cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nephrolithiasis in patients with duchenne muscular dystrophy

OBJECTIVES To present the first series of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and nephrolithiasis. METHODS A retrospective chart review was done to identify patients with DMD who were referred for urologic consultation because of nephrolithiasis from June 2004 to April 2006. RESULTS Four patients were identified with DMD and nephrolithiasis. Of the 4 patients, 2 underwent treatment, and their stones were obtained for analysis. The other 2 patients had stones diagnosed by computed tomography. Their stones were passed but not retrieved. Stone analysis for the available patients revealed a mixed calcareous composition. All 4 patients had had a relatively small stone burden. The patients ranged in age from 18 to 31 years. CONCLUSIONS Stone disease appears to have many of the same characteristics in patients with DMD as it does in the general population. Risk factors, including immobilization and corticosteroid use, are present. Additional studies are needed before conclusions can be made regarding the associations between DMD and nephrolithiasis.
Rural hospital performance and its correlates

The cost, technical, allocative and scale efficiencies of a sample of rural U.S. hospitals are calculated via linear programming models. Tobit analysis is used to assess possible correlates of each of the efficiency measures. A large amount of dispersion in operating efficiency is found within our data set; the majority of the dispersion is due to technical inefficiency. In general, for-profit hospitals are found to outperform not-for-profit and public hospitals. Demand characteristics, quality of care, and the mix of services offered are also found to influence performance.
PHYLLODES TUMOR OF THE PROSTATE: LONG-TERM FOLLOWUP STUDY OF 23 CASES

ABSTRACT Purpose: Phyllodes tumor of the prostate is a rare neoplasm of uncertain malignant potential. We studied a large series of phyllodes tumors to define the combination of histological features that are most useful for predicting patient outcome. Materials and Methods: A total of 23 cases were obtained from our collective files from 1973 to 2002, and numerous clinical and pathological features were evaluated. A review of the reported cases of phyllodes tumor of the prostate was done. Results: Patient age was 25 to 86 years (mean 55) and they usually presented with urinary obstructive symptoms and hematuria. The diagnosis was made in 18 tumors by transurethral resection, in 2 by enucleation, in 1 by tumor resection and in 2 by prostatectomy. We analyzed 5 histological features, including cellularity (scale of 1 to 3), cytologic atypia (scale of 1 to 3), the number of mitotic figures per 10 high power fields, the stroma-to-epithelium ratio (low or high) and necrosis (present or absent). This combination of features revealed that 14 cases were low grade phyllodes tumor, 7 were intermediate grade and 2 were high grade with the high grade cases characterized by increased cellularity, severe cytological atypia, more than 5 mitotic figures per 10 high power fields and a high stroma-to-epithelium ratio, indicating stromal overgrowth. Immunohistochemical studies of 8 tumors revealed consistent, intense cytoplasmic immunoreactivity in stromal cells for vimentin and actin, in luminal epithelial cells for prostate specific antigen, prostatic acid phosphatase and broad-spectrum keratin AE1/AE3, and in basal cells for high molecular weight keratin 34β-E12. Recurrence was seen in 7 of 14 low grade tumors (50%) and in 1 patient low grade sarcoma emerged with subsequent distant metastases 14 years after initial diagnosis following 5 recurrences. Recurrence was seen in 6 of 7 intermediate grade tumors and low grade sarcoma emerged with subsequent abdominal wall metastases in 1 patient 11 years after initial diagnosis following 3 recurrences. The phyllodes tumor recurred in each patient with high grade tumors with a time to first recurrence of 6 and 0.2 years, respectively. Distant metastases developed in these 2 patients. Conclusions: Histological grading of prostatic phyllodes tumors is predictive of short-term outcome based on the combination of stromal cellularity, cytological atypia, number of mitotic figures and the stroma-to-epithelium ratio. However, these tumors usually recur after transurethral prostatic resection and they are often locally aggressive with time. The emergence of overt sarcoma and metastatic disease is more frequent than previously recognized. Complete resection at initial diagnosis appears to be indicated.
Laboratory model of bursting pressures of femtosecond laser-assisted penetrating keratoplasty wounds using novel pattern designs.

The femtosecond laser is being used with increasing popularity to create incisions for customised trephination in penetrating keratoplasty.1 Several femtosecond laser assisted keratoplasty (FLAK) pattern designs have been studied,2–5 all demonstrating superiority of various shaped cuts (particularly the Top-Hat ) over traditional vertical trephination in resistance of the wound to leakage from elevated intraocular pressures (IOP). One of the disadvantages, however, of the more popular FLAK patterns such as the Top-Hat, Mushroom …
Local effects of BDNF on dendritic growth.

