm accounts data suggest that expenditures on veterinary services and medicines are a very small element of farm financial costs and offer a high return to farmers. However, the economic interpretation of such data extends much further than the uncritical acceptance of simple accounting ratios. Economics is different from accountancy. Although at a superficial level both are concerned with financial values, economics is about making efficient choices with regard to the use of real resources in order to produce real products. Sometimes attention is focused on particular social groups, such as farmers, and sometimes on society as a whole, with the intention of understanding the implications of certain patterns of resource use for welfare. Past applications of economics to veterinary problems have made an important contribution, but the issues which have been addressed typically have been a narrow subset of wider economic concerns. There has been emphasis on cost/benefit analysis of disease control programmes. Cost/benefit technique, as it should more properly be called, is useful for many economic studies of animal disease control but by no means all. Where there is need to consider the ‘opportunity costs’ of veterinary resource use, or the control of diseases which may not require veterinary resources, other economic concepts and techniques will be applicable. Among others, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in the UK, and the European Community, are showing an increasing awareness that new kinds of economic information are necessary for guiding resource use in animal disease control.
Ubiquitin Conjugation Is Not Required for the Degradation of Oxidized Proteins by Proteasome

Oxidatively modified proteins that accumulate in aging and many diseases can form large aggregates because of covalent cross-linking or increased surface hydrophobicity. Unless repaired or removed from cells, these oxidized proteins are often toxic, and threaten cell viability. Most oxidatively damaged proteins appear to undergo selective proteolysis, primarily by the proteasome. Previous work from our laboratory has shown that purified 20 S proteasome degrades oxidized proteins without ATP or ubiquitin in vitro, but there have been no studies to test this mechanismin vivo. The aim of this study was to determine whether ubiquitin conjugation is necessary for the degradation of oxidized proteins in intact cells. We now show that cells with compromised ubiquitin-conjugating activity still preferentially degrade oxidized intracellular proteins, at near normal rates, and this degradation is still inhibited by proteasome inhibitors. We also show that progressive oxidation of proteins such as lysozyme and ferritin does not increase their ubiquitinylation, yet the oxidized forms of both proteins are preferentially degraded by proteasome. Furthermore, rates of oxidized protein degradation by cell lysates are not significantly altered by addition of ATP, excluding the possibility of an energy requirement for this pathway. Contrary to earlier popular belief that most proteasomal degradation is conducted by the 26 S proteasome with ubiquitinylated substrates, our work suggests that oxidized proteins are degraded without ubiquitin conjugation (or ATP hydrolysis) possibly by the 20 S proteasome, or the immunoproteasome, or both.
Likelihood ratio, optimal decision rules, and correct response probabilities in a signal detection theoretic, equal-variance Gaussian model of the observer in the 4IAX paradigm.

This article provides a synthetic account of the likelihood ratio, optimal decision rules, and correct response probabilities in a signal detection theoretic model of the observer in the dual-pair comparison, or four-interval AX (4IAX), paradigm. The model assumes a static sampling process, resulting in four, equal-variance normally distributed (i.e., Gaussian) observations on each trial. First, a likelihood ratio equation allowing for an arbitrary degree of correlation between observations is provided. Specific solutions for the cases of independent and highly correlated observations are then derived. It is shown that these solutions, and the associated decision rules, correspond to those provided independently in earlier publications. A modified 4IAX paradigm involving, as a standard, an additional stimulus (C) located medially between the A and the B stimuli is also considered. It is shown that the optimal (static, equal-variance, Gaussian) decision model for this paradigm is unaffected by correlation between observations and is equivalent to the standard 4IAX with highly correlated observations. Finally, we consider how, under the considered (static, equal-variance, Gaussian) model, the proportion of correct responses in the different versions of the 4IAX paradigm is related to d’, and a solution for the case of independent observations is provided.
Cores of dense exchange economies

