cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Successful prenatal and perinatal management of a massive cervicofacial teratoma

We report a fetus with a massive cervicofacial teratoma successfully managed in the prenatal and perinatal period. A 34-year-old woman was referred to our hospital at 16 weeks’ gestation. Ultrasound examination revealed a left anterolateral fetal neck mass indicating typical findings of a teratoma. The tumor grew to tremendous size until occupying most of the uterine cavity causing severe discomfort for the patient. This necessitated ultrasound-guided removal of the intracystic fluid of the massive cervicofacial teratoma during pregnancy. Fetal MRI clearly demonstrated the mass extending from the orbit to the anterior chest wall without compression or deviation of the fetal airway. The entire mass increased to 18 cm in diameter at 37 weeks’ gestation. Classical cesarean section was performed immediately after ultrasound-guided removal of the fluid from the cyst. A female infant weighing 3562 g was delivered. Resection of the tumor was accomplished on day 28 of life. The successful outcome in our case illustrates the value of accurate prenatal diagnosis of a giant cervicofacial teratoma using ultrasound and MRI, and careful management of the mother and fetus during the prenatal and perinatal period. It seems that ultrasound-guided removal of the intracystic fluid from the tumor during pregnancy should be considered to prevent preterm delivery.
Hotelling and the New York stock exchange

Abstract We analyze the hierarchical Stackelberg equilibria in a model of one-sided locational competition based on the market for stock exchange listings. The equilibria are symmetric—there is no first mover advantage, nor is there a last mover disadvantage.
Activity Theory and the Analysis of Organizations

This article summarizes activity theory as advanced by Finnish organizational analyst Yrjo Engestrom, with particular attention paid to antecedents of activity theory in the work of Vygotsky, Leontyev, Luria, and others identified with the Soviet sociohistorical approach to psychology. Activity theory is illustrated through a retrospective analysis of activity systems operating in events leading up to the Challenger shuttle catastrophe, comparing the approach to the theory of "normal accidents" advanced by Perrow. Implications for the study of organizations and organizational actors, as well as issues related to use of activity theory to conduct retrospective analyses (as against its use as an intervention strategy) are discussed.
Drip-feed bioreactor for the treatment of concentrated wastes with minimal dilution.

Avoiding substrate inhibition is a significant challenge in designing biological treatment systems for concentrated or toxic wastes. Substrate inhibition is commonly avoided by diluting the waste before treatment, however, dilution of a waste before treatment is not always feasible. In the case of radioactive mixed wastes and chemical warfare materiel (CWM), dilution presents regulatory and safety concerns. In this study, we investigated a ‘‘drip-feed’’ reactor configuration as an alternative approach for the biological treatment of concentrated waste streams with minimal dilution and complete containment. In the drip-feed reactor undiluted waste is slowly fed to biomass in a reactor at a rate sufficient to maintain activity, but at a low enough rate so that bacterial degradation maintains the reactor concentration below the toxic threshold. The reactor has no effluent, but rather fills as the undiluted waste is fed to the reactor, which has the advantage of preventing the release of hazardous material into the environment during treatment. Volatile releases are prevented with the use of condensers. The drip-feed bioreactor configuration was tested under aerobic conditions, at 25 � C, using a 10% acetonitrile feed solution. The treatment of acetonitrile to less than 0.1 mg l � 1 was achieved with a dilution factor of only 3.4. The acetonitrile degradation reaction was pH sensitive, where the optimal pH range for the biodegradation process was approximately between 6.5 and 7.1 and the biodegradation rate declined precipitously above pH 7.2. The applicability of the drip-feed reactor configuration to the treatment of mixed wastes and CWM is discussed. � 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Identification of trajectories of social network composition change and the relationship to alcohol consumption and norms

Abstract Background College drinking is embedded in a social context, drawing attention to the effects of social network composition on consumption. The presence of heavy drinking friends in social networks predicts later alcohol misuse, but little is known about how the composition of one's social network composition changes over time. This study identified changes in social network composition in a sample of at-risk students and examined the relationship among network trajectories, alcohol consumption, and descriptive norms. Methods Participants were 503 students (64% male) mandated to participate in an alcohol prevention intervention for residence hall alcohol policy violations. At baseline, students provided self-report data about alcohol consumption, perceived peer drinking norms, and peer alcohol involvement. Parallel assessments were completed at 6- and 12-months post-baseline. Results Growth-mixture models identified four groups of individuals with similar levels of heavy drinkers in their social networks. The majority of students had stable or decreasing numbers of heavy drinkers in their networks across the study, whereas two groups reported relatively stable densities of heavy drinkers from baseline to 6-months and increasing densities from 6- to 12-months. At baseline, the four groups were generally equivalent on consumption and normative perceptions. At 6- and 12-months, however, the groups differed significantly on consumption and norms. Conclusions These results suggest that changes in the number of heavy drinkers in college students’ social networks may have significant implications for at-risk drinking.
Neutron-scattering studies of phonons in disordered cubic zirconia at elevated temperatures

