cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ureteral extension in childhood renal tumors: a report from the national wilms tumor study group (NWTSG)

Purpose To define the clinical presentation, associated pathologic features and clinical outcome of these patients (pts). Material and methods Pts with ureteral extension enrolled in NWTS-3, -4, and -5 were reviewed. Presenting symptoms, imaging, pathology, surgery and outcome were recorded. Results 45 children were identified. Clinical presentation included gross hematuria in 22 pts, 2 had passage of tissue per urethra and one child had a urethral mass. Ureteral extension was identified on preoperative imaging in 14 pts, intraoperatively in 22, and on pathologic exam in 9. Hydronephrosis was noted in 12 pts and there was non function of the kidney in 7 pts. Cystoscopy was performed in 12 pts. Findings included tumor seen at the ureteral orifice in 6 pts and bleeding from the orifice in one. All patients had radical nephrectomy including partial ureterectomy. The ureteral margin was positive in 3 pts, including 2 of 7 pts with separate removal of the ureteral extension. The tumor extended into the proximal ureter in 23 pts, distal ureter in 13, 7 had extension into the bladder, and 1 had urethral involvement. Favorable histology WT was found in 38 pts, 4 had anaplasia, 2 had rhadoid tumor and 1 clear cell sarcoma. The median follow-up was 96 months. Overall, 41 of 45 patients were alive at last contact. 3 deaths were in pts with unfavorable histology. Conclusions Ureteral extension occurs in approximately 2% of pts with WT. The diagnosis should be suspected in pts in with gross hematuria or a nonfunctioning kidney. Preoperative diagnosis is important since complete resection of the involved portion of ureter can avoid residual disease and the need for radiation.
Wetting phenomena during processing of high-viscosity shear-thinning fluid

Abstract Slot-die coating windows have been previously obtained by several researchers for low-viscosity solutions. However, practical applications necessitate the use of relatively high-viscosity (≫1 Pa s) non-Newtonian fluids for coating films. Also, earlier theoretical studies predicting coating windows are mainly limited to 2D single-phase studies, and based the prediction of the coating window on the upstream contact angle made by the coating fluid with the substrate. The numerical predictions varied significantly from the experimental findings in most cases due to oversimplification of the model. In the current study, experimental and theoretical methods are used for obtaining the coating window for blackstrap molasses, which is classified as a relatively high-viscosity, shear thinning solution. The coating process is monitored by a microscope connected to a camera placed under the slot-die. Air entrainment is found to occur in a three-step or four-step cycle. In addition, a comprehensive theoretical study is performed by simulating the coating process using a 3D, multiphase, volume of fluid (VOF) method. The simulation is found to predict the coating window within 10% accuracy of experimental results. Also, the model does an excellent job of predicting the formation of air bubbles at high coating speeds.
New and underutilized technologies to reduce maternal mortality: call to action from a Bellagio workshop.

Little progress has been made in preventing the more than 500 000 maternal deaths that occur each year. Many new and underutilized technologies can be used to reduce these deaths. In July 2003, maternal health experts from around the world gathered in Bellagio, Italy, to develop a set of priority actions for reducing maternal mortality using proven and promising technologies. To reduce maternal mortality, immediate efforts are needed to accelerate the appropriate use of technologies and to reduce their inequitable distribution. Organizations are called on to commit the necessary human and financial resources to evaluate and document the effectiveness of promising technologies and to scale up and put proven technologies into widespread use to save women's lives.
What birds see.

This article focuses on the vision of birds. Color vision of vertebrates depends on cone cells in the retina. Birds, as well as lizards, turtles and many fish, have four types of cone cells, whereas most mammals have only two types. The progenitors of mammals had the full complement of cones, but during a period in their evolution when they were mainly nocturnal--and thus color vision was not crucial to their survival--early mammals lost two types of cone cells. The ancestors of a group of Old World primates, which includes humans, "reclaimed" a third cone by means of mutation of one of the existing cones. Most mammals, however, still have only two cones, making mammalian color vision--even that of humans and their kin--distinctly limited when compared with the visual world of birds.
Does Relative Location Matter for Bilateral Trade Flows? An Extension of the Gravity Model

This study extends the gravity model to include a new measure of the trading partners’ location relative to other countries. The proposed measure is close in spirit to the theory of gravity, since it is based on the concept of the world trade center. The measure is statistically significant when the gravity equation is estimated using the intra-OECD trade flows. The results indicate that two countries located at the periphery rely more on bilateral trade than their centrally located counterparts. The study shows that omitting the location measure influences the estimated effects of regional country groupings in a systematic manner.
Clinical Correlations of Ureteral Physiology