Abstract Dense exchange economies cardinal characteristics is that each trader has infinitely many traders close to him or her in terms of initial allocations of goods and preference orderings. For such economies, a qualitative concept of “core” is formulated, and it is shown that a natural, qualitatively defined subset of the core coincides with the quantitative concept of “competitive equilibria.” The method of proof avoids the use of the Axiom of Choice. Dense exchange economies and other exchange economies are also discussed with respect to the appropriateness of the kinds of infinitistic assumptions used in their formulations and in the obtaining of characterizing theorems.
The collisionless shock region for the long-time behavior of solutions of the KdV equation

The authors further develop the nonlinear steepest descent method of [5] and [6] to give a full description of the collisionless shock region for solutions of the KdV equation with decaying initial data. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Right Ventricular Long Noncoding RNA Expression in Human Heart Failure

The expression of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in human heart failure (HF) has not been widely studied. Using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq), we compared lncRNA expression in 22 explanted human HF hearts with lncRNA expression in 5 unused donor human hearts. We used Cufflinks to identify isoforms and DESeq to identify differentially expressed genes. We identified the noncoding RNAs by cross-reference to Ensembl release 73 (Genome Reference Consortium human genome build 37) and explored possible functional roles using a variety of online tools. In HF hearts, RNA-Seq identified 84,793 total messenger RNA coding and noncoding different transcripts, including 13,019 protein-coding genes, 2,085 total lncRNA genes, and 1,064 pseudogenes. By Ensembl noncoding RNA categories, there were 48 lncRNAs, 27 pseudogenes, and 30 antisense RNAs for a total of 105 differentially expressed lncRNAs in HF hearts. Compared with donor hearts, HF hearts exhibited differential expression of 7.7% of protein-coding genes, 3.7% of lncRNAs (including pseudogenes), and 2.5% of pseudogenes. There were not consistent correlations between antisense lncRNAs and parent genes and between pseudogenes and parent genes, implying differential regulation of expression. Exploratory in silico functional analyses using online tools suggested a variety of possible lncRNA regulatory roles. By providing a comprehensive profile of right ventricular polyadenylated messenger RNA transcriptome in HF, RNA-Seq provides an inventory of differentially expressed lncRNAs, including antisense transcripts and pseudogenes, for future mechanistic study.
Comparison of absorption of vitamin A after oral and intramuscular administration in normal children.

Summary A comparison has been made between vitamin A absorption curves following oral and parenteral administration of the vitamin in seven children without digestive symptoms. In all cases the oral administration resulted in normal absorption, while the parenteral administration showed little or no evidence of absorption.
Fatal Hypoxemia Following Mitral Valve Replacement

Patency of the foramen ovale is a common condition. In certain clinical settings it permits the development of right-to-left intracardiac shunting. A case is described of sudden, fatal hypoxemia due to shunting through a patent foramen ovale immediately following mitral valve replacement.
Different behavioral responses tol-DOPA after anterolateral or posterolateral hypothalamic injections of 6-hydroxydopamine

After bilateral microinjections of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the anterolateral (AL) or posterolateral (PL) hypothalamus L-DOPA (1,3,4-dihydroxy-phenylalanine) produced running and rearing in AL6-OHDA rats and oral stereotypies in PL 6-OHDA rats. Since the same dose of L-DOPA had no behavioral effect in vehicle injected rats, the responses to L-DOPA of both AL and PL 6-OHDA rats are examples of behavioral supersensitivity. The different forms of behavioral supersensitivity correlated with different patterns of catecholamine (CA) denervation determined by fluorescent microscopy. The major regions of CA denervation in AL 6-OHDA rats were neocortex, hippocampus, limbic forebrain, anteromedial striatum and anterolateral hypothalamus. PL 6-OHDA had these same areas denervated and, in addition, had severe denervation of the entire striatum, parts of the amygdala and thalamus, and of the posterolateral hypothalamus. We conclude that the supersensitive behavioral response to a fixed dose of L-DOPA is determined by the pattern and/or extent of CA denervation.
In Situ Hybridization of trkB and trkC Receptor mRNA in Rat Forebrain and Association with High-affinity Binding of [125I]BDNF, [125I]NT-4/5 and [125I]NT-3