Inelastic-neutron-scattering studies of cubic zirconia at elevated temperatures (300--1700 K) showed well-defined LA and TA phonons but no optical-phonon branches were observed, confirming earlier reported reduced Raman scattering data. The LA and TA phonons were observed to broaden with a q/sup 2/ dependence. The elastic constants C/sub 11/, C/sub 12/, and C/sub 44/ were derived from the dispersion data at room temperature and at elevated temperatures. The frequency distribution of one phonon density of states was generated from the dispersion relation and was found to be in reasonable agreement with the observed Raman spectrum. Also diffuse-elastic-scattering measurements were taken and showed broad intensity peaks in reciprocal space. The scattering and the phonon linewidths showed little temperature dependence; intrinsic defects and anharmonicity dominate the damping mechanism. The unobserved optical branches were obtained by the best fit to the experimentally determined acoustic branches, based upon a rigid-ion-model calculation. Static deformations of the oxygen sublattice due to oxygen vacancies are mainly responsible for the data observed.
Lipoprotein apolipoprotein synthesis by human hepatoma cells in culture.

Lipoprotein synthesis was demonstrated by double diffusion with low density lipoprotein antibody, and by 3H-labeled amino acid incorporation into proteins of the d< 1.063 g/ml centrifugally isolated lipoprotein fraction. Radioactive label was incorporated predominantly into apolipoprotein B (60%), apolipoprotein A–I (20%) and apolipoprotein C (12%), as determined by Sepharose column chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Incorporation of radioactive label into apolipoprotein B was inhibited by the presence of albumin in the medium, and was restored to control levels with the addition of 1 mM oleic acid, indicating that cell synthesis of apolipoproteins could be modified by culture conditions. The human hepatoma cell line, Hep G2, provides a potential in vitro model for the study of regulation of human hepatic lipoprotein and apolipoprotein synthesis.
Effect of Germanium Concentration on the Dielectric Function of Strained Si1-xGex Films

Transistors fabricated using strained silicon-germanium alloy channels provide improved carrier mobility. While the electrical properties of Si1-XGeX for a variety of values of x and the optical properties of strain-free Si1-xGex for x= 0 to 1 have been reported, reports of the optical properties of pseudomorphic Si1-XGeX were limitd to x < 0.3. For Ge concentrations of less than 30%, the optical properties follow the low shear elastic response [1, 2]. Here, we report an in-depth study of the optical properties of bi-axially strained pseudomorphic Si1-xGex alloys for Ge concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 0.75. Optical properties (complex refractive index / dielectric function) of semiconductors are dominated by strong absorption at critical points (CP). Strain often shifts the E1 and E1+Δ CPs. The spin orbit splitting Δ increases with germanium concentration. Strained semiconductors are described by an elastic theory approach that predicts the shifts of the critical points. There are two approximations for the optical response depending on the magnitude of spin-orbit coupling versus the shift in CP energy for shear stress. The low shear approximation used previously for the calculation of elastic response of critical points (direct gap transitions) is no longer valid for psuedomorphic Si1-xGex alloys having germanium concentrations greater than 40%. The optical properties of these alloys follow a high sheer approximation and high shear effects can be seen very prominently for concentrations above 50%, where two peaks are readily apparent for E1 with an energy seperation greater than the spin orbit splitting. Undoped Si1-xGex films, with Ge concentrations from 0.05 to 0.75 were grown on Si (001) substrates using ultra-high vacuum and reduced pressure chemical vapor deposition. Layer thickness and composition was measured using high resolution X-ray diffraction. Figure 1 shows the Omega-2Theta 004 rocking curves for some of the wafers starting from 5% Ge concentration. Relaxation scans and reciprocal space maps confirmed the alloys as fully strained, low defect and high quality structural formations. The dielectric function of pseudomorphic alloys was evaluated using spectroscopic ellipsometry from 0.73 eV to 5.17 eV (245nm to 1700nm). Figure 2 shows two peaks near the E1 and E1+Δ critical points for higher germanium concentrations. Errors in ellipsometric based thickness measurements occur if the complex refractive index of relaxed SiGe alloys is used to measure pseudomorphic SiGe films. References [1] J. Humlicek, M. Garriga, M. L Alonso, and M. Cardona, "Optical spectra of SixGe1-x alloys", J. Appl. Phys. 65, (1989), 2827. [2] R. Lange, K.E. Junge, S. Zollner, S.S. Iyer, A.P. Powell, and K. Eberl, "Dielectric response of strained and relaxed Si1-x-yGexCy alloys grown by molecular beam epitaxy on Si(001)" J. Appl. Phys. 80, (1996), 4578.
A Long-Wavelength Fluorescent Glucose Biosensor Based on Bioconjugates of Galactose/Glucose Binding Protein and Nile Red Derivatives

