cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A prospective review of an initial 100 consecutive cases

In order to identify problems in concept or technique with lap-aroscopic cholecystectomy, a prospective analysis of the initial consecutive 100 procedures was accomplished. Ongoing review of the results led to modifications in order to improve operative outcome. Minor complications such as nausea for more than 12 h (20%) and right shoulder pain (29%) were self-limiting. There were no deaths, two bile duct injuries, two abscesses, two retained common duct stones, and one case requiring transfusion, totaling a 7% major complication rate. In the subsequent 200 laparoscopic cholecystectomies, there was a 1.5% rate of major complications. Specific measures and modifications in technique that account for this improvement are detailed. Complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy are more frequent in initial cases but can be minimized by observing specific intraoperative principles.
Culture of ovine embryos in the absence of bovine serum albumin.

Abstract Bovine serum albumin (BSA), a relatively impure protein, is routinely used as a component of embryo culture media. Since media containing BSA are chemically undefined, it would be desirable to replace BSA with substitutes of similar activity which are either chemically better defined and/or better standardized than BSA. Two commercial products, Ultroser ® G (USG) and Solcoseryl ® (SOL), were evaluated as replacements for BSA in culture with respect to the development of ovine embryos in vitro. A total of 126 late 8-cell and early 16-cell embryos were distributed among modified Brinster's medium for ovum culture (BMOC-2) containing either 1.5% BSA, 2.0% USG or 2.0% SOL. All three culture media supported development of ovine embryos. Results indicate that 8- and 16-cell embryos will develop into blastocysts in a BSA-free medium containing either USG or SOL. A higher number of embryos developed into blastocysts in media containing BSA than in media containing USG or SOL, and more blastocysts hatched in media containing BSA. Although the overall degree of embryonic development was more advanced in BSA-supplemented media, the concentrations of USG and SOL that were used in this study may not have been optimal for ovine embryo culture.
Interaction between diffusion and chemical stresses

The present work studies the interaction between chemical stresses and diffusion. A new relation between hydrostatic stress and concentration of solute atoms is established. For a solid free of action of body force, the Laplacian of the hydrostatic stress is proportional to the Laplacian of the concentration of solute atoms, that is, deviation of the hydrostatic stress from its local average is proportional to deviation of the local concentration of solute atoms. A general relationship among surface concentration of solute atoms, normal stress and surface deformation of a solid is then derived, in which the normal stress is dependent on the mean curvature of the undeformed surface and tangential components of the surface displacement. A closed-form solution of the steady state concentration of solute atoms in a thin plate is obtained. It turns out that linear distribution of solute atoms in the plate is non-existent due to the interaction between chemical stresses and diffusion.
Developmental expression of vasopressin in the human hypothalamus: double-labeling with in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry.

ABSTRACT: The developmental expression of arginine vasopressin (VP) and VP mRNA in human hypothalamus was studied using combined immunocytochemistry (ICC) for VP-neurophysin II and in situ hybridization (ISH) for VP mRNA. Routine formalin-fixed autopsy material was used from 22 cases ranging in age from 18 wk of gestation to 21 yr. VP-neurophysin II immunoreactive cells were detected in the supraoptic, accessory supraoptic, and paraventricular nuclei of all brains examined. The average size of the immunocytochemically labeled cells increased until birth and remained constant thereafter. VP mRNA was first detected in cells at 21 wk gestation; 3 wk after the first detectable VP by ICC. After 27 wk of gestation, consistent and strong signals were obtained from the specimens that were double-labeled for both immunoreactive VP-neurophysin II and VP mRNA. Three populations of double-labeled cells were identified: type 1, intensely positive for both ISH and ICC (most magnocellular neurons); type 2, positive for ISH and weak or negative for ICC (rare and generally found in younger fetuses), and type 3, positive for ICC and weak or negative for ISH (mostly scattered in accessory nuclei). Thus, double-labeling techniques can be routinely used on frozen or paraffin sections of human autopsy material for the simultaneous assessment of both message and peptide. In the human fetus, the relatively late appearance of adult-like levels of VP mRNA in the magnocellular neuroendocrine cells suggests an association with the development of functional synaptic interactions in this system.
Spatial Distribution and Evolution of Extratropical Cyclone Errors over North America and its Adjacent Oceans in the NCEP Global Forecast System Model

AbstractShort- to medium-range (1–5 day) forecasts of extratropical cyclones around North America and its adjacent oceans are verified within the Global Forecast System (GFS) model at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) during the 2002–07 cool seasons (October–March). Cyclones in the immediate lee of the Rockies and U.S. Great Plains have 25%–50% smaller pressure errors than other regions after hour 36. The central pressure and displacement errors are largest over the central and eastern Pacific for the 42–72-h forecast, while the western and central Atlantic pressure errors for 96–120 h are similar to the central and eastern Pacific. For relatively strong cyclones, the western Atlantic and central/eastern Canada pressure errors are larger than those for the Pacific by 108–120 h. There are large spatial variations in the central pressure biases at 72–120 h, with overdeepened GFS cyclones (negative errors) extending from the northern Pacific and Bering Strait eastward to western Canada...
Staphylococcal immunity: production of staphylococcal hemagglutinins in rabbits receiving staphylococcal vaccine.