The TrkB and TrkC receptor tyrosine kinases have been identified as high-affinity receptors for the neurotrophic factors brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-4/5 (NT-4/5) and NT-3 respectively. These receptor classes were identified and mapped by the in situ hybridization of antisense riboprobes complementary to portions of the intracellular (tyrosine kinase) or extracellular (ligand-binding) domains of trkB and trkC mRNA, and by the distribution of high-affinity [125I]BDNF, [125I]NT-4/5 and [125I]NT-3 binding sites in adjacent rat brain sections. Both methods showed that TrkB and TrkC receptors are abundant and widely expressed throughout the brain. Kinase or extracellular domain trkC probes labelled neuronal somata in a qualitatively similar manner in virtually every major area of the forebrain. Neither trkC probe labelled non-neuronal cells except for elements within cerebral arteries and arterioles. The kinase domain trkB probe hybridized exclusively to neurons. Neurons expressing trkB were even more widely distributed than those expressing trkC. The extracellular domain trkB probe labelled neurons with the same relative distribution as the trkB kinase domain probe, but also hybridized extensively with non-neural cells, particularly astrocytes, ependyma and choroid epithelium cells. The distribution of [125I]NT-3 binding sites generally resembled that of trkC hybridization, particularly in the neocortex, striatum and thalamus. [125I]BDNF and [125I]NT-4/5 binding sites were more widely distributed and denser than those for [125I]NT-3, and resembled the trkB hybridization pattern. These patterns are consistent with the preferential binding in the brain of TrkC receptors by [125I]NT-3 and of TrkB receptors by [125I]BDNF and [125I]NT-4/5. That the predominantly neuronal patterns of hybridization obtained with kinase and extracellular domain probes for trkC are qualitatively indistinguishable suggests that truncated and full-length forms of TrkC are expressed within extensively overlapping populations of neurons. In marked contrast to TrkC, expression of the full-length and truncated forms of TrkB appears to be largely segregated, being expressed principally on neurons and non-neuronal cells respectively. The abundant and widespread neuronal distribution of full-length, signal-transducing forms of TrkB and TrkC predict that their cognate ligands, BDNF, NT-4/5 and NT-3, may exert direct effects on a large proportion of neurons within the mature brain.
The “Urolithiasis” Syndrome in Male Cats; A Statistical Analysis of the Problems, with Clinical Observations

— —A study of 112 records of feline urolithiasis showed that the ratio of castrate to entire in the urolithiasis population and the ratio in the normal population did not differ statistically. The condition was found to be age-associated and did not have an association with castration, except that castrated cats had longer average survival and lower mortality rates after the onset of urolithiasis than entires. There did not appear to be any association of the onset of the condition with the age at castration. The highest incidence of the condition occurred between 1 and 5 years of age. The condition, which may be more correctly termed urethral obstruction and its sequelae, was probably associated with dietary deficiencies and metabolic disturbances. Resume— —Une etude de 112 dossiers d'urolithiase feline a demontre que la proportion de castres a faire part de la population d'Urolithiases et la proportion de la population normale ne differe pas statistiquement. La condition est consideree associee a l'âge et n'a pas d'association avec la castration, avec l'exception que les chats castres ont une survie moyenne plus elevee et un degre moins eleve de mortalite apres une attaque d'urolithiase que les non-castres. Il ne semble pas y avoir une association entre l'attaque de la condition et l'âge au moment de la castration. L'incidence la plus elevee de la condition survient entre un et cinq ans. La condition qui pourrait etre plus exactement nommee obstruction uretrale et ses consequences, est probablement associee a des deficiences dietetiques et des troubles metaboliques. Zusammenfassung— —Eine Untersuchung von 112 Aufzeichnungen uber Katzenurolithiasis zeigte, dass das Verhaltnis zwischen an Urolithiasis leidenden kastrierten und unkastrierten Tieren sowie das Verhaltnis bei ronmalen Tieren sich statistisch betrachtet nicht unterscheidet. Der Zustand stellte sich als altersbedingt heraus und hatte keinen Zusammenhang mit Kastrierung, ausser dass kastrierte Katzen gegenuber unkastrierten nach einem Anfall von Urolithiasis eine durchschnittlich langere Uberlebensquote und einen niedrigeren Sterblichkeitsgrad aufwiesen. Es schien keinerleiVerbindung zwischen dem Ausbruch dieser Erscheinung und dem Alter bei der Kastrierung zu bestehen. Die meisten derartigen Falle traten bei einem Alter von ein bis funf Jahren auf. Dieser Zustand, welcher wohl richtiger als Ureterversperrung und dessen Folgeerscheinungen bezeichnet werden sollte, trat wahrscheinlich im Zusammenhang mit Mangeldiat und Stoffwechselstorungen auf.
Mixed integer programming approach of extended DEA–discriminant analysis

