cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Secondary intraocular lens implantation for pediatric aphakia.

Purpose: We sought to report the outcome of secondary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in children. Methods: This was a retrospective case review. Results: A total of 77 eyes were identified. An average age at secondary implantation was 7.8 ± 5.0 years, whereas the average age at primary cataract surgery was 1.5 ± 2.6 years. Average follow-up was 2.7 ± 1.9 years. Thirty eyes received a hydrophobic acrylic IOL implantation whereas 47 eyes received a PMMA IOL. The sites of fixation for implanted IOLs were as follows: anterior-chamber (n = 6), sulcus (n = 42), in-the-bag (n = 14), optic-capture (n = 6), piggyback (n = 4), and sutured (n = 5). Complications included clinically significant decentration, 4 (5.2%); visual axis opacification, 4 (5.2%); dislocation of the IOL, 2 (2.6%); and pupillary capture requiring repositioning of IOL, 1 (1.3%). Clinically significant decentration requiring surgical intervention was noted only in eyes with sulcus-fixated foldable IOLs (28.6%; 4/14). None of the 29 eyes with sulcus-fixated PMMA IOL implantation developed decentration. All the decentrations were in an inferior direction and occurred in eyes of male patients ( P = 0.03). Eyes with an axial length of >23 mm were 4 times more likely to develop decentration if implanted with a sulcus-fixated foldable IOL when compared with eyes measuring P = 0.03). Postoperative geometric mean visual acuity was significantly better than preoperative visual acuity ( P Conclusion: Secondary IOL implantation can be safely achieved in pediatric eyes. In-the-bag fixation of foldable IOLs is associated with a low rate of complications. Foldable lenses appear to have a higher rate of decentration than PMMA lenses when placed in the sulcus in eyes of myopic male patients.
Ethnicity and cytokine production gauge response of patients with hepatitis C to interferon‐α therapy

Interferon is the primary treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, the long-term success rate is low particularly for African Americans relative to Caucasians and may be due to differential immune abilities. This study compared cytokine production from PHA-stimulated peripheral blood from 25 healthy and 40 HCV-infected African Americans and Caucasians. HCV patients were designated as IFN responders or nonresponders based on outcome after therapy. Ethnicity and genotype were associated with IFN response. IFN responders were 100% Caucasian, whereas nonresponders were 67% Caucasian and 33% African American (P = 0.01). Genotype 1 was present in 100% nonresponders and 50% responders (P < 0.05). Age, sex, liver histology, ALT, and viral titers were equivalent (ns). Cytokine production from healthy individuals showed ethnic variation in cytokine levels. Healthy African Americans produced greater amounts of IL-2 (P = 0.06), TNF-alpha (P = 0.06) and less IL-10 (P = 0.05) than healthy Caucasians. In contrast, IFN-gamma and TGF-beta levels were equivalent. Pretherapy cytokine production among HCV patients showed a similar pattern of ethnic variation. African American nonresponders produced more IL-2 (P = 0.06) and TNF-alpha (P = 0.02) than Caucasian nonresponders. Cytokine levels among Caucasian and African American nonresponders were equivalent (P = ns) to ethnically matched healthy individuals whereas Caucasian responders produced subnormal levels of IL-10 (P < 0.05) and TGF-beta (P < 0.05). Since all African Americans failed IFN therapy, cytokine production could not be compared with therapeutic outcome. However, comparison of cytokine production among Caucasians showed that responders produced less IL-10 (P < 0.001) and more TGF-beta (P = 0.06) than nonresponders and predicted Caucasian nonresponders with 83% sensitivity and 96% specificity. HCV genotype was not relevant to cytokine production (P = ns). Distribution of cytokine genetic polymorphisms (TNF-alpha, TNF-beta, IL-10, TGF-beta) was equivalent in all ethnic groups and did not predict clinical nonresponders. In summary, it appears that ethnicity may contribute to variable immune responses and therapeutic outcome. The cytokine profile among African Americans suggests a more robust immune response, which may complicate therapy with IFN. In contrast, the subnormal cytokine production among Caucasian responders may be more permissive to IFN therapy. Pretherapy cytokine production may allow prediction of drug resistance among Caucasians.
Advanced confocal microscope using single hollow-core photonic bandgap fibre design

A simple confocal microscope design based on a single hollow-core fibre approach has been developed and experimentally analysed. Key optical components are the use of a hollow-core photonic bandgap fibre and a holed-mirror beam-splitter, both of which provide significant reduction of Fresnel back-reflections at the fibre tips and total background level resulting in increased resolving confocal laser power.
Advancing Therapy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with Early, Comprehensive Progression from Oral Agents to Insulin Therapy