HE EFFICIENT transport of urine from the kidney to the bladder is dependent on ureteral function. Under normal conditions, peristaltic activity begins with the origin of electrical impulses from pacemaker sites lo­ cated in the proximal portion of the collecting system. 1 - 6 The exact sites of this pacemaker activity varies with the species. 3 The electrical activity is then propagated distally at a rate of 2-6 cm/sec 7 ,s and gives rise to peristaltic con­ traction waves which occur at a frequency of 2-6 times per minute 9 and propel the urine bolus from the kidney to the bladder. Efficient propulsion of the urinary bolus is dependent on complete coaption of the ureteral walls. 10 Rest­ ing or baseline ureteral pressure is approxi­ mately 0-5 cm water and peristaltic contrac­ tions waves of 20-60 cm water are superim­ posed on this baseline pressure. 9 Urine passes into the bladder via the ureterovesical junction which under normal conditions permits urine to pass from the ureter to the bladder but not from the bladder to the ureter. The efficient trans­ port of urine into the bladder is dependent on the maintenance of relatively low intravesical pressures during the phase of urine storage. If intravesical pressure becomes inordinately high, transport of urine across the ureterovesi­ cal junction becomes inefficient and hy­ droureteronephrosis results.
Stories from the Operating Room: moral dilemmas for nurses:

This article explores stories related by perioperative nurses when asked to describe ethical judgements and subsequent actions that affected patient outcomes. A total of 214 patient care situations were analysed for moral actions taken and moral outcomes achieved in the perioperative arena. Content analysis of the patient care situations revealed a wide variety of ethical issues. Concerns about informed consent and quality of care were the most frequently identified issues. Respondents reported that 7% of patients underwent unwanted procedures and that positive moral outcomes were achieved in 65% of situations. It is of concern that, despite the fact that more than two-thirds (69%) of the respondents reported undergoing ethics education, only 27% could relate a story of an ethical situation.
Electron impact dissociation of molecular hydrogen and deuterium: Production of atomic hydrogen and deuterium α, β, and γ Balmer lines

The absolute cross section for production of atomic Balmer $\ensuremath{\alpha}$, $\ensuremath{\beta}$, and $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ radiation by dissociative electron collisions with molecular hydrogen and molecular deuterium has been measured from threshold to 540 eV. Also measured are some absolute cross sections for the excitation of a few molecular lines. All of the cross sections for dissociation show some structure just above threshold. Below this structure, dissociative excitation is interpreted as proceeding through both predissociation and direct dissociation via a bound state above the dissociation limit of the molecule. Above this structure, dissociation proceeds through production of the unbound doubly excited $^{1}\ensuremath{\Sigma}_{g}^{+}$ and $^{3}\ensuremath{\Sigma}_{u}^{+}$ states of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$. It is also argued that excitation of these doubly excited states is the major channel for production of excited atomic states in addition to being the major channel for production of protons by electron collisions with the molecule. Indeed its relative contribution increases with an increase of the principal quantum $n$. This contribution follows an inverse power law of 5.0 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.5. Dissociation via the bound states depends on $n$ with an inverse power law of 6.5 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 1.0. The cross sections for production of excited deuterium atoms were found to be less than those for production of excited hydrogen atoms in the corresponding states, and the ratio varied from \ensuremath{\sim} 0.5 below 30 eV to \ensuremath{\sim} 0.82 at high energies, again indicative of three competing processes for dissociative excitation of the molecular target gas.
Divergent trends in the discouragement of adult men, adult women, and teenagers: 1970–1986

Abstract Discouragement is found to mainly vary with group long-term unemployment and to be negatively related to the minimum wage. Discouragement of adult men (women) was found to have increased (decreased) by 2.2% (1.6%) per year relative to their labor force.
Induction of oxidative stress in the tissues of rats after chronic exposure to TCDD, 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran, and 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl.

The abilities of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p -dioxin (TCDD), 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran (PeCDF), 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126), and mixtures of these xenobiotics (toxic equivalents, TEQs) to induce oxidative stress in hepatic and brain tissues of rats have been investigated after chronic (30 wk) exposure to these congeners. TCDD, PeCDF, PCB126, and TEQs were administered daily to groups of rats at doses that corresponded to their toxic equivalency factors (TEFs), and the biomarkers of oxidative stress, including the production of superoxide anion, lipid peroxidation, and DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs), were determined in hepatic and brain tissues at the end of the exposure period. The three chemicals caused similar dose-dependent increases in the production of superoxide anion, lipid peroxidation, and DNA SSBs, which plateaued at certain dose ranges, followed by secondary increases at the higher dose levels. Similar effects were also produced by the TEQs; however, the dose-dependent i...
Thinking About Retirement? Think Again!

Barbara B. Hildner. (2006). Thinking About Retirement? Think Again!: Goal Exploration and Employment Strategies for Midlife and Beyond.
A reevaluation of commercial IBM PC software for the analysis of low-level environmental gamma-ray spectra

Abstract In 1988, a comparative evaluation of seven commercially available software packages for the analysis of low-level environmental gamma-ray spectra was performed. At that time it was determined that many of the packages did not contain all the features that were necessary for the accurate analysis of complex, low-level environmental samples. The evaluation concentrated on peak detection, noise and phantom-peak rejection, resolution of peak doublets, and nuclide identification. A new evaluation was conducted on updated versions of four of the previously evaluated programs and two additional programs from Canada and Germany. The evaluation involved the analysis of synthetic and actual spectral data, including an air filter containing debris from the Chernobyl accident. System requirements, accurate nuclide quantification and ease of operation are also reported.
Anorectal Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review

