cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The natural history of conservatively managed symptomatic intramedullary spinal cord cavernomas

Objective The presentation and natural history of untreated, symptomatic intramedullary spinal cavernomas at our institution were analyzed. The objective is to provide additional information regarding the natural history of conservatively managed, symptomatic, intramedullary spinal cord cavernous malformations. Methods The medical records of patients treated in our institution between 1989 and 2002 were reviewed to identify those with intramedullary cavernomas. The medical, radiological, surgical, and pathological records from these patients were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Results Fourteen patients were included in the study. The mean age at presentation was 42 years. Four lesions (29%) were located in the cervical region and 10 lesions (71%) were present in the thoracolumbar spinal cord. All patients were symptomatic at the time of presentation. In this cohort of 14 patients, 10 patients (71%) were conservatively managed. For these patients, the mean duration of symptoms before presentation was 10 months. The mean duration of follow-up from the time of presentation was 80 months. The median McCormick grade for conservatively treated patients at presentation was II. During this period, none of the conservatively managed patients had an acute intramedullary bleed. In nine patients, the McCormick grade at the last follow-up evaluation was the same as or better than their score at presentation. Four patients (29%) were treated surgically. The mean duration of symptoms before presentation was 33 months. The mean duration of follow-up from the time of presentation was 42 months. In two surgical patients, the McCormick grade at the last follow-up evaluation remained unchanged compared with their score at presentation, whereas the McCormick grade improved in one patient and deteriorated in another patient. Conclusion This cohort of conservatively managed patients with symptomatic, intramedullary spinal cord cavernomas was clinically stable throughout the follow-up period. In this series, patients harboring symptomatic spinal cord cavernous malformation did not have significant, permanent neurological decline during the follow-up period when treated with the conservative approach of observation. This data provides additional information for determining the appropriate treatment strategy for patients with intramedullary spinal cavernomas.
Physical restraint use and falls in nursing homes: a comparison between residents with and without dementia

Aims: To estimate the use of different types of physical restraints and assess their associations to falls and injuries among residents with and without Alzheimer's disease (AD) or dementia in US nursing homes. Methods: Data were from the 2004 National Nursing Home Survey. AD or dementia was identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes. Analyses were conducted with the Surveyfreq and Surveylogistic procedures in SAS v.9.1. Results: Residents with either AD or dementia were more likely to be physically restrained (9.99% vs 3.91%, P Language: en
SynchroPhasor measurements: System architecture and performance evaluation in supporting wide-area applications

The infrastructure of phasor measurements have evolved over the last 15 years from isolated measurement units to networked measurement systems with footprints beyond individual utility companies. This phasor measurement network, to a great extent, is a bottom-up self-evolving process except some local systems built by design. Given the number of phasor measurement units (PMUs) in the system is small (currently about 70 in each of the western and eastern interconnections in North America), the current phasor network architecture satisfies todaypsilas operational requirements. However, the architecture will become a bottleneck when large number of PMUs are installed (e.g. Gt1000~10000). The need for phasor architecture design has yet to be addressed. This paper reviews the current phasor networks and investigates future architectures, as related to the efforts undertaken by the North American SynchroPhasor Initiative (NASPI). Then it continues to present staged system tests to evaluate the performance of phasor networks, which is a common practice in the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) system. This is followed by field measurement evaluation and the implication of phasor quality issues on phasor applications.
A New Task… Economic Development and Job Creation

(1981). A New Task… Economic Development and Job Creation. The Journal of Business Education: Vol. 56, No. 5, pp. 179-182.
Infrared radiation of the zodiacal light

A model of the infrared radiance of the zodiacal light is generated which is based on parameters deduced from the visible scattering data and in-situ micrometeorite detectors. Comparison of this model with an infrared spectral measurement indicates that the dust is composed of a dirty silicate material. Detailed calculations of the spectral radiance and the directional variation are presented.© (1977) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Abstract B84: The association between germline genetic variants in the PI3K pathway and PI3K mutations in breast tumors.

Background: Gene mutations in the PI3K pathway in breast tumors are associated with resistance to tamoxifen and poorer prognosis. Differences in host susceptibility to developing breast cancers with PI3K pathway mutations may explain the heterogeneity in response to tamoxifen for chemoprevention and breast cancer outcomes. The objective of the study was to evaluate the association between host germline single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and activation of the PI3K pathway in breast tumors. Methods: We extracted tumor and germline DNA from 386 women with stages I-II breast cancer treated at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. Nine PI3K mutation sites were evaluated using the Sequenom assay and 57 tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of candidate genes in the PI3K pathway were genotyped using the Illumina Golden Gate Platform. Results: 36 patients (10%) had at least one mutation in the PI3K pathway. There was no association between PI3K mutation status by age at diagnosis or ethnicity. In univariate analysis, there was a statistically significant association between PI3K gene mutation status and 3 tagging SNPs in the genes, PTEN (rs123421, rs1234213) and IGF-1 (rs2033178). Conclusion: PI3K mutations are rare in breast tumors but represent a druggable target for prevention and treatment. Host genetics may play a role in contributing to tumor biology and serve to identify individuals at risk for tumors with PI3K pathway activation and tamoxifen resistance. Citation Format: Abenaa M. Brewster, Melissa Bondy, Kim-anh Do, Aysegul Sahin, Katherine Hale, Caimiao Wei, Gordon Mills, Patricia Thompson. The association between germline genetic variants in the PI3K pathway and PI3K mutations in breast tumors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; 2012 Oct 16-19; Anaheim, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Prev Res 2012;5(11 Suppl):Abstract nr B84.
Estimates of numbers of civilians treated with nasopharyngeal radium irradiation in the United States