Abstract Background: Early and intensive glycemic control is necessary to prevent or minimize the development of microvascular and macrovascular complications in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, many patients are unable to attain glycemic control, partly due to protracted treatment with oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) despite inadequate control and barriers to initiating insulin therapy. Patients at different stages of disease may benefit from the early introduction of intensive glycemic control. Objective: This article discusses some of the potential barriers to achieving and maintaining optimal glycemic levels in patients whose blood glucose is sub-optimally controlled with OADs and reviews the benefits of early introduction of intensive glycemic control in patients at various stages of disease, with an emphasis on insulin therapy. Methods: Relevant English-language articles published from 1996 to 2006 were identified through searches of the National Center for Biotechnology PubMed database. Search terms included insulin, insulin therapy, type 2 diabetes, insulin analogs, early insulinization, and diabetes prevention , among others. Studies were assessed regarding designs, primary and secondary efficacy parameters, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAM lc ), fasting plasma glucose, incidence of hypoglycemia, and other safety assessments. Inclusion criteria were multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel-group trials, as well as retrospective observational studies, conducted in Europe or the United States. Additional analyses and guideline-based recommendations are included. Results: The landmark results of the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study, which found that an intensive strategy in 3867 newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes was associated with stricter glycemic control than was conventional care (HbA lc over 10 years, 7.0% vs 7.9%; P P = 0.01). Early initiation of insulin therapy concomitantly with OADs appeared well tolerated in the populations studied, was effective in recently diagnosed patients, and may also confer anti-inflammatory and antiatherogenic effects. Characteristics associated with newer formulations of insulin (eg, basal insulin analogues as well as rapid-acting insulin analogues, the insulin pump, or inhaled insulin) may help overcome barriers associated with initiating insulin therapy. Conclusions: Based on the literature, early and persistent intensification of antidiabetic therapy is an approach that most likely will achieve optimal glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes and help prevent associated complications. Greater clinical experience with newer therapeutic approaches, including incretin mimetics and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitors, will provide insight into their place in the spectrum of diabetes treatments.
Using patient reports to assess health-related quality of life after total hip replacement.

Data on disease severity, co-morbidity, and process of care were obtained from the medical records of 356 patients without rheumatoid arthritis undergoing a first unilateral total hip replacement at four teaching hospitals in California and Massachusetts. Sociodemographic characteristics, functional status prior and subsequent to hospitalization, and improvement in health status were measured with a patient questionnaire 12 months after discharge. Completed questionnaires were received from 284 patients, a reponse rate of 79.8%. The questionnaire was acceptable to patients, reliable, and had good construct validity. The data indicate substantial benefits from hip arthroplasty. As expected, pre-surgical functioning was a strong predictor of outcomes 1 year after surgery. Controlling for pre-surgical functioning, age was not related to outcomes.
IMPLICATIONS OF THE BAKKE DECISION IN IMPLEMENTING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAMS: A DECISION MODEL*

The U. S. Supreme Court decision in Regents of the University of California v. Allan Bakke (98. Su. Ct. 2733, 1978) provides guidelines to educational administrators regarding the implementation of affirmative action in student admissions. This paper presents a selection model which is consistent with the Supreme Court's decision in the Bakke case. This Diversity Model integrates traditional “ability” predictors with the illustrative diversity variables of sex and work history. The effect of the Diversity Model in terms of affirmative action impact and predicted grade point average when compared to a pure Performance Model and a Quota Model was evaluated on a sample of 199 MBA students. The Diversity Model did achieve an affirmative action effect with little or no sacrifice in student quality.
A simple eyelid conditioning masking task and its effect on differential conditioning

Differential eyelid conditioning performance to complex (color and form) stimuli was compared under standard-instructional and masking-task conditions. Although excellent differential conditioning was obtained with standard instructions, there was very little differential responding when a simple time estimation masking task was employed.
Abstract IA7: Unraveling the complexities of p63 in cancer and stem cells

Abstract Aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) and the enzymes that control their processing have been reported in multiple biological processes including in cancer and the regulation of stem cells, but the mechanisms governing this are not clearly understood. We have generated conditional knockout mice that allow the functional separation of TAp63 and ΔNp63 . Using the TAp63 conditional knock out mouse model, we found that TAp63 suppresses tumorigenesis and metastasis through coordinate transcriptional regulation of Dicer and miR-130b . Interestingly, we have recently found that ΔNp63 also plays an important role in miRNA processing by transcriptionally activating DGCR8. In turn, DGCR8 is required for processing of key miRNAs that repress genes required for stem cell pluripotency, Oct4 , Sox2 , and Nanog . Strikingly, epidermal cells derived from ΔNp63 deficient mice express markers of pluripotency at levels comparable to mouse embryonic stem cells. Moreover, these cells exhibit characteristics of stem cells that can self-renew and can differentiate into multiple cell fates in vitro and in vivo. Our data reveal a novel role for ΔNp63 in the commitment to epidermal differentiation through transcriptional regulation of DGCR8 and downstream modulation of key miRNAs required to maintain stem cell pluripotency. Taken together, our data show that p63 plays critical roles in regulating miRNAs in multiple biological processes. Citation Format: Elsa R. Flores. Unraveling the complexities of p63 in cancer and stem cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Noncoding RNAs and Cancer; 2012 Jan 8-11; Miami Beach, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(2 Suppl):Abstract nr IA7.
Depression in Primary Hyperparathyroidism: Prevalence and Benefit of Surgery