Abstract The development of dendrites is a crucial step in the formation of cortical circuitry. The morphogen brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may mediate the effects of activity on dendritic morphology since its expression and release are thought to be activity-dependent. Using two-photon microscopy, the autocrine and paracrine effects of BDNF on dendritic morphology were assessed. Overexpression of BDNF profoundly altered the form and stability of basal dendritic arbors via an autocrine mechanism. Paracrine BDNF also altered dendritic branching, though in a highly local fashion. BDNF is capable of acting as an intercellular morphogen, and could hypothetically shape dendritic arbors to best fit the developing structure and function of the pre-synaptic circuit.
In defence of average cohorts

SUMMARY. Hynes & Coleman (1968) proposed a method for estimating benthic secondary production for use with populations in which cohorts cannot be distinguished and for use with unidentified benthos. Hamilton (1969) corrected and refined the method, emphasizing the concept of the average cohort. Zwick (1975) recently suggested the method should not be used since: (1) too many conditions need to be filled for use with unidentified material, and (2) it is strongly dependent on growth patterns. This paper shows that Zwick misinterpreted the concept of the average cohort, and his apparent invalidation of the method due to dependence on growth patterns is erroneous.
Private and Public Self-Processes A Return to James's Constituents of the Self

William James's distinction between the social self and the spiritual self is reflected in contemporary discussions of the public and private selves. This study examined the relationships among four measures of public and private self-processes: self-monitoring, self-consciousness, identity orientation, and exogenic-endogenic orientation. Results supported James's essential distinction between public and private self-processes and showed that the public and private selves are best conceptualized as bidimensional rather than as opposite poles of a single continuum. Furthermore, self-monitoring, as currently measured, appears to be associated primarily with the public self.
Randomized clinical trial of an intravenous hydromorphone titration protocol versus usual care for management of acute pain in older emergency department patients.

Opioid titration is an effective strategy for treating pain; however, titration is generally impractical in the busy emergency department (ED) setting. Our objective was to test a rapid, two-step, hydromorphone titration protocol against usual care in older patients presenting to the ED with acute severe pain. This was a prospective, randomized clinical trial of patients 65 years of age and older presenting to an adult, urban, academic ED with acute severe pain. The study was registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01429285). Patients randomized to the hydromorphone titration protocol initially received 0.5 mg intravenous hydromorphone. Patients randomized to usual care received any dose of any intravenous opioid. At 15 min, patients in both groups were asked, ‘Do you want more pain medication?’ Patients in the hydromorphone titration group who answered ‘yes’ received a second dose of 0.5 mg intravenous hydromorphone. Patients in the usual care group who answered ‘yes’ had their ED attending physician notified, who then could administer any (or no) additional medication. The primary efficacy outcome was satisfactory analgesia defined a priori as the patient declining additional analgesia at least once when asked at 15 or 60 min after administration of the initial opioid. Dose was calculated in morphine equivalent units (MEU: 1 mg hydromorphone = 7 mg morphine). The need for naloxone to reverse adverse opioid effects was the primary safety outcome. 83.0 % of 153 patients in the hydromorphone titration group achieved satisfactory analgesia compared with 82.5 % of 166 patients in the usual care group (p = 0.91). Patients in the hydromorphone titration group received lower mean initial doses of opioids at baseline than patients in the usual care group (3.5 MEU vs. 4.7 MEU, respectively; p ≤ 0.001) and lower total opioids through 60 min (5.3 MEU vs. 6.0 MEU; p = 0.03). No patient needed naloxone. Low-dose titration of intravenous hydromorphone in increments of 0.5 mg provides comparable analgesia to usual care with less opioid over 60 min.
Caring for Our Children: Delivery of Mental Health Services to Children and Adolescents.

[T]here are unmet needs and … many barriers impede care for people with mental illnesses. Mental illnesses are shockingly common; they affect almost every American family. It can happen to a child,...
Unexpected N-terminal editing: a cysteine protease that cuts and pastes

N-terminal modification is a mechanism for regulation of protein activity, localization and degradation. A proteomic approach using β-lactone activity-based probes has identified a cysteine protease with N-terminal transpeptidase activity.
The alternative noncoding exons 1 of aromatase (Cyp19) gene modulate gene expression in a posttranscriptional manner.

Aromatase (Cyp19) is a key enzyme in estrogen biosynthesis and an important target in endocrine therapy for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive postmenopausal breast cancer. Aromatase transcription is driven by multiple tissue-specific promoters, which result in the production of various mRNA transcripts that contain an alternative noncoding exon 1 followed by a common protein-coding region. Transcriptional activity of these promoters is the only known determinant for aromatase protein abundance in a given tissue or cellular context. To determine whether aromatase expression could be influenced by additional regulatory mechanisms, we used a common heterologous promoter to drive the expression of multiple aromatase cDNA sequences that differ only by the alternative exon 1 sequence. These expression vectors gave rise to vastly different levels of aromatase mRNA and protein in multiple cell lines examined. Furthermore, the relative abundance of several mRNA variants did not correlate with that of the correspondi...
Expanded subalphabets in the theories of languages and semigroups

A new type of code, called an expanded subalphabet, is introduced. It is shown that the following four conditions on a subset L of the free monoid A ∗ over a finite or infinite alphabet A are equivalent: (1) L is the submonoid generated by an expanded subalphabet; (2) L is a retract; (3) L is the fixed language of an endomorphism; (4) L is the stationary language of an endomorphism. Expanded subalphabets are used as a tool for the investigation of fixed languages (=retracts). Special results for the case of a finite alphabet are given and the relationship with the theory of L-systems is indicated.
Histiocytic lymphoma of the ileocecal region after chemotherapy for multiple myeloma.

