cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Time-dependent effects of safflower oil to improve glycemia, inflammation and blood lipids in obese, post-menopausal women with type 2 diabetes: a randomized, double-masked, crossover study

Summary Background & aims Metabolic effects of dietary fat quality in people with type 2 diabetes are not well-understood. The study objective was to evaluate effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and safflower (SAF) oils on glycemia, blood lipids, and inflammation. The hypothesis we tested is that dietary oils improve glycemia, lipids, and inflammatory markers in a time-dependent way that follows accumulation of linoleic acid and CLA isomers in serum of subjects supplemented with dietary oils. Methods Fifty-five post-menopausal, obese women with type 2 diabetes enrolled, and 35 completed this randomized, double-masked crossover study. Treatments were 8 g daily of CLA and SAF for 16 weeks each. We used a multiple testing procedure with pre-determined steps analysis to determine the earliest time that a significant effect was detected. Results CLA did not alter measured metabolic parameters. SAF decreased HbA1c (−0.64 ± 0.18%, p = 0.0007) and C-reactive protein (−13.6 ± 8.2 mg/L, p = 0.0472), increased QUICKI (0.0077 ± 0.0035, p = 0.0146) with a minimum time to effect observed 16 weeks after treatment. SAF increased HDL cholesterol (0.12 ± 0.05 mmol/L, p = 0.0228) with the minimum time to detect an effect of SAF at 12 weeks. The minimum time to detect an increase of c9t11-CLA, t10c12-CLA, and linoleic acid in serum of women supplemented CLA or SAF, respectively, was four weeks. Conclusions We conclude that 8 g of SAF daily improved glycemia, inflammation, and blood lipids, indicating that small changes in dietary fat quality may augment diabetes treatments to improve risk factors for diabetes-related complications.
The OSP(2, 2|16) superconformal theory is free

The SuperConformal theory in three space-time dimensions with SO(16) R-symmetry, 128 bosons and 128 fermions cannot sustain interactions. This result is obtained using both light-cone superspace techniques which rely on algebraic consistency, and co-variant methods which rely on SO(16) Fierz identities which fail to produce the desired algebra.
Efficient selection of tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms in multiple populations

Common genetic polymorphism may explain a portion of the heritable risk for common diseases, so considerable effort has been devoted to finding and typing common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the human genome. Many SNPs show correlated genotypes, or linkage disequilibrium (LD), suggesting that only a subset of all SNPs (known as tagging SNPs, or tagSNPs) need to be genotyped for disease association studies. Based on the genetic differences that exist among human populations, most tagSNP sets are defined in a single population and applied only in populations that are closely related. To improve the efficiency of multi-population analyses, we have developed an algorithm called MultiPop-TagSelect that finds a near-minimal union of population-specific tagSNP sets across an arbitrary number of populations. We present this approach as an extension of LD-select, a tagSNP selection method that uses a greedy algorithm to group SNPs into bins based on their pairwise association patterns, although the MultiPop-TagSelect algorithm could be used with any SNP tagging approach that allows choices between nearly equivalent SNPs. We evaluate the algorithm by considering tagSNP selection in candidate-gene resequencing data and lower density whole-chromosome data. Our analysis reveals that an exhaustive search is often intractable, while the developed algorithm can quickly and reliably find near-optimal solutions even for difficult tagSNP selection problems. Using populations of African, Asian, and European ancestry, we also show that an optimal multi-population set of tagSNPs can be substantially smaller (up to 44%) than a typical set obtained through independent or sequential selection.
Tutorial: Linear inverse filters in orthogonal coordinates

The linear filter is used extensively in exploration geophysics, and is usually computed using the least squares normal equations. In the general field of time series, the inverse problem is often solved through eigenvalue expansion solutions to integral equations. The normal equations can be solved in terms of the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the autocorrelation matrix. It has been suggested that a spectral expansion technique should be used which computes the inverse directly without explicit use of the normal equations. If all possible spiking positions are calculated using the normal equations, the spiking operator matrix is obtained. The matrix operator obtained from the spectral expansion is closely related to the spiking operator matrix. Thus, it is possible to compute the spectral expansion filter using the normal equations. Therefore, it is possible to use the best features of both methods, i.e. obtaining the optimum filter with the normal equations, and discarding the poorly determined parts of the solution based on spectral expansion.
Surface damage versus tibial polyethylene insert conformity: a retrieval study.