Background: Fluorescent biosensors based on galactose/glucose binding protein (GGBP) and environmentally sensitive derivatives of the phenoxazine dye Nile Red are described. These biosensors are proposed as the sensing platform for a minimally invasive, continuous glucose monitoring system that can be implanted under the skin and read transdermally using an external fluorometer. Methods: To construct the biosensors, the thiol-reactive Nile Red derivatives INR and IANR were prepared and conjugated to GGBP proteins possessing cysteine mutations that were designed for optimal site-specific fluorophore attachment. The attachment sites were selected to maximize the local environment change for attached dyes between the bound and unbound conformations of GGBP. Results: Fluorescence responses at the selected cysteine sites of GGBP upon binding to glucose showed that the conjugates typically yielded fluorescence emission around 640–650 nm with up to 50% changes in fluorescence intensity. Conjugate E149C/A213C/L23...
Thermoluminescence of meteorites and their terrestrial ages

Abstract A new technique is described in which the natural thermoluminescence (TL) in chondritic meteorites is normalized to the TL sensitivity of each meteorite. The relationship between the normalized TL level and a meteorite's terrestrial age is examined. The average normalized TL level measured in 45 ordinary chondrites of known terrestrial age decreases with increasing terrestrial age. There is a factor of ten variation in the TL levels of fresh falls which is primarily due to differences in orbital temperatures (Melcher, 1981). Nevertheless, it is possible to distinguish between recent falls and meteorites greater than a few hundred years old if they have been stored at the same temperature. The decay characteristics of the TL are studied by means of initial rise experiments and isothermal decay experiments at elevated temperatures. The TL levels of 11 Antarctic meteorites are compared with the results of 14 C, 26 Al and 36 Cl studies of the terrestrial ages of these objects. There is a rough correlation between the low temperature TL levels and the radionuclide activities. Since the TL method is quick and requires as little as 10mg of material, it is most valuable as a rapid screening process to select samples appropriate for study by other techniques.
The prevalence of bulimia and binge eating in adolescent girls

This research investigated the prevalence of bulimia and binge eating in 363 adolescent girls in the ninth through twelfth grade (X age = 16.0 years). Substantial proportions of these girls reported episodes of binge eating (46.0%) and acknowledged the use of self-induced vomiting (11.2%), laxatives (4.7%), and fasting (36.4%) as methods to control their weight. While 7.7% of the girls met the DSM-III criteria for the diagnosis of bulimia, the prevalence rate decreases to 2.8% when these criteria are modified to require the presence of at least weekly binging and purging only via self-induced vomiting or the use of laxatives. An additional 4.4% of the girls engaged in “problematic” binge eating. Comparisons with previous research are offered and diagnostic issues discussed.
Functional morphology of the head of the anabantoid teleost fish Helostoma temmincki.

Osteology, myology and motion analysis of the head of the anabantoid fish Helostoma temmincki, a specialized filter feeder, has revealed six functional units: neurocranium, suspensory apparatus, opercular apparatus, hyoid apparatus, branchial apparatus and pectoral girdle. Interactions between the functional units take place through four couplings involved in opening and protruding the jaws. The first coupling is activated in the beginning of the opening cycle by the levator operculi muscle through the opercular apparatus, interoperculomandibular ligament and mandible. The second is activated during feeding by contraction of the sternohyoideus through the hyoid apparatus, interopercular, interoperculomandibular ligament and mandible. The third coupling is active during feeding and “kissing” by contraction of epaxial muscles through mediation of the neurocranium to the jaw apparatus. The fourth coupling is the only one active during air intake and involves contraction of the levator arcus palatini which abducts and rotates the suspensory apparatus forwards, causing the mandible to drop. The retention of isolated ancestral characters during mosaic evolution are explained in terms of the maintenance of couplings which represent functional associations of seemingly remote structures. When natural selection acts on one component of a functional unit or coupling, it essentially acts on all associated elements simultaneously causing character complexes to evolve in common evolutionary trends. It is feasible that functional analysis can separate primary from secondary evolutionary trends.
Concentration of Hydrocarbons on Silica Gel Prior to Gas Chromatographic Analysis

Abstract In the determination of substances in various atmospheres by gas chromatography the sample often must be concentrated prior to analysis. Silica gel at dry ice-acetone temperatures has been found to be a satisfactory adsorbant for concentration of hydrocarbons and sulfur containing compounds. In the present work recovery efficiencies are obtained for a number of four and five carbon paraffins and olefins. Isomerization reactions of olefins on silica gel at elevated temperature were investigated. Losses of very light hydrocarbons are discussed. Reptroducibilities are given for the analyses of several three, four and five carbon hydrocarbons existing at concentrations between, 0.005 and 0.2 ppm in synthetic smogs.
Erratum to “Mechanisms of transthyretin cardiomyocyte toxicity inhibition by resveratrol analogs” [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 410 (2011) 707–713]

Table 1 Structures of resveratrol (1) and resveratrol analogs tested for their capacity to prevent TTR-induced cytotoxicity in AC16 cells. Between parentheses is shown the compound number and between brackets are shown the values of acid-mediated WT TTR fibril formation in an in vitro assay measured by turbidity. 100% fibril formation corresponds to values of turbidity of WT TTR alone; 0% indicates no turbidity was detected thus, total inhibition of TTR amyloid fibril and aggregate formation. The details of the assay and most of the fibril formation data have been previously published and are shown here for reference.
Phase studies of the Zr-H system at high hydrogen concentrations☆