Nasopharyngeal radium irradiation was used 35 to 50 years ago for treatment of hearing loss, chronic ear infections, asthma, and other conditions. I reviewed the medical literature for published articles on the nonmilitary use of nasopharyngeal radium irradiation. Four years have minimum documented numbers of radium applicators in use (1946, 600; 1948, 1000; 1958, 2000; 1961, 2000). Two levels of physician use were assumed, a high estimate of 25 patients per week and a low estimate of 5 patients per week. It was assumed that physicians used the applicators 50 weeks per year. Typical treatments involved two applicators at a time (one for each nostril) for three sessions. Using a formula reflecting the number of applicators in use, the number of patients a physician would treat in a week, the number of weeks in a year an applicator would be used, and the number of applicators and sessions per patient, I then estimated the number of children who might have been treated. This estimate is that approximately 500,000 to 2.5 million persons might have been treated with nasopharyngeal radium. Because the lack of documentation for numerous parts of the equation required that I make a large number of assumptions, this estimate should be considered a rough approximation of the number of civilians treated.
A natural low-frequency oscillation of the flow over an airfoil near stalling conditions

An experimental and computational study of the low-frequency oscillation observed in the flow over an airfoil at the onset of static stall is presented. Wind-tunnel results obtained with two-dimensional airfoil models show that this phenomena takes place only with a transitional state of the separating boundary layer. It is noted that the flowfield does not involve a Karman vortex street. The experimental results agree well with the results of a two-dimensional Navier-Stokes code. The present study demonstrates that the low-frequency oscillations produce intense flow fluctuations which impart much larger unsteady forces to the airfoil than experienced by bluff-body shedding and which may represent the primary aerodynamics of stall flutter of blades and wings.
Numerical Investigation of Perpendicular Diffusion of Charged Test Particles in Weak Magnetostatic Slab Turbulence

The perpendicular diffusion of charged test particles in a static representation of low-frequency, weakly turbulent magnetic fields superimposed on a steady background field is investigated with numerical simulations. The magnetic field variation is purely one-dimensional, consistent with an ensemble of field-aligned Alfv?n waves in the limit of zero Alfv?n speed. The diffusion coefficient ?? obtained from the numerical simulations is compared with Bieber & Matthaeus's recent theory of spatial diffusion, specialized to one-dimensional field geometry, for a number of particle energies/rigidities. It is found that the recent theory provides a better fit to the numerical data for ?? > 2, where ? is the particle gyrofrequency and ? is a rigidity-dependent decorrelation time, than does the well-known quasi-linear theory, or field line random walk limit. However, while the Bieber & Matthaeus theory fails to fit the simulation data for ?? < 1, the theory corresponding to the field line random walk limit exhibits only a 20% error here. Possible reasons for the discrepancy between the theory and simulations are discussed.
Patterns of medication exposures in hospitalized pediatric patients with acute renal failure requiring intermittent or continuous hemodialysis.

OBJECTIVES Care for the pediatric patient with acute renal failure who requires hemodialysis (including continuous renal replacement therapy) is made more complex, as this intervention may significantly affect drug clearance, potentially altering, to a degree that is largely unknown, the effectiveness and safety of the multiple medications used to manage this complex patient population. This study aims to describe patterns of drug utilization among a large cohort of pediatric patients requiring hemodialysis and to document the easily accessible existing data available for dosing guidance of frequently prescribed medications. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort using the Pediatric Health Information System database. SETTING Forty freestanding children's hospitals throughout the United States. PATIENTS Two thousand seven hundred thirty-eight pediatric patients with acute renal failure treated with hemodialysis from 2007 to 2011. INTERVENTION A retrospective review of all patients requiring hemodialysis from 2007 to 2011 was conduction using the Pediatric Health Information System Database. MAIN RESULTS Over 6% of pediatric patients with acute renal failure treated with hemodialysis were exposed to hemodialysis for over 2 weeks. Cumulative exposure to distinct drugs increased substantially with more prolonged courses of hemodialysis. Of the 50 most frequently prescribed medications in the cohort with acute renal failure treated with hemodialysis, 10% have readily available and easily accessible information to guide dosing adjustments with the use of hemodialysis. Furthermore, only 18% of these medications have clear recommendations for dosing in pediatric patients of all age groups with renal failure. CONCLUSIONS Pediatric patients with acute renal failure managed with hemodialysis are exposed to a broad variety of medications, with a high prevalence of polypharmacy. There is a trend for longer courses of hemodialysis in these patients, which leads to an increase in cumulative drug exposure, complexity of drug interactions, and potential toxicity. For the vast majority of medications that are being used to treat this complex patient population, pediatric dosing guidance is not easily accessible. These findings underscore the need for targeted pharmacologic studies of medications used in the pediatric population managed with hemodialysis.
Phases of the secondary structures of RNA sequences