Context: Patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP) often report nonspecific symptoms including mood disturbances. Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the frequency of depression in PHP and assess its response to parathyroidectomy. Methods: A case-control study at a referral center in Rochester, MN, performed Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) assessments in observed (n = 81) and surgical (n = 88) PHP and benign nontoxic surgical thyroid disease (n = 85) at baseline and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery or the initial questionnaire in observed PHP. Baseline PHQ-9 scores and their response to surgery were evaluated. Results: The groups were similar in gender and depression history, but PHP patients were older. Baseline PHQ-9 scores were 1.71 points higher in PHP than controls after adjusting for age and gender (P = .004). Clinically significant PHQ-9 scores (≥10) were twice as common in PHP (31.4%) compared with thyroid subjects (15.3%). Parathyroidectomy resulted in signific...
Calcium channel blockers do not enhance increases in plasma potassium after succinylcholine in humans

Abstract Study Objective: To determine whether chronic calcium channel blocker therapy exaggerates the rise in plasma potassium concentration ([K + ]) after succinylcholine administration. Design: Prospective clinical study. Setting: University and Veterans Affairs hospitals. Patients: 36 ASA physical status III and IV male patients: 21 patients taking chronic calcium channel blockers and 15 patients not receiving calcium channel blockers, all of whom were scheduled for inpatient surgical procedures with general anesthesia. Interventions: In all patients, anesthesia was induced with high-dose opioids plus a sedative-hypnotic, and intubation was facilitated with 1 to 1.5 mg/kg succinylcholine without nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocker pretreatment. Measurements and Main Results: Plasma [K + ] was measured prior to induction and 1, 3, 5, 8, 11, and 15 minutes after succinylcholine was administered. A modest average peak rise of 0.5 mEq/L in plasma [K + ] was observed, but there were no differences between patients who were or were not receiving calcium channel blockers. Conclusions: Patients receiving chronic calcium channel blocker therapy are at no greater risk of hyperkalemia after succinylcholine than those not taking such medications.
Advantages of nonparametric procedures for analysis of water quality data

ABSTRACT Water quality data are usually analysed with parametric statistical procedures requiring the normality assumption for accuracy of their attained significance levels. However, these data are typically non-normally distributed. When applied to non-normal data, the power of parametric procedures is low, and their results may be in error. Three typical case studies are discussed: differentiation of water quality in streams using analysis of variance; discernment of water quality types using discriminant analysis; and t-tests on differences between two groups which include data below the detection limit. Five important advantages of nonparametric methods over commonly used parametric procedures are illustrated.
A Density Gradient Centrifugation Method for Separation of Peat

The conditions necessary for a laboratory-scale separation of the premaceral constituent of peat (i.e., the precursor to coal) are investigated. The method used is an isopycnic density centrifugation (DGC) technique aimed at isolating pure premacerals. This method, which is based on known density differences of various macerals, has been used successfully in coal separations but never with peats. The technique involved grinding the peats in a planetary ball mill to an approximate 10 μm average particle size and conducting dispersion tests using NaCl, Ca(NO 3 ) 2 , CsCl, and TBE (1,1,2,2-tetrabromoethane) as solvents coupled with numerous surfactants. The density gradient centrifugation technique was run with both an aqueous and organic gradient using plain milled peat, demineralized peat, and demineralized methylated peat. The best separations were achieved in a single run if the peat was demineralized and dispersed with a wetting agent in an organic gradient. Analytical-scale separations were used to choose the most responsive peat to be used in a preparative-scale separation. A low and high density weight fraction, analyzed by flash pyrolysis, revealed distinctly different chromatograms, indicating that the peat had reached a reasonable degree of separation. Four peats of differing constitution are reviewed.
Flow Rate Optimization of a Linear Concentrating Photovoltaic System