Summary1. Injections of 2 staphylococcal bacterial cell vaccines resulted in prompt antibody response in normal adult rabbits which could be detected by a simple hemagglutination test. Maximal antibody titers were reached in 30 to 40 days with weekly injections. The intravenous route yielded maximal antibody production. 2. Variations in concentration of red blood cells or antigen employed in sensitizing red cells produced marked alterations in the hemagglutinating end point when tested against standard high titer sera. Careful standardization was thus required to obtain reproducible results. 3. Sensitizing antigen prepared from various heterologous coagulase positive staphylococci of different phage types yielded cross reactions at lower dilutions against sera obtained from vaccinated animals. Antigen prepared from a single coagulase negative strain cross reacted with high titer serum only at low dilutions.
Where Community-Based Water Resource Management has Gone Too Far: Poverty and Disempowerment in Southern Madagascar

Madagascar has struggled with the question of decentralisation for more than three decades. Since coming to power in 2002, President Marc Ra­valomanana has both reformed and accelerated this process, granting new roles and responsibilities to regional and community leadership. This politi­cal path is consistent with shifts in natural resource management in the 1990s, notably in the water sector. We thus see the role of the national gov­ernment diminishing in favour of resource management at the community level. This paper explores the impact of increased responsibility for water management and decision making in the southern district of Ambovombe­Androy. The assumption is that this sort of decentralisation leads to empow­erment at the local level and improves accountability, civic engagement and equity. Unfortunately, in the case of Ambovombe, 'local empowerment' quickly translates to 'you're on your own'. 'Decentralisation' quickly trans­lates into state disengagement. To avoid this, a finer relationship between state and local institutional relationships and responsibilities needs to be ex­plored. Only once we understand what a community is, and what its capacity can be, can we figure out what responsibilities it needs to take on to ensure the efficacy of a state that tends to be at best inefficient and at worst preda­tory.
Emergency department presentation of renal dialysis patients: indications for EMS transport directly to dialysis centers.

To determine the pattern of emergency department (ED) utilization by renal dialysis (RD) patients, a prospective study was conducted of dialysis patients presenting to the ED of a regional dialysis center. The most common presenting complaints were shortness of breath (SOB), chest pain, abdominal pain, and vomiting; the most common diagnoses were congestive heart failure, chest wall pain, and electrolyte abnormalities. Interventional dialysis (1D), defined as emergent dialysis required to treat the patient's presenting complaint, was required for 30 patients, with the most common presenting complaints of these patients being shortness of breath, weakness, and chest pain. Only SOB was statistically significant in predicting the need for ID (P < 0.001), with a positive predictive value of 0.63 and a negative predictive value of 0.85. Prehospital implications of these data suggest that RD patients with a chief complaint of SOB should be transported directly to a facility capable of dialysis on an emergent basis.
Torsion in a protoplasmic thread.

Abstract 1. 1. A short length of protoplasmic thread of the plasmodium of the myxomycete Physarum polycephalum hung in moist air between two supports often tends to take the form of a spiral or of loops. These forms strikingly resemble those assumed by a piece of string when it is twisted. The formation of a spiral or loops by a protoplasmic thread is believed to be due to torsion established in the living matter. 2. 2. If the protoplasmic thread is hung vertically by one end while the other, lower, end is left free, the free end rotates to the right and left alternately with a nearly constant period of about 2 minutes at room temperatures. The angle of rotation of each stroke differs according to the specimen and to the time of measurement. 3. 3. The angle of rotation of the free end in one direction is greater than that in the opposite direction in each successive motion. Hence, by repetition of the motion the free end of the thread continues to rotate in one direction unlimitedly. 4. 4. The concept of slippage of the structural components in protoplasm was introduced in order to account for the unlimited rotation of the free end. Such a slippage is considered to take place by reconversion of junctions in the living protoplasm even though it is in that state commonly called a gel. 5. 5. We have so far encountered a counter-clockwise rotation (as seen from above) more often than a clockwise rotation. 6. 6. The hanging thread contracts and elongates longitudinally with the same period as does the twisting motion. However, no clear-cut relationship between rotation and longitudinal motion has been found. 7. 7. The protoplasmic flow which takes place within the hanging thread does not play a role which is causally related to the twisting motion.
Deaths in International Travelers Arriving in the United States, July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2008