Constipation and fecal incontinence are common in patients with neuromuscular diseases. Despite their high prevalence and potential impact on overall quality of life, few studies have addressed anorectal dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The goal of this paper is to define the prevalence, pathophysiology, impact, and potential treatment of constipation and incontinence in MS patients. Methods. The PubMed database was searched for English language publications between January 1973 and December 2011. Articles were reviewed to assess the definition of the study population, duration, type and severity of MS, sex distribution, prevalence, impact, results of physiologic testing, and treatments. Results. The reported prevalence of constipation and fecal incontinence ranged around 40%. Anorectal dysfunction significantly affected patients with nearly 1 in 6 patients limiting social activities or even quitting work due to symptoms. Caregivers listed toileting as a common and significant burden. The only randomized controlled trial showed a marginal improvement of constipation with abdominal massage. All other reports lacked control interventions and only demonstrated improvement in individuals with milder symptoms. Conclusion. Anorectal dysfunction is a common manifestation in MS that significantly affects quality of life. Therapies are at best moderately effective and often cumbersome, highlighting the need for simple and more helpful interventions.
Carbon exchange of a mature, naturally regenerated pine forest in north Florida

We used eddy covariance and biomass measurements to quantify the carbon (C) dynamics of a naturally regenerated longleaf pine/slash pine flatwoods ecosystem in north Florida for 4 years, July 2000 to June 2002 and 2004 to 2005, to quantify how forest type, silvicultural intensity and environment influence stand-level C balance. Precipitation over the study periods ranged from extreme drought (July 2000‐June 2002) to aboveaverage precipitation (2004 and 2005). After photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), vapor pressure deficit (VPD) 41.5kPa and air temperature o101C were important constraints on daytime half-hourly net CO2 exchange (NEEday) and reduced the magnitude of midday CO2 exchange by 45lmolCO2m � 2 s � 1 . Analysis of water use efficiency indicated that stomatal closure at VPD41.5kPa moderated transpiration similarly in both drought and wet years. Night-time exchange (NEEnight) was an exponential function of air temperature, with rates further modulated by soil moisture. Estimated annual net ecosystem production (NEP) was remarkably consistent among the four measurement years (range: 158‐192gCm � 2 yr � 1 ). In comparison, annual ecosystem C assimilation estimates from biomass measurements between 2000 and 2002 ranged from 77 to 136gCm � 2 yr � 1 . Understory fluxes accounted for approximately 25‐35% of above-canopy NEE over 24-h periods, and 85% and 27% of whole-ecosystem fluxes during night and midday (11:00‐15:00 hours) periods, respectively. Concurrent measurements of a nearby intensively managed slash pine plantation showed that annual NEP was three to four times greater than that of the Austin Cary Memorial Forest, highlighting the importance of silviculture and management in regulating stand-level C budgets.
Imprinting of an evolutionarily conserved antisense transcript gene APeg3

APeg3 is an antisense transcript gene of Peg3, which has been recently identified from rat brain. Careful analyses of EST databases indicated that a homologous transcript also exists in other mammalian species, including mouse, cow and human. 5'-and 3'-RACE experiments have subsequently identified a 900-bp cDNA sequence of APeg3 from mouse brain. Mouse APeg3 is localized in the 3'UTR of Peg3 with an intronless genomic structure. The expression of mouse APeg3 is derived mainly from the paternal allele, indicating the imprinting of this antisense transcript gene in brain. Strand-specific RNA analyses also revealed the expression of both human and cow APEG3 in adult brains. In sum, our study confirms that the mammalian PEG3 locus harbors an antisense transcript gene displaying paternal allele-specific expression, and the evolutionary conservation further suggests potential roles of this transcript gene for the function of this imprinted domain.
The aggregate elasticity of factor substitution with middle products

Abstract The elasticity of substitution between factors in production relates the change in the ratio of factors used in a production process to a given change in the factor price ratio. An aggregate concept of such an elasticity relates a change in overall factor endowments to the resulting change in factor prices. For a closed economy the behavior of consumers is an important part of such an aggregate elasticity, since endowment changes can bring about changes in commodity prices and resulting adjustments to factor prices. For a small open economy, commodity prices in typical models are exogenous. In the model with middle products, all final consumer goods are non-traded, so that local consumer behavior can affect factor prices. The aggregate elasticity of substitution is shown to be an average of production elasticities and demand elasticity even for a small open economy.
Twisted epithelial–mesenchymal transition blocks senescence

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular transdifferentiation program that enables epithelial cancer cells to acquire traits of high-grade malignancy, notably invasive and metastatic powers. A new study indicates that it may also function early in tumour progression by preventing oncogene-induced senescence.
Adjudication Outcomes in Intimate and Non-Intimate Homicides

Most prior research on intimate partner (IP) homicide sanctioning is limited by research designs that analyze outcomes only for defendants charged or convicted of IP homicide, or that focus on fema...
Pore water pressure in natural slopes