The phase boundaries of the Zr-H system have been defined at high hydrogen concentrations, on the basis of studies performed on zirconium hydrides containing 4 at % uranium. The methods used include hightemperature X-ray diffraction, electrical resistance, dilatometry, and, to a limited extent, hot stage microscopy. The (δ+e) two-phase region was found to exist between ZrH1.64 and ZrHi1.74 at 24 °C. This region diminishes in width with increasing temperature and closes at 455 °C and ZrH1.70. From this point, a single boundary, sloping toward higher hydrogen concentrations, separates the δ and e single-phase regions. Precise lattice parameter measurements indicate that first-order transitions occur at the boundaries of the two-phase region. Theoretical considerations suggest that the δ й e transition is second order.
Interaction of a crack with certain microcrack arrays

Abstract Interaction of a crack with microcracks (modelling “damage”) can significantly alter the stress concentration at the crack tip. Certain important effects of interaction—shielding effect (“toughening by microcracking”), amplification effect, influence of the orientations of microcracking and irregularities in its patterns, change of the character of interaction (shielding to amplification and vice versa) with change of the mode of loading, etc.—are demonstrated on several microcrack systems. It appears that these relatively simple systems exhibit the essential features of the crack-damage interactions. Consideration is based on the method of analysis of elastic solids with many cracks proposed recently [Kachanov, Int. J. Fracture 28 , R11–R19 (1985); Kachanov, Int. J. Solids Structures (in press)] and briefly presented here.
Learning Topology and Dynamics of Large Recurrent Neural Networks

Large-scale recurrent networks have drawn increasing attention recently because of their capabilities in modeling a large variety of real-world phenomena and physical mechanisms. This paper studies how to identify all authentic connections and estimate system parameters of a recurrent network, given a sequence of node observations. This task becomes extremely challenging in modern network applications, because the available observations are usually very noisy and limited, and the associated dynamical system is strongly nonlinear. By formulating the problem as multivariate sparse sigmoidal regression, we develop simple-to-implement network learning algorithms, with rigorous convergence guarantee in theory, for a variety of sparsity-promoting penalty forms. A quantile variant of progressive recurrent network screening is proposed for efficient computation and allows for direct cardinality control of network topology in estimation. Moreover, we investigate recurrent network stability conditions in Lyapunov's sense, and integrate such stability constraints into sparse network learning. Experiments show excellent performance of the proposed algorithms in network topology identification and forecasting.
SLIPPED MISALIGNMENT MECHANISMS OF DELETION FORMATION : IN VIVO SUSCEPTIBILITY TO NUCLEASES

Misalignment of repeated sequences during DNA replication can lead to deletions or duplications in genomic DNA. In Escherichia coli, such genetic rearrangements can occur at high frequencies, independent of the RecA-homologous recombination protein, and are sometimes associated with sister chromosome exchange (SCE). Two mechanisms for RecA-independent genetic rearrangements have been proposed: simple replication misalignment of the nascent strand and its template and SCE-associated misalignment involving both nascent strands. We examined the influence of the 3' exonuclease of DNA polymerase III and exonuclease I on deletion via these mechanisms in vivo. Because mutations in these exonucleases stimulate tandem repeat deletion, we conclude that displaced 3' ends are a common intermediate in both mechanisms of slipped misalignments. Our results also confirm the notion that two distinct mechanisms contribute to slipped misalignments: simple replication misalignment events are sensitive to DNA polymerase III exonuclease, whereas SCE-associated events are sensitive to exonuclease I. If heterologies are present between repeated sequences, the mismatch repair system dependent on MutS and MutH aborts potential deletion events via both mechanisms. Our results suggest that simple slipped misalignment and SCE-associated misalignment intermediates are similarly susceptible to destruction by the mismatch repair system.
Acute lung injury in 2005: A mini-review

As management strategies for acute lung injury (ALI) are shown to have a significant impact on outcome, it is important to understand the biology, epidemiology, and clinical presentation of that injury. Although no effective pharmacologic interventions have reached the clinic, use of a low-ventilation strategy is of clear benefit. Surfactant replacement continues to be a topic of study, while use of nitric oxide, prone positioning, extracorporeal gas exchange, and high-frequency oscillatory ventilation have not been shown, in prospective randomized studies, to provide added benefit. Measures such as rigorous control of blood glucose levels and glucocorticoid replacement have a well-established role in certain settings. There are many challenges for clinical studies of ALI, including precise definition of target study populations and surrogate endpoints, adequate blinding, and standardization of supportive care measures.
Flexible Bronchoscopy Assisted by Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation

Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation is an alternative to intubation in critically ill patients with respiratory insufficiency or poor gas exchange who may require flexible bronchoscopy for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. This ventilatory technique might help decrease the risk of bronchoscopy-related complications in patients with refractory hypoxemia, postoperative respiratory distress, severe emphysema, obstructive sleep apnea, and obesity hypoventilation syndrome and allows bronchoscopic assessment of patients with severe dyspnea from expiratory central airway collapse. In this review, the physiological rationale, indications, contraindications, techniques, and monitoring requirements for flexible bronchoscopy assisted by noninvasive positive pressure ventilation are described, with an emphasis on the role of critical care nurses in this procedure.
A 12-bit, 30-MS/s, 2.95-mW pipelined ADC using single-stage class-AB amplifiers and deterministic background calibration