Histiocytic lymphoma of the ileocecal region developed in a patient with multiple myeloma following successful long-term alkylating agent therapy. Five and one-half years after the diagnosis of myeloma, while in remission on cyclophosphamide therapy, the patient experienced severe abdominal right lower quadrant pain due to a large cecal lymphoma. A right hemicolectomy was performed with relief of symptoms. However, 9 months later, while still asymptomatic, routine physical examination revealed a recurrent right lower quadrant tumor. Radiation therapy decreased the size of the mass, but five months later partial small bowel obstruction occurred because of recurrent lymphomatous infiltration. The patient died 7 years after the diagnosis of myeloma with extensive abdominal lymphoma. There was no evidence of recurrent myeloma after the initial remission on cyclophosphamide therapy. This patient adds to the growing literature of a second malignancy occurring after prolonged successful chemotherapy of a primary neoplasm. Cancer 43:435–439, 1979.
Risk factors for frequent emergency department visits among children with asthma

Abstract Rationale Acute asthma attacks are frequent causes of Emergency Department (ED) visits. This study characterize patients who repeatedly visited ED and to assist the targeting of appropriate future intervention in order to reduce avoidable ED attendance. Methods All children with asthma who were seen during January 2001 to December 2001 in ED of Medical Center of Louisiana (MCLNO) in New Orleans. All of the information was based on retrospective patient chart reviews and parameters included demographic, insurance status, ED visits and treatment. Results During 2001, 572 children were treated for asthma. The majority of the patients (97%) were African-American. Half of the patients came from single parent families. Forty-four percent were exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. Eighty-four percent of the patients were from inner city zip codes. Fifty-six percent of these patients were covered by medical insurance and the remaining 44% were uninsured. About 60% of the patients visited the ER 1 to 4 times, 30% 5 to 9 times, 7% 10 to 14 times and 3% 15 to 19 times. Twenty-four percent of these patients reported using inhaled corticosteroids. Three percent of the patients used leukotriene antagonists while 10% used cromolyn. More than half of the patients (63%) just relied on B2-agonists. Conclusions We conclude that low-socio-economic class, urbanicity, environmental factors and a marked underuse of anti-inflammatory drugs are important risk factors for repeated ED attendance. There is a need to institute aggressive interventions to improve the quality of care and prevent costly ED visits.
An Examination of Foster Parent Unionization: The Washington State Experience

In 2006, the Washington Federation of State Employees charted new territory by initiating an effort to unionize foster parents. Using a case study approach, we describe the development of this unique alliance, perspectives of stakeholder groups, and the social and economic conditions surrounding the organizing effort. Implications for policy and community practice are discussed.
Cytoreductive Surgery for Stage IV Renal Cell Carcinoma

AbstractTo facilitate the regression of extra renal disease in response to systemic therapy, cytoreductive surgery has been advocated as step 1 in the treatment of stage IV renal cell carcinoma. To determine the effect of surgery on subsequent clinical course, we reviewed the treatment records of 30 patients with known stage IV carcinoma of the kidney who underwent nephrectomy or additional procedures in preparation for systemic therapy. Of 30 patients only 7 (23 percent) underwent systemic therapy postoperatively. Progression of the disease, surgical morbidity and mortality were the factors preventing 77 percent of our patients from continuing with treatment. Since regression of extra renal lesions is the goal of systemic therapy, our data suggest that nephrectomy and most other cytoreductive operations in preparation for systemic therapy are not efficient treatment strategies.
Identification of cytoplasmic residues of Sec61p involved in ribosome binding and cotranslational translocation

The cytoplasmic surface of Sec61p is the binding site for the ribosome and has been proposed to interact with the signal recognition particle receptor during targeting of the ribosome nascent chain complex to the translocation channel. Point mutations in cytoplasmic loops six (L6) and eight (L8) of yeast Sec61p cause reductions in growth rates and defects in the translocation of nascent polypeptides that use the cotranslational translocation pathway. Sec61 heterotrimers isolated from the L8 sec61 mutants have a greatly reduced affinity for 80S ribosomes. Cytoplasmic accumulation of protein precursors demonstrates that the initial contact between the large ribosomal subunit and the Sec61 complex is important for efficient insertion of a nascent polypeptide into the translocation pore. In contrast, point mutations in L6 of Sec61p inhibit cotranslational translocation without significantly reducing the ribosome-binding activity, indicating that the L6 and L8 sec61 mutants affect different steps in the cotranslational translocation pathway.
Synthesis and photophysics of platinum(II) 6-phenyl-4-(9,9-dihexylfluoren-2-yl)-2,2'-bipyridine complexes with phenothiazinyl acetylide ligand.