Formation of RNA secondary structures is an example of the sequence-structure problem omnipresent in molecular biophysics. A basic theoretical issue concerns the phase behaviour of self-attracting random RNA sequences. By studying a simplified toy model of RNA folding, we show that there are two distinct possible phases for the random RNA below its melting transition—a molten phase in which an exponentially large number of allowed secondary structures have comparable free energies and coexist in thermal equilibrium, and a glass phase in which the equilibrium ensemble is dominated by one or a few structures with much lower free energies.
Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine transformation by biologically reduced ferrihydrite: evolution of Fe mineralogy, surface area, and reaction rates.

Microbial respiration of Fe(III) oxides has been shown to produce reduced Fe phases that are capable of transforming a variety of oxidized contaminants. Little data, however, are available on how these Fe phases evolve over time and how this evolution may affect their ability to reduce contaminants. Here, the evolution and reactivity of biologically reduced ferrihydrite were monitored over a period of 14 months. Solids were collected from a culture of Geobacter metallireducens (GS-15) that was incubated with ferrihydrite (as the electron acceptor) for 0, 7, 10, 20, 75, and 400 days. Mineralogical composition and surface area of the biologically reduced solids were characterized using Mossbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and BET with N2 adsorption. By day 10, ferrihydrite began to transform, and a nanoparticle magnetite/maghemite phase, as well as two ferrous phases, was observed. One of the ferrous phases was identified as siderite, whereas the other could not be positively identified. Likely candid...
Childhood Depressive Symptoms and Adolescent Cigarette Use: A Six-Year Longitudinal Study Controlling for Peer Relations Correlates

Objective: To examine potential pathways between childhood depressive symptoms and adolescent cigarette use, controlling for potential "third variable" causes. Design: Participants included 250 youth (60% girls) who were in Grades 4 to 6 at study outset and in Grades 10 to 12 (M age = 16.78) at a 6-year follow-up. At Time 1, children completed measures of depressive symptoms, as well as peer nominations of peer acceptance, rejection, and aggressive behavior. Main Outcome Measures: Time 2 measures included adolescents' own and close friends' cigarette use, depressive symptoms, and externalizing behaviors; parents also reported on adolescent behaviors. Results: Higher levels of childhood depressive symptoms and aggressive behavior were associated longitudinally with cigarette use in adolescence. After controlling for other associations, higher levels of childhood depressive symptoms also were associated with higher levels of friends' cigarette use in adolescence and higher levels of adolescent depressive symptoms; each of these adolescent outcomes was concurrently associated with cigarette use. Conclusion: Depressive symptoms in childhood may lead to altered developmental trajectories that either directly or indirectly contribute to adolescent outcomes, including cigarette use.
Progression of Tympanometry and Acoustic Reflectometry Findings in Children With Acute Otitis Media

The presence of middle ear effusion (MEE) following acute otitis media (AOM) has been assessed by impedance tympanometry and acoustic reflectometry but has not been assessed serially from the time of presentation for AOM in the same group of patients. This descriptive study examined serial measurements by tympanometry and reflectometry in children with clinical AOM at the time of diagnosis, 3 to 5 days later, and at final follow-up 12 to 15 days after diagnosis. The study entry criteria were conservative in order to represent obvious cases of AOM and included 90 patients representing 107 ears. The objective was to describe the evolution of instrumental findings and to attempt to identify unique patient subpopulations with differing prognoses. We found that combined use of initial tympanometry and reflectometry, while yielding intriguing results, does not allow for identification of subpopulations with good or poor progression for MEE clearance at 2-week follow-up. It is our conclusion that initial tympanometry and reflectometry add to the cost of AOM diagnosis without clear benefit for the individual patient.
A new field splitting algorithm for intensity-modulated radiation therapy