Background. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Quarantine Activity Reporting System (QARS), which documents reports of morbidity and mortality among travelers, was analyzed to describe the epidemiology of deaths during international travel. Methods. We analyzed travel-related deaths reported to CDC from July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2008, in which international travelers died (1) on a U.S.-bound conveyance, or (2) within 72 hours after arriving in the United States, or (3) at any time after arriving in the United States from an illness possibly acquired during international travel. We analyzed age, sex, mode of travel (eg, by air, sea, land), date, and cause of death, and estimated rates using generalized linear models. Results. We identified 213 deaths. The median age of deceased travelers was 66 years (range 1–95); 65% were male. Most deaths (62%) were associated with sea travel; of these, 111 (85%) occurred in cruise ship passengers and 20 (15%) among cargo and cruise ship crew members. Of 81 air travel-associated deaths, 77 occurred in passengers, 3 among air ambulance patients, and 1 in a stowaway. One death was associated with land travel. Deaths were categorized as cardiovascular (70%), infectious disease (12%), cancer (6%), unintentional injury (4%), intentional injury (1%), and other (7%). Of 145 cardiovascular deaths with reported ages, 62% were in persons 65 years of age and older. Nineteen (73%) of 26 persons who died from infectious diseases had chronic medical conditions. There was significant seasonal variation (lowest in July–September) in cardiovascular mortality in cruise ship passengers. Conclusions. Cardiovascular conditions were the major cause of death for both sexes. Travelers should seek pre-travel medical consultation, including guidance on preventing cardiovascular events, infections, and injuries. Persons with chronic medical conditions and the elderly should promptly seek medical care if they become ill during travel.
Plaque-like lesions in the basal forebrain in Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract Silver staining (Bodian procedure) in the nucleus of the sublenticular substantia innominata (SI), also referred to as the nucleus basalis of Meynert, was evaluated in autopsy material from patients with Alzheimer's disease or senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (age at death: mean 69 years, range 63 to 81 years; time between onset of symptoms and death: mean 5.6 years, range 2.5 to 11.0 years). Although a decrease in the number of neurons and an increase in gliosis were observed in the SI in the Alzheimer dementia cases, classic senile plaques, as well as neurofibrillary tangles and granulovacuolar degeneration, were, with rare exception, not present in the basal forebrain. Small plaque-like lesions, 30–50 μm in diameter, were found scattered throughout the SI, however. These pathologic entities, like traditional senile plaques, demonstrated increased argentophilia compared to background, neuritic elements, and an increase in the number of glial cells. The magnitude of silver staining in the plaque-like lesions in the SI, however, was generally less than that associated with plaques in the cortex, hippocampus and amygdala. Although their significance is not known, plaque-like structures in the SI could represent the final degenerative phases of basal forebrain neurons and/or of fibers afferent to them. Their precise relationship to classic senile plaques remains to be elucidated.
Ethanol conversion to hydrocarbons on HZSM-5: Effect of reaction conditions and Si/Al ratio on the product distributions

Abstract The Conversion of ethanol to hydrocarbon over HZSM-5 zeolite with different Si/Al ratios was investigated under various reaction conditions. The catalyst with a higher Si/Al ratio (low acid density) deactivated faster and generated more unsaturated compounds at a similar time-on-stream. Temperature affects the catalytic activity with respect to liquid hydrocarbon generation and the hydrocarbon product composition. At lower temperatures (∼300 °C), the catalyst deactivated faster with respect to the liquid hydrocarbon formation. Higher temperatures (∼400 °C) reduced the formation of liquid range hydrocarbons and formed more gaseous fractions. Weight hourly space velocity was also found to affect product selectivity with higher weight hourly space velocity leading to a higher extent of ethylene formation. The experimental results were analyzed in terms of the product composition and the coke content with respect to catalyst time-on-stream and compared with the catalyst lifetime with respect to the variables tested on the conversion of ethanol to hydrocarbon.
The significance of multiple blue-grey dots (granularity) for the dermoscopic diagnosis of melanoma.

Summary Background The presence of multiple blue-grey dots (MBGD) is widely used by clinicians to decide if a pigmented lesion should be removed, but only little is known about their significance. Objectives To evaluate the significance of MBGD for the dermoscopic diagnosis of melanoma. Methods In part 1 we retrospectively evaluated 340 pigmented lesions for the presence and morphological appearance of granularity. One hundred and seventy melanomas were included and matched with 170 benign and dysplastic naevi which were randomly chosen from our collection. In part 2, 3773 lesions were examined prospectively in at-risk patients: all lesions with granularity were recorded, surgically removed and subjected to histopathological examination. Results In part 1, granularity was found in 26AE5% of the benign lesions and 93AE5% of melanomas. The presence of granularity, granularity at the periphery, irregularly distributed granularity and granularity in association with red and white colour were statistically highly significant for the diagnosis of melanoma (P <0 AE001). In part 2, granularity was found in 1AE08% of the 3773 lesions and more frequently in sun-damaged skin. Sensitivity for the diagnosis of melanoma was 85% and specificity 99%. Conclusions After the revision of many lesions with MBGD, we concluded that the term ‘granularity’ better describes this entity. Lesions with irregular granularity (periphery, irregularly distributed) should be removed especially if they are associated with red, blue or white colour. Lesions with a benign dermoscopy pattern which have granularity with a regular appearance and involving only a small portion of the lesion do not require surgical excision.
Depressive Realism and Health Risk Accuracy: The Negative Consequences of Positive Mood