The world is facing an imminent energy supply crisis. In order to sustain and increase our energy supply in an environmentally conscious manner, it is necessary to advance renewable technologies. An area of recent interest is in concentrating solar energy systems that use very high efficiency solar cells. Much of the recent research in this field is oriented toward three dimensional high concentration systems, but this research focused on a two dimensional linear concentrating photovoltaic (LCPV) system combined with an active cooling and waste heat recovery system. The LCPV system serves two major purposes: it produces electricity and the waste heat that is collected can be used for heating purposes. There are three parts to the LCPV simulation. The first part simulates the cell cooling and waste heat recovery system using a model consisting of heat transfer and fluid flow equations. The second part simulates the GaInP/GaAs/Ge multijunction solar cell output so as to calculate the temperature-dependent electricity generation. The third part of the simulation includes a waste heat recovery model which links the LCPV system to a hot water storage system. Coupling the multijunction cell model, waste heat recovery model and hot water storage system model gives an overall integrated system that is useful for system design, optimization, and acts as a stepping stone for future multijunction cell photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) systems simulation. All of the LCPV system components were coded in Engineering Equation Solver V8.425 (EES) and were used to evaluate a 6.2 kWp LCPV system under actual weather and solar conditions for the Phoenix, AZ, region. This evaluation was focused on obtaining an optimum flowrate, so as to produce the most electrical and heat energy while reducing the amount of parasitic load from the fluid cooling system pump. Under the given conditions, it was found that an optimal cooling fluid flowrate of 4 gal/min (2:52 10 m=s) would produce and average of 45.9 kWh of electricity and 15.9 kWh of heat energy under Phoenix conditions from July 10–19, 2005. It was also found that the LCPV system produced an average of $4.59 worth of electrical energy and displaced $0.79 worth of heat energy, while also displacing a global warming potential equivalent of 0.035 tons of CO2 per day. This simulation uses system input parameters that are specific to the current design, but the simulation is capable of modeling the LCPV system under numerous other conditions. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4023006]
Critical Superflow in a Random Network

The problem of superflow through a random bond network is formulated. The flow is taken to be limited by the critical velocity. This problem is solved for a two-dimensional system; a first approximation for attacking the problem in three-dimensional system is described. Possible applications are to superfluid flow through Grafoil.
Selective inhibition of coagulation factors: Advances in antithrombotic therapy

Heparin and coumarin derivatives have long been used for the prophylaxis and treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Although they have demonstrated efficacy and safety, they act at multiple targets within the coagulation cascade and their efficacy is influenced by many patient variables. Because of the need to improve the benefit-to-risk ratio of antithrombotic drugs, newer agents that target single coagulation factors have been developed. These include selective factor Xa inhibitors, direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs), and inhibitors of factor IXa and the factor VII-tissue factor complex. Three DTIs-hirudin, bivalirudin, and argatroban-have been approved for clinical use. Fondaparinux, a novel pentasaccharide and the first selective factor Xa inhibitor to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products, is indicated for the prevention of VTE after major orthopedic surgery. Fondaparinux has predictable pharmacokinetics, is almost 100% bioavailable, and has a half-life that allows once-daily dosing in all indications. In addition, the routine monitoring of standard indicators of hemostasis is not required. The availability of these agents and the continued development of investigational selective coagulation inhibitors have the potential to improve efficacy and decrease adverse events in patients at risk for VTE.
Assessment of 125I clinical dose specification from recent dose rate evaluations

Measurements and theoretical evluations of dose distributions due to photon emission of the iodine seeds manufactured by 3M Company, are reported.(AIP)
I feel our pain: Antecedents and consequences of emotional self-stereotyping

Abstract According to Intergroup Emotions Theory people categorized as group members experience the emotions of their ingroup as a consequence of that membership. Four experiments showed that participants converged toward what they believed to be their specific ingroup’s distinct emotional experience when reporting emotions as group members, but not when reporting emotions as individuals. Such self-stereotyping of ingroup emotions occurred for an experimentally fabricated ingroup as well as a range of naturally occurring groups. Demonstrating the roots of this process in categorization, self-stereotyping was increased when motivations to affiliate were amplified and was moderated by ingroup identification. The adoption of ingroup emotions changed participants’ cognitive processing in a predictable way, demonstrating that emotional self-stereotyping involved the experience rather than merely the expression of group-based emotions. Self-stereotyping of ingroup emotions is thus one mechanism by which group-based emotions are shared and can be changed.
The role of chemoradiation therapy in locally advanced pancreatic cancer

The majority of patients with pancreatic cancer present with disease that is unresectable due to local invasion. This article reviews the evidence (or lack thereof) that chemoradiation therapy (CRT) helps these patients in four areas: survival, tumor downstaging, palliation of obstructive symptoms, and pain control. We believe that CRT allows a small percentage of patients with locally advanced disease to undergo potentially curative resection while providing effective palliative treatment.
Inoculation of corn silage and high-moisture corn with lactic acid bacteria and its effects on the subsequent fermentations and on feedlot performance of beef steers

Abstract Chopped whole corn plant (Zea mays indentata) was sprayed with an aqueous suspension of Pediococcus acidilactici and Lactobacillus xylosus (1 × 105 cells of each species g−1 fresh crop). High-moisture corn grain was inoculated with P. acidilactici, Lactobacillus curvatus and Streptococcus faecium at the same nominal application rate. In farm scale silos, the inoculation of chopped corn plant did not affect (P > 0.10) microbiological counts, pH or concentrations of fermentation acids, but concentrations of neutral and acid detergent fiber were reduced (P
Dynamic Indexing System for Spatio-temporal Queries in Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSN) have emerged as a powerful paradigm for real-time monitoring of physical phenomena. Depending on WSN application, indexing of sensed data is an important issue that deals with in-network organizing of the data and subsequently answering queries, with minimum power consumption. Several approaches have been developed to build data indexing systems in sensor networks. However, most of these systems are suitable to specific types of spatial or temporal queries, and entail significant communication overhead, thus creating unbalanced loads and affecting network lifetime. In this paper we present a novel data indexing system that is based on multiple hierarchical channels of data and physical space abstraction, and is capable of answering spatio-temporal queries. The proposed system also allows approximate queries to be answered quickly and efficiently.
The Creep and Fracture in Nanostructured Metals and Alloys