In this paper, we present an almost linear time algorithm for the problem of splitting an intensity map of radiation (represented as an integer matrix) into multiple subfields (submatrices), subject to a given maximum allowable subfield width, to minimize the total delivery error caused by the splitting. This problem arises in intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for cancer treatments. This is the first field splitting result on minimizing the total delivery error of the splitting. Our solution models the problem as a shortest path problem on a directed layered graph, which satisfies the staircase Monge property. Consequently, the resulting algorithm runs in almost linear time and generates an optimal quality field splitting.
A least-squares pole-zero algorithm in the frequency and Walsh domains with applications to speech representation

A spectral envelope matching technique is presented to allow coding of the mixed DFT-WHT parameters at lower rates. A least-squares (LS) pole-zero algorithm is derived in the frequency-domain. Pole-zero, as well as all-zero and all-pole, solutions can be obtained using the LS algorithm. The all-pole model is employed in this research to fit finite subsets of DFT components and WHT spectral components. The all-pole function, while characterized by real coefficients, carries location, magnitude, and phase information for accurate signal synthesis. Simulation results, using speech signals, are presented to demonstrate the performance of the algorithm. >
Optimizing Immunomarking Systems and Development of a New Marking System Based on Wheat

Immunomarking systems used to track large-scale movement patterns of insects are highly dependent on the efficiency of the enzyme linked imunosorbent assay (ELISA) reaction and logistical factors (e.g. concentration of marker applied, ability of the marker to wet the insect cuticle, and trapping methods). This paper examines ways to increase ELISA efficiency and mediate logistical factors, and provides information on a new immunomarking protein based on wheat gluten. The present studies on improving efficiency of the ELISA reactions showed that specially treated microplate surfaces were needed for soymilk and gluten assays, but not for egg albumin and casein assays. Sample dilution was investigated and was found to improve the signal/noise (S/N) ratio for the albumin and casein assays, but S/N ratios for the gluten and soymilk assays were less sensitive. However, for all assays, marked specimens were still detectable even with dilutions down to 6% of the original sample, which would allow more tests to be run on the same initial sample volume. For the logistical factors, these studies showed that marking of an insect by having it walk across a dried residue could be virtually eliminated for the casein and soymilk assays when the concentration applied was reduced to < 4%, but residues of 0.125% egg that had been aged in the field seven days still marked 37.5% of test insects placed on the residues. Also, the adjuvant Sylgard(®) 309 used at 80 ppm enhanced wetting of the insect cuticle and had little or no effect on the ELISA reaction, but the wetting agents R-11 and Silwet(®) L-77 were much more likely to negatively affect ELISA performance. Five different trapping adhesives were also evaluated and found to reduce ELISA efficiency 38-45% for the casein assay and 61-78% for the soymilk assay, while the albumin and gluten assays were unaffected. The information provided in this paper can be used to help correct for inherent differences in marking efficiency of the different proteins by manipulation of sample preparation, adjuvants, and concentrations applied.
Trends in diabetes incidence: the Framingham Heart Study.

OBJECTIVE Obesity and type 2 diabetes continue to increase in prevalence in the U.S. Whether diabetes incidence continues to increase in recent times is less well documented. We examined trends in diabetes incidence over the previous four decades. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Framingham Heart Study participants ages 40–55 years and free of diabetes at baseline ( n = 4,795; mean age 45.3 years; 51.6% women) were followed for the development of diabetes in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and the 2000s. Diabetes was defined as either fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL or use of antidiabetes medication. Poisson regression was used to calculate sex-specific diabetes incidence rates for a 47-year-old individual in each decade. Rates were also calculated among obese, overweight, and normal weight individuals. RESULTS The annualized rates of diabetes per 1,000 individuals were 2.6, 3.8, 4.7, and 3.0 (women) and 3.4, 4.5, 7.4, and 7.3 (men) in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, respectively. Compared with the 1970s, the age- and sex-adjusted relative risks of diabetes were 1.37 (95% CI 0.87–2.16; P = 0.17), 1.99 (95% CI 1.30–3.03; P = 0.001), and 1.81 (95% CI 1.16–2.82; P = 0.01) in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, respectively. Compared with the 1990s, the relative risk of diabetes in the 2000s was 0.85 (95% CI 0.61–1.20; P = 0.36). CONCLUSIONS In our community-based sample, the risk of new-onset diabetes continued to be higher in the 2000s compared with the 1970s. In the past decade, diabetes incidence remained steady despite the ongoing trend of rising adiposity.
Multi-camera positioning to optimize task observability

The performance of computer vision systems for measurement, surveillance, reconstruction, gait recognition, and many other applications, depends heavily on the placement of cameras observing the scene. This work addresses the question of the optimal placement of cameras to maximize the performance of real-world vision systems in a variety of applications. Specifically, our goal is to optimize the aggregate observability of the tasks being performed by the subjects in an area. We develop a general analytical formulation of the observation problem, in terms of the statistics of the motion in the scene and the total resolution of the observed actions that is applicable to many observation tasks and multi-camera systems. An optimization approach is used to find the internal and external (mounting position and orientation) camera parameters that optimize the observation criteria. We demonstrate the method for multi-camera systems in real-world monitoring applications, both indoor and outdoor.
Viscous-inviscid computations of transonic separated flows over solid and porous cascades