Two platinum 6-phenyl-4-(9,9-dihexylfluoren-2-yl)-2,2′-bipyridine complexes (4 and 5) with phenothiazinyl acetylide ligand were synthesized and characterized. Their UV−vis absorption and emission characteristics in solution and in Langmuir−Blodgett (LB) film were systematically investigated. The triplet transient difference absorption and nonlinear absorption properties were also studied for these complexes. Both complexes exhibit a broad metal-to-ligand charge transfer/intraligand charge transfer/ligand-to-ligand charge transfer (1MLCT/1ILCT/1LLCT) absorption band between 400 and 500 nm and a 3MLCT/3ILCT/3π,π* emission band at ∼594 nm at room temperature, which blue shifts at 77 K. Both UV−vis absorption and emission spectra show negative solvatochromic effect. The triplet excited-state lifetime at room temperature for complex 4 is ∼1.2 μs, which is longer than that for complex 5 (∼600 ns). The emission quantum yield of complex 4 in toluene is 0.18 and 0.053 for complex 5. Both of the complexes also exhi...
Anomalous earthquakes on volcano ring-fault structures

Abstract From studies of global seismicity it is observed that some unusual shallow earthquakes generate seismic waves which cannot be explained by the simple earthquake model of crustal block motion along a planar fault. Several of these anomalous earthquakes occur near volcanic centers, and it has been proposed that fundamentally different processes, such as rapid injection of magma into vertical or horizontal cracks in the crust, are needed to explain their occurrence. Here I show that observations for a subset of these earthquakes can instead be explained by seismic slip on curved, cone-shaped faults. Faults of this geometry and orientation, called ring faults, are frequently mapped in eroded extinct volcanos, and have recently been imaged by microearthquakes beneath active volcanos.
References for motor tasks--gender differences across age in motor performance: a meta-analysis

In 1985 we published a meta-analysis of gender differences across age in motor performance in Psychological Bulletin, but it did not include an indexing of each motor task to the references from which it was obtained. This paper provides a table listing the 20 motor tasks and the references from which data for each task were taken. The range of tasks was from fundamental movements (e.g., catching, jumping, running, throwing) to motor fitness (e.g., agility, arm hang, balance, grip strength) to perceptual-motor abilities, (e.g., anticipation timing, fine eye-motor coordination, pursuit-rotor tracking, reaction time). The arm hang was represented in the fewest papers (n = 2) while the dash and long jump were most frequently referenced (n = 21).
Identification of free radical formation and F2-isoprostanes in vivo by acute Cr(VI) poisoning.

We previously reported the detection of a carbon-centered radical adduct of α-(4-pyridyl 1-oxide)-N-tert-butylnitrone (POBN) in the bile of rats acutely poisoned with Cr(VI) utilizing an electron s...
Follicle Cell Calmodulin in Blattella germanica: Transcript Accumulation during Vitellogenesis Is Regulated by Juvenile Hormone

Abstract There is abundant calmodulin (CaM) in the oocytes and eggs of B. germanica . Whether oocytes accumulate CaM for immediate use or use at a later stage in their development is still unknown. We show that isolated follicle cells accumulate more CaM transcripts per unit RNA than any other control tissue. CaM transcript increases exponentially 4800-fold in follicles during the 96-hr viteliogenic period in the absence of cell division. This includes a 32-fold increase in total follicle RNA during the period and an 150-fold increase in relative titer of the CaM transcript. In comparison, levels of actin transcripts increase exponentially 1200-fold during the same developmental period. On the other hand fat body tissue shows little relative increase of CaM transcripts despite a 4-fold increase in total RNA over the 4-day developmental period. Both the CaM and actin transcripts are more highly concentrated in the Day 4 follicle cell layer, being found in 84- and 33-fold greater titer, respectively, than in fat body RNA. Deprivation of juvenile hormone (JH), by head ligation, not only causes atresia of the follicles, but also reduces accumulated CaM transcripts. Reestablishing JH titer by injection allows a selected population of follicles to develop to full size and also reinstates CaM transcript levels above that of unligated controls within 24 hr.
The extent of breast cancer screening in older women.

Women 65 and older present a unique challenge to health professionals, particularly with respect to breast cancer screening. These women are at the highest risk for developing breast cancer; they represent 50% of all newly diagnosed breast cancers. This group represents 60% of the breast cancer deaths, however, demonstrating how serious a disease breast cancer is in the 65-and-older age group. Moreover, the 65-and-older population cohort is growing rapidly. By 2010, it is estimated that greater than 15% of the population will be older than 65, and, as is the case now, the majority of this group will be women. Therefore, preventing breast cancer deaths in older women is a very significant and pressing issue
Evidence against the Dorag (mixing-zone) model for dolomitization along the Wisconsin arch—A case for hydrothermal diagenesis