Bulk forms of nanostructured metals and alloys exhibit extraordinarily high strength and have been studied extensively for several decades. Research in recent years has focused on the unusually high creep as well as poor fracture toughness related to the unique microstructures of these materials. This article reviews some findings from the investigations on creep and fracture behavior in the last decade. It also summarizes the latest experimental results on nano-nickel, Cu, Pd, Al-Zr, and Zn in the subject areas as well as results from atomistic simulations and theoretical modeling on these subjects.
Unilateral but not bilateral olfactory bulbectomy inhibits body weight gain in hamsters

The relation of the olfactory bulbs and photoperiod to the regulation of body weight was studied in male golden hamsters. Animals underwent sham operation, bilateral olfactory bulbectomy, or unilateral bulbectomy. They were left on long photoperiod for 5 weeks and then were transferred to short photoperiod for 11 weeks. The unilaterally olfactory bulbectomized hamsters gained less weight on long or short photoperiod than the sham operated group, while the bilaterally bulbectomized hamsters gained at least as much weight as the sham group. Thus, we report the novel finding that unilateral but not bilateral olfactory bulbectomy reduces body weight gain in male golden hamsters.
Restraint of Trade: Patient Advocacy, or Simple Turf Guarding?

Abstract Restraint of trade is becoming a more commonplace as nurse practitioners (NPs) attempt to expand or work within their full scope of practice. Some state and national entities are trying to restrict what NPs can do in their practice. Examples of court cases elucidating the attempt to restrain are presented. The primary cause for these actions is identified, and some potential responses are delineated. Knowing what initiates these actions can be the first step toward avoiding a potentially long and arduous legal process.
Visual object detection with deformable part models

We describe a state-of-the-art system for finding objects in cluttered images. Our system is based on deformable models that represent objects using local part templates and geometric constraints on the locations of parts. We reduce object detection to classification with latent variables. The latent variables introduce invariances that make it possible to detect objects with highly variable appearance. We use a generalization of support vector machines to incorporate latent information during training. This has led to a general framework for discriminative training of classifiers with latent variables. Discriminative training benefits from large training datasets. In practice we use an iterative algorithm that alternates between estimating latent values for positive examples and solving a large convex optimization problem. Practical optimization of this large convex problem can be done using active set techniques for adaptive subsampling of the training data.
Effects of acute and chronic exposure to cobalt on male reproduction in mice

Chronic exposure of male mice to cobaltous chloride dramatically affected their reproductive potential, while acute administration had minimal effects. Acute exposure, followed by evaluation weekly over a 7-week period, revealed no significant changes in epididymal sperm concentration or testicular weight. However, small but significant decreases in fertility at weeks 2 and 3 of the study were observed. Sperm motility was depressed only during the first week of the study. In chronic studies, cobalt affected fertility in a time- and dose-dependent manner. There was a decrease in testicular weight, epididymal sperm concentration, and fertility. Sperm motility was also depressed. Serum testosterone levels were dramatically increased in cobalt treated animals, while FSH and LH serum levels were normal. It appears that cobalt is directly or indirectly interfering with spermatogenesis and with local regulatory mechanisms in testosterone synthesis.
Methylation patterns in the gene for the alpha subunit of chorionic gonadotropin are inherited with variable fidelity in clonal lineages of human fibroblasts

Cytosine methylation in DNA of an endogenous single-copy gene locus, the alpha-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (alpha-hCG), was assessed in a mass culture and individual clonal lineages of human diploid fibroblasts. Progressive hypomethylation at -CCGG- sites in this gene occurred during the replicative lifespan of the mass culture and was shown to arise randomly during clonal expansion. Thus, some clones and subclones lost -CCGG- methylation in the alpha-hCG gene region while others maintained essentially complete methylation. These data indicate significant interclonal variability in the fidelity with which DNA methylation is transmitted in an endogenous gene.
Observations of Seasonal Movement from a Single Tag Release Group of Pacific Cod in the Eastern Bering Sea

AbstractThe Pacific Cod Gadus macrocephalus in the eastern Bering Sea is the target of one of the most lucrative fisheries in Alaska; however, relatively little is known about the movement of Pacific Cod and how this interacts with intense fishing on local spawning aggregations of cod every spring (January–April). This study aimed to draw inferences on Pacific Cod movement using a single tag release group of fish and the fishery as a representative for movement by qualitatively examining both temporal and spatial patterns of tag recoveries. Based on the tag recoveries in this study and past genetic studies, there is evidence that Pacific Cod show both homing tendencies and site fidelity during the spring when large aggregations of cod form to spawn. This study also supports results from an earlier study on Pacific Cod movement in this region and presents new insights into cod movement patterns. The cod in this tag release group were widely distributed across the Bering Sea during the summer and fall month...
Rheological properties of cement mixes: V. The effects of time on viscometric properties of mixes containing superplasticizers; Conclusions