A 12-bit 30-MS/s pipelined ADC is realized using single-stage, low-gain, switched class-AB amplifiers. Nonlinear errors due to finite gain are addressed using a deterministic digital background calibration scheme that employs amplifier duty-cycling to minimize the power overhead. The presented ADC occupies an active area of 0.36 mm2 in 90-nm CMOS. It dissipates 2.95 mW from a 1.2-V supply and achieves an SNDR of 64.5 dB for inputs near Nyquist. The corresponding figure of merit is 72 fJ/conversion-step.
Using latent semantic analysis to identify similarities in source code to support program understanding

The paper describes the results of applying Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA), an advanced information retrieval method, to program source code and associated documentation. Latent semantic analysis is a corpus based statistical method for inducing and representing aspects of the meanings of words and passages (of natural language) reflective in their usage. This methodology is assessed for application to the domain of software components (i.e., source code and its accompanying documentation). Here LSA is used as the basis to cluster software components. This clustering is used to assist in the understanding of a nontrivial software system, namely a version of Mosaic. Applying latent semantic analysis to the domain of source code and internal documentation for the support of program understanding is a new application of this method and a departure from the normal application domain of natural language.
Space-time-frequency block coded OFDM with subcarrier grouping and constellation precoding

This paper proposes novel space-time-frequency (STF) block coding for multi-antenna OFDM transmissions over frequency-selective Rayleigh fading channels. Incorporating subcarrier grouping and choosing appropriate system parameters, we first convert our system into a set of group STF (GSTF) systems. This enables simplification of STF block coding within each GSTF system. We derive design criteria for STF block coding, and exploit existing ST coding techniques to construct STF block codes. The resulting codes are shown capable of achieving both maximum diversity and coding gains, while affording low-complexity decoding. The performance merits of our design is confirmed by corroborating simulations, and compared with existing alternatives.
A New Glossiphoniid Leech from Catemaco Lake, Veracruz, México

Haementeria acuecueyetzin n. sp. from Catemaco Lake, Veracruz, Mexico, is described based on the examination of 6 specimens. This new hematophagous leech species resembles other members of the genus in the number and position of the eyespots, number of compact salivary glands, and in the presence of 2 pairs of spheroidal mycetomes, but it is distinguished from the other species by having 6 rows of longitudinal smooth white papillae in the dorsal surface and numerous tubercles in dorsal and ventral surfaces. This new species represents the third species of Haementeria in the Northern Hemisphere of the Americas.
Relative Influence of Acute Sodium and Volume Depletion on Aldosterone Secretion in Nephrectomized Man

Plasma aldosterone concentration can increase in anephric man during hemodialysis despite the lack of kidneys to produce renin. Because the metabolic clearance rate of aldosterone does not change during hemodialysis, aldosterone secretion must increase in response to sodium depletion, volume depletion, or both. This study was designed to determine the relative influence of sodium and volume depletion by ultrafiltration and hemodialysis on plasma aldosterone concentration in anephric man. Fluid (547 ml) was removed from 13 anephric subjects during 4 hours of ultrafiltration in the absence of hemodialysis. Plasma sodium and potassium concentration did not change during ultrafiltration, but total body sodium and potassium decreased. Plasma aldosterone concentration did not change significantly. Each subject was then hemodialyzed for 8 hours. In 5 subjects, an additional liter of fluid was removed without a significant change in plasma sodium concentration. Plasma aldosterone concentration also did not change in response to the reduction in fluid volume. In 8 subjects, an additional liter of fluid was removed, and plasma sodium concentration decreased from 138.5 to 130.0 mEq/liter. Plasma aldosterone concentration increased from 8.3 to 19.6 ng/100 ml plasma. Three additional anephric subjects were hemodialyzed against a dialysate containing 125.0 mEq sodium/liter for 8 hours. Plasma potassium and total body fluid volume were held constant. Plasma sodium concentration decreased from 138.5 to 125.0 mEq/liter, and plasma aldosterone concentration increased from 7.4 to 24.3 ng/100 ml plasma. These data indicate that acute sodium depletion by hemodialysis accompanied by decreased plasma sodium concentration without a change in plasma potassium concentration or fluid volume can stimulate aldosterone secretion independently of the renal renin-angiotensin system.
Effect of added Cu on the Nd-rich phase in hot-deformed NdFeB magnets

It is found that the addition of Cu to NdFeB magnet material changes the composition of the grain-boundary phase from NdFe based phase to binary NdCu. It is also found that when the grain boundary phase is liquid, it can dissolve significant amounts of the 2-14-1 phase, and when liquid phase is extruded from the sample during deformation, the 2-14-1 phase is transported outside the original sample volume. During cooling, grains of the 2-14-1 phase nucleate and grow from the liquid. This process provides clear evidence that the constituents of 2-14-1 phase can be transported by liquid diffusion in the grain boundary phase at elevated temperatures. >
Arginine/Arginase NO NO NO

Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid that plays a critical role in several metabolic pathways. The best known of these is as the immediate precursor of urea in the liver and to a lesser extent in the intestine.1 The enzyme responsible for the cleavage of arginine to produce urea is arginase, which is the only enzyme in the urea cycle that comes in two forms, arginase I, a cytosolic enzyme, and arginase II, a mitochondrial enzyme. These enzymes exist not only in the liver and intestine where urea is generated but are also widely distributed in the body. Ornithine, the other product of the cleavage of arginine by arginase, is a precursor of proline and polyamines such as spermine, spermidine, and putrescine. Arginine is also the precursor of nitric oxide (NO). See page 365 In an important article authored by Teupser and colleagues,2 arginase in macrophages has been identified as a candidate gene influencing atheroresponsiveness. They created and studied two strains of rabbits with genetically determined high (HAR) and low (LAR) atherosclerosis susceptibility. Subtractive suppression hybridization was used to screen for genes that were more highly expressed in macrophages from LAR rabbits. Among the 42 clones identified were four differentially expressed genes with potential relevance to atherogenesis. These were OC2 protein, fibronectin, ferritin H-chain, and arginase I. Despite their identification in the screen, the first three genes were not differentially expressed in macrophages between HAR and LAR animals when checked by quantitative RT-PCR. In contrast, arginase I was more highly expressed in LAR than HAR macrophages, and its expression level was correlated with higher arginase enzymatic activity. They further identified a length polymorphism of the mRNA for arginase I that was attributable to the presence (long variant) or absence (short variant) of a 413-bp C repeat in the …
Maculopathy as a Complication of Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption in Patients with Central Nervous System Lymphoma

Purpose To report on the development of visually significant maculopathy associated with blood–brain barrier disruption (BBBD) therapy for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma. Design Retrospective case series. Methods Chart review of 20 patients undergoing BBBD therapy for treatment of CNS lymphoma at the Cleveland Clinic. Patients with documented maculopathy were included in analysis. Results Seven (54%) of 13 patients were identified with new macular retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) changes after BBBD treatment. The RPE changes consisted of fine clumps of hyperpigmentation in the foveal region associated with variable degrees of RPE loss. These changes were bilateral but often asymmetric. Two patients had decreased visual acuity resulting from maculopathy. One patient had documented progression of maculopathy after completion of treatment. Conclusions Maculopathy is a frequent finding after BBBD therapy for CNS lymphoma.
John Hutchinson's critique of Newtonian heterodoxy

“Nature and Nature's laws lay hid in night: God said, Let Newton be!—and all was light,” according to Alexander Pope. Other British subjects were not so sure. In recent years, historians have begun to take more seriously the persons who opposed Newton on either philosophical, scientific or theological grounds. Rival systems of natural philosophy were already in the field, including the scholastic, the alchemical, and especially the Cartesian. Newton had learned a great deal from Descartes, but he also set out to correct the errors in his system. Many Cartesians, at least in the period shortly after 1687, were not convinced by Newton's arguments. His methodology was suspect as well. The mathematics that Newton had invented was hard to follow and the role that it played in his system was unfamiliar. Political antipathies sometimes led to the rejection of Newtonianism. But the crux of the problem was theological. Newton's natural philosophy, as stated in his Principia Mathematica , seemed to undermine the traditional doctrines of the Christian religion.
Discrete C*-coactions and C*-algebraic bundles

Discrete C*-coactions are shown to be equivalent to discrete C* -algebraic bundles. Simplicity, primeness, liminality, postliminality, and nuclearity are related to the fixed point algebra and the cocrossed product. Ergodic, and more generally homogeneous, C*-coactions are characterized.
Back-up antibiotic prescriptions could reduce unnecessary antibiotic use in rhinosinusitis.

Abstract Objectives To examine the attitudes of patients with rhinosinusitis toward the availability of “back-up” antibiotics, and potential implications for antibiotic use rates. Study design and setting A survey that assessed actual and hypothetical antibiotic prescription patterns was administered to a convenience sample of patients treated for rhinosinusitis in one acute care facility between September 1 and December 1, 2001. Results Of 386 eligible patients, 114 completed the survey. Seventy-six percent of patients expected antibiotic treatment; satisfaction rates were significantly associated with receiving an antibiotic prescription ( P Conclusions The majority of patients with rhinosinusitis in this study expected antibiotic prescriptions, and were more satisfied if they were received. Back-up antibiotics have the potential to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use, mitigate risk of nontreatment, and preserve high levels of patient satisfaction.
Group Sparse Coding

Bag-of-words document representations are often used in text, image and video processing. While it is relatively easy to determine a suitable word dictionary for text documents, there is no simple mapping from raw images or videos to dictionary terms. The classical approach builds a dictionary using vector quantization over a large set of useful visual descriptors extracted from a training set, and uses a nearest-neighbor algorithm to count the number of occurrences of each dictionary word in documents to be encoded. More robust approaches have been proposed recently that represent each visual descriptor as a sparse weighted combination of dictionary words. While favoring a sparse representation at the level of visual descriptors, those methods however do not ensure that images have sparse representation. In this work, we use mixed-norm regularization to achieve sparsity at the image level as well as a small overall dictionary. This approach can also be used to encourage using the same dictionary words for all the images in a class, providing a discriminative signal in the construction of image representations. Experimental results on a benchmark image classification dataset show that when compact image or dictionary representations are needed for computational efficiency, the proposed approach yields better mean average precision in classification.
DSM-IV post-traumatic stress disorder among World Trade Center responders 11-13 years after the disaster of 11 September 2001 (9/11).