We examine the role of level of depression on updating of health-related risk estimates. Participants provided their risk of getting breast cancer before (baseline) and after (follow-up) receiving personalized (experiment 1) or standard (experiment 2) medical risk feedback. Although there were no significant differences in risk estimates at baseline, the follow-up risk estimates indicate that compared to nondepressives, depressives lowered their risk estimates such that they were more accurate or closer to the medical estimates provided in the risk feedback. In contrast to depressives, nondepressives with higher baseline risk estimates did not revise their follow-up risk estimates because they were in a positive mood after receiving the risk feedback.
Treatment of high anal fistulae by primary occlusion of the internal ostium, drainage of the intersphincteric space, and mucosal advancement flap

In a prospective study on 224 patients with so-called high-fistula in ano (189 transsphincteric, 35 suprasphincteric) the long-term results of a sphinctersaving operation technique were assessed. The follow-up period was 1 to 7.5 years. This technique consists of onestage fistulectomy as well as of drainage of the intersphincteric space by internal sphincterotomy. The site of the former primary orifice of the fistula is adapted by multiple peranally performed single stitches, including mucosal advancement flap distal to the original fistulous opening. Postoperatively, 24 cases of suture leakage occurred (9% with the transsphincteric and 20% with the suprasphincteric fistula). 27 patient developed late complications like fistula recurrences or combinations of fistula and anal abscess (10.7% with the transsphincteric and 19.9% with the suprasphincteric fistula). Anal manometry was carried out preoperatively as well as postoperatively. A significant decrease in the postoperative resting pressure compared to the preoperative value was determined. The two fistula groups differed statistically both with regard to the resting pressure and the contraction pressure. Significant impairment of continence developed in 21% of patients with transsphincteric fistula but in 43% of patients with suprasphincteric fistula (intermittent fecal spoiling/use of perineal pads). The total percentage of complications rose with the number of previous fistula operations.
MENOPAUSAL OESTROGEN THERAPY AND PROTECTION FROM DEATH FROM ISCHAEMIC HEART DISEASE

The medical records of a Los Angeles retirement community were examined to find out the association between oestrogen replacement therapy and death from ischaemic heart disease. Women dying from ischaemic heart disease over a five-year period were compared with living and deceased control groups; both controls were matched with cases for date of birth, date of entry into the community, race, and socioeconomic status. The deceased control was also matched for date of death. Compared with living controls cases using conjugated oestrogens had a risk ratio for death from ischaemic heart disease of 0.43 (95% confidence interval 0.24-0.75). Comparison with deceased controls gave a similar relative risk. This association was not due to identifiable confounding factors. Other risk factors for ischaemic heart disease, including hypertension, diabetes, stroke, angina pectoris, and heavy cigarette smoking, were confirmed by this study.
Evaluation of dried blood spot specimens for HIV-1 drug-resistance testing using the Trugene HIV-1 genotyping assay.

Abstract Background Efforts to simplify the collection and shipping of specimens for HIV drug-resistance testing in resource-limited settings are needed as antiretroviral therapy increases worldwide. Objective To evaluate the reliability and practicality of using dried blood spots (DBS) for HIV-1 drug-resistance testing with the Trugene® HIV-1 genotyping assay. Study design Nucleic acids from 33 DBS and counterpart plasma specimens were extracted using the Nuclisens® MiniMAG™ system and genotyped using the Trugene® HIV-1 genotyping assay. Results were evaluated for sensitivity, accuracy, and reproducibility. Results A genotype was obtained for 33 (100%) plasma specimens and 26 (78.8%) DBS specimens, including 19 of 21 (90.5%) DBS specimens with a viral load greater than 6000 copies/mL. The mean nucleotide sequence concordance for the 940-nucleotide region evaluated was 99.3% for 26 DBS and plasma pairs, and 99.2% for 15 replicate DBS pairs. All 58 resistance-associated mutations detected in plasma specimens were detected in the corresponding DBS specimens. Conclusions We show that DBS can be reliably and accurately genotyped using standard clinical assay methods, offering a practical alternative to plasma. This method is well suited for pre-treatment resistance testing and has potential for use in monitoring drug resistance in ART-treated individuals.
A trans-acting regulatory product necessary for expression of the Drosophila melanogaster 68C glue gene cluster