Background Surface damage of the tibial polyethylene insert in TKA is thought to diminish with increasing conformity, based on computed lower contact stresses. Added constraint from higher conformity may, however, result in greater forces in vivo.
Perioperative Upper Extremity Peripheral Nerve Traction Injuries

Peripheral nerve traction injuries may occur after surgical care and can involve any of the upper extremity large peripheral nerves. In this review, injuries after shoulder or elbow surgical intervention are discussed. Understanding the varying mechanisms of injury as well as classification is imperative for preoperative risk stratification as well as management.
A mathematical model for pyrolysis of a solid particle: Effects of the lewis number

A transient analysis of a fluid-solid pyrolysis system in which a solid is pytolyzed to form a fluid product and a solid product is presented. The analysis, based on utilization of the so-called volume reaction model, takes into account the simultaneous heat and mass transfer phenomena in the particle being pyrolyzed. Variations of physical parameters with respect to temperature and/or solid concentration are not neglected. Effects of the Lewis number on the solid conversion, the fluid and solid concentration distributions, and the temperature profile in the particle are examined. The results are graphically presented and interpreted. On presente une analyse transitoire d'un systeme de pyrolyse impliquant un fluide et un solide et dans lequel un solide est transforme par pyrolyse en deux produits, un fluide et un solide. Ladite analyse, qui est basee sur l'utilisation du modele a soi-disant reaction en volume, tient compte des phenomenes de transfert simultane de chaleur et de masse dans la particule soumise a la pyrolyse; on y considere egalement les variations des parametres physiques par rapport a la temperature et/ou a la concentration du solide. On examine les effets du nombre de Lewis sur la transformation du solide, les distributions des concentrations du fluide et du solide qui en resultent et du profil des temperatures dans la particule. On presente les resultats sous forme graphique et les interprete.
Chromatin landscape and circadian dynamics: Spatial and temporal organization of clock transcription.

Circadian rhythms drive the temporal organization of a wide variety of physiological and behavioral functions in ∼24-h cycles. This control is achieved through a complex program of gene expression. In mammals, the molecular clock machinery consists of interconnected transcriptional–translational feedback loops that ultimately ensure the proper oscillation of thousands of genes in a tissue-specific manner. To achieve circadian transcriptional control, chromatin remodelers serve the clock machinery by providing appropriate oscillations to the epigenome. Recent findings have revealed the presence of circadian interactomes, nuclear “hubs” of genome topology where coordinately expressed circadian genes physically interact in a spatial and temporal-specific manner. Thus, a circadian nuclear landscape seems to exist, whose interplay with metabolic pathways and clock regulators translates into specific transcriptional programs. Deciphering the molecular mechanisms that connect the circadian clock machinery with the nuclear landscape will reveal yet unexplored pathways that link cellular metabolism to epigenetic control.
A 12-bit 75-MS/s pipelined ADC using open-loop residue amplification

Precision amplifiers dominate the power dissipation in most high-speed pipelined analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). We propose a digital background calibration technique as an enabling element to replace precision amplifiers by simple power-efficient open-loop stages. In the multibit first stage of a 12-bit 75-MSamples/s proof-of-concept prototype, we achieve more than 60% residue amplifier power savings over a conventional implementation. The ADC has been fabricated in a 0.35-/spl mu/m double-poly quadruple-metal CMOS technology and achieves typical differential and integral nonlinearity within 0.5 LSB and 0.9 LSB, respectively. At Nyquist input frequencies, the measured signal-to-noise ratio is 67 dB and the total harmonic distortion is -74 dB. The IC consumes 290 mW at 3 V and occupies 7.9 mm/sup 2/.
Determination of Solasodine in Fruits of Solanum Species

A potentiometric nonaqueous titration procedure was developed for the quantitative determination of solasodine in fruits of the Solanum species. The steroid glycoalkaloids were extracted from freshly harvested fruits with 2% acetic acid and methanol. After hydrolysis, the common aglycone solasodine was extracted with benzene. An aliquot was mixed with an equal volume of acetone and titrated potentiometrically with 0.005 N perchloric acid in dioxane, using glass and silver electrodes for the determination.
Structure and function of the murine β-globin locus control region 5′ HS-3

We previously identified the murine homologue of the human beta-globin Locus Control Region (LCR) 5' HS-2. The lambda clone containing murine 5' HS-2 extends approximately 12 kb upstream from this site; here, we report the sequence of this entire upstream region. The murine homologue of 5' HS-3 is located approximately 16.0 kb upstream from the mouse epsilon y-globin gene, but no region homologous to human 5' HS-4 was present in our clone. Using a reporter system consisting of a human gamma-globin promoter driving the neomycin phosphotransferase gene (gamma-neo), we tested murine LCR fragments extending from -21 to -9 kb (with respect to the epsilon y-globin gene cap site) for activity in classical enhancer and integration site assays in K562 and MEL cells. 5' HS-2 behaved as a powerful enhancer and increased the number of productive integration events (as measured by a colony assay) in both K562 and MEL cells. 5' HS-3 had no activity in K562 cells or in transiently transfected MEL cells, but was nearly as active as 5' HS-2 in the MEL cell colony assay. Two additional tests confirmed the identification of murine 5' HS-3: first, a DNA fragment containing 5' HS-3 confers copy number-dependent, integration-site independent inducibility on a linked beta-globin gene in the MEL cell environment. Secondly, a strong DNAseI hypersensitive site maps to the location of the 5' HS-3 functional core in chromatin derived from MEL cells. Collectively, these data suggest that we have identified the murine homologue of human 5' HS-3, and that this site is functional when integrated into the chromatin of MEL cells but not K562 cells. 5' HS-3 may therefore contain information that contributes to the development-specific expression of the beta-like globin genes.
Evaluation of sensibility and function with microsurgical free tissue transfer of the great toe to the hand for thumb reconstruction