A complete viscous–inviscid interaction is performed that reliably computes steady two-dimensional, subsonic and transonic attached and separated flows for cascades of airfoils. A full-potential code was coupled with both a laminar/transition/ turbulent integral boundary-layer/turbulent wake code and the finite-difference boundary-layer code using the semi-inverse methods of Carter and Wigton. The transpiration coupling concept was applied with an option for a porous airfoil with passive and active physical transpiration. Examples are presented which demonstrate that such flows can be calculated with engineering accuracy by these methods. Carter’s update formula gives smoother solutions for a strong shock than Wigton’s update formulas, although Wigton’s formulas are preferred in the early coupling cycles. The computations show that passive physical transpiration can lead to a lower drag coefficient and higher lift coefficient, a weaker shock, and elimination of shock-induced separation. The extent of the porous region and permeability factor distribution of the porous region must be chosen carefully if these improvements are to be achieved.
The Structure of Intercorporate Unity in American Business

This paper examines the structure of intercorporate unity in the United States through an analysis of interlocking directorates. Our findings suggest that the major organizing institutions within the corporate world are the largest New York commercial banks, themselves united by a small number of prominent insurance companies. These institutions lend an order to corporate affairs and maintain a loose unity among firms. Although sources of conflict remain, patterns of director interlocks emphasize the capacity for cohesion supplied by the financial sector and suggest that mechanisms for conflict resolution reside within U.S. business.
Influence of Flavin Analogue Structure on the Catalytic Activities and Flavinylation Reactions of Recombinant Human Liver Monoamine Oxidases A and B

Two riboflavin-deficient (rib 5)Saccharomyces cerevisiae expression systems have been developed to investigate the influence of riboflavin structural alterations on the covalent flavinylation reaction and activity of recombinant human liver monoamine oxidases A and B (MAO A and B). Nineteen different riboflavin analogues were tested with MAO A and nine with MAO B. MAO expression and flavinylation were determined immunochemically with antisera to MAO and an anti-flavin antisera. Expression levels of both MAO A and B are invariant with the presence or absence of riboflavin or riboflavin analogues in the growth medium. Flavin analogues with a variety of seven and eight substitutions are found to be covalently incorporated and to confer catalytic activity. The selectivities of MAO A and MAO B for flavin analogue incorporation are found to be similar, although 8α-methylation of the flavin resulted in a higher level of catalytic activity for MAO B than for MAO A. N (3)-Methylriboflavin and 8-nor-8-aminoriboflavin are not covalently bound as they are not converted to their respective FAD forms by yeast. 5-Carba-5-deazaflavin and 7,8-nor-7-chlororiboflavin are not covalently incorporated into MAO A and do not support catalytic activity. A flavin peptide was isolated from MAO A containing 7-nor-7-bromo-FAD and was demonstrated to be covalently attached to Cys-406 by an 8α-S -thioether linkage by sequence analysis and by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectroscopy. MAO A partially purified from yeast grown on 8-nor-8-chlororiboflavin exhibited an absorption spectrum indicating the covalent flavin is an 8-nor-8-S -thioflavin, suggesting a nucleophilic displacement mechanism that supports the quinone-methide mechanism previously suggested as a general mechanism for covalent flavin attachment.
Equation of State of Polycrystalline and Single‐Crystal MgO to 8 Kilobars and 800°K

MgO has been measured again. Most measurements of the elastic properties of materials, interesting to geophysics, have been made as a function of pressure at room temperature or as a function of temperature at atmospheric pressure. A lapped seal between a buffer rod and sample has made it possible to use ultrasonic interferometry to 1000°K and 10 kb. The elastic constants of poly crystalline and single-crystal MgO were measured in a gas high-pressure system over a temperature range from 300°K to the Debye temperature of MgO. Data from the polycrystalline specimen indicated large effects of temperature on the pressure derivatives. These data did not agree with the results obtained from single-crystal measurements. Upon remeasuring the ceramic sample it becomes apparent that the data are not reproducible after the sample has been cycled to high temperature and pressure. Additional sintering, deformation of the individual grains, and recrystallization take place, which change the properties of the sample. These problems and the problems of sintering isotropic aggregates of theoretical density limit the usefulness of this widely used procedure. Order from the American Geophysical Union, Suite 435, 2100 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington D.C 20037. Document J70-001; $1.00.
The Meaning of the Temple in the Lukan Writings

It is certainly unusual for an Old Testament scholar to write on a New Testament subject. The reader may want to repeat the German proverb “Schuster, bleib bei deinen Leisten.” But if we agree that the two Testaments should not be separated — and this is the Church's accepted doctrine since the days of Marcion — then we have to give evidence for the character of the relation between the two. As an example of this question I want to trace the transition of the concept of the Temple from the Old Testament to the New.
Gender Similarities Characterize Math Performance

Gender differences in mathematics performance and ability remain a concern as scientists seek to address the underrepresentation of women at the highest levels of mathematics, the physical sciences, and engineering. Stereotypes that girls and women lack mathematical ability persist and are widely held by parents and teachers. Meta-analytic findings from 1990 (6) indicated that gender differences in mathematics performance in the general population were trivial, d = -.05. d = Mmales – Mfemales sw
Oral vanadium enhances the catabolic effects of central leptin in young adult rats.