The mutation I(1)npr-1 is located at cytological location 2B5 on the X chromosome in Drosophila melanogaster. We have found that this mutation causes absence of the normal product of the 2B5 locus and that it has the following phenotypes: the 68C glue puff on the third chromosome does not regress when mutant salivary glands are cultured in the presence of ecdysterone; the three 68C glue protein mRNAs are not synthesized; and a transformed Drosophila strain carrying both a normal resident 68C Sgs-3 gene and an introduced functional Sgs-3 gene with only a few kb of flanking sequences expresses neither Sgs-3 RNA if the I(1)npr-1 mutation is crossed into the stock. Thus the normal product of the I(1)npr11 gene is required for regression of the 68C puff, and the I(1)npr-1 gene product allows expression of the Sgs-3 gene by interacting, either directly or indirectly, with DNA sequences near this glue protein gene.
An extensive repeat structure down-regulates human monoamine oxidase a promoter activity independent of an initiator-like sequence

The 5' flanking sequence of the human monoamine oxidase A (MAO A) gene consists of an extensive repeat structure. Two 90-bp repeats (I and II) were found in the core promoter (the 0.24-kb PvuII/DraII fragment), each containing two Sp1 binding sites. An additional six repeats were found, five of which (III-VII) were upstream and one (-I) downstream of the core promoter. Using transient transfection assay with a human growth hormone reporter gene, we found that the upstream repeating units III-VII (in a 0.78-kb BamHI/DraII fragment) down-regulate core promoter activity to 13 +/- 10% in a human glioma cell line (1242 MG) and 2 +/- 1% in a cervical carcinoma cell line (HeLa), respectively. The 0.24-kb core promoter activity was taken as 100%. Addition of the initiator (Inr)-like sequence to this 0.78-kb fragment (0.82-kb BamHI/-17 fragment) still showed decreased promoter activity (10 +/- 9% in 1242 MG cells and 8 +/- 1% in HeLa cells). Thus, the upstream sequence down-regulates promoter activity with or without the Inr-like sequence. When the Inr-like sequence was added to the core promoter (0.28-kb PvuII/-17 fragment), the promoter activity decreases significantly in both 1242 MG (55 +/- 6%) and HeLa (60 +/- 10%) cells. These results suggest that although the Inr-like sequence is present in the human MAO A promoter, it acts as a negative cis element instead of a transcription initiator.
Diagnostic Utility of D‐Dimer Concentrations in Dogs with Pulmonary Embolism

Background: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a complication of systemic disease in dogs. Antemortem diagnosis is chal-lenging because of the lack of a conﬁrmatory test.Objectives: To retrospectively determine the diagnostic utility of D-dimer concentrations in dogs with necropsy-con-ﬁrmed PE.Animals: Ten dogs with PE conﬁrmed at necropsy that had D-dimer concentrations measured and 10 control dogs withD-dimer concentrations available that lacked PE on necropsy.Methods: The computerized medical record database was searched for dogs with necropsy-conﬁrmed PE that hadD-dimer concentrations measured at that visit. An age-, sex-, and breed-matched control group was identiﬁed. Signalment,location of PE, and coagulation proﬁles were collected. Sensitivity, speciﬁcity, negative predictive value (NPV), and posi-tive predictive value (PPV) were calculated using a D-dimer concentration of 250 ng/mL.Results: Coagulation proﬁles were not diﬀerent between dogs with and without PE. Using 250 ng/mL as a cut-oﬀD-dimer concentration, the sensitivity and speciﬁcity were 80 and 30%, respectively, for the diagnosis of PE. The NPVand PPV were 60 and 53.0%, respectively. D-dimer concentration <103 ng/mL had 100% sensitivity for ruling out PE andno value was 100% speciﬁc.Conclusions and Clinical Importance: D-dimer concentrations <250 ng/mL have a high sensitivity for the absence ofPE, but PE still can occur in dogs with a normal D-dimer concentration. Increased D-dimer concentrations are not speciﬁcfor PE.Key words: Biomarker; Coagulation; Respiratory distress; Thromboembolism.
SU-GG-J-40: Accuracy Limits for Projection-To-Volume Targeting during Arc Therapy

Purpose: To investigate the fundamental accuracy limit of estimating local configuration of tumors using projection‐to‐volume alignment between a small spread of radiographs and a reference CT volume. Method and Materials: We used a real thorax CT volume at the inhale state as the reference and synthesized two target volumes at another inhale and exhale state based on two corresponding real volumes of the same patient. The projection radiographs of limited‐angle scans with six arc lengths (12°, 18°, 24°, 36°, 60° and 90° ) centered at three angles (0°, 45° and 90°) were generated from these two target volumes. The tested projection‐to‐volume registration method used a nonrigid B‐spline motion model, a cost function composed of a sum of squared difference (SSD) measure and a regularizer to encourage local invertibility, and the conjugate gradient optimization method implemented in a 4‐level multi‐resolution scheme. Registration was also performed on radiographs corrupted by Poissonnoise with two different incident intensities simulating 105 and 104 counts per ray. Results: The experiments demonstrated the potential accuracy of limited‐angle projection‐to‐volume registration. Registration accuracy can be sensitive to angular center, tends to be larger along the projection direction, and tends to decrease away from the rotation center, whereas registration accuracy tends to be maintained at different noise levels and extents of deformation. Conclusion: This investigation indicates the potential of position monitoring of high contrast tumors during treatment using a small spread of projections without implanted markers. This investigation may also help optimally design various parameters for position monitoring, such as projection arrangement (hardware configuration), noise/dose tradeoffs, and temporal/spatial accuracy limits. This work was supported in part by NIH grant P01 CA59827.
Cerebral Perinatal White Matter Injury of the Preterm Infant Alters Subsequent Microstructural Brain Development