Detailed evaluation of sensibility and function on 10 patients was carried out on an average of 42 months after thumb reconstruction by microsurgical free tissue transfer. Sensibility based on modified two-point discrimination and ridge criteria was found to be directly related to the patient's age at time of neurosuture. The plantar aspect of the distal 2 cm of the normal toe showed two-point value averaging 6 mm in 20 normal shoe-wearing adults, compared to values of 12 mm when the toe was tested over the plantar surface of the proximal half of the distal phalanx. Metacarpophalangeal joint motion and interphalangeal joint motion were limited when compared with the opposite normal thumb and unoperated great toe. Grip strength and pinch strength reflected the degree of associated injuries in the hand. Cold intolerance was present in all patients. Patients' subjective assessment of their ability to use their hand as compared to their hand prior to injury was rated at less than 10% preoperatively compared to 52% to 87% postoperatively. None of the patients perceived a problem of social acceptance after the surgery. Postoperative studies of the feet revealed concentration of weight bearing between the second and third metatarsal heads on Harris mat studies and slowing of the forward and medial progression of the center of pressure on gait analysis. Some weakness in push-off and cutting maneuvers in sports activities was reported in half of the patients. None of the patients experienced difficulty when running long distances on level ground. All the patients returned to gainful employment postoperatively.
Glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) promotes the survival of axotomized retinal ganglion cells in adult rats: Comparison to and combination with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)

Adult rat retinal ganglion cells (RGC) undergo degeneration after optic nerve transection. Studies have shown that exogenously applied neurotrophic factors such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) can attenuate axotomy-induced as well as developmental RGC death. Here, we examined whether glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), a known neurotrophic factor for dopaminergic neurons and motor neurons, could provide neurotrophic support to RGC in adult rats. We determined whether RGC could retrogradely transport GDNF from their target tissue. After injection into the superior colliculus of adult rats, 125I-GDNF was retrogradely transported to contralateral eyes but not to ipsilateral eyes. The transport of 125I-GDNF could be blocked by coinjection of excess unlabeled GDNF, indicating that it was receptor mediated. We tested whether intravitreally applied GDNF could prevent axotomy-induced RGC degeneration. The RGC were prelabeled with Fluorogold (FG) and axotomized by intraorbital optic nerve transection. GDNF, BDNF (positive control), cytochrome c (negative control), or a GDNF/BDNF combination was injected intravitreally on days 0 and 7. On day 14, FG-labeled RGC were counted from whole-mount retinas. We found that, similar to BDNF, GDNF could significantly attenuate the degeneration of RGC in a dose-dependent fashion. Furthermore, the combination treatment of GDNF and BDNF showed better protection than either factor used individually. Our data indicate that GDNF is a neurotrophic factor for the adult rat RGC. GDNF, like BDNF, may be useful for the treatment of human RGC degenerative diseases.
Epratuzumab for patients with moderate to severe flaring SLE: health-related quality of life outcomes and corticosteroid use in the randomized controlled ALLEVIATE trials and extension study SL0006

Objective. To evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and corticosteroid use in patients with moderate to severely active SLE enrolled in two international, multicentre, randomized controlled trials of epratuzumab (ALLEVIATE-1 and -2) and a long-term extension study (SL0006). Methods. Ninety ALLEVIATE patients (43% BILAG A, mean BILAG score 13.2) were randomized to receive 360 mg/m 2 (n = 42) or 720 mg/m 2 (n = 11) epratuzumab or placebo (n = 37), plus standard of care, in 12-week cycles. Corticosteroid use, patient and physician global assessments of disease activity (PtGA and PGA) and 36-item Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form (SF-36) results were recorded at baseline and every 4 weeks. Both trials were prematurely discontinued due to a drug supply interruption; patients followed for 56 months were analysed. Twenty-nine patients continued in SL0006, with interim analysis at a median exposure of 120 (range 13184) weeks. Results. At week 12, proportions of patients with a PGA 520% above baseline or with a PtGA improvement greater than or equal to the minimum clinically important difference were higher in the epratuzumab arms than the placebo arm. PGA and PtGA improvements were sustained but did not reach statistical significance. At week 24, mean cumulative corticosteroid doses with epratuzumab 360 and 720 mg/m 2 were 1051 and 1973 mg less than placebo (P = 0.034 and 0.081, respectively). At week 48, SF-36 scores approached or exceeded US age- and gender-matched norms in five domains with the 360 mg/m 2 treatment. Improvements were maintained in SL0006 over 2 years.
Immuno-gene therapy of melanoma by tumor antigen epitope modified IFN-γ