Estimating subsurface pore water pressures in natural slopes along the periphery of rivers and reservoirs for future conditions, created by the operational requiremets to meet increases in energy demand from the observed data of the past and present, operations, is possible with the use of a mathematical model. An effective algorithm for calculating pore water pressure at any location in a slope stability section is to use a complete polynomial and to assure geometric invariance of the calculated results.
Visualizing cereal world

We discuss the basic theory of price indices. These form the basis for the Consumer Price Index in the United States. We note situations which can lead to non-robustness and volatility in several different price indices. An experiment to replace survey-based data with point of sales scanner data is being carried out. We visually explore the scanner data and conclude that certain aspects of scanner data can lead to non-robustness of commonly used price indices.
Effect of phenobarbital and SKF 525-A on the teratogenicity of cyclophosphamide in mice.

Maternal nontoxic dosages of cyclophosphamide are teratogenic in Swiss-Webster mice. Phenobarbital induces and SKF 525-A inhibits liver drug-metabolizing enzymes in mice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of SKF 525-A and phenobarbital on the teratogenicity and development of alkylating activity after cyclophosphamide. Mice were pretreated intraperitoneally with SKF 525-A (32 mg/kg) or phenobarbital (50 or 100 mg/kg) on days 8, 9, and 10 of gestation. Cyclophosphamide (20 mg/kg, ip) was administered to all groups on day 10. Phenobarbital and SKF 525-A were not teratogenic. Cyclophosphamide significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the weight of fetuses examined on day 18 of gestation (control, 1.52 vs 0.89 g). SKF 525-A pretreatment on days 8, 9, and 10 significantly reduced fetal weight from cyclophosphamide (0.79 vs 0.89 g). Phenobarbital pretreatment significantly reversed cyclophosphamide weight effect (1.23 vs. 0.89 g). SKF 525-A significantly increased the incidence of resorptions, open eyes, polydactyly, aphakia, hydronephrosis, absence or nonossification of ribs, bone fusion. and bone curvature. Phenobarbital abolished cyclophosphamide-induced limb defects, hydrocephalus, exencephaly, cleft palate, aphakia, and hydronephrosis. Phenobarbital did not affect cyclophosphamide-induced polydactyly or open eyes. Phenobarbital pretreatment increased and SKF 525-A pretreatment decreased the concentration of nitrobenzyl pyridine alkylating product of cyclophosphamide (100 mg/kg) in plasma. The teratogenicity of cyclophosphamide may be separate from its alkylating activity.
Transforming Biology Assessment with Machine Learning: Automated Scoring of Written Evolutionary Explanations

This study explored the use of machine learning to automatically evaluate the accuracy of students’ written explanations of evolutionary change. Performance of the Summarization Integrated Development Environment (SIDE) program was compared to human expert scoring using a corpus of 2,260 evolutionary explanations written by 565 undergraduate students in response to two different evolution instruments (the EGALT-F and EGALT-P) that contained prompts that differed in various surface features (such as species and traits). We tested human-SIDE scoring correspondence under a series of different training and testing conditions, using Kappa inter-rater agreement values of greater than 0.80 as a performance benchmark. In addition, we examined the effects of response length on scoring success; that is, whether SIDE scoring models functioned with comparable success on short and long responses. We found that SIDE performance was most effective when scoring models were built and tested at the individual item level and that performance degraded when suites of items or entire instruments were used to build and test scoring models. Overall, SIDE was found to be a powerful and cost-effective tool for assessing student knowledge and performance in a complex science domain.
Experimental comparison of percutaneous vena caval devices: Titanium Greenfield filter versus bird's nest filter

Abstract A venous embolism model with autogenous thrombus was used for comparison of the functional properties of two new vena caval devices: a titanium Greenfield filter and the bird's nest filter. All nine Greenfield filters were correctly placed in the inferior vena cava and produced significant clot lysis of 81.3% ± 16.3% (p t test). Difficulty was encountered in affixing the hooks of the bird's nest device into the vein wall and resulted in two filters not being inserted and two filters being placed too proximally. One set of hooked wires of another bird's nest device migrated to the right atrium despite correct insertion. Eight bird's nest devices allowed clot lysis of 83.4% ± 17.7% (p t test) but thrombus size was increased in one case. The Greenfield and bird's nest filters have comparable effects on trapped emboli, but the bird's nest filter may be susceptible to thrombosis and occlusion under certain circumstances. The preshaped hooked wires of the bird's nest device may be difficult to insert and may allow proximal migration after a large thrombus was trapped. (J VASC SURG 1987;6:66-70.)
Cholecystokinin-like immunoreactivity occurs in ocular sensory neurons and partially co-localized with substance P

Based on immunohistochemical analysis of the trigeminal, superior cervical, ciliary and sphenopalatine ganglia and of the eye after sensory denervation and sympathectomy, cholecystokinin (CCK)-like immunoreactive nerves in the guinea pig eye derive from the trigeminal ganglion. Substance P (SP) also occurs in some ocular sensory neurons, suggesting the possible co-localization in this system of CCK- and SP-immunoreactivities. A double-labeling immunofluorescence technique stained 3 types of trigeminal cells and ocular nerve fibers: some immunoreactive for both peptides, some immunoreactive only for CCK and some immunoreactive only for SP.
Oxidative damage to DNA: counterion-assisted addition of water to ionized DNA