Recently, vanadium has been shown to enhance leptin signal transduction in vitro. We hypothesized that chronic oral administration of an organic vanadium complex would enhance both leptin signaling and physiological responsiveness in vivo. Three-month-old F344 × Brown Norway male rats were provided a solution containing escalating doses of vanadyl acetoacetonate (V), peaking at 60 mg/liter elemental vanadium in drinking water on the 11th d of V treatment. Although V treatment tended to suppress weight gain, absolute body weights did not significantly differ between groups after 62 d of treatment. At this point, a permanent cannula was placed into the left lateral ventricle of all animals. The cannula was connected to a sc minipump providing either 5 μg/d leptin or artificial cerebral spinal fluid (ACSF) control solution. This yielded four groups: C-ACSF, C-leptin, V-ACSF, and V-leptin. During the ensuing 26 d, weight gain was similar in C-ACSF and V-ACSF. As expected, leptin caused dramatic weight loss in...
Design and development of a miniaturized embedded UHF RFID tag for automotive tire applications

The utilization of UHF radio frequency identification (RFID) tag to monitor the tire history in automotive tire applications is presented. Three novel antenna designs are proposed and comparatively evaluated in terms of efficiency, size, read range limitations, and antenna-IC port matching. A prototype of a low-resistive high-inductive RFID tag antenna that is physically built and embedded in actual tires meets the design specifications of read range of minimum 50 cm, high-reliability in terms of the tire traveling test, and antenna-IC packaging size requirement of 7 cm /spl times/ 3 cm.
Outcome analysis in patients with primary necrotizing fasciitis of the male genitalia.

Objectives. To characterize patients with primary necrotizing fasciitis of the male genitalia (Fournier’s gangrene) and to identify risk factors and prognostic variables of survival. Methods. Fifty consecutive patients with primary necrotizing fasciitis of the male genitalia treated at our institution during a 15-year period between 1984 and 1998 were retrospectively analyzed. Of these patients, 44 (88.0%) were found to be eligible for analysis of the outcome parameters. Univariate survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier algorithm followed by multivariate analysis of statistically significant variables. Six patients (12.0%) who were severely immunocompromised were studied separately. Results. Medical comorbidities were prevalent, with diabetes being the most common condition (50%). The overall mortality rate was 20% (10 of 50). Three statistically significant predictors of outcome were identified among the variables analyzed. These were the extent of the infection (P = 0.0262), the depth of the necrotizing infection (P = 0.0107), and treatment with hyperbaric oxygen (P = 0.0115). Multivariate regression analysis of these variables identified the extent of the infection (P = 0.0234) as the only statistically significant, independent predictor of outcome in the presence of other covariables. Conclusions. The involved body surface area appears to be the most important prognostic variable, with a significant impact on outcome. Given the high mortality of the disease entity and a trend toward the improved survival of patients receiving hyperbaric oxygen, this treatment form appears indicated in more severe cases. Immunocompromised patients, who frequently have an atypical and fulminant clinical course, appear to constitute a separate group with a dismal prognosis.
Transposable elements are found in a large number of human protein-coding genes.

Abstract To study the genome-wide impact of transposable elements (TEs) on the evolution of protein-coding regions, we examined 13 799 human genes and found 533 (∼4%) cases of TEs within protein-coding regions. The majority of these TEs (∼89.5%) reside within ‘introns' and were recruited into coding regions as novel exons. We found that TE integration often has an effect on gene function. In particular, there were two mouse genes whose coding regions consist largely of TEs, suggesting that TE insertion might create new genes. Thus, there is increasing evidence for an important role of TEs in gene evolution. Because many TEs are taxon-specific, their integration into coding regions could accelerate species divergence.
Seeds and sovereignty. The use and control of plant genetic resources.