Cytokine-based vaccines play a major part in tumor immuno-gene therapy. However, down-regu- lated antigen expression on tumor cells may diminish the immuno-potentiating aspects of cellular vaccines. In this study, we coexpressed a tumor antigen epitope with IFN-c in the same gene by replacing the IFN-c signal peptide with an antigen epitope-expressing sig- nal peptide. We then investigated the effect of the antigen epitope-incorporated IFN-c on the immuno- therapy of murine melanoma B16 tumors. Results showed that TRP-2 epitope-expressing IFN-c de- creased B16 tumorigenicity and enhanced its immu- nogenicity after gene transfer. Protective immunity against wild type B16 tumors was induced by vacci- nation with IFN-c transiently gene-modified tumor cells. These data suggest that cellular vaccines engi- neered to express an antigen epitope within an im- munostimulatory cytokine could potentiate the immunization effect.
Effect of butyrate on immune response of a chicken macrophage cell line

Butyric acid is a major short chain fatty acid (SCFA), produced in the gastrointestinal tract by anaerobic bacterial fermentation, that has beneficial health effects in many species including poultry. To understand the immunomodulating effects of butyrate on avian macrophage, we treated a naturally transformed line of chicken macrophage cells named HTC with Na-butyrate in the absence or presence of Salmonella typhimurium lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), a metabolic activator, evaluating its various functional parameters. The results demonstrate that, butyrate by itself had no significant effect on variables such as nitric oxide (NO) production and the expression of genes associated with various inflammatory cytokines but it inhibited NO production, and reduced the expression of cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ, and IL-10 in LPS-stimulated cells. Butyrate decreased the expression of TGF-β3 in the presence or absence of LPS, while it had no effect on IL-4, Tβ4, and MMP2 gene expression. In addition, butyrate augmented PMA induced oxidative burst indicated by DCF-DA oxidation and restored LPS induced attenuation of tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity. Although butyrate had no significant effect on phagocytosis or matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activities of resting macrophages, it significantly suppressed the effects induced by their respective stimulants such as LPS induced phagocytosis and PMA induced MMP expression. These results suggest that butyrate has immunomodulatory property in the presence of agents that incite the cells thus, has potential to control inflammation and restore immune homeostasis.
A Comparative Study of Parameter Estimation Methods for Statistical Natural Language Processing

This paper presents a comparative study of five parameter estimation algorithms on four NLP tasks. Three of the five algorithms are well-known in the computational linguistics community: Maximum Entropy (ME) estimation with L2 regularization, the Averaged Perceptron (AP), and Boosting. We also investigate ME estimation with L1 regularization using a novel optimization algorithm, and BLasso, which is a version of Boosting with Lasso (L1) regularization. We first investigate all of our estimators on two re-ranking tasks: a parse selection task and a language model (LM) adaptation task. Then we apply the best of these estimators to two additional tasks involving conditional sequence models: a Conditional Markov Model (CMM) for part of speech tagging and a Conditional Random Field (CRF) for Chinese word segmentation. Our experiments show that across tasks, three of the estimators — ME estimation with L1 or L2 regularization, and AP — are in a near statistical tie for first place.
CLIMATIC AND HUMAN INFLUENCES ON FIRE REGIMES OF THE SOUTHERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, COLORADO, USA

Fire severity, frequency, and extent are expected to change dramatically in coming decades in response to changing climatic conditions, superimposed on the adverse cumulative effects of various human-related disturbances on ecosystems during the past 100 years or more. To better gauge these expected changes, knowledge of climatic and human influences on past fire regimes is essential. We characterized the temporal and spatial properties of fire regimes in ponderosa pine forests of the southern San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado by collecting 175 fire-scarred tree samples from nine sites across a wide range of topographic settings. All tree rings and fire scars were dated using standard dendrochronological techniques. Fire-free intervals were statistically modeled using the Weibull distribution to provide quantitative measures that characterized the historical range of variation in pre-EuroAmerican fire regimes. Fires during our reference period were more frequent in the low elevation ponderosa pine forests (6-10 yr) than in the high elevation, mixed conifer forests (18-28 yr). Fires at lower elevations were predominantly low-severity, isolated fires. Fires during some years (e.g., 1748) were spatially extensive throughout the entire mountain range. Intervals that delimited significantly long fire-free periods ranged from 10-19 yr (low elevation) to 27- 50 yr (high elevation). Fire histories were similar between the eastern and western portions of the mountain range, although we found significant evidence of topographic isolation on fire regimes at one site. Pre-1880 fires primarily occurred in the dormant season, and we found no temporal changes in past fire seasonality. We found no compelling evidence that Native Americans influenced fire regimes in our study sites. We found a hiatus in fire occurrence between 1750 and 1770 that we believe was likely related to weakened El Nino-Southern Oscillation activity, an extended series of cool-phase Pacific Decadal Oscillation events, and weakened monsoonal moisture, all possibly en- trained in an invasive air mass typical of locations that are more northerly. In addition, pre-1880 fires occurred during years of severe drought, conditioned by above average moisture conditions in preceding years. The 20th century is characterized by a near complete absence of fires (fire-free interval of .100 yr), suggesting future wildfires may be more widespread and ecologically severe compared to pre-1880 fires.
A model based feedback controller for wing-twist via piezoceramic actuation