Oxidative damage to DNA, implicated in mutagenesis, aging, and cancer, follows electron loss that generates a radical cation that migrates to a guanine, where it may react with water to form 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-OxoG). Molecular dynamics and ab initio quantum simulations on a B-DNA tetradecamer reveal activated reaction pathways that depend on the local counterion arrangement. The lowest activation barrier, 0.73 eV, is found for a reaction that starts from a configuration where a Na(+) resides in the major groove near the N7 atoms of adjacent guanines, and evolves through a transition state where a bond between a water oxygen atom and a carbon atom forms concurrently with displacement of a proton toward a neighboring water molecule. Subsequently, a bonded complex of a hydronium ion and the nearest backbone phosphate group forms. This counterion-assisted proton shuttle mechanism is supported by experiments exploiting selective substitution of backbone phosphates by methylphosphonates.
Bilateral endophthalmitis after bilateral sequential phacoemulsification

An 81-year-old woman had uneventful bilateral sequential phacoemulsification using a separate sterile technique for each eye. Despite this, early culture-positive postoperative endophthalmitis developed. Management included bilateral intravitreal antibiotic agents, and the patient achieved an excellent visual outcome. To our knowledge, this is the third reported case of bilateral endophthalmitis after bilateral sequential phacoemulsification and the first reported case in which a separate sterile technique was used in each eye.
Late vascular complication associated with panfacial fractures.

embers suggests a sporadic mutation affecting one f the genes responsible for bone homeostasis in this atient. Cranial nerve compression has been described in atients’ with van Buchem disease; however, cerebroascular accidents have not been identified comonly in these patients. Although the patient decribed some disturbance in facial sensation and isplayed skull bone thickening radiographically, it is ifficult to say whether the condition contributed to he cerebrovascular accidents without radiologic evience of compression of the brain or vascular canals n the skull base. Previous reports of surgical intervention on paients with van Buchem disease and ADO have ndicated normal healing although no comments have een made on longer term recurrence at surgicallyddressed sites. We were concerned about the healng capacity of the bone and carried out more limited urgery at the first intervention. These fears seem to e unfounded and, ironically with the wisdom of indsight, the history of palmidronate infusions hould have caused greater concern.
Epidermal cell population kinetics in albino guinea-pig skin.

IN adult mammals the epidermal cell population is in a steady state—continuous cell loss by keratinization is balanced quantitatively by new cell production in the basal layer. We have found that the turnover time of albino guinea-pig epidermis (time required for the replacement of a number of cells equal to that present in the basal, spinous and granular layers) differed from that reported by Platt1 and also from that found for other mammals 2–5.
High resolution chromosome and DNA analysis in multiple endocrine neoplasia type II syndrome.

Abstract Multiple endocrine neoplasia type II (MEN-II or Sipple's syndrome) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by medullary thyroid cancers, pheochromocytomas, and parathyroid adenomas. A blind analysis of high resolution G-banded chromosomes was performed on blood specimens from eight MEN-II individuals from three unrelated families and six control subjects. Seven of eight MEN-II patients and one of six control subjects were determined to have a deletion at 20p12.2. These findings support the hypothesis that MEN-II patients have a 20p12.2 deletion ( χ 2 = 6.99; p Genomic DNA from seven of the eight MEN-II patients was studied using the DNA probe, D20S5, localized by in situ hybridization to 20p12. The probe binding site is not deleted in some MEN-II patients, as demonstrated by the presence of two alleles detected as restriction fragment length polymorphisms. Thus, D20S5 does not hybridize to DNA sequences that are deleted based on cytogenetic analysis in MEN-II patients.
Effect of orthotopic cardiac transplantation on peripheral vascular function in congestive heart failure: Influence of cyclosporine therapy

The objective of this study was to examine peripheral vascular function before and after cardiac transplantation and to assess the effect of immunosuppressive therapy on peripheral vascular reactivity. Peripheral vascular function abnormalities present in congestive heart failure may be reversed with cardiac transplantation, but immunosuppressive therapy may alter these changes in the peripheral vasculature. Venous occlusion plethysmography was used to study peripheral vascular function in nine patients with severe congestive heart failure who underwent cardiac transplantation. Forearm blood flow and forearm vascular resistance were measured in patients with congestive heart failure in response to cold stimulation, maximal hyperemia, and hand grip exercise (1) before transplantation; (2) 24 to 36 hours posttransplantation before the commencement of cyclosporine; (3) 6 to 8 days posttransplantation in the presence of therapeutic cyclosporine levels; and (4) 6 weeks posttransplantation. Venous capacitance was also measured. After cardiac transplantation, mean arterial pressure increased and remained elevated. Forearm blood flow initially increased after transplantation but subsequently decreased with cyclosporine. Cold-induced reflex sympathetic activation decreased immediately after transplantation but was significantly enhanced with cyclosporine. The maximal vasodilatory response following ischemic cuff occlusion and with 5 minutes of isometric hand grip exercise increased significantly after transplantation and remained improved at 6 weeks. Thus after cardiac transplantation, peripheral vasodilator function improves and is not altered by cyclosporine. However, with cyclosporine therapy resting forearm vascular resistance increases and reflex sympathetic vasoconstriction is enhanced, suggesting that cyclosporine may potentiate adrenergic-mediated peripheral vasoconstriction and thus may contribute to posttransplant hypertension.
The Gibbs Farmstead: Household Archaeology in an Internal Periphery