Abstract Several unique features of data envelopment analysis (DEA) are incorporated into discriminant analysis (DA). Such a combined use of the two approaches is referred to as “DEA–DA” (Eur. J. Operat. Res. 1999 (115) 564). Sueyoshi (Eur. J. Operat. Res. 2001 (131) 324) has recently extended DEA–DA in a manner that it can deal with a negative value in data. The new version is referred to as “Extended DEA–DA”. An important feature of extended DEA–DA is that it can estimate weights of a linear discriminant function by minimizing the total deviation of misclassified observations. As an extension of his research, this research proposes a new type of mixed integer programming formulations that provide these weight estimates by minimizing the total number of misclassified observations.
Artificial immune systems in industrial applications

Artificial immune system (AIS) is a new intelligent problem-solving technique that is being used in some industrial applications. This paper presents an immunity-based algorithm for tool breakage detection. The method is inspired by the negative-selection mechanism of the immune system, which is able to discriminate between the self (body elements) and the nonself (foreign pathogens). However, in our industrial application, the self is defined to be normal cutting operations and the nonself is any deviation beyond allowable variations of the cutting force. The proposed algorithm is illustrated with a simulation study of milling operations. The performance of the algorithm in detecting the occurrence of tool breakage is reported. The results show that the negative-selection algorithm detected tool breakage in all test cases.
Acquisition of telomere repeat sequences by transfected DNA integrated at the site of a chromosome break.

Abstract Previous analysis of plasmid DNA transfected into 108 cell clones demonstrated extensive polymorphism near the integration site in one clone. This polymorphism was apparent by Southern blot analysis as diffuse bands that extended over 30 kb. In the present study, nucleotide sequence analysis of cloned DNA from the integration site revealed telomere repeat sequences at the ends of the integrated plasmid DNA. The telomere repeat sequences at one end were located at the junction between the plasmid and cell DNA. The telomere repeat sequences at the other end were located in the opposite orientation in the polymorphic region and were shown by digestion with BAL 31 to be at the end of the chromosome. Telomere repeat sequences were not found at this location in the plasmid or parent cell DNA. Although the repeat sequences may have been acquired by recombination, a more likely explanation is that they were added to the ends of the plasmid by telomerase before integration. Comparison of the cell DNA before and after integration revealed that a chromosome break had occurred at the integration site, which was shown by fluorescent in situ hybridization to be located near the telomere of chromosome 13. These results demonstrate that chromosome breakage and rearrangement can result in interstitial telomere repeat sequences within the human genome. These sequences could promote genomic instability, because short repeat sequences can be recombinational hotspots. The results also show that DNA rearrangements involving telomere repeat sequences can be associated with chromosome breaks. The introduction of telomere repeat sequences at spontaneous or ionizing radiation-induced DNA strand breaks may therefore also be a mechanism of chromosome fragmentation.
By-Product Formation During SPPS of Linear, Cyclic, and Novel Bicyclic Peptides as AChE Inhibitors