In this paper we present a model for a rubber plate with piezoceramic actuators to represent a bioinspired flexible wing. Using a Galerkin based finite element approximation to the system, we compute a linear quadratic based tracking control for piezoelectric actuators placed along both leading and trailing edges. Using these piezoceramic devices, we demonstrate the effectiveness of model based feedback control in achieving a desired wing tip position; this modified shape is analogous to aircraft roll moment generation via wing twist.
Age-Enhanced Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Contributes to Increased Atg9A Inhibition of STING-Mediated IFN-β Production during Streptococcus Pneumoniae Infection

Pneumococcal infections remain a leading cause of death in persons ≥ 65 y of age. Recent reports have illustrated detrimental changes in the endoplasmic reticulum stress response or unfolded protein response in aging and age-related diseases; however, the relationship between aging, the unfolded protein response, and innate immune responses to Streptococcus pneumoniae has not been fully elucidated. Our results illustrate that stimulator of IFN genes-mediated production of IFN-β during S. pneumoniae infection is decreased in aged hosts. Enhanced endoplasmic reticulum stress in response to S. pneumoniae augmented inositol-requiring protein 1/X-box binding protein 1-mediated production of autophagy-related gene 9 (Atg9a). Knockdown of Atg9a or treatment with gemcitabine HCl resulted in enhanced stimulator of IFN genes-mediated production of IFN-β by aged macrophages. Consecutive treatments with gemcitabine during in vivo S. pneumoniae infection decreased morbidity and mortality in aged hosts, which was associated with decreased Atg9a expression, increased IFN-β production, and improved bacterial clearance from lung tissue. Taken together, data presented in this study provide new evidence as to why older persons are more susceptible to S. pneumoniae, and provide a possible mechanism to enhance these responses, thereby decreasing morbidity and mortality in this population.
Fault and fault-rock characteristics associated with Cenozoic extension and core-complex evolution in the Catalina-Rincon region, southeastern Arizona

Cenozoic extensional deformation in southern Arizona included (1) a Neogene phase of Basin and Range deformation recorded by high-angle normal faults and (2) an earlier phase of detachment faulting and brittle-ductile crustal shearing associated with tectonic denudation of metamorphic core complexes. In the Catalina-Rincon region, exposed fault zones produced at different crustal depths during successive extensional episodes display differing fault geometries and types of fault rocks formed during progressive crustal extension. Detachment faults are associated with both mylonites produced by ductile shear and cataclasites produced by brittle shear. Younger faults formed at shallower depths are associated with less intense cataclastic deformation and with brittle fracturing that includes transtensile phenomena at the shallowest crustal levels represented. Qualitative measures of net displacement along individual fault zones are provided by (1) the nature of contrasts among successively overprinted fabrics and internal structures in the footwall and (2) the degree of contrast between fabrics and structures of footwall and hanging-wall rocks. Footwalls of the oldest structures display varied brittle overprints of ductile fabrics and are juxtaposed across gouge zones along detachment surfaces with stratal successions cut by multiple brittle shear surfaces. Footwalls of younger structures formed at shallower depths display multiple generations of cataclastic features, including brecciation of variable intensity and cataclasite dikes, but are juxtaposed against hanging-wall strata that are only moderately deformed by subsidiary faults. The shallowest fault zones lack either structural overprints in their footwalls or any significant contrasts between footwall and hanging-wall deformation. Exposures of mid-crustal rocks within the core complexes reflect successive exhumation and uplift of fault footwalls during sequential episodes of deformation. The present high elevation of mylonitic rocks in the Catalina-Rincon metamorphic core complex reflects dip slip and isostatic footwall flexure during Basin and Range deformation as well as tectonic denudation during detachment faulting. Net uplift of core rocks resulted from multiple phases of deformation.
Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Mulsant) (Coccinellidae: Scymninae): a review of biology, ecology, and use in biological control with particular reference to potential impact on non-target organisms

Over the years, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) has been used in both classical and augmentative biological control programmes. The ladybird is also considered important in certain conservation biological control programmes. This paper provides a critical review of the literature pertaining to its biology, ecology and use, with a particular emphasis on potential impact on non-target organisms. C. montrouzieri has many of the attributes of an effective natural enemy, including a rapid development rate, high reproductive potential, good adaptation to a range of tropical and subtropical climates, high prey consumption rates by both adults and larvae and ease of rearing. The coccinellid has been introduced into at least 64 countries/territories to control more than 16 pest species. C. montrouzieri is a polyphagous predator that exploits hosts in at least eight hemipteran families. It is noteworthy that it has adapted to feed on new insect families in some new localities where it has been introduced. Although the wide host range has allowed its use against a variety of pest species, it is also a good indicator of the potential to feed on non-target species. In view of the continued interest to utilize the predator in new non-native localities, questions have arisen regarding its potential to cause negative impacts, especially against non-target organisms. Given the wide recorded host range, it seems unnecessary to conduct additional host range tests as significant decisions can be made based on the available information. Thus, when the available data are interpreted based on a centrifugal process, it is apparent that the ladybird has a potentially very broad host range. Therefore, even without additional studies, it would be reasonable to assume that the ladybird has the potential to extend its host range in unpredictable ways. Clearly, the beetle would provide a good model for conducting post-release studies, especially where the predator has been established for a long time. Such studies would not only provide insight into the impact of introducing generalist non-native coccinellid predators but also help to increase our understanding of the mechanisms limiting host range.
Slower ozone production in Houston, Texas following emission reductions: evidence from Texas Air Quality Studies in 2000 and 2006