Seeds for economically important crops are big business indeed. As large seed companies continue to improve their product in various ways, they make use of the original gene pools of these plants, often located in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. With increasing recognition that plant germplasm is an important raw material, highly charged international disputes have developed over the exchange and use of this material, adding another point of contention between poor nations and the manufacturing wealthier ones. Twenty experts from several nations, representing both the natural and social sciences, consider the historical background, the issue of patent rights as applied to plant germplasm, the nature of global genetic interdependence, the internationalization of the seed industry, the implications of biotechnology on genetic resources, the Third World attitude toward the debate, and the viewpoints of the International Agricultural Research Centers.
Some results in dynamic model theory

First-order structures over a fixed signature Σ give rise to a family of trace-based and relational Kleene algebras with tests defined in terms of Tarskian frames. A Tarskian frame is a Kripke frame whose states are valuations of program variables and whose atomic actions are state changes effected by variable assignments x := e, where e is a Σ-term. The Kleene algebras with tests that arise in this way play a role in dynamic model theory akin to the role played by Lindenbaum algebras in classical first-order model theory. Given a first-order theory T over Σ, we exhibit a Kripke frame U whose trace algebra TrU is universal for the equational theory of Tarskian trace algebras over Σ satisfying T, although U itself is not Tarskian in general. The corresponding relation algebra RelU is not universal for the equational theory of relation algebras of Tarskian frames, but it is so modulo observational equivalence.
Budburst Phenology, Plant Vigor, and Host Genotype Effects on the Leaf-Galling Generation of Callirhytis cornigera (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) on Pin Oak

Densities of Callirhytis cornigera (Osten Sacken), a cynipid with alternating agamic and sexual generations that develop in woody stem galls and blister-like leaf galls, respectively, often vary among neighboring pin oaks, Quercus palustris Muenchhausen. We studied the ovipositional behavior of agamic wasps and tested several hypotheses to explain intraspecific variation in susceptibility to leaf gall induction. Agamic females laid eggs primarily into green-tip buds. Heavily galled trees had proportionately more vulnerable buds than lightly galled trees during peak oviposition in 1998, supporting the phenological synchrony hypothesis, but not in 1999. Contrary to plant vigor hypothesis predictions, rates of shoot or leaf expansion were similar for lightly and heavily galled trees. Agamic wasps were transferred from heavily infested trees onto shoots of heavily or lightly infested novel trees, or back onto their natal trees, to test for inherent differences in susceptibility to leaf galling. Leaf gall induction was greater on natal than novel trees in 1997, supporting the demic adaptation hypothesis, and there was a trend for greater leaf gall induction on heavily galled than lightly galled novel trees. These patterns, however, did not reoccur in 1998. Although synchrony of emergence with budburst is critical to ovipositional success of agamic C. cornigera, other host-related factors, including those affecting stem gall induction or survival of the agamic generation, probably are more important in determining variation in tree infestation levels. Once a suitable host is colonized, limited wasp dispersal may also contribute to buildup of insular populations on particular trees.
Recent Studies on Opioid Receptors

It is a great honor and pleasure to be invited to give a lecture at this NATO Symposium in honor of my good friend Victor Whittaker, who seems to me to be far too active and dynamic to be retiring.
FRET Characterization of Complex Conformational Changes in a Large 16S Ribosomal RNA Fragment Site-Specifically Labeled Using Unnatural Base Pairs.

Ribosome assembly has been studied intensively using Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) with fluorophore-labeled fragments of RNA produced by chemical synthesis. However, these studies are limited by the size of the accessible RNA fragments. We have developed a replicable unnatural base pair (UBP) formed between (d)5SICS and (d)MMO2 or (d)NaM, which efficiently directs the transcription of RNA containing unnatural nucleotides. We now report the synthesis and evaluation of several of the corresponding ribotriphosphates bearing linkers that enable the chemoselective attachment of different functionalities. We found that the RNA polymerase from T7 bacteriophage does not incorporate NaM derivatives but does efficiently incorporate 5SICS(CO), whose linker enables functional group conjugation via Click chemistry, and when combined with the previously identified MMO2(A), whose amine side chains permits conjugation via NHS coupling chemistry, enables site-specific double labeling of transcribed RNA. To study ribosome assembly, we transcribed RNA corresponding to a 243-nt fragment of the central domain of Thermus thermophilus 16S rRNA containing 5SICS(CO) and MMO2(A) at defined locations and then site-specifically attached the fluorophores Cy3 and Cy5. FRET was characterized using single-molecule total internal reflection fluorescence (smTIRF) microscopy in the presence of various combinations of added ribosomal proteins. We demonstrate that each of the fragment's two three-helix junctions exist in open and closed states, with the latter favored by sequential protein binding. These results elucidate early and previously uncharacterized folding events underlying ribosome assembly and demonstrate the applicability of UBPs for biochemical, structural, and functional studies of RNAs.
Percutaneous mitral valve repair and replacement: a new landmark for structural heart interventions