We have been interested in the synthesis of loop II of the AChE inhibitor of the fasciculin (a “three-finger” snake venom polypeptide neurotoxin from green mambas (genus Dendroaspis)) [1]. Our parent sequence involves amino acids 27–34 or Arg-Ala-His-Pro-Pro-Lys-Met-Gln- as the base peptide from which cyclic and bicyclic analogues have been prepared. These may serve as chemical probes to study peripheral site acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition.
Analysis of microstrip resonators of arbitrary shape

A space-domain approach based on a mixed-potential integral equation formulation is developed for efficient computation of complex resonant frequencies of laterally open microstrip-pitch resonators of arbitrary shape. The effects of the substrate-which may consist of any number of planar, possibly uniaxially anisotropic, dielectric layers-are rigorously incorporated in the formulation by means of the vector and scalar potential Green's functions. The current distribution on the conducting patch is approximated in terms of vector basis functions defined over triangular elements. Computed resonant frequencies, quality factors, modal currents, and far-field radiation patterns are presented for several microstrip resonators. For patches of simple, regular shapes, the results are in agreement with published data obtained by specialized techniques, which, unlike the method presented here, are not easily extendible to arbitrary shapes. >
Using Pharmacoeconomics to Value Pharmacotherapy

Pharmacotherapeutic decisions are increasingly constrained in all clinical settings by the costs of drug treatment and medical care. Some biotech therapies (e.g., Avastin, Cerzyme, Herceptin, Gleevec, Erbitux) can cost from $10,000 to more than $100,000 per treatment episode. In 1996 the average drug treatment cost for advanced colon cancer was $500, and the average patient survival was 11 months. In 2006 the average drug treatment cost for such patients was $250,000, and the average patient survival was 24 months.(1) It is apparent that we are quickly arriving at a situation in which the determinants of medical decision making are not simply the clinical risks and benefits of treatment options but also how these are balanced against the economic costs of therapy.
Miscellaneous tumour-like lesions of the ovary: cross-sectional imaging review

Miscellaneous tumour-like ovarian lesions are histobiologically diverse, and are often mistaken for the more common ovarian cancers, leading to aggressive management. Knowledge of characteristic clinical, laboratory and imaging findings of these select non-neoplastic ovarian entities allows correct diagnoses and permits optimal management.
Comparison of 2 Blood Culture Media Shows Significant Differences in Bacterial Recovery for Patients on Antimicrobial Therapy

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial removal devices in blood culture media are designed to remove antibiotics from the blood culture solution, thereby facilitating bacterial growth. How well these devices function clinically has not been established. METHODS: All blood drawn for culture from adult inpatients and emergency department visitors in a level I trauma center was placed in paired BACTEC Plus and BacT/Alert FAN culture media and studied simultaneously, consecutively, and prospectively between 1 February and 30 September 2011. All cultures were processed per standard laboratory protocols. RESULTS: Of 9395 total cultures collected, 1219 (13%) were positive, 831 were included, and 524 (33%) contained pathogens. BACTEC had a 4.5-hour faster detection time (P < .0001), and isolated exclusively 182 of 524 (35%; P < .001) pathogens, 136 of 345 (39%) of the gram-positive cocci (P < .001), 48 of 175 (27%; P = .02) of the gram-negative rods, 101 of 195 (52%) of Staphylococcus aureus (P < .001), and 59 of 120 (49%; P = .004) septic events. If active antibiotics had been dosed 0-4 or 4-48 hours prior to culture collection, the odds of that culture growing in BACTEC were 4.8- and 5.2-fold greater, respectively, than of growing in BacT/Alert (P < .0001). Both were equivalent in the recovery of yeast and when no antimicrobials were dosed. CONCLUSIONS: BACTEC media has faster time to detection and increased bacterial recovery over the BacT/Alert media in the following categories: overall growth, pathogens, septic events, gram-positive cocci, gram-negative rods, Staphylococcus aureus, and cultures where antimicrobials were dosed up to 48 hours before culture collection.
Origin of the Moon-The Collision Hypothesis