Abstract. Airborne measurements from two Texas Air Quality Study (TexAQS) field campaigns have been used to investigate changes of ozone production in Houston, Texas, from 2000 to 2006, a period of major emission reduction measures for petrochemical and other sources. Simultaneous declines in nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO + NO2) and highly reactive volatile organic compounds (HRVOCs) were observed between the two periods. We simulate HOx (OH and HO2) and organic radicals with a box model, the Dynamically Simple Model of Atmospheric Chemical Complexity, constrained by available airborne observations. Parameters such as total radical production, total OH reactivity of VOCs and ozone production rate (OPR) are computed to characterize the change of ozone production between 2000 and 2006 in the Houston area. The reduction in HRVOCs led to a decline in total radical production by 20–50%. Ozone production rates in the Houston area declined by 40–50% from 2000 to 2006, to which the reduction in NOx and HRVOCs made large contributions. Despite the significant decline in OPR, ozone production efficiency held steady, and VOC-sensitive conditions dominated during times of most rapid ozone formation, while the slow ozone formation continued to be NOx-limited. Our results highlight the importance of a balanced approach of ongoing HRVOC controls with NOx controls to further reduce O3 levels in the Houston area.
The History of Parkinson's Disease: Early Clinical Descriptions and Neurological Therapies

Although components of possible Parkinson's disease can be found in very early documents, the first clear medical description was written in 1817 by James Parkinson. In the mid-1800s, Jean-Martin Charcot was particularly influential in refining and expanding this early description and in disseminating information internationally about Parkinson's disease. He separated Parkinson's disease from multiple sclerosis and other disorders characterized by tremor, and he recognized cases that later would likely be classified among the Parkinsonism-plus syndromes. Early treatments of Parkinson's disease were based on empirical observation, and anticholinergic drugs were used as early as the nineteenth century. The discovery of dopaminergic deficits in Parkinson's disease and the synthetic pathway of dopamine led to the first human trials of levodopa. Further historically important anatomical, biochemical, and physiological studies identified additional pharmacological and neurosurgical targets for Parkinson's disease and allow modern clinicians to offer an array of therapies aimed at improving function in this still incurable disease.
The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in Pregnancy: Challenges in Disease Detection and Treatment

Pregnancy dramatically affects the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis leading to increased circulating cortisol and ACTH levels during gestation, reaching values in the range seen in Cushing's syndrome (CS). The cause(s) of increased ACTH may include placental synthesis and release of biologically active CRH and ACTH, pituitary desensitization to cortisol feedback, or enhanced pituitary responses to corticotropin-releasing factors. In this context, challenges in diagnosis and management of disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in pregnancy are discussed. CS in pregnancy is uncommon and is associated with fetal morbidity and mortality. The diagnosis may be missed because of overlapping clinical and biochemical features in pregnancy. The proportion of patients with primary adrenal causes of CS is increased in pregnancy. CRH stimulation testing and inferior petrosal sinus sampling can identify patients with Cushing's disease. Surgery is a safe option for treatment in the second trimester; otherwise medical therapy may be used. Women with known adrenal insufficiency that is appropriately treated can expect to have uneventful pregnancies. Whereas a fetal/placental source of cortisol may mitigate crisis during gestation, unrecognized adrenal insufficiency may lead to maternal or fetal demise either during gestation or in the puerperium. Appropriate treatment and management of labor are reviewed.
Follow-up Frequency and Compliance in Women with Probably Benign Findings on Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Rationale and Objectives Six-month short-interval follow-up is recommended for probably benign findings on breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We wanted to examine patient adherence to follow-up recommendation for Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category 3 lesions at a tertiary care medical center. Materials and Methods We performed a retrospective review of frequency and adherence rates to follow-up recommendation for women with an initial BI-RADS 3 breast MRI between 2005 and 2007. Results A total of 132 women with BI-RADS 3 breast MRI recommendations were included. Ninety-six of 132 (72.7%) women adhered to the first follow-up recommendation or elected to have tissue diagnosis; 78/132 (59.1%) had follow-up MRI and 18/132 (13.6%) had tissue diagnosis. Thirty-six of 132 (27.3%) women did not return for follow-up. Nine of nine (100%) of BRCA carriers returned for follow-up or had tissue diagnosis, compared to 87/123 (70.7%) of non-BRCA carriers. A total of 35/41 (85.4%) of patients with a prior history of breast cancer returned for follow-up or had tissue diagnosis, compared to 61/91 (67%) of patients without a history of breast cancer. Only 5/15 (33%) of patients undergoing MRI for symptom alone adhered to follow-up recommendations. Conclusion Adherence to BI-RADS category 3 follow-up recommendation is often low. Women with a history of breast cancer or who were BRCA carriers were significantly more likely to adhere to follow-up recommendation than women without a history of breast cancer or women undergoing MRI for symptoms alone. Strategies to improve adherence should be developed.
Tomographic Imaging of BiologicalTissue by Time-Resolved, Model-Based, Iterative Image Reconstruction