Cerebral Perinatal White Matter Injury of the Preterm Infant Alters Subsequent Microstructural Brain Development
Explicit solutions of some utility maximization problems in incomplete markets

Abstract In this note we prove Holder-type inequalities for products of certain functionals of correlated Brownian motions. These estimates are applied to the study of optimal portfolio choice in incomplete markets when the investor's utility is of the form U(X,Y)=g(X)h(Y), where X is the investor's wealth and Y is a random factor not perfectly correlated with the market. Explicit solutions are found when g is the exponential, power, or logarithmic utility function.
Style of Role Enactment Expected of Parent, Teacher, and Counselor.

Role theory deals with the rights and obligations accruing to occupants of positions. Role expectations are mobilized by the credentials present in the style with which the role performer enacts his role. Expectations high school seniors have of these credentials in regard to parents, teachers, and counselors were investigated employing an instrument developed from' the dimensions of Empathy, Respect, Genuineness, and Concreteness posited by Carkhuff and Berenson. The findings were: (a) subjects of higher socioeconomic status had higher expectations of Respect from parents, teachers, and counselors; (b) subjects, in general, had higher expectations of Empathy, Respect, and Concreteness from counselors than from parents while the reverse held true for Genuineness; (c) girls had higher expectations of Respect from parents, teachers, and counselors than did boys.
Urban science classrooms and new possibilities: on intersubjectivity and grammar in the third space

In this article I explore research in urban science education inspired by the work of Kris Gutierrez in a paper based on her 2005 Scribner Award. It addresses key points in Gutierrez’s work by exploring theoretical frameworks for research and approaches to teaching and research that expand the discourse on the agency of urban youth in corporate school settings. The work serves as an overview of under-discussed approaches and theoretical frameworks to consider in teaching and conducting research with marginalized urban youth in urban science classrooms.
The light that leaks: Brückner and the red reflex

The Bruckner test utilizes the ophthalmoscope to assess symmetry of binocular fixation by qualitative comparison of the red reflexes. Accurate fixation by the patient's eye on the ophthalmoscope light causes darkening of the red reflex, previously believed due to macular pigmentation. By designing and experimenting with a beamsplitter ophthalmoscope, we have demonstrated that if the patient's fovea is not exactly conjugate to the light source, light from the retina spills past the light source at the ophthalmoscope mirror into the examiner's eye, creating the red reflex. Therefore, binocular asymmetry of this conjugate relationship, whether due to anisometropia or strabismus, creates asymmetrical red reflexes. Understanding this principle of conjugacy is critical to optimal utilization of the red reflex in routine clinical examination as well as in microsurgery.
Stochastic models for the completeness of stratigraphic sections

Properties of stratigraphic completeness are determined here from a Brownian motion model of sediment accumulation. This avoids flaws inherent in application of a discrete-time random walk to the time span, rather than thickness, of sediment layers. Both discrete and continuous models show that the concept of stratigraphic completeness is meaningful only when the time scale is specified. From the discrete model, not surprisingly, completeness improves with increasing relative frequency and average thickness of depositional increments and the error of completeness estimation should decrease for longer sections. The continuous model shows that two dimensionless products determine the probability that a given time interval will be recorded by some preserved sediment. The first is the ratio of the age of the interval to its time span; the second is the product of the square root of the time span and ratio of the mean to the standard deviation of accumulation rate. Expected completeness is the average of these probabilities for all successive intervals of the given time span. For long sections, completeness may be estimated from the second dimensionless product alone. The two dimensionless products are sufficient to predict the relationship of accumulation rate to time span, the distribution of bed thickness, and the weak association of completeness and section thickness.
Should radiotherapy for low-grade glioma be given immediately after surgery or at the time of progression?

Should radiotherapy for low-grade glioma be given immediately after surgery or at the time of progression?
Dextroamphetamine for cocaine-dependence treatment : A double-blind randomized clinical trial

A properly implemented agonist treatment regimen should improve retention and reduce illicit drug use. Cocaine-dependent subjects (N = 128) were enrolled in a 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. In the multistage dosing design, subjects initially received placebo (PBO) or 15 to 30 mg of dextroamphetamine sulfate, sustained-release capsules. At week 5, the dose doubled to 30 mg or 60 mg for active groups. Subjects attended the clinic twice a week, provided urine samples, obtained medication, and had one behavioral therapy session a week. Retention was best for the 15- to 30-mg group, whereas the proportion of benzoylecgonine-positive urine screens was, from lowest to highest, 30 to 60 mg, 15 to 30 mg, and PBO at study end. Dosing must be refined. The results provide support for additional examination of the agonist model in psychostimulant-dependence treatment.
Interdependence of the kinetics of NTP hydrolysis and the stability of the RecA-ssDNA complex.