In 1871, during his presidential address to the British Association in Edinburgh, Sir William Thompson (later Lord Kelvin) discussed the impact of two Earth-like bodies, asserting that "when two great masses come into collision in space, it is certain that a large part of each is melted" [see Arrhenius (1908, p. 218) for the complete quotation]. Although he did not go on to speculate about lunar origin, it must have been remarkable to see one of the creators of the bastions of nineteenth century conservative science discuss such an apocalyptic event and the debris issuing from it. It is equally remarkable that until recently, lunar origin myths have usually centered around three possibilities (fission, capture, and binary accretion) that exclude any important role for giant impacts. The Origin of the Moon Conference held in Kona, Hawaii, on October 13-16, 1984, saw a megaimpact hypothesis of lunar origin emerge as a strong contender, not because of any dramatic new development or infusion of data, but because the hypothesis was given serious and sustained attention for the first time. The resulting bandwagon has picked up speed (and some have hastened to jump aboard). Most significantly, efforts have been made to simulate giant impacts using three-dimensional hydrodynamic codes on supercomputers. Although all this effort is promising, a sober reflection on the problem after two years suggests that a lot more work is needed. It is not yet clear whether the collision hypothesis satisfies the observational facts.
Visual Diagnosis: Vaginal Mass in a 16-month-old Child

1. Elaine Ku, MD* 2. B. Jason Brotherton, MD* 3. Christopher Parrish, MD* 4. Stephanie K. Zia, MD* 5. Susan McKenna, MD* 1. *Department of Pediatrics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Calif. A 16-month-old girl presents to a tertiary care center with a 3-month history of a protruding mass from her vagina. The mass began 3 months ago as a small noticeable nodule in her vagina that rapidly increased in size. The mother states that her daughter has had intermittent white, foul-smelling vaginal discharge with occasional smearing of blood on her diaper. The mother also describes redness of the skin immediately surrounding the mass. The patient has normal urine output and urinary frequency without any evidence of discomfort during urination, and there is no hematuria. There have been no fevers or weight loss, although she has had a decreased appetite for 1 month. The patient initially was evaluated in Mexico by several physicians, who advised her to seek a higher level of care due to the rarity of her presentation. Financial limitations and lack of access to health care after the patient immigrated to the United States resulted in a delay in care. The patient was born at term by vaginal delivery in Mexico. Her mother denies taking any medications during pregnancy. The child is developmentally normal for age, and she has a maternal great-grandmother who had cervical cancer diagnosed in middle age. The mother denies any history of sexual abuse. Physical examination reveals an alert, well-appearing child in no acute distress. Vital signs are normal for age, and her weight, height, and head circumference are at the 25th percentile. Abdominal examination reveals a soft, nontender abdomen without hepatosplenomegaly or palpable masses. Multiple bilateral inguinal lymph nodes are noted, most prominently in the left inguinal region, where the largest …
Operations Strategy with Paper Boats