Abstract The effects of sulfonated naphthalene- and melamine-formaline condensates upon the rheologic properties of cement pastes and slurries have been investigated. Coaxial cylindrical viscometer measurements were made, recording shear stress-shear rate relationships and defining yield stress and plastic viscosity. The changes of these functions with time were investigated, and were related to admixture type and concentration, cement type, and volume concentration of cement. The mechanisms of action of the superplasticizers are discussed.
A clinical scoring system for predicting nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in morbidly obese patients

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is common in morbidly obese persons. Liver biopsy is diagnostic but technically challenging in such individuals. This study was undertaken to develop a clinically useful scoring system to predict the probability of NASH in morbidly obese persons, thus assisting in the decision to perform liver biopsy. Consecutive subjects undergoing bariatric surgery without evidence of other liver disease underwent intraoperative liver biopsy. The outcome was pathologic diagnosis of NASH. Predictors evaluated were demographic, clinical, and laboratory variables. A clinical scoring system was constructed by rounding the estimated regression coefficients for the independent predictors in a multivariate logistic model for the diagnosis of NASH. Of 200 subjects studied, 64 (32%) had NASH. Median body mass index was 48 kg/m2 (interquartile range, 43-55). Multivariate analysis identified six predictive factors for NASH: the diagnosis of hypertension (odds ratio [OR], 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1-5.6), type 2 diabetes (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.1-6.3), sleep apnea (OR, 4.0; 95% CI, 1.3-12.2), AST > 27 IU/L (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.2-7.0), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) > 27 IU/L (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.4-8.0), and non-Black race (OR, 8.4; 95% CI, 1.9-37.1). A NASH Clinical Scoring System for Morbid Obesity was derived to predict the probability of NASH in four categories (low, intermediate, high, and very high). Conclusion: The proposed clinical scoring can predict NASH in morbidly obese persons with sufficient accuracy to be considered for clinical use, identifying a very high-risk group in whom liver biopsy would be very likely to detect NASH, as well as a low-risk group in whom biopsy can be safely delayed or avoided. (HEPATOLOGY 2008.)
Concealed Coronoid Hydrocarbons with Enhanced Antiaromatic Circuit Contributions as Models for Schottky Defects in Graphenes

Coronoids with holes shaped like an odd carbon benzenoid have antiaromatic holes and antiaromatic conju- gated circuits. Another class of concealed diradical coronoids has been identified. They are Huckel molecular orbital dira- dicals (HOMO = LUMO = 0, each with a single electron occupancy) that have VB (valence-bond) structures (K � 0).This new class of concealed diradical coronoids have more enhanced antiaromatic contributions. The smallest holes in graphe- nes are spin polarized and have antiaromatic characteristics.
A fluorescence double-quenching study of native lipoproteins in an animal model of manganese deficiency.

Iodide and acrylamide were applied simultaneously in a doublequenching experiment to compare acrylamide quenching constants for internal and external fluorophores of high-density lipoproteins (HDL1 and HDL2) from manganese-adequate (MnA) and deficient (MnD) rats, free of the electrostatic effects associated with iodide. In MnA HDL1 compared to MnD HDL1, the acrylamide quenching constant for external fluorophores was different (P < 0.1). In MnA HDL2, there were two populations of fluorophores accessible to acrylamide, whereas in MnD HDL2, all fluorophores were accessible to both quenchers. We concluded that there were structural (local environmental) differences, possibly charge-related, around the external fluorophores, and a slightly larger population of buried fluorophores in the MnD HDL1 compared with MnA HDL1. In MnA HDL2, one-third of the fluorophores were accessible to iodide, and all external and internal fluorophores were accessible to acrylamide, whereas in MnD HDL2, all fluorophores were accessible to both quenchers.
Novel orientation techniques for the preparation of high-performance materials from semiflexible polymers

A technique is described for postponing the formation of anisotropic domains in semiflexible polymers so as to better orient them along a common direction. A theory has been developed to provide a foundation for this approach and guidance on carrying it out experimentally, and is described in outline form. The primary advantage of this processing route is the improved mechanical properties accompanying the increased orientation. This is illustrated by increases in moduli and ultimate properties of films of some cellulosics, polyisocyanates, and the protein collagen in the form of gelatin.
Recent results on Nova

On the Nova Laser at LLNL, we have recently demonstrated many of the key elements required for assuring that the next proposed laser, the National Ignition Facility (NIF) will reach ignition. In particular, we have achieved a drive of 300 eV in laser heated hohlraums; have shown good understanding and control of symmetry in hohlruams; created large NIF-Scale plasmas with plasma and irradiation conditions relevant to NIF targets that showed low levels of plasma instabilities; demonstrated a good understanding of hydrodynamic instability and subsequent pusher/fuel mix in implosions by means of spectroscopic tracers; and performed integrated implosion experiments that have performed well even under stringent convergences of order 25, which is well into the NIF ignition target regime.
Closure of infected sternal wounds with a unilateral rectus abdominis muscle flap in addition to bilateral pectoralis major myocutaneous advancement flaps