This editorial refers to ‘Cardioband, a transcatheter surgical-like direct mitral valve annuloplasty system: early results of the feasibility trial’, by F. Maisano et al ., on doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehv603. Mitral regurgitation (MR) is the most common heart valve disease, affecting almost 10% of the population above the age of 75 years.1 As the population continues to age, the incidence of MR is expected to rise, and the presence of MR has been associated with adverse cardiac events and mortality.2 Traditionally, MR has been treated by surgery or medical management, depending on the aetiology and stage of the disease.3 Mitral valve dysfunction is a complex anatomical problem ranging from mitral leaflet disease, annular dilatation from atrial or ventricular dysfunction, leaflet tethering from left ventricular (LV) disease, to a combination of these problems. Since MR commonly accompanies and is aetiologically related to other common ailments of the heart, including coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, and LV dysfunction, its contributions to a given patient's symptoms and outcome are difficult to tease out.4,5 To make the situation even more complex, the valve dysfunction may be difficult to quantify in a consistent manner, and the impact of different levels of regurgitation on mortality may vary depending on the cause of MR.6 In the current issue of the journal, Maisano et al . present data regarding an interesting transcatheter mitral valve repair technology.7 Mitral annuloplasty has been used in surgical mitral valve repair for many decades as a standalone, or, more frequently, as an adjunctive procedure …
Search-Based Path Planning with Homotopy Class Constraints

Goal-directed path planning is one of the basic and widely studied problems in the field of mobile robotics. Homotopy classes of trajectories, arising due to the presence of obstacles, are defined as sets of trajectories that can be transformed into each other by gradual bending and stretching without colliding with obstacles. The problem of finding least-cost paths restricted to a specific homotopy class or finding least-cost paths that do not belong to certain homotopy classes arises frequently in such applications as predicting paths for dynamic entities and computing heuristics for path planning with dynamic constraints. In the present work, we develop a compact way of representing homotopy classes and propose an efficient method of graph search-based optimal path planning with constraints on homotopy classes. The method is based on representing the environment of the robot as a complex plane and making use of the Cauchy Integral Theorem. We prove optimality of the method and show its efficiency experimentally.
Reply to Curry and Coombs: Benzoic acid is formed predominantly from the benzoyl ester hydrolysis in the presence of cocaine hydrolase.

As is well known, and also pointed out correctly by Curry and Coombs (1), cocaine has three metabolic pathways associated with butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), carboxylesterase, and microsomal cytochrome P450 3A4, which convert cocaine to ecgonine methyl ester (EME) + benzoic acid (BA), benzoylecgonine (BE) + methanol, and norcocaine (NC), respectively. However, in contrast to what Curry and Coombs describe, BA cannot be formed from EME. Instead, further hydrolysis of EME can only produce ecgonine and methanol. Therefore, further metabolism of EME does not contribute to BA formation at all. The questions raised by Curry and Coombs (1) are based on a misunderstanding of the metabolic … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence may be addressed. Email: zhan{at}uky.edu or fzhen2{at}uky.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Computed tomography characteristics associated with post-retrieval alleviation of clinical symptoms accompanying inferior vena cava filter strut penetration

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between inferior vena cava (IVC) filter strut penetration with clinical symptoms preand post-retrieval. Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed of patients who underwent IVC filter retrieval over a 10 year period. Filter penetration associated symptoms included any patient complaint which could potentially be explained by filter penetration (i.e. abdominal and/or back pain) which was not consistent with an alternative clinical diagnosis. Chart review for alleviation of symptoms up to 30 days post-retrieval was then performed. IVC filter penetration was graded on pre-retrieval computed tomography (CT) according to increasing depth of strut penetration (grade 0-2) and evidence of contact with adjacent structures (grade 3). Results: 49 filter retrievals with pre-retrieval CT were included in our analysis, with a mean dwell time of 232 days. There was no significant difference in filter dwell time between low grade (grade 0 or 1) and high grade (grade 2 or 3) penetration or filter type. Of 21 patients with low grade penetration (grade 0, n 1⁄4 12; grade 1, n 1⁄4 9) and 19 patients with grade 2 penetration, there were no filter penetration associated symptoms. There were 9 patients with grade 3 penetration, with 4 cases of penetration associated symptoms (abdominal pain, n 1⁄4 3; back pain, n 1⁄4 1) which all had complete resolution of symptoms following filter retrieval. These 4 cases with symptomatic resolution had evidence of fat stranding on CT, while the remaining 45 cases did not (sensitivity 100% [95% CI: 39100%]; specificity 100% [95% CI: 90-100%]). Two cases of high grade penetration (without fat stranding) had symptoms which were highly consistent with an alternative clinical diagnosis, and neither had alleviation of symptoms with retrieval (back pain with chronic compression fractures; nausea with heavy non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use alleviated with decrease in dosage). Conclusion: Patients with high grade filter strut penetration and associated symptoms not consistent with an alternative diagnosis have a high likelihood of symptom alleviation after filter retrieval, particularly in patients with evidence of fat stranding on pre-retrieval CT. JVIR ’ Distinguished Abstracts S11