When participants in introductory business courses encounter the term âoperations strategy,â it is not easy for them to appreciate what operations strategy is about, or how it fits with overall business strategy. This game breaks down highfalutin jargon into experiences that participants can readily relate to. While working in teams to make paper boats, and competing with other teams, participants realize that they have intuitively engaged in the formulation and implementation of their teamâs operations strategy. They begin to appreciate the interplay between the customerâs requirements, their own teamâs strengths, the âcompetitive prioritiesâ that their team must emphasize, and the tradeoffs inherent in making these decisions.
Validation of the KDIGO acute kidney injury criteria in a pediatric critical care population.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs commonly in critically ill children and has been associated with increased mortality of up to 50 %. The Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) AKI working group has proposed a standardized definition of AKI. Utilizing routinely available clinical data, we evaluated the KDIGO AKI criteria and the relationship of AKI with relevant outcomes in a single center tertiary pediatric intensive care (PICU) and cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) population. The University of Michigan Pediatric Critical Care Database was probed for all discharges from the pediatric intensive care and cardiac intensive care units between July 2011 and October 2013 (N = 4,645). The KDIGO serum creatinine (SCr)-based criteria staged AKI with the modification that a minimum SCr of greater than 0.5 mg/dL was required to be classified as AKI. Exclusion: end-stage renal disease, new renal transplant, missing PRISM III data, or no measured Cr during intensive care unit (ICU) admission (N = 1,636). AKI occurred in 737 (24.5 %, stage 1 = 193, stage 2 = 189, and stage 3 = 355) of 3,009 discharges (PICU N = 1,870, CICU N = 1,139) that included 2,415 patients. In multivariate analysis AKI was associated with increased ICU length of stay (LOS) in hours (stage I β = 42.2, p = 0.024, II β = 74.1, p = 0.003, III β = 215.8, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that AKI was associated with increased odds of ICU mortality (OR 3.4, 95 % CI 2.0–6.0) and increased length of mechanical ventilation among those requiring mechanical ventilation (β = 2.3 days, p < 0.001). Using the KDIGO criteria to define AKI, we observed a high prevalence of AKI among critically ill children. Worsening stages of AKI were associated with increased ICU LOS, and AKI was independently associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation and increased mortality. The KDIGO criteria describe clinically relevant AKI in a broad pediatric critical care population.
The nutrient status of epiphytes and their host trees along an elevational gradient in Costa Rica.

Vascular epiphytes are a conspicuous and highly diverse group in tropical wet forests; yet, we understand little about their mineral nutrition across sites. In this study, we examined the mineral nutrition of three dominant vascular epiphyte groups: ferns, orchids, and bromeliads, and their host trees from samples collected along a 2600 m elevational gradient in the tropical wet forests of Costa Rica. We predicted that the mineral nutrition of ferns, orchids, and bromeliads would differ because of their putative differences in nutrient acquisition mechanisms and nutrient sources—atmospherically dependent, foliar feeding bromeliads would have lower nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) concentrations and more depleted δ15N values than those in canopy soil-rooted ferns because canopy soil is higher in available N, and more enriched in δ15N than the atmospheric sources of precipitation and throughfall. We also predicted that epiphyte foliar chemistry would mirror that of host trees because of the likely contribution of host trees to the nutrient cycle of epiphytes via foliar leaching and litter contributions to canopy soil. In the same vein, we predicted that epiphyte and host tree foliar chemistry would vary with elevation reflecting ecosystem-level nutrients—soil N availability increases and P availability decreases with increasing elevation. Our results confirmed that canopy soil-rooted epiphytes had higher N concentrations than atmospheric epiphytes; however, our predictions were not confirmed with respect to P which did not vary among groups indicating fixed P availability within sites. In addition, foliar δ15N values did not match our prediction in that canopy soil-rooted as well as atmospheric epiphytes had variable signatures. Discriminant function analysis (DFA) on foliar measurements determined that ferns, orchids, and bromeliads are statistically distinct in mineral nutrition. We also found that P concentrations of ferns and orchids, but not bromeliads, were significantly correlated with those of host trees indicating a possible link in their mineral nutrition’s via canopy soil. Interestingly, we did not find any patterns of epiphyte foliar chemistry with elevation. These data indicate that the mineral nutrition of the studied epiphyte groups are distinct and highly variable within sites and the diverse uptake mechanisms of these epiphyte groups enhance resource partitioning which may be a mechanism for species richness maintenance in tropical forest canopies.