The ssDNA-dependent NTP hydrolysis activity of the RecA protein was examined using a series of dTn oligomers ranging in size from dT10 to dT2000 as the ssDNA effector. There were three distinct manifestations of the dTn-dependent NTP hydrolysis reaction, depending on the length of the dTn effector that was used. With longer dTn oligomers, NTP hydrolysis occurred with a turnover number of 20−25 min-1 and the observed S0.5 value for the NTP was independent of the concentration of the dTn oligomer (DNA concentration-independent hydrolysis). With dTn oligomers of intermediate length, NTP hydrolysis still occurred with a turnover number of 20−25 min-1, but the observed S0.5 for the NTP decreased with increasing dTn concentration until reaching a value similar to that obtained with the longer dTn oligomers (DNA concentration-dependent hydrolysis). With shorter dTn oligomers, the NTP hydrolysis activity was effectively eliminated. Although this general progression of kinetic behavior was observed for the three s...
Recurrent Carotid Stenosis after CEA and CAS: Diagnosis and Management

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is the preferred method for cerebral revascularization in patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic high-grade extracranial carotid artery stenosis. Carotid artery stenting (CAS) has recently emerged as a less invasive alternative to endarterectomy. Carotid stenting has been demonstrated to be technically feasible and safe in high-risk patients. It has been approved as an acceptable method for revascularization in circumstances where CEA yields suboptimal results. While the final role of CAS in carotid revascularization will be determined on the basis of ongoing randomized trials, it is clear that stenting will continue to be performed in subgroups of patients with carotid stenosis. Therefore, it is anticipated that there will be a corresponding increase in the number of in-stent restenosis cases. Considerable controversy exists regarding the clinical significance, natural history, threshold for management, and appropriate intervention of recurrent carotid stenosis after endarterectomy and after stenting. This review analyzes current information on this important clinical problem and presents evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and management of recurrent carotid stenosis.
Abstract 2346: Lung cancer progression by efficient cre-mediated deletion of Pten and Smad4

Introduction: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the world and the incidence of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer in the United States has been increasing in recent years. Mouse models have played a crucial role in understanding the tumor biology and progression of disease. The need for more clinically relevant preclinical mouse models for lung cancer is clear. Most mouse models for lung cancer use adenoviral delivery or cre recombinase models that result in development of cancers of the distal air ways. The tumors resulting from these mouse models are usually a mixed phenotype with mice developing adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and benign adenomas depending on the combination of genetic alterations. We wanted to study lung cancer in the setting of more efficient cre that is present in the proximal as well as the distal lung epithelium. Utilizing this cre-system, we created a double knockout murine model with conditional ablation of pten and smad4 genes and wanted to compare tumor development and progression in these mice when compared to wildtype or smad 4 d/d or pten d/d mice. Methods: All mice were maintained at our core facility under approved protocols. The efficient cre system was accomplished by inserting the iCre recombinase into the Clara Cell Secretory protein locus. Tissues were collected at the time of sacrifice and compared to wild-type mice. Methods include Microarray analysis, RT-PCR, Immunohistochemistry and CHIP-Seq. Results: When compared with wildtype mice, smad 4 d/d or pten d/d alone mice, we have recognized that this particular mouse model has reproducibly developed proximal lung cancers that stain negative for SPC, a marker for distal airways. Additionally, this mouse model has developed metastatic disease, with metastasis to stomach. The immunohistochemistry results confirmed that the metastasis site was positive for TTF-1. Immunohistochemistry for EMT makers show that there is gradual loss of E-Cadherin. Conclusions: We have successfully created a mouse model with CCSPicre/Pten/Smad4 that results in proximal lung tumor development that advances to metastatic disease. Previous studies showed that tissue specific knockout of Smad 4 results in malignancy including gastric polyposis, pancreatic cancer, mammary gland epithelial hyperproliferation and SCC of the skin. Our results add to the previous findings in that loss of Smad4 in conjunction Pten may provide a novel platform to study lung cancer especially as it relates to proximal lung cancers that metastasize. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2346. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2346
First-principles study of quasiparticle energies of a bipolar molecule in a scanning tunneling microscope measurement