Currently available tomographic image reconstruction schemes for photon migration tomography (PMT) are mostly based on the limiting assumptions of small perturbations and a priori knowledge of the optical properties of a reference medium. In this work a modelbased iterative image reconstruction (MOBIIR) method is presented, which does not require the knowledge of a reference medium or that the encountered heterogeneities are small perturbations. After a description of the major code structure and a review of the mathematical background, the clinically relevant examples of brain imaging and breast cancer detection and are discussed. It is shown that ventricular bleedings in the brain can be detected and that cysts and tumors in the breast can be distinguished using the MOBIIR technique.
Controls of Global-Mean Precipitation Increases in Global Warming GCM Experiments

This paper examines the controls on global precipitation that are evident in the transient experiments conducted using coupled climate models collected for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report (AR4). The change in precipitation, water vapor, clouds, and radiative heating of the atmosphere evident in the 1% increase in carbon dioxide until doubled (1pctto2x) scenario is examined. As noted in other studies, the ensemble-mean changes in water vapor as carbon dioxide is doubled occur at a rate similar to that predicted by the Clausius–Clapeyron relationship. The ratio of global changes in precipitation to global changes in water vapor offers some insight on how readily increased water vapor is converted into precipitation in modeled climate change. This ratio is introduced in this paper as a gross indicator of the global precipitation efficiency under global warming. The main findings of this paper are threefold. First, increases in the global precipitation track increase atmospheric radiative energy loss and the ratio of precipitation sensitivity to water vapor sensitivity is primarily determined by changes to this atmospheric column energy loss. A reference limit to this ratio is introduced as the rate at which the emission of radiation from the clear-sky atmosphere increases as water vapor increases. It is shown that the derived efficiency based on the simple ratio of precipitation to water vapor sensitivities of models in fact closely matches the sensitivity derived from simple energy balance arguments involving changes to water vapor emission alone. Second, although the rate of increase of clear-sky emission is the dominant factor in the change to the energy balance of the atmosphere, there are two important and offsetting processes that contribute to in the model simulations studied: One involves a negative feedback through cloud radiative heating that acts to reduce the efficiency; the other is the global reduction in sensible heating that counteracts the effects of the cloud feedback and increases the efficiency. These counteracting feedbacks only apply on the global scale. Third, the negative cloud radiative heating feedback occurs through reductions of cloud amount in the middle troposphere, defined as the layer between 680 and 440 hPa, and by slight global cloud decreases in the lower troposphere. These changes act in a manner to expose the warmer atmosphere below to high clouds, thus resulting in a net warming of the atmospheric column by clouds and a negative feedback on the precipitation.
Identification of Social Anxiety in Schools: the Utility of a Two-Step Screening Process

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is highly prevalent yet largely undetected and untreated in adolescents despite the availability of effective treatments. Implementing interventions in schools enhances recognition and access to treatment for SAD. However, without reliable means to accurately identify youth in need of services, school-based interventions are not feasible. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the utility of a two-step, school-based screening approach to identify youth with SAD. Students at three public high schools were screened with self-report questionnaires or nominated by school personnel. Subsequently, a brief telephone assessment of student symptoms was completed with students’ parents. Results showed that using both questionnaires and telephone assessments yielded acceptable detection rates, while school staff nominations were not beneficial. This study provides support for the use of a two-step screening procedure consisting of student self-reports followed by brief parent telephone interviews to identify youth with clinically impairing social anxiety. Implications for enhancing school-based detection of and intervention for socially anxious adolescents are discussed.
A specific gas chromatographic method for residues of organic nitrogen pesticides

The principles of gas chromatography, pyrolysis, conversion of nitrogen to ammonia, conductivity, and coulometry are well known and various combinations of these methods have been used for many years. Coulson (1965) suggested the possible use of these principles as a means of determining micro amounts of nitrogen compounds. Coulson (1966) also described a micro method of nitrogen detection where the eluent from a gas Chromatographic column was passed through nickel sulfate-treated quartz wool with hydrogen at 800° to 820° C. and the resulting ammonia was measured by an electrolytic conductivity cell, `Tek Meulen (1924) described a nickel-on-magnesium-oxide catalyst for the conversion of nitrogen to ammonia at 440° C. Westlake and Gunther ( 1967) make reference to the determination of nitrogen by means of the Coulson conductivity cell. Martin (1966) and Albert (1967) also used the Ter Meulen catalyst and a coulometric cell for determining nitrogen in petroleum oils. This present report describes a micro-procedure developed for determining pesticide residues containing nitrogen. The procedure has been used with various modifications since 1965 and found most satisfactory as a specific nitrogen detection method. It provides a ready means of analyzing a large number of samples with minimums of time, reagents, apparatus, and manipulation. Satisfactory degrees of accuracy and sensitivity are obtained by this method with minimum cleanup of most sample extracts. Although it was developed for use in pesticide residue work, it undoubtedly will be found useful in many other fields where it is desirable to analyze nitrogen compounds.
Iron(III)-Catalyzed Dimerization of Cycloolefins: Synthesis of High-Density Fuel Candidates