Ordovician carbonates near the Wisconsin arch represent the type locality in ancient rocks for the Dorag, or mixing-zone, model for dolomitization. Field, petrographic, and geochemical evidence suggests a genetic link between the pervasive dolomite, trace Mississippi Valley–type (MVT) minerals, and potassium (K)-silicate minerals in these rocks, which preserve a regional hydrothermal signature. Constraints were placed on the conditions of water-rock interaction using fluid-inclusion methods, cathodoluminescence and plane-light petrography, stable isotopic analyses, and organic maturity data. Homogenization temperatures of two-phase aqueous fluid inclusions in dolomite, sphalerite, and quartz range between 65 and 120C. Freezing data suggest a Na-Ca-Mg-Cl-H2O fluid with salinities between 13 and 28 wt.% NaCl equivalent. The pervasive dolomitization of Paleozoic rocks on and adjacent to the Wisconsin arch was the result of water-rock interaction with dense brines at elevated temperatures, and it was coeval with regional trace MVT mineralization and K-silicate diagenesis. A reevaluation of the Dorag (mixing-zone) model for dolomitization, in conjunction with convincing new petrographic and geochemical evidence, has ruled out the Dorag model as the process responsible for pervasive dolomitization along the Wisconsin arch and adds to the abundant body of literature that casts serious doubt about the viability of the Dorag model in general.
Bacterial lipopolysaccharide fever is initiated via Toll-like receptor 4 on hematopoietic cells

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a well-known bacterial pyrogen, is recognized by several receptors, including the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), on various cells. Which of these receptors and cells are linked to fever production is unknown. By constructing 4 mouse chimeras and studying their thermoregulatory responses, we found that all 3 phases of the typical LPS fever depend on TLR4 signaling. The first phase is triggered via the TLR4 on hematopoietic cells. The second and third phases involve TLR4 signaling in both hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic cells.
Readiness: The State of the Science (or the Lack Thereof)

HIV treatment guidelines state that patients’ readiness should be assessed before initiating highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to assure adherence. None of the guidelines provide a way to measure readiness. Therefore, this article sought to review the literature on readiness to determine if there was a viable predictor of adherence. Twenty-seven articles were reviewed. Nine described studies that examined the relationship between a measure of readiness and HAART adherence. No readiness measure demonstrated clinical utility as a predictor of adherence. Study flaws included small sample sizes (only one study >100 patients), short follow-up periods (all ≤1 year and six were ≤5 months, four ≤1 month), measures of readiness that related poorly to adherence, and inconsistent adherence measures (eight different measures were used by the researchers). Neither the guidelines nor the literature will help clinicians judge who should initiate HAART and who should delay treatment.
The Recent Origin of Allelic Variation in Antigenic Determinants of Plasmodium falciparum

STUDIES of genetic variability of Plasmodium falciparum have often focused on antigen proteins and the genes that encode them. A consistent observation of these studies is that P. falciparum populations exhibit high levels of genetic polymorphism in their antigenic determinants, such as the genes
Antagonism of the discriminative stimulus effects of (+)-7-OH-DPAT by remoxipride but not PNU-99194A

Abstract The dopamine (DA) agonist 7-hydroxy- N,N -di- n -propyl-2-amino-tetralin (7-OH-DPAT) has been used extensively as a tool to investigate the role of DA D 3 receptors in the reinforcing and discriminative stimulus properties of psychostimulant drugs. The present study examined the relative importance of D 3 vs. D 2 receptor actions in the discriminative stimulus effects of (+)-7-OH-DPAT (0.03 mg/kg, sc) in 16 male Sprague–Dawley rats trained to discriminate this compound from saline in a two-lever, water-reinforced operant procedure under a FR 20 schedule. Stimulus generalization and antagonism tests were conducted with cocaine and with various selective D 2 and D 3 receptor ligands. In contrast to previous findings that (+)-7-OH-DPAT substitutes for cocaine, the present results demonstrated that cocaine does not produce stimulus generalization in animals trained to discriminate (+)-7-OH-DPAT. Although two D 3 -preferring agonists, PD-128907 and pramipexole, produced complete stimulus generalization to the training drug, two highly selective D 3 antagonists (PNU-99194A, PD 152255) failed to block the discriminative stimulus effects of (+)-7-OH-DPAT. However, the D 2 antagonist remoxipride (3.0 mg/kg) produced a rightward shift in the (+)-7-OH-DPAT dose–response curve. These findings suggest that D 2 receptors are critically involved in mediating the cue properties of (+)-7-OH-DPAT. However, alternative interpretations that PNU-99194A is not entirely D 3 receptor selective should also be considered.
The role of the endothelium in in vivo anticoagulation

Endothelial cells play an important role in the anticoagulation of circulating blood. They participate in at least four mechanisms that aid in preventing vascular occlusion by platelet plugs or fibrin deposition. These mechanisms include the fibrinolytic pathway, the enhancement of action of endogenous inhibitors of coagulation, the inhibition of cofactors required for fibrin formation, and the synthesis and release of platelet inhibitors. Thus, the endothelium can no longer be viewed merely as a passive barrier separating the blood from the interstitial matrix. Instead, it must be viewed as an active participant in the maintenance of blood fluidity and the prevention of thrombogenesis.
Algorithmic Complexity with Page-Based Intelligent Memory

High DRAM densities will make intelligent memory chips a commodity in the next five years [1] [2]. This paper focuses upon a promising model of computation in intelligent memory, Active Pages [3], where computation is associated with each page of memory. Computational hardware scales linearly and inexpensively with data size in this model, reducing the order of many algorithms. This scaling can, for example, reduce linear-time algorithms to . When page-based intelligent memory chips become available in commodity, they will change the way programmers select and utilize algorithms. In this paper, we analyze the asymptotic performance of several common algorithms as problem sizes scale. We also derive the optimal page size, as a function of problem size, for each algorithm running with intelligent memory. Finally, we validate these analyses with simulation results.
Every Borel function is monotone Borel