BACKGROUND: Post-traumatic symptomatology is one of the signature effects of the pernicious exposures endured by responders to the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster of 11 September 2001 (9/11), but the long-term extent of diagnosed Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its impact on quality of life are unknown. This study examines the extent of DSM-IV PTSD 11-13 years after the disaster in WTC responders, its symptom profiles and trajectories, and associations of active, remitted and partial PTSD with exposures, physical health and psychosocial well-being. METHOD: Master's-level psychologists administered sections of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV and the Range of Impaired Functioning Tool to 3231 responders monitored at the Stony Brook University World Trade Center Health Program. The PTSD Checklist (PCL) and current medical symptoms were obtained at each visit. RESULTS: In all, 9.7% had current, 7.9% remitted, and 5.9% partial WTC-PTSD. Among those with active PTSD, avoidance and hyperarousal symptoms were most commonly, and flashbacks least commonly, reported. Trajectories of symptom severity across monitoring visits showed a modestly increasing slope for active and decelerating slope for remitted PTSD. WTC exposures, especially death and human remains, were strongly associated with PTSD. After adjusting for exposure and critical risk factors, including hazardous drinking and co-morbid depression, PTSD was strongly associated with health and well-being, especially dissatisfaction with life. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to demonstrate the extent and correlates of long-term DSM-IV PTSD among responders. Although most proved resilient, there remains a sizable subgroup in need of continued treatment in the second decade after 9/11. Language: en
“The little spots allow’d them”: The archaeological study of African-American yards

Yards, like buildings and more portable artifacts, are significant expressions of culture. Yet within African-American archaeology, yards have not been the focus of serious discussions addressing questions of work and leisure activities, community interactions, aesthetics, and culture change. The authors review archaeological, ethnographic, and historical evidence of yards associated with New World slave quarters and present a framework for analysis. Results of recent excavations at a slave quarter at Poplar Forest in central Virginia, occupied from ca. 1790 to 1812, are presented within the context of this framework. The archaeological study of yard spaces provides significant information about cultural meanings and uses of space.
Self-assembled RNA-triple-helix hydrogel scaffold for microRNA modulation in the tumour microenvironment

The therapeutic potential of miRNA (miR) in cancer is limited by the lack of efficient delivery vehicles. Here, we show that a self-assembled dual-colour RNA-triple-helix structure comprising two miRNAs-a miR mimic (tumour suppressor miRNA) and an antagomiR (oncomiR inhibitor)-provides outstanding capability to synergistically abrogate tumours. Conjugation of RNA triple helices to dendrimers allows the formation of stable triplex nanoparticles, which form an RNA-triple-helix adhesive scaffold upon interaction with dextran aldehyde, the latter able to chemically interact and adhere to natural tissue amines in the tumour. We also show that the self-assembled RNA-triple-helix conjugates remain functional in vitro and in vivo, and that they lead to nearly 90% levels of tumour shrinkage two weeks post-gel implantation in a triple-negative breast cancer mouse model. Our findings suggest that the RNA-triple-helix hydrogels can be used as an efficient anticancer platform to locally modulate the expression of endogenous miRs in cancer.
Rethinking Regulations: Local Laboratories Inventing a Sustainable Idaho

This essay argues that before Idaho can approach sustainability -- of its natural resources as well as its neighborhoods, communities and culture -- the state government must be willing to allow for increased experimentation at the local level, including in areas currently pre-empted by state-wide programs.
Can infants without epiglottis learn to swallow

Background: It is a common notion that the function of the epiglottis is to avoid aspiration during swallowing by occluding the introitus of the larynx. The safety of oral feedings and the risk of recurrent aspiration, respectively, are concerns in neonates with absent epiglottis. Case: We report a 5 day-old term baby girl with stridor and severe cyanotic episodes during feeding and crying. Besides a significant laryngomalacia of the aryfolds, a cystic mass at the root of the tongue was seen by laryngoscopy. The epiglottis was hypoplastic, deformed, and adhering to the tongue base. The MRI confirmed a lingual cyst of about 1cm diameter in midline. Upon the surgical excision of the cyst most of the adhering rudimentary epiglottis was removed. Histology was consistent with a thyroglossal duct cyst. The neonate was left intubated for 7 days to secure the airway and the healing process. In the first days after extubation, the neonate required nasogastric tube feedings due to repeated aspirations with oral feeds. In the further evolution, however, oral feedings could be cautiously reintroduced. The girl could be discharged home 3 weeks after the intervention, fully breast-fed without noteworthy aspirations. Conclusion: Our observation supports the notion that the epiglottis is not essential for aspiration-free feeding, even at this young age.
An Oxalyl-CoA Dependent Pathway of Oxalate Catabolism Plays a Role in Regulating Calcium Oxalate Crystal Accumulation and Defending against Oxalate-Secreting Phytopathogens in Medicago truncatula