Abstract Quasiparticle energies of a bipolar molecule, bithiophene naphthalene diimide (BND), on a substrate under conditions in typical scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) measurements are computed within the GW approximation. The calculated HOMO–LUMO gap is compared with the value determined from the dI/dV spectra of STM experiments. Electron screening from the substrate and STM tip are included within an image charge framework. It is shown that the influence of a metallic substrate is strongly modified by an atomically thin dielectric film and that the presence of the STM tip gives a non-negligible contribution to the quasiparticle energies. Quantitative agreement with experiment is achieved after taking into account the aforementioned effects.
Life-history Consequences of Body-size Variation in the Milkweed Leaf Beetle, Labidomera clivicollis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Adult body size of milkweed leaf beetles, Labidomera clivicollis rogersii (LeConte), varied greatly among beetles given different amounts of food in the last larval stadium. Larger females laid approximately twice as many eggs as did smaller females, regardless of whether they reproduced before or after diapause, or were maintained on unlimited or limited regimens of food availability. Age at first reproduction was significantly delayed among smaller females when adults were maintained on the limited food regimen. Eggs from larger females were heavier and resulted in higher larval survivorship to pupation than eggs from smaller females. Larger adult beetles survived total starvation nearly twice as long as smaller beetles, but adult size had no consistent effects on survival through summer or winter in outdoor cages.
Effects of general and thematically relevant stressors in Raynaud's disease

Abstract Emotional Stress has been reported to cause vasospastic attacks in some patients with idiopathic Raynaud's disease. In the present study, the physiological and subjective responses of 32 Raynaud's disease patients and 22 normal subjects to three imagined scenes were compared. Both groups responded similarly to a neutral and a generally stressful scene. However, a scene having content thematically relevant to Raynaud's disease produced decreased finger temperature in these patients but not in normal controls. These findings are discussed in terms of stimulus specificity and social learning theories.
Road Network Design: Optimal Economic Connection of Three Horizontal Control Points on Flat, Uniform Terrain

Abstract Road network design may involve selection of junction points, and a standard economic criterion can guide the initial paper location of these points. The junction point problem, in its elemental form, begins with three horizontal control points. These control points are to be linked at minimum total cost using linear road segments. Each road segment is characterized by a constant cost per unit length which may differ between segments. A mathematical optimization model has been developed for this problem. A decision algorithm for optimal network design is given and an example from the literature illustrates its application.
The geometry of the zodiacal dust bands

A program is in progress to use the best available IRAS data to determine the orbital parameters of the ensemble of particles which make up the zodiacal dust bands. Refinements on the early results of Gautier and Hauser include the use of a more complete set of data and improved treatment of ring profile effects due to dispersions in orbital parameters. Results to date include an analysis of the sensitivity of the observable parameters of the dust bands to changes in the orbital parameters of the particle ensemble.
Platelet counts in premature infants

Summary 1. Platelet counts in 26 premature infants in the first 5 days of life ranged from 31,000 to 197,000 per cubic millimeter. 2. Serial weekly counts in 13 smaller infants(under 1,700 gram at birth) showed a decrease to below 50,000 platelets per cubic millimeter by 10 to 20 days of age in most infants with evidence of hemorrhagic tendency in only one infant. 3. Large premature infants (over 1,700 gram at birth) usually had a prompt rise to 100,000 platelets per cubic millimeter and over by the tenth day.
Direct observation of domain structure in condensed monolayer phases.

Fluorescence microscopy with polarized excitation allows regions of uniform tilt to be seen within domains of the liquid-condensed phase in monolayers of esters at the air/water interface. Transitions between a tilted and an utilted phase have been observed. Tilt regions within domains form regular six-arm patterns that are analogous to the star defect in films of liquid crystals. It is shown that six-arm stars are to be expected in these monolayers. A second transition has also been observed at lower temperatures.
Selective Arylation Reactions of Bismuth−Transition Metal Salicylate Complexes

Heterometallic bismuth−niobium or −tantalum salicylate complexes react with sodium tetraphenylborate to produce complexes in which one or more aryl groups have been transferred from boron to bismuth with the concomitant displacement of a η2-salicylato ligand. When the previously reported Bi2Ta2(sal)4(Hsal)4(OEt)4 (1) and BiTa4(μ-O)4(sal)4(Hsal)3(OiPr)4 (2) are treated with an alcoholic solution of NaBPh4, the compounds [PhBi(Hsal)Ta(sal)2(OEt)2·EtOH]2 (3) and PhBiTa4(μ-O)4(Hsal)2(sal)4(OEt)4·CH2Cl2 (4) are produced (sal = O2CC6H4-2-O2−, Hsal = O2CC6H4-2-OH−). The core geometries of the heterometallic complexes are retained. However, if preparations of compound 1 are treated with NaBPh4 without prior isolation of 1, [Ph2BiNb(sal)2(OMe)2]∞ (5) is produced instead. This compound was characterized both as a solvent-free crystalline form and as one containing a lattice diethyl ether. The compound exhibits a polymeric chain structure that can be viewed as alternating [Ph2Bi]+ and [Nb(sal)2(OMe)2]− units connect...