We have recently added to our regimen a unilateral rectus abdominis muscle flap to cover the lower sternum and adjacent soft tissues, in addition to bilateral pectoralis major myocutaneous advancement flaps for closure of infected sternal wounds. Twenty patients underwent this procedure for closure of infected sternal wounds after initial debridement at our institutions. There were no intraoperative deaths in this series, but three patients died of other medical conditions. Two patients developed hematomas and one developed recurrent sternal wound infection after surgery; two had superficial wound infections and five had minor wound problems (i.e., skin edge necrosis). All surviving patients (17/20, 85%) had healed sternal wounds with normal chest contour and there were no instances of flap necrosis, sternal wound dehiscence, or abdominal wall hernia during the follow-up (18–60 months). Based upon our experience, we recommend a unilateral rectus abdominis muscle flap in addition to bilateral pectoralis major myocutaneous advancement flaps for selected patients with infected sternal wounds. This approach provides reliable soft tissue coverage with acceptable morbidity and mortality in this high-risk patient population.
Active constellation modification techniques for OFDM PAR reduction

OFDM is a widely adopted modulation technique for wireless communication. However, the OFDM waveform still suffers from a large peak-to-average power ratio (PAR). Larger PAR leads to higher transmit power inefficiency. In this paper, we compare two constellation modification techniques, constellation distortion (CD) and active constellation extension (ACE), to reduce the PAR of the OFDM waveform. Both techniques are similar, in the sense that the constellation symbols are modified to reduce PAR. In CD, the tradeoff is between PAR reduction and added distortion, which results in a larger bit error rate (BER). In ACE, the tradeoff is between added power and PAR reduction. A metric called normalized total power (NTP) is introduced to facilitate a comparison between these two different techniques. Using this metric, we compare the performance of the two techniques using an 802.11a OFDM waveform. We present comparisons, via simulation, in both coded and uncoded cases. The simulation results show that, for an uncoded OFDM system, ACE performs better than CD for all constellations except QPSK. However, CD is preferred over ACE when coding is present. NTP improvements using CD can be up to 4.1dB in the case of coded QPSK and up to 0.8 dB using ACE for uncoded QPSK.
Vaporizing Foil Actuator: A Versatile Tool for High Energy-rate Metal Working☆

Abstract High energy-rate metalworking has significant advantages, in that short time scales change the fundamental nature of the forming process and short duration impulses can be used with much lighter and more agile equipment because large static forces do not need to be resisted. Here, we propose the use of thin aluminum foils that are intentionally vaporized by a pulsed electric current, in order to create an intense mechanical impulse. The driving pressures can be a few GPa's, and have been used to launch sheet metal workpieces to velocities in excess of 1 km/s. Applications including impact welding, forming, embossing, shearing, and powder compaction have been demonstrated and will be presented in this paper.
Induction of the yeast α-specific STE3 gene by the peptide pheromone a-factor

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae exhibits two mating types, a and alpha. Efficient mating of a and alpha cells requires the action of peptide pheromones secreted by each cell type. For example, a cells secrete a-factor, which alters the physiology of alpha cells, thereby preparing those cells for mating. To investigate the mechanism by which the pheromones act on the target cells, we have examined the effect of a-factor on expression of the STE3 gene, a gene which is required for mating by alpha cells and which is expressed only in alpha cells. We have monitored STE3 expression by two assays: RNA production from the chromosomal STE3 locus and beta-galactosidase activity produced from a plasmid-borne STE3-lacZ gene fusion. By both assays we show that a-factor induces a rapid increase in STE3 expression. Induction of STE3 RNA occurs even if protein synthesis is blocked by cycloheximide. Using temperature-sensitive cell division cycle mutants, we have also shown that induction occurs in cells arrested at several discrete positions in the cell cycle. These results demonstrate (1) that induction of STE3 expression by a-factor is a primary response to the pheromone, and (2) that alpha cells are capable of responding to a-factor regardless of their position in the cell cycle.
Lasnex simulations of NIF vacuum hohlraum commissioning experiments

Lasnex calculations and x-ray flux measurements are presented for a series of NIF vacuum hohlraum experiments that were among the first targets shot on NIF as part of the facility commissioning. An important result is that the hohlraum x-ray fluxes are significantly higher than predicted by pre-shot Lasnex calculations employing the baseline "configuration managed" physics packages used in the NIF ignition target calculations. A possible explanation for the high-flux vacuum hohlraum result has been explored via post-shot calculations in which non-baseline emissivity and heat conduction models are used.
Conserved and Cooperative Assembly of Membrane-Bound α-Helical States of Islet Amyloid Polypeptide†