Abstract Given two internal sets X and Y we prove that every Borel function (in the Descriptive Set Theory of Hyperfinite Sets) whose graph is a subset of the product X x Y is a member of the least set containing the class of all internal functions and closed with respect to the operations of monotone countable union and intersection. We also prove that any Souslin function can be extended to a Borel function and obtain, as a corollary, a new proof of the recent result of Henson and Ross about the measure preserving property of injective Souslin functions. Further we give a new proof of the fact that injective Borel functions map Borel sets into Borel. A structural result for Souslin graphs all of whose Y-sections are of cardinality ⩽n (n a finite integer) is given.
Potassium-argon geochronology of a basalt-andesite-dacite arc system: The Mount Adams volcanic field, Cascade Range of southern Washington

High-precision K-Ar dating and detailed mapping have established an eruptive chronology for a Cascade stratovolcano and its surrounding array of coeval basaltic centers. Mount Adams is a 200 km 3 andesitic cone that stands at the center of a coeval 1250 km 2 Quaternary volcanic field that contains >60 discrete vents. K-Ar ages were measured for 74 samples from 63 of the 136 volcanic units defined in the course of the mapping. Within analytical error, there are no discrepancies between K-Ar ages and stratigraphic sequence. Major activity began in the area ca. 940 ka, and inception of the central stratovolcano took place at ca. 520 ka. A plot of cumulative volume erupted versus time shows that between 940 and 520 ka the eruptive rate was 3 /k.y. and ∼80% of the products were basaltic. Andesites are volumetrically dominant and were emplaced in three main cone-building episodes centered at 500, 450, and 30 ka—at eruptive rates of 1.6-5 km 3 /k.y. At a lower rate of 0.05-0.1 km 3 /k.y., the magmatic system remained almost continuously active between the main pulses—although breaks in activity as long as 30 k.y. are permitted by the K-Ar data. Andesitic-dacitic activity in the focal region and dominantly basaltic activity on the periphery have coexisted for 520 k.y., and their products are interstratified. The last main episode of cone construction occurred ca. 40-10 ka, the oldest andesite identifiably derived from within the present-day edifice having an age of 33 ± 14 ka. Andesites forming the south-summit rim and the true summit have ages of 13 ± 8 ka and 15 ± 8 ka, respectively. The time-volume-composition data bear upon several fundamental questions concerning the long-term behavior of arc volcanoes. Stratovolcanoes commonly grow in spurts but can stay active between the widely spaced episodes of peak productivity. Large stratocone systems may remain active for half a million years. Subdivision of complex stratovolcanoes into eruptive or constructional "stages" without detailed mapping, geochronology, and compositional data should be treated skeptically. Discussion of volumetric eruptive rates can be misleading without an adequate time scale. Stratovolcanoes need never develop large upper-crustal magma chambers. Basalt erupts peripherally, but its ascent is suppressed beneath stratovolcanoes by deep-crustal domains of magma storage and hybridization that form where concentrated injection of basalt amplifies crustal melting.
Aortic pulse wave velocity measured by pulse wave imaging (PWI): A comparison with applanation tonometry

Abstract Background Arterial stiffness is a well-established indicator of cardiovascular disease outcome. Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) is a surrogate for arterial stiffness that is measured either globally using carotid-to-femoral applanation tonometry or locally using biomedical imaging methods. Pulse Wave Imaging (PWI) is an ultrasound-based method for both qualitative visualization of the pulse wave propagation and quantitative estimation of arterial stiffness. The objective of this study is to assess the PWI performance in PWV estimation by comparing local abdominal aortic PWV values obtained by PWI to the carotid-femoral PWV measured by applanation tonometry. Methods A total of 18 subjects (age 18–66, 32.5 ± 14.5) with no history of cardiovascular disease were consecutively tested by both PWI and tonometry. Results The correlation coefficient r between values estimated with the two methods was found to be equal to 0.68. A linear regression yielded PWV PWI = 1.02∗ PWV tonometry +0.15. Tukey mean-difference plots indicated that PWV PWI was significantly lower than PWV tonometry (−0.3 m/s) at lower PWV values (PWV ≤ 7 m/s), whereas PWV PWI was significantly higher (+1.4 m/s) than PWV tonometry at higher PWV values (PWV > 7 m/s). Conclusions Despite the regional nature of the PWV PWI measurements, as opposed to the global PWV tonometry measurements, abdominal PWV PWI and carotid-femoral PWV tonometry values were found to be similar, with an average bias equal to 0.25 m/s. Such a bias and its variation with PWV may be partially explained by both physiological variations of PWV along the arterial tree and by the increasing uncertainty of the PWV estimate by PWI as PWV increases.
Characterization of the luteinizing hormone response to continuous infusions of gonadotropin releasing hormone using perifused pituitaries from intact, ovariectomized and steroid-treated rats.