Considering the widespread occurrence of oxalate in nature and its broad impact on a host of organisms, it is surprising that so little is known about the turnover of this important acid. In plants, oxalate oxidase is the most well studied enzyme capable of degrading oxalate, but not all plants possess this activity. Recently, an Acyl Activating Enzyme 3 (AAE3), encoding an oxalyl-CoA synthetase, was identified in Arabidopsis. AAE3 has been proposed to catalyze the first step in an alternative pathway of oxalate degradation. Whether this enzyme and proposed pathway is important to other plants is unknown. Here, we identify the Medicago truncatula AAE3 (MtAAE3) and show that it encodes an oxalyl-CoA synthetase activity exhibiting high activity against oxalate with a Km = 81 ± 9 μM and Vmax = 19 ± 0.9 μmoles min-1mg protein-1. GFP-MtAAE3 localization suggested that this enzyme functions within the cytosol of the cell. Mtaae3 knock-down line showed a reduction in its ability to degrade oxalate into CO2. This reduction in the capacity to degrade oxalate resulted in the accumulation of druse crystals of calcium oxalate in the Mtaae3 knock-down line and an increased susceptibility to oxalate-secreting phytopathogens such as Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Taken together, these results suggest that AAE3 dependent turnover of oxalate is important to different plants and functions in the regulation of tissue calcium oxalate crystal accumulation and in defense against oxalate-secreting phytopathogens.
Determining the Order of Resistance Genes Qsng-3BS , Fhb1 and Sr2 and Combining Them in Coupling on Wheat Chromosome 3BS

A variety of diseases of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) occurs every year in the U.S. leading to significant grain yield losses. Stagonospora nodorum blotch (SNB), fusarium head blight (FHB) and stem rust (SR) are caused by the fungi Stagonospora nodorum, Fusarium graminearum and Puccinia graminis, respectively. These diseases penalize both grain yield and quality. Three resistance factors, Qsng.sfr-3BS, Fhb1 and Sr2 conferring resistance, respectively, to SNB, FHB and SR, each from a unique donor wheat parent line, have been mapped to chromosome 3BS of wheat and are believed to be closely linked. Based on previously published analyses, Sr2 is on the distal end, Fhb1 is on the proximal end and Qsng.sfr-3BS is in the middle of Sr2 and Fhb1 in the 3BS wheat genome. Thus, the objectives of this project are to determine the gene order of Qsng.sfr-3BS, Fhb1 and Sr2, in a linkage block on chromosome 3BS and combining them in coupling. The linkage relationships were determined through analysis of a three-way cross between parental lines Arina, Alsen and Ocoroni86, containing the resistance genes Qsng.sfr-3BS, Fhb1 and Sr2, respectively. A total of 1,600 F2 plants was screened, along with the parental lines, using KASPar genotyping technology via single-nucleotide polymorphism markers to identify the recombinant progeny. Phenotypic screening for SNB was performed on the entire F2 population. Knowing the positional order of these resistance genes will enable the development of a wheat line with three genes in coupling to provide durable and broad-spectrum resistance against three major diseases of wheat.
Exige a automatização maiores qualificações

O trabalho de Joel Dean na area da Economia de Empre­sas e conhecido de longa data gracas aos diversos artigos e monografias que ele tem publicado em revistas especia­lizadas, a partir da decada de trinta . O livro em epigrafe, ja hoje bastante divulgado no campo da economia e da administracao de empresas, principal­mente nos Estados Unidos, reune grande parte do mate­rial anteriormente elaborado e publicado pelo autor. O principal objetivo de ] oel Dean no seu trabalho em ge­ral, e em epecial no livro Managerial Economics, e o de dar "funcionalidade" a teoria microeconomica, em especial, na area conhecida como "teoria da firma". Na verdade, uma das criticas mais serias que se tem feito a ciencia economica nessa area, particularmente a analise marginal, e de que ela carece de funcionalidade. Para que possam manter o rigor cientifico, os modelos teoricos sao muitas vezes excessivamente simplificados, de tal forma que sua utilizacao ao nivel da administracao de empresas toma-se quase impraticavel. Bom exemplo dessa divergencia entre o modelo teorico e a sua utilizacao pratica pode, talvez, ser encontrado na tentativa de implementar o modelo economico do equili­brio da empresa monopolista. Inicialmente - e dada a
Effects of Dinoseb and Dinoseb + MSMA on Arthropod Populations in Cotton Fields

The herbicides dinoseb and dinoseb + MSMA were evaluated for effects on insect and spider populations when applied as recommended for weed control in cotton. These herbicides showed some insecticidal activity against thrips, Frankliniella spp., and tarnished plant bug nymphs, Lygus linealaris (Palisot de Beauvois). Other arthropod populations evaluated were not affected by the herbicide treatments.