The Gibbs farmstead, a rural domestic site in Knox County, East Tennessee, was inhabited by four generations of the Nicholas Gibbs family between ca. 1792 and 1913. In the following essay, world systems theory is combined with primary historical sources and the archaeological record to explore how aspects of the emerging global system influenced daily material life and household-level economic strategies among the Gibbs family in Southern Appalachia, regarded as an internal periphery within the world system. Focusing upon domestic architecture and foodways, consideration of material life reveals the presence of a strong vernacular orientation among the Gibbs family that was also substantially influenced by larger trends within national-level consumerism and popular culture.
Embryocidal, fetotoxic and teratogenic effects of ochratoxin a in rats

Abstract Teratogenic effects of a single subncutaneous dose of ocgratoxin A (1.75 mg/kg) on the one getation days 4–10 has been studied in rats. Treatment on days 4, 5, 6 or 7 resulted in increased fetal resorption, and decreased fetal weight. Fetal weights also were depressed after treatment on day 8. The highest number of resorption, greatest depression of fetal weights and largest number of malformations occured when ochratoxin A was injected on days 5, 6 or 7. External hydrocephaly, omphalocele, and anophthalmia were the major gross anomalities. Internal hydrocephaly and shift in position of esophagus were the main internal soft tissue defects. Major skeleteal defects involved sternebrae, vertebrae and ribs. Subsutaneous injection of 1.75 mg/kg ochratoxin A seemed to be the minimum efefctive, single tetraogenic dose, Lower doses (0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg) failed to produce any embryotoxicity or malformation and higher doses (e.g. 5.0 mg/kg) caused all fetuses to be resobed.
An initial value theorem for nonlinear singularly perturbed systems

Asymptotic approximation of nonlinear autonomous singularly perturbed systems on the semi-infinite time interval [0, ∞) is considered. It is shown that the conditions employed in [1] to guarantee asymptotic stability ensures, in addition, that the solution of the full system converges uniformly as g3→ 0 to the approximation derived from the reduced and boundary-layer systems.
COOL TEMPERATURE PERFORMANCE OF A WHEAT STRAW BIOFILTER FOR TREATING DAIRY WASTEWATER

A wheat straw biofilter was evaluated for attenuating pollutants in dairy (milkhouse and milking parlor) wastewater. During the 14-day study, the biofilter was operated in a sequential aerobic–anaerobic mode in a temperature range of 8–14°C. While the biofilter was very effective (89% removal) in attenuating total suspended solids and moderately effective (76% removal) in attenuating oil and grease, its effectiveness in attenuating chemical oxygen demand was low (37% removal). The biofilter was ineffective in attenuating nitrate, while its effectiveness in attenuating ammonium (20% removal) and total Kjeldahl nitrogen (15% removal) was low. The biofilter was not effective in attenuating ortho-phosphate, total phosphorus, and fecal coliform. Though microbial degradation accounted for some pollutant removal, filtration seemed to be the primary mechanism. Lower temperature of operation and high oil and grease concentration (that reduced nutrient transfer to the biofilm) decreased microbial activity, reducing...
Teaching with security in mind

Security topics have been taught for some time at universities. The most common approach has been to teach a required topic, and then introduce a security module later in the course. We are promoting the notion of teaching security at the same time as main course's material. This helps students to adopt to the idea of writing secure code at an early stage and encourages them to focus on the security issues before beginning coding. While this method has clear advantages, it is not easy to implement in practice. This is partly a result of the faculty's luck of awareness about security issues, and the perception of security as an advanced topic. We see security as an extension of the basic concept of input validation, and so a very basic topic. We also propose teaching secure practices as the default model presented to the students, facilitating the adoption of those practices.
The jumbo squid, Dosidicus gigas (Ommastrephidae), living in oxygen minimum zones I: Oxygen consumption rates and critical oxygen partial pressures

Abstract Dosidicus gigas is a large, metabolically active, epipelagic squid known to undertake diel vertical migrations across a large temperature and oxygen gradient in the Eastern Pacific. Hypoxia is known to cause metabolic suppression in D. gigas. However, the precise oxygen level at which metabolic suppression sets in is unknown. Here we describe a novel ship-board swim tunnel respirometer that was used to measure metabolic rates and critical oxygen partial pressures (Pcrit) for adult squids (2–7 kg). Metabolic rate measurements were validated by comparison to the activity of the Krebs cycle enzyme, citrate synthase, in mantle muscle tissue (2–17 kg). We recorded a mean routine metabolic rate of 5.91 μmol g−1 h−1 at 10 °C and 12.62 μmol g−1 h−1 at 20 °C. A temperature coefficient, Q10, of 2.1 was calculated. D. gigas had Pcrits of 1.6 and 3.8 kPa at 10 and 20 °C, respectively. Oxygen consumption rate (MO2) varied with body mass (M) according to MO2=11.57 M−0.12±0.03 at 10 °C. Citrate synthase activity varied with body mass according to Y=9.32 M−0.19±0.02.
WHAT IS GAY AND LESBIAN PHILOSOPHY