Anterior pituitary glands obtained from rats at various stages of the estrous cycle and from short-term ovariectomized (OVX) ratswith or without physiologicalreplacement of estradiol-17� (E2) and/or progesterone (P), were perifused in vitro with continuous infusions (4 h) of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) (12 ng/h). In all treatment groups the in vitro pattern of luteinizinghormone (LH) release in response to GnRH was characterized by an initiallow rateof LH release(initialphase; 20-70 mm) followed by a significantaugmented rateof secretion during the late phase (120-240 mm) with the exception of the estrous and OVX + P groups in which LH was released at a constant rate. The total amount of LH released in response to GnRH was similar for glands removed on estrus, diestrus-l (D-I) and D-lI, but increased significantly for glands removed on 0900 h proestrus with a further increase at 1400 h proestrus. Ovariectomy reduced the total LH releasedin vitro by 50-60% and 85-90% compared with estrous, 0-I, 0-Il and proestrous groups, respectively.In vivo treatment of OVX rats with E2 restored the in vitro LH response to levels comparable to those in the 0900 h proestrous group while treatment with P + E2 further increased the rate of LH release in the initial phase to levels similar to those observed in the 1400 h proestrous group. In all treatment groups, addition of 5 pM cycloheximide to the perifusion media significantly inhibited GnRH-stimulated LH release during the late phase without significantly altering the initial LH response except in the OVX + E2 P group in which it was partially inhibited. These results demonstrate that perifused pituitaries maintain their characteristic responsiveness to GnRH in vitro. Furthermore, they indicate that LH secretioninresponse to continual GnRH stimulation involves protein synthesis-independent and -dependent components. E2, in vivo, enhances the magnitude of both components in response to GnRH in vitro,while E2 + P may further enhance
ERP responses differentiate inverted but not upright face processing in adults with ASD

Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have documented deficits in face processing, face memory and abnormal activation of the neural circuitry that supports these functions. To examine speed of processing of faces in ASD, high density event-related brain potentials were recorded to images of faces, inverted faces and non-face objects from 32 high-functioning adults with ASD and controls. Participants were instructed to focus on a cross hair prior to stimulus onset; the cross-hair location directed the participant’s eye gaze to the eye region at stimulus onset. Although the ASD group preformed more poorly on behavioral tests of face and object memory, both groups demonstrated similar ERP responses, characterized by greater (positive) P1 and (negative) N170 amplitude to faces vs houses. N170 speed of processing to faces did not differ between groups. However, only the control group demonstrated differential responses to upright vs inverted faces. For the ASD group, the differential response to inverted vs upright faces was associated with better performance on face memory and self-reported social skills. It is possible that the use of attention cues may facilitate face processing in high-functioning adults with ASD, suggesting that the underlying neural circuitry can be activated in adults with ASD under specific demands.
Candida Drug Resistance Protein 1, a Major Multidrug ATP Binding Cassette Transporter of Candida albicans, Translocates Fluorescent Phospholipids in a Reconstituted System†

Candida albicans drug resistance protein 1 (Cdr1p), an ATP-dependent drug efflux pump, contributes to multidrug resistance in Candida-infected immunocompromised patients. Previous cell- based assays suggested that Cdr1p also acts as a phospholipid translocator. To investigate this, we reconstituted purified Cdr1p into sealed membrane vesicles. Comparison of the ATPase activities of sealed and permeabilized proteoliposomes indicated that Cdr1p was asymmetrically reconstituted such that 70% of the molecules had their ATP binding sites accessible to the extravesicular space. Fluorescent glycerophospholipids were incorporated into the outer leaflet of the proteoliposomes, and their transport into the inner leaflet was tracked with a quenching assay using membrane-impermeant dithionite. We observed ATP-dependent transport of the fluorescent lipids into the inner leaflet of the vesicles. With 6 molecules of Cdr1p per vesicle on average, the half-time to reach the maximal extent of transport was 15 min. Transport was reduced in vesicles reconstituted with Cdr1p variants with impaired ATPase activity and could be competed out to different levels by a molar excess of drugs such as fluconazole and miconazole that are known to be effluxed by Cdr1p. Transport was not affected by ampicillin, a compound that is not effluxed by Cdr1p. Our results suggest a direct link between the ability of Cdr1p to translocate fluorescent phospholipids and efflux drugs. We note that only a few members of the ABC superfamily of Candida have a well-defined role as drug exporters; thus, lipid translocation mediated by Cdr1p could reflect its cellular function.
Cell cycle effects by C-FADD depend on its C-terminal phosphorylation site.

Expression of a truncated form of the death receptor adaptor FADD (C-FADD) as a transgene in mice blocks T cell proliferation. Here we provide evidence that the C-terminal phosphorylation site Ser194 in C-FADD affects the cell cycle in nonlymphoid cells as well. High expression of wild type C-FADD but not C-FADD with a S194A point mutation arrested the nontumor cell line MCF10A in G2/M but not the tumor cell line MCF7. BJAB as well as MCF10A cells expressing moderate levels of C-FADD with a S194E mutation mimicking phosphorylated C-FADD were more susceptible to a Taxol®-induced G2/M arrest than cells expressing C-FADD S194A suggesting that C-FADD S194E lowers the threshold for G2/M arrest. Our data suggest that C-FADD may affect apoptosis sensitivity of cells by interfering with cell cycle progression and not only by binding to death receptors.
STUDIES ON PHOSPHATASE SYSTEMS IN HEPATOPANCREATIC CELLS OF THE MOLLUSCAN HOST OF ECHINOPARYPHIUM SP. AND IN THE REDIAE AND CERCARIAE OF THIS TREMATODE.