The conversion of soluble protein into beta-sheet-rich amyloid fibers is the hallmark of a number of serious diseases. Precursors for many of these systems (e.g., Abeta from Alzheimer's disease) reside in close association with a biological membrane. Membrane bilayers are reported to accelerate the rate of amyloid assembly. Furthermore, membrane permeabilization by amyloidogenic peptides can lead to toxicity. Given the beta-sheet-rich nature of mature amyloid, it is seemingly paradoxical that many precursors are either intrinsically alpha-helical or transiently adopt an alpha-helical state upon association with membrane. In this work, we investigate these phenomena in islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP). IAPP is a 37-residue peptide hormone which forms amyloid fibers in individuals with type II diabetes. Fiber formation by human IAPP (hIAPP) is markedly accelerated by lipid bilayers despite adopting an alpha-helical state on the membrane. We further show that IAPP partitions into monomeric and oligomeric helical assemblies. Importantly, it is this latter state which most strongly correlates to both membrane leakage and accelerated fiber formation. A sequence variant of IAPP from rodents (rIAPP) does not form fibers and is reputed not to permeabilize membranes. Here, we report that rIAPP is capable of permeabilizing membranes under conditions that permit rIAPP membrane binding. Sequence and spectroscopic comparisons of rIAPP and hIAPP enable us to propose a general mechanism for the helical acceleration of amyloid formation in vitro. As rIAPP cannot form amyloid fibers, our results show that fiber formation need not be directly coupled to toxicity.
Rapid Deletion of Mossy Cells Does Not Result in a Hyperexcitable Dentate Gyrus: Implications for Epileptogenesis

Loss of cells from the hilus of the dentate gyrus is a major histological hallmark of human temporal lobe epilepsy. Hilar mossy cells, in particular, are thought to show dramatic numerical reductions in pathological conditions, and one prominent theory of epileptogenesis is based on the assumption that mossy cell loss directly results in granule cell hyperexcitability. However, whether it is the disappearance of hilar mossy cells from the dentate gyrus circuitry after various insults or the subsequent synaptic-cellular alterations (e.g., reactive axonal sprouting) that lead to dentate hyperexcitability has not been rigorously tested, because of the lack of available techniques to rapidly remove specific classes of nonprincipal cells from neuronal networks. We developed a fast, cell-specific ablation technique that allowed the targeted lesioning of either mossy cells or GABAergic interneurons in horizontal as well as axial (longitudinal) slices of the hippocampus. The results demonstrate that mossy cell deletion consistently decreased the excitability of granule cells to perforant path stimulation both within and outside of the lamella where the mossy cell ablation took place. In contrast, ablation of interneurons caused the expected increase in excitability, and control aspirations of the hilar neuropil or of interneurons in the presence of GABA receptor blockers caused no alteration in granule cell excitability. These data do not support the hypothesis that loss of mossy cells from the dentate hilus after seizures or traumatic brain injury directly results in hyperexcitability.
Combinatorial fluorescent energy transfer tags and their application for multiplex genetic analyses

Combinatorial fluorescent energy transfer (CFET) tags should be valuable for multiplex genetic mutation analysis, DNA mapping, genomewide chromosome analysis as well as other multi-component analysis systems. As an example, we present the use of CFET tag for multiplex genetic mutation detection using ligase chain reaction. Ligase chain reaction (LCR) is a procedure for genetic mutation analysis using ligase and a pair of oligonucleotides spanning the ligation site on the template DNA, including one harboring either the wild-type or mutated base (Eggerding, 1995). In this procedure, one of the oligonucleotides is fluorescently labeled at its 5' end. Following the ligase chain reaction, which involves multiple rounds of denaturing, primer annealing and ligation, one can identify the ligated products on polyacrylamide gels. We have applied CFET tag labeled oligonucleotides to ligase chain reaction that allows the simultaneous analysis of a large number of genetic mutations in a single tube reaction. For example, we can identify all the known single base mutations in exon 20 of the retinoblastoma susceptibility (Rbl) gene using eight CFET tags constructed from three individual fluorophores.
PHYLOGENY OF ANOLES

Abstract I present a phylogenetic analysis of the lizard genus Anolis using new morphological data in combination with diverse data from the literature. Ninety-one characters of osteology and external anatomy were completely or partially scored for 174 Anolis species and seven outgroups. These data were combined with data from chromosomes, DNA sequences, allozymes, and immunology and analyzed with parsimony to produce an estimate of Anolis relationships. The genus Anolis was supported as monophyletic. Anolis occultus is sister to the rest of the genus. A South American and Southern Lesser Antillean clade is sister to the Greater Antillean and Northern Lesser Antillean Anolis and a clade of mainland species. Successive clades of Caribbean Alpha Anolis are sister to the Beta Anolis (Norops) clade. Within the Betas, the Jamaican Betas are sister to the remaining Betas, and the Cuban Betas are sister to the monophyletic mainland forms. Other higher-level groupings of previous authors were not supported, but m...