Bicycloalkanes with the potential for deployment in high-density diesel and jet fuels can be conveniently generated from cycloolefins using a two-step process. Dimerization of the cycloolefin may be affected, catalytically, using commercially available Fe(III) salts, and the reaction is tolerant of ring size (C5–C8) and limited ring-substitution patterns. Generation of an allylic radical is strongly suggested; however, observation of Fe-catalyzed olefin rearrangements and transfer dehydrogenation reactions may implicate the involvement of discrete organometallic complexes in the reaction. The fully saturated bicycloalkanes are easily prepared via metal-catalyzed hydrogenation of the cycloolefin–cycloalkane dimeric species.
Reliability assessment of various sonographic techniques for evaluating carpal tunnel syndrome

Objectives-The aim of this study was to determine the intra- and inter-rater reliability of sonographic measurements of the median nerve cross-sectional area in individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome and healthy control participants.Methods-The median nerve cross-sectional area was evaluated by sonography in 18 participants with carpal tunnel syndrome (18 upper extremities) and 9 control participants (18 upper extremities) at 2 visits 1 week apart. Two examiners, both blinded to the presence or absence of carpal tunnel syndrome, captured independent sonograms of the median nerve at the levels of the carpal tunnel inlet, pronator quadratus, and mid-forearm. The cross-sectional area was later measured by each examiner independently. Each also traced images that were captured by the other examiner.Results-Both the intra- and inter-rater reliability rates were highest for images taken at the carpal tunnel inlet (radiologist, r = 0.86; sonographer, r = 0.87; inter-rater, r = 0.95; all P < .0001), whereas they was lowest for the pronator quadratus (r = 0.49, 0.29, and 0.72, respectively; all P < .0001). At the mid-forearm, the intra-rater reliability was lower for both the radiologist and sonographer, whereas the inter-rater reliability was relatively high (r = 0.54, 0.55, and 0.81; all P < .0001). Tracing of captured images by different examiners showed high concordance for the median cross-sectional area at the carpal tunnel inlet (r = 0.96-0.98; P < .0001).Conclusions-The highest intra- and inter-rater reliability was found at the carpal tunnel inlet. The results also demonstrate that tracing of the median nerve cross-sectional area from captured images by different examiners does not contribute significantly to measurement variability.
Online Health Care: A Classic Clash of Technology, People, and Processes

This statement, in an e-mail to all physicians at FutureCare Medical Group, epitomized the ambivalence many physicians had for On-Line Patient Services. “Me too,” a partner chimed-in. “WE’LL GO BROKE!” e-mailed another. And so, a string of e-mails expressed frustration, doubt, and even shear refusal to participate in this major strategic initiative. Encouraging patients to send e-messages to unenthusiastic doctors would be a recipe for failure. Without physician support, the project would go nowhere. What was happening? What should be done?
Effect of Professional Background on Venture Capital Proposal Evaluation

This paper reports on the differences in investment related activities and evaluation criteria of venture capitalists having a business background compared to venture capitalists having a non-business background . Data was collected from a nationwide survey of 72 venture capitalists. The results show that venture capitalists having a non-business" background invest in earlier stages of the firm. require a shorter payback period and make more follow-up investments than business background venture capitalists. The non-business background venture capitalists place greater importance on the uniqueness of the product , the cost structure of the project and the entrepreneur' s health and less importance on exit procedures than business background venture capitalists.
Studies on cancer. II. The significance of the effect of circulation on the growth of cells.

As early as 19131, 2 I had already shown that the growth and migration of fixed tissue cells is proportional at all times to the size of the fragment, the cell density of the fragment and indirectly proportional to the thickness of the layer of the medium. All of these proportions hold, however, only to the limits of an active oxygen diffusion to all parts of the culture. Oxygen, as I have pointed out, diffuses readily only 0.5 to 0.7 mm. into clots and later I have found that it diffuses readily no greater than 1 mm. into many dense fragments of tissue. For any of these fixed tissues the maximum activity of the cell is seen about fragments 1 mm. in diameter planted in layers of medium 0.5 mm. in thickness.Single cells cannot grow in the plasmatic medium of the culture. Connective tissue and mesenchyme cells may stretch out to take their characteristic shapes and migrate short distances. These cells will not grow. Active migration is always proportional to the size of the fragment up to the limits cited a...