1. The distribution of acid and alkaline phosphatases in the hepatopancreatic cells of the molluscan host of Echinoparyphium sp. and in the redia and cercaria of this trematode has been studied. 2. There is a heavier concentration of acid phosphatase in the hepatopancreas of infected snails than in uninfected snails. 3. No acid phosphatase is present in the bodies of the rediae or cercariae but this enzyme is present in the contents of the redial caeca. 4. Alkaline phosphatase activity is greater in the hepatopancreas of infected snails than in uninfected snails. 5. Alkaline phosphatase is present in the tissues of the rediae and the cercariae, especially in the fully developed cercariae. 6. It is suspected that the increase in acid and alkaline phosphatases in Helisoma trivolvis infected with Echinoparyphium redia is correlated with the breakdown of glycogen by the parasite. This research was made possible by Grants E-3443, E-3443C1, and AI 3443–03 from the Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Public Health Service. The author is grateful to Mr Randall W. Snyder, Jr., School of Medicine, The University of Virginia, for technical assistance.
A combined structural-functional classification of schizophrenia using hippocampal volume plus fMRI activation

Previous work has demonstrated that fMRI activations in individual anatomic regions can be used as a basis for classifying subjects for schizophrenia. Here we demonstrate that this classification, which is approximately 75-83% accurate for the hippocampal formation, can be improved by incorporating hippocampal volume information, which alone classifies at chance levels of accuracy. The best combined classifier is about 87% accurate and uses only right hippocampal activation and volume data. These accuracy figures should be considered approximate due to the limited size of our test dataset (N=23, 15 patients and 8 controls).
Reduction of phase noise in linear HBT amplifiers using low-frequency active feedback

In this paper, we investigate the effect of low-frequency active feedback in the 1/f phase modulation (PM) noise of a linear SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistor amplifier operating at 1 GHz. The voltage gain and the output resistance of the feedback amplifier were varied and their effect on the baseband collector voltage noise reduction and PM noise reduction were observed. Our results show that the measured reduction in the baseband noise when using active feedback was in close agreement with the expected reduction (within 2 dB) for all the configurations tested. While the PM noise was also reduced when active feedback was used, in some feedback configurations the PM noise reduction was not as large as the reduction observed in the baseband noise. The best amplifier PM noise obtained when using low-frequency feedback was L(f)/spl cong/-140 dBc/Hz at 100 Hz from the carrier, a reduction of 21 dB compared to the amplifier without feedback.
Global and local performance in fuzzy modeling

Most of the techniques for constructing fuzzy models from data focus only on minimizing the error between the model's output and the training data; however, these approaches may result in a fuzzy model where individual rules are misleading. The goal of our research is to develop a scheme for identifying Takagi-Sugeno-Kang (TSK) models whose individual rules approximate the training data covered by a rule (local fitness), while the entire model approximates the whole training set (global fitness). We propose an approach that first initializes a Kalman filter based on local fitness. The Kalman filter then is used to identify the consequent parameters of TSK models by minimizing global fitness. We are motivated to use fuzzy models over other modeling paradigms to obtain insights about the local behavior of the model using IF-THEN rules which decompose a complex problem into readily understandable portions. If the local behavior of the model is not consistent with the system or underlying data, then the justification for modeling in a fuzzy logic framework is diminished to a degree if not entirely. We illustrate our approach using two model identification problems.
Restoration of gravitropic sensitivity in starch‐deficient mutants of Arabidopsis by hypergravity

Despite the extensive study of plant gravitropism, there have been few experiments which have utilized hypergravity as a tool to investigate gravisensitivity in flowering plants. Previous studies have shown that starch-deficient mutants of Arabidopsis are less sensitive to gravity compared to the wild-type (WT). In this report, the question addressed was whether hypergravity could restore the sensitivity of starch-deficient mutants of Arabidopsis. The strains examined include a WT, a starchless mutant and a reduced-starch mutant. Vertical orientation studies with dark-grown seedlings indicate that increased centrifugal acceleration improves orientation relative to the acceleration vector for all strains, even the WT. For starchless roots, growth of seedlings under constant 5 g acceleration was required to restore orientation to the level of the WT at 1 g. In contrast, approximately 10 g was required to restore the orientation of the starchless mutant hypocotyls to a WT level at 1 g. Examination of plastid position in root cap columella cells of the starchless mutant revealed that the restoration of gravitropic sensitivity was correlated with the sedimentation of plastids toward the distal cell wall. Even in WT plants, hypergravity caused greater sedimentation of plastids and improved gravitropic capability. Collectively, these experiments support the hypothesis of a statolith-based system of gravity perception in plants. As far as is known, this is the first report to use hypergravity to study the mechanisms of gravitropism in Arabidopsis.