This essay explores recent trends and major issues related to gay and lesbian philosophy in ethics (including issues concerning the morality of homosexuality, the natural function of sex, and outing and coming out); religion (covering past and present debates about the status of homosexuality and how biblical and qur'anic passages have been interpreted by both sides of the debate); the law (especially a discussion of the debates surrounding sodomy laws, same-sex marriage and its impact on transsexuals, and whether the law should be used to enforce morality); scientific research into the origins of homosexuality (including discussion of arguments against such research); and metaphysics (especially the question of whether homosexuality is socially constructed during particular times and in particular cultures, or whether sexual orientation is an essential trait cutting across times and cultures).
A social history of Bitnet and Listserv, 1985-1991

After the engineers had built computer networks, users had to build the social networks that made them useful. Listserv, the combined mailing list and file server, was an important tool for those interested in building network-based organizations. It first appeared on Bitnet, an academic network based on IBM computers. The early versions of Listserv became operational in the mid-1980s and its early archives show how network users learned to use the software and, perhaps more importantly, how to manage network-based organizations.
Organizational Culture and Employee Retention

This study investigated the retention rates of 904 college graduates hired in six public accounting firms over a six-year period. Organizational culture values varied significantly among the firms....
Floral volatile alleles can contribute to pollinator-mediated reproductive isolation in monkeyflowers (Mimulus).

Pollinator-mediated reproductive isolation is a major factor in driving the diversification of flowering plants. Studies of floral traits involved in reproductive isolation have focused nearly exclusively on visual signals, such as flower color. The role of less obvious signals, such as floral scent, has been studied only recently. In particular, the genetics of floral volatiles involved in mediating differential pollinator visitation remains unknown. The bumblebee-pollinated Mimulus lewisii and hummingbird-pollinated M. cardinalis are a model system for studying reproductive isolation via pollinator preference. We have shown that these two species differ in three floral terpenoid volatiles - D-limonene, β-myrcene, and E-β-ocimene - that are attractive to bumblebee pollinators. By genetic mapping and in vitro enzyme activity analysis we demonstrate that these interspecific differences are consistent with allelic variation at two loci – LIMONENE-MYRCENE SYNTHASE (LMS) and OCIMENE SYNTHASE (OS). M. lewisii LMS (MlLMS) and OS (MlOS) are expressed most strongly in floral tissue in the last stages of floral development. M. cardinalis LMS (McLMS) is weakly expressed and has a nonsense mutation in exon 3. M. cardinalis OS (McOS) is expressed similarly to MlOS, but the encoded McOS enzyme produces no E-β-ocimene. Recapitulating the M. cardinalis phenotype by reducing the expression of MlLMS by RNAi in transgenic M. lewisii produces no behavioral difference in pollinating bumblebees; however, reducing MlOS expression produces a 6% decrease in visitation. Allelic variation at the OCIMENE SYNTHASE locus likely contributes to differential pollinator visitation, and thus promotes reproductive isolation between M. lewisii and M. cardinalis. OCIMENE SYNTHASE joins a growing list of “speciation genes” (“barrier genes”) in flowering plants.
Mitochondrial DNA and human evolution

▪ Abstract Several unique properties of human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), including its high copy number, maternal inheritance, lack of recombination, and high mutation rate, have made it the molecule of choice for studies of human population history and evolution. Here we review the current state of knowledge concerning these properties, how mtDNA variation is studied, what we have learned, and what the future likely holds. We conclude that increasingly, mtDNA studies are (and should be) supplemented with analyses of the Y-chromosome and other nuclear DNA variation. Some serious issues need to be addressed concerning nuclear inserts, database quality, and the possible influence of selection on mtDNA variation. Nonetheless, mtDNA studies will continue to play an important role in such areas as examining socio-cultural influences on human genetic variation, ancient DNA, certain forensic DNA applications, and in tracing personal genetic history.
Molecular Mechanism of Dopamine Transport by Human Dopamine Transporter

Dopamine transporters (DATs) control neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) homeostasis by reuptake of excess DA, assisted by sodium and chloride ions. The recent resolution of DAT structure (dDAT) from Drosophila permits us for the first time to directly view the sequence of events involved in DA reuptake in human DAT (hDAT) using homology modeling and full-atomic microseconds accelerated simulations. Major observations are spontaneous closure of extracellular gates prompted by DA binding; stabilization of a holo-occluded intermediate; disruption of N82-N353 hydrogen bond and exposure to intracellular (IC) water triggered by Na2 dislocation; redistribution of a network of salt bridges at the IC surface in the inward-facing state; concerted tilting of IC-exposed helices to enable the release of Na(+) and Cl(-) ions; and DA release after protonation of D79. The observed time-resolved interactions confirm the conserved dynamics of LeuT-fold family, while providing insights into the mechanistic role of specific residues in hDAT.
INTERSECTION ANGLE GEOMETRY AND THE DRIVER'S FIELD OF VIEW

At a skewed-angle intersection with the acute angle to the right of a driver on the minor roadway (the approach required to stop or yield), the vehicle body may obstruct the minor-road driver's line of sight. Body parts that may obstruct the line of sight include the door frame, a panel aft of the door, or the cargo box of a single-unit truck. If the combination of vehicle design and intersection skew angle restrict a driver's line of sight to the right, safety may be compromised. This research project evaluated obstructions caused by the bodies of a number of vehicles. The researchers measured the angles at which drivers' lines of sight were obstructed by the body of their vehicles. Two driving positions were used—"sit back" and "lean forward." A 13.5-degree vision angle (with respect to a line perpendicular to the vehicle path) was selected to represent an intermediate posture between the sit-back and the lean-forward positions. With a 13.5-degree vision angle in some restrictive vehicles, the 60-degree...
PAD2 Activity Monitored via a Fluorescent Substrate Analog

The post-transitional modification of peptidyl arginine to citrulline by PAD2 can affect the inherent biophysical properties of the citrullinated protein. Furthermore, dysregulation of PAD2 activity has been implicated in a number of human diseases. Inhibition of these enzymes by small molecules can serve as essential probes in establishing a link to pathogenesis. Herein, we describe a profluorescent substrate analog that reports on the activity and the inhibition of PAD2 in a robust assay. Most noteworthy, we expect future drug discovery efforts based on PAD2 inhibition can be pursued via this assay.
Setting the stage for biofuels:Policy texts, community of practice, and institutional ambiguity at the Fourth World Conservation Congress

This paper explores the discussion on biofuels within the fourth World Conservation Congress (WCC) in Barcelona. The focus on energy and biofuels at the WCC was a change from previous Congresses, highlighting a new negotiation of conservation and development trade-offs within the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Resolutions and IUCN programmes from the 2000 WCC onwards built on one another to reframe energy policy in terms of sustainable use, clean energy technologies, and energy access. With this structure in place, an informal group of key actors at the 2008 WCC were able to dominate the biofuels discourse to advance international sustainability standards for biofuels production. Procedural ambiguities in the resolution contact group made this community of practice, largely formed around the Roundtable for Sustainable Biofuels, especially important. The negotiation of biofuels policies, and energy policy in general, serves as an example of a large-scale trade-off that will directly affect local conservation practice.
Thoughts Without Distinctive Non-Imagistic Phenomenology

Silent thinking is often accompanied by subvocal sayings to ourselves, imagery, emotional feelings, and non-sensory experiences such as familiarity, rightness, and confidence that we can go on in certain ways. Phenomenological materials of these kinds, along with our dispositions to give explanations or draw inferences, provide resources that are sufficient to account for our knowledge of what we think, desire, and so on. We do not need to suppose that there is a distinctive, non-imagistic ‘what it is like’ to think that p, and a different non-imagistic ‘what it is like’ to think that q. Nor need we suppose that there is a proprietary ‘what it is like’ to have one propositional attitude type rather than another.
Cyclin-dependent kinase 9–cyclin K functions in the replication stress response

Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) is a well-characterized subunit of the positive transcription elongation factor b complex in which it regulates transcription elongation in cooperation with cyclin T. However, CDK9 also forms a complex with cyclin K, the function of which is less clear. Using a synthetic lethal RNA interference screen in human cells, we identified CDK9 as a component of the replication stress response. Loss of CDK9 activity causes an increase in spontaneous levels of DNA damage signalling in replicating cells and a decreased ability to recover from a transient replication arrest. This activity is restricted to CDK9–cyclin K complexes and is independent of CDK9–cyclin T complex. CDK9 accumulates on chromatin in response to replication stress and limits the amount of single-stranded DNA in cells under stress. Furthermore, we show that CDK9 and cyclin K interact with ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein and other checkpoint signalling proteins. These results reveal an unexpectedly direct role for CDK9–cyclin K in checkpoint pathways that maintain genome integrity in response to replication stress.
Graphical Models in Local, Asymmetric Multi-Agent Markov Decision Processes

In multi-agent MDPs, it is generally necessary to consider the joint state space of all agents, making the size of the problem and the solution exponential in the number of agents. However, often interactions between the agents are only local, which suggests a more compact problem representation. We consider a subclass of multi-agent MDPs with local interactions where dependencies between agents are asymmetric, meaning that agents can affect others in a unidirectional manner. This asymmetry, which often occurs in domains with authority-driven relationships between agents, allows us to make better use of the locality of agentsý interactions. We present and analyze a graphical model of such problems and show that, for some classes of problems, it can be exploited to yield significant (sometimes exponential) savings in problem and solution size, as well as in computational efficiency of